|
|
|
|
| June 30, 2016 |
|
Good afternoon, Readers,
July is just around the corner, meaning our favorite summer scavenger hunt will be underway all month long: Find Waldo Local for the chance to win prizes from participating downtown Corvallis businesses! To begin your search, pick up a passport in the store.
Grass Roots' own staff Summer Reading Picks have also been unveiled in the store, so take a look at our top books to enjoy this season, and say hello to our newest staff members, Emma and Donovan.
This week's book releases: New non-fiction for animal lovers, bestselling author novels now in paperback, and an enchanting new read for young adults.
Keep reading for author events throughout July, plus new community events. This Fourth of July, we'll be open from 11 to 4 p.m., and replenishing our stock of bargain books! Stop in early for the best selection.
Wishing you a safe and happy Independence Day weekend,
~Marissa
|
New Hardcovers
|
|
by Roger Lederer
[Non-Fiction]
When we see a bird flying from branch to branch happily chirping, it is easy to imagine they lead a simple life of freedom, flight, and feathers. What we don't see is the arduous, life-threatening challenges they face at every moment. Lederer guides the reader through the myriad, and often almost miraculous, things that birds do every day to merely stay alive. In engaging and accessible prose, Lederer shares how and why birds use their sensory abilities to see ultraviolet, find food without seeing it, fly thousands of miles without stopping, change their songs in noisy cities, navigate by smell, and much more.
Hardcover; $24.95
Publisher: Timber Press (OR); ISBN: 9781604696486
|
by Patric Kuh
[Non-Fiction]
We hear the word artisanal all the time attached to cheese, chocolate, coffee, even fast-food chain sandwiches -- but what does it actually mean? We take farm to table and handcrafted food for granted now, but how did we get here? Acclaimed food writer Patric Kuh begins by narrating the entertaining stories of countercultural radicals who taught themselves the forgotten crafts of bread, cheese, and beer-making in reaction to the ever-present marketing of bland, mass-produced food. Eye-opening and informative, the book is a fresh look into the culture of artisan food as we know it today and what its future may be.
Hardcover; $26.99
Publisher: Ecco Press; ISBN: 9780062219541
|
by Midge Raymond
[Fiction]
". . .Two people who literally have gone to the end of the earth to find each other form the heart of this intricately constructed tale set against the majestic backdrop of Antarctica's ice floes and pitted against the severity of its unforgiving environment. Each recovering from devastating losses, penguin experts Deb Gardner and Keller Sullivan find mutual comfort in the continent's eerie isolation, which is sacrificed when their research vessel is forced to play host to increasing hordes of ecotourists. . .Tragedy strikes, and in the act of rescuing the liner's passengers, Deb and Keller put their own lives at risk. . ." - Booklist
Hardcover; $26.00
Publisher: Scribner Book Company; ISBN: 9781501124709
|
|
by Charles Foster
[Fiction]
"'I want to know what it is like to be a wild thing,' explains Foster, a British professor of medical law and ethics as well as a veterinarian, at the start of this fascinating exploration. . .His attempts to actually be a beast make this a different sort of wildlife book. Foster lived in a hole and ate worms to approximate the life of a badger. As an otter, he traveled alone between streams and stayed in the water turning over stones in search of food. . .Ultimately, Foster found reciprocity in his unusual and daring immersion in nature. . ." - Booklist, Starred Review
Hardcover; $28.00
Publisher: Metropolitan Books; ISBN: 9781627796330
|
New Paperbacks
|
|
|
by Patrick DeWitt
[Fiction]
"Following up on the huge success of The Sisters Brothers, DeWitt has another askew masterpiece on his hands, this time turning his unique narrative voice onto the familiar tropes of the fairy tale. Lucien (Lucy) Minor leaves his home, by train, to accept the position of the assistant to the majordomo of Castle Von Auxaka undermajordomo. A darkly humorous adventure ensues, as Lucy leaves home as a boy and becomes a man. Throughout this journey, Lucy encounters many memorable characters, including two thieves who become his best friends and, surprisingly, his moral compass. . .and the beautiful Klara, who captures his heart but not without competition. . ." - Booklist, Starred Review
Paperback; $15.99
Publisher: Ecco Press; ISBN: 9780062281227
|
|
by Spencer Quinn
[Fiction]
When a mysterious case of illegal cactus smuggling comes to their attention, Chet and his human P.I. companion, Bernie Little, find themselves in a prickly situation in this eighth book in the New York Times bestselling mystery series. Bernie and his dog Chet return home to encounter some alarming developments: First off, Bernie's grandfather's watch, their most valuable possession, has been stolen. And next door, old Mr. Parsons is under investigation for being in possession of a saguaro cactus illegally transplanted from the desert. Is it possible that such a lovely old couple have a terrible secret in their past?
