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| July 17, 2014 |
Happy Thursday, Readers!
This week I'm delighted to say we do indeed have our big shipment of White Mountain Puzzles in, as well as a great Eric Wayne Dickey in-store event for the kids this Saturday. Also great: THE BOOKS THIS WEEK. I am always particularly excited to report each week's book arrivals, but oh my, I had a wonderful time compiling the blurbs for this one. Wayne Harrison's The Spark and the Drive, Marja Mills' The Mockingbird Next Door, and Amy Tan's The Valley of Amazement just out in paperback are on our shelves! (Plus, a new Trampled By Turtles album in the music section!) And more, as always, so much more!
Have an excellent weekend, Jenny |
New Hardcovers
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The Spark and the Drive by Wayne Harrison [Fiction]
 ". . . Just out of high school, aspiring mechanic Justin Bailey falls under the spell of legendary car-shop owner Nick Campbell and his attractive wife, Mary Ann, and is soon lured into becoming Campbell's apprentice. Yet as Campbell is about to strike gold with an offer to run a chain of Miami-based high-performance auto shops, the couple's infant son dies, and Campbell's genius begins to fade, leaving Justin torn with disillusionment and drawn into an affair with Mary Ann. Harrison's characters are fully fleshed, and his prose masterfully polished, making for a thoroughly engrossing read and a strikingly original debut novel." -Booklist
Hardcover; $25.99
Publisher: St. Martin's Press; ISBN:9781250041241
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The Mockingbird Next Door: Life with Harper Lee by Marja Mills [Non-Fiction]
 "Harper Lee, author of the national touchstone, To Kill a Mockingbird, withdrew from the relentless vortex of fame and never published another book. . . When To Kill a Mockingbird was chosen for One Book, One Chicago in 2001, Chicago Tribune reporter Mills traveled to Lee's Alabama hometown, certain that she would never get anywhere near the author. Instead, Mills found herself living a literary fairy tale, as Alice, Harper's older sister by 15 years, still working as an attorney in her nineties, ushered Mills into their book-filled home. . . When the Lees express their hope that Mills will record their reminiscences and set the record straight, she rents the house next door and devotes herself to listening to tales of the Lee family. . . "-Booklist, Starred Review
Hardcover; $27.95
Publisher: Penguin Press; ISBN: 9781594205194
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The Book of Life (All Souls Trilogy #03) by Deborah Harkness [Fiction]
 "In the final installment of Harkness's All Souls Trilogy (after Shadow of Night), witch historian Diana Bishop and her vampiric husband, Matthew Clairmont, freshly returned to the present from their sojourn in Elizabethan England, have ample challenges to contend with. They still seek the missing pages of Ashmole 782, the mystical manuscript known as the Book of Life and the key to the origin of all supernatural beings, and now must negotiate the internal politics of Matthew's extended vampire family. Also to be considered is the Congregation of vampires, witches, and daemons, who will not look at all kindly on the impending birth of Matthew and Diana's twin children. . . " - Publishers Weekly
Hardcover; $28.95
Publisher: Viking Books; ISBN: 9780670025596
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Last Stories and Other Stories by William T. Vollmann [Fiction]
 "A resolute global traveler and writer of conscience, Vollmann seeks to hold the whole world in his heart, and, consequently, his books are capacious, highly charged, and tempestuously human. Vollmann's first work of fiction since his National Book Award-winning novel, Europe Central (2005), follows a half-dozen nonfiction books and contains 32 creatively sourced, boldly imagined, and incandescently written supernatural stories. . . Throughout this ingeniously fabulist, erotic, musing, and satirical treasury, Vollmann gives monstrous and alluring form to the forces that haunt us, from desire and love to regret and loss, as he contemplates with ardor, sorrow, bemusement, and wonder the beauty and terror of life and death and the vast mystery of the hereafter." -Booklist, Starred Review
Hardcover; $36.00
Publisher: Viking Books; ISBN: 9780670015979
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A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman [Fiction]
 "In this Swedish bestseller, Ove is a lovably miserable neighborhood curmudgeon (think a cross between Up's Carl Fredricksen and Parks and Recreation's Ron Swanson) who spends his days inspecting his community and criticizing others, judging each by how closely he follows rules and his choice of automobile (Ove cannot reason with BMW drivers). After his handicapped wife dies and he is forced to retire from his job, Ove decides he's ready to leave the world behind. But every time he tries to off himself, he's interrupted first by his new neighbor, the pregnant Parvaneh. . . " -Publishers Weekly
Hardcover; $25.00
Publisher: Atria Books; ISBN: 9781476738017
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New Paperbacks
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ed. by Gardner Dozois [Fiction]
 The world of science fiction has long been a porthole into the realities of tomorrow, blurring the line between life and art. Now, in The Year's Best Science Fiction: Thirty-First Annual Collection the very best SF authors explore ideas of a new world in the year's best short stories. This venerable collection brings together award winning authors and masters of the field such as Robert Reed, Alastair Reynolds, Damien Broderick, Elizabeth Bear, Paul McAuley and John Barnes. And with an extensive recommended reading guide and a summation of the year in science fiction, this annual compilation has become the definitive must-read anthology for all science fiction fans and readers interested in breaking into the genre.
