tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84040358752404323342024-03-05T23:30:05.055-08:00Book(ed) PassageBooks | Authors | Events | Classes | Writing Conferences | Literary Culture | Community & more!<br>. . . from Book Passage — <i>the Bay Area's Liveliest Bookstore!</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17595146637674656728noreply@blogger.comBlogger430125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404035875240432334.post-80360052592226615722013-05-31T15:09:00.001-07:002013-05-31T15:09:31.043-07:00Quotes About Life from a Little Man Wearing a Bow Tie<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was in the parking lot at Book Passage in Corte Madera early Wednesday
morning. I dropped my son off at school and was sitting in my car
waiting to go into a yoga class. As I ate my son’s toast crust, I could
see Mt. Tam in my rear view mirror, tall and beautiful.</div>
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Twelve hours earlier I had been in the same parking lot trying to
find a parking space. Every space was taken and there was a long line
for the complimentary valet. The lot at the DMV was full next door. I
could see people pouring in from neighboring streets. Eventually, with
the help of an older man directing me, I parked parallel beside a
dumpster.</div>
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People were flooding in– like sticks bouncing along a gentle
stream. They were already smiling and David Sedaris hadn’t even begun
to speak.</div>
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<a href="http://images.indiebound.com/697/154/9780316154697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://images.indiebound.com/697/154/9780316154697.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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David Sedaris was going to read from his new book <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9780316154697" target="_blank"><i>Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls</i></a> at Book Passage at 7 PM. We parted seas and came, hundreds of us, from school, from work, from home. <span id="more-1273"></span>
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I’d heard David Sedaris read his work once before at Berkeley
Rep. I was in the front row and was surprised at what a small man he was
– his insights and humor were so big.</div>
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I decided that he was the kid who figured out how to spray paint the
walls with, “I WAS HERE!” But instead, he added, “I was here and this
is what I saw…. This is what I noticed….” And because he was quirky and
bright and honest and very, very funny, we stopped and noticed too–
absurdities, contradictions and moments of humanness.</div>
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Inside the store, we made conversation with each other while we
waited for the reading to begin. When you’re body to body with
strangers it seems polite to introduce yourself. Where are you from?
What book of his is your favorite? What do you think is a good book to
read?</div>
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Every seat was taken. A few children sat on parent’s laps. I was in
the standing room only section that spilled into every aisle and poured
out through the main door. We buzzed, the room buzzed, the store staff
buzzed.</div>
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Hundreds of people hugged their new book anticipating his stories,
eager to get his signature. There were over 500 people there.</div>
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Kelly Corrigan who wrote <i><a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9781401341244" target="_blank">Lift</a> </i>and <i><a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9781401340933" target="_blank">The Middle Place</a> </i>was
the perfect warm up band, getting the crowd laughing and ready with an
introduction. After listing David Sedaris’s stunning accomplishments,
Kelly said, “And now, I’d like to introduce to you two-time college drop
out, David Sedaris.” We cheered.</div>
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And David who was sweet waved to us, smiled and then began reading.
Of course he delivered, weaving stories about feeding a kookaburra that
took us forward and back in time in a way that rocked us with laughter.
We might as well have been swaying to the music.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKw9NxEgNC9iI9fM6f3JZ34jXO2N6Rryw2rdIzfWs6lvUnndwv2ImjNivj7WYxacQmyP1YrBfq1AEFNufj5mCSjrBv5eupzEzszKBCEQlvC2HqcBe-WO1Tbx1bSQiVY4roF8yHAQDvHdOk/s1600/sedaris.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKw9NxEgNC9iI9fM6f3JZ34jXO2N6Rryw2rdIzfWs6lvUnndwv2ImjNivj7WYxacQmyP1YrBfq1AEFNufj5mCSjrBv5eupzEzszKBCEQlvC2HqcBe-WO1Tbx1bSQiVY4roF8yHAQDvHdOk/s320/sedaris.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David Sedaris reads during his event<br />at Book Passage on May 21, 2013.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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He gave us stories and quotes about life. As an audience, we were
connected with quiet sounds of recognition, with big laughs we shared
and in sighs we felt. For such a little man wearing a bow tie and a
funny jacket he told us he got in LA the other day, he had very, very
long arms. What I mean by this is that he held all of us– captive,
laughing, standing, body to body. And in his arms, we let go of our
worries for an hour and enjoyed his storytelling. In some odd way, we
saw ourselves in his life and he mirrored back to us the same. As a
result, I think we each felt a little taller and a little more
beautiful.</div>
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When I left, people were still in line. And David was still talking
to each person who handed him a book. I watched people as they left the
store. As they strolled to their cars, there was an ease to
conversation, a gentleness to the walk, a surrender to this crazy thing
we call life. And everyone looked softer. Maybe it was because the
lighting was dim and gentle, but I don’t think so. I think it was
because when that little man with the bow tie finished reading, finished
taking questions, he said, “I am happy to sign your book and I’ll stay
here as long as it takes. If I’m here after midnight, it’s fine with
me.” With those words, his “I was here and I notice and I see,” was
expanded. The writing he wrote on the wall said, “I was here and I
notice and I see you.” For such a funny guy, his last line felt like a
prayer.</div>
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<i>This blog appears courtesy of <b>Kathleen Buckstaff</b>. It originally appeared <a href="http://kathleenbuckstaff.com/quotes-about-life-from-a-little-man-wearing-a-bow-tie/" target="_blank">on her blog</a> at <a href="http://www.kathleenbuckstaff.com/">www.kathleenbuckstaff.com</a>. Kathleen is the author of <a href="http://kathleenbuckstaff.com/product/the-tiffany-box-paperback/" target="_blank">The Tiffany Box: A Memoir</a>. </i> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17595146637674656728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404035875240432334.post-53130971614180247172013-05-17T16:29:00.001-07:002013-05-17T16:32:52.091-07:00GUEST BLOG: Josh Hanagarne, Author of The World's Strongest Librarian<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Hey there, fans of Book Passage! </span></span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>
</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>
</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br />I’ve been tasked with bringing you a list of spring/summer reading
recommendations. I’m all too happy to do so. Relieved, even. This
might surprise you, but even though I’m a librarian, I don’t get to talk about
books at work very often. Most people just don’t ask, they just want to
be escorted to the Internet, which breaks my bookish heart. </span></span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>
</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>
</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">I’d guess that 80% of what I read is either recommended to me by
other bookworms, or it just happens to cross my desk at the library. I never
know what I’m going to find. It’s kind of how I feel when I’m browsing an
out-of-the-way bookshop and I head down the next aisle. </span></span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>
</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>
</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">If a book looks remotely interesting, I grab it. I definitely have my favorite authors,
genres, and subjects, but my constant exposure to unfamiliar books means, happily, that I read outside of my
comfort zone quite often. </span></span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>
</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>
</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">I tend to think in stories, and the
more stories I read, and the broader the scopes and subjects of the stories,
the more connections I can make. A mind
that can is familiar with a greater variety of subjects is going to be more
adaptable. </span></span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
Now then--you wouldn’t be on
this website if you weren’t a fellow book nut, so I’ll try and reward your
curiosity with the latest and greatest books that have jumped out at me. </span></span></i><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">...............................................................................................</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://images.indiebound.com/817/025/9780670025817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://images.indiebound.com/817/025/9780670025817.jpg" width="132" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9780670025817" target="_blank">The Boys In The Boat: Nine Americans And Their Epic Quest For Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics</a></span> by Daniel James Brown</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Before this book, I didn’t have any
stories or ideas tied to rowing. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">In fact, before reading <i>The
Boys In The Boat</i>, if you’d asked me, “What’s less interesting than
competitive rowing?” I would have said, “Nothing! What else can we talk about?”
But I had similar thoughts about horse racing before reading <i>Seabiscuit,
</i>about running the mile before reading <i>The Perfect Mile, </i>about
running in general before reading <i>Bowerman And The Men Of Oregon, </i>and
about the history of Formula 1 racing before reading <i>The Limit. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">But of course, these books were great not because of the sports
they profiled, but because of the people involved. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
Not only is Brown’s book interesting, It’s thrilling, and he’s a fantastic
writer. The people in the story are a pleasure to know. I can’t
remember the last time I enjoyed a book about sports and competition this much.
If you like stories about scrappy underdogs beating the odds, this is the
book for you. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">...............................................................................................</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> </span>
</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://images.indiebound.com/655/255/9780062255655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://images.indiebound.com/655/255/9780062255655.jpg" width="130" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9780062255655" target="_blank">The Ocean At The End of the Lane</a></span> by Neil Gaiman</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Someone recently asked me what the best part of being a debut
author with an upcoming book. “Getting a sneak peek at Neil Gaiman’s new
book,” I said immediately. And truer words have never passed my lips. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">If I’d read <i>The Ocean At The End of the Lane </i>as a child, I
don’t know if I ever would have recovered. This book contains what might
be the most terrifying scene I can think of for a young boy. When you get
to the bathtub scene, you’ll know what I’m talking about. My favorite
thing about Gaiman is that he tells stories of impossibly strange worlds, while
hinting at worlds behind the stories that are more unusual yet. <i>Ocean </i>is
a masterpiece of potent, concise thrills. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">This is Neil Gaiman, so...you’re probably going to read it no
matter what the story is. But okay, the plot: A young boy unleashes a
creature from another world and gets into a world of trouble. That might
sound like a story that could have come from any writer, but if you know Neil,
you can guess that it’s not. </span><br /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">...............................................................................................</span> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://edelweiss-assets.abovethetreeline.com/PP/images/jacket_covers/flyout/9780670026517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://edelweiss-assets.abovethetreeline.com/PP/images/jacket_covers/flyout/9780670026517.jpg" width="131" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: orange;"><a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9780670026517" target="_blank">The Never List</a></span><i><span style="color: black;"> </span></i></b><b><span style="color: black;">by Koethi Zahn</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">I read <i>The Never List </i>in one night and stayed up too late
doing so. In the early pages, two women are abducted. They awaken in a
cellar, shackled to the walls with two other women. Three years later,
our narrator escapes. The story picks up years after that and involves
her abductor’s potential parole, the letters he is sending to her and his other
victims, and a cult that would have fit right into a season of <i>Dexter</i>. <i>The
Never List </i> reminds me of Chelsea Cain but not as gruesome, and
Gillian Flynn without the sick humor. If you can have fun with an ugly,
nasty story, check this out. You know who you are. </span><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">...............................................................................................</span> <br /><br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://images.indiebound.com/572/081/9780393081572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://images.indiebound.com/572/081/9780393081572.jpg" width="132" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9780393081572" target="_blank">Gulp</a></span> by Mary Roach</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">In her inimitable style, Roach has previously tackled the cadaver,
the soul, sex, and everything you wanted to know about space travel but were
afraid to ask. With <i>Gulp, </i>she goes down the hatch. This book
contains just about everything you’d never want to know about what’s happening
inside of you. It’s fascinating, disgusting, and as Roach fans will
already know, hilarious. My only complaint? I can’t believe she
took this internal tour and never even mentioned the tapeworm. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">...............................................................................................</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">I
could go on and on and on, but now I’d like to turn it over to you. I’d be grateful if you’d head over to </span><span style="color: orange;"><a href="http://worldsstrongestlibrarian.com/"><span style="line-height: 115%;">my blog</span></a></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">
or </span><span style="color: orange;"><a href="https://twitter.com/joshhanagarne"><span style="line-height: 115%;">send me a Tweet</span></a></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">. Let me know what you’ve read and loved
lately! </span></i></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">See Josh </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b>Hanagarne discuss his book <span style="color: orange;"><a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9781592407873" target="_blank">The World's Strongest Librarian: A Memoir of Tourette's, Faith, Strength, and the Power of Family</a></span> ($26.00) with librarian Shereen Ash at the Fairfax library on Tuesday, May 21 at 7:00pm. <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/event/josh-hanagarne-worlds-strongest-librarian" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Click here for more details</span>.</a></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b> </b> </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17595146637674656728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404035875240432334.post-20838218018356457932013-05-01T16:18:00.000-07:002013-05-01T16:18:29.101-07:00World Book Night 2013Recently, Book Passage and some of our customers took part in <a href="http://www.worldbooknight.org/" target="_blank">World Book Night</a> (WBN). Each year, thirty books are chosen by an
independent panel of librarians and booksellers. The authors of the
books waive their royalties and the publishers agree to pay the costs of
producing the specially-printed WBN U.S. editions. Bookstores and
libraries sign up to be community host locations for the volunteer book
givers.
