Bookpost #48 -- The Email Newsletter
of Rakestraw Books -- July 2004
Dear Friends,
A young boy, riding by on his bike, just cried out "Books!" in a tone of
delight, bringing a smile to my face as I finished this newsletter. It is a delight that I
hope many of you share. And, of course beyond books (!), we are also pleased to offer a
nice selection of audio books, cards, plush toys, and a few literary magazines.
To celebrate five years here at Iron Horse Plaza (though no one ever calls it that any
more!) on Railroad Avenue in downtown Danville, we have done some redecorating in the
children's section. We hope you will enjoy the changes.
Come in and visit with us soon. We look forward to seeing you.
Sincerely yours,
Michael Barnard
and the Staff of Rakestraw Books "The Bookstore in Danville"
Inside this issue of "Bookpost":
- Calendar of Events for July 2004;
- Rakestraw's Readers Recommend;
- Young Reviewers at Rakestraw;
- Book Gift Certificates;
- Book Group News (including a new book group discount!);
- Books by the Bay;
- Celebrate the Birthday of Walden.
 |
DAVID
CORBETT VISITS ON THURS., 22 JULY AT 7:00 PM Freelance photographer and wildcat
smuggler Dan Abatangelo blows into Vegas to hit the tables and taste the nightlife. In his
path waits Shel Beaudry, a knockout redhead with a smile that says, Gentlemen, start your
engines. The attraction is instant — and soon the two are living the gypsy life on the
West Coast, where Dan captains a distribution ring for premium Thai marijuana. His credo:
"No guns, no gangsters. It's only money."
A brilliant crime novel of betrayal and retribution, passion and redemption, The Devil's
Redhead heralds the arrival of a powerful new voice in fiction. It is our pleasure, to
invite you to a reading and signing with David Corbett as we celebrate the paperback
publication of The Devil's Redhead as well as David's second book, Done for a Dime.
Visit
David Corbett's website by clicking here. |
| JUSTIN CRONIN VISITS
WED., 28 JULY AT 7:00 PM Winner of the PEN/Hemingway Award for his radiant novel in
stories, Mary and O’Neil, Justin Cronin has already been hailed as a writer of
astonishing gifts. Now Cronin’s new novel, The Summer Guest, fulfills that promise—and
more. With a rare combination of emotional insight, narrative power, and lyrical grace, Cronin
transforms the simple story of a dying man’s last wish into a rich tapestry of family
love.
As their stories unfold, secrets are revealed, courage is tested, and the bonds of love are
strengthened. And always center stage is the place itself—a magical, forgotten corner of
New England where the longings of the human heart are mirrored in the wild beauty of the
landscape.
Intimate, powerful, and profound, The Summer Guest reveals Justin Cronin as a
storyteller of unique and marvelous talent. It is a book to treasure. We are delighted to
request the pleasure of your company at a reading and signing with Justin Cronin on Wednesday,
28 July at 7 PM. Please join us for a special evening.
Read
an excerpt from The Summer Guest by following this link. |
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RAKESTRAW'S READERS RECOMMEND
What a nice range of books we have to recommend to you this month! Somewhat to my surprise, I
find that no fewer than five of the books I wanted to include are re-issues of books that had
been out-of-print for some time. I have grouped these together in the next section. So,
whether you choose something brand new or something old, we hope you will find these to be as
enjoyable as we did.
Brilliance of the Moon by Lian Hearn. In her long-awaited conclusion to the Tales
of the Otori trilogy, Lian Hearn brings the tale of Lord Otori Takeo and Lady Shirakawa
Kaede to a stunning end. As in the earlier volumes Across the Nightingale Floor and Grass
for His Pillow, this story of love and adventure will carry you away to the magical world
of the Three Countries. Highly recommended. Special note: the audio edition of Brilliance
of the Moon read by Kevin Gray and Aiko Nakasone is a treat.
With Love and Prayers: A Headmaster Speaks to the Next Generation by F. Washington
Jarvis Here is a book of "uncommon common sense" for teenagers. The author is
the headmaster of Boston's Roxbury Latin School, the oldest school in North America, and the
speeches are drawn from the talks he gives at the opening of each school year. I have rarely
read more thoughtful guides to life. “If it is true that a picture is worth a thousand
words, it is ten times as true when you are speaking to young teenagers. They are gripped by
the story of how real people cope with real situations. They are interested when you share
with them the concrete realities of your own life and experience, and they are almost always
willing to listen to adults who actually believe in something, who actually stand for
something.” Read With Love and Prayers and, then, share it with a teenager you
love.
