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| May 5, 2016 |
Hello, Readers,
Welcome to May and here's to Cinco de Mayo! Mother's Day is this Sunday, so keep scrolling for great gift ideas in the store now...
Freshly stocked this week: bargain audiobooks are here! Books in hardcover and paperback by Fredrik Backman, a new novel of mothers and daughters by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, our next reading group selection, signed copies of Rick Riordan's new series opener, and much more await.
An incredible lineup of PNW authors are coming to Grass Roots, so make sure to see the latest additions under Events!
Wishing you a great weekend and great reading,
~Marissa
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New Hardcovers
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by Fredrik Backman
"The bestselling author of A Man Called Ove returns with this heartwarming story about a woman rediscovering herself after a personal crisis. Sixty-three-year-old Britt-Marie is a gentle, extremely straightforward and believably flawed protagonist who, after walking out on her husband of 40 years, gets a job as the caretaker of the almost-defunct Recreational Center in the fictional European town of Borg. Here she meets several characters including two young children -- Vega and Omar, whose off-beat personalities and lifestyles contribute to her growing self-confidence and growth. . .Insightful and touching, this is a sweet and inspiring story about truth and transformation. . ." - Publishers Weekly
Hardcover; $26.00
Publisher: Atria Books; ISBN: 9781501142536
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by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
[Fiction]
The daughter of a poor baker in rural Bengal, India, Sabitri yearns to get an education, but her family's situation means college is an impossible dream. Then an influential woman from Kolkata takes Sabitri under her wing, but her generosity soon proves dangerous after the girl makes a single, unforgiveable misstep. Years later, Sabitri's own daughter, Bela, haunted by her mother's choices, flees abroad with her political refugee lover but the America she finds is vastly different from the country she'd imagined. In her latest novel, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni explores the complex relationships between mothers and daughters, and the different kinds of love that bind us across generations.
Hardcover; $25.00
Publisher: Simon & Schuster; ISBN: 9781476792002
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by Maria Toorpakai
[Non-Fiction]

Maria Toorpakai hails from Pakistan's violently oppressive northwest tribal region, where the idea of women playing sports is considered "haram-un-Islamic" - forbidden -- and girls rarely leave their homes. But she did, passing as a boy in order to play the sports she loved, thus becoming a lightning rod of freedom in her country's fierce battle over women's rights. A Different Kind of Daughter tells of Maria's harrowing journey to play the sport she knew was her destiny, thrusting her into the national spotlight and the crosshairs of the Taliban.
"A vivid personal account of a courageous young woman standing up to one of the world's most oppressive theocracies." - Kirkus Reviews
Hardcover; $27.00
Publisher: Twelve; ISBN: 9781455591411
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by Pablo Neruda
[Poetry]
 "Recently discovered within the jungle of the poet's manuscripts, a these 21 untitled and previously unpublished poems, produced between the early 1950s and Neruda's 1973 death, continue his tradition of political engagement, love of homeland, and exaltations of nature and romantic love. . .These captivating poems are presented separately in English and Spanish, and annotated with contextual notes and background information including dates, interpretations, and descriptions of the documents themselves. This is Neruda at his finest, his eloquence and passion skillfully arranged in an accessible yet profound package." - Publishers Weekly
Hardcover; $23.00
Publisher: Copper Canyon Press; ISBN: 9781556594946
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by Angela Duckworth
[Non-Fiction]

In this must-read book for anyone striving to succeed, pioneering psychologist Angela Duckworth shows parents, students, educators, athletes, and business people both seasoned and new that the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent but a special blend of passion and persistence she calls grit. Drawing on her own powerful story as the daughter of a scientist who frequently noted her lack of genius, Duckworth, now a celebrated researcher and professor, describes her early eye-opening stints in teaching, business consulting, and neuroscience, which led to the hypothesis that what really drives success is not genius but a unique combination of passion and long-term perseverance.