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Givers apply to hand out
twenty copies of a book in their community, pick up their books from
their local store or library, and on April 23rd give their books to
people who, for one reason or another, don’t normally have access to
printed books. Many of us at Book Passage were also givers. Between the
members of the public who picked up books and Book Passage employees, we
gave away more than 1,200 books. Among other locations, books were
given out at the San Francisco Jail and to Homeward Bound of Marin, a
shelter that transitions homeless people from the streets to permanent
homes. We can’t share all the great stories, but here a few:</div>
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“The World Book Night
event was fantastic,” said Krista Pelletier, program coordinator for
Meals on Wheels. “All of the clients sincerely enjoyed receiving the
books and give a warm hearted thank you. Almost all of the seniors in
our program are homebound, so receiving books to ignite their
imagination is incredibly important.”</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0yvlqjKx-IqSy_1u835D-m8gejhX98NfJVGSzuYa782lb7D9XF8pu6ufUHIIqSMit7eHC0SEHaOlvSoP7hqGL7H5Q8JeNXaBYDk83ZCytqEJfjuIS0e4cZ6L2BraK4T9Rdt7eXffSTxM/s1600/wbn2013.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0yvlqjKx-IqSy_1u835D-m8gejhX98NfJVGSzuYa782lb7D9XF8pu6ufUHIIqSMit7eHC0SEHaOlvSoP7hqGL7H5Q8JeNXaBYDk83ZCytqEJfjuIS0e4cZ6L2BraK4T9Rdt7eXffSTxM/s320/wbn2013.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Patrons at the Ferry Building Book Passage browse free books on World Book Night</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Janel Feierabend of our Corte Madera store gave away copies of <i>La Casa en Mango Street </i>at
the Pickleweed Community Center in the Canal area of San Rafael. “The
title and author were ideal for the recipients,” said Janel. “Sandra
Cisneros is well received among the Spanish-speaking population all
across the world, and the book isn’t too thick or intimidating. Please
tell the publishers involved that it brought such joy to the recipients
at Pickleweed! Within minutes, those who were waiting for children and
had nothing to do became involved in the story. At one point, it looked
like a giant book club with readers’ noses in the books, already
smitten. I hope they didn’t forget about their kids!</div>
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“I also met two gentlemen
from Guatemala who had been meeting with others regarding a future
statue of a historic figure in Guatemalan history. Two hours later, I
had learned a lot about their country, and they had asked about books at
Book Passage. One of them pulled out his cell phone and showed to me a
photo he had taken with Isabel Allende years ago at Book Passage! The
other had just returned from Washington, DC and had met senators and
White House staff. Both of them noted the huge importance of reading
and education. It was quite an enriching experience for me! I’ll do it
again next year—same spot.”</div>
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Kate Larson of our Corte
Madera store gave away books at the Oakland Charter Academy, an East
Oakland charter school that is “bare bones,” says Kate—“the kind of
school where the teachers purchase classroom supplies with their own
money; basic stuff like pencils, staples, paperclips, etc. Anyway, they
don't have a library so maybe this could be the start.” Kate donated
copies of <i>The Worst Hard Times</i> to the school, and a history
teacher at the school was “thrilled and grateful to get copies for his
American history class. For the first time I will be able to assign a
summer reading book and not have to worry about paying for copies
myself.”<br />
<br />
Book Passage Ferry Building employee Cheryl McKeon had this to say. “At the CUESA Farmers' Market, <i>The Language of Flowers</i>
was very well-received. . . . late that evening I had four books left
from our distribution and offered them at a local BART station. ‘No,
thanks, I don't read . . . but did you say Tina Fey? Yes, in that
case!’ Can't wait for 4/23/14!” </div>
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Amen to that!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17595146637674656728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404035875240432334.post-42611967938290214362013-04-26T13:00:00.000-07:002013-04-26T13:49:17.141-07:00"Shadow on the Crown" Comes to TV<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9axUJDGUER41E8dwWnNwUetekQvgKLB3I2GAobDy_dn0rW6vcj285-N4UV4eJookCt-kTJKjxX7B_dVXtO96H3qfU0PfQpjE8eqAFmdWZO0ycVX0fzuKKsXT5LiEDMfsbcJXVikXfAvmu/s1600/Shadow+On+The+Crown+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9axUJDGUER41E8dwWnNwUetekQvgKLB3I2GAobDy_dn0rW6vcj285-N4UV4eJookCt-kTJKjxX7B_dVXtO96H3qfU0PfQpjE8eqAFmdWZO0ycVX0fzuKKsXT5LiEDMfsbcJXVikXfAvmu/s320/Shadow+On+The+Crown+Cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
A book launch party for Patricia Bracewell's debut novel, <i>Shadow on the Crown</i> (reviewed here) was held at Book Passage on the day the book was released, February 7, 2013.<br />
<br />
Travel writer and Book(ed) Passage contributing blogger Dick Jordan's TV special, "Making Book - The Book
Launch," filmed during that event,
aired on <a href="http://cmcm.tv/" target="_blank">MarinTV</a> (Comcast Channel 26 in Marin) during April. The final broadcast will be on Monday, April 29 at 8:30 am.<br />
<br />
The film is now available for
viewing on YouTube by those who missed the
broadcast or who don’t have access to Comcast’s cable channels in Marin.<br />
<br />
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<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="500" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lbn5xjCh38I?rel=0" width="700"></iframe></center>
_______________________<br />
<b>Shadow on the Crown</b><i> can be purchased in </i><a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9780670026395" target="_blank"><i>hardcover</i></a><i> or as a </i><a href="htthttp://www.bookpassage.com/ebook/9781101606193" target="_blank"><i>Kobo e-book</i></a><i> through the <a href="http://bookpassage.com/" target="_blank"><b>Book Passage</b> Website</a>. <i></i></i><i></i><br />
<a href="http://talestoldfromtheroad.com/about-2/dick-jordan/"><img align="left" alt="clip_image001" border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tfLGyAvMf1d10G-fGdANWnsHjgKUR26ziivhWgpEnWYPanJshIF8wKmpmafSmMjCWpMqPb0GJXK_sgB8LRq1Ou39QSebxUgsWXyOhxYPPSDOMmT8y7sZEzPt0fEmQdxoVz-QEbH_mE5h/?imgmax=800" title="clip_image001" /></a>(<i>From time to time travel writer</i> <i>Dick Jordan posts book reviews under the “</i><a href="http://talestoldfromtheroad.com/category/on-this-blog/armchair-travel-on-this-blog/"><i>Armchair Travel</i></a><i>” and “</i><a href="http://talestoldfromtheroad.com/category/on-this-blog/book-reviews/"><i>Book Review</i></a><i>” sections of his online travel magazine,</i><a href="http://www.talestoldfromtheroad.com/"><i> Tales Told From The Road</i></a><i>. His last post to the Book(ed) Passage blog was his review of “<a href="http://blog.bookpassage.com/2013/02/shadow-on-crown-11th-century-intrigue.html" target="_blank">Shadow on the Crown</a></i><i>.” Dick is a member of the </i><a href="http://bookcritics.org/about/"><i>National Book Critics Circle.</i></a><i> When Dick isn’t traveling, you can usually find him hanging out with other members of </i><a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/left-coast-writers"><i>Left Coast Writers</i></a> at <i>the Book Passage in Corte Madera on the first Monday evening of each month</i>, <i>or working on production of TV shows atthe <a href="http://cmcm.tv/" target="_blank">Community Media Center of Marin</a> in San Rafael.</i>) Dick Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680036411158647403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404035875240432334.post-24282031115549244312013-03-18T15:04:00.001-07:002013-03-18T15:18:13.852-07:00Check Out the Newest Issue of the Mill Valley Literary Review<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The <i><a href="http://millvalleylit.com/" target="_blank">Mill Valley Literary Review</a></i>, <span style="font-size: small;">a literary e<span style="font-size: small;">-Z</span>ine published by J. Macon Ki<span style="font-size: small;">ng,<span style="font-size: small;"> released a </span></span>spe<span style="font-size: small;">cial</span> spring wo<span style="font-size: small;">men's</span></span> <span style="font-size: small;">issue</span> on M<span style="font-size: small;">arch</span> 15, 2013.</span></span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlToKOh0IReLNB4QOx025d1Rc3Plk141uIFk8dzsi2JRYRJDrTCbqJBZ8ub116MzI8NA1z2oYoclutDLPDkFiQqhuACCXFlFHWxu6a-qCrRSmxHbHyV1IXLLgoYO4LwcJUduIfSg1NRrbG/s1600/MVLit+logo+main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlToKOh0IReLNB4QOx025d1Rc3Plk141uIFk8dzsi2JRYRJDrTCbqJBZ8ub116MzI8NA1z2oYoclutDLPDkFiQqhuACCXFlFHWxu6a-qCrRSmxHbHyV1IXLLgoYO4LwcJUduIfSg1NRrbG/s320/MVLit+logo+main.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />F<span style="font-size: small;">eatures in this issue include:</span></span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Interview with rock n' roll mystery writer Deborah Grabien </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Interview with "Bond Grrl" Sandy Shepard</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Conversation with debut novelist Barbara Davies Hubbard</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Announcement of the Winter Short <span style="font-size: small;">Story </span>Contest winner </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Poems by jazz pianist great Don Alberts</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Poems by Maggie Morley </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Reviews of <i>The Paris Wife</i>, T.C. Boyle's <i>The Women</i>, and Robin Sloan's <i>Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore</i></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Great Women of the 20th Cen<span style="font-size: small;">tury"</span>: Dorothy Parker, Patricia Highsmith, Isadora Duncan, Clare Booth Luce</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Pacific Sun</i> reporter Jill Kramer debuts her family court novel</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"The Literary Latté<span style="font-size: small;">":</span> <span style="font-size: small;">g</span>rab a latté, get comfy, and let out Literary Latt</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">é</span></span> of choice writing stimulate your intellect and emotions. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A fresh new webzine look with streaming video of Beat at the Sweet Poetry night </span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Founder and Executive Editor J. Macon King of <span style="font-size: small;">t</span>he <i>Mill Valley Literary Review</i> is a published writer of short stories, columns and articles. He has given invited poetry readings at the Mill Valley Book Depot and won numerous short story awards from the <i>Marin Independent Journal</i>. Drawing on his experience working at San Francisco's Magic Theater, King revived the now 52 year old, beloved Rhubarb Revue community theater, producing, directing and writing stage productions for several seasons. </span></span><br />
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<br />Zack Ruskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10877038979235293286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404035875240432334.post-74266346340771561432013-02-08T15:49:00.003-08:002013-02-08T15:49:59.441-08:00The Short Story is Alive and Well <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">In the past months, patrons have flocked to Book Passage to listen to
their favorite authors read.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 150%;">We’ve had
an incredible lineup of writers and some of our most outstanding events lately
have been by authors introducing their short story collections.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;">Personally, I’m thrilled that the short
story is thriving right here - right now.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Publishers and literary agents are often
cautious when it comes to publishing a short story collection: “It’s difficult to
sell short stories – let us know when you have a novel.” I’ve heard this truism stated many
times. It drives me nuts when I hear
this because a great short story can be as powerful and lasting as a
novel. A short story is its own kind of
vehicle. <i> </i>It’s a pearl inside of a gritty oyster. <i> </i>Ann
Pachett says that if a novel was a map of a country, a short story is the
bright silver pin that marks the crossroads.
Many of the greatest writers of the 20<sup>th</sup> century were (and
are) short story writers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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At Natalie Serber’s reading of her debut story collection, <i>Shout Her Lovely Name,</i> I asked her how
difficult it was to get an agent to represent her short story collection. She said that after she published the title
story in a respected literary journal, she had three agents contact her. The first two agents asked, “Do you have a
novel?” The third agent surprised her by
asking, “Do you have any more short stories?”
Natalie sold <i>Shout Her Lovely Name</i>
and also secured a second book deal. If
you haven’t read Natalie Serber’s work yet, be prepared to discover a great new
storyteller.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_yQLvqWZrDjvYO2nca7SelmnBdFbQrcPD5lkiORKeezU6wa8pVrDjGWtvOcPZJMw_9lajYTzPSanwhJpYEMSdtTjAuqH-GZinNjfNcqONwbhkXRc7FNPleEvTGb8EYFgl2PpNjAMgl1H/s1600/7-13-12+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_yQLvqWZrDjvYO2nca7SelmnBdFbQrcPD5lkiORKeezU6wa8pVrDjGWtvOcPZJMw_9lajYTzPSanwhJpYEMSdtTjAuqH-GZinNjfNcqONwbhkXRc7FNPleEvTGb8EYFgl2PpNjAMgl1H/s320/7-13-12+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Author Natalie Serber discusses <i>Shout Her Lovely Name</i> at Book Passage.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The stellar list of short
story authors who have come to Book Passage in recent months speaks well for
the sometimes undervalued genre. Take
for example the beautifully crafted and unforgettable stories of Ron
Hansen. Ron Hansen (the author of ten
books of fiction) discussed his new and selected stories from <i>She Loves Me Not.</i> Hansen brilliantly weaves each of his stories
and flawed characters through the landscape of the Midwest – primarily
Nebraska. Many writers are linking their
stories with either recurring characters or by setting them in a specific
place, which ultimately gives continuity to a collection. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;">Author Mark Maynard, came to the store in
January with his debut collection of linked stories titled </span><i style="line-height: 150%;">Grind. </i><span style="line-height: 150%;">Each story is set in Reno and captures a range of both
hopeful and down-on-their-luck characters who linger in “The Biggest Little
City” too long.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 150%;">Maynard drops us into
the parched Reno landscape and startles us with his measured prose.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 150%;">We sold every copy of Mark Maynard’s </span><i style="line-height: 150%;">Grind</i><span style="line-height: 150%;"> at his Saturday night reading.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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A week later, Louise Aronson came to
Book Passage with <i>“A History of the
Present Illness.” </i> Aronson, a medical
doctor and professor of medicine at UCSF introduced us to her debut collection
of 16 elegant and original stories about doctors, patients and their
families. All of the stories are set in
the neighborhoods, hospitals and nursing homes right here in San
Francisco. On a Sunday afternoon, we
were adding rows of chairs to accommodate the audience as Louise Aronson
eloquently shared her stories. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Book Passage chose <i>“A History of the Present Illness”</i> as our ‘First Edition Pick’ for
the month of January. This is an honor
given to an emerging author that we feel has a promising writing career ahead
of them. Several of our first edition
picks went on to win the Pulitzer Prize – Paul Harding’s <i>Tinkers</i> and Junot Diaz’s <i>The
Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao</i>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Speaking of Junot Diaz - when he came to
Book Passage in the fall, the store was filled to capacity with fans of his
brilliant prose. <i>“This is How You Lose
Her”</i> is indeed a series of linked short stories. Several of those stories were first published
in <i>The New Yorker.</i> Diaz talked to a riveted audience at Book
Passage about everything from the struggles of writing to cultural stereotypes
and politics. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOl7u41IYTtDTtJ0Xm7ud7kPdXc4ZLEauyFGweUCTb5725ledSP-4UoB6hhPtTs5rqAyF9vJ0nVbgdUk0HdlyVT0VO23HlJlHLm8EEm4j8J2Y8p4YJhfVXq4iSf1ubV9liSd0Tr1Y_jPg/s1600/9-19-12+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOl7u41IYTtDTtJ0Xm7ud7kPdXc4ZLEauyFGweUCTb5725ledSP-4UoB6hhPtTs5rqAyF9vJ0nVbgdUk0HdlyVT0VO23HlJlHLm8EEm4j8J2Y8p4YJhfVXq4iSf1ubV9liSd0Tr1Y_jPg/s320/9-19-12+015.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Author Junot Diaz at Book Passage in September 2012.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Book Passage also recently hosted Luis Jaramillo with his prize-winning
collection of short stories titled <i>The Doctor’s
Wife.</i> Colin Winnette brought us his
beautifully bound collection of short prose titled <i>Animal Collection</i>. Pam
Houston will be in conversation with Joshua Mohr in April. In the spring, Peter Orner will grace us with
the release of his newest book of stories.
