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March 19, 2015
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Greetings, Readers,

Tomorrow is the vernal equinox (and a supermoon!), and we look forward to transitioning to a new season with you. This week in stock: a brand new collection of essays by Wendell Berry, novels by Jo Baker and Alan Furst in paperback, a fantastic mix of books for kids, and cards for Easter.

 

April is also fast approaching, and it's bringing National Poetry Month with it! This year, we'll be highlighting poets and poetry books from our shelves. Celebrate this literary art form with Grass Roots by signing up to receive our Poem-A-Day emails -- just email us at [email protected] or sign up in the store. If you've signed up in previous years, you're already on the list. For further details, see Store News.

 

Corvallis may have been named one of the "most normal" neighborhoods in the Oregonian, but you're bound to find some very extraordinary reading in our neck of the woods. We'll see you there!
 

~ Marissa

New HardcoversNHardcovers

by Thor Hanson
[Non-Fiction]  

"Conservation biologist Hanson follows Feathers (2011) with a book inspired, in part, by his young son's preternatural fascination with seeds. . .As he visits with seed experts around the world, Hanson marvels over the amazing energetics of seeds, the evolutionary impact of our ancestors' consumption of seeds. . .and the civilization-shaping political power of grain. . .From high-tech, high-security seed banks bracing for climate change to the story of the gum extracted from guar seeds that is used in everything from ice cream to fracking, this upbeat and mind-expanding celebration of the might of seeds is popular science writing as its finest." - Booklist, Starred Review

 

Hardcover; $26.99

Publisher: Basic Books (AZ); ISBN: 9780465055999

by Michael Tennesen
[Non-Fiction]  

"When an asteroid snuffed out three-fourths of the earth's species of plants and animals 65 million years ago, no human eyes observed the catastrophe. Tennesen fears, however, that humans will witness the next great extinction event -- precisely because we will have caused it. To explain the dynamics of mass extinction, Tennesen examines the fossil record, focusing on the Permian Extinction 250 million years ago, a grim phenomenon characterized by several disturbingly familiar features: greenhouse gases, rising global temperatures, and acidification of the oceans. Yet [Tennesen] stresses that evolutionary adaptability ensures life's survival. . .The next new creation simply might not include humans. . ." - Booklist, Starred Review

 

Hardcover; $26.00

Publisher: Simon & Schuster; ISBN: 9781451677515

by Roberto Trotta
[Non-Fiction]  

From the big bang to black holes, from dark matter to dark energy, from the origins of the universe to its ultimate destiny, The Edge of the Sky tells the story of the most important discoveries and mysteries in modern cosmology -- with a twist. The book's lexicon is limited to the thousand most common words in the English language, excluding "physics," "energy," or even "universe." Through the eyes of a fictional scientist (Student-People) hunting for dark matter with one of the biggest telescopes (Big-Seers) on Earth (Home-World), cosmologist Trotta explores the universe (All-There-Is) in language simple enough for anyone to understand.

 

Hardcover; $16.99

Publisher: Basic Books; ISBN: 9780465044719

by Jacqueline Winspear
[Fiction]  

"Four years have passed since Maisie Dobbs faced the ultimatum of her lover, James Compton, in London in 1933. . .Having traveled to India to find peace after tragedy, Maisie is going home but still can't face the memories England holds, so she disembarks in Gibraltar, a dangerous place in 1937 with the Spanish civil war just across the border. During an evening walk, Maisie finds the body of photographer Sebastian Babayoff. Feeling it's her responsibility to find the truth about the murder, she starts to work [again]. . ." - Booklist, Starred Review

Hardcover; $26.99

Publisher: Harper; ISBN: 9780062220554

by Wendell Berry
[Fiction] 

The planet's environmental problems respect no national boundaries. Late capitalism goes about its business of finishing off the planet. And we citizens are left with a shell of what was once proudly described as "the American Dream." In this new collection of 11 essays, Berry confronts head-on the necessity of clear thinking and direct action, never one to ignore the present challenge. For more than 50 years, conservationist and poet Berry has been an eloquent spokesman and advocate for the planet, for our families, and for the future of our children and ourselves.