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; ISBN: 9781250046215
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by Tom Kizzia [Non-Fiction]
 "In 2002, when the Pilgrim family, a curious group that included a husband and wife and 14 children, showed up in remote McCarthy, Ala., and homesteaded in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, their pioneer spirit, independent nature, religious piety, and throwback ideals were embraced by the frontier community. When the family got into a legal battle with the National Park Service, many Alaskans who bristled at the government's perceived infringement on landowners' rights came to the family's aid. But when journalist Kizzia ( The Wake of the Unseen Object) started digging into the Pilgrims' past especially that of the father, Papa Pilgrim (aka Bobby Hale) for the Anchorage Daily News, he uncovered a bizarre saga. . . " - Publishers Weekly
Paperback; $14.95
Publisher: Broadway Books; ISBN: 9780307587831
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 "Lulu, an American, is the only white woman running a first-class courtesan house in Shanghai in 1905. . . She relies on her loyal associate, Golden Dove, to help her create an enclave of confidentiality, courtly seduction, and voluptuous pleasure for the city's most influential men. Her lonely young daughter, Violet. . . Shocked to be outed as half-Chinese, [she] thinks. . . this exposure is only the beginning of an all-out assault against her sense of self and freedom. In her first novel in eight years, Tan ( Saving Fish from Drowning, 2005) returns to her signature mother-daughter focus as she pulls back the curtain on an aggressively sexist society after the fall of the last Chinese dynasty precipitates monumental change." -Booklist, Starred Review
Paperback; $16.99
Publisher: Ecco Press; ISBN: 9780062107329
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by Jo Nesbo [Fiction]
 The police urgently need Harry Hole . . . A killer is stalking Oslo's streets. Police officers are being slain at the scenes of crimes they once investigated but failed to solve. The murders are brutal, the media reaction hysterical. But this time, Harry can't help. For years, detective Harry Hole has been at the center of every major criminal investigation in Oslo. His dedication to his job and his brilliant insights have saved the lives of countless people. But now, with those he loves most facing terrible danger, Harry is not in a position to protect anyone--least of all himself.
Paperback; $14.95
Publisher: Vintage Books; ISBN: 9780307951168
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by Chuck Palahniuk [Fiction]
 "Our heroine returns! Madison Spencer, daughter of misguided movie stars, pudgy outcast, and resident of Hell, finds herself stranded on Earth for one year as punishment for missing her curfew on Halloween. Keeping the reader updated through blog posts from the afterlife, Madison runs into her Nana Minnie's ghost, which stirs her to reveal personal and painful moments from her childhood. As Maddie works through the time she spent with her grandparents in decidedly down-home upstate New York, she realizes her life might have been molded by something sinister from the beginning. . . " -Library Journal
Paperback; $14.95
Publisher: Anchor Books; ISBN: 9780307476548
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New For Young Readers
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Brotherband Chronicles: Slaves of Socorro (Brotherband Chronicles (Hardcover) #4) by John A. Flanagan [Fiction]
Ages 10 and up
 In this fourth book in the Brotherband Chronicles, a new battle unfolds as old rivalries are renewed, peace treaties are put to the test, and an alliance between Heron and Ranger grows. After Hal returns victorious over a battle with the pirate captain Zavac, he can come home in honor with the Herons and move on to the next adventure, which happens quickly as Zavac is taking villagers and selling them off to various bidders in a new slave-trading operation. This is a mission for the Herons as justice once again is fought for!
Hardcover; $18.99
Publisher: Philomel Books; ISBN: 9780399163555
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New Music
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Genre: Pop/Folk
The legendary folk and country songwriter Cowboy Jack Clement passed away last year, but not before laying down vocals for this new project. Helmed by T Bone Burnett, it is a collection of Clement's best, backed by guests including Dan Auerbach, Buddy Miller, Leon Russell, and more.
