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Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
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Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
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Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
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Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
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Customer Comments
Ealasaid has commented on (15) products
She Who Became the Sun Radiant Emperor Book1
by
Shelley Parker Chan
Ealasaid
, June 17, 2022
She Who Became the Sun is my favorite book read this year! Adventure, intrigue, and gender queering all in the same story. Our protagonist isn't always likeable, and does some awful things, but to see someone raised as a girl with no future rise toward being emperor through sheer determination is awesome. Our antagonist suffers from what we'd now call gender dysphoria, and while he's pretty awful it's also hard not to empathize with his burning resentment and desire for revenge. I'm excited to read book 2 and hope we won't have to wait too long!
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Last Emperox Interdependency Book 3
by
John Scalzi
Ealasaid
, October 23, 2020
An ambitious end to an ambitious trilogy. As a long-time fan of Scalzi's work, I expected nothing less. This book draws all the tangled plotlines and wraps them up in mostly very satisfactory ways. Even better, I did not see some of those endings coming at ALL, and that pleases me immensely. If you haven't read the other books, don't read this one on its own, read them first. It will make this book far more gratifying.
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Shame & Guilt Masters Of Disguise
by
Jane Middelton Moz
Ealasaid
, November 30, 2012
This book is short, but it packs a real punch. Adults who were shamed as children share a bunch of characteristics, and reading not just the list but examples of how they might manifest and explanations of how these tendencies develop in response to being shamed as a child was incredibly compelling. The most important message I got from this book is that I'm not alone. Many, many other people share the same tendencies and characteristics I do, and it's normal to develop them in response to our childhood experiences! While the book doesn't offer any quick fixes, knowing that my neuroses aren't a sign that I'm a broken or worthless person is hugely helpful, and the detailed examples in the book make it easier for me to notice my behaviors and think, "oh, there's that tendency again! My mind is reacting to things that aren't really happening." Then I can take a step back mentally and re-evaluate the situation. This is a book I suspect I will not only be referring to repeatedly in the future, but will be buying extra copies of to give to friends in similar situations to myself.
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Evolutionary Witchcraft
by
T. Thorn Coyle
Ealasaid
, February 29, 2012
Although likely not for everyone, Evolutionary Witchcraft is a fantastic primer on the magical and spiritual technologies Thorn Coyle has been teaching to great acclaim for years. (Full disclosure: I have been a student of hers since 2006, and signed up in large part because of how much I liked this book.) The text is divided along the seven directions used in Coyle's tradition (North, South, East, West, Above, Below, and Center), with exercises, meditations, rituals, and even dance movements around the concepts for each section. Coyle balances mysticism and academia well (it shows she has a degree in religion and philosophy, but this isn't a dry textbook by any means), giving credit and citations where they're due. This is more than just another Witchcraft 101 book -- there are exercises her you won't find anywhere else, and her emphasis on self-knowledge gives the book a different slant than other texts. Evolutionary Witchcraft is a great book for folks looking to deepen their magical and spiritual practice, especially for those looking for something outside the standard Wiccan texts. It's not for folks who don't want to look into the Abyss of the self and find something looking back, though, or for those unwilling to include sexuality (solo or partnered) in their practice. If you read and like this, I highly recommend her second book, Kissing the Limitless.
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Shadowflame
by
Dianne Sylvan
Ealasaid
, November 08, 2011
I enjoyed the first Shadow World book, and was excited about reading the followup -- especially when I heard there was some serious controversy about some of the events in it. Let me preface my review by saying that if you believe once a couple forms a mystic bond they should always be happily-ever-after, do NOT read this book. David Solomon makes a serious, major mistake in this book, and nearly destroys his still-new relationship with Miranda -- and of course he manages to do it while there's all kinds of major crap going on. Vampire politics and a killer with a grudge against Miranda, plus the early ripples of Miranda's adjustment to being a vampire all come together to make for a major shitstorm. I usually don't like books that include the sort of mistake David makes, but Sylvan handles the lead-up to it so deftly that it not only felt inevitable, it was understandable. I actually felt incredibly sorry for David that he was put in an impossible situation. I'm trying to discuss it without giving spoilers, so if my review seems really cryptic, that's why. Long story short: if you liked the first book and are willing to shelve your urban fantasy expectations, do not miss this book. If, however, you have expectations for how Miranda and David's relationship should work, stay the hell away.
