The Circle by Dave Eggers (Knopf)      

This new novel by perennial Green Apple favorite and McSweeney's founder is wonderful.  What we love about Eggers is that each new book is a departure from his previous ones--you never know what to expect, but your life is richer for having read it.  The Circle is a real page-turner set in a fictional online behemoth, with echoes of Orwell and Bradbury.  It's funny and riveting and disturbing, and due to its topical nature, it will be the talk of this town for months to come.  The notoriously finicky NY Times reviewer Michiko Kakutani agrees with us--"using his fluent prose and instinctive storytelling gifts, Mr. Eggers does a nimble, and sometimes very funny, job of sending up technophiles' naïveté, self-interest and misguided idealism."   

Buy The Circle in-store, online, or as an eBook.  

"When Did You See Her Last?" by Lemony Snicket (Little, Brown)

Another of our favorite authors--local or otherwise--returns with the second installment in his newest series--All The Wrong Questions.  If you know anyone who likes to laugh, loves a good mystery, or even vaguely likes books, we're pretty sure this is a safe bet.  And while it's marketed towards the younger set, no one can read Snicket without a smile on his or her face. Illustrations by Seth.

Buy "When Did You See Her Last" in-store, online or as an eBook. 

The House of Hades by Rick Riordan (Hyperion) 

Of all of the new books out by A-list authors (Gladwell, Pynchon, Lahiri), none have had first-week sales nearly as strong as book four of the Heroes of Olympus series. Whatever spell Rick Riordan is casting upon young readers, it is working, because every one of his new books is greeted by 12-year-old kids like a mash-up reincarnation of The Beatles, Harry Potter and The Pet Rock would be by their parents.  And if you know a kid under 15 who has yet to start this series, get them in here for Book One. 

Buy The House of Hades in-store, online, or in eBook form.  

The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health and Disease by Daniel Lieberman (Pantheon) 

 
In The Story of the Human Body, Lieberman leads a fascinating journey through human evolution.  He comprehensively explains how evolutionary forces have shaped the human species, from the move to bipedalism, and the changes in body parts--from hands to feet and spine--that such a change entailed, to the creation of agrarian societies. He balances an historical perspective with a contemporary one, examining traits of our ancestors as carefully as he looks to the future, while asking how we might control the destiny of our species. He argues persuasively that cultural evolution is now the dominant force of change acting on the human body, and focuses on what he calls mismatch diseases that are caused by lack of congruence between genes and environment.  This is popular science writing at its finest.

The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside The Room, the Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made by Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell (Simon and Schuster) 

This is the story behind the creation of The Room, a film so bad that it has been called a modern Plan 9 from Outer Space.  A.J. Jacobs says "One of the worst movies of all time has spawned one of the most entertaining books I've read in years." Green Appler Robb says "This is the funniest book I've ever read: hilarious, baffling, and bats%*t crazy. I can't recommend this book higher."  Two trustworthy recommendations should be enough, right?     

The Wes Anderson Collection by Matt Zoller Seitz, Wes Anderson, Eric Chase Anderson (Abrams)   

For all of you Wes Anderson completists, here is the first in-depth overview of Anderson's work, from Bottle Rocket to Moonrise Kingdom. Chock full of previously unpublished photos, artwork and ephemera, including set design, soundtrack selections and unit photography. This hefty tome includes an introduction by Michael Chabon and a book-length interview between Anderson and film critic Matt Zoller Seitz, who offers insights into Anderson's creative process, influences, and the production of his films.

Oh man, the shelves are heaving under the weight of our hopes for a cookbook-laden holiday season.  Local publisher Ten Speed Press alone has Manresa, Pok Pok, and Ivan Ramen coming out this month.  I'll get to many of these as Christmas approaches, but for now, let's start with cookbooks with a Portland (PDX not PWM) pedigree.

First up is Le Pigeon: Cooking at the Dirty Bird by Gabriel Rucker and Meredith Erickson ($40, Ten Speed Press). Le Pigeon, on Portland's east side, is a "celebration of high and low extremes in cooking."  Think fine burgundies and Coors, "Buffalo wings" made with sweetbreads, a Lamb Belly BLT.  The "dirty" part of the title comes from frequent use of offal and nose-to-tail meat, but the book is not dogmatic, and even less adventurous eaters will find plenty of inspiration herein.     

Mostly, the recipes are replicable by home cooks, like the Lamb Shank and BBQ Beans or the Apple Cheddar Crostada.  Some are more complex than weekday recipes, and the daring can try the Tete de Veau (Calf's Head Terrine), Gribiche, and Egg dish or Grilled Pork Tongue, Refried Beans, and Lardo. As always with Ten Speed, the book is hefty and gorgeous, from the embossed cover to "food porn" quality photography.

About a mile and a half north of Le Pigeon is an irreverent and lively Spanish-inspired spot called Toro Bravo.  Their new book comes from local publisher McSweeney's (whose first cookbook was Mission Chinese Food).  This one is called Toro Bravo: Stories. Recipes. No Bull. ($35).  True to its name, the book is almost more story than recipes.  There's the chapter on a DIY meat curing set-up, the tattoo of a chicken pooping out the name of the sous chef, and hundreds of photos.

Once you get to them, the recipes are pretty appealing all around.  There are basics and fundamentals, from a Romesco sauce to Roasted Spanish Nuts. There are loads of small plates both classic (Boquerones with Toasted Bread and Piperade) and creative (Butter-Braised Turnips with Mojo Picon).  And there are mains (Lamb Ragu with Eggplant or Rabbit Fideos).  And there's plenty more: cocktails, charcuterie, desserts, and so on.  In short, Toro Bravo is both inspiring to flip through and practical for everyday cooking and feasts alike.

The last book in today's line-up isn't totally Portland-centric, but the editor lives there and a fair portion of the recipes come from folks in Portland.  It's The Kinfolk Table: Recipes for Small Gatherings by Nathan Williams (Artisan, $35).  I almost didn't review this one, as it feels too twee, too precious, like more of a lifestyle book of pretty people and their awesomeness than an honest cookbook.  There are many pages of cuteness, style, and design that seem superfluous to the recipes.  That style will surely appeal to some: the cover photo looks like a Vermeer, and someone must appreciate photos of beards and bangs and bikes and biscuits.

But the recipes save the book for me.  Everything appeals: the Citrus Lentil Salad; the Mushrooms, Tomato, and White Bean Stew; the Spidskal (Cabbage Salad); Smorrebrod; the Sea Legs cocktail.  I especially like the Copenhagen-based section.  The recipes are all do-able, mostly simple and elegant, and many are vegetarian-friendly.  There are also lovely sentiments behind each featured recipe creator about food and community and the pleasures of gathering.  And unlike some of the cookbooks I bring home and never cook from, I get the feeling this will be dog-eared pretty quickly.  So despite the stylishness (which, again, some people will love), The Kinfolk Table is a fine collection of simple but inspired dishes.

• Arguello (from Fulton to Clement)
• Clement (from Arguello to Park Presidio)  

So you can bike, walk, skate, flutter, scoot, skip, or ramble down Clement Street without cars and buses.  Along the way will be vendors, bands, and more.   

The farmer's market will be here, too, from 9am to 2pm--it'll just spread out from Arguello to 5th Avenue.  A map is here, and you can volunteer here.   

Also, we've hired this llama guy.  He and his llamas will be around.