Hardcover; $28.00
Publisher: Scribner Book Company; ISBN: 9781501111105
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by Amy and David Goodman
[Non-Fiction]

In 1996 Amy Goodman began hosting a show on Pacifica Radio called Democracy Now! to focus on the issues and movements that are too often ignored by the corporate media. Today Democracy Now! is the largest public media collaboration in the US, broadcasting on over 1,400 public television and radio stations around the world, with millions accessing it online at DemocracyNow.org. Now Amy, along with her journalist brother, David, and co-author Denis Moynihan, share stories of the heroes -- the whistleblowers, the organizers, the protesters -- who have brought about remarkable change. This important book looks back over the past two decades of Democracy Now! and the powerful movements and charismatic leaders who are re-shaping our world.
Hardcover; $26.00
Publisher: Simon & Schuster; ISBN: 9781501123580
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New Paperbacks
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by David McCullough
[Non-Fiction]
". . .Orville and Wilbur Wright will always be best remembered by the general public for December 17, 1903, the day at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, when the brothers flew, for the first time, a heavier-than-air vehicle. . .McCullough offers an interesting portrait of their youth in Dayton, Ohio, that also serves as an examination of daily life in post-Civil War Middle America [as] their interest in the possibility of human flight soon became an obsession for them. . .This is an outstanding saga of the lives of two men who left such a giant footprint on our modern age." - Booklist, Starred Review
Paperback; $17.00
Publisher: Simon & Schuster; ISBN: 9781476728759
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by Andrew Lawler
[Non-Fiction]
". . .Lawler begins this absorbing survey of one of our most important cross-species relationships with a look at the endangered jungle fowl, and from here, he tracks the chicken's journey as it slowly spreads throughout the world. Lawler speaks with numerous archaeologists, scientists, and farmers to tease out what we've learned about when the chicken was domesticated, how it was traded among ancient civilizations, and how it came to symbolize so many attributes in both religion and daily life. . .Finally, the emergence of the mass production of chickens and eggs in modern factory farms is examined. . ." - Booklist, Starred Review
Paperback; $16.00
Publisher: Atria Books; ISBN: 9781476729909
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by Fredrik Backman
[Fiction]
"Precocious seven-year-old Elsa and her feisty grandmother have been inseparable her whole life, bonding over stories set in the fairy-tale-influenced Land of Almost-Awake and the Kingdom of Miamas. Yet, it's when Granny passes away that the true adventures begin. Elsa is sent on a scavenger hunt involving letters of apology from Granny to various people she wronged throughout her life. Along the way, Elsa discovers not only a unique new support system but the magic and heroism that daily life can hold. Backman weaves an intricate story line in which childhood folklore and life experiences fuse in unexpected ways." - Library Journal
Paperback; $16.00
Publisher: Washington Square Press; ISBN: 9781501115073
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by Ruth Ware
[Fiction]
"In Ware's debut, a reclusive crime writer reunites with a long-lost friend during a weekend hen party that goes horribly wrong. When Leonora Shaw wakes up in the hospital with memory gaps and a head wound, one of the first questions she asks is, 'What have I done?' Through flashbacks, Ware slowly unspools the mystery, setting a truly spooky scene as six relative strangers gather at the isolated Glass House, celebrating the upcoming marriage of Nora's former friend Clare Cavendish, with whom she had lost touch 10 years before. . .Read it on a dark and stormy night -- with all the lights on." - Kirkus Reviews
Paperback; $16.00
Publisher: Gallery/Scout Press; ISBN: 9781501112331
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by Terry Masear
[Non-Fiction]
"Hummingbirds are relatively rare across much of the U.S. compared with Southern California, and few of the tiny birds are seen in most bird-rescue clinics. In the Los Angeles area, however, human activity often results in injuries to hummingbirds, and specialized hummingbird rescuers are kept busy. Masear here recounts breeding seasons in which she fielded around 500 rescue calls and personally nursed more than 100 hummingbirds in a variety of cages and aviaries at her home. . .Encounters with hummingbirds with a variety of personalities have given her many insightful stories to tell. . .Masear is bound to win fans with this passionate memoir." - Booklist
Paperback; $15.95
Publisher: Mariner Books; ISBN: 9780544705371
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New For Young Readers
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by Paula Wallace
[Fiction]
Ages 3 to Adult
 Will little Corky so quirky and curious live her life and her dreams to the fullest? When Corky is a baby, Old Bear gives her the keys to her days. As she grows, she lives in wonderment. As her days grow short, she asks Old Bear for a few more days. Old Bear reminds Corky that she holds the key to her days. She must do what needs to be done, and dream what needs to be dreamed. When she is ready, she will not be afraid to open the door to wonder.
