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Don't Miss Share the Love! Indiespensable: The Book of Jonas Meet Your Puddly Winners! Celebrate Black History Month Portable Genius Sale: Save 30% 2012 Morning News Tournament Staff Top 5s of 2011 Powell's Meridian App for iPhone and Android More at Powell's PowellsBooks.Blog Interviews \| Q&As \| Essays Recently Viewed clear list Powell's Q&A, Kids' Q&A \| February 2, 2012 Kids' Q&A: Emily Winfield Martin 2 comments By Emily Winfield Martin Describe your new book. Oddfellow's Orphanage is a series of stories/vignettes that tell the tale of the newest arrival to a curious orphanage, a... Continue » $10.49 Sale Hardcover add to wish list Oddfellow's Orphanage Emily Winfield MartinEmily Winfield Martin 9780375869952	Powells.com » Locations Powell's Books Loading... Powell's Books operates five Portland, Oregon stores and one in nearby Beaverton. We also have a number of warehouses and book sources locally, nationally, and internationally. In Portland, call us at 503-228-4651. 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Your Email Here are just some of the books we're talking about at Powell's. The Blind Contessa's New Machine Carey Wallace has written a beautiful little novella based on the invention of the first typewriter. Who knew it was for a blind woman? In 1808, Pellegrino Turri invented his "writing machine" to help the blind communicate. The Blind Contessa's New Machine uses this invention, and its subsequent gift to the Contessa, as a basis for the spark that starts a passionate love affair. Both the inventor and the Contessa are married to others, so there is no easy road to their happiness. What is, perhaps, even more interesting than the love affair is the dream-like quality of this story. As the Contessa gradually loses her sight, she becomes more attached to her dreams, in which she can still see. She is even able to influence her dreams to the point where she can fly. There is a blurring of the line between dream and reality throughout, which gives this books an illusory, unearthly, and fantastical quality. Recommended by Dianah February 9, 2012 product The Seamstress and the Wind Though most of César Aira's books tend to be slim affairs, they make up with inventiveness for whatever they may lack in length. The prolific Argentine novelist's works are wildly imaginative, and the depth of his creativity seems matched by the ease with which he is able to blend, cross, and move within different genres. The Seamstress and the Wind is the sixth of Aira's books (of more than 80) to be translated into English. The Seamstress and the Wind combines a number of elements that, at first glance, might appear to make for a jumbled, undisciplined, and haphazard work. The brilliance of Aira's writing, however, is that he, like a literary alchemist, transmutes disparate components into something fantastical and rewarding. Mixing the mundane with the phantasmagorical, Aira's novels are richly engaging, for one is never sure upon which point the story is about to veer into the realm of the wholly unforeseen. The word predictable is one that ought never be employed to describe any aspect of Aira's fiction. The magnificent range in his work is no mere clever device, but instead reflects an unfettered imagination that allows for a story to freely evolve. The effect is disarming and seems refreshingly natural (perhaps in contrast to the abundance of forced narratives that abound elsewhere in contemporary literature). Contributing to the overall affluence of his writing are his reliably intriguing characters, seemingly average yet possessed by a charming singularity. The Seamstress and the Wind features characters the likes of which will not soon be forgotten (nor their entrances into the story). César Aira is remarkably gifted, and his ability to seamlessly infuse his work with humor, fantasy, poignant observation, unrestrained style, and invigorating prose is truly amazing. Although each one of his books is entirely unlike its predecessor, they all seem to complement one another in a way that reinforces the prowess of his creativity. The more Aira that I read, the more easily I am convinced that he is one of the most talented, original, and important writers at work today. Though few of his books are even as long as 150 pages, they leave the reader bewitched long after the story has concluded. Recommended by Jeremy February 9, 2012 product The Art of Fielding If it weren't for the Morning News Tournament of Books, I would never have read The Art of Fielding. Baseball? No, thanks. But have no fear — it's not really a book about baseball. Henry Skrimshander is a shortstop prodigy who lives and breathes baseball. Luckily, he is talented enough to catch the eye of Mike Schwartz, the de facto student coach of all things sports at Westish College in Wisconsin. Henry can't believe his luck as he is suddenly accepted into college, playing shortstop for a real team, and about to match the all-time professional record for error-free games. But, things never work out this well, do they? What follows is an anxious and uneasy coming-of-age story, which rings absolutely true and comes complete with a shattering identity crisis. Chad Harbach manages to convey the degrading, confusing, and humiliating realities of this period of life, all the while his characters are insinuating themselves thoroughly into your heart. Woven throughout is one of the most truly radiant, yet at the same time, deeply distressing, love stories I've ever come across. Thank you, Tournament of Books, for forcing me to read this! Recommended by Dianah