Dear Friend of Rakestraw Books,
Welcome to the fourth issue of “Bookpost”
a.k.a. “The Rakestraw Reader” online. We are still trying to work out the
remaining bugs from this format. In this issue, we hope to have eliminated the problem of
unreadable type as well as the m dashes (Michael is fond of those, so there are a lot of
them!) and apostrophes so many of your browsers have trouble reading. That said, most of
you seem to be enjoying this publication which we are happy to hear. As always, it is our
intention to make Rakestraw Books, our events, and our reviews more accessible to you. If
you prefer not to receive this newsletter in the future, please e-mail us rakestraw_books@yahoo.com and just type “unsubscribe” in the subject line. If you
do like it, tell all your friends from the Las Trampas Hills to the Chiltern Hills . . . www.rakestrawbooks.com
We look forward to hearing from you!
EVENTS EVENTS EVENTS
For the first
time in many years, we are pleased to offer a full program of author events in July.
August is a quiet month to be followed by a very full schedule in September.
Party
Starts on Friday, 7 July 2000 at 10:00 PM
It hardly seems possible that during Christmas 1998, Harry Potter was still unknown, but as we told hundreds of you this unknown book by an unknown author was the real thing. The rest is history – each of the first three books in the series have dominated bestseller lists and readers’ hearts around the world ever since.
Now, drum roll, please, Harry Potter and the Goblet of
Fire is publishing! Just after midnight on Saturday, 8 July, bookstores all over the
world will be selling the next installment in the incredible series about everybody’s
favorite wizard. We invite you to join us as we celebrate the publication with a party
starting at 10:00 PM on Friday, 7 July (reservations essential). This should be wonderful
fun; we hope to see you here. To reserve the book, simply e-mail us at rakestraw_books@yahoo.com
Saturday, 8 July 2000 at 7:30 AM Departure from Rakestraw
At long last, we have a guidebook to Mt. Diablo! Written by the Mt. Diablo Interpretive Association, The Mount Diablo Guide has quickly become one of our bestsellers here at Rakestraw Books. To celebrate its publication, we are offering a guided hike on the mountain with Frank Valle-Riestra on Saturday, 8 July starting around 8:30 AM.
We will meet at Rakestraw at 7:30 AM and proceed to the
lower parking lot on the summit. The hike is a gentle one of only a mile, lasting a little
longer than an hour. There are many interesting rock formations as well native plants and
the spectacular view. Early in the day, it should still be pleasantly cool, so bring a
light jacket and wear your walking shoes as Rakestraw hits the trail. Call or e-mail us to
reserve a place.
Friday,
14 July 2000 at 7:00 PM
Around the world by way of Anarctica, one boat, one sailor, no help, no stopping: these are the cruelly simply rules binding the men and women who undertake the world’s most brutally demanding sailing race, the Vendee Globe. In 1996-1997, fourteen men and two women embarked, Godforsaken Sea is their story. Told in vivid, yet poetic prose, this is a masterpiece of nonfiction, adventure writing.
It is our great pleasure to announce that
Derek Lundy will be visiting Rakestraw Books on Tuesday, 25 July at 7:00 PM to read from
and discuss Godforsaken Sea. As gripping and powerful read, this remarkable book
belongs in the company of The Perfect Storm and Into Thin Air, and on the
bookshelves of every adventure reader and every sailor. Bring your friends and join us for
one the best nights of the summer.
That’s all for July. Not bad, eh?
The Mark of the Angel by Nancy Huston
(Vintage, $13). One of our Books of the Year 1999, this novel is powerful stuff. When
Saffie, a war refugee, marries Raphael, a young French composer, in the wake of World War
Two, neither realizes the depth of the past or the wounds they both carry. A marvelous
love story, this will be one of bestsellers for 2000. Highly recommended. Due in
August.
Vintner’s Luck by Elizabeth
Knox (Picador, $13). From a veteran New Zealand writer comes one of the most unusual love
stories any of us has ever read. One night in 1808 an intoxicated French winemaker,
Sobran, meets an angel. Over the next 55 years their relationship develops in startling
and wonderful ways. Complex and mysterious; this is great writing. Due in August.
Song of the Exile by Kiana
Davenport (Ballantine, $14). A big, sprawling love story that spans the Pacific and all
the years of the century. Separated by war and by fate, a pair of young lovers will spend
the rest of their lives searching for each other and for the selves they’ve lost.