Hardcover; $17.95
Publisher: Cinco Puntos Press; ISBN: 9781941026373
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by Mo Willems
[Fiction]
Ages 4 to 8
 Gerald is careful. Piggie is not. Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can. Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to. Gerald and Piggie are best friends. In The Thank You Book, Piggie wants to thank EVERYONE. But Gerald is worried Piggie will forget someone . . . someone important.
Hardcover; $9.99
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion; ISBN: 9781423178286
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by Rick Riordan (autographed copies!)
[Fiction]
Ages 9 to 13
 How do you punish an immortal? By making him human. After angering his father Zeus, the god Apollo is cast down from Olympus. Weak and disoriented, he lands in New York City as a regular teenage boy. Now, without his godly powers, the four-thousand-year-old deity must learn to survive in the modern world until he can somehow find a way to regain Zeus's favor. But Apollo has many enemies -- gods, monsters, and mortals who would love to see the former Olympian permanently destroyed. Apollo needs help, and he can think of only one place to go. . .an enclave of modern demigods known as Camp Half-Blood.
Hardcover; $19.99
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion; ISBN: 9781484786819
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New Bargain Books
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Bargain audiobooks have arrived!

Here now, hear them! The audio versions of your favorite, bestselling fiction and non-fiction books are available in the store at more than half the price.
Audiobooks are ideal for adding on-the-go literacy to your life, and our new great selection offers some of our best bargains yet. We only have limited quantities of each title in stock, so come in soon for the pick of the bunch. |
New Music
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Eric Bibb
Happiest Man in the World
Pop/Folk
During his long career, Bibb has recorded everything from folk and gospel to jazz and blues. This new collection finds him collaborating with bassist Danny Thompson and acoustic ensemble North Country Far.
($16.98)
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Mary-Chapin Carpenter
Things That We Are Made Of
Pop/Folk
Recent years have found country/Americana songwriter Carpenter recording with an orchestra and dialing back her volume for a gentler folk sound. Produced by Dave Cobb, her new collection features more upbeat moments, as well as full band sounds.
($13.98)
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Events at Grass Roots
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A.E. Sullivan
 Saturday, May 7, at 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Grass Roots Books & Music
227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR
After having children, Ami Sullivan started paying much closer attention to the words we commonly use as society and felt horrified at the concepts we almost unconsciously inundate our children with. The Truly Terrible C Word is the first book in this series -- a fun, over-the-top way to raise our awareness of potentially damaging language. Through this engaging story, young readers learn more about the word that can stop people from doing anything and it must be stopped! It will definitely stunt a person's growth! Are you ready to change your lexicon to achieve your dreams?
Ami Sullivan is a full-time mom and non-profit consultant for people with developmental disabilities. She has an active family life with her husband, Dan, and their two home-schooled sons and two boxers. On the weekend they can be found hiking the Saddle and enjoying life in Corvallis, Oregon. The author will be reading and signing books at this event.
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Pat Wray
 Tuesday, May 17, at 7:00 p.m.
Grass Roots Books & Music
227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR
Corvallis Reflections is, at its heart, a celebration of a community and its people. Wray's ever-present good humor masks a willingness to explore, satirize and when necessary confront, people, organizations and ideas he considers inimical to the best interests of his beloved Corvallis, Oregon. In the finest tradition of American newspaper columnists, he is as engaged in a call to clean up a county road as he is in promoting Oregon's Death with Dignity Act. Corvallis Reflections will make you smile and think and appreciate your life, family and community a little bit more than ever before.
Pat Wray is an award-winning writer and book author who has lived in Corvallis for the past 34 years. A former Marine helicopter pilot and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Information Supervisor, Pat lives with his wife Debbie, about whom it has often been said, "What was she thinking?" The author will be reading and signing books at this event.
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Kem Luther
 Wednesday, May 18, at 7:00 p.m.