February 7, 2012 product Olive Kitteridge Set on the coast of Maine, this fantastic Pulitzer Prize winner (2009) is a terrific character study. Olive is an irascible, crabby old lady who is difficult to like. Yet, as her life, marriage, and story play out, her character changes in ways that are wholly believable. This novel runs the gamut of human emotion and delicately exposes the secret inner workings of the human condition. Beautifully written, Olive Kitteridge is a book I didn't much expect to like — but how wrong I was. Recommended by Dianah February 7, 2012 product Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout Handheld Pies Part cookbook, part culinary road trip, part mouthwatering, flaky-crusted, fresh-from-the-oven feast for the eyes, Handheld Pies combines recipes for scrumptious handheld treats with profiles of some of the best small-pie makers in the United States, including Portland's own fried-pie purveyor Whiffies (p. 34). First-time pie makers will appreciate the introductory chapter devoted to equipment, ingredients, and techniques, as well as Billingsley's clear, step-by-step instructions. Seasoned pros looking to expand their repertoire are sure to find something they haven't tried, like Orange Marmalade-Mascarpone Pop Tarts (p. 37) or Vanilla Malt Jar Pie (p. 86). This book makes me want to embark on a tiny ~~eating~~ baking spree. Recommended by Tove February 6, 2012 product Half a Life Darin Strauss dissects the one event that forever demarcates his life: as a teenager, he kills a schoolmate after hitting her with his car. To his credit, Strauss never once plays the pity card; instead he seems to question his every emotion and thought for signs of weakness. As he grows into adulthood, he shares his story with others and sits unflinchingly while they either excoriate or coddle him. No, this memoir is not for the faint of heart — demanding introspection and exhaustive emotional digging are the hallmarks of his life. Half a Life not only describes Strauss's life but also his schoolmate's life, and he mines this reality for all its subtle and explicit meaning. Kudos to Strauss for his strength in not only living this particular nightmare but for sharing it, as well. Recommended by Dianah February 6, 2012 product The Rabbits' Wedding Eeee! This book will fill you with an endless supply of the warm fuzzies. And, who knew, but when the title was first published in 1958 it was banned! Adorable bunnies equals controversy? Unfortunately, yes. It was banned because it supposedly encouraged interracial marriage. Sigh. Luckily times have changed (sort of), and The Rabbits' Wedding is back in print! Recommended by Morgan R. February 6, 2012 product The Rabbits' Wedding by Garth Williams Faith Touching on one of today's hot-button topics, pedophilic priests, Faith is an exercise in rollercoaster emotions. This story explores the heart-rending situation of Father Art Breen, who finds himself accused of sexually abusing a young boy in his church. Set against the backdrop of multiple accusations in one city, the aura of hysteria is palpable. This is not, however, your typical drama-laden-movie-of-the-week in book form. I came to this book with certain expectations, yet it went in a completely different direction than I anticipated. Motivations and actions are not always what they seem, and there is much here that was unexpected. Haigh always seem to have some twist up her sleeve, indicating what a great storyteller she is. Her characters feel like real people, and her prose is absolutely beautiful. My bet is that you won't be able to put this one down. Recommended by Dianah January 23, 2012 product Faith (P.S.) by Jennifer Haigh How I Became a Nun One of the more striking characteristics of César Aira's fiction is how much fun it seems he must be having while writing his stories. Not limited by the constraints of genre, Aira's novellas often move effortlessly between them, without ever an inkling of it seeming forced or contrived. Despite their relative brevity, Aira's works (though I am unable as yet to determine just how) have an enduring effect far greater than books I thought I enjoyed more than his. This lasting mark may well be testament to Aira's unrestrained storytelling style, as well as his allegiance to originality. How I Became a Nun is the tale of an aberrant, somewhat precocious six-year-old boy named César Aira (who refers to himself as a girl). After a tainted ice cream cone leads to illness and hospitalization, young César's reality begins to blend with fantasy. As compulsion and curiosity take over, César must learn to navigate the hardships of both the first grade and the world around him (her). Aira's works are neither linear narratives nor surreal simply for the sake of it. He, instead, crafts works of great imagination that seem to have been written, above all, for the love of a good story itself. The variety and creativity of his short works is simply bewildering. As his dozens of books slowly make their way into translation, I imagine the immense talent of this prodigious Argentinean will become more widely recognized. Recommended by Jeremy January 23, 2012 product How I Became a Nun by Cesar Aira The Illumination What if suddenly you could actually see the pain of others? What if suddenly you couldn't stop seeing the pain of others? In Kevin Brockmeier's latest, that is precisely the dilemma in which the entire world finds itself. Every cut, every bruise, every injury, surgery site, scar, wound, mass, and sickness is plainly visible to everyone. And not just visible: Every location of pain shines out a bright, white light which