And Karen Russell, author of <i>Swamplandia!</i>
will introduce her dazzling new collection of short stories (<i>Vampires in the Lemon Grove</i>) on February
27<sup>tth. </sup> <o:p></o:p></div>
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This brings us to George Saunders and <i>The Tenth of December</i>. This fourth collection has earned him a
stunning review in the NY Times. “The best book you will read all year” kind of
review. Here’s a critic that really gets
the lasting power of the short story and I have to admit, I have fallen in love
with the intensity, beauty and brevity of Saunders stories. He’s a “writer’s writer.” A generous spirit who can masterfully work
humor and heartbreak into a single sentence.<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
On the Seventh of February, over 200
fans of Saunders came to hear him speak at the Ferry Building in San Francisco.
The audience was rapt, hushed as he spoke – savoring each sentence of
wisdom. He talked about his process as a
writer and how he once longed to be Hemingway but quickly learned that the
desire to imitate another writer never works. Advice he gives to his
students? “You can’t hide from
yourself.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
I asked George Saunders to sign my copy of <i>The Tenth of December</i>. And
then I asked him if he would sign my arm - in black Sharpie. It just felt like it was the right thing to
do since I couldn’t hide my self and the admiration I have for this writer’s
work. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAuJOOU_Yh_WjyaMmshuZPY8lvkVzvSyyECeczoOPP989TLkhYPfbDA9bMBUp3pCDTlOXsml_2WdPLkY9UHw2NFPZNALVrqFIdOFJfzFEHfmhg-UCz6RSwNWkdRZZ8CRFesp7eFdaj7sC/s1600/Rock+star.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAuJOOU_Yh_WjyaMmshuZPY8lvkVzvSyyECeczoOPP989TLkhYPfbDA9bMBUp3pCDTlOXsml_2WdPLkY9UHw2NFPZNALVrqFIdOFJfzFEHfmhg-UCz6RSwNWkdRZZ8CRFesp7eFdaj7sC/s320/Rock+star.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Author George Saunders prepares to sign the arm of Book Passage bookseller Melissa Cistaro</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;">If you love the short story form – I
promise there is no shortage of incredible new stories out there.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 150%;">If you haven’t given the short story a real
chance yet, take a look at some of these books or come listen to these talented
short story writers at our Book Passage events.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">
</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">I promise - you won’t be disappointed.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">
</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">And if you write short stories, keep writing them – because there is a
fierce hunger for them in our world.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i>Melissa
Cistaro is a Bookseller and Event Host at Book Passage<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Zack Ruskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10877038979235293286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404035875240432334.post-90202458931598700232013-02-06T12:00:00.000-08:002013-04-09T11:01:51.164-07:00“Shadow on the Crown”: 11th Century IntrigueBy Dick Jordan<br />
<img align="left" alt="Shadow On The Crown Cover" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gFIcYkgh3Wk/URBMM5EiYGI/AAAAAAAAujg/j4cjnfgHF4s/Shadow-On-The-Crown-Cover6.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 6px 7px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Shadow On The Crown Cover" width="166" />It’s November, 1001 A.D., and the recent death of his wife has left the King of England between a hard place and rock.<br />
<br />
He won’t be lacking “female companionship.” After all, <i>he is the king.</i> No woman of his realm would dare decline an invitation to come into his bedchamber for a nightcap.<br />
<br />
While he’d be content remaining a bachelor—at least for the immediate future—his advisors are pressing him to remarry, and to do so soon.<br />
<br />
As Patricia Bracewell’s debut novel, <i>Shadow on the Crown, </i>begins to unfold its 11th century tale of love, lust, intrigue, and treachery, we find the king on the horns of a dilemma.<br />
<br />
He could marry an English nobleman’s daughter, cementing a relationship that could help him solidify control over the princes upon whose allegiance he depends. She’s a comely, but power-mad and evil-minded bitch.<br />
<br />
Or he could wed a foreigner, the sister of the Duke of Normandy, and in doing so, gain a political ally against the warring Danes who periodically land on England’s shores to pillage and rape his kingdom. But that could alienate him from many of his subjects.<br />
<br />
Which should he choose to be his new wife? And should she be merely a royal concubine, or given the title and powers of a queen?<br />
<br />
And what of the sons of his first marriage? Should one of them inherit his throne, or will that honor go to a male offspring of his new bride?<br />
<a name='more'></a>The <a href="http://historicalnovelsociety.org/guides/defining-the-genre/" target="_blank">Historical Novel Society</a> raises these questions about historical fiction:
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #222222;">“When does ‘contemporary’ end, and ‘historical’ begin? What about novels that are part historical, part contemporary? And how much distortion of history will we allow before a book becomes more fantasy than historical?”</span></blockquote>
The HNS says that
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #222222;">“To be deemed historical (in our sense), a novel must have been written at least fifty years after the events described, or have been written by someone who was not alive at the time of those events (who therefore approaches them only by research).”</span></blockquote>
By that standard, <i>Shadow on the Crown</i> clearly is a “historical novel.” The book was written ten centuries after the events it describes occurred, and its writing involved a great deal of historical research. The novel’s main characters were real people, although little is known about the lives of some of them.<br />
<br />
But to me, it’s better described as a “historical thriller” because it features elements of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_%28genre%29" target="_blank">“thriller” genre</a>, such as constant uncertainty and danger that the protagonist must confront and conquer.<br />
<br />
A few months ago, a major U.S. publisher sent me a review copy of an “period piece” novel set in England. I picked it up, started reading, and put it down. I picked it up, I put it down.<br />
<br />
I picked it up one last time, and then I put it down forever, after reading only a chapter or two. It was just so boring. There was no tension, no suspense, and no rhythm to the writing.<br />
<br />
<i>Shadow on the Crown </i>is a reader’s curse. The storyline, full of advances and retreats, heading first in a seemingly obvious direction, then veering off toward a different place altogether, keeps you guessing. All I wanted to do was <i>read it through in a single, all-night session</i>.<br />
<br />
When I saw the two and half page glossy of archaic English words that followed the “cast of characters,” I thought construing the dialogue and narrative would be a mind-boggling task. Not so. Those words are judiciously scattered, like sprinkles on a freshly-iced cake, throughout the book, adding flavor without slowing the pace of reading one bit.<br />
<br />
How good is this novel? In my mind, it’s good enough to be dramatized on PBS “Masterpiece Classic,” or made into a major motion picture.<br />
<br />
<i>But how does the story turn out</i>? Ah, you want me to be a “spoiler,” don’t you?<br />
<br />
Sorry, I decline. You’ll just have to buy <i>Shadow on the Crown </i>to satisfy your curiosity, as I did mine.<br />
<br />
But a word of warning: This book is just the first in a trilogy. So plan on spending many anxious moments <i>waiting for the next book to come out, </i>just as I will.<br />
_______________________<br />
<i>Sales of</i> <b>Shadow on the Crown</b><i> officially kicks off tomorrow, Thursday, February 7, 2013. At 7 pm that evening, Dick Jordan, will film the <a href="http://bookpassage.com/event/left-coast-writers-launch-patricia-bracewell-shadow-crown" target="_blank">Shadow on the Crown book launch event at the Book Passage</a></i><i> bookstore in Corte Madera, California for </i><a href="http://cmcm.tv/" target="_blank"><i>CMCM.tv</i></a><i>.</i><br />
<i> </i> <br />
<b>Shadow on the Crown</b><i> can be purchased in </i><a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9780670026395" target="_blank"><i>hardcover</i></a><i> or as a </i><a href="htthttp://www.bookpassage.com/ebook/9781101606193" target="_blank"><i>Kobo e-book</i></a><i> through the <a href="http://bookpassage.com/" target="_blank"><b>Book Passage</b> Website</a>. <i>Author Patricia Bracewell </i><i>and her publisher kindly provided Dick Jordan with an advance review copy of the book.</i></i><br />
<i></i><br />
<a href="http://talestoldfromtheroad.com/about-2/dick-jordan/"><img align="left" alt="clip_image001" border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tfLGyAvMf1d10G-fGdANWnsHjgKUR26ziivhWgpEnWYPanJshIF8wKmpmafSmMjCWpMqPb0GJXK_sgB8LRq1Ou39QSebxUgsWXyOhxYPPSDOMmT8y7sZEzPt0fEmQdxoVz-QEbH_mE5h/?imgmax=800" title="clip_image001" /></a>(<i>From time to time t</i>ravel writer <i>Dick Jordan posts book reviews under the “</i><a href="http://talestoldfromtheroad.com/category/on-this-blog/armchair-travel-on-this-blog/"><i>Armchair Travel</i></a><i>” and “</i><a href="http://talestoldfromtheroad.com/category/on-this-blog/book-reviews/"><i>Book Review</i></a><i>” sections of his online travel magazine,</i><a href="http://www.talestoldfromtheroad.com/"><i> Tales Told From The Road</i></a><i>. His last post to the Book(ed) Passage blog was “<a href="http://blog.bookpassage.com/2012/12/books-to-give-travelers-this-holiday.html" target="_blank">Books to Give Travelers This Holiday Season</a></i><i>.” Dick is a member of the </i><a href="http://bookcritics.org/about/"><i>National Book Critics Circle.</i></a><i> When Dick isn’t traveling, you can usually find him hanging out with other members of </i><a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/left-coast-writers"><i>Left Coast Writers</i></a> at <i>the Book Passage in Corte Madera on the first Monday evening of each month</i>.) Dick Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680036411158647403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404035875240432334.post-21004021857257151622013-01-18T16:37:00.003-08:002013-01-18T16:40:03.608-08:00An Unexpected Pleasure: Bilbo Baggins on the Big ScreenAt home, my mother pours glasses of wine for the family. We
all pause midway through cooking dinner and, raising our glasses solemnly, give
the toast we’ve been giving for years: “To the Shire.”<br />
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We’ve always been a Tolkien family. In fourth grade, my
mother ordered a boxed set of <i>The Hobbit </i>and
<i>The Lord of the Rings</i> trilogy for me.
She read <i>The Hobbit </i>to me, and I
remember begging for one more chapter each night. Every moment still stands out
vividly in my mind: Bilbo seeing the goblins come through the opening at the
back of the cave, Gollum and his ring, the treacherous spiders and brackish
water of Mirkwood, the dwarves riding in the barrels down the river, and the
great dragon Smaug speaking with Bilbo about a goblet.<br />
<br />
To a child, such a tale
was almost unimaginable in its grandeur and scope. The moment my mum closed the
back cover of my now-battered paperback, I was in bed with my flashlight under
the covers, opening back up to the front and rediscovering the whole adventure
again.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR79ASY6IDAjiESc15GmMu36imbuB83PJXbQZlkCB5Z8S2rJZcpx9NU8EjTFD3NyJ345Bl4zAK6rT3UqEpw-VRTB0AdzZH4p2kOyWU4mR34hzcPGtzKtF2-XmcGUVLiKvBnkqCoXcNU_rL/s1600/Hobbit1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR79ASY6IDAjiESc15GmMu36imbuB83PJXbQZlkCB5Z8S2rJZcpx9NU8EjTFD3NyJ345Bl4zAK6rT3UqEpw-VRTB0AdzZH4p2kOyWU4mR34hzcPGtzKtF2-XmcGUVLiKvBnkqCoXcNU_rL/s320/Hobbit1.jpg" width="205" /></a></div>
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I read the trilogy as well, and I loved it for its own
merits, but somehow Frodo and his companions failed to capture the attention of
my nine-year-old self. In fact, upon opening <i>The Fellowship of the Ring </i>and discovering that Bilbo was old and
would be replaced by Frodo, I closed the book and refused to read it for a
year. I have since fallen deeply in love with that chapter of Middle Earth’s
history, but at the time my love for Bilbo Baggins and his companions were such
that no one else could replace them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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You can imagine my joy when Peter Jackson, who had done such
justice to the trilogy, declared that he would actually be making a film
version of <i>The Hobbit</i>. I followed
filming avidly, watching each production video released by the crew over the
months leading up to the release. I went to the midnight premiere, and the
moment that music started up and the Shire appeared I flashed back to the same
childlike wonder with which I had first read, “In a hole in the ground there
lived a hobbit.” I was lost to the real world for the following several hours.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, for those of you who remember <i>The Hobbit</i> as fondly as I do, the movie might not have resonated in
the same way. Peter Jackson’s decision to make one book into three movies has
necessitated some filler material. The filler material is rich and full and all
comes from Tolkien’s other writings about Middle Earth, but it still does not
originate from <i>The Hobbit</i>.<br />
<br />
My
memories of Gandalf in the book, for example, mostly involve his occasionally
disappearing for stretches of time (most notably when he left the company just
before Mirkwood, after which everything very rapidly went pear-shaped). The
dwarves and Bilbo often dismissed these absences as some sort of wizard business,
and therefore much less important than their own quest, and so while Tolkien
makes mentions of the Necromancer and evil rising in the east, the reader is
never quite clear on what exactly Gandalf is doing. The film adaptation seeks
to fix that.<br />
<br />
Quite a few of the “filler” scenes serve as foreshadowing for <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>; we even have a
cameo from the Witchking of Angmar, leader of the Nazgul and notably taken down
much later by Éowyn in <i>The Return of the
King</i>. There is much talk among the wizards and elves of evil and what may
come in the near future. All of this is put in for the viewer, particularly the
viewer already familiar with the trilogy. These scenes, combined with various
flashbacks to historical battles and such, give the viewer an episodic feeling
that certainly takes one or two views to settle into.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins in <i>The Hobbit</i></td></tr>
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Once you accept the episodic quality of the first half of <i>The Hobbit: There and Back Again</i>, you
can fully appreciate the art of the film as a whole. Every single character is
depicted lovingly by both the actors and the script. Thirteen dwarves can be
quite difficult to keep straight, but each actor’s adoration for his character
shines through, with the result that each dwarf feels utterly familiar by the
end of their first gathering in Bag End.<br />
<br />
Martin Freeman’s depiction of Bilbo
Baggins, in contrast, has that familiarity within the first two minutes of his
screen time. The moment his expressive face takes in Gandalf looming over him,
the audience is fully won over. I found that my fondness for Bilbo Baggins
washed over me again in a wave, and I was as enamored of the character from
those opening scenes as I had been fourteen years ago. I don’t want to spoil
the ending of this segment for those unfamiliar with the story, but Bilbo’s
declaration of loyalty to the dwarves’ quest – a wholehearted vow given as a
simple statement in the way only a hobbit can manage – speaks to something
everyone can understand: the desire and love for a home, a place we belong. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I cannot speak to the treatment of the whole book, because
of course only a third of it has been released in theatres thus far. However, I
can say that the film adaptation of <i>The
Hobbit</i> has the same warmth of heart and strength of character that
Tolkien’s book did, and as I watched it I felt that familiar feeling wash over
me: I felt that I was home. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Post by Esme Rabin, Book Passage Classes Coordinator<br /></b></div>
Zack Ruskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10877038979235293286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404035875240432334.post-38892225488038365452012-12-18T16:51:00.001-08:002012-12-18T16:51:35.436-08:00A Request for Assistance after Newtown<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Hi everybody,</span><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Please pardon the interruption.
