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| March 17, 2016 |
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Happy St. Patrick's Day, Readers,
If you're not donning your green today, we've got tees in Grass Roots green so you can show off your bookish pride, too!
Nearing the cusp of spring, we've got two readings lined up at the bookstore featuring local authors, complimentary food and wine, and of course, excellent books. Please see our updated events schedule below, and don't miss tonight's event with author Phillip Margolin at the local library -- it's going to be a real treat.
Brand new this week: an anthology and a poetry collection from two OSU-based authors, respectively; a new novel by Tracy Chevalier; and several fantastic books all about improving quality of life, health, and brain power.
With that in mind...Sláinte (Gaelic: health), and have a great weekend!
~Marissa
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New Hardcovers
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edited by Nathaniel Brodie, Charles Goodrich (Local Author/Director of the Spring Creek Project at OSU), and Frederick J. Swanson
[Non-Fiction]
(See upcoming event below!)
This anthology -- which includes work by some of the nation's most accomplished writers -- grows out of the work of the Long-Term Ecological Reflections program and showcases the insights of the program's thoughtful and important encounters among writers, scientists, and place. These vivid essays, poems, and field notes convey a landscape of moss-draped trees, patchwork clear-cuts, stream-swept gravel bars, and hillsides scoured by fire, and also bring forward the ambiguities and paradoxes of conflicting human values and their implications for the ecosystem. Forest Under Story offers an illuminating and multifaceted way of understanding the ecology and significance of old-growth forests.
Hardcover; $29.95
Publisher: University of Washington Press; ISBN: 9780295995458
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by Tracy Chevalier
[Fiction]
"In 1838, James and Sadie Goodenough leave the relative comforts of Connecticut to strike out on their own, ending up in the swamps of Ohio. Required to plant 50 trees in order to stake a claim, they and their five children work tirelessly to cultivate the land, buying their seedlings from Johnny Appleseed. . .[After] an unfortunate and tragic accident, their youngest child, Robert, takes off for California. . .but memories of his unhappy childhood continue to haunt him. Chevalier excels at creating a highly accessible read that takes a surprisingly dark look at the brutal conditions of frontier life. . ." - Booklist
Hardcover; $27.00
Publisher: Viking; ISBN: 9780525953005
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[Non-Fiction]
What's the formula for a happy life? Pasricha illustrates how to want nothing, do anything, and have everything. If that sounds like a contradiction, you simply haven't unlocked the 9 Secrets to Happiness. Pasricha provides step-by-step guidelines and hand-drawn scribbles that illustrate exactly how to apply each secret to live a happier life today. The Happiness Equation will teach you such principles as: Why success doesn't lead to happiness; how to make more money than a Harvard MBA; why multitasking is a myth, and how eliminating options leads to more choice. It will change how you think about your life -- and, ultimately, of course, your happiness.
Hardcover; $27.00
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons; ISBN: 9780399169472
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by Helen Oyeyemi
[Fiction]
"Oyeyemi, who penned the magical novels Mr. Fox and Boy Snow Bird, offers an equally imaginative set of nine short stories. Lovers populate the pages of these fable-like tales, pining passionately as their quest for a beloved takes them on bewitching journeys. For Radha, in 'is your blood as red as this?,' it means enrolling in a puppetry school in pursuit of Myrna, the beautiful instructor who catches her eye at a party. . .In 'books and roses,' Montse. . .learns about her mother's passionate love affair with a wealthy recluse as she herself falls in love with a painter haunted by her own lost love. . .A beguiling collection." - Booklist
Hardcover; $27.00
Publisher: Riverhead Books; ISBN: 9781594634635
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by Charles Duhigg
[Non-Fiction]
 At the core of Smarter Faster Better are eight key concepts -- from motivation and goal setting to focus and decision-making -- that explain why some people and companies get so much done. Drawing on the latest findings in neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral economics, this painstakingly researched book explains that the most productive people, companies, and organizations don't merely act differently. They view the world, and their choices, in profoundly different ways. Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Duhigg ( The Power of Habit) applies relentless curiosity, deep reporting, and rich storytelling to explain how we can improve at the things we do.