Grass Roots Books & Music
227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR
In atmospheric science, a boundary layer is the band of air nearest the ground. In the Pacific Northwest, the boundary layer teems with lichens, mosses, ferns, fungi, and diminutive plants. It's an overlooked universe whose denizens author Kem Luther calls the stegnon, the terrestrial equivalent of oceanic plankton. In Boundary Layer, Luther takes a voyage of discovery through the stegnon, exploring the life forms that thrive there and meeting the scientists who study them. An exhilarating mix of natural history, botanical exploration, and philosophical speculation, it will be embraced by naturalists, botanists, outdoor adventurers, and anyone who savors good storytelling.
Kem Luther is a naturalist and writer living on Vancouver Island. He has taught at Eastern Mennonite University, Sheridan College, York University, and the University of Toronto. His other books include Cottonwood Roots and The Next Generation Gap. The author will be reading and signing books at this event.
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Steve Olson
 Wednesday, May 25, at 7:00 p.m.
Grass Roots Books & Music
227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR
In Eruption: The Untold Story of Mount St. Helens, Steve Olson has written the definitive account of America's most famous volcano, a disaster (and survival) narrative that is also a fascinating natural and social history of the Pacific Northwest, one that stretches from lofty corporate boardrooms to remote logging camps, from pristine wilderness to the smoking crater itself. Eruption delves into volcanic science, into the economic and political history of the logging industry, and into the roots of the environmental conservation movement, all of which have deep and abiding connections to the Pacific Northwest.
Steve Olson is the author of Mapping Human History (a finalist for the National Book Award) and Count Down, among other books. He lives in Seattle, Washington. The author will be reading and signing books at this event.
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Ruby McConnell
 Friday, May 27, at 7:00 p.m.
Grass Roots Books & Music
227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR
For women who enjoy hiking, camping, backpacking, and other outdoor recreation or those inspired by Cheryl Strayed's Wild, this is the definitive guide to being a woman in the great outdoors. This friendly handbook covers the matters of most concern to women, from "feminine functions" in the wilderness to how to deal with condescending men, as well as the basics of wilderness survival tailored to women's unique needs. It includes gear lists in addition to advice for camp setup, fire building, food and water, safety, weather, and navigation.
Ruby McConnell is a writer, dancer, and geologist from Eugene, Oregon. Her published works include professional geologic papers, personal essays, dance reviews, short stories, and her blog, Girl Gone Wild. Her work has appeared in Misadventures Magazine, Oregon Quarterly, and Birder Watcher's Digest, among others. The author will be reading and signing books at this event.
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Bill C. Hall

Wednesday, June 22 at 7:00 p.m.
Grass Roots Books & Music
227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR
McCallandia is a novel that imagines a world where Oregon's colorful, iconic Governor, Tom McCall, becomes president of the United States. In the pages of McCallandia, you'll visit a world where Tom McCall is Richard Nixon's successor. President McCall brings his unique style, candor, and environmental ethic to Washington, and the world changes. For the better. McCallandia features an outside cast of supporting characters, including Hunter Thompson, Ken Kesey and Steve Prefontaine. Publisher Matt Love calls McCallandia "The best political novel ever written about Oregon."
McCallandia is the first novel by Lincoln County Commissioner Bill Hall, who, like Tom McCall, made the transition from journalism to politics. Bill is a native Oregonian and met Tom McCall in 1978, when he volunteered for his ill-fated comeback campaign. Hall lives in Newport. The author will be reading and signing books at this event.
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Community Events
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Darkside Show Times for 5/6-5/12
-Family Fang -R Adult siblings scarred from an unconventional upbringing return to their family home when their parents -- performance artists famous for elaborate public hoaxes -- suddenly go missing. Jason Bateman, Nicole Kidman, Christopher Walken.
- Louder Than Bombs -R
On the eve of an exhibition honoring a noted war photographer whose career was cut short in the wake of her untimely death, a father and two sons grapple with her domestic and professional legacy. Isabelle Huppert, Gabriel Byrne, Jesse Eisenberg.
-Everybody Wants Some -R
Richard Linklater's loose and hilarious followup to Dazed & Confused is an achingly perceptive retro-sociology lesson. A team of '80s college baseball players wastes a longish weekend together. Blake Jenner, Tyler Hoechin, Wyatt Russell, Ryan Guzman.
-Rams -R In a remote Icelandic farming valley, two brothers who haven't spoken in 40 years have to come together in order to save what's dearest to them -- their sheep. Subtitle Icelandic. Un Certain Regard Award at Cannes! 97% on RT!