I'm taking a break from writing crime novels today to ask for help from my
fellow writers, publishing professionals, bookstore owners, members of the
literary and entertainment communities, lawyers, colleagues and friends in
light of the horrific events in <span class="yiv1283946507mark">Newtown</span> on
Friday.<br />
<br />
As many of you are aware, on July 1, 1993, at 3:00 PM, I was sitting in my
office at the <span class="yiv1283946507mark">Pettit</span> & Martin law firm
on the 36<span class="yiv1283946507mark">th</span> floor of the 101 California
Street office tower in downtown San Francisco. I was informed by my secretary
that a man had entered our building and was shooting people on the 34<span class="yiv1283946507mark">th</span> floor. Eighteen minutes later, eight people
were dead, including the crazed gunman who had murdered several of my
colleagues, neighbors and friends with an assault rifle. I got lucky--I got
behind a locked door along with a dozen of my colleagues, and the gunman didn't
come our way. The events at 101 California are as incomprehensible to me today
as the they were almost twenty years ago.<br />
<br />
And now the victims are kids.<br />
<br />
I can't begin to express my profound sorrow over the unspeakable losses in <span class="yiv1283946507mark">Newtown</span>. I have a pretty good idea of what
things will be like in <span class="yiv1283946507mark">Newtown</span> for the
next few weeks, months and years. There will be funerals. There will be
mourning. The community will band together. There will be an outpouring of
support and love. The media attention will dissipate in a few days, but there
will be ramifications to individuals and families for many years. I've listened
to the arguments about gun control for almost two decades, and here's where I
come down. Civilians don't need assault weapons. Civilians don't need
ammunition clips holding dozens of rounds. We don't need to arm teachers,
college students, shopkeepers at malls or lawyers who work in office buildings.
We need to do more than acknowledge that gun control is a complicated problem.
We need to decide what sort of country we are. We need to act to stop the
carnage--or at least we need to try. Until we do, there will be more <span class="yiv1283946507mark">Newtowns</span>, more Columbines, more Virginia Techs,
more Auroras, and more 101 <span class="yiv1283946507mark">Californias</span>. We
send our representatives to Washington to do more than score petty political
points in the 24-hour news cycle--we send them to govern. We need to hold them
accountable--and we need to hold ourselves accountable. We need to join
together to support sensible gun laws. We also need to take greater steps to
improve our country's mental health services.<br />
<br />
What can we do? I hope you will join me in supporting Senator <span class="yiv1283946507mark">Feinstein's</span> proposal to reintroduce the Assault
Weapons Ban in January. In addition, I hope you will get consider joining the
Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, which was formed here in San Francisco by
attorneys at the <span class="yiv1283946507mark">Pettit</span> & Martin firm
after the massacre at 101 California. If you are able, I hope you will consider
making a donation or helping in any way that you can. For more information,
please go to <a href="http://smartgunlaws.org/">http://smartgunlaws.org/</a>.<br />
<br />
I would appreciate it if you would help us spread the word by forwarding this
message to your family, friends and colleagues.<br />
<br />
This isn't going to be easy, but we owe it to our kids to try. Thanks very much
for your help.<br />
<br />
Sheldon</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sheldon Siegel</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">New York Times Best Selling
Author</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">of the Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez
Novels</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="mailto:sheldon@sheldonsiegel.com" target="_blank">mailto:sheldon@sheldonsiegel.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.sheldonsiegel.com/">http://www.sheldonsiegel.com/</a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="yiv1283946507mark"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Facebook</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sheldon-Siegel/351001625991">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sheldon-Siegel/351001625991</a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09354804362480995872noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404035875240432334.post-1085357779315463522012-12-18T10:27:00.000-08:002013-01-05T11:55:54.455-08:00Books to Give Travelers This Holiday SeasonBy Dick Jordan<br />
<br />
So, you’re saying to yourself: “OMG! Christmas is just a week away and my shopping’s not done!”<br />
<br />
Not to worry.<br />
<br />
Here are ten books from my own library of travel writing that you can be happy giving as gifts to your favorite travelers this holiday season.<br />
<br />
<b>Just click a book’s title to order it directly from </b><a href="http://bookpassage.com/" target="_blank"><b>Book Passage</b></a>. Some may be available in hardcover, paperback, and e-book editions.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9780394758374" target="_blank"><img align="left" border="0" height="145" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0394758374&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=taltolfrother-20" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 6px 8px 0px 0px;" width="89" /></a><b><i><a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9780394758374" target="_blank">Road Fever</a></i> </b>(Tim Cahill). Legendary travel writer Tim Cahill takes you on the ultimate road trip, beginning near the tip of South America, and ending at the end of the road in the Arctic. Along the way, Tim and professional endurance driver Garry Sowerby encountered “engine trouble in Patagonia. Sadistic troopers in Peru. Document hell in Colombia. Ice slick roads in Alaska.” And those are <i>just</i> <i>a few</i> of the misadventures that befell them during their 15,000 mile journey.<br />
<br />
<i><b><a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9781568584355" target="_blank">Travel As A Political Act</a></b></i> (Rick Steves). Noted for his European travel shows on PBS, the American who took us to Europe where even Arthur Frommer may not have gone before, “explains how to travel more thoughtfully—to any destination. He shares a series of field reports from Europe, Central America, Asia, and the Middle East to show how his travels have shaped his politics and broadened his perspective.”<br />
<br />
<b><i><a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9781742204932" target="_blank">Lights, Camera…Travel!</a></i> </b>(Andrew McCarthy, Don George, editors). <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9781742204932" target="_blank"><img align="right" border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1742204937&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=taltolfrother-20" style="display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 3px 7px;" /></a>Andrew McCarthy was a Hollywood actor (<i>Pretty in Pink</i>); now he’s a contributing editor to <i>National Geographic Traveler, </i>and has been on the faculty of the <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/travel-writers-photographers-conference" target="_blank">Book Passage Travel Writers & Photographers Conference</a>.<br />
<br />
Don George is c0-chair of that conference, and a long-time freelance travel writer and editor. Together they’ve assembled a collection of over thirty stories told by Alec Baldwin, Malcolm McDonald, Brooke Shields, and others.<br />
Here’s Andrew and George in conversation:<br />
<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VUNouUcTTRk" width="560"></iframe></center>
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<i><b><a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9781598808889" target="_blank">The Practical Nomad: How To Travel Around the World</a></b></i> (Edward Hasbrouck). Want to tell you boss to take your job and, well, give it to someone else, so you can become a vagabond and wander the planet? In the preface, travel writer Edward Hasbrouck says: “If you’ve ever dreamed of a trip around the world, this book is for you. It’s a unique, comprehensive, ‘how-to’ handbook of advice and tips for independent, on-your-own travel anywhere in the world.”<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9781569765487" target="_blank"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1569765480&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=taltolfrother-20" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 14px 7px 0px 0px;" /></a><b><i><a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9781569765487" target="_blank">Maya Roads: One Woman’s Journey Among the People of the Rainforest</a></i></b> (Mary Jo McConahay). If the world would indeed come to and end on December 21, 2012, it would make little sense to give this book to someone as a Christmas gift. But trust me, we’re not all going to disappear next week.<br />
<br />
McConahay drew on her three decades of traveling, living and working in Central America to tell this tale of the Mayans, past and present.<br />
<br />
<b><i><a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9780767904469" target="_blank">North to The Night</a></i> </b>(Alvah Simon). Does living on a 36’ sailboat, frozen in the ice above the Artic Circle during winter with only a pussy cat for company sound like a fun vacation? Regardless of your answer to that question, you’ll enjoy reading Alvah Simon’s voyage of discovery.<br />
<br />
<i><b><a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9780312302894" target="_blank">Looking For Alaska</a></b> </i>(Peter Jenkins). If Simon’s trip sounds a bit over the top, opt for a tamer <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312302894/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0312302894&linkCode=as2&tag=taltolfrother-20http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9780312302894" target="_blank"><img align="right" border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0312302894&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=taltolfrother-20" style="display: inline; float: right; margin: 4px 0px 0px 7px;" /></a>adventure and pack up the family, relocate to Alaska, and replicate Peter Jenkin’s odyssey, learning how the residents of the 49th state cope with living far from the rest of their fellow Americans down in the “Lower 48.”<br />
<br />
<i><b><a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9781582436494" target="_blank">Snake Lake</a></b></i> (Jeff Greenwald). As long as you’re thinking about heading far from the madding crowd in urban America, why not go to Kathmandu, especially if its country, Nepal, is in the throes of a revolution against its ruling monarchy? But this book isn’t just about war, there’s a love element, too.<br />
<br />
<i><b><a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9781250015495" target="_blank">From Beirut To Jerusalem</a></b> </i>(Thomas L. Friedman). Nepal isn’t the only place on the plane where people have been up in arms against each other. The<i> Wall Street Journal</i> called Pulitzer Prize winning reporter Friedman’s book “a sparkling intellectual guidebook…an engrossing <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9780920256565" target="_blank"><img align="left" alt="Vineyard Tuscany HC" border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLv7AjIV6rCA8fg9USF1XoP3fAUFz7OiWc6heIhyTqOCq8uPhSm0XUrtWPCorRvUTIxIBO3wNRGpEqPHBQ50jt89nGOJrSCjZ5yrWFeHE23fAy8GdvtLkUIiN-BjDXNcPtacoUxJOb-Yix/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 10px 7px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Vineyard Tuscany HC" width="110" /></a>journey not to be missed.”<br />
<br />
<b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0920256562/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0920256562&linkCode=as2&tag=taltolfrother-20" target="_blank">A Vineyard in Tuscany: A Wine Lover’s Dream</a> </i></b>(Ferenc Máté). Yorkers Ferenc and his wife, Candace, buy a 13th-century friary, renovate their centuries-old abode, plant a vineyard, and end up making top-notch wine. I have spent a lot time in the “wine country” north of San Francisco, which is often compared to Tuscany—one of my favorite travel all-time destinations. So following in the Mátés footsteps is something I could drink to!<br />
<br />
Need more suggestions for holiday gift books? Have a “personal shopper” at the Book Passage bookstore help you out.<br />
<br />
And the Book Passage “<a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/aunt-lydia-book-club" target="_blank"><b>Aunt Lydia Book Club</b></a>” (<b>aka the “Aunt Lydia Book Club</b>),” makes giving the gifts that keep on giving—books much easier. Here’s how it works: <br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/aunt-lydia-book-club-registration" target="_blank"><b>Register for the Aunt Lydia Book Club</b></a>. </li>
<li>Add the gift recipient’s name, age, and contact information. </li>
<li>Indicate how often you’d like a gift book to be sent. </li>
<li>Set the length of the book club membership. </li>
<li>List the book categories or genres desired, such as armchair travel, biography, or politics. </li>
<li>Provide more information about the reader to help the store pick the right books to send. </li>
<li>Add any personal message you’d like included each time with complimentary gift card. </li>
</ul>
If you’d need more information, or would like to talk to a Book Passage “personal shopper,” <b>call Book Passage at </b><a href="tel:4159270960" target="_blank"><b>(415) 927-0960,</b></a><b> ext. 227, or email club director <b>Mary Benham</b> at <a href="mailto:mbenham@bookpassage.com">mbenham@bookpassage.com</a>.</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://talestoldfromtheroad.com/about-2/dick-jordan/"><img 0px="" 114="114" 7px="" align="left" alt="clip_image001" border="0" display:="" height="148" inline="inline" margin:="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tfLGyAvMf1d10G-fGdANWnsHjgKUR26ziivhWgpEnWYPanJshIF8wKmpmafSmMjCWpMqPb0GJXK_sgB8LRq1Ou39QSebxUgsWXyOhxYPPSDOMmT8y7sZEzPt0fEmQdxoVz-QEbH_mE5h/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0pt; border-left-width: 0pt; border-right-width: 0pt; border-top-width: 0pt; display: inline; margin: 0px 7px 7px 0px;" title="clip_image001" /></a>(<i>From time to time t</i>ravel writer <i>Dick Jordan posts book reviews under the “</i><a href="http://talestoldfromtheroad.com/category/on-this-blog/armchair-travel-on-this-blog/" target="_blank"><i>Armchair Travel</i></a><i>” and “</i><a href="http://talestoldfromtheroad.com/category/on-this-blog/book-reviews/" target="_blank"><i>Book Review</i></a><i>” sections of his online travel magazine,</i><a href="http://www.talestoldfromtheroad.com/" target="_blank"><i> Tales Told From The Road</i></a><i>. His last post to the Book(ed) Passage blog was <a href="http://blog.bookpassage.com/2012/06/serious-trashy-summer-reading-list.html">A "Serious" & "Trashy" Summer Reading List</a></i><i>. Dick is a member of the </i><a href="http://bookcritics.org/about/" target="_blank"><i>National Book Critics Circle.</i></a><i> When Dick isn’t traveling, you can usually find him hanging out with other members of </i><a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/left-coast-writers" target="_blank"><i>Left Coast Writers</i></a> at <i>the Book Passage in Corte Madera on the first Monday evening of each month</i>.) Dick Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680036411158647403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404035875240432334.post-22046838275989673512012-12-04T15:09:00.000-08:002012-12-04T15:17:07.513-08:00What I Learned at Book Passage<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBitoV31p4BYkIR0JevTIvnvjO2ulaL-mgRLiDYGOxMH_ZQR8GDob0zgmpp39Y_2egmSHJyyTZkE6U4npTCSJJJvIWiqAi0PQ0GvHpTGLhyRn9XELSKWBnRDjm9P_Jc7lBvqprCagUcSg/s1600/Book+Passage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBitoV31p4BYkIR0JevTIvnvjO2ulaL-mgRLiDYGOxMH_ZQR8GDob0zgmpp39Y_2egmSHJyyTZkE6U4npTCSJJJvIWiqAi0PQ0GvHpTGLhyRn9XELSKWBnRDjm9P_Jc7lBvqprCagUcSg/s1600/Book+Passage.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since I left college 7,000 years ago I've often longed to go back and attend the classes I missed out on or didn't pay
attention to due to an overriding desire to master the art of Frisbee. I've wished I had more time to sit in a cafe with some well-read, friendly
people, discussing modern literature, history, science, art, and current
events. I've wanted to learn a new language, or to discover some new interest,
like cooking, or Italian<span style="line-height: 18px;">—</span>or finally get a handle on modern poetry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: center;">Now I work at Book Passage, a store
that features fascinating </span><a href="http://bookpassage.com/events" style="text-align: center;">author events</a><span style="text-align: center;"> every day. Some are great novelists; others, prominent
activists, historians, journalists, and biographers. Some of the world’s top
chefs have spoken (and cooked) for us. There are renowned children’s authors, doctors,
psychologists, naturalists, celebrities, artists . . . the list is endless.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Included among the people Book
Passage has hosted in just the last few months are Junot Diaz, Ina Garten,
Naomi Wolf, Martin Amis, Michael Chabon, Salmon Rushdie, Louise Erdrich, J. R.
