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January 21, 2016
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Greetings, Readers,

Our bargain book sale is still going strong, with discounts on various new-quality bargain titles. See our website to view a sample of these titles! 

Exciting new releases just hit our shelves this week: another travel adventure with Bill Bryson, the newest fantastical tale from China Mi�ville, and a treatise on the age of technology now out in paperback. 

Keep scrolling for new music including Sweet Honey in the Rock, as well as upcoming off-site author talks with Kathleen Dean Moore, Ruth Reichl and Phillip Margolin. Mark your calendars!

Read on, 

~Marissa
New HardcoversNHardcovers

by Elizabeth McKenzie 
[Fiction]  
 
"[Heroine] Veblen is newly engaged to Paul Vreeland, a doctor who has just received a lucrative contract to develop a tool to combat traumatic brain injury in veterans. . .[Veblen is] a free spirit with a sunny outlook, and [Paul is] grounded and ambitious. Their differences are perfectly illustrated in their reactions to a squirrel that takes up residence in Veblen's rented house. She believes the squirrel is trying to communicate with her, while Paul wants to trap and even kill it. Their families only add complications. . .[A] charmingly quirky exploration of how one young couple navigate their families and grows into their relationship." - Booklist

Hardcover; $26.00
Publisher: Penguin Press; ISBN: 9781594206856
by Bill Bryson
[Non-Fiction]

"There's a whole lot of went to a charming little village named Bloke-on-Weed, had a look around, a cup of tea, and moved on in Bryson's most recent toddle around Britain. Writing 20 years after his best-selling Notes from a Small Island, Bryson concocts another trip through his homeland of 40 years by determining the longest distance one could travel in Britain in a straight line. Teeming with historical, geographical, and biographical trivia about people with improbable names, such as Oliver Heaviside, and esoteric endeavors, such as the Ashmolean Museum, Bryson showcases both the quotidian and the quirky. . ." - Booklist, Starred Review

Hardcover; $28.95
Publisher: Doubleday Books; ISBN: 9780385539289
by Elizabeth Strout
[Fiction]  
 
"Lucy Barton recalls her months-long stay in the hospital after suffering complications during a routine appendectomy. . .[while] Lucy and her [estranged] mother seek to find common ground, [but] avoid talking about the central event of Lucy's life, her impoverished childhood. Obliquely, the harsh details are revealed: Lucy was frequently hungry, dirty, and terrorized by her abusive father. She felt isolated, ashamed, and fearful, feelings that still surface in adulthood. It seems a small miracle that she escaped to college, got married, had children, and became a writer. . .Strout relays with great tenderness and sadness the way family relationships can both make and break us." - Booklist, Starred Review

Hardcover; $26.00
Publisher: Random House; ISBN: 9781400067695
by China Miville
[Fiction]  
 
In a remote house on a hilltop, a lonely boy witnesses a profoundly traumatic event. He tries and fails to flee. Left alone with his increasingly deranged parent, he dreams of safety, of joining the other children in the town below, of escape. When at last a stranger knocks at his door, the boy senses that his days of isolation might be over. But by what authority does this man keep the meticulous records he carries? What is the purpose behind his questions? Is he friend? Enemy? Or something else altogether? This Census-Taker is a poignant and riveting exploration of memory and identity.

Hardcover; $24.00
Publisher: Del Rey Books; ISBN: 9781101967324
New PaperbacksNPaperbacks

by Aline Ohanesian
[Fiction]

"Stretching back and forth through time over the course of the twentieth century, Ohanesian's heartrending debut chronicles the painful odyssey of one family against the broader backdrop of the Armenian genocide. When his grandfather, a successful Turkish businessman, dies, Orhan travels back to his native village, where he learns that his grandfather has unexpectedly willed his textile business to him, rather than to his father. . .Orhan is compelled to unravel the mystery of his grandfather's past and his family's role in a shameful period of his country's history. Ohanesian does a remarkable job of conveying the weight and the influence of time and place. . ." - Booklist

Paperback; $15.95
Publisher: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill; ISBN: 9781616205300
by Alexandra Fuller
[Non-Fiction]

"Raised in Zimbabwe and Zambia in the tumultuous 1970s and '80s, Fuller believed she'd found the man who could take on not only her but her family as well when she met Charlie Ross, a sturdy, bearded Wyoming native turned river guide. The pair wed after a year together and started their lives in Africa before moving to Wyoming. . . But as the years went on, the gap between them widened, and Fuller wrestled with the magnitude of what it meant to separate, then end their marriage. Powerful, raw, and painful, Fuller's writing is so immediate, so vivid that whether she's describing the beauty of Zambia or the harrowing hours following a devastating accident, she leaves the reader breathless. . ." - Booklist, Starred Review

Paperback; $17.00
Publisher: Penguin Books; ISBN: 9780143128427
by Mo Yan
[Fiction]

Yan chronicles the sweeping history of modern China through the lens of the nation's controversial one- child policy. Frog opens with a playwright nicknamed Tadpole who plans to write about his aunt. In her youth, Gugu -- the beautiful daughter of a famous doctor and staunch Communist -- is revered for her skill as a midwife. But when her lover defects, Gugu's own loyalty to the Party is questioned. . .In sharply personal prose, Mo Yan depicts the guilt of those who must enforce the policy. At once illuminating and devastating, it shines a light into the heart of communist China.