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It Sucked and Then I Cried: How I Had a Baby, a Breakdown, and a Much Needed Margarita
by
Heather Armstrong
Ealasaid
, January 19, 2011
Babies and childbirth are not exactly my favorite topics (I'm adamantly childfree), but I couldn't resist the title. I've read some of Armstrong's blog entries and knew I loved her writing, but I never expected to be howling with laughter while reading before bed. This book is laugh-out-loud funny, in the Mel Brooks sense ("tragedy is when I cut my finger, comedy is when you fall down a manhole and die."). Her self-deprecating series of horror stories just about made my fallopian tubes tie themselves while I was cracking up, but a friend of mine who's trying to get pregnant read it too, and loved it just as much without being put off her quest to have a kid. She read it more as a "now you know what to expect, so brace yourself!" cautionary tale, I think.
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White Jenna Book Two of the Great Alta Saga
by
Jane Yolen
Ealasaid
, December 17, 2009
I tore through "Sister Light, Sister Dark" and "White Jenna" and loved them both. They're a blend of pseudo-history, myth, legend, song, and story. I enjoyed it all, especially the story, which is a beautiful and exciting tale of heroism, and the academic infighting in the all-too-short history sections. Jenna is a wonderful heroine, a child of prophecy but also a real person who, as she puts it, makes wind when there are beans in the soup. Indeed, the brief but potent philosophical discussions around her status as a divine avatar are some of the best bits in the book. I highly recommend "White Jenna" but only after reading "Sister Light, Sister Dark."
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Mossad Exodus: The Daring Undercover Rescue of the Lost Jewish Tribe
by
Gad Shimron
Ealasaid
, February 28, 2008
This is one heck of a story. It's a first person account of the rescue of refugee Ethiopian Jews by Mossad, Israel's secret service. I had no idea there even were Ethiopian Jews! Shimron was one of the major players in the operation and tells a good story. It's a bit stiffly written, though that may be because it was written in Hebrew and translated -- and anyway, I didn't mind. I was too busy enjoying this real-life spy story. Good stuff!
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Millionaire Next Door The Surprising Secrets of Americas Wealthy
by
Thomas J Stanley
Ealasaid
, December 03, 2007
This is a fascinating, if slightly outdated (it was written in the mid 90s), look at millionaires in the US: what makes them tick, how did they get so rich, how do they pass on (or fail to pass on) their values to their children. The authors learned a lot while researching this book and they pass it on without much in the way of judgment. The section on passing millionaire-making values on to kids was really interesting. Many millionaires have children who can't live within their means, and it's fascinating to look at how that happens. The one thing that kind of does stick out is the unspoken bias against going to college -- accumulating debt when you can't pay it off quickly is not a sign of a millionaire in the making, according to them. I think this may be a product of the times. I hope the authors do an updated version -- I strongly suspect that becoming a millionaire without at least a bachelor's degree is very difficult in the modern age.
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Gift of Fear Survival Signals that Protect Us From Violence
by
Gavin De Becker
Ealasaid
, June 18, 2007
I picked this book up because Sars of TomatoNation.com keeps recommending it, and I am now going to recommend it to everyone I can. It's hands-down the best book I've read on intuition and how society trains us to ignore it, and it offers a lot of very practical advice that you can use. He writes about the difference between needless fear and justified fear, and how to tell which one you're feeling. He writes about the cases he's handled as a security consultant. This really is a cross between a self-help book and a psychological thriller, and it succeeds on both fronts. I know I'll be listening to my intuition a lot more -- and knowing when it's sending me signals based on solid information and when it's reacting to the fearmongering so prevalent in our society. Good stuff.