What a great summer read – satisfying, beautiful, and heartbreaking. Due in July.
Yellow Jack by Josh Russell
(Norton, $13.95). We did not sell very many of this fine book in hardcover, but to the
handful of people who bought, Yellow Jack was one those rare discoveries –
smart, atmospheric, and compellingly vivid. In malaria-ridden, 1840’s New Orleans, a
young photographer finds love with two very different women. Due in August.
The Sibyl in Her Grave by Sarah
Caudwell (Bantam, $23.95). For the first time in nearly a decade, there is a new Hilary
Tamar mystery. Stylish, literate, and urbane, The Sibyl in Her Grave is all that
one might wish from a mystery. It’s also very, very funny. Recommended for the beach
or the backyard – wherever the summer takes you. Due in July.
The Soul of a Cook by Michael Ruhlman
(Viking, $26.95). If you’ve wondered what it would be like to be a really great chef,
this is the book for you. Starting with the Certified Master Chef exam at the Culinary
Institute of America – a grueling ten-day ordeal – and ending with a loving and
insightful portrait of the French Laundry’s Thomas Keller, Ruhlman has written a
brilliant book.
Brighten the Corner Where You
Are by Fred Chappell (St. Martin’s, $10.95.
First published in 1989, this good-hearted generous novel firmly established Fred Chappell’s
place in American letters. Set on a single day in 1946 in North Carolina, Brighten the
Corner Where You Are is the story of Joe Robert Kirkman, schoolteacher, joker, and
father.
The Miracle of Castel di
Sangro by Joe McGinniss (Broadway, $14.95). A
story of passion and folly in the heart of Italy, this book is a charmer. Joe McGinnis
went to Italy to see if he can determine why a small-town, ragtag bunch of guys have
become one of Italy’s best soccer teams. He ends up falling in love with the place,
the people, and the way of life.
The Lexus and the Olive Tree by Thomas
Friedman (Anchor, $15). I very seldom recommend serious non-fiction in the newsletter
– but, this is a must read! Subtitled “Understanding Globalization,” this
thoughtful and insightful book serves to explain our world and the economic and social
forced transforming it. Pulitzer prize-winning journalist is a witty and intelligent
guide. Great for book groups.
The Bookworms are reading Armadillo for our meeting Wednesday, 19 July at 7:00 PM. Elizabeth Bowen’s old classic, The Last September, is our choice for Wednesday, 16 August at 7:00 PM.
The Mother-Daughter Elementary Book Group, led by Kathy Moore, is reading Bat 6. The Middle School Mother-Daughter group, led by Jo Loecher, is reading The Hobbit. Both groups meet July 25 at 7:00 PM. August choices are to be announced.
The first meeting of our Fantasy Book
Club, co-led by Mike and Jon Fiset for readers aged 10 to 14 is 8 August. We will be
discussing Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Join us.
Book groups are free of charge and open
to the whole community. Book group members receive a 10% discount on each month’s
feature titles. Join us and become part of the literary conversation.
Remember Rakestraw Books is available to
host a meeting of your book group. Call us at (925) 837-7337 to book a time!
“They
could hardly believe their ears. They had never thought to own even one book and now they
had twelve. It was too wonderful.”
Sydney Taylor
On the behalf
of the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association and stores with Booksense,
we would like to invite you to attend the 5th Annual Books by the Bay, a
Celebration of Independent Bookselling. This exciting event will take place on Saturday,
15 July between 10 AM and 4 PM on Pier 32 on San Francisco’s Embarcadero. More than
50 local and specialty bookshops (including Rakestraw) present a day of author readings,
books, and fun!
We are taking reservations now for Philip Pullman’s
new book, The Amber Spyglass, which is scheduled to publish on 10 October 2000. The
teasers we have seen and heard are awesome!
And that is Bookpost #4. Hope you enjoyed it! Of course, if you need more information,
you can always contact us by phone at the real books-and-mortar shop at (925) 837-7337.
Or, if in the lovely San Ramon Valley, stop by 409 Railroad Avenue, Danville, California
94526. Or, if you do not wish to leave your computer, just e-mail us at rakestraw_books@yahoo.com
Mike Barnard
Rakestraw Books