($10.95) |
Genre: Pop/Folk
Hiatt's recording career began back in 1974, and he has produced an eclectic array of records since. More recent output has focused on blues-flavored tunes. This new record adds a more contemporary, gritty rock sound.
($15.95) |
Genre: Pop/Folk
From Seattle PI: "...the 13 tracks of The Boat That Carries Us is a thoughtful and thought-provoking collection of songs that are unified by the journey themes, but presented with a variety of moods, tones, and settings."
($16.95) |
Genre: Pop/Folk
Lauderdale's prolific recording output flits between folk, country, bluegrass, and Americana. This 26th record focuses his efforts on a full 20 tunes, each with a country flair.
($15.95) |
Genre: Pop/Folk
Norah Jones' new project finds her paired with Sasha Dobson and Catherine Popper. As Puss N Boots, the trio apply an Americana flavor to covers by Wilco, Neil Young, and others, as well as a handful of originals.
($10.95) |
Genre: Pop/Folk
This Minnesota band has become famous for revved-up bluegrass numbers, played at break speed. Beginning with their last album, TbT has turned their attention to more nuanced writing, including ballads and mid-tempo roots numbers.
($12.95) |
Events at Grass Roots
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Alex the Ant Goes to the Beach by Eric Wayne Dickey
 Saturday, July 19 11:30 a.m. 227 SW 2nd St
Grass Roots Books and Music
Corvallis , Oregon
Incorporating adventure and science, Alex the Ant Goes to the Beach is about a young and curious ant named Alex who aspires to be a great scout for Queen Aziza. He dons his sailor suit and eagerly volunteers as a lookout for the beach work crew. Along the way, Alex is warned by Aloysius, the old sea captain, about the dangers that lurk in the world outside the safety of their home called Underwood. This children's picture book introduces young entomologists to the ecology of ants and is a delight to readers of all ages.
Eric Wayne Dickey is a writer and a father. His poetry has been widely published and anthologized. He lives in Oregon with his wife, a K12 science teacher. Together they tend a huge garden and are raising two children. This is his first children's book.
Come for a reading, sing-a-long, and arts and crafts!
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Tiny Homes on the Move by Lloyd Kahn
 Thursday, July 31 7:00 p.m. 227 SW 2nd St
Grass Roots Books and Music
Corvallis , Oregon
Tiny Homes on the Move chronicles 21st-century nomads - people who inhabit homes that are compact and mobile, either on wheels or in the water. In photos and stories, this fascinating book explores modern travelers who live in vans, pickup trucks, buses, trailers, sailboats, and houseboats that combine the comforts of home with the convenience of being able to pick up and go at any time. Many are hand-crafted by the owners, showing skill and creativity.
With over 1,100 color photos accompanying the stories and descriptions of these moveable sanctuaries, this is a valuable and inspirational book for anyone thinking outside the box about shelter.
In 1968 Lloyd Kahn worked as Shelter editor for the Whole Earth Catalog. In 1971 he published Domebook 2. His shake-covered geodesic dome was featured in Life magazine. Ultimately disillusioned with domes, he took Domebook 2 out of print and in 1973, published the oversized book Shelter that went on to sell over 250,000 copies. In 2004, Kahn published Home Work: Handbuilt Shelter, Builders of the Pacific Coast in 2008, Tiny Homes: Simple Shelter in 2012, and Tiny Homes on the Move in 2014. Kahn and his wife Lesley live and work in a small coastal town in Northern California.
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Soul Analysis by Chavah Aima
 Tuesday, August 5 7:00 p.m. 227 SW 2nd St
Grass Roots Books and Music
Corvallis , Oregon
Chavah Aima will read from her book, Soul Analysis, and will sign copies after.
Soul Analysis reveals the human being from a spiritual point of view. If you have wondered about the purpose of your life, your Soul Analysis profile can bring new insights to answer this important question. Drawn from an ancient system of astrology and numerology, your profile is determined by your birthday. From past life events to present day relationships, work and social life, your profile will inspire you with a higher vision of yourself and your life. In Soul Analysis, you will discover your destiny, understand the mysteries of yourself and others and activate the power of your soul.
A former psychotherapist, Chavah Aima created Soul Analysis through years of research into an ancient, mystical system of spiritual psychology. She discovered vital keys that can help us heal and awaken to our soul's mission in life. She offers personal consultations and trains certified Soul Analysts.
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Community Events
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| Darkside Show Times for 7/18-7/24
-Chef-R A chef who loses his restaurant job starts up a food truck in an effort to reclaim his creative promise.
-Snowpiercer -R In a future, a train that travels around the globe, where a class system evolves.
