|
|
|
|
| Aug. 14, 2014 |
 HI!
Check out our groovy new Sand Art in the pic to the right here (can you spy a Neé peeking through?)! Our current collection has been updated with a few truly lovely pieces, so if you are in the market for a gift item, Grass Roots might just be the place to stop by.
Also, reminder: tomorrow (Friday, August 15) is the last day of the Grass Roots Reading Summer Challenge, so if you have filled-in charts, please come and get your coupons and/or raffle tickets.
Books are looking pretty good this week. We've got Murakami's latest, Atwood in paperback, and an updated Scrabble dictionary with 5,000 new words! Holy smokes.
Final highlight: new Current Events and Summer Recreation displays are rather inspirational.
See you downtown!
~Jenny |
New Hardcovers
|
|
Burnt Toast Makes You Sing Good: A Memoir of Food and Love from an American Midwest Family
by Kathleen Flinn
[Non-Fiction]
 "Flinn affectionately recalls her family and growing up in the counties surrounding Flint, Michigan, in the days before America's mighty auto industry collapsed. Typical of midwesterners in the middle of the twentieth century, the Flinns frequently motored around Michigan, and they had a place on Florida's Gulf Coast that offered some respite from harsh winters. But they equally cherished Michigan's charms, such as Frankenmuth's famous fried-chicken dinners. As she recounts the years of her youth, Flinn summons up memories of family dinners and of foods the older women of her extended family cooked so carefully and lovingly. . . " -Booklist
Hardcover; $27.95
Publisher: Viking Books; ISBN: 9780670015443
|
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage
by Haruki Murakami
[Fiction]
 "In high school, Tsukuru Tazaki was part of a 'perfect community' of five best friends. Each had a color attached to their family names-red, blue, white, black-except for Tsukuru, rendering him 'colorless.' After Tsukuru begins college in Tokyo, he's brutally excised without explanation. Sixteen years later, he's a successful train station engineer living a comfortable life still in Tokyo. Contentment, however, eludes him. . . He's on the verge of his most significant relationship, but his lover warns he 'need[s] to come face-to-face with the past' in order to consider a future. With Facebook and Google as guides, his pilgrimage will take him home and as far as a Finnish lakeside. . . " -Library Journal
Hardcover; $25.95
Publisher: Knopf Publishing Group ; ISBN: 9780385352109
|
The Invention of Exile
by Vanessa Manko
[Fiction]
 ". . . Austin Voronkov, a Russian engineer and inventor, emigrates to the U.S. in 1913 and finds employment as an inspector at an armaments factory in Bridgeport, Conn. Falsely accused of being an anarchist, Austin is deported back to Russia; his new American wife, Julia, accompanies him. The couple make their way to Mexico, where Julia gives birth to three children and is eventually permitted to return to the U.S. with them. But Austin isn't allowed back into the States and stays behind. . . [S]et in Mexico City in 1948. . . the exiled Austin finds himself caught in a bureaucratic nightmare, unable to cross the border and shadowed by an intimidating FBI agent. . . " -Publishers Weekly
Hardcover; $26.95
Publisher: Penguin Press; ISBN: 9781594205880
|
The End of Absence: Reclaiming What We've Lost in a World of Constant Connection
by Michael Harris
[Non-Fiction]
 "Toronto-based journalist Harris argues that our full-time engagement with the Internet, smartphones and social media has robbed us of 'absence'-the ability to withdraw from life's dissonant demands, whether for personal growth, intellectual accomplishment or simple serenity. The author begins by noting that all readers born before 1985 are experiencing a moment akin to the invention of printing, in that no other generation will again experience nondigital society. . . Harris examines the many aspects of contemporary life that have been quickly transformed by this constant digital engagement, ranging from the relentless nature of online bullying to the transactional sexuality encouraged by 'hookup' sites like Grindr. . . " -Kirkus Reviews
Hardcover; $26.95
Publisher: Current; ISBN: 9781591846932
|
Small Blessings
by Martha Woodroof
[Fiction]