Moehringer, Isabel Allende, Barbara Kingsolver, Simon Winchester, Jon Meachum,
David Brooks, Anne Lamott, Harold Kushner, Emma Donahue, Hubert Keller, Captain
Sully, Gavin Newson, Cecil Williams, and Dav Pilkey, creator of the Captain
Underpants books.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVyYBJA6hULqYJ7180mrOc6m18xmsNVirTpRRymN6EcIEydQmj26AGLPPaqHSqbXkJfQM4ByTMloX-7oD2jSwuTFlhHw8uf63nCqdwBU0uEP8miR-ZT5InTZHPC6vfmsRCDs1R5-nxtg/s1600/Book+Passage+Window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVyYBJA6hULqYJ7180mrOc6m18xmsNVirTpRRymN6EcIEydQmj26AGLPPaqHSqbXkJfQM4ByTMloX-7oD2jSwuTFlhHw8uf63nCqdwBU0uEP8miR-ZT5InTZHPC6vfmsRCDs1R5-nxtg/s1600/Book+Passage+Window.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">The vast majority of these occasions
are free; we certainly want you to buy a book, and so does the author. I would
urge you to do so, because you will be supporting authors, bookstores,
publishers, and the written word, which is good for everyone. But in most cases
there is no requirement that you buy a book; you can just listen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUHer5th7b98Fm6B49BCNcCPrahC_ybcJs7EpyVRk5dyDoaeh1wwVH1W-wQKofhVyd-5AplGmnBckK6uKZ44_jFzo6_pyu-3wajK0nqmvCV55y1_tcxtSisP17qHF1JISwidOIE4xleU/s1600/Mystery+Writers+Conference.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">And then there are <a href="http://bookpassage.com/classes-workshops">Book Passage's classes</a>: sitting
in my office I often overhear people learning Spanish, French, or Italian. I am
beginning to pick up a smattering of various languages just by being in the
vicinity of our many wonderful teachers. (“Buenos días, mademoiselle! Come
stai?”) People take classes at Book Passage to discover a career, to learn new
parenting strategies, to explore their spiritual side, for tips on traveling
the world, and to become better writers and get published. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUHer5th7b98Fm6B49BCNcCPrahC_ybcJs7EpyVRk5dyDoaeh1wwVH1W-wQKofhVyd-5AplGmnBckK6uKZ44_jFzo6_pyu-3wajK0nqmvCV55y1_tcxtSisP17qHF1JISwidOIE4xleU/s1600/Mystery+Writers+Conference.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUHer5th7b98Fm6B49BCNcCPrahC_ybcJs7EpyVRk5dyDoaeh1wwVH1W-wQKofhVyd-5AplGmnBckK6uKZ44_jFzo6_pyu-3wajK0nqmvCV55y1_tcxtSisP17qHF1JISwidOIE4xleU/s1600/Mystery+Writers+Conference.jpg" height="185" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">In addition to the writing classes, each
summer Book Passage has three extraordinary <a href="http://bookpassage.com/conferences">writing conferences</a>: one for travel writers
and photographers, one for mystery writers, and one for children’s book writers
and illustrators. These conferences feature top publishing editors, agents, and
authors. They are chock full of information for any writer seeking to get
published. Often the pros say they learn as much as they impart, and many
important relationships have begun in those very special few days at Book Passage.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvr_-fQSQ2arJt-n-NI-Z-ttT6dFPOljBFHT2j6JYpY88ILUknbnw5U9NyL_MDZ83SHb8gkmmhx0iTqs-hRrVGG8XwELrr8MO_dAGzI2bEtcYTXDGLv7_H_D1L_HbB_Bot4kyfNEuYYQ/s1600/Teens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvr_-fQSQ2arJt-n-NI-Z-ttT6dFPOljBFHT2j6JYpY88ILUknbnw5U9NyL_MDZ83SHb8gkmmhx0iTqs-hRrVGG8XwELrr8MO_dAGzI2bEtcYTXDGLv7_H_D1L_HbB_Bot4kyfNEuYYQ/s1600/Teens.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">The author events, classes, and our
three writers conferences are the most noticeable ways one can learn at Book
Passage. But I learn the most from my colleagues. From the newest bookseller to
the most seasoned, these folks know and love books, and they are happy to share
their passion and knowledge with you. I often find myself standing with a group
at the counter, engaged in discussions about an author, book, or subject that
is in the air. These interactions keep me in the know in a way that sitting
alone at home with a computer screen can never do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Every day at Book Passage authors, teachers,
booksellers, and book lovers mix together, engaging and stimulating their minds.
But the stars of the show—silently lining the walls and shelves—are the books
themselves. Whether you come to Book Passage for an event, class, or conference,
to sit with your book group in the café, or just want to sit in a cozy chair by
a window and read, I guarantee you this: your mind and your spirit will be
fed. See you soon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><i>Sam Barry is the marketing director at Book Passage. Email him at sbarry@bookpassage.com.</i></span></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsEVO3h3AYfONw-ijT-4hV5pUcgv-a42R2mtPspb-uex9Jy2dB2HzVanMeCmnRp6rCSDBUDafo0x-XmFt-qXD1-20i4ANg-MNu6bXeLeCOr9uiMZUt7iMk95d_tbEzJ6Zip6sLTon4eI/s1600/IJimageCropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsEVO3h3AYfONw-ijT-4hV5pUcgv-a42R2mtPspb-uex9Jy2dB2HzVanMeCmnRp6rCSDBUDafo0x-XmFt-qXD1-20i4ANg-MNu6bXeLeCOr9uiMZUt7iMk95d_tbEzJ6Zip6sLTon4eI/s320/IJimageCropped.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(l to r) Moira Forbes, Marissa Mayer, Ina Garten</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">On November 14th, Book Passage hosted an event featuring Ina Garten in conversation with new Yahoo Director/CEO and foodie/Ina fan, Marissa Mayer. The evening was part of Dominican University’s leadership lecture series, and the 850 seats at Angelico Hall were sold out.<br />
<br />
Alas for Marissa Mayer, she hit the ugliest of weeknight traffic, trying to get north to us from San Francisco, and had not made it by the start time of 7pm. <br />
<br />
Luckily for all of us, an amazing woman stepped in to interview Ina, and she did it splendidly. I don’t know how or why she happened to be there, but our stand-in was <a href="http://blogs.forbes.com/people/moiraforbes/%3e" target="_blank">Moira Forbes,</a> publisher of ForbesWoman and 4th generation in that publishing family. With such an expert journalist asking the questions, we got an amazing evening of discussion between some danged smart and accomplished women. Marissa finally fought through, and joined us about halfway into our evening.<br />
<br />
We started WAY back with Ina’s college years, when husband Jeffrey (they were married even then) told her she would never be happy unless she got out and did something truly interesting, stimulating, and special with her life. Her first interest was science, and skipping lightly over those years, she wound up as an advisor to the White House on nuclear policy. But what she was REALLY enjoying about Washington, was hosting dinners and parties full of interesting people.<br />
<br />
Reading the newspaper one day, she spotted an ad for a food shop in The Hamptons that was up for sale, and switched roads completely. She had no formal cooking training, and knew absolutely nothing about running a business, and in the first days of the shop, repeatedly decided it was the dumbest thing she’d ever done in her life. But she loved being in charge, “I’m not a good employee, so being in charge suited me much better!” and the sense that she was hosting a party, every day. She credits the success of the Barefoot Contessa with its hospitality —the idea that every customer who came in was a guest at the party, and it was a delight to host them.<br />
<br />
After several years, when the work began feeling too repetitive to her, and with the store doing well, she sold it to the manager and chef on its staff, and waited for the next thing to come along. Her life, she says, is a pattern of things coming along to her, rather than Ina wracking her brain to think of some new scheme of work. She has a genius for knowing which opportunities to grab.<br />
<br />
“It is terrifying to walk away from something and change your life. But I don’t back down from being terrified. You can’t stand at the edge of the pond just staring down at it. You have to jump in.”<br />
<br />
It was Jeffrey who suggested the first cookbook, because Barefoot Contessa customers frequently asked for recipes. She wrote a proposal and sent it to an agent. The book would have just 75 entries—she dislikes enormous all-inclusive cooking tomes—and contain some of the best recipes she had developed at Barefoot Contessa, beautifully photographed. It was accepted, and Ina had a publisher and an advance, but she was sure she’d have to return it, so she banked it in a separate account to sit and wait to be returned.<br />
<br />
“I wrote the cookbook I wanted to have myself. I like simple food; cookbooks by restaurant chefs can be complicated. What you want on a weeknight at home or for a dinner with friends is just a good meal, with great ingredients, that is simple to prepare and full of layers of good flavors. One thing that always interests me is a traditional recipe with a twist, which comes out better than you can imagine that dish.” <br />
<br />
Holding the first copy of that first cookbook, she says, is still the greatest moment of her life.<br />
<br />
The next terrifying opportunity to come knocking was television, and the Food Network came knocking several times before she accepted what she thought of as their crazy idea, and began filming the show. It still shocks her that the show is such a success, but it delights her as well. And she has never seen a single one of her shows. “I think if I ever saw it, I'd never do another episode."<br />
<br />
Knowing what my cooking group went through to produce our two cookbooks, I’m especially impressed with Ina’s description of how she produces hers. She personally works on and tests each recipe, sometimes as many as 75 times, until she is satisfied with it. Many recipes have not made it past her development and testing; it took her 3 or 4 cookbooks before she was willing to publish her ginger cookies. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Next, she gives it to a friend or employee (she has a very small company and group of employees), and watches them shop for the ingredients. It amazed her, the possibilities for misunderstanding on this step, and led to very specific ingredient instructions, and more than one measure for some ingredients (size of a vegetable, or a package volume as well as its weight, for instance). </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And then she watches more than one person cook the recipe, down to their choices of cooking tools, pots, pans, and the like. How their kitchen is organized, type of oven they use. All of this testing plays into how she writes the final recipe.<br />
<br />
As someone who has used her cookbooks for years, I can testify that every recipe has always worked perfectly for me, and comes out looking like a million. And I have told customer after customer at Book Passage exactly that, oodles of times now. And now we know WHY they work so well.<br />
<br />
“I'm interested in flavor, texture, delicious, appealing, comfort, relaxed. My ‘brand,’ everything I do, is true to me; I'm a very simple person,” she told us. <br />
<br />
“When you cook, everybody shows up. It's about more than the food. It’s community; I love the warm responses of people who learn to cook with my books or show. It is so very satisfying for me.”<br />
<br />
So what is success, to Ina Garten? <br />
“I get up in the morning and get to do what I love to do. I walk from the house to the barn where my cooking kitchen is; that’s my commute.” Jeffrey (Dean of the business school at Yale), who drives from the Hamptons to New Haven to work, sometimes calls to jokingly compare commutes with her.<br />
<br />
Marissa Mayer gave us probably the most amusing moment of the night, an account of what she witnessed on the night she first met Ina Garten just a few years ago. At a dinner honoring Gayle King (of CBS news), the celebrated best friend of King, Oprah Winfrey, was just entering the room to join the honoree. Coincidentally entering a few yards behind her was Ina Garten. Mayer witnessed an extremely excited woman elbowing Oprah Winfrey aside to get to Garten, exclaiming, “Oh, Ina, Ina, I’m so excited that YOU’RE here!”<br />
<br />
What's next for Ina Garten? “I never plan for the future. I just want to be stimulated and happy. I’ll let the next idea come along to me-- people are always bringing ideas to me. Though I'm probably not going to endorse the garden fertilizer that someone recently proposed...”<br />
<br />
The discussion finished with Q&A from the audience about a variety of cooking questions and the newest book, Foolproof. I have already browsed it cover to cover, and I’m definitely making the mushroom bread pudding for Thanksgiving. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiynnXrczE_egTbyny97Ar97VsLUKsV2SnSoX3TtcBmce2C5qJQXvWuwISz_ghJzjy2VrcGre_hIhZv99_zf5i4W0tLMQRcVTAXoSJCBC8timb_k4CWzlga8OLS8uEPV6gUFe9Y4z5Fd4/s1600/BookPhotoWeb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiynnXrczE_egTbyny97Ar97VsLUKsV2SnSoX3TtcBmce2C5qJQXvWuwISz_ghJzjy2VrcGre_hIhZv99_zf5i4W0tLMQRcVTAXoSJCBC8timb_k4CWzlga8OLS8uEPV6gUFe9Y4z5Fd4/s320/BookPhotoWeb.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
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BookPassageTinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07422651256296939098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404035875240432334.post-69895733705550628982012-11-06T16:34:00.001-08:002012-11-06T16:39:09.413-08:00Dapper legend Tom Wolfe swings by Ferry Building store<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On Thursday, November 1 <b>Tom Wolfe</b> made an appearance at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bookpassage.sanfrancisco" target="_blank">Book Passage in the Ferry Building</a> to sign copies of his new, blockbuster novel, <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/%5Bmodel%5D-113" target="_blank">Back to Blood</a>. Owner Elaine Petrocelli and store managers Calvin Crosby and Ama Wertz were on hand to talk to this great American author and style maven; Calvin, in particular, was thrilled to note that his flashy striped socks were very similar to Wolfe’s.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A limited number of signed first edition copies of <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/%5Bmodel%5D-113" target="_blank">Back to Blood</a> are available at both Book Passage locations, but you'd better hurry--they're going fast!</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17595146637674656728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404035875240432334.post-47142499770990700772012-10-29T16:04:00.000-07:002012-10-29T23:47:23.265-07:00Italian Perfection? SPQR Book Launch & Lunch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>October 29, 2012</b></div>
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Ah, it was good day to be in San Francisco. I know reader, you may leap to the stunning
seven game streak that lead the Giants to their World Series triumph last night
as the cause of my gratified reflection, but you’d only be partially right. </div>
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While I savored sweet victory another flavor from the day
competed for richness, namely, <b>Matthew Accarrino</b>’s lamb ragu.</div>
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Celebrating the launch of <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9781607740520" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SPQR: Modern Italian Food and Wine</b></a>, Book Passage patrons and
Bay Area foodies gathered with sommelier superstar <b>Shelley Lindgren</b> and
recently Michelin Star anointed chef <b>Matthew Accarrino</b> for a spectacular fall <a href="http://bookpassage.com/events_calendar/cooks%20with%20books%20events" target="_blank">Cooks With Books</a>
lunch. Balancing elegant execution with deep tradition, the two shaped a meal
expressing that exquisite polarity of Italian cooking and wine: the rustic and
the refined. </div>
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Autumn sunlight poured through the generous skylights of
<a href="http://www.a16sf.com/" target="_blank"><b>A16</b></a>, splashing over the open kitchen and the long family-style table set for
us. While being welcomed with a glass of Ferrari Brut Rose (red currant nose,
and surprisingly dry), I watched as Chef Chris made the pasta for dinner