Cookoff: Recipe Fever in America by Amy Sutherland It is impossible to overstate
how poorly this book is served by its cover art. Awful, awful, awful. The book, however, is
excellent. If you admire good writing about food, then Sutherland's depiction of the world of
competative cooking will amuse and instruct you. From the dizzying heights of the Pillsbury
Bake-off to the homier charms of Gilroy Garlic Festival Cook-off, it's all here. Very highly
recommended indeed (despite the appalling cover art)!
Crossing California by Adam Langer Set in the predominantly Jewish neighborhood
of Rogers Park in north Chicago, this debut novel follows three families over the course of
several tumultuous years. With heartache, laughter, tears, and joy, the teenage children of
Charlie Wasserstrom, Michael and Ellen Rovner, and Deirdre Wills struggle to live their lives
as American teenagers while living up to the expectations of the Jewish community. A great
read.
Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear I have to start out by saying that Maisie
Dobbs was not I expected and that it was a complete delight. Part mystery, part tale of
terror, part romance, and part historical novel, in the end it could only be itself. A
daughter of the working poor, a former servant girl, a veteran of World War I, Maisie Dobbs
has just opened her own detective agency in London as it careens into the 1920s. Her first
case – which seems to be an open and shut matter of adultery – brings back the
ghosts of the past in a way which is at once cathartic and deeply frightening. A great start
to what promises to be an excellent series.
Lucia, Lucia by Adriana Trigiani. Post-war New York is full of opportunities for
a talented, prosperous, and ambitious young Italian-American woman. Torn between two men, and
two different futures, Lucia Sartori's life goes into overdrive when she becomes the center of
a rather spectacular scandal. This is Adriana's first novel set in her adopted hometown of
Greenwich Village and it's a joy. Pour yourself a glass of something refreshing, put your feet
up, and slip in . . . .
The Queen of the South by Arturo Perez-Reverte. It begins in Western Mexico, in
the state of Sinaloa, in the city of Culiacan, where a young woman, Teresa Mendoza, is shaving
her legs when her cell phone rings. It is the special cell phone that her boyfriend, a
drug-runner named Guero , has given her for emergencies. He tells her that if it ever rings,
she does not ever need to answer it; that she should just start running. The novel is the
story of her running. This one gave me goosebumps it was so good. One of my top four for 2004.
Special note: the audio edition is absolutely splendid.
If you
would like the full Books of the Year 2003 list, just send us an email and we will happy to
send it to you. |
TITLES SELDOM SEEN -- BOOKS FROM THE
DEEP BACKLIST RECOMMENDED BY RAKESTRAW'S READERS
As noted above, some particularly wonderful books have been re-issued lately. It is a pleasure
to bring those to your attention whether its a first introduction, or simply encouraging you
to renew an acquaintance.
Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey. In one of Josephine Tey's mostly poised mysteries,
a young man, claiming to be Patrick Ashby, the long-lost heir to the Ashby fortune, enters
into the Ashby's quiet world. As overjoyed as his supposed siblings are to have him back in
their lives at least one of them knows that this handsome stranger cannot be his brother. Even
better than Christie at conveying the nuances of English society, Tey is at her intelligent
best here.
Deryni Rising by Katherine Kurtz. First published thirty years ago, Katherine
Kurtz's debut fantasy novel begins one of the most beloved contemporary fantasy series. In
medieval world of religion and magic, young Prince Kelson must claim his legacy of magic if he
is to claim his birthright and become the next King of Gwynned. I first read this when I was
thirteen and all these years later, I still love it.
Look and Cook: A Cookbook for Children by Tina Davis. While this has the look
and feel of a classic title, it's actually not. The illustrations -- from here, there, and
everywhere -- were originally published between 1925 and 1960. The recipes, however, are for
dishes that children (and their adults) now will enjoy eating. Good clear instructions, a
handsome lay-out, and those great old pictures makes this a volume to enjoy.