 "Woodroof's charming debut deals with a bizarre paternity case set against the backdrop of a quirky college town. In the span of one week, English professor Tom Putnam's life is upended twice. His. . . wife is killed in a car accident, and he learns that he has a son, the product of a brief affair 10 years ago, who's on his way to visit Tom for a few months according to a letter from Henry's mother. When young Henry arrives, it's immediately apparent, considering his age and race, that Tom can't possibly be his biological father. Even more inexplicable is the fact that Henry's backpack contains one change of clothes and half a million dollars in cash. . . " -Publishers Weekly
Hardcover; $ 25.99
Publisher: St. Martin's Press; ISBN: 9781250040527
|
New Paperbacks
|
|
|
by Brad Stone
[Non-Fiction]
 "Another ruthless e-mogul bestrides the world in this lively study of the Amazon founder and his quest to sell books and all other conceivable merchandise over the Web. While he doesn't have quite the rabid nuttiness of a Steve Jobs, Bezos in this portrait is cut from the same cloth: a vicious and occasionally unfair competitor; a penny-pinching slave driver of a workforce divided into unhappy employees and super loyalists; and a man full of messianic zeal about the consumer conveniences flowing from the world of e-commerce, brimming with bold initiatives that only sometimes pay off, who largely delivers on his promises to cut costs. . . without registering how profoundly his actions are altering. . . society at large." -Publishers Weekly
Paperback; $18.00
Publisher: Back Bay Books; ISBN: 9780316219280
|
|
by Margaret Atwood
[Fiction]
 ". . . Readers, even those unfamiliar with the human characters and the genetically engineered new species Atwood has created in her futuristic world, will be quickly drawn in and eager to find out what happens to the MaddAddamites and to the Crakers, a gentle, quasihuman species created by Crake. Their world is full of many dangers, including direct attacks from criminally insane Painballers and from pigoons, transgenic pigs developed to grow replacement organs for humans. Toby, Zeb, and the rest of the MaddAddamites are alive, but will they be able to continue not only to subsist but to build up their small society and, eventually, live alongside the Crakers and even flourish?" -Library Journal
Paperback; $15.95
Publisher: Anchor Books; ISBN: 9780307455482
|
|
[Fiction]
 ". . . At its heart is the Oh family: Orion, half Chinese and half Italian, a psychologist who never knew his father and has taken early retirement from his university rather than face trumped-up charges of sexual harassment; his wife, Annie, a shy, successful creator of angry installation art who survived foster care and carries a dark secret; and their three children: willful aspiring actress Marissa and the twins, goodhearted Ariane and born-again rebel Andrew. As the novel opens, Annie has thrown everyone into turmoil by leaving Orion for her chic, sophisticated art dealer, Viveca, and even as the new couple plan a wedding in the Ohs' hometown. . . past and present unfold in chapters told deftly from alternate viewpoints. . . " -Library Journal
Paperback; $16.99
Publisher: Harper Perennial; ISBN: 9780061941030
|
|
by Henning Mankell
[Fiction]
 Soon after Inspector Kurt Wallander moves into a new house with a charming garden, he makes an upsetting discovery: there is a hand--ndeed, an entire corpse--buried in a shallow grave in the garden. It's the responsibility of the local police to handle the investigation. . . but Wallander, even though he's busy with another case, is soon drawn into the search for the truth about his new home, and its previous owner.
Paperback; $14.95
Publisher:Vintage Books ; ISBN: 9780804170642
|
|
[Fiction]
 "In his Scotland Street series, now in its eighth installment, McCall Smith follows a core group of people, all of whom once lived in or very near the same Edinburgh apartment house (44 Scotland Street). We watch as they do things everyone does, like fix dinner, quarrel, match wits, and fall in love, but also as they do things only people in Edinburgh can, like shop at the farmers market held on Saturdays beneath the volcanic crag of Edinburgh Castle. And McCall Smith does something else here, even beyond what he does in his popular No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. He gives us each of his characters' points of view, moving deftly from one to the other. . . " -Booklist, Starred Review
Paperback; $15.00
Publisher: Anchor Books; ISBN: 9780345804402
|
|
[Non-Fiction]
 The book that millions of SCRABBLE players consider the only necessary resource. More than 100,000 playable two - to eight-letter words including more than 5,000 newly added entries. Includes variant spellings with expanded coverage of Canadian and British words. Ideal for recreational and school use.