service, feeding delicate sheets of hazelnut colored dough through the maker,
gathering and weighing the strands, each bunch placed carefully aside, and then
repeated.</div>
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It is this quality of careful attention and ease that
permeates both of Shelley’s restaurants. Everything is done with the utmost
quality but also a graceful naturalness. It is something I think of as very
Italian, there is a right way to do something, so relax and do it.</div>
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Which brings us to lunch. Opening with chopped chicken
livers, brought to buttery smoothness with crème fraîche and tempered with Marsala
wine, topped with a wine gelatina and dollop of carrot marmellata. </div>
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Smeared on thick slices of grilled bread, the rooty
sweetness of the carrot and near-foie richness of the liver came into perfect
harmony, washed with a sip of J. Hofstatter 2006 ‘Koblenhof’ Gewürztraminer,
yeasty and spicy with the right cut of sweetness.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RApSkZunN2iz8C6Ceah-03biP0yIfNNeSd8Rvws0u6t4zyoJLs6ipuiFmtL8JYgiPYEJR-jx91BVcf_yXzIZ012fqNTbaU22PCkFWBMTSJfYuOzWUaT7HkWkg7MpZs9v_MQCrvaNJE3p/s1600/Erbazzone_torta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RApSkZunN2iz8C6Ceah-03biP0yIfNNeSd8Rvws0u6t4zyoJLs6ipuiFmtL8JYgiPYEJR-jx91BVcf_yXzIZ012fqNTbaU22PCkFWBMTSJfYuOzWUaT7HkWkg7MpZs9v_MQCrvaNJE3p/s1600/Erbazzone_torta.jpg" /></a></div>
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Next a dish inspired from the picnics of Accarrino’s
childhood, Erbazzone Torta with braised greens and dill crema fresca. The torta
was simultaneously light and hearty, the salty gravity of the pastry, greens,
egg, and cheese balanced with the springy freshness of the greens and dill, and
well paired with a Queciabella ‘Mongrana’ Chianti Classico.</div>
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Between each course Shelley would illuminate the wine, its
region, production, history, and peculiarities. The velvety and highly aromatic
Damiano Ciolli, Olevano Cesanese 2009 (pictured above) from the volcanic hills of Lazio and a 5<sup>th</sup>
generation winemaking family was the standout. Medium bodied with a floral and
earthy nose, met with leather, clay, and cooked cherry in the mouth, it has the
complexity and depth one associates more readily with the big Barolos to the
north, not to mention exquisitely complementing… </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgusWbym8OC_mbrmSChoke2P_0jv0p_u-TvtnObkn5mShbGCPMsITqE2Sd2VAXhG0XOjcrXqFOkP0PCEg1RJ8wrsVopD5ZXN4hEHC36psSMqSQzgoC0XT9WQEJCNN-B3AgeQpOAhPEFcr/s1600/ragu2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgusWbym8OC_mbrmSChoke2P_0jv0p_u-TvtnObkn5mShbGCPMsITqE2Sd2VAXhG0XOjcrXqFOkP0PCEg1RJ8wrsVopD5ZXN4hEHC36psSMqSQzgoC0XT9WQEJCNN-B3AgeQpOAhPEFcr/s1600/ragu2.jpg" /></a></div>
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The Ragu! Braised lamb that pulls into buttery strings in a
velvety ragu served with pillow-light semolina gnocci and grated over with
Pecorino Pepato. I cannot do justice here to the exquisite satisfaction of this
dish.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6g_IPbEdV1lJkKokkerW1uQKLtFOQg-fT5HlPVGUTRvVtlyjmg3rXHv-so-dUIMbjQCYxStgDVzanEj0B3ly58M6DGeh36GAV3SJ2mXThzzbfwgGct9vMWRG8b8JUZawG8GKlXYve73T3/s1600/crowd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6g_IPbEdV1lJkKokkerW1uQKLtFOQg-fT5HlPVGUTRvVtlyjmg3rXHv-so-dUIMbjQCYxStgDVzanEj0B3ly58M6DGeh36GAV3SJ2mXThzzbfwgGct9vMWRG8b8JUZawG8GKlXYve73T3/s1600/crowd.jpg" /></a></div>
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The entire table was in awe of the lightness of the gnocci.
Matthew explained it came from a technique he learned while working for Thomas
Keller. The batter of the gnocci has no potato, but rather cheese, egg and
semolina, and is piped through a pastry bag and cut into pieces directly over
boiling water. When met with skepticism on the home chef’s chances for
recreation he reassured the table, “that’s how it comes out, no tricks, every
time.” As one who has suffered the humiliation and texture of overly dense
gnocci, this “trick” alone is worth the price of the book.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxFY_owOnFED06lmEk6EpYJGOUcyZSN2DayDYkwK1iN7OAL6ADTiYXqRACrwHwNOgRHzmr3GCoEL6S1TBrf6sUlQU6AY-ab7EAIHgtFHj5dKSYVkCJE4NOymQdqPYWEn3oXzeqHxQw815/s1600/shelly_matthew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxFY_owOnFED06lmEk6EpYJGOUcyZSN2DayDYkwK1iN7OAL6ADTiYXqRACrwHwNOgRHzmr3GCoEL6S1TBrf6sUlQU6AY-ab7EAIHgtFHj5dKSYVkCJE4NOymQdqPYWEn3oXzeqHxQw815/s400/shelly_matthew.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The lunch closed with a passion fruit panna cotta, zinging
sweet and served with thin chewy coconut macaroons. Matched with a glass of the
delicately bubbly La Spinetta ‘Biancospino’ Moscato d’Asti 2001, sweet and acid
it reflected well the zesty fruitiness of the dessert.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwGPQSJWIC2ymeFoDaX7qAymHiDf3qdi1EjgRlZhH9ZZyjh5XHgRzryyA37vfbVYSFm16J_nBiBL3S644CAWTHApcz9pL16tSsCZCimReWkY3M5J0rRZXjA3b9yBJw0qRrBn3Tdl2NHy8/s1600/dessert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwGPQSJWIC2ymeFoDaX7qAymHiDf3qdi1EjgRlZhH9ZZyjh5XHgRzryyA37vfbVYSFm16J_nBiBL3S644CAWTHApcz9pL16tSsCZCimReWkY3M5J0rRZXjA3b9yBJw0qRrBn3Tdl2NHy8/s400/dessert.jpg" width="287" /></a></div>
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Have I piqued your appetite? Not to worry, as Shelley
promised over her shoulder on her way to refill a glass “It’s all in the book.”</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>~Avram Kosasky</b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17595146637674656728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404035875240432334.post-19232830364233053352012-10-06T13:26:00.000-07:002012-10-06T13:33:24.627-07:00Community<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve been coming to Book Passage for many years. Often I
came for the author events; sometimes the author was my brother <a href="http://www.davebarry.com/">Dave Barry,</a> which
meant Event Director <a href="http://www.doreenorion.com/blog/2008/02/meet_a_wonderful_bookseller_ka.html">Karen West</a> would ask my late wife <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathi_Kamen_Goldmark">Kathi Kamen Goldmark</a> and me to do the introduction. We, in turn, felt compelled to come up with ever-more
absurd things to say (or sing) about Dave as the years went by, until finally
we reached the point where even he felt it was time to get serious (not really).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve played in bands at Book Passage; I’ve participated in
terrific <a href="http://bookpassage.com/classes-workshops">writer’s classes</a> and <a href="http://bookpassage.com/conferences">conferences;</a> I’ve enjoyed lunch, coffee, and wine
with friends in the café; I’ve been the author presenting a book; and (oh yeah)
I’ve browsed the shelves, looking for a good read. The staff is terrific. They
are knowledgeable and friendly; I guarantee you’ll find the book(s) for you.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSQUY466ERUG9vZOaNlaVhawzBjippUW0zbyhQZQKZISXmKCtskOWB5s2otRTI_grwPCT7TEf-2jkXM1cAbqLv4AJ0lVAYJlOgRKCt_3NVr7XZBhOwUZjs5CcXmV4RfObgklPDRMsOcc/s1600/Sam+Barry+Book+Passage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSQUY466ERUG9vZOaNlaVhawzBjippUW0zbyhQZQKZISXmKCtskOWB5s2otRTI_grwPCT7TEf-2jkXM1cAbqLv4AJ0lVAYJlOgRKCt_3NVr7XZBhOwUZjs5CcXmV4RfObgklPDRMsOcc/s1600/Sam+Barry+Book+Passage.jpg" /></a>Now I am Book Passage’s marketing director, which means I just
called myself terrific in the last paragraph. (That’s marketing.) It also means
I am here a lot, which is apparently what people expect of you when you have a
job, and I am struck by what a remarkable place this really is. I know, I
know—you’re thinking “He’s the marketing director—they <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pay</i> him to be enthusiastic.” That’s true. But it’s also true that
Book Passage is an oasis of culture and kindness in a world that is in dire
need of those qualities.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My office is near the young adult and children’s book
section of the store. (Do you think the owners, <a href="http://bookpassage.com/book-passage-history">Elaine and Bill Petrocelli</a>, and General Manager Calvin
Crosby are trying to tell me something?) Every day I hear parents reading to
children and children reading to parents from books selected by our renowned
children’s book buyer <a href="http://bookpassage.com/book-kids">Susan Kunhardt;</a> I hear teens talking about what they’re
reading. I hear animated discussions in <a href="http://bookpassage.com/classes-workshops">language and art classes.</a> This place is
alive. It is civilized. It is a community center for readers, writers, artists,
artisans, for families, for people young and old. It is a place that cultivates
and celebrates the best in human nature. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you haven’t been here lately, come on by. If you’re a
parent, bring your kids to <a href="http://bookpassage.com/kids-books-fairs">Story Time with Christopher Smith.</a> There’s no charge
for most author events, but maybe you’ll decide to buy a book. Maybe you’re an
aspiring writer who needs to get in the mix or some <a href="http://bookpassage.com/classes-workshops">constructive feedback.</a>
Maybe you'd like to
join one of the many <a href="http://bookpassage.com/book-clubs-groups">book clubs.</a> Maybe you’ll start your own. Our <a href="http://bookpassage.com/first-editions-book-club">Signed First Editions Book Club</a> has a record of picking future award-winners: one was Junot Diaz's <a href="http://bookpassage.com/book/9781594483295">The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao,</a> and another was Paul Taylor's <a href="http://bookpassage.com/book/9781934137123">Tinkers,</a> each of which were awarded the Pulitzer Prize. Members of the <a href="http://bookpassage.com/first-editions-book-club">Signed First Editions Club</a> are reading tomorrow's classics today <i>and</i> filling their bookshelves with potential collector's items.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whatever your reason for coming to Book Passage, you will probably discover
something unexpected. That’s the joy of this place. And while you’re here, say hello. Tell me what you’re reading, or writing. See you soon.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sam Barry</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09354804362480995872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404035875240432334.post-20602241221134168272012-10-01T16:11:00.000-07:002012-10-01T16:11:00.113-07:00Bookman's Bookstore Video Launches Banned Book Week<div style="text-align: justify;">
Bookman's Bookstore, with four locations across Arizona, is celebrating the beginning of National Banned Books Week (Sept. 30 - Oct. 6) with an incredible video featuring local customers and staff reading a single line from a banned or challenged book.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The <a href="http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">American Library Association</span></b></a> defines the importance of Banned Books Week on their website:</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Typically held during the last week of September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information. Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community –- librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types –- in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Banned Books Week, being celebrated in part with the second annual <a href="http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/virtualreadout" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">Virtual Read-Out</span></b></a>, wherein bookstores and readers are encouraged to create videos proclaiming the virtues of the freedom to read. Bookman's video was made in conjunction with the Virtual Read-Out project.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.ala.org/advocacy/sites/ala.org.advocacy/files/content/banned/bannedbooksweek/events/readoutbadge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.ala.org/advocacy/sites/ala.org.advocacy/files/content/banned/bannedbooksweek/events/readoutbadge.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Watch the video below and learn how to make your own contribution to Banned Books Week <a href="http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/events/bbwreadout/bbwvirtualreadout" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">here</span></b></a>!</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Cb8mBGjsU5A" width="560"></iframe></center>
<br /></div>
Zack Ruskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10877038979235293286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404035875240432334.post-74431879234058715752012-09-25T08:00:00.000-07:002012-09-25T08:00:07.773-07:00J. K. Rowling's The Casual Vacancy Checks In to Book Passage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.indiebound.com/534/228/9780316228534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://images.indiebound.com/534/228/9780316228534.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
Book Passage is stocking up on miniature soaps and pillow mints as we welcome the release of J. K. Rowling's first adult novel, <i><a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9780316228534">The Casual Vacancy</a></i>. Rowling, known the world over as the creator of the Harry Potter series, has returned to the written word with a story about a town called Pagford, where an empty city council seat reveals the unsettling truth behind a seemingly idyllic English village.<br />
<br />
To celebrate the release of <i>The Casual Vacancy</i>, Book Passage is <a href="http://bookpassage.com/event/jk-rowling-book-release-breakfast">hosting a book release breakfast</a> on Thursday, September 27, from 8am to 10am. Customers that come to pick up a copy of the book during those hours will be treated to orange juice, mimosas, coffee and a selection of pastries. <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9780316228534">Preorder your copy</a> today and come join us on Thursday!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/files/bookpassage/Rowling.jpg?1348524403" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.bookpassage.com/files/bookpassage/Rowling.jpg?1348524403" width="176" /></a></div>
While J. K. Rowling's only US appearance on behalf of her new book will take place in New York, Book Passage is thrilled to be able to host a live webcast of her event! Billed as an onstage conversation with critically acclaimed author Ann Patchett, Book Passage will be screening the event as it happens on Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 5:00pm. This webcast won't be available to stream publicly, so come down early and grab a seat! <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/event/webcast-screening-j-k-rowling-conversation-ann-patchett">Click here</a> to learn more about our J. K. Rowling webcast.<br />
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<b>More reading</b>: <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/10/01/121001fa_fact_parker">click here</a> to read a fantastic article in this week's issue of <i>The New Yorker</i> profiling Ms. Rowling's take on writing a "realist novel for adults."Zack Ruskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10877038979235293286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404035875240432334.post-32908262091471565212012-09-24T16:20:00.000-07:002012-09-24T16:20:09.497-07:00Andrew McCarthy Brings The Longest Way Home to Book Passage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Having previously visited Book Passage in conjunction with our annual Travel Writers & Photographers Conference, we are very excited to welcome back author/actor/director Andrew McCarthy as he talks about his new memoir, <i>The Longest Way Home: One Man's Quest for the Courage to Settle Down</i>. This revealing and insightful story tells of how travel helped him become the man he wanted to be. Andrew will be joined by travel writer and Travel Writing Conference chair Don George on <a href="http://bookpassage.com/event/andrew-mccarthy-longest-way-home-one-mans-quest-courage-settle-down">Thursday, September 27 at 7pm </a>to discuss <i>The Longest Way Home</i>.<br />