Paperback; $17.00
Publisher: Penguin Books; ISBN: 9780143128380
by Helene Gremillon
[Fiction]

"When psychoanalyst Vittorio Puig is arrested for the murder of his lissome young wife, Lisandra, his longtime patient Eva Maria Darienzo agrees to pursue her own inquiries -- never suspecting the danger into which she's plunging -- in this diabolic danse macabre set in Buenos Aires in 1987 from Gremillon. . .Ugly truths await as she throws herself into unravelling the mystery of Lisandra, in large part by listening to secret tapes of Dr. Puig's sessions with other patients, and she discovers that almost nothing is as it seems. . .A cunningly plotted tale that is by turns cerebral, suspenseful, and ultimately shocking." - Publishers Weekly

Paperback; $16.00
Publisher: Penguin Books; ISBN: 9780143126584
by Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee
[Non-Fiction]

As the full impact of digital technologies is felt, we will realize immense bounty in the form of dazzling personal technology, advanced infrastructure, and near-boundless access to the cultural items that enrich our lives. Amid this bounty will also be wrenching change. Professions of all kinds, from lawyers to truck drivers, will be forever upended. Companies will be forced to transform or die. Recent economic indicators reflect this shift: fewer people are working, and wages are falling even as productivity and profits soar. Drawing on years of research and up-to-the-minute trends, Brynjolfsson and McAfee identify the best strategies for survival and offer a new path to prosperity. 

Paperback; $16.95
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; ISBN: 9780393350647
New For Young ReadersYR

by Jennifer Sattler
[Fiction]  
 
Puppy love is in the air! Chick and Pug are the most dynamic duo around. That is until a new pug named Daisy comes along and sets her sights on the very handsome, very brave Wonder Pug. Chick agrees: every great hero needs a fair maiden by his side. Could Pug be Daisy's knight in shining armor? Maybe, if he ever wakes up from his nap . . .Brimming with the same humor and charm fans have come to love from Chick and Pug, readers will delight in their next adventure.

Hardcover; $16.99
Publisher: Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children's Books; ISBN: 9781619636729
New bargain books will return soon!BargainBooks
New MusicMusic


Aoife O'Donovan
In the Magic Hour
Pop/Folk

Inspired by childhood memories and recorded in the wake of the death of the Irish singer's beloved grandfather, this is O'Donovan's second solo record. It is equally steeped in Irish, folk and atmospheric jazz music. 
($16.98)

The Cactus Blossoms
You're Dreaming
Pop/Folk

Cactus Blossoms are two young brothers from Minnesota, both writers, singers and instrumentalists.  Produced by JD McPherson, their new collection is inspired by early rock music as well as contemporary folk.   
($14.98)

 Matt Flinner
Traveling Roots
Pop/Folk

"Led by one of the most respected mandolinists in today's acoustic scene, Matt Flinner and his trio partners, Ross Martin (guitar) and Eric Thorin (bass), are sonically founded in bluegrass, jazz, classical and American acoustic music." - Compass Records
($16.98)

Sweet Honey In the Rock
 Loveinevolution
Pop/Folk

After a long recording absence, this marks the return of the celebrated gospel and folk ensemble. Celebrating their fifth decade, Sweet Honey's new record addresses current issues in the language of jazz, blues, spirituals and African chants.
($17.98)
Events at Grass RootsEventsGRR

Nikki King and Alice Rampton

Tuesday, January 26, at 7:00 to 8:15 p.m.
Grass Roots Books & Music
227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR

The book is a survival manual for parents and families who have lost a child.  Many subjects are covered in the book including guilt, intimacy, emotional triggers, dealing with anger and regret, healthy healing, and ways to memorialize your child. The authors speak from personal experience and feel that the messages in the book will provide a sense of peace, comfort, and understanding.

The authors will be reading excerpts and answering questions. The book will be available for purchase and for signing by the authors at this event.
Community EventsCommunityEvents

Darkside Show Times for 1/22-1/28

-Anomolisa -R Charlie Kaufman's latest: a stop-motion adult animated introspective romantic drama and the first animated film to win the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice International Film Festival.  Voiced by David Thewlis, Tom Noonan, Jennifer Jason Leigh. 94% RT.

-Taxi Tehran -NR  In this forbidden film, exiled Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi poses as a taxi driver in Tehran, using his dash cam to capture a spirited slice of Iranian society while exploring, with humor and humanity, a world where the social and spiritual order remain at odds. 96% RT.

-Spotlight -R  The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core. Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams. 93% on RT!

-Room
-R  Held captive for years in an enclosed space, a woman (Brie Larson) and her 5-year-old son (Jacob Tremblay) finally gain their freedom, allowing the boy to experience the outside world for the first time. 97% RT.

-Brooklyn -PG-13  Lured by the promise of America, Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan) departs Ireland for New York City. A new romance chases away her initial homesickness, but soon she's forced to choose between two countries and the lives that exist within. Screenplay by Nick Hornby. 98% RT!