Paperback; $8.50
Publisher: Merriam-Webster; ISBN: 9780877798224
|
New For Young Readers
|
|
Flashlight
by Lizi Boyd
Ages 2-5
[Fiction]
 "A wordless picture book both soothing and gently humorous. The cover displays the template that will appear throughout: black pages with stylized, silvery, moonlit flora and fauna, except where the flashlight's glow shows the colors of objects as they appear in full-spectrum light. That triangular beam will reveal such things as a beaver in a pond, bats in the sky, mice munching on apples and a set of colorful Tibetan prayer flags suspended between two woodland trees. Although rendered in gouache, the art resembles a scratch painting, with myriad tiny plants and animals inscribed into the black background, starting with captivating endpapers. . . " -Kirkus Reviews
Hardcover; $16.99
Publisher: Chronicle Books; ISBN: 9781452118949
|
Pete the Cat and the New Guy (Pete the Cat)
by Kimberly Dean
Ages 4-8
[Fiction]
 There's a new guy in town, and Pete can't wait to meet him. After all, more friends mean more fun. But who can he be? When Pete finally meets Gus, he realizes they're very different from each other . . . but that's what makes him cool. Gus is special in his own way, just like Pete and just like you, and there is something everyone can do! The message of acceptance shines through and is perfect for young readers learning to navigate the social waters. Fans of Pete the Cat will delight in the rhythmic storytelling and fun repetition throughout the book.
Hardcover; $17.99
Publisher: HarperCollins; ISBN: 9780062275608
|
The Monsterator
by Keith Graves
[Fiction]
 "In this fiendishly fun novelty book, Master Edgar Dreadbury is suitably bored by typical Halloween attire and chooses to bypass his usual costume store for The Monster Shop, which he had not previously noticed. There, he finds a contraption called the 'MONSTERATOR,' and with a nonchalant 'Oh, why not,' the child drops his dime into the old fashioned-looking machine and is suddenly transformed into a monster. With his fearsome roar, sharp fangs, pointy horns, and reptilian feet, Edgar joyfully scares everyone in his path. . . " -School Library Journal
Hardcover; $17.99
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press; ISBN: 9781596438552
|
New Music
|
|
Genre: World
With fellow Mexican folksingers Nina Pastori and Soledad, Lila Downs presents a collection of music from Mexico to Argentina and Spain. Arrangements feature traditional instrumentation behind the singers' beautiful vocals.
($9.95 |
Genre: Pop/Folk
This Memphis alt.country band is renowned for its energetic live performances, but has never officially released a live disc. This two-CD set was recorded in November 2013 with a full band and horns, featuring pieces from throughout their catalog.
($15.95) |
Genre: New Age
For some, the revered pianist's seasonal solo piano reflections are an essential part of the year. This package presents re-mastered editions of Winston's classics, along with unheard bonus tracks.
($18.95) |
Genre: Irish/Celtic
This retrospective pairs the Scottish bard with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra for orchestral arrangements of his favorites. Songs include "Caledonia," "Turning Away," "This Love Will Carry," and more.
($22.95) |
Events at Grass Roots
|
|
|
Peter Stark
Thursday, August 14 at 7:00 p.m.
227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR
Peter Stark's ASTORIA: John Jacob Astor and Thomas Jefferson's Lost Pacific Empire-A Story of Wealth, Ambition, and Survival is the harrowing tale of the quest to settle a Jamestown-like colony on the Pacific Coast. Though the colony itself would be short-lived, its founders opened provincial American eyes to the remarkable potential of the Western coast, discovered the route that became the Oregon Trail, and permanently altered the nation's landscape and global standing.
Unfolding from 1810 to 1813, Astoria is a tale of high adventure and incredible hardship drawing extensively on firsthand accounts of the men who made the journey. Peter Stark is an adventurer and explorer with first-hand experience of the terrain depicted in Astoria. The author has paddled it, hiked it, climbed it-and is thus able to portray these harrowing situations with vividness and immediacy.
|
|
Community Poetry and Stafford Night
 Thursday, August 21 at 7:00 p.m227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR
Read your own poetry and/or your favorite poem by William Stafford, or attend and listen!
"'If you have been wondering where the articulate, readable poems have gone in the last third of the 20th century, you might start with [William] Stafford,' declares Victor Howes of the Christian Science Monitor. A pacifist and one of 'the quiet of the land,' as he often describes himself, Stafford is known for his unique method of composition, his soft-spoken voice, and his independence from social and literary expectations." -from The Poetry Foundation
Contact our Event Coordinator (ATTN: Claire) at groots@peak.org or call at 541-754-7668 to sign up.
|
|
Edwin Wollert
Saturday, August 23, 3:00 p.m.