 

Hardcover; $24.00

Publisher: Counterpoint LLC; ISBN: 9781619024885

New PaperbacksNPaperbacks

by Smith Henderson
[Fiction]

After trying to help Benjamin Pearl, a nearly feral 11-year-old boy living in the Montana wilderness, social worker Pete Snow comes face-to-face with the boy's profoundly disturbed father, Jeremiah. With courage and caution, Pete slowly earns a measure of trust from this paranoid survivalist itching for a final conflict that will signal the coming End Times. But as Pete's own family spins out of control, Pearl's activities spark the full-blown interest of the FBI, putting Pete at the center of a massive manhunt from which no one will emerge unscathed. An unforgettable, unflinching debut marking the arrival of a major literary talent.

Paperback; $15.99

Publisher: Ecco Press; ISBN: 9780062286468

by Gary Klein
[Non-Fiction]

"Klein investigates the ways in which people can have a sudden insight that results in new inventions, revisions of accepted beliefs, or even winning fantasy baseball. After years of studying decision-making, Klein finds that insight is much harder to quantify. . .Using examples from history, current events and his own experience, Klein developed a list of factors that contribute to insight: connections, coincidence, curiosities, contradictions, and creative desperation. . .His analysis of how Google searches and corporate culture inhibit insight is intriguing, while suggestions for improving the chances of having a breakthrough are practical and useful for many facets of life." - Publishers Weekly

Paperback; $16.99

Publisher: PublicAffairs; ISBN: 9781610393829

by Alan Furst
[Fiction]

"In 1937, the lights were going out in Europe, but jackbooted blackness had not quite swept the continent. Spanish 'migr' Christin Ferrar is a successful lawyer at an international firm. . .happy to be far from the troubles in Spain. Yet, when he is approached to aid those supplying the Republican troops with arms, he is surprised to find himself complying. And so begins another tale of clandestine operations in which civilians step up. . .out of the realization that history affords them no other choice. Furst [shows] how [love] drives the actions of men and women caught in a time of peril." -Booklist, Starred Review

Paperback; $16.00

Publisher: Random House Trade; ISBN: 9780812981834

by Bruce Weber
[Non-Fiction]

During the summer and fall of 2011, Bruce Weber, an obituary writer for The New York Times, bicycled across the country alone, and wrote about it as it unfolded. This part travelogue, part memoir, part romance, and part paean to the bicycle is the diary of his journey, in which the challenges and rewards of self-reliance and strenuous physical effort yield wry and incisive observations about cycling and America, not to mention the pleasures of a three-thousand-calorie breakfast. The story begins on the Oregon coast, with Weber wondering what he's gotten himself into, and ends in triumph on New York City's George Washington Bridge.

Paperback; $17.00

Publisher: Scribner Book Company; ISBN: 9781451695021

by Jo Baker
[Fiction]

The acclaimed author of Longbourn brings us the fantastical story of a young girl in search of her mother. . .who just might be a mermaid. Malin has always been different, and when her father dies, leaving her alone, her choice is clear: stay, and remain an outsider forever, or leave in search of the mythical inheritance she is certain awaits her. Apprenticed to a series of strange and wonderful characters, Malin embarks on a grueling journey that crosses oceans and continents -- from the high seas to desert plains -- and leads to a discovery that she could never have expected.

Paperback; $15.95

Publisher: Vintage; ISBN: 9780804172639

New For Young ReadersYReaders

by Lori Evert
[Fiction]
Ages 3 to 7

Anja, the kind and brave heroine of the bestselling The Christmas Wish, returns in a springtime adventure. When Anja wishes to be tiny to win a game of hide-and-seek, her wish comes true! Just a few inches tall, she must find her way home with the help of some new animal friends. Extraordinary photographs and enchanting text will leave readers wondering, "Did that really happen?"

"The high-quality digitally composed photographs draw readers in with sweeping mountain vistas and charmingly posed interactions between Anja and her talking animal friends." - Kirkus Reviews

 

Hardcover; $17.99

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers; ISBN: 9780385379229

by Kate Messner
[Fiction]
Ages 8 to 12

Ranger has been trained as a search-and-rescue dog, but can't officially pass the test because he's always getting distracted by squirrels during exercises. One day, he finds a mysterious first aid kit in the garden and is transported to the year 1850, where he meets a young boy named Sam Abbott. Sam's family is migrating west on the Oregon Trail, and soon after Ranger arrives he helps the boy save his little sister. Ranger thinks his job is done, but the Oregon Trail can be dangerous, and the Abbotts need Ranger's help more than they realize!