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Summer Knight: Dresden Files 4
by
Jim Butcher
Ealasaid
, June 07, 2007
I really dig the version of Faery in Butcher's books. The fey cannot tell a lie, for example, but don't have to tell you the truth, either, which makes them very interesting characters. This book follows Dresden's efforts to figure out who killed the Summer Knight, the human champion of the Summer court of Faery, and why. He's under pressure from the Winter Court (whose queen stands suspected of the murder) to solve it, and from the White Council of Wizards to broker a deal with the Winter Queen -- they need her as an ally in the brewing war between wizards and vampires. This is a politics-heavy book, but Butcher balances the politics with humanity very well. Dresden is a good guy who has done some bad things in his time, and he has to come to terms with them. Good stuff. I'm taking a little break from the Dresden Files next - I'm halfway through the series now and don't want to rush through 'em only to find myself whining about how long Butcher is taking writing new ones.
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Grave Peril: Dresden Files 3
by
Jim Butcher
Ealasaid
, June 07, 2007
Harry Dresden has a knack for facing up against baddies who are way out of his league. He's a powerful wizard, sure, but he's only one guy and there are significant limitations to the magic he can do when under attack. In Grave Peril, Harry is up against very, very powerful undead forces - ghosts, vampires, you name it. He has to survive repeated attacks while figuring out what is going on, and those two goals keep him very busy. Butcher uses some cliched techniques for keeping us interested - dropping statements at the ends of chapters so we'll keep reading, that sort of thing. But they're cliched techniques because they work. I whipped through this (like the other books in the series) and had a lot of fun. Dresden is a great character, and I am looking forward to the rest of the series.
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Fool Moon: Dresden Files 2
by
Jim Butcher
Ealasaid
, June 07, 2007
Book Two of the Dresden Files doesn't disappoint after the promising start in Storm Front. This time, Harry is up against werewolves. And not just any sort of werewolves, either: this one is a particularly nasty, powerful sort that makes the regular sort look like cute puppies. Add cranky Chicago Police and local mob boss Johnny Marcone to the mix, and our hero has quite a headache. Butcher never lets Harry off easy, and it makes for yet another page-turner in the series. Two thumbs up from me.
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(15 of 29 readers found this comment helpful)
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Storm Front: Dresden Files 1
by
Jim Butcher
Ealasaid
, June 07, 2007
This is a surprisingly good debut novel. It's a real page-turner, and lays down the exposition and introductions without being too heavyhanded doing so. Harry Dresden, wizard, is more Sam Spade than Gandalf. He's chiefly a gumshoe who happens to have magical powers. When the Chicago Police come to him to help with a strange case, Harry finds himself facing down both an incredibly powerful magician and the incredibly powerful mob boss in town. It's a cross between hardboiled detective fiction and classic high-magic fantasy that works surprisingly well. Butcher has a great authorial tone and has created a terrific reluctant hero in Harry.
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Dead Beat: Dresden Files 7
by
Jim Butcher
Ealasaid
, April 24, 2007
I failed to make sure I had gotten the first book in the series before I picked "Dead Beat" up off my to-read shelf and headed for an all-day workshop. It turned out okay, though, because Butcher wrote this well enough that a newbie can do pretty well just going with the flow. I really enjoyed it a lot. The basic premise of the book is that magic is real, and the hero (Harry Dresden) is a wizard. Big staff, air elemental servitor, the works. But it's narrated in first-person, and has a very noir feel to it. Harry's a gumshoe who just happens to be a wizard too, and it works a lot better than you might think. The plot is a bit video-game-ish: six disciples of a long-dead Evil Sorcerer are in Chicago looking for their late master's last book so they can do a big nasty ritual that will turn one of them into a god. Harry and the rest of the good guys have to stop them. That's standard fantasy stuff, but Butcher has an awesome sense of humor and pulls you through the plot by your lapels with lots of action. One of the best scenes in the book involves a zombie T-Rex rampaging around. It was a blast! I really dug "Dead Beat" and am looking forward to reading the stories leading up to it.
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(3 of 7 readers found this comment helpful)
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