227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR
Can we comprehend what another creature thinks? Can we balance needed acceptance with needed individuality? Four friends will consider such topics as they head into Denali National Park and encounter animals that have become symbols of the wilderness: wolves, animals found struggling to survive on their own terms. Author D. T. Kizis glimpses into wild Alaska, with a dramatic yet adventurous novel about what has influenced our relationships with a species we regard as ally and enemy. The tension remains between our two species, as wolves have influenced human behavior and history for millennia.
Born in New England, Edwin Wollert lived in various other states and countries while trying to figure out what to do in life, currently haunting Corvallis and its university. He uses pseudonyms for Stone Ring Press since his works do not resemblance each other, and to hopefully thwart future creditors.
|
|
Kate Dyer-Seeley
Thursday, August 28 at 7 p.m.
227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR
Scene of the Climb is a new adult mystery, featuring a young reporter, Meg Reed, who is fresh out of college and crashing on her best friend's couch in Portland, Oregon. She embellishes her outdoor skills in order to land a gig writing for Northwest Extreme Magazine, when in reality her idea of sport is climbing onto the couch without spilling
her latte. The magazine sends her out to the ruggedly beautiful Columbia River Gorge to cover an adventure race. She claws her way to the top of a cliff only to witness a body falling off the summit. From there things just get worse for Meg.
Kate Dyer-Seeley writes the Pacific Northwest Mystery Series featuring the rugged landscapes of the Columbia River Gorge and a young journalist who bills herself as an intrepid adventurer in order to land a gig writing for Northwest Extreme. She lives in Vancouver where you can find her hitting the trail, at an artisan coffee shop, or at her favorite pub.
|
Community Events
|
|
| Darkside Show Times for 8/15-8/21
-Magic In The Moonlight-PG-13 Love makes the magic in Woody Allen's latest movie, and it helps to have such likable stars as Colin Firth and Emma Stone in the leading roles.
-Begin Again-R Writer-director John Carney's (Once) charming work from its well-matched leads, Begin Again is difficult to resist. Keira Knightley, Adam Levine, Mark Ruffalo.
-Belle-R It boasts all the surface beauty that fans of period pictures have come to expect, but Belle also benefits from its stirring performances and subtle social consciousness.
-Mood Indigo-NR French filmmaker Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) returns home to let his manic imagination run wild.
-Grand Seduction-PG-13 Brendan Gleeson.
Literary/Arts Events
-Bard in the Quad August 14-17 $5 - $15 seating begins at 6:30, play begins at 7:30 Memorial Union Quad Oregon State University Corvallis, OR, Julius Caesar is Shakespeare's classic tragedy, based on the historical assassination of one of Rome's most infamous emperors. It expresses timeless themes of political intrigue, loyalty, and power.
Remember:
Parking is free on OSU's campus after 5:00pm
Bard in the Quad is an outdoor performance and no seating is provided
Please bring blankets or low lawn chairs and warm clothing
No late seating or late admission
Seating begins at 6:30 p.m. No one will be seated prior to 6:30 p.m.
Contact box office manager, Arin Dooley (541-737-2784) with any questions regarding tickets, group rates, seating, and other accommodations.
-Writers on the River with Fiona Kenshole Aug 18 6:30-8:30 p.m. Dennis Hall at the First Presbyterian Church, 114 SW 8th St., Corvallis, OR 97333.
-Little Mermaid Performance Friday, August 22-23 from 7:00-9:00 PM at Corvallis-Benton County Public Library The Alsea Film Academy presents Disney's The Little Mermaid. One of Broadway's most popular musicals comes to the Corvallis-Benton County Library. It's great family fun, and tickets are FREE. Visit www.alseafilmacademy.org to get your free ticket. Suitable for all ages!
Opportunities
- Dogwood Contest with $1000 Grand Prize Submission deadline: September 5, 2014
Dogwood: A Journal of Poetry and Prose will begin accepting entries of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for the 2014-2015 issue and contest on July 1, with a deadline of Sept. 5. A prize of $1000 goes to one winning entry, with two additional entries receiving $250 each. The grand prize winner will be chosen from winners in nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. Entry fee is $10; all submissions considered for publication in the 14th annual edition. All entrants receive an electronic PDF of the journal. Please use our online submission manager for your submissions.