 

Paperback; $5.99

Publisher: Scholastic Press; ISBN: 9780545639149

by Pam Muoz Ryan
[Fiction]
Ages 10 to 14

"The fairy tale that opens this elegant trio of interconnected stories. . .sets the tone for the rest of the book, in which a mystical harmonica brings together three children growing up before and during WWII. Each individual story is engaging, but together they harmonize to create a thrilling whole. The book's thematic underpinnings poignantly reveal what Friedrich, Mike, and Ivy truly have in common: not just a love of music, but resourcefulness in the face of change, and a refusal to accept injustice." - Publishers Weekly

Hardcover; $19.99

Publisher: Scholastic Press; ISBN: 9780439874021

New MusicNMusic


Allison Moorer
Down To Believing
Genre: Pop/Folk

Moorer began her career as a young country phenom, and has been recognized over the years for her writing. Her first record in several years continues in her recent Americana vein, serving as her "break-up album" in light of a pending divorce from Steve Earle.
($13.98)

Genre: Pop/Folk

This is the Illinois quartet's second album. The new tunes depart from the debut's Americana, adding a layer of pop sheen and more sophisticated writing.
($14.98)

Mark Knopfler
Tracker
Genre: Pop/Folk

The Dire Straits founder fronts a band featuring several Celtic musicians for a collection of folk rock songs. Knopfler's voice and guitar are instantly recognizable on these tunes that tell working class stories.
($13.99)

Pine Hill Project
 Tomorrow You're Going
Genre: Pop/Folk

Pine Hill Project features the contemporary folk work of Richard Shindell and Lucy Kaplansky. Produced by Larry Campbell, the album presents a series of cover songs, including tunes originally by Dave Carter, Gillian Welch, Nick Lowe, and more.  
($16.98)

Genre: Pop/Folk

An Avett Brother pairs with indie songstress Mayfield for a tribute to the late Portland rocker. Avett and Mayfield share vocals and reinterpret Smith's songs for a roots audience.
($13.98)

Tobias Jesso Jr.
Goon
Genre: Pop/Folk

Jesso is a pianist and writer whose music brings to mind classic piano pop of the 1970s. Produced by members of Black Keys, Foxygen and Girls, Goon features Jesso's charmingly personal writing and playing.
($14.98)
Events at Grass RootsEventsGRR

The Jaguar Tree by John Addiego
The Snake Dance by J.D. Becker (Janice Imel)
The Edge of Innocence by Emory Sanders

Thursday, March 19, at 7:00 p.m.
Grass Roots Books and Music
227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR
 
In The Jaguar Tree, tropical storm winds topple a tree in Nicaragua, unearthing the bones of three men killed 20 years ago. Frank Alvarado, an American cop who's come to Central America on a personal mission to retrieve a little boy, is urged by a priest to help in the murder investigation. Traveling down the Rio San Juan in search of the boy, encountering drug runners and mercenaries in the heart of the jungle, Alvarado finds the source of old crimes and new as he discovers the identity of the triple murderer.

John Addiego has published two literary novels previous to this new mystery, as well as several short stories and poems in literary magazines. A former teacher and poetry editor at Northwest Review, he lives in Corvallis with his wife, Ellen. Please visit his very serious blog at johnaddiego.blogspot.com.

In The Snake Dance, Harri questions the rules her people insisted she follow. God's will was not a good enough explanation any longer -- Harri's life changed forever when her mother and baby brother died. Harri is faced with conflicts she never dreamed of. She loves her community, but hates God. She loves the father of her baby but can't tell him he's the father because he's outside the community and Native American. She loves her father, but blames him for the trouble she's in. She's an outsider now because she can't accept their life anymore and her baby may die because of them.

Janice Imel, a.k.a. J.D. Becker, is a mental health counselor in Corvallis. Raised in NYC, she became a VISTA in 1968 in California. In 2009 she received her MA in counseling psychology.

The Edge of Innocence is a true story of a young boy who is the only son of divorced parents. He is raised by his mother during his early years. Soon after, a court order constrains him to join his father. After spending several years in boarding schools, he is forced to live with his father and stepmother who are a couple of misfits. He endures neglect, abuse, and violence. In the midst of a harsh and difficult life, he finds faith and courage. Through determination and perseverance, he manages to excel as a student.

Emory Sanders received a Ph.D. in Engineering and an MBA in Finance. He was also an adjunct professor at various colleges. He is the author of more than 140 scientific and business publications.

