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| May 26, 2016 |
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Hello, Readers,
Ahh, summertime is almost here already...We're daydreaming about our summer reading lists, and getting ready for June author events! Don't miss out on hearing these authors read next month.
There are plenty more reasons to get excited about books ahead, with upcoming releases like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Have you pre-ordered your copy? Check out other Potter-related titles (on our shelves or on the way) here!
Keep scrolling for our top choices of new hardcovers and paperbacks, just-arrived shipment of bargain books, and a job opportunity at Grass Roots.
In honor of Memorial Day, we'll be open on Monday from 11:00 to 4:00. Have a nice weekend!
Marissa
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New Hardcovers
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by Sebastian Junger
[Non-Fiction]
We have a strong instinct to belong to small groups defined by clear purpose and understanding -- "tribes." This tribal connection has been largely lost in modern society, but regaining it may be the key to our psychological survival. Combining history, psychology, and anthropology, Tribe explores what we can learn from tribal societies about loyalty, belonging, and the eternal human quest for meaning. Tribe explains why we are stronger when we come together, and how that can be achieved even in today's divided world.
"Junger uses every word in this slim volume to make a passionate, compelling case for a more egalitarian society." - Booklist
Hardcover; $22.00
Publisher: Twelve; ISBN: 9781455566389
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by Alison Anderson
[Fiction]
". . .Anderson's elegant historical novel [is] narrated from multiple perspectives. . .Ana Harding is hired to translate a Russian diary penned by Zinaida Mikhailovna Lintvaryova, friend of Chekhov's, over two seasons in the Ukrainian countryside. The publishers are counting on the diary's prospective popularity for their company's solvency. . .The main story, told in the diary, meanders through lazy days of country summers and conversations between Zinaida Mikhailovna and Anton Pavlovich [Chekhov], laden with unspoken meaning. . .This alluring and deceptively ingenuous novel demands close consideration from its readers, contains an internal mystery, and packs a heartbreakingly lovely emotional punch. . . " - Booklist, Starred Review
Hardcover; $27.99
Publisher: Harper; ISBN: 9780062423368
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by Milena Busquets
[Fiction]
Blanca is 40 years old and motherless. Shaken by the unexpected death of the most important person in her life, she suddenly realizes that she has no idea what her future will look like. Leaving Barcelona behind, she returns to Cadaques, on the coast, accompanied by her two sons, two ex-husbands, and two best friends, and makes a plan to meet her married lover for a few stolen moments as well. Surrounded by those she loves most, she spends the summer in an impossibly beautiful place, finding ways to reconnect and understand what it means to truly, happily live on her own terms, just as her mother would have wanted.
Hardcover; $24.00
Publisher: Hogarth; ISBN: 9781101903704
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[Fiction]
Obsessed with art, and with living, Charlotte Salomon attended school in Germany until it was too dangerous to remain, fled to France, and was interned in a bleak work camp from which she narrowly escaped. Newly free, she spent two years in almost total solitude, creating a series of autobiographical art images, words, even musical scores that together tell her life story. A pregnant Charlotte was killed in Auschwitz at the age of 26, but not before she entrusted her life's work to a friend, who kept it safe until peacetime. The result, an extraordinary novel avant la letter (and now reissued by Overlook), a unique, relentlessly complete artistic expression.
Hardcover; $26.95
Publisher: Overlook Press; ISBN: 9781468312768
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by Stephanie Danler
[Fiction]
"[Twenty-two]-year-old Tess arrives in New York, [and lands] a position at a prestigious Union Square restaurant. The staff, a colorful cast of characters who show her varying degrees of support and impatience, becomes her family. Especially the older Simone, who offers Tess her tutelage while harboring a mysterious past with Jake, the bartender who captures Tess' heart. They teach Tess about enticing foods and amazing wines; then, in the after hours, they provide an education in edgier indulgences: heavy drinking, drugs, and dysfunction. Caught in a dangerous cycle of self-abuse, Tess will have harder lessons to learn than how to run the floor during the dinner rush. . ." - Booklist
Hardcover; $25.00
Publisher: Knopf Publishing Group; ISBN: 9781101875940
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New Paperbacks
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by Neal Stephenson
[Fiction]
A catastrophic event renders the earth a ticking time bomb. In a feverish race against the inevitable, nations around the globe band together to devise an ambitious plan to ensure the survival of humanity far beyond our atmosphere, in outer space. But the complexities and unpredictability of human nature coupled with unforeseen challenges and dangers threaten the intrepid pioneers, until only a handful of survivors remains. . .Five thousand years later, their progeny -- seven distinct races now three billion strong -- embark on yet another audacious journey into the unknown. . .to an alien world utterly transformed by cataclysm and time: Earth.