Arts/Literary Events
Reviewed by Rebecca Terry; sponsored by Friends of the Library
Wednesday, May 11, at 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Corvallis-Benton County Public Library 645 NW Monroe Ave. Corvallis, OR
Willamette Writers on the River: Monthly Meeting with Rosanne Parry
"Research & Empathy: Writing Across Cultures"
First Presbyterian Church
114 SW 8th St.
Corvallis, OR
Readers want to see their own lives on the page at least some of the time, and the need for books with characters of all racial and ethnic backgrounds has never been greater. This workshop will help you find both the concrete tools to research culture well and the empathy to find where your own cultural experience intersects with your characters. Our guest speaker, Rosanne Parry, has written four novels for young readers, and hosts the League of Exceptional Writers, a free youth mentoring program done in conjunction with Powell's bookstore and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
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Community Events with Grass Roots 
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Ellen Galinsky
Monday, May 16, at 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Corvallis High School
Main Stage Theater
1400 NW Buchanan Ave.
Corvallis, OR
There is little research-based advice for parents on how to raise children to be well-rounded and achieve their full potential. The good news is that there are simple, everyday things that all parents can do to build these skills in their children. Join childhood expert and bestselling author Ellen Galinsky as she shares her extensive knowledge of child development, neuroscience, literacy, and more. She will discuss how to use everyday moments to teach the seven key skills children need to be successful: Focus and self-control, perspective taking, communicating, making connections, critical thinking, taking on challenges; and self-directed, engaged learning.
Ellen Galinsky is the president and co-founder of the Families and Work Institute. Her more than 100 books and reports include the bestselling Ask The Children and the now classic The Six Stages of Parenthood. She has published over 300 articles in journals, books, and magazines, and received many awards for her work. Grass Roots will be selling books at this event.
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Store News
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Nettles Jewelry for Mother's Day
 Looking for a gift for Mom that's as original and beautiful as she is? Stop by the store to select a pretty pendant or elegant earrings by Oregon company Nettles Jewelry!
Each piece is lovingly handcrafted from recycled glass and vintage nature designs. Timeless, special, and top-notch...just like her.
Hurry in before the weekend to take a gander at this nest of treasures, and don't forget to pair your gift with one of our
Mother's Day cards!
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Jigsaw
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Reading Group Selection
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Tuesday, June 7, at 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Join Sean as he leads our June reading group with
All the Wild That Remains by David Gessner.
Award-winning nature writer David Gessner takes us on an inspiring journey as he renews his own meaningful relationship with the wild, confronting American overconsumption, and fighting environmental injustice -- all while reawakening the thrill of the words of his two great heroes, Edward Abbey and Wallace Stegner. Archetypal wild man Edward Abbey and proper, dedicated Wallace Stegner left their footprints all over the western landscape. Gessner follows the ghosts of these two remarkable writer-environmentalists, braiding their stories and asking how they speak to the lives of all those who care about the West.
Regular Price: $16.95
On sale for: $14.41
Until Tuesday, June 7
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
ISBN: 9780393352375
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Night Stands
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by Wayne Pacelle
[Non-Fiction]
Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society of the United States traces how capitalism and disassociation from the interests of animals has caused the appalling practices of industrialized animal production to become widespread. As consumers, investors, and citizens, our conscious choices have an economic impact that can directly change this industrialization and exploitation of animals. And corporations are responding. But how can this movement become revolutionary, creating a humane economy? Pacelle tackles the question unflinchingly. For your information and for the greater welfare of animals, this is essential reading that has the power to open eyes and increase momentum for change.
Hardcover; $26.99
Publisher: William Morrow & Company; ISBN: 9780062389640
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by Bess Lovejoy
[Non-Fiction]
This book is my version of mind-candy, perfect for a fun summer read! Each short glimpse into a famous corpse's life is so fascinating, richly detailed, and often shrouded in mystery that you almost can't wait to finish one story so you can devour the next. From Einstein's eyes, Hitler's jaw, and Beethoven's ear bones to Rasputin's unmentionables, there is a piece in here for everyone! This is a perfect read when you're looking to do a little grazing on some quirky, macabre tidbits!
Paperback; $16.99
Publisher: Simon & Schuster; ISBN: 9781451655001
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