|
|
|
|
| August 18, 2016 |
|
Hello, dear Readers,
Prepare for a scorcher of a weekend -- we have A/C! Stay cool and up-to-date browsing the newest summer reads, and enjoy a week-long bargain book sale on NOW: all bargain books are buy two, get one free! Choose from a large selection of fiction and non-fiction, children's books, cookbooks, and more.
This week in new books: take a trip through time with historical fiction featuring Picasso, get a laugh out of a comedy set in Victorian London, and craft your very own Papertoy Glowbots (highly encouraged for all ages). We've also got the summer issue of the Willamette Writers' own Timberline Review, including pieces by local poets.
We'd like to remind you to please join us for a Musical Celebration of Life for Michael Fridley this Saturday (see Community Events).
Read on,
~Marissa
|
New Hardcovers
|
|
by Camille Aubray
[Fiction]
"Seventeen-year-old Ondine is cooking in her family's cafe in the south of France when she is tasked with delivering meals to a secretive, newly arrived guest. The year is 1936, and the enigmatic patron is none other than Pablo Picasso. Ondine, heartbroken after the loss of her first love, strikes up a cautious rapport with the famed artist, who provides her with a new perspective on her life. . .first-time novelist Aubray splits the time frame, setting Ondine's story next to the present-day tale of her granddaughter, Celine. . .With lively characters and a twisting plot, Aubray's novel is a smart and satisfying tale of family, creativity, romance, and intrigue." - Booklist
Hardcover; $27.00
Publisher: Ballantine Books; ISBN: 9780399177651
|
|
by Tom Bullough
[Fiction]
A complex family with a tortured secret, the Hamers live on a large homestead in Radnorshire, Wales. Idris, the unbending patriarch and tyrant of the family, is a man suspicious of any change. Etty, his indomitable wife, is a woman born into a world unequipped to deal with her. Oliver, their only son, is a junior boxing champion turned hellraising local legend. Their only constant is the living presence of the land itself, a dazzling, harsh, and haunting terrain that Bullough conjures with the skill and grace of a master. A novel concerned both with the huge changes of 20th-century rural life, and that life in its eternal details.
Hardcover; $27.00
Publisher: Dial Press; ISBN: 9780812998726
|
|
by Forrest Leo
[Fiction]
When Lionel Savage, a popular poet in Victorian London, learns from his butler that they're broke, he marries the beautiful Vivien Lancaster for her money, only to find that his muse has abandoned him. Distraught and contemplating suicide, Savage accidentally conjures the Devil -- the polite "Gentleman" of the title -- and concludes in horror that he must have inadvertently sold his wife to the dark lord. Savage plans a rescue mission to Hell that includes Simmons, the butler; Tompkins, the bookseller; Ashley Lancaster, swashbuckling Buddhist; Will Kensington, inventor of a flying machine; and Savage's spirited kid sister, Lizzie. . .A funny, fantastically entertaining debut novel, in the spirit of Wodehouse and Monty Python.
Hardcover; $26.00
Publisher: Penguin Press; ISBN: 9780399562631
|
New Paperbacks
|
|
|
[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
*This issue includes poems by two local Corvallis poets: Christy Stevens and Louise Borden.
Paperback; $12.00
Publisher: Willamette Writers; ISBN: 9780996461825
|
|
by Ivan Doig
[Fiction]
"The majority of the late Doig's novels were deeply rooted in one place, the Two Medicine Country in Montana, but this time, in his swan song, he takes readers on a road trip. In the summer of 1951, 11-year-old Donal Cameron. . .is dispatched by Greyhound (the dog bus) to Wisconsin, where he is to live with his Aunt Kate. . .Packing his treasured memory book, in which he asks any and all to inscribe a few meaningful words. . . it is such an utterly charming, goodhearted romp that readers will willingly immerse themselves in the all-pervasive sweetness of the story. . ." - Booklist, Starred Review
Paperback; $16.00
Publisher: Riverhead Books; ISBN: 9781101982563
|
|
by Janice Kaplan
[Non-Fiction]
On New Year's Eve, journalist and former Parade Editor-in-Chief Janice Kaplan makes a promise to be grateful and look on the bright side of whatever happens. She realizes that how she feels over the next months will have less to do with the events that occur than her own attitude and perspective. Getting advice at every turn from psychologists, academics, doctors, and philosophers, she brings readers on a smart and witty journey to discover the value of appreciating what you have. Relying on both amusing personal experiences and extensive research, Kaplan explores how gratitude can transform every aspect of life including marriage and friendship, money and ambition, and health and fitness.