Hardcover; $28.00
Publisher: Random House; ISBN: 9780812993394
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New Paperbacks
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by Jennifer Richter (Local poet/Instructor of English and Creative Writing at OSU)
[Poetry]
Jennifer Richter's penetrating second collection of poems, No Acute Distress, introduces us to the unspoken struggles and unanticipated epiphanies of illness and motherhood, subjects rarely explored together in contemporary poetry. Richter seasons her work with irony from the start, titling the book's opening poem, "Pleasant, healthy-appearing adult white female in no acute distress." As the collection progresses, the speaker's growing children bring new, wider perspective to the poems; the heart of the book opens up to embrace the adolescents increasing self-sufficiency and the body's vibrant re-emergence into health. No Acute Distress offers readers fresh language grounded in a masterful use of form.
Paperback; $15.95
Publisher: Southern Illinois University Press; ISBN: 9780809334827
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by Patrick Modiano
[Fiction]
An absorbing evocation of a particular Paris of the 1950s, shadowy and shady, a secret world of writers, criminals, drinkers, and drifters. The novel, which includes vignettes of a number of historical figures and is inspired in part by the circle of the notorious and charismatic Guy Debord, centers on the enigmatic, waiflike figure of Louki, who catches everyone's attention even as she eludes possession or comprehension. Through the eyes of four very different narrators, we contemplate Louki's character and her fate, while Modiano explores the themes of identity, memory, time, and forgetting that are at the heart of his hypnotic and deeply moving art.
Paperback; $14.00
Publisher: New York Review of Books; ISBN: 9781590179536
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by Lynne Truss
[Fiction]
For people who both love and hate cats comes the tale of Alec Charlesworth, a librarian who finds himself suddenly alone: he's lost his job, his beloved wife has just died. Overcome by grief, he searches for clues about her disappearance in a file of interviews between a man called "Wiggy" and a cat, Roger. Who speaks to him. Roger's older than Methuselah, and he's got a tale to tell of shocking local history and dark forces that may link not only the death of Alec's wife, but also several other local deaths. But will the cat help Alec, or is he one of the dark forces?
Paperback; $15.95
Publisher: Melville House Publishing; ISBN: 9781612195193
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by Leigh Ann Henion
[Non-Fiction]
Shocked at the adversity a young mother faces with a newborn, Henion must ask hard questions about our accepted wisdom on parenting and the lives of women. Convinced that the greatest key to happiness -- both her own and that of her family -- lies in periodically venturing into the wider world beyond home, Henion sets out on a global trek to rekindle her sense of wonder. Henion's wanderlust puts her in the path of modern-day shamans, reindeer herders, and astrophysicists, going to great lengths to chase migrations, auroras, eclipses, and other phenomena -- revealing unforgettable truths about motherhood, spirituality, and the beauty of nature.
Paperback; $17.00
Publisher: Penguin Books; ISBN: 9780143108030
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by Wendy Suzuki and Billie Fitzpatrick
[Non-Fiction]
A neuroscientist transforms the way we think about our brain, our health, and our personal happiness in this clear, informative, and inspiring guide a blend of personal memoir, science narrative, and immediately useful takeaways. Nearing 40, Dr. Wendy Suzuki discovered that there is a biological connection between exercise, mindfulness, and action. With exercise, your body feels more alive and your brain actually performs better. Yes you can make yourself smarter. In this fascinating book, Suzuki offers practical, short exercises (4 minute Brain Hacks) to engage your mind and improve your memory, your ability to learn new skills, and function more efficiently.