Paperback; $17.99
Publisher: William Morrow & Company; ISBN: 9780062334510
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by Bruce Poon Tip
[Non-Fiction]
Armed with this rough-and-tumble field journal, prepare to embark on a wondrous, eclectic journey packed with inspiration and activities from around the globe. Page by page, it will challenge you to write, rip, make, and share as you blast out of your comfort zone, dream big, and pay it forward. Wherever you find yourself -- on a plane, trekking through Nepal, or in your living room -- this book will inspire you to create a vibrant record of your adventures and to push the limits of your mind. The result is a deeply personal gallery of shared surprises, hidden treasures, sudden epiphanies, meaningful connections, and lasting changes.
Paperback; $18.00
Publisher: Running Press Book Publishers; ISBN: 9780762460571
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by Helen DeWitt
[Fiction]
Sibylla, an American-at-Oxford, finds herself trapped as a single mother after a misguided one-night stand. Lacking male role models for a fatherless boy, Sibylla turns to endless replays of Kurosawa's masterpiece Seven Samurai. But Ludo is obsessed with the one thing he wants and doesn't know: his father's name. At 11, inspired by his own take on the classic film, he sets out on a secret quest for the father he never knew. He'll be punched, sliced, and threatened with retribution. He may not live to see 12. Or he may find a real samurai and save a mother who thinks boredom a fate worse than death.
Paperback; $18.95
Publisher: New Directions Publishing Corporation; ISBN: 9780811225502
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by P.W. Singer and August Cole
[Fiction]
What will the next global conflict look like? Find out in this ripping, near-futuristic thriller. The United States, China, and Russia eye each other across a 21st century version of the Cold War, which suddenly heats up at sea, on land, in the air, in outer space, and in cyberspace. The fighting involves everything from stealthy robotic drone strikes to old warships from the navy's ghost fleet. Fighter pilots unleash a Pearl Harbor style attack; American veterans become low-tech insurgents; teenage hackers battle in digital playgrounds; and Silicon Valley billionaires mobilize for cyber-war. Ultimately, victory will depend on blending the lessons of the past with the weapons of the future.
Paperback; $14.95
Publisher: Eamon Dolan/Mariner Books; ISBN: 9780544705050
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by Leanne Shapton
[Non-Fiction]
A brilliantly original, meditative memoir that explores the worlds of competitive and recreational swimming. From her training for the Olympic trials as a teenager to enjoying pools and beaches around the world as an adult, Leanne Shapton offers a fascinating glimpse into the private, often solitary, realm of swimming. Her spare and elegant writing reveals an intimate narrative of suburban adolescence, spent underwater in a discipline that continues to inspire Shapton's work as an artist and author. For the accomplished athlete, aspiring amateur, or habitual practicer, this remarkable work of written and visual sketches propels the reader through a beautifully personal and universally appealing exercise in reflection.
Paperback; $18.00
Publisher: Blue Rider Press; ISBN: 9780399174841
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New For Young Readers
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by Tom Lichtenheld
[Fiction]
Ages 2 to 4
 Sometimes being small can have its advantages. If you're a little cloud like Cloudette, people call you cute nicknames, and you can always find a good spot to watch the fireworks. But what about when you want to do something big, like help a giant garden grow, or make a brook babble? This charming book gets at the heart of what it means to make a difference no matter your size. Young children will find much to relate to in Cloudette as they follow her on her pursuit for greatness.
Board Books; $7.99
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company; ISBN: 9781627795012
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New Bargain Books
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We rolled out the book carts and restocked them just for you!
Score great deals (some more than half off) on bargain hardcovers, audiobooks, cookbooks, and more.
Check out the selection before they sell out!
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New Music
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Events at Grass Roots
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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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Melissa Hart
 Monday, June 6, at 4:00 p.m.
Grass Roots Books & Music
227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR
Avenging the Owl takes readers on a hero's journey with 13-year-old Solo Hahn. After his father tries to commit suicide, his mother moves the family from their Southern California beach home to a landlocked trailer in Oregon. Solo is forced to do community service at the local raptor rehabilitation center after he accidentally injures a neighbor with Down syndrome while trying to kill a great-horned owl that's hurt his beloved pet. School Library Journal calls Avenging the Owl "a good action-adventure story compelling enough for reluctant readers. Hand to fans of books about the great outdoors and the wilderness."