Paperback; $16.00
Publisher: Dutton Books; ISBN: 9781101984147
|
|
by Jennifer Chiaverini
[Fiction]
In 1844, shy Missouri belle Julia Dent met Lieutenant Ulysses S. Grant, brilliant horseman and reluctant soldier. The two fell deeply in love, but Grant's abolitionist family refused to attend their wedding. For despite her husband's objections, Julia kept as her slave another Julia, known as Jule. Julia was gifted with prophetic dreams, which Jule helped her interpret; Julia secretly taught Jule to read, while Jule became her vision-impaired mistress's eyes to the world. But as Grant rose through the ranks of the Union army during the Civil War, the stark distinctions between mistress and slave strained their unlikely friendship. . .
Paperback; $16.00
Publisher: Dutton Books; ISBN: 9781101983836
|
|
by Meg Waite Clayton
[Fiction]
Normandy, 1944. To cover the fighting in France, Jane, a reporter for the Nashville Banner, and Liv, an Associated Press photographer, have endured enormous danger and frustrating obstacles including strict military regulations limiting what women correspondents can do. Encouraged by her husband, the editor of a New York newspaper, she's determined to be the first photographer to reach Paris with the Allies, and capture its freedom from the Nazis.
To fulfill her ambitions, Liv must go AWOL. She persuades Jane to join her, and the two women race for Paris across the perilous French countryside. . .
Paperback; $15.99
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks; ISBN: 9780062354648
|
New For Young Readers
|
|
|
by Gitty Daneshvari
[Fiction]
Ages 8 to 12
This first book in a hilarious new adventure series is for anyone who's struggled to be noticed in a sea of above-average overachievers. The League of Unexceptional Children is a covert network that uses the nation's most average, normal, and utterly unexceptional children as spies. Why the average kids? Why not the brainiacs? Or the beauty queens? Or the jocks? It's simple: People "remember" them. But not the unexceptionals. They are the forgotten ones. Until now!
Paperback; $6.99
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; ISBN: 9780316405683
|
|
by Brian Castleforte
Ages 9 to Adult
Origami meets amazing creatures in a book of paper craft fun! Papertoy Glowbots introduces 46 robots that have the added cool factor of lighting up, whether using glow-in-the-dark stickers that come with the book or light sources like flashlights, Christmas tree lights, and electric tea lights. The 46 die-cut paper robots are created by Brian Castleforte, author of Papertoy Monsters, along with the hottest papertoy designers from around the world. Meet the robots and read about their entertaining backstories in the front, then turn to the card stock section in the back to build them.
Paperback; $18.95
Publisher: Workman Publishing; ISBN: 9780761177623
|
New Bargain Books
|
|
|
One week only: Bargain Book SALE!
ALL bargain books: Buy two, get one free
Valid August 18 - 24
Choose from a large selection of fiction and non-fiction, children's books, cookbooks, and more. Look for books labeled with a green 'B' on regular shelves and on our Bargain Book tables. This deal is only good for a short time, and copies of bargain books are limited, so come in before they sell out!
|
New Music
|
|
Events at Grass Roots
|
|
|
Dick Weinman
"Thanks for Messing Up My Life," from
Monday, September 12 at 7:00 p.m. 
Grass Roots Books & Music
227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR
"Thanks for Messing Up My Life" is the title of the story by Dick Weinman which has been published in the new Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Power of Gratitude. Dick's story is one of the 101 selected from the thousands of submissions, and tells the story of how Dick survived a life changing traffic accident, while at the same time enduring the pain of his wife, Ginny's, inexorable battle with Alzheimer's.
Dick Weinman, Professor Emeritus of Media Communication, has had a concurrent career as narrator, voice actor, and broadcaster, including 25 years hosting OPB's "Morning Edition." The author will be reading and signing books at this event.
|
|
Gina Oschner
Wednesday, September 14 at 7:00 p.m. 