Paperback; $16.99
Publisher: Dey Street Books; ISBN: 9780062366795
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[Magazine]
"The Timberline Review is a new literary journal, a collage of voices speaking through the written word. Short fiction. Creative nonfiction. Essays. Poetry. Work that has the power to inspire a conversation with the times we live in [from] writers everywhere. . .The Timberline Review is a publication of Willamette Writers, the largest writing organization in the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1965, Willamette Writers celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2015." - The Timberline Review website
"There's a little bit of everything here in this collection of bold, messy, human stories." - Melissa Oliveira, The ReviewReview
Paperback; $12.00
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New For Young Readers
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by Kim Krans
[Fiction]
"This stunning wordless alphabet book will be a joy for old and young to enjoy together. Pages and spreads feature large-scale letters in uppercase surrounded by unlabeled images in artistic arrangements. Adults will appreciate the design and the washes of watercolor in Krans' intricate black-and-white pen-and-ink art. Children, meanwhile, will be fascinated by the beautifully rendered objects that Krans cleverly includes in each spread. Some are easy to identify, such as an apple, arrow, and ant for A; others will spark discussion. . .An exceptionally well-executed, gorgeously illustrated alphabet book full of delightful surprises." - Booklist, Starred Review
Hardcover; $16.99
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers; ISBN: 9780553539295
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New Bargain Books
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New Music
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Richmond Fontaine
You Can't Go Back If There Is Nothing to Go Back
Pop/Folk
This Portland band began its run as a standard electric alt. country outfit. Fronted by novelist Willy Vlautin, this 10th and final release features roots-based music and songs that paint literate pictures of the down and out.
($15.99) |
Various Artists
Southern Family
Pop/Folk
This Americana collection is produced by Dave Cobb, and features a variety of all-stars singing original songs about Southern families. Contributors include Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Zac Brown, and more.
($18.98) |
Events at Grass Roots
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Lawrence A. Landis
Monday, March 28, at 7:00 p.m.
Grass Roots Books & Music 227 SW 2nd St. Corvallis, OR
A School for the People tells the story of OSU's nearly 150 years as a land grant institution through more than 500 photographs, maps, documents, and extensive captions. Written by longtime archivist Larry Landis, it tells the full, dynamic story of this multifaceted and living university.
Landis has been an archivist at Oregon State University since 1991. Since 2011, he has served as director of the Libraries' Special Collections & Archives Research Center. He has researched many aspects of OSU's history, particularly its built environment.
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Wayne Harrison
Wednesday, April 6, at 6:00 p.m.
Grass Roots Books & Music
227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR
Wayne Harrison's short stories have appeared in Best American Short Stories 2010, The Atlantic, Narrative Magazine and on NPR's All Things Considered. He is the recipient of a Maytag fellowship, an Oregon Literary fellowship and a Fishtrap writing fellowship. His short story collection Wrench was a finalist for the Serena McDonald Kennedy Award, the Spokane Prize and the Iowa Short Fiction Award. The Spark and the Drive is his debut novel. This event is sponsored by OSU Office of the Provost. Reception with hors d'oeuvres and wine, catered by Valley Catering, to follow.
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Community Events
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Darkside Show Times for 3/18-3/24
-The Confirmation -R A quiet weekend turns into an adventure when a down-on-his-luck carpenter (Clive Owen) and his 8-year-old son (Jaeden Lieberher) search for the thieves that stole the man's toolbox. Stars Maria Bello, Patton Oswalt, Tim Blake Nelson, Matthew Modine.
-Burning Bodhi -PG-13 Lifelong friends stumble back home after high school when word goes out on Facebook that the most popular among them has died. The reunion stirs up feelings of love, longing and regret. A "Big Chill" for a new generation.
-Hail, Caesar! -PG-13 Joel and Ethan Coen's all-star comedy Hail, Caesar! is set in Hollywood's Golden Age. Stars Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Alden Ehrenreich, Ralph Fiennes, Jonah Hill, Scarlett Johansson, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, and Channing Tatum.
-Mustang
-PG-13
When five orphan girls are seen innocently playing with boys on a beach, their scandalized conservative guardians confine them while forced marriages are arranged. Oscar nom for Best Foreign Language Film. Subtitled Turkish. 96% RT!
-Where to Invade Next -R This is an expansive, rib-tickling, and subversive comedy in which Michael Moore, playing the role of "invader," visits a host of nations to learn how the U.S. could improve its own prospects. Turns out the solutions to America's most entrenched problems already existed in the world -- they're just waiting to be co-opted.