Melissa Hart is a contributing editor at The Writer Magazine, and a Literature and Creative Writing teacher for Laurel Springs distance-learning high school. She's the author of two memoirs. Her essays have appeared in The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Orion, Hemispheres, Education Week, and other publications. This event will feature a raptor slide show and owl pellet dissection! The author will be reading and signing books at this event.
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Susan Conrad
 Friday, June 17, at 7:00 p.m.
Grass Roots Books & Music
227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR
Inside: One Woman's Journey Through the Inside Passage is a plucky adventure memoir of the sea and soul told by a woman on a big adventure in a small boat along the coast of western North America. In Spring 2010, with her world scaled down to an 18-foot sea kayak and the 1,200 mile ribbon of water called the Inside Passage, Susan Conrad launched a journey that took her north to Alaska. On the way, she forged friendships, lived her dream, and discovered the depths of her own strength and courage.
Susan Marie Conrad grew up on a small farm near Woodbourne in upstate New York. By dint of exploring the mountains of Colorado, Oregon, and Montana, she eventually discovered the dynamic and addictive environment of coastal British Columbia and Washington State, where she thrives as an adventure-seeker. Susan is a writer, photographer, personal trainer, kayak instructor, and outdoor enthusiast. 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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Barbara Quinn
Wednesday, June 29 at 7:00 p.m.
Grass Roots Books & Music
227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR
Quinn-Essential Nutrition is your trustworthy manual for eating -- and enjoying! -- healthful food as you live your life in the real world. Inspired by her widely distributed newspaper column, Quinn On Nutrition, registered dietitian Barbara Quinn thoughtfully unpacks and delivers reliable answers to over 100 current nutrition topics. From pregnancy to old age, sports to diabetes, Quinn-Essential Nutrition is your user guide to healthful eating -- no matter what your circumstance.
Barbara Quinn, MS, RDN, CDE is a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified diabetes educator affiliated with the Diabetes and Nutrition Therapy program at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. Quinn is also certified Health and Wellness coach.
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Community Events
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Darkside Show Times for 5/27-6/2
-Hello, My Name is Doris -R With help from her best friend's (Tyne Daly) granddaughter (Isabella Acres), a smitten woman (Sally Field) concocts schemes to get the attention of a younger co-worker (Max Greenfield) in her office. 82% RT.
-A Hologram for The King -R A beautiful doctor (Sarita Choudhury) and a wise-cracking taxi driver (Alexander Black) help an American businessman (Tom Hanks) who's trying to close the deal of a lifetime in Saudi Arabia. Directed by Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run).
-The Meddler -PG-13 The Meddler transcends its cutesy title and familiar premise with a heartfelt look at family dynamics that's honored by a marvelous performances from Susan Sarandon and JK Simmons.
-The Man Who Knew Infinity -PG-13 In 1913 a self-taught Indian mathematics genius forged a bond with his brilliant, eccentric mentor professor at Trinity College, Cambridge. The true story of a friendship that forever changed mathematics. Jeremy Irons, Dev Patel.
Arts/Literary Events
Reviewed by Susan and Bob Poole; sponsored by Friends of the Library
Wednesday, June 8, 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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Store News
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Job opening at Grass Roots
Love books and looking for a challenging and rewarding opportunity? Grass Roots Books & Music has an immediate opening for a receiving clerk.
This position is both intellectually and physically demanding. Potential applicants must be avid readers and love sharing their knowledge of what they've read, be highly computer literate, and easily able to learn new programs and systems quickly in a multi-tasking environment. Successful candidates must interact well with coworkers and customers, but also be able to function independently.
To download more information and a complete job description, please click the following links:
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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.
Please join us for 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 Lisa Genova
[Fiction]
Pass the tissues...this one is a tearjerker. Once again, Lisa Genova, bestselling author of Still Alice, has written a thought-provoking book that sheds light on a neurological condition. Inside the O'Briens is about Huntington's Disease, and is told through the life of the O'Brien family. Genova takes a regular family, a family that could be yours or mine, and touchingly portrays them confronted with extraordinary events. She shows just how fragile the human body might be, and how powerful the human spirit can become.
Paperback; $16.00
Publisher: Gallery Books; ISBN: 9781476717791
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by Frans de Waal
[Non-Fiction]
Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? will completely change your perceptions of the abilities of animals. In this book, de Waal takes a close look at various ways of trying to understand animal cognition; while opening our eyes to the idea that animal minds are far more intricate and complex than we have assumed. This engaging book fills you in on animal psychology and cognition across the range of animal types, making you rethink everything you thought you knew about animal and human intelligence.
Hardcover; $27.95
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; ISBN: 9780393246186
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