Grass Roots Books & Music
227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR
Summoned to his mother's bedside as she nears the end of her life, young Maris must hear a new version, his mother's version, of his own story. Maris was born knowing things: his very large, very special ears enable him to hear the secrets of the dead, as well as the memories that haunt his Latvian hometown. He finds himself heir to an odd assortment of hidden letters, letters from which he would weave a story that could finally expose -- and maybe even patch -- the holes in the fabric of his family and their town.
Gina Oschner is the author of The Russian Dreambook of Color and Flight, a novel long-listed for the Orange Prize, and two story collections. Her awards include the Flannery O'Connor Award, the William Faulkner Prize, the Oregon Book Award, Guggenheim and NEA grants, and the Raymond Carver Prize. The author will be reading and signing books at this event.
|
|
Judy Li & M.L. Herring
Saturday, September 17 at 3:00 p.m. 
Grass Roots Books & Music
227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR
OSU Press has recently published Ricky's Atlas by local Corvallis author Judy Li, illustrated by M. L. Herring, also of Corvallis. This is their second children's book, and the sequel to Ellie's Log, which was set in the Andrews Experimental Forest. Ricky's Atlas follows the same cast of characters in their summer adventures east of the Cascade Mountains, where Ricky and Ellie explore the science of wildfire ecology.
Judith L. Li, a retired associate professor in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at OSU, participates in National Science Foundation-sponsored Long Term Ecological Research at the H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest and works with K-12 science teachers. M. L. Herring lives on a peach farm near Corvallis. She writes and illustrates for OSU's College of Agricultural Sciences, where she is an associate professor and director of communications. The author and illustrator will be reading and signing books at this event.
|
|
Carla Wise
Monday, September 26 at 7:00 p.m. 
Grass Roots Books & Music
227 SW 2nd St.
Corvallis, OR
This is a pivotal moment for humans on Earth: we are beginning to experience the effects of our destabilizing climate and understand that our world is at risk. Chaotic weather, wildfires, crop failures, and other signs of a warming world are increasing as experts issue ever more dire warnings.
Written by a biologist and mother who needed to come to terms with her deepening fears, Awake on Earth is an exploration of climate change that is grounded in science, holistic, and personal. In it Carla Wise considers what we are facing, why, and how we might respond with more honesty, courage, and even grace. This event is co-sponsored by the Spring Creek Project. The author will be reading and signing books at this event.
|
Community Events
|
|
Musical Celebration of Life for Michael Fridley
 On May 7th, Corvallis lost a wonderful musician and friend to music communities and music scholars far and wide. He, his wife Victoria, and their son Daniel have been dear friends to us and the bookstore since their arrival to our community. We have treasured memories of Michael playing his lute and guitar for us during holiday seasons as a gift to the store, creating magical evenings.
As a musician, his breadth of knowledge about music history and experience with diverse musical styles was a source of inspiration to many. Throughout his life he appreciated and performed rock, blues, folk, country, bluegrass, jazz, classical, and early music. His first instrument was the trumpet, but by high school the guitar became his focus. He also played lute, banjo and recorder, relishing the collaboration of playing in ensembles. Guided by a desire to serve the music, when he took a solo it was to enhance and extend the creative choices of the musicians he loved to play with.
In honor of Michaels' many musical interests, talents, and friends, there will be a Musical Celebration of Life:
Saturday, August 20, at 1:00 p.m.
West Hills First Congregational United Church of Christ in Corvallis
4515 SW West Hills Rd.
Corvallis 97333
A reception will immediately follow. For those wishing to make a donation in honor of Michael's memory, the family would like you to please consider the ArtsCare program at the Arts Center, Benton Hospice Service, or an organization of your choice that promotes music education and performance.
|
|
Darkside Show Times for 8/19-8/25
-Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie -R After attracting both media and police attention for accidentally knocking Kate Moss into the River Thames, Edina and Patsy hide out in the south of France. British with no subtitles.
-Our Little Sister -PG The story of one fractured family to offer universal -- and deeply moving -- observations on the human condition. Subtitled Japanese.
-Imperium -R Nate Foster (Daniel Radcliffe), a young, idealistic FBI agent, goes undercover to take down a radical right-wing terrorist group.
-Hunt for the Wilderpeople -PG-13 A boy and his foster father become the subjects of a manhunt after they get stranded in the New Zealand wilderness. Sam Neill. Comedy. 99% RT.