Paperback; $16.00
Publisher: Atria Books; ISBN: 9781476703435
|
|
by Stephanie Kallos
[Fiction]
Charles Marlow teaches his high school English students that language will expand their worlds. But linguistic precision cannot help him connect with his autistic son, or with his ex-wife, who abandoned their shared life years before, or even with his college-bound daughter who has just flown the nest, until a series of events forces him to think back on his decisions. With the help of an ambitious art student, an Italian-speaking nun, and the memory of a boy in a white suit who inscribed his childhood with both solace and sorrow, Charles may finally be able to rewrite the script of his life.
Paperback; $14.95
Publisher: Mariner Books; ISBN: 9780544715264
|
New For Young Readers
|
|
|
by Andrea Zuill
[Fiction]
Ages 5 to 8
Meet Homer, a dog who heads to camp to live like a wolf! He's greeted by wolf counselors Fang and Grrr (they seem nice), and what follows is an array of wolf activities, including learning to howl, mark, and hunt. Of course, Homer's a little homesick at times, and the food isn't very good, but that just makes heading home all the sweeter. Perfect for all those kids anticipating camp themselves, Zuill's debut introduces a charmer of a dog and puts him in some laugh-out-loud scenarios.
Hardcover; $16.99
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books; ISBN: 9780553509120
|
|
by John David Anderson
[Fiction]
Ages 8 to 12
"When Ms. Bixby tells her sixth-grade class that she has cancer and will be leaving before the school year ends, her students are stunned. But the following week, when they learn that she's already gone into the hospital to start treatment several days early, three boys swing into action, carrying out an ambitious (and mostly legal) plan to create a grand gesture of appreciation, bravado, and connection. Facing a series of practical challenges but armed with Bixbyisms (their teacher's favorite sayings), Topher, Steve, and Brand display a winning mixture of courage and naivete. . .A smart, funny, ultimately moving novel." - Booklist, Starred Review
Hardcover; $16.99
Publisher: Walden Pond Press; ISBN: 9780062338174
|
|
by Evelyn Skye
[Fiction]
Young Adult
Vika Andreyeva can summon the snow and turn ash into gold. Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges out of thin air. They are the only enchanters in Russia, and when the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs threaten to attack, the tsar wants a powerful enchanter by his side. He initiates the Crown's Game, a duel of magical skill, and the winner will become his Imperial Enchanter; the loser will die. For Vika and Nikolai, the game is a chance of a lifetime, but they come to realize that their growing regard for each other makes the game impossible to win. . .
Hardcover; $17.99
Publisher: Balzer & Bray/Harperteen; ISBN: 9780062422583
|
New Music
|
|
Events at Grass Roots
|
|
|
Maximilian Uriarte
Monday, July 18 at 7:00 p.m.
Grass Roots Books & Music
227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR
The White Donkey is the first graphic novel about the war in Iraq written and illustrated by a veteran. Originally funded by a Kickstarter campaign that received major national news coverage and went viral on social media, Uriarte's first printing of 3,000 paperback copies sold out in 36 hours and has been unavailable since then. Little, Brown and Company has now re-released the book in a new, hardcover edition. A vivid and moving look at war and PTSD, The White Donkey follows young Marines as they experience the ugly, pedestrian, and often meaningless side of military service in rural Iraq.
Maximilian Uriarte enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2006 at the age of nineteen and served for four years. In 2010 Uriarte created the popular comic strip Terminal Lance while still on active duty. Uriarte has a bachelor's degree from California College of the Arts. The author will be reading and signing books at this event.
|
|
Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche
Tuesday, July 19 at 7:00 p.m. 
Grass Roots Books & Music
227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR
In Our Pristine Mind, a Tibetan Buddhist master shows us how to go beyond mindfulness with meditation and journey deep into ultimate happiness, transforming every area of our lives. Orgyen Chowang empowers us to gradually experience our mind as pure awareness -- free from the feelings, thoughts, and other mental events that obscure its true nature. Using simple language, he provides precise, experiential instructions that make this life-transforming realization attainable for all, whether we are just seeking a happier life or are pursuing the spiritual journey all the way to enlightenment.
Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche, a meditation master in the Nyingma lineage of the Buddhist tradition, has a passion for presenting teachings in a practical and experiential way for modern audiences. His primary teacher was Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche, one of the greatest Dzogchen masters of the last century. The author will be reading and signing books at this event.
|
|
David Baker
Wednesday, July 20 at 7:00 p.m. 
Grass Roots Books & Music
227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR
Join us for an entertaining evening with Corvallis author David Baker celebrating the paperback release of Vintage, his humorous and evocative debut novel. Vintage follows a food journalist's desperate attempt to save his career -- and possibly, his marriage -- by tracking an extremely valuable bottle of wine stolen by the Nazis over half a century ago.