Jim Furnish

Saturday, April 4, at 2:00 p.m.
Grass Roots Books and Music
227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR

Toward a Natural Forest offers an insider's view of this tumultuous time in the history of the Forest Service, presenting twin tales of transformation, both within the agency and within the author's evolving environmental consciousness. While stewarding our national forests with
the best of intentions, had the Forest Service diminished their natural essence and ecological values? How could one man confront the crisis while remaining loyal to his employer?

Jim Furnish is a consulting forester in the Washington D.C. area following a 34-year career with the USDA Forest Service. He served as the agency's Deputy Chief and Siuslaw National Forest Supervisor in Corvallis, Oregon. 

David Hargreaves
Thursday, April 9, at 7:00 p.m.
Grass Roots Books and Music
227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR

The Blossoms of Sixty-Four Sunsets is a collection of poems written by Durga Lal Shrestha, Nepal's best known contemporary poet and lyricist, and translated from Nepal Bhasa (Newari) by David Hargreaves -- in collaboration with R. Shrestha, D.R. Shakya, R. Manandhar, and the author himself. In these poems, readers will find a mature and deeply personal poetic vision emerging out of a series of dialogues with the setting sun. But readers take note, these are not easy listening sound-bites from the new-age section of the mall bookstore. These are masterfully crafted poems: passionate, rhythmic, imagistic and enigmatic.

David Hargreaves, linguist and poet, holds a Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Oregon, and is currently a professor in the Department of English, Writing and Linguistics at Western Oregon University in Monmouth. He lives in Corvallis.
 
Community EventsCommunityEvents

Darkside Show Times for 3/20/-3/26

-Wild 
-R 

There's something about a cinematic NW road trip that circulates the juices and stirs the pheromones. Reese Witherspoon.


-Walking With The Enemy -PG-13 An unforgettable film of love, courage, and sacrifice. Ben Kingsley.

-Salvation -R The mighty Mads Mikkelsen unleashes a maelstrom of bloodshed in the Wild West in this white-knuckle tale of revenge.

-What We Do in The Shadows -NR Smarter, fresher, and funnier than a modern vampire movie has any right to be, What We Do in the Shadows is bloody good fun.

-October Gale -NR Compassionate, authentically emotional at times, and when it reaches its potential, retains some concept of restraint.

-Still Alice -PG-13 A gripping performance from Julianne Moore, and a heartfelt drama that honors its delicate themes with bravery and sensitivity. Best Actress Oscar Nom!
 

Arts/Literary Events

Random Reviews: 
by John Steinbeck
Reviewed by Bill Robbins; sponsored by Friends of the Library

Wednesday, April 8 at 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Corvallis-Benton County Public Library
645 NW Monroe Ave.
Corvallis, OR 97330


Tragedy Full of Joy: Stories By Bernard Malamud
Majestic Reader's Theatre Company
 
Saturday, April 25 at 7:00 p.m. & Sunday, April 26 at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Majestic Theatre Lab
115 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR 97333

In honor of Bernard Malamud's 101st birthday, The Majestic Reader's Theatre Company and The OSU School of Writing, Literature and Film present Tragedy Full Of Joy: Stories by Bernard Malamud, directed by Robert Leff. Elena Passarello, David Turkel, and Robert Leff have adapted four of his short stories: "Steady Customer," "A Wig," "The Jewbird," and "The Magic Barrel." Malamud, a major mid-twentieth century American writer, was a member of the Oregon State English Department from 1949 to 1961. While living in Corvallis, he wrote the novels The Natural, The Assistant, and the short story collection The Magic Barrel, which won the 1959 National Book Award for Fiction. 

David Gessner
OSU Visiting Writer Series

Friday, May 8, at 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Valley Library Main Floor Rotunda
201 Southwest Waldo Place
Corvallis, OR 97331

David Gessner is the author of the forthcoming book, All the Wild that Remains: Edward Abbey, Wallace Stegner and the American West, and eight others including Sick of Nature, The Prophet of Dry Hill, and Return of the Osprey, which was chosen by the Boston Globe as one of the top 10 non-fiction books of the year and the Book-of-the-Month club as one of its top books of the year. Gessner is an associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and founder of the national literary journal, Ecotone. Grass Roots will be selling books at this event.