-Gleason -R After he is diagnosed with ALS, former professional football player Steve Gleason begins making a video diary for his unborn son, as he, his wife, and their friends and family work to raise money for ALS patients as his disease progresses. 96% on RT!
-Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble -PG The extraordinary documentary of the renowned international musical collective created by legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma. This group of diverse instrumentalists, vocalists, composers, arrangers, visual artists and storytellers explore the power of music to preserve tradition, shape cultural evolution, and inspire hope.
Arts/Literary Events
Reviewed by Paul Kopperman; sponsored by Friends of the Library
Wednesday, September 14, at 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Corvallis-Benton County Public Library 645 NW Monroe Ave. Corvallis, OR
Willamette Writers on the River: Quarterly Open Mic
Monday, September 19, 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.
Friends of the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library Fall Festival Book Sale
Saturday, September 24, at 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
and Sunday, September 25, at 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Corvallis Public Library 645 NW Monroe Ave. Corvallis, OR
High quality paperback books will be available for $1-$4. Additional hours for members only will be Friday, September 23 at 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Anyone can become a member for $10 at the door. The annual Fall Festival book sale benefits the libraries of Alsea, Corvallis, Monroe, Philomath and the Bookmobile. More information available at Friends of the Library.
|
Community Events with Grass Roots
|
|
Store News
|
|
|
Back to school books
Get back into the school spirit with a selection of fun, educational titles for little ones! Find just the right read for all ages in our children's section.
|
Reading Group Selection
|
|
Tuesday, September 6, at 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Nell Stillman's road is not easy. When her boorish husband dies soon after they move to the small town of Harvester, Minnesota, Nell is alone, penniless yet responsible for her beloved baby boy Hillyard. Not an easy fate in small-town America at the beginning of the 20th century. In the face of nearly insurmountable odds, Nell finds strength in lasting friendships and in the rich inner life awakened by the novels she loves.
Regular Price: $16.00
On sale for: $13.60
Until Tuesday, September 6
Publisher: Milkweed Editions
ISBN: 9781571311115
|
Night Stands
|
|
|
Mary
by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany
[Fiction]
 Harry Potter is back! As a longtime fan of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, I thought this was a fun addition to the already phenomenal series. In case you haven't heard, this book is not like the original Harry Potter novels as it is a script of the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child that is being performed in London. And while I did miss the amazing world building and fine details that were always a part of the Harry Potter novels, I had no trouble getting into the story and visualizing it. And as before, I was happy to get sucked into the Potter universe once again.
Hardcover, $29.99 Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books; ISBN: 9781338099133 |
|
Emma
[Fiction]
Grief takes flight in this compact novel. Discerning the reality from the imagination of the bereaved characters is difficult at times, seeing as one of them is a plastic crow. Crow is a friend and a foe, one who malingers and teases the minds of the protagonists, as well as the readers. His jagged dialogue is interrupted with krak, krik and kaw and it lends his insights a certain sting. The varying perspectives are what pieces the story together; rather than a reader observing characters in grief, the characters observe themselves. The children lend a brutal honesty to the storytelling, while 'Dad' is busy and struggling, but provides concise reflection that will sicken a reader to their stomach in throes of empathy. Though it is small and short, this isn't a book to be read lightly. It is a field guide through the tumultuous and inexplicable affliction that is human pain and healing.
Paperback, $14.00 Publisher: Graywolf Press; ISBN: 9781555977412 |
|
Tiffany
[Fiction]
Nell Sullivan, widowed and newly single mother to a beloved toddler, navigates the perils and pleasures of small town life in Harvester, Minnesota at the turn of the 20th century. Thanks to a teaching credential, Nell teaches third grade for decades at the local school and forges a life of deep friendships and enduring love (in contrast to her abusive marriage) amidst heartbreaking pain and loss from World War I and the Depression. Throughout life's trials, Nell finds constant comfort in her beloved books, especially those of author P.G. Wodehouse. Any booklover will find a kindred spirit in Nell Sullivan and quiet contentment reading her story.
Paperback, regular price $16.00 (on sale for $13.60)
Publisher: Milkweed Editions; ISBN: 9781571311115
|
Jigsaw
|
|
|
The jigsaw is taking another short vacation, but will return soon!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