Mistress Masham's Repose by T. H. White. First published in 1943, this
less-well-known-than-it-deserves-to-be treasure is the story of a plucky orphan named Maria.
Being brought up in the decayed palace of Malplaquet by a cruel governess, young Maria is a
child of wit and intelligence but she is, alas, lonely. So when she finds a long-lost colony
of Lilliputians living on an island on the grounds, she finds the friends she needs. Among the
fine points of the wonderful tale are a sea battle, a dungeon from which no one has ever
escaped, and much wisdom and wit. An extraordinary tale -- perfect for sharing.
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell. Sometime in the late 1920s, young
Gerry Durrell's mother realized that living on a small income in London meant living with far
too much cold and wet and damp. She did what any sensible person would do, she sold the house,
and immediately moved herself, four children, and far to many books to the Greek island of
Corfu. For young Gerry, it was among the most idyllic of childhoods. For the reader, it is the
stuff of one of the happiest of childhood memoirs. Good stuff.
|
| YOUNG REVIEWERS AT
RAKESTRAW BOOKS For the past several years, we have given some of our best young
readers, advance reading copies of some great upcoming books. All that we have asked in
exchange is a brief review of the book that we can use in the newsletter when the book
actually publishes. And we have had some great reviews . . . .
This year, we want to make this arrangement a little more formal. We will begin handing out
books on Wednesday, 9 June at 3:30 PM (lots of advance notice!) and continue until they are
gone (one per family only). We will also request that the children attend two hour-long
workshops (one early in July and one late) to introduce review writing and, then, learn how to
edit their work. While attendance at these workshops is not mandatory, we think they will be
valuable sessions.
Final reviews will be posted on our website in a special section and also included in our Fall
newsletters.
**NOTE: For the kids who picked up books in June, we will meet to talk about how to write book
reviews on Tuesday, 13 July at 1:00 PM and on Wednesday, 14 July at 1:00 PM. It is only
necessary to attend one of these sessions.**
|
 |
| GIFT CERTIFICATES In
addition to our wonderful brown paper Rakestraw Books Gift Certificates (available in any
amount), we are pleased to be able to offer Booksense Gift Certificates redeemable in more
than 1,200 independent bookstores nationwide. If we are unable to help you choose a book for
your farway reader, a Booksense Gift Certificate is the way to go.
Click
here for a list of Booksense bookstores across the country. |
| BOOK GROUP NEWS We
host four book groups here at Rakestraw Books: an Evening Group, a Morning Group (NEW!), a
Spanish Group (NEW!), and the Mother-Daughter Group. The details of their next meetings are as
follows:
The Morning Book Group Our selection for the month is The Art of Travel by Alain
de Botton. This month's meeting is on Friday, 23 July at 10:30 AM.
The Evening Book Group We will be discussing The Curious Incident of the Dog in the
Night-Time by Mark Haddon. This month's meeting is Wednesday, 14 July at 7:00 PM.
Spanish Book Group Do you read comfortably in Spanish? Would you like to practice your
Spanish discussion skills? Would you like to spend an enjoyable evening discussing books with
other Spanish speakers? Then our new El Club de Libros is for you! During our meeting
on Tuesday, 13 July at 7:00 PM, we will be discussing Eva Luna por Isabel Allende.
Please join us! Veteran Spanish teacher Carolyn Thiessen facilitates this group.
The Mother-Daughter Book Group meets on Tuesday, 13 July at 7:00 PM. They will be
discussing Jeanne Du Prau'sThe City of Ember. Carly Owens, a teacher at Country Club
Elementary School is facilitating this group.
We are now happy to offer book group members a 20% discount on their group's monthly
selections. There is no need to register your group (though of course we would be happy if you
do). We look forward to seeing you soon.
|
BOOKS
BY THE BAY -- SATURDAY, 17 JULY 2004 -- AT YERBA BUENA GARDENS
 The 9th annual BOOKS BY THE
BAY, San Francisco's annual open-air, free-to-all book fair, takes place on Saturday, July 17.
The fair will feature over 60 authors speaking and signing and will include several author
panels, including Hot Writers/Great Reads, Life Stories, World Fiction, Prime Crime, Fine
Food, and Home & Garden. Panels will be moderated by staff writers from the San Francisco
Chronicle, co-sponsor of the event.