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The San Jose Mercury recently spoke with Andrew about his new book. To read the entire article, <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/books/ci_21535561/brat-packs-andrew-mccarthy-pens-travel-book">please click here</a>. Below is an excerpt of the interview, conducted by Jessica Yadegaran:<br />
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<b>Q</b>. You started acting at 19. When did you start writing? </blockquote>
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<b>A</b>. I started writing when I started traveling about 10 years ago. I kept a journal and found the writing in it embarrassing and lame. So instead, since I'm an actor, I started writing down scenes from my travels. I found that it stabilized me and kept me grounded. </blockquote>
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<b>Q</b>. Is that how you got into travel writing? </blockquote>
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<b>A</b>. One day in Saigon, a young guy on a scooter offered to show me around, so I climbed on the back of his bike. I wrote down what happened the day we spent together, and it seemed to capture the essence of my experience in Saigon in a way my journal couldn't. I did that for years, until one day I met the editor of <i>National Geographic Traveler</i> magazine and asked him to give me a shot. </blockquote>
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<b>Q</b>. Where did the idea for this book come from? </blockquote>
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<b>A</b>. I was sitting in the back of a cab on my way to the airport going to Patagonia. My fiancee and I had just decided to get married, and I was so sad to be leaving her, I was practically in tears, but I was also thrilled to be going. I was like, "What is the deal with this?" On the road I took this issue to explore instead of a book.</blockquote>
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<i>The Longest Way Home</i> was published by Free Press on September 18. Reviews have been extremely positive, including author Cheryl Strayed's (<i>Wild, Tiny Beautiful Things</i>) review for <i>The New York Times</i>. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/books/review/the-longest-way-home-by-andrew-mccarthy.html?pagewanted=all">Read the full review here</a> and an excerpt below:<br />
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McCarthy’s at his best when he’s describing his feeling of being at home in foreign worlds. His prose shines with intelligence and intimacy when he’s elucidating the challenges of hiking in the dense jungle of a Costa Rican national park or the pleasures of wandering in a Peruvian market: “The small stalls, one after the next, are lined with different herbs in bags or bottles. There are wooden bowls filled with roots and twigs. There’s abuta bark, for menstrual cramps; the vine of una del gato, for cancer; . . . the aphrodisiac maca root, to be boiled and made into tea. ‘Muy efectivo,’ the creased woman on a stool beside the display assures me.” In these solitary scenes, he lets the reader walk so closely beside him we feel as if we’re walking through that market and jungle too.</blockquote>
Don't miss what is sure to an incredible evening of discussion and reflection with Andrew McCarthy! Join us <a href="http://bookpassage.com/event/andrew-mccarthy-longest-way-home-one-mans-quest-courage-settle-down">Thursday, September 27 at 7pm in Corte Madera</a>, and be sure to <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9781451667486">order your copy</a> of <i>The Longest Way Home.</i><br />
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Zack Ruskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10877038979235293286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404035875240432334.post-76399331796357801652012-09-21T10:23:00.003-07:002012-09-24T15:41:54.992-07:00Book Passage Heads to Telegraph Avenue<br />
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Book Passage may be across the bay, but we feel like we’re smack dab in the middle of Telegraph Avenue these days. That’s because Pulitzer winner (and Book Passage favorite) Michael Chabon’s newest novel, <i>Telegraph Avenue</i>, hit our shelves this month. <o:p></o:p></div>
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To celebrate its publication, Mr. Chabon and his wife, author Ayelet Waldman, have offered to match any donations made to the Scholarmatch website through Thursday, September 25. Simply enter the code “BROKELAND2012” when making a donation. By donating you will not only be helping students achieve their dreams of going to college, you’ll also be entered to win a one-of-a-kind <i>Telegraph Avenue</i> 8-Track mixed tape and player. <a href="https://scholarmatch.org/donate/" target="_blank">Click here</a> to learn more and submit your donation. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And if that’s not enough musical inspiration for a book about a record store, Book Passage is also jamming to the incredible <i>Telegraph Avenue</i> Spotify playlist. Featuring tracks like “Trespasser” by Bad Medicine and “No Thing On Me” by Curtis Mayfield, this collection of tunes is the soundtrack of choice for reading your new copy of <i>Telegraph Avenue</i>. You can access the playlist by <a href="http://spoti.fi/THQUX4" target="_blank">clicking here</a> or listening to the tracks embedded below (please note: you open the playlist externally, you must have Spotify, which can be downloaded for free <a href="http://www.spotify.com/us/start/" target="_blank">here</a>).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Finally, Mr. Chabon may make his home in Berkeley, but we asked him to brave the bridge and give us a taste of <i>Telegraph Avenue</i> here in Corte Madera. Mr. Chabon will read, answer questions and sign books at our Corte Madera location on Monday, September 24. To learn more about reserving a seat for this event, <a href="http://bookpassage.com/event/michael-chabon-telegraph-avenue">click here</a>. To request a signed copy of <i>Telegraph Avenue</i>, <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/%5Bmodel%5D-133">buy a copy from Book Passage</a> and be sure to note your autograph preference in the comments field. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And remember, books are like vinyl: they never die.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Zack Ruskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10877038979235293286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404035875240432334.post-79131835249467771722012-09-17T11:00:00.000-07:002012-09-17T11:09:32.474-07:00Book Passage Awaits the Return of Captain Underpants!<div style="text-align: justify;">
We have spent many moons staring out at the night sky, looking up in hopes of seeing a glimpse of red cape or a brief flash of starch white briefs. Now, finally, ten years removed from his last public tour, superstar children's author and <b>Captain Underpants creator Dav Pilkey <a href="http://bookpassage.com/event/dav-pilkey-captain-underpants-and-terrifying-return-tippy-tinkletrousers"><span style="color: #b45f06;">visits Book Passage</span></a> on Oct. 23</b>! </div>
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Publisher's Weekly <a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/53941-the-return-of-captain-underpants.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly%27s+Children%27s+Bookshelf&utm_campaign=55333f47af-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email" target="_blank"><span style="color: #b45f06;">ran a profile</span></a> on an event Mr. Pilkey recent held in Lincolnshire, Ill., where 500 fans were treated to Captain Underpants book trailers, trivia videos, scrapbook drawings and of course, the chance to get their books signed. </div>
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Bay Area fans will have a chance to get in on the fun next month, when Mr. Pilkey visits Book Passage in Corte Madera in conjunction with the release of <i><b><a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9780545175340"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers</span></a> </b></i>($9.99). </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Dav Pilkey fan in Lincolnshire, Ill.<br />
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In this ninth epic novel of the Captain Underpants saga, Dav Pilkey takes readers back in time to the carefree days of kindergarten, when the worst thing George and Harold had to face was NOT evil mad scientists or alien cafeteria ladies but a sixth-grade bully named Kipper Krupp. </div>
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Book Passage is delighted to be hosting Mr. Pilkey for a 6pm signing on Oct. 23. To learn more about the event and to order your copy of <i><b>Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers</b></i>, <a href="http://bookpassage.com/event/dav-pilkey-captain-underpants-and-terrifying-return-tippy-tinkletrousers"><span style="color: #b45f06;">click here</span></a>. Until then, we'll be watching the stars, waiting for a chance to witness our favorite pantsless superhero.</div>
Zack Ruskinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10877038979235293286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404035875240432334.post-69996029189468831852012-08-25T13:00:00.000-07:002012-08-25T13:00:03.170-07:00The Week Ahead at Book Passage<div style="text-align: justify;">
Among Bay Area bookstores, Book Passage in Corte Madera has one of the most active schedules going of author events, readings, classes and other literary happenings. In fact, it’s not uncommon for more than one or two author talks to take place at the store on just about any given day. Additionally, many of these events have a local connection. Looking at the week, here are two great events readers won’t want to miss.</div>
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<b>Gerald and Janice Haslam discuss <i>In Thought and Action: The Enigmatic Life of S.I. Hayakawa</i><br />-- <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/event/gerald-and-janice-haslam-thought-and-action-enigmatic-life-si-hayakawa">Sunday, August 26 at 1:00 pm</a></b><br />
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At this not-to-be-missed event, Gerald and Janice Haslam discuss <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9780803237643"><i>In Thought and Action: The Enigmatic Life of S.I. Hayakawa</i></a> (University of Nebraska Press), a detailed and synaptically stimulating biography of the one-time Mill Valley resident and eminent linguist, semanticist, writer, professor, President of San Francisco State University, United States Senator, and believe-it-or-not organizer the Anti-Digit Dialing League. If you remember Hayakawa (1906-1992) and his days as a controversial and colorful public figure, then you want to miss what promises to be a fascinating event.<br />
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“<i>In Thought and Action: The Enigmatic Life of S. I. Hayakawa</i> traces the fascinating life of an iconic American writer, teacher, politician, and family man. In the process, authors Gerald W. Haslam and Janice E. Haslam tell us a lot about the culture wars of the 20th century—and of American identity itself.”— Jonah Raskin, Sonoma State University professor and author of <i>American Scream: Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl” and the Making of the Beat Generation</i><br />
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<a href="http://www.geraldhaslam.com/">Gerald W. Haslam</a>, a former student of Hayakawa, is a professor emeritus of English at Sonoma State University and the author and editor of numerous books, including <i>Workin’ Man Blues: Country Music in California</i> and the seminal anthology <i>Many Californias: Literature from the Golden State</i>. Janice E. Haslam is the coauthor, with her husband, of the fiction collection <i>Manuel and the Madman </i>and <i>An Instructor's Guide to Many Californias</i>.<br />
<b><br />Gregg Hurwitz reads from his new thriller <i>The Survivor </i><br />-- <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/event/gregg-hurwitz-survivor">Monday, August 27 at 7:00 pm</a></b><br />
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Gregg Hurwitz, the #1 international bestselling author of <i>You’re Next</i>, unleashes his most accomplished, compelling thriller yet, <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9780312625511"><i>The Survivor</i></a> (St. Martin's Press). It's a roller coaster ride of a read populated by masked gunmen, an escaped killer, Russian mobsters and the threat of losing everything. <i>The Survivor</i> is guaranteed to grab readers by the throat and not relinquish its grip.<br />
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Gregg Hurwitz is the author of twelve novels. His books have been nominated for numerous awards, shortlisted for best novel of the year by International Thriller Writers, nominated for CWA's Ian Fleming Steel Dagger, chosen as feature selections for all four major literary book clubs, honored as Book Sense Picks, and translated into twenty languages. He's currently developing his Tim Rackley series for TNT/Sony. He is a producer and writer for television and films and has written characters ranging from <i>Wolverine</i> to <i>Batman</i> for both Marvel and DC comics. Originally from the Bay Area, he now lives in Los Angeles. <br />
<b><br />Robert Hass talks about <i>What Light Can Do: Essays on Art, Imagination, and the Natural World</i><br />-- <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/event/robert-hass-what-light-can-do-essays-art-imagination-and-natural-world">Tuesday, August 28 at 7:00 pm</a></b><br />
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Pulitzer Prize-winner and former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass talks about <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9780061923920"><i>What Light Can Do: Essays on Art, Imagination, and the Natural World</i></a> (Ecco Press), a wide-ranging collection of considerations on topics including writers (ranging from Jack London to Allen Ginsberg); the art of photography; California, and much else. At this very special event, Robert Hass will be introduced by poet Giovanni Singleton. <br />
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<a href="http://barclayagency.com/hass.html">Robert Hass</a>' books of poetry include <i>Time and Materials</i>, for which he received the Pulitzer Prize in 2007 and the National Book Award in 2008; <i>Sun Under Wood</i>, for which he received the National Book Critics Circle Award in 1996; <i>Human Wishes</i>; <i>Praise</i>, for which he received the William Carlos Williams Award in 1979; and <i>Field Guide</i>, which was selected by Stanley Kunitz for the Yale Younger Poets Series. <br />
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Hass, who teaches at the University of California in Berkeley, has also worked with Czeslaw Milosz to translate a dozen volumes of the Nobel Prize winner's poetry. While his translations of the Japanese haiku masters have been collected in <i>The Essential Haiku: Versions of Basho, Buson, and Issa</i>. Hass' other books of essays include <i>Twentieth Century Pleasures: Prose on Poetry</i>, which received the National Book Critics Circle Award for criticism in 1984, and <i>Now and Then: The Poet's Choice Columns, 1997-2000</i>. From 1995 to 1997 Hass served as poet laureate of the United States. <br />
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<b>MORE INFO:</b> Unless otherwise noted, all events take place at Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., in Corte Madera. Call (415) 927-0960 or visit <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/">www.bookpassage.com</a> for details. </div>
Thomas Gladyszhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17999911816898324090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404035875240432334.post-56828502910217653052012-08-18T12:56:00.000-07:002012-08-21T13:00:08.346-07:00The Week Ahead at Book Passage<div style="text-align: justify;">