Arts/Literary Events

Reviewed by Kevin Hashizume; sponsored by Friends of the Library
 
Wednesday, February 10, at 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
Corvallis-Benton County Public Library
645 NW Monroe Ave.
Corvallis, OR

Community Events with Grass Roots CEGR

OSU Spring Creek Project presents
Kathleen Dean Moore

Thursday, February 11, at 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Corvallis Arts Center
700 SW Madison Ave.
Corvallis, OR

Even as seas rise against the shores, another great tide is beginning to rise -- a tide of outrage against the pillage of the planet, a tide of commitment to justice and human rights, a swelling affirmation of moral responsibility to the future and to Earth's fullness of life.

Kathleen Dean Moore is a distinguished professor emerita of philosophy at OSU and co-founder and Senior Fellow of the Spring Creek Project for Ideas, Nature, and the Written Word. An environmental philosopher, Moore writes about moral, spiritual, and cultural relationships to the natural world. Her previous book was the award-winning edited volume, Moral Ground: Ethical Action for a Planet in Peril. Grass Roots will be selling books at this event.
Insights Into Gardening at OSU

Saturday, February 13, at 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The LaSells Stewart Center, Austin Auditorium
Oregon State University
875 SW 26th St.
Corvallis, OR

Insights Into Gardening is a day-long, Saturday seminar hosted by Benton County Master Gardeners. This event offers practical, research-based information for gardeners and gardeners-to-be. Whether you are an experienced or novice gardener, new to the area or an Oregon native, you will find plenty of ideas to make your gardening easier, more enjoyable, and more successful. 20+ garden-related exhibitors, raffle prizes, and more. Please join us for an educational and fun day! Registration is now open at this link. Grass Roots will be selling books at this event.
OSU Provost's Lecture Series presents
Ruth Reichl
"American Food Now: How We Became a Nation of Foodies"

Wednesday, February 17, at 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. 
The LaSells Stewart Center, Austin Auditorium
Oregon State University
875 SW 26th St.
Corvallis, OR

Ruth Reichl, bestselling author of My Kitchen Year: 136 Recipes That Saved My Life, food critic, and judge on Bravo's Top Chef Masters, will give a talk followed by book sales and a book signing. Reichl is one of the most recognizable and beloved culinary voices, guiding people around the kitchen, showing them what to eat, how to make it, and where to satisfy their cravings. The Seattle Times called her "one of the nation's most influential figures in the food world."

Most recognizable as a writer and editor, Reichl was the Editor-in-Chief of Gourmet Magazine for 10 years until its closing. Before that she was the restaurant critic of The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times. Her culinary exploits have been featured on the Food Network and PBS. Grass Roots will be selling books at this event. 
Phillip Margolin

Thursday, March 17, at 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. 
Corvallis-Benton County Public Library
645 NW Monroe Ave.
Corvallis, OR

New York Times bestselling author and master of suspense Phillip Margolin knows what his fans want and he delivers with his newest novel Violent Crimes. Join us as Mr. Margolin reads from and discusses his latest novel.This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Grass Roots will be selling books at this event. 

Store NewsStoreNews

Check back next week!
JigsawJigsaw

Click to solve this week's jigsaw!
Reading Group SelectionReadingGroup

Tuesday, February 2, at 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Join Tiffany as she leads our February reading group with Crow Planet by Lyanda Lynn Haupt.

There are more crows now than ever. Their abundance is both a sign of ecological imbalance and a generous opportunity to connect with the more-than-human world. Graceful prose illuminates a world where crows gather to care for their sick, play in the snow, drop nuts in the road to be cracked open by passing cars, and even attend "crow funerals." Crow Planet is a journey of discovery in which crows become our guides, leading us off the pavement and into the realms of myth, history, and science, opening our eyes to the deeply relevant question of our own place in the urban-wild landscape.

Regular Price: $16.00
On sale for: $13.60
Until Tuesday, February 2
Publisher: Back Bay Books
ISBN: 9780316019118
Night StandsNightStands

N�e
[Non-Fiction]

The Price of Silence is a powerful book that drags mental illness out of the shadows and shines a blinding light on it. It is a book that everyone should read because each of us knows someone with a mental illness. (According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness: "1 in 5 adults in America experience a mental illness.") The author writes this book with a commendable fearlessness and the raw truths that only come from firsthand experience. Her son suffers from severe bipolar disorder and this illuminating book chronicles their journey through the pain mental illness can bring and through the stigma that stops many from seeking the help they so desperately deserve. 

Paperback, $16.00
Publisher: Plume Books; ISBN: 9780147516404
Linda
[Non-Fiction]

Pope Francis' call for humankind to take responsibility and knowledge for the climate change of the earth comes forth wisely in this letter. With his intelligence and insight, he draws on science and religion together in his dynamic appeal in relation to the current ecological crises. Standing forth as a universal figure, highly respected regardless of religious or scientific beliefs, Pope Francis unites us under the cause for planet earth.


Paperback, $14.95
Publisher: Melville House Publishing; ISBN: 9781612195285
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