In addition, our Poetry Hour will feature four local poets reading from their work, and the
Chronicle will present a panel discussion entitled "Inside the Book Review" with the
Chronicle Book Review editor and key staff writers. Confirmed authors to date include Jane
Smiley (A Year at the Races), Andrew Sean Greer (The Confessions of Max Tivoli), Lolly Winston
(Good Grief), Khaled Hosseini (The Kite Runner), and Jean Hegland (Windfalls).
Our children's stage will feature Peggy Rathmann (winner of this year's Northern California
Book Award for Children's Literature), Walter the Farting Dog illustrator Audrey Colman,
Ashley Wolff, and Walter Mayes, aka Walter the Giant Storyteller, along with a bevy of
costumed characters, including Curious George and The Man in the Yellow Hat, Clifford,
Geronimo Stilton, and Froggy.
BOOKS BY THE BAY is presented by the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association
(NCIBA). It will again be held at the picturesque Yerba Buena Gardens and in the Yerba Buena
Center for the Arts Theater in downtown San Francisco. The event is a featured attraction of
the summer Yerba Buena Gardens Festival and is expected to attract over 10,000 people.
The Gardens offer an idyllic outdoor setting for the event, which will include 45 bookstore
booths and author signings in addition to the author panels and speakers. Revenue from the
sale of books signed by participating authors at BOOKS BY THE BAY is donated by the NCIBA to
literacy causes and projects. The book fair is co-sponsored by KGO Newstalk AM 810.
As always, admission is free and open to all.
Revenue from the sale of books signed by participating authors at BOOKS BY THE BAY is donated
by the NCIBA to literacy causes and projects.
Rakestraw Books "The Bookstore in Danville" is proud to be part of this year's Books
by the Bay. Our special themed booth will not only have a great and unique selection of books,
but also will have a number of fantastic authors signing throughout the day. We look forward
to seeing you there!
The
event is co-sponsored by The San Francisco Chronicle. |
CELEBRATE THE ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
ANNIVERSARY OF AN AMERICAN CLASSIC
Henry David Thoreau was just a few days short of his twenty-eighth birthday when he built a
cabin on the shore of Walden Pond and began one of the most famous experiments in living in
American history. Originally he was not, apparently, intending to write a book about his life
at the pond, but nine years later, in August of 1854, Houghton Mifflin's predecessor, Ticknor
and Fields, published Walden; or, a Life in the Woods. At the time the book was largely
ignored, and it took five years to sell out the first printing of two thousand copies. It was
not until 1862, the year of Thoreau's death, that the book was brought back into print. Since
then It has never been out of print. Published in hundreds of editions and translated into
virtually every modern language, it has become one of the most widely read and influential
books ever written, not only in this country but throughout the world. On the one hundred and
fiftieth anniversary of the original publication of Walden, Houghton Mifflin is proud to
present the most beautiful edition ever published of Thoreau's masterpiece. The price --
$28.12 -- is half a cent less than Thoreau himself spent to build his cabin in Walden Woods.
This new edition features spectacular color photographs by Scot Miller that capture Walden as
vividly as Thoreau's words do. The book is being published in association with the Walden
Woods Project, which is dedicated to preserving the lands Thoreau wrote about. For each copy
sold, Houghton Mifflin and Scot Miller are making a donation to the Walden Woods Project.
We have several other handsome editions of Walden in stock including paperbacks with
introductions by noted environmentalist Bill McKibben and novelist John Updike. Of particular
note is a fine hardcover with illustrations by Michael McCurdy and an introdution by Terry
Tempest Williams. Prices for these editions range from $9.95 to $24.95.
To visit
the official Walden website - a beautiful well-organized one - click here! |
And, that's Bookpost #48! We hope you
found it interesting, useful, and enjoyable. Of course, if you need more information,
please feel free to contact us by telephone at (925) 837-7337. Or, if you are in the
lovely San Ramon Valley, stop by the real books-and-mortar shop at 409 Railroad Avenue,
Danville, California 94526. Or, if you prefer not to leave your computer, simply email us
at rakestraw_books@yahoo.com.
Best wishes for a wonderful June. We look forward to seeing you soon. Happy Reading!
Sincerely,
Michael Barnard
and the Staff of Rakestraw Books "The Bookstore in Danville"
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