Among Bay Area bookstores, Book Passage in Corte Madera has one of the most active schedules going of author events, readings, classes and other literary happenings. In fact, it’s not uncommon for more than one or two author talks to take place at the store on just about any given day. Additionally, many of these events have a local connection. Looking at the week, here are three events readers won’t want to miss.</div>
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<b>Fault Lines Poetry Reading<br />-- <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2003313478">Sunday, August 19 at 4:00 pm</a></b><br />
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Marin County poet Terri Glass hosts the first Bay area reading of <i>Fault Lines</i>, a new West Coast journal which includes work from 70 poets from British Columbia to San Francisco. Among those participating in this special event are editor Tony Pfannenstiel and Bay Area contributors Samuel Iniguez, Trina Drotar, Lenore Wilson, Suzanne Brooks, and Patrick Cahill.<br />
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<a href="http://faultlinespoetry.com/"><i>Fault Lines</i></a> is a journal of West Coast poetry. <a href="http://www.terriglass.com/">Terri Glass</a> is a poet and writer who has been teaching poetry writing in the Bay Area for twenty years. She studied poetry writing at the University of Washington and Portland State University, and mentored with the Pulitzer Prize winning poet William Stafford. Glass currently coordinates the Marin program for California Poets in the School and served as their statewide director from 2008-11.<br />
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<b>Selden Edwards reads from <i>The Lost Prince</i><br />-- <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2003313481">Monday, August 20 at 7:00 pm</a></b><br />
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Selden Edwards reads from <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9780525952947"><i>The Lost Prince</i></a> (Dutton), a sequel to his beloved, more than 30-years-in-the-making, <i>New York Times</i> bestselling novel, <i>The Little Book</i>. Like its predecessor, Edward’s magical new work is an irresistible triumph of the imagination, and a story of love capable of bridging unfathomable distances. <br />
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Pat Conroy, the bestselling author of <i>The Prince of Tides</i> and <i>The Great Santini</i>, said this: “I loved Selden Edwards’s first novel <i>The Little Book</i> and told everyone I knew about it. I just read his second novel <i>The Lost Prince</i> and think that Mr. Edwards has written his finest work so far. Once again, Selden Edwards demonstrates his mastery in blending together philosophy and art with the help of wonderful characters you fall in love with. <i>The Lost Prince</i> is a terrific second novel.” <br />
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<a href="http://seldenedwards.com/">Selden Edwards</a> began writing <i>The Little Book</i> as a young English teacher in 1974, and continued to layer and refine the manuscript until its completion in 2007. It was his first novel. He spent his career as headmaster at several independent schools across the country.<br />
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<b>Susan Kirsch and Jane Mellor Poetry Reading<br /> -- <a href="http://bookpassage.com/event/susan-kirsch-and-jane-mellor-poetry-reading">Saturday, August 25 at 1:00 pm</a></b><br />
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Poets Susan Kirsch and Jane Mellor read from their recent books. Kirsch will read from <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9781105234972"><i>Simply Go*D - Praise Poems Celebrating The Divine In Daily Life</i></a> (Lulu.com). And Mellor will read from <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9781770678965"><i>Delicate Availability: Prose and Poetry</i></a> (FriesenPress). Each is an evocation and a celebration of life through poetry. Susan Kirsch was raised in the Midwest. Jane Mellor was raised in the Bay Area.<br />
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<b>MORE INFO:</b> Unless otherwise noted, all events take place at Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., in Corte Madera. Call (415) 927-0960 or visit www.bookpassage.com for details.<br />
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Thomas Gladyszhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17999911816898324090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404035875240432334.post-53341980835432539432012-08-11T14:13:00.000-07:002012-08-17T09:58:21.510-07:00The Week Ahead at Book Passage<br />
Among Bay Area bookstores, Book Passage in Corte Madera has one of the most active schedules going of author events, readings, classes and other literary happenings. In fact, it’s not uncommon for more than one or two author talks to take place at the store on just about any given day. Additionally, many of these events have a local connection. Looking at the week, here are three events readers won’t want to miss.<br />
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<b>Jennie Fields reads from The Age of Desire<br />-- <a href="http://bookpassage.com/event/jennie-fields-age-desire">Tuesday, August 14 at 7:00 pm</a></b><br />
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Jennie Fields reads from her new novel, <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9780670023684"><i>The Age of Desire</i></a> (Pamela Dorman Books), a sparkling glimpse into the life of Edith Wharton and the scandalous love affair that threatened her closest friendship. Wharton’s real letters and intimate diary entries are woven throughout this richly nuanced novel, which takes us on a vivid journey through the Gilded Age.<br />
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<a href="http://jenniefields.com/">Jennie Fields</a> received an MA in creative writing from the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop and is the author of the novels <i>Lily Beach</i>, <i>Crossing Brooklyn Ferry</i>, and <i>The Middle Ages</i>. An Illinois native, she spent twenty-five years as an advertising creative director in New York and currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee.<br />
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<b>Laura Lippman reads from her new novel And When She Was Good <br />-- <a href="http://bookpassage.com/event/laura-lippman-and-when-she-was-good">Friday, August 17 at 7:00 pm</a></b><br />
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Laura Lippman reads from her new novel, <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9780061706875"><i>And When She Was Good</i></a> (William Morrow), the gripping, intensely emotional story of a suburban madam, a convicted murderer whose sentence is about to be overturned, and the child they will both do anything to keep. Lippman has been described as “a writing powerhouse.” Here’s why.<br />
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<a href="http://lauralippman.net/">Laura Lippman</a> grew up in Baltimore and returned to her hometown in 1989 to work as a journalist. After writing seven books while still a full-time reporter, she left the <i>Baltimore Sun</i> to focus on fiction. She is the author of eleven Tess Monaghan books, five stand-alone novels, and one short story collection. Praised as “a writing powerhouse” (USA Today) and “among the select group of novelists who have invigorated the crime fiction arena with smart, innovative, and exciting work” (George Pelecanos), this New York Times bestselling author is constantly sending reviewers back to their thesauruses in search of new and greater accolades. Her new stand-alone novel, And When She Was Good, reinforces the fact that she stands among today’s bestselling elite—including Kate Atkinson, Tana French, Jodi Picoult, and Harlan Coben (who raves, “I love her books!”). Lippman has already won virtually every prize the mystery genre has to offer—the Edgar®, Anthony, Agatha, and Nero Wolfe Awards, to name but a few.<br />
<b><br />Literary Luncheon with Gail Tsukiyama <br /> -- <a href="http://bookpassage.com/event/literary-luncheon-gail-tsukiyama">Saturday, August 18 at 12:00 noon</a></b><br />
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Join Book Passage for lunch as Gail Tsukiyama celebrates the publication of her new novel, <i><a href="http://bookpassage.com/book/9780312274818">A Hundred Flowers</a></i> (St. Martin's Press), a powerful story centering on the misfortunes which befall a family at the start of the Chinese Cultural Revolution. With this new work, Tsukiyama once again brings us a powerfully moving story of ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances with grace and courage.<br />
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The year is 1957, and Chairman Mao has declared a new openness in society: “Let a hundred flowers bloom; let a hundred schools of thought contend.” Many intellectuals fear it is only a trick, and Kai Ying’s husband, a teacher named Sheng, has promised not to jeopardize their safety or that of their young son, Tao. One July morning, just before his sixth birthday, Tao watches helplessly as his Father is dragged away and sent off to a labor camp for “reeducation” after writing a letter criticizing the Communist Party.<br />
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Gail Tsukiyama is the bestselling author of six previous novels, including <i>The Street of a Thousand Blossoms</i>, <i>Women of the Silk</i> and <i>The Samurai’s Garden</i>, as well as the recipient of the Academy of American Poets Award and the PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award. She lives in El Cerrito. Book Passage hosts literary luncheons with celebrated authors at its Marin store. These events are catered by Insalata’s Restaurant of San Anselmo.<br />
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<b>MORE INFO:</b> Unless otherwise noted, all events take place at Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., in Corte Madera. Call (415) 927-0960 or visit www.bookpassage.com for details.Thomas Gladyszhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17999911816898324090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404035875240432334.post-91886541715915580992012-08-09T15:29:00.000-07:002012-08-09T16:28:57.204-07:00Maria Semple’s Where'd You Go, Bernadette - autographed 1st edition copies available<br />
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Maria Semple’s <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9780316204279"><i>Where'd You Go, Bernadette</i></a> is really good. And, it's taking the country by storm. <b>And, we have autographed 1st edition copies.</b> If you haven't already ordered a copy (by clicking on the link above and noting "signed 1st" in the comments field), then why not?<br />
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The book has already received a RAVE review from Janet Maslin in the <i><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/07/books/whered-you-go-bernadette-a-maria-semple-novel.html">New
York Times</a></i>, who began her critique by noting the books' <span class="st">“free-range hilarity!” </span><br />
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<span class="st">And in the <a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-maria-semple-20120812,0,3937962.story"><i>Los Angeles Times</i></a>, </span><span class="st">Carolyn Kellogg stated "She has written a fantastic, funny novel. Its affecting characters, not-necessarily-nice humor and surprising plot twists make this novel<br /> an enchanting ride."</span><br />
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<span class="st">Oh, and Jonathan Franzen said, "The characters in <i>Where'd You Go, Bernadette</i> may be in real emotional pain, but Semple has the wit and perspective and imagination to make their story hilarious. I tore through this book with heedless pleasure."</span><br />
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<span class="st">Similarly, Kate Atkinson said "<i>Where'd You Go, Bernadette</i> is fresh and funny and accomplished, but the best thing about it was that I never had any idea what was going to happen next. It was a wild ride..." </span><br />
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<span class="st">So, just who is </span>Maria
Semple? Her first novel, <i>This One is Mine</i>, was set in Los Angeles, where she also wrote for television shows including <i>Arrested Development</i>, <i>Mad About You</i>, and <i>Ellen</i>. She escaped from Los Angeles and lives with her family in Seattle, where this, <br />
her second novel, takes place.<br />
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If you haven't already ordered a copy of Maria Semple’s <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/book/9780316204279"><i>Where'd You Go, Bernadette</i></a>, then why not?<br /> We at Book Passage love it!<br />
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</div>Thomas Gladyszhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17999911816898324090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404035875240432334.post-76001577195901598522012-08-08T01:30:00.000-07:002012-08-08T12:19:41.931-07:00Starts Thursday: Book Passage Travel Writers and Photographers Conference<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b> The Premier Conference in the World for Travel Writers and Photographers!</b></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: teal; font-size: small;"><b>August 9-12, 2012 - Corte Madera, CA</b></span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">The <b>Book Passage Travel Writers & Photographers Conference</b>
has an extraordinary, international reputation among publishers,
editors, and writers. Now in its 21st year, this four-day Conference
offers an array of writing and photography workshops in the morning, a
full afternoon of panels and discussions, and evening faculty
presentations. There are optional, working field trips to explore the
resources of the Bay Area. The faculty includes publishers, magazine
editors, photographers, travel essayists, food writers, restauranteurs,
guidebook writers, and more. There are hours of informal interaction
between faculty and participants during lunch and in discussions that
often last late into the evening.<br />More info at <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/travel-writers-photographers-conference">http://www.bookpassage.com/travel-writers-photographers-conference</a></span></div>
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<tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: #ffcc66;"><img align="left" alt="Susan Orlean" height="90" src="http://www.bookpassage.com/files/bookpassage/orleanSusan_0.jpg" width="72" /> <img align="left" alt="Andrew McCarthy" height="90" src="http://www.bookpassage.com/files/bookpassage/mccarthyAndrew.jpg" width="72" /><img align="left" alt="Spud Hilton" height="90" src="http://www.bookpassage.com/files/bookpassage/hiltonSpud_small.jpg" width="72" /><img align="left" alt="Pauline Frommer" height="90" src="http://www.bookpassage.com/files/bookpassage/frommerPauline.jpg" width="72" /><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">This year's participants will spend four event-filled days in beautiful Northern California writing, workshopping, networking, and perfecting their craft with an internationally acclaimed faculty featuring prize-winning journalists, authors and photographers including <b>Susan Orlean</b> (staff writer at <i>The New Yorker </i>and author of <i>The Orchid Thief</i>, <i>Rin Tin Tin</i>); <b>Andrew McCarthy</b> (Actor, director, and Lowell Thomas Award-winning travel writer); <b>Spud Hilton</b> (Travel Editor of the <i>San Francisco Chronicle</i>); <b>Pauline Frommer </b>(internationally syndicated travel expert and host of <i>The Travel Show</i> with her father Arthur Frommer).</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span><a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/travel-writers-photographers-conference-faculty"><b><br />View the complete faculty list >></b></a></span> </td></tr>
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<br />Thomas Gladyszhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17999911816898324090noreply@blogger.com0