Author David Baker is no stranger to the winemaking process. He has spent time working in commercial vineyards and has been known to make a passable pinot noir in his garage. In addition to sharing readings from the book, he will be talking about the changing wine industry on a global and local scale, as well as his research and writing process for Vintage. The author will be reading and signing books at this event.
|
|
Susan Moon
Tuesday, July 26 at 7:00 p.m. 
Grass Roots Books & Music
227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR
The Hidden Lamp: Stories from Twenty-five Centuries of Awakened Women brings together one hundred stories of awakened Buddhist women from the time of the Buddha until the present -- nuns, housewives, prostitutes, peasants, tea shop ladies -- and each story has a commentary by a different contemporary woman Buddhist teacher. In these pages, 100 wise women of the past meet with 100 wise women of the present. What does it mean to wake up as we really are in this world?
|
|
Ellen Jackson & Trudy Toliver
Wednesday, July 27 at 7:00 p.m. 
Grass Roots Books & Music
227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR
Portland Farmers Market operates seven vibrant farmers markets in Portland, Oregon, including a year-round farmers market consistently named among North America's Top 10. This cookbook is a tribute to the farmers, chefs, and shoppers who embrace their world-class markets like no other. With 100 seasonally organized recipes for every meal of the day, stories of the market's farmers and producers, shopping and cooking tips, and glorious color photography, the Portland Farmers Market Cookbook is a celebration of a place and its people, who are proud to share their bounty with the Portland community and beyond.
Trudy Toliver is a lifelong Oregonian, environmentalist, and leader. She worked in roles focused on sustainability before joining Portland Farmers Market as executive director. Trudy believes that eating healthy food changes peoples' lives.
This event is co-sponsored by Grass Roots Books and the Corvallis Farmers Market. The authors will be reading and signing books at this event.
|
Community Events
|
|
|
Darkside Show Times for 7/1-7/7
-Weiner -R Sexts, lies, and Carlos Danger: watch the wildest political meltdown in recent history as it unfolds. Former U.S. Representative Anthony Weiner's catastrophic race for Mayor of New York City in 2013 is detailed in this behind-the-scenes documentary.
-Buddymoon -R When a former child actor is dumped by his fiancé days before the wedding, his excitable German best man takes him on the honeymoon instead: a backcountry trek in the remote mountains of Oregon.
-The Lobster -R In a dystopian society, single people must find a mate within 45 days or be transformed into an animal of their choice. The odd kind of movie you love us for. Colin Farrell, John C. Riley, Rachel Weisz.
Arts/Literary Events
Corvallis Folklore Society: Bruce Marbin Memorial Celebration and Contra Dance
Saturday, July 9, at 5:30 to 10:00 p.m.
First Congregational Church
4515 W Hills Rd.
Corvallis, OR
With Callers Stacy Rose and Karen Olsen, and the Bruce Marbin MegaBand (BMMB)! Bring memories and stories about Bruce, and a potluck dish to share. No alcohol allowed. $10-$20 suggested fundraiser donation for honoring Bruce with a Corvallis park xylophone installation -- accessible to all children & adults. For more information, visit Corvallis Folklore Society.
 Willamette Writers on the River: Monthly Meeting with C. Lill Ahrens "Exclusive: The Secret Powers of Chronology Revealed!"
Monday, July 18, at 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church, Allison Room
114 SW 8th St.
Corvallis, OR
Lill's entertaining presentation will help you use the tool of chronology to propel readers through your story to the very end. She will discuss all the ways you might be writing backwards, plus a handy "Checklist for Chronology" to help you turn "backward writing" around. Bring writing supplies and a double-spaced excerpt of your work -- a favorite scene with some action -- to test your own chronological powers.
Over the past ten years -- as an editor for Calyx Journal, the contest director for Oregon Writers Colony, a creative writing teacher, and editorial consultant -- Lill has read thousands of unpublished stories and debated finalists with her fellow editors and judges. This presentation is taken from Lill's current project, a how-to-write book, Creating a Movie in Your Reader's Mind.
|
Community Events with Grass Roots
|
|
|
Dr. Jean Moule
Thursday, July 14, at 7:00 p.m.
Corvallis Multicultural Literacy Center
128 SW 9th St.
Corvallis, OR
Nurturing Grandchildren: Black, White & In-Between, is Dr. Jean Moule's poignant, cautionary, and heart-warming collection of short essays and magazine columns discussing racial identity, expectations, and relationships within interracial families. The book is a valuable resource that helps adults encourage and support multicultural children to play a positive role in the complicated racial relations in our nation. It also explores racial identity issues that we face during childhood and beyond via the author's personal experiences and academic discussion. Moule's book aims to help the nation's children, including her multi-ethnic grandchildren, live in culturally competent communities and families.