-Night Moves-R Stages an intelligent debate on activism, radicalism and ethics, but most importantly, it makes the people who perform militant acts very human and very knowable. . .
-Grand Seduction -PG-13 A fish-out-of-water fable set within a fabulously scenic backdrop, against which wholesome humor and a thoroughgoing humanist streak play out and intertwine with gentle, unforced ease.
-Third Person -R Tells three stories of love, passion, trust, and betrayal.
Literary Events
-When British Honduras Became Belize
Thursday, July 17 7:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. Corvallis-Benton County Public Library Ted Cox will be discussing his new book "When British Honduras Became Belize: 1971-1973 A Peace Corps Memoir."
-Lacy Johnson in Conversation with Nick Flynn Sunday, July 20th @ 7:30pm Powell's City of Books on Burnside 1005 W Burnside; Lacy Johnson bangs on the glass doors of a sleepy local police station in the middle of the night. Her feet are bare; her body is bruised and bloody; U-bolts dangle from her wrists. She has escaped, but not unscathed. The Other Side (Tin House) is the haunting account of a first passionate and then abusive relationship; the events leading to her kidnapping, rape, and imprisonment; her dramatic escape; and her hard-fought struggle to recover. In language both stark and poetic, Johnson's richly personal narrative delivers a raw and unforgettable story of trauma and transformation. Johnson will be joined in conversation by Nick Flynn, author of Another Bullshit Night in Suck City.
-The Flickering Page: E-books and Changes in the Reading Experience
Tuesday, July 22 12:10 - 1:00 p.m. Corvallis-Benton County Public Library Are printed materials and books merely in need of updating? What characterizes the electronic reading experience versus reading print? Author Mark Allen Cunningham addresses these and other important cultural, historical, and social questions regarding our shift in reading methods.
- 2014 NANO Prize Online submission deadline: September 1, 2014 The sixth annual NANO Prize, awarding publication and $500 to a previously unpublished work of fiction 300 words or fewer, is open and this year's contest will be judged by Kim Chinquee! All entrants will receive a one-year subscription to NANO Fiction and winners will be announced in mid-September. Visit website here. - Black Warrior Review Contest Online Submission deadline: September 1, 2014 announcing Black Warrior Review's Tenth-Annual Contest for Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry! Grand prize in each genre: $1000 and publication; Runner-up prize in each genre: $100 and publication. Cost to enter: $20 (comes with one-year subscription). This year we are honored to have Richard Siken (Poetry), Lily Hoang (Fiction/Prose), and Kiese Laymon (Nonfiction) as our guest judges. The entry fee covers one 7,000 word fiction or nonfiction submission, or one packet of up to three poems. Send us your best work today; we can't wait to read it! Visit our website here.
-The Coniston Prize from Radar Poetry Online deadline: September 1, 2014
The first annual Coniston Prize will be open to submissions from July 1 to September 1, 2014! Radar Poetry's annual, endowed prize recognizes an outstanding group of poems by a woman writing in English. This year's judge is the poet Mary Biddinger. The winner will be awarded $1,000, and her work will be featured in the October issue of Radar. Up to ten finalists will also be awarded publication. The entry fee is $15. For details or to submit a manuscript, please visit here. We look forward to reading your work!
-Press 53 Award for Poetry $1000 Prize plus Travel Submission deadline: July 31, 2014; The Press 53 Award for Poetry is awarded annually to an outstanding, unpublished collection of poems. Press 53 poetry series editor Tom Lombardo will serve as judge and the winner of this contest will receive publication by Press 53 as a Tom Lombardo Poetry Selection, a $1,000 cash advance, travel expenses and lodging for a special launch party weekend in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, attendance as special guest to the 2015 Press 53/Jacar Press Gathering of Poets, and ten copies of the book; all prizes will be awarded upon publication. Deadline: July 31, 2014. Reading fee: $30. Complete information here.
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Community Events with Grass Roots
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| Remains of Innocence by J.A. Jance
Tuesday, July 29 11:30 a.m.
Corvallis High School Main Stage
1400 NW Buchanan Ave
Corvallis , Oregon
 The story opens far away from Cochise County, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Selma Machett is on the verge of death from emphysema, which is hardly tragic news to her daughter Liza-who endured constant psychological abuse and deprivation of basic necessities from her mother, and was happy to escape her reign of terror. As Selma enters her final days, she summons Liza and orders her to fetch an old cookbook from her house-which is in a state of utter disrepair and squalor. As the younger Machett confronts the terrible memories the building holds, she makes a startling discovery: Many hundred-dollar bills between the pages of the cookbook... and the one next to it... and the one next to it... Selma passes away before the origin of the money can be determined. The day of her funeral, her house mysteriously burns down-and Liza's landlady turns up murdered. Knowing she's in danger, Liza begins a furtive trip across the country to get answers about her family from her brother Guy-who happens to be Cochise County's medical examiner.