-New Delta Review Short Fiction Contest Online submission deadline: October 4, 2014
New Delta Review seeks entries for the second annual Ryan R. Gibbs Award for Short Fiction, a contest judged by the amazing Roxane Gay, author of An Untamed State and Bad Feminist. We are looking for a full narrative in a small package (1500 words or less). Winner will receive a $500 prize and publication in the winter issue of New Delta Review. All submissions will be considered for publication. Deadline for entry is October 4, 2014. Enter with $10 fee through Submittable here.
-Creative Nonfiction contest: $1,000 for Best Essay on "Waiting"
Online/Postmark submission deadline: September 22, 2014
Creative Nonfiction Magazine is seeking new essays for an upcoming issue dedicated to "Waiting." We want well-crafted true stories of delays, postponements, and pauses that explore and examine our relationship with time. Whether you're waiting patiently or not, on tables of for Godot, we can't wait to read your work. $1,000 for best essay and $500 for runner-up. Guidelines here.
|
|
Community Events with Grass Roots
|
|
Store News
|
|
The Wild World of Current Events
With the coincidental timing of the paperback release of Brad Stone's The Everything Store this week and the book industry's recent tensions surrounding Amazon's Readers United ( here's the Amazon Book Team's open letter, and here's a recap on the Hachette vs. Amazon developments), we decided a Current Events display for the store was a timely idea.
Our global and national news is buzzing at a ridiculous rate and we have the latest titles to keep you up to speed. Please come take a look at these socially relevant books.
|
| Summer Recreation!
To quote the great poet Mary Oliver:
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
Answer: summer recreational activities, for a start, because summertime is beautiful in the valley and we want you to get out there and SEE it in the remaining weeks of warmth and sunshine! (I think Mary Oliver would find this sage advice.)
|
Jigsaw
|
|
|
(Back in color this week!)
|
Reading Group Selection
|
|
|
by Lorrie Moore
Tuesday, Sept. 2 at 6:30-8 p.m.
 Join Adam as he leads the September Reading Group with Who Will Run the Frog Hospital by Loorie Moore. The summer Berie was fifteen, she and her best friend Sils had jobs at Storyland in upstate New York, where Berie sold tickets to see the beautiful Sils portray Cinderella in a strapless evening gown. They spent their breaks smoking, joking, and gossiping. After work they followed their own reckless rules, teasing the fun out of small town life, sleeping in the family station wagon, and drinking borrowed liquor from old mayonnaise jars. But no matter how wild, they always managed to escape any real danger until the adoring Berie sees that Sils really does need her help and then everything changes.
Regular Price: $14.95
On sale for:$12.71
Until: Monday, Sept. 1
Publisher: Vintage Books
ISBN: 9781400033829
|
Night Stands
|
|
Claire
Graceling (Graceling Realm Books)
by Kristin Cashore
[Fiction]
 Graceling is an incredibly powerful YA Fantasy novel with a strong, well-written, female protagonist. Katsa is a Graceling with the power of survival, and she and Po work together to combat the corrupt King Leck. The book takes on a magical plotline while weaving in elements of feminism and other social justice values. Plus, if you like this one, there are two more-- Fire and Bitterblue--to keep you satiated!
Paperback; $9.99
Publisher: Graphia Books; ISBN: 9780547258300
|
Kendall
An Untamed State
by Roxane Gay
[Fiction]
 The first few weeks I had this book in my possession, I kept handing it to people and making them read the first page because the writing is immediately beautiful. Once I was finally able to start reading it, it took me two days to finish. While centered around a brutal kidnapping, it is actually a story of love and hope. This novel is traumatic, but important to read. An Untamed State is one of the rare books that lingers in your heart for weeks after you've put it down.
Paperback; $16.00
Publisher: Black Classic Press; ISBN: 9780802122513
|
Erika
They Want My Soul
by Spoon
[Album]
Upbeat and funky, spoon's newest They Want My Soul is sure to hit the spot! If you are new to Spoon, this is a great taste of what they have to offer! This is one of my favorites right now because of its toe-tapping, catchy, good fun sound! They Want My Soul packs a lot of punch into each song & over all the album is just splendid! This is perfect summer time tunes or if you need a pick-me-up.
Pop/Folk; $13.95
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