illuminates the nature, seriousness, and shame of every malady man carries. "It was shameful, her pain, appalling." Brockmeier mines the depths of the vulnerability and humiliation of being enslaved in a less than perfect body. He showcases the emotional turmoil that goes along with illness and lifts the veil on how that may play out if revealed to one and all. Fantastic. Recommended by Dianah January 22, 2012 product The Gardener's Year Originally published in Czechoslavakia in 1929, Karel Čapek's The Gardener's Year is a charming, whimsical, and amusing little book about the joys and frustrations of gardening. Known best for his early science fiction novels (as well as for coining the word robot), Čapek wrote widely about a number of different subjects. With a varied background (often veering into the political realm), Čapek's many interests have cross-pollinated one another and enriched whatever he happened to be writing about at the time. The Gardener's Year obviously sprang from a love of and devotion to nearly all kinds of flora. With quaint, humorous illustrations by his brother Josef, this funny and alluring work will appeal to gardeners and non-gardeners alike. Chronicling the gardener's year month by month, Čapek contrasts the ecstasies and hardships of turning one's hands and heart to cultivating the soil. With adversaries aplenty (hoses, uncooperative weather, detritus-laden soil, etc.), the sheer act of gardening, to Čapek, is as much about commitment and fidelity as it is the possibility of complementary aesthetic bounty. Interspersed between the chapters are brief asides about particular foci important to the gardener (seeds, rain, whom to entrust the garden to while on holiday, etc.). The Gardener's Year was not composed as a detailed, how-to guide, and, thus, little in the way of instructional advice is to be found. Instead, it offers witty musings and reflective meditations on what, to many, is less of a hobby or diversion and more of an art form and way of life. Čapek's slim work is a rich, rewarding read. Recommended by Jeremy January 22, 2012 product by Baseball Between the Numbers Baseball Between the Numbers, and Sabermetric analysis of the game in general, has many proponents, but is not without its fair share of detractors. Through advanced statistical examination (regression analysis, correlation studies, algorithms, etc.), there are many that believe baseball can be more clearly understood (with the implications being that individual player talent can be more accurately defined, and, thus, managers can use this information to increase the overall success of their respective clubs). In Baseball Between the Numbers, the writers (or experts, as the title page so modestly deems them) at Baseball Prospectus consider some of the game's most contentious and long-held presumptions and attempt to discern the statistical truths from a bewilderingly broad swath of data. The authors, amongst other topics, consider the undue attention paid to the RBI and a pitcher's win total, arguing that neither of these statistics are accurate gauges of a player's prowess. Other issues analyzed include steroids, stadium financing, salary caps, the five-man pitching rotation, utilization of relief pitchers, and the notion of a clutch hitter. Much of the data resulting from the organization's statistical inquiries seems to defy decades-old conventional wisdom surrounding particular aspects of the game. The effects that Sabermetrics have had on the game of baseball are at this point immeasurable, as clubs have increasingly incorporated advanced statistics in their decision making processes. Nearly every chapter of Baseball Between the Numbers (of which there are 27 proper: nine innings times 3 outs) offers something interesting, although a few veer into the realm of the unnecessarily captious. Despite the subject's intrigue, the writing more often than not leaves quite a bit to be desired and at times borders on the excruciating. What the book lacks in literary fecundity, however, it does make up for in encyclopedic knowledge, statistical proficiency, and measured application. Much to their credit, the folks at Baseball Prospectus were careful to frame their work in its proper context: But to arrive at an answer that expands our knowledge of the game, we need to ask the right smaller questions within the framework of the bigger question... We use numbers as a framework to delve into these answers. But it's the process of learning to think critically about the game that defines this book, and in a broader sense defines our experiences as avid fans of the game... We put this book together because we love baseball, and we want to see it grow and succeed. That we approach the game with an analytical eye and a critical keyboard doesn't diminish the joy we've derived from baseball- it enhances it. Most of the criticisms I have read about the book (and, again, Sabermetrics in general) seem to suggest that these advanced statistics somehow devalue the game. While I am sympathetic to any dehumanizing trend, it is perhaps foolish to consider Sabermetrics as anything other than an expository tool. Baseball Between the Numbers, by the authors' own admission, is an attempt to enrich one's love for and understanding of the game, not supplant it with useless, irrelevant, or superfluous data. Considered with this in mind, the book will indeed lead even the most ardent of baseball fans to rethink some of their fundamental beliefs about players, strategies, and even the game itself. Recommended by Jeremy January 22, 2012 product by

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