Jean Moule is an emerita faculty member at OSU, whose most popular class is "Racial and Cultural Harmony in the K-12 Classroom." At OSU, she created a unique immersion program for preparing educators to teach in bilingual and highly diverse settings. She and her husband Robbie raised three biracial children in rural Oregon. Grass Roots will be selling books at this event.
|
Store News
|
|
|
Find Waldo Local 2016
 Where's Waldo? In Corvallis, of course! The famous children's book character in the striped shirt and black-rimmed specs is visiting 20 different local businesses throughout our community this July. Those who spot him can win prizes, including stickers, book coupons, gift certificates, and more. From American Dream Pizza to Tried & True Coffee, from The Inkwell Home Store to Grass Roots Books & Music, Waldo figures will be well hidden in local business establishments. Find Waldo is a great summer vacation activity, and a wonderful way for residents to support local business and the Buy Local First movement. The search for Waldo will be from July 1st -31st (all month long). To participate, pick up a "Find Waldo Local in Corvallis!" passport at Grass Roots with the names of all the participating businesses, and then get your passport stamped or signed for each Waldo you spot. The first 100 Waldo seekers to get their passports stamped or signed at 10 or more sites can bring their passports back to Grass Roots to collect prizes. For 18 or more stamps, you'll be entered into a grand prize drawing on August 1, at Grass Roots at 1:30 p.m. This year, participants can also #ColorWaldoAndWin: when you share a completed coloring sheet of Waldo on Instagram, you'll be entered into a drawing to be one of five lucky winners of a deluxe prize pack. Full list of participating businesses:
American Dream Pizza
Animal Crackers
Burst's Chocolates
Fingerboard Extension
Footwise
Francesco's
Gracewinds Music
Grass Roots Books & Music
The Inkwell Home Store
Irene's Boutique
Kaleidoscope Studios (Day Dreamers)
Many Hands Trading
Mod Pod Decor
New Morning Bakery
Northern Star
Peak Sports
Second Glance
Second Glance: The Annex
Second Glance: The Alley
Sedlak's Shoes
Sibling Revelry
The Toy Factory
Tried & True Coffee
|
|
Summer Reading Picks
See what the staff at Grass Roots is reading this summer! Our lists comprise fiction and non-fiction, hardcover and paperback, with something new and different for everyone. Check them out in the store and escape into a good book.
|
Jigsaw
|
|
Reading Group Selection
|
|
Tuesday, August 2, at 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Join our newest bookseller Donovan as she leads our August reading group with The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Please note that due to the length of the book, we will take an extra month to read!
Theo Decker, a 13-year-old New Yorker, miraculously survives an accident that kills his mother. Abandoned by his father, Theo is taken in by the family of a wealthy friend. Bewildered by his strange new home on Park Avenue, disturbed by schoolmates who don't know how to talk to him, and tormented above all by his longing for his mother, he clings to the one thing that reminds him of her: a small, mysteriously captivating painting that ultimately draws Theo into the underworld of art. As an adult, Theo moves silkily between the drawing rooms of the rich and the dusty labyrinth of an antiques store where he works. He is alienated and in love -- and at the center of a narrowing, ever more dangerous circle.
Regular Price: $20.00
On sale for: $17.00
Until Tuesday, August 2
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
ISBN: 9780316055444
|
Night Stands
|
|
|
Neé
[Fiction]
Ages 8 to 12
It's summertime and that means It's adventure time! Join Squirrel and a menagerie of characters (bees, mice, crows -- oh my!) for a wild ride to solve a mysterious riddle that could be a blessing or a curse. Kids are going to love the fast-paced, action-packed story and the clues and riddles are going to keep their little minds sharp and active while school's out. This book in an incredibly creative debut novel and it will be loved by fans, young and old, of the Redwall series.
Hardcover; $16.99
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; ISBN: 9781481444750
|
|
Marissa
by Kameron Hurley
[Non-Fiction]
A collection of thought-provoking essays combining women's issues within the realm of sci-fi and fantasy culture? "I need this book in my life," I said immediately, putting it at the top of my summer reading list. Why might you need this book? Because we are undergoing a paradigm shift in terms of the diversification of the storytelling industry, for creators and consumers alike. Hugo Award-winning Hurley addresses a broad spectrum of changes and challenges facing women and modern media, including "Taking Responsibility for Writing Problematic Stories," "Remaking the Hero Archetype," and "Why I'm Not Afraid of the Internet."
Paperback; $15.99
Publisher: Tor Books; ISBN: 9780765386243
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