-Lady in The Van -PG-13 Based on the true story of Miss Shepherd (played by a magnificent Maggie Smith), a woman of uncertain origins who "temporarily" parked her van in Bennett's London driveway and proceeded to live there for 15 years.
Arts/Literary Events
Willamette Writers on the River: Quarterly Reading
Monday, March 21, at 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (sign-up at 6:15) First Presbyterian Church 114 SW 8th St. Corvallis, OR
These quarterly readings are free and open to everyone. The number of readers is limited by the available time. First to sign up is first to read. Time limit per reader is 7 minutes. No graphic violence, sex, or hate speech. If you don't want to read, please come hear some talented writers present their work.
Reviewed by Margaret Manoogian; sponsored by Friends of the Library
Wednesday, April 13, at 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Corvallis-Benton County Public Library 645 NW Monroe Ave. Corvallis, OR
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Community Events with Grass Roots
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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.
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Thursday, March 31, at 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Corvallis-Benton County Public Library
645 NW Monroe Ave.
Corvallis, OR
Book launch and celebration for Forest Under Story, with readings by Charles Goodrich (Director of the Spring Creek Project at OSU), Jeff Fearnside, John Campbell, and Fred Swason, slideshow of forest images by photographer Bob Keefer, and live music composed by Justin Ralls. Michael Nelson will emcee. Forest Under Story is a new anthology of selected works from the Long-Term Ecological Reflections program that showcases the insights of the program's thoughtful and important encounters among writers, scientists, and place. Grass Roots will be selling books at this event.
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Store News
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Great books of fire!
Has it been getting warmer out, or is that just our selection of hot new reads sparking interest? Well, it's a bit of both, but we think these titles would liven up any shelf. Take a look at our sizzling display when you walk in the store!
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Jigsaw
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Reading Group Selection
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Tuesday, April 5, at 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Join Née as she leads our April reading group with The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons by Sam Kean.
Early studies of the functions of the human brain used a simple method: wait for misfortune to strike -- strokes, seizures, infectious diseases, lobotomies, horrendous accidents -- and see how the victim coped. In many cases survival was miraculous, and observers could only marvel at the transformations that took place afterward, altering victims' personalities. But a few scientists realized that these injuries were an opportunity for studying brain function at its extremes. With lucid explanations and incisive wit, Sam Kean explains the brain's secret passageways while recounting forgotten stories of common people whose struggles, resiliency, and deep humanity made modern neuroscience possible.
Regular Price: $17.00
On sale for: $14.45
Until Tuesday, April 5
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
ISBN: 9780316182355
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Night Stands
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by Andrea Wulf
[Non-Fiction]
Largely forgotten, Humboldt was once well known throughout the world. His interconnected vision of nature formed the cornerstone of our modern understanding of ecology, and additionally inspired Darwin, Muir and Thoreau. If you like biography and nature writing, you will love this compelling book. Andrea Wulf presents an engrossing and objective account of a polymath, insatiably curious, who was both romantic and scientific: a man who changed our view of the world.
Hardcover; $30.00
Publisher: Knopf Publishing Group; ISBN: 9780385350662
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edited by Nora Gallagher
[Non-Fiction]
It is hard to be a grassroots activist when you feel as if you are the only one out there. With thoughts and quotes from renowned activists such as Jane Goodall and Terry Tempest Williams, this book will remind you that you are not alone in your fight. This book will provide you with all the strategies, tools, and motivation to become a serious and effective advocate for good. Patagonia hopes the book will be dog-eared and scribbled in; a solid, inspiring guide and reliable companion.
Paperback; $24.95
Publisher: Patagonia Books; ISBN: 9781938340444
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by Cheryl Strayed
[Non-Fiction]
Brave Enough is the perfect little book to keep on your nightstand. This is not a "read once and take back to the library" book. You will want to refer to it time and again. Filled with quotes from Cheryl Strayed's books, essays, and talks, it will become your go-to book for inspiration, affirmation, or some quick "kick in the pants" motivation, because if nothing else, Cheryl tells it like it is.
Hardcover; $16.95
Publisher: Knopf Publishing Group; ISBN: 9781101946909
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