J. A. Jance is the New York Times bestselling author of the J. P. Beaumont series, the Joanna Brady series, the Ali Reynolds series, and four interrelated thrillers about the Walker Family. Over twenty million copies of her books are in print. Born in South Dakota and brought up in Bisbee, Arizona, Jance lives with her husband in Seattle, Washington, and Tucson, Arizona.
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Store News
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| Awards
The winners of the 2014 ITW Thriller Award have been announced. Here are a couple of the titles:
For the complete list, visit the ThrillerFest's website here.
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| White Mountain Puzzles Shipment IN
As promised in last week's newsletter, Grass Roots does indeed have its latest shipment of White Mountain Puzzles in the store, right now, as I type these very words. We've even dedicated a whole spinner rack to the collection, ranging from old-fashioned penny candy collages, to Central Oregon images, to vintage movie posters.
As stated on their website, "For over 30 years, White Mountain Puzzles has been offering America's favorite jigsaw puzzles for sale." These really are perfect as gift items, family get-togethers, or a peaceful solo activity in the summer evenings. Please come by to check out the selection. |
Jigsaw
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Reading Group Selection
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by Manuel Gonzales
 Join Neé as she leads the August Reading Group with The Miniature Wife by Manuel Gonzales.
In the tradition of George Saunders and Aimee Bender, an exuberantly imagined debut that chronicles an ordinary world marked by unusual phenomena. The 18 stories of Gonzales's exhilarating first book render the fantastic commonplace and the ordinary extraordinary, in prose that thrums with energy and shimmers with beauty.
"It's rare that a debut author is also a seasoned storyteller, but this is the case with Gonzales, whose first book is a deeply imaginative collection of short stories. With commendable skill, Gonzales seamlessly blends the real and the fantastic, resulting in a fun and provocative collection that readers will want to devour. . ." -Publishers Weekly Regular Price: $16.00
On sale for:$$13.60 until Monday, August 4
Publisher: Riverhead Books
ISBN:9781594632273
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Night Stands
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Claire
Landline by Rainbow Rowell [Fiction]
 Even with a little science fiction in the shape of a phone that calls back in time, Landline feels real. Georgie, the protagonist, struggles with work-life balance, and what-ifs while the state of her marriage is in question. Rainbow Rowell manages to show us an incredible story while giving us characters that face the same dilemmas we all do. Out of Rowell's quickly growing collection of novels, Landline is now my favorite.
Paperback; $24.99
Publisher: St. Martin's Press; ISBN: 9781250049377
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Erika
Remedy by Old Crow Medicine Show [Album]
 Old Crow Medicine Show's new album Remedy is a great blend of new country with blue grass hints. If you loved their iconic song "Wagon Wheel" this album has some of that jam along with some more twangy beats. Remedy feels more polished from some of their other albums and the songs blend nicely together as a whole. "Sweet Amarillo" is my favorite one on the disc. If you are looking for something different give Remedy a try--it was refreshing for me and is fun for summer. |
Kendall
Good Poems ed. by Garrison Keillor [Poetry]
 This collection of poems is aptly named--they are simply good poems. Categorized into sections based on topics such as "Lovers, O Lord, Scenes, Lives, The End, and Yellow" the group of poems compiled by the ever-trustworthy Garrison Keillor includes poets from Cummings to Sexton to Bukowski. Purchased for me by my grandmother, who has impeccable taste, I have greatly enjoyed this addition to my store of poetry books for its variety and comprehensiveness.
Paperback; $20.00
Publisher: Penguin Books; ISBN: 9780142003442
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Tiffany
The Silkworm (Cormoran Strike Novel) by Robert Galbraith [Fiction]
 With her pseudonymous debut, The Cuckoo's Calling, J.K. Rowling proved that she could write mystery just as well as fantasy. Her second outing with private detective, Cormoran Strike satisfies on all accounts. A missing person case becomes murder when Strike discovers the dead body of the author he was hired to find. Clues lead back to the author's scandalous novel and the people-publisher, editor, agent, wife, and practically everyone he knew-he libeled in it. I haven't guessed the murderer yet, but I'm enjoying the pursuit, as well as the characters of Strike and his assistant, Robin, and their underlying stories.
Hardcover; $28.00
Publisher: Mulholland Books; ISBN: 9780316206877
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