Community Events with Grass Roots

John Marzluff

Thursday, April 2, at 7:00 p.m.
LaSells Stewart Center: C & E Auditorium 
875 SW 26th St.
Corvallis, OR 97333

Join The Spring Creek Project for a reading and signing with John Marzluff and his new book: Welcome to Subirdia: Sharing Our Neighborhoods with Wrens, Robins, Woodpeckers, and Other Wildlife. This excellent book documents engagingly how wildlife has adapted to urban and suburban areas, often in surprising ways. Marzluff, Ph.D., is Professor of Wildlife Science at the University of Washington and author of four books and over one hundred scientific papers on various aspects of bird behavior, he is the recipient of the A. Brazier Howell, Board of Directors, and H.R. Painton awards from the Cooper Ornithological Society. Grass Roots will be selling books at this event.

39th Annual OSU Gerontology Conference

Thursday, April 2 - Friday, April 3 (all day)
CH2M HILL Alumni Center
725 SW 26th Street
Corvallis, OR 97333

This two-day conference, held at Oregon State University, will feature workshops by leading geriatric professionals presenting current information for health and human services occupations in a wide variety of disciplines. Grass Roots will be selling books at this event.

Store NewsStoreNews

NBCC Awards

The winners of the National Book Critics Circle Awards for 2014 have been announced in multiple categories, including: Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast for autobiography; Lila by Marilynne Robinson for fiction, and Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine for poetry. See the full list of winners here
Easter books for kids


Here's a sneak peek of what is hatching in the store for Easter! More to come next week...
Cover twins and trends



We all know you can't judge a book by its cover, but sometimes they have us seeing double! The striking similarities between these titles' artwork may not have any bearing on the resemblance of their contents, but you'll have to see these doppelg�ngers for yourself to believe it.
Poem-A-Day: sign-up and submission guidelines

April is National Poetry Month! To receive our Poem-A-Day, send us an email at [email protected] or sign up in the store. And if you're a local poet, please submit a poem that might be included in our Poem-A-Day emails by emailing your submissions to the aforementioned address, using "Poem-A-Day" as your subject line, and including your name and a brief biographical sketch (50 to 75 words). Please note that not all submissions will be included as part of Poem-A-Day, and we cannot guarantee that your poem will be published.
Liz Carlisle event recap


We had a lively discussion between local farmers, activists, and readers who attended the presentation of Liz Carlisle's book, Lentil Underground: Renegade Farmers and the Future of Food in America. We were fascinated by the many views brought to the table!
JigsawJigsaw

Solve this week's jigsaw!
Reading Group SelectionReadingGroup

by Bernard Malamud
Tuesday, April 7 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Join Adam as he leads our April Book Group with Bernard Malamud's The Magic Barrel: Stories in keeping with the production of Tragedy Full of Joy: Stories by Bernard Malamud by the Majestic Reader's Theatre Company (see Arts/Literary Events above!).

Bernard Malamud's first book of short stories, The Magic Barrel, has been recognized as a classic from the time it was published in 1959. The stories are set in New York and in Italy (where Malamud's alter ego, the struggling New York Jewish Painter Arthur Fidelman, roams amid the ruins of old Europe in search of his artistic patrimony). It is a book about New York and about the immigrant experience, and a high point in the modern American short story. Few books of any kind have managed to depict struggle and frustration and heartbreak with such delight, or such artistry.

Regular Price: $15.00
On sale for: $12.75
Until Tuesday, April 7
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
ISBN: 9780374525866
Night StandsNightStands

Tiffany

by Eric Foner
[Fiction]

Compulsively readable, The Girl on the Train will keep you turning pages long into the night. Rachel Watson, the "girl" in the title, travels back and forth on a commuter train, obsessing about her ex-husband, Tom, and his new wife, Anna. On her daily ride, she views a couple a few doors down from what used to be her own home and creates an imaginary backstory to their lives. Then the woman, Megan, goes missing just after Rachel sees her with another man. But Rachel -- and the police -- can't trust what she saw because she blacks out from alcoholic binges, leaving gaps in her memory. Alternately narrated by the three women, the book sucks the reader into its psychological mystery (turning you, too, into a voyeur on the train) as it races to a thrilling conclusion.

 

Hardcover; $26.95

Publisher: Riverhead Books; ISBN: 9781594633669

Claire

by Carl Zimmer
[Non-Fiction]

For scientists and science lovers, as well as those who love body art, this is the book for you. Zimmer shows a variety of science-related tattoos, with explanations of the meaning behind each. This is a great way to get inspiration for future tattoos, or to learn through art. From symbols and equations to Darwin, we get to see the creativity of so many people out there. Reading it, I was tempted to go out and get some of the tattoos myself!

 

Paperback; $14.95

Publisher: Sterling; ISBN: 9781454912408

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