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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
Curtis Martin has commented on (14) products
Boyfriends, Burritos and an Ocean of Trouble
by
Nancy N. Rue
Curtis Martin
, February 27, 2013
Nancy Rue sure knows how to put real faith in her Real Life books. I may not fit in her usual readership, being a middle-aged Dad with a college-aged daughter that I love. It was just as good for me. I have also been the target of extreme anger and bullying, even as an adult, so I know how traumatic it can be. The Bible speaks to me just like RL did for Bryn. I pray that you will let it speak to you as we'll.
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Book Whisperer Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child
by
Miller, Donalyn
Curtis Martin
, January 03, 2013
This was my hands-down favorite non-fiction read for 2012. I can't think of any other book that deserves the title more than The Book Whisperer. All of us bookworms have to awaken the book whisperer within to spread the love of reading all over the planet. Ths was more than a good read. It inspired me to act. The best kind of book. It inspired me to collect a couple hundred chapter books to donate to an reservation school in the boondocks of Arizona.
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Mockingbird. Kathryn Erskine
by
Kathryn Erskine
Curtis Martin
, January 03, 2013
Here is another favorite for 2012. I read it in September (see my earlier comments) and thought it was the best. It's still up there as a great book, maybe best YA book for 2012.
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Reluctant Prophet
by
Nancy Rue
Curtis Martin
, January 03, 2013
It is really hard to choose juse *one* favorite book for 2012. This has got to be way up there in the top three for me. I liked the way that Nancy Rue developed her characters. It was interesting to see how each character tried to live their faith. Not everyone can be a prophet, but we can all make a contribution. This was a great book, and I have been recommending it to all my friends and book clubs that I know.
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1Q84
by
Haruki Murakami, Jay Rubin, Philip Gabriel
Curtis Martin
, January 03, 2013
I liked this book so much I read it twice. A friend of mine said it was too slow moving, but I really liked the pace and the surreal digressions. Haruki Murakami is one of my favorite authors.
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Motorcycles, Sushi and One Strange Book
by
Nancy N. Rue
Curtis Martin
, December 10, 2012
I loved the characters in this book and could really relate to Jess's ADHD issues. Nancy Rue has done it again! This is my third book by this author and I loved every one of them. This is the first of the Real Life series. It's a realistic look at how faith develops in the midst of the challenges that life throws our way. I especially liked the Strange Book and how that fit into the story. I'm looking forward to reading more of Nancy Rue's work.
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Strengths Based Leadership Great Leaders Teams & Why People Follow with Access Code
by
Tom Rath, Barry Conchie
Curtis Martin
, September 28, 2012
I’m very excited by Strengths-Based Leadership by Tom Rath. It is based on research done by the Gallup organization. They have interviewed 2 million business leaders & managers over the last 20 years. (Hard to believe!) They discovered that the most successful leaders and managers focus on building strengths rather than addressing weaknesses. Here’s an interesting quote on employee engagement: "In the workplace, when an organization's leadership fails to focus on individuals' strengths, the odds of an employee being engaged are a dismal 1 in 11 (9%). But when an organization's leadership focuses on the strengths of its employees, the odds soar to almost 3 in 4 (73%). So that means when leaders focus on and invest in their employees' strengths, the odds of each person being engaged goes up eightfold." Those are amazing results! This approach really resonates with me because of an experience I had as a young person in sales. I hated sales because most team leaders were obsessed with challenging our weaknesses. It was hell! And my weaknesses probably got worse. But I had one team leader who was exceptionally different from all the rest. He quietly figured out what sales area each team member was good at and put us in those areas. He took the most demoralized and worst performing team in the north-east region and boosted us to number four in the country in less than six months with this strategy. It was a truly unforgettable experience. When I was on his team I actually began to enjoy selling and to look forward to each day. I have try to emulate this team leader whenever I find myself in a leadership position. This is a lot harder to do than you might think. Reading these books has kindled in me a new enthusiasm to refocus my efforts on my team's strengths.
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Mockingbird. Kathryn Erskine
by
Kathryn Erskine
Curtis Martin
, September 26, 2012
I loved this book! I nominate it for the best book I have read in 2012. It has just the right balance between bittersweet and funny. Caitlin is so funny in her straight-forward comments to adults. She says what all of us were already thinking anyway. For a fifth grader she tries really hard to Get It and in the process she teaches all of us valuable lessons. I loved it so mucht that I'm sure that I'll be re-reading it again soon.
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Blackbirds Miriam Black Book 1
by
Chuck Wendig
Curtis Martin
, July 06, 2012
It's weird. I'm the kind of guy who likes family dramas and movies with happy endings. I would never go to a horror movie to save my life. But for some reason, I am intrigued by really dark stories in books. This is an uber-dark story. It's really creepy with gory violence and spooky dreams. I won't give anything away, but I liked the book. I can't wait for book two in the Miriam Black series: Mockingbirds. Really, I couldn't wait. So I'm reading another Chuck Wendig book, Double Dead.
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One Thousand White Women The Journals of May Dodd
by
Jim Fergus
Curtis Martin
, July 06, 2012
I was intrigued by the true event that sparked the idea behind this story. An Indian Chief thought that a marital exchange would help bridge the gap between the Native-American and White cultures. The exchange never happened, but it is still a good idea. Inter-racial, international, inter-religous or intercultural exchange marriages could go a long way toward bringing peace in the world. (I'm speaking from my personal experience in a mixed race and international family.) What I thought was interesting was the way the white women were assimilated into the tribal culture of their husbands. The husbands also were forced to grow and change their ways to accomodate their new, white wives. I've read a couple of other Jim Fergus books, but this is my favorite.
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(4 of 6 readers found this comment helpful)
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Blue Girl
by
Charles De Lint
Curtis Martin
, June 10, 2012
This was an pretty good story. Why else would I give it 5 stars? I liked the main character, spunky Imogene. Usually, an author will focus all the character development in the one protagonist. de Lint does a good job of developing several characters in very believable ways. There's Imogene, of course. But then there's Maxine, the Ghost, and even Maxine's mom. I guess it's too much to hope that any of the bullies might actually develop into real people. There's lots of mysterious things going on in the story. There's bullies, a long forgotten imaginary friend, a ghost, little people (we're not supposed to call them fairies) and some very creepy things in the shadows. Once you get started on this you probably won't be able to put it down. Thank God there are no *vampires*.
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Planet of the Apes
by
Pierre Boulle
Curtis Martin
, March 23, 2012
With all of the new Planet of the Apes movies coming out, I can't believe that movie-tie-in versions of this book haven't been printed. I read this back when the very first Planet of the Apes movie came out with Charlton Heston. It was a great read with a killer suprise ending. The movie also had a surprise ending, but not the same as the book. No, you won't convince me to spill the beans. You'll have to read this one yourself. I've read it a couple more times over the years and it stands the test of time.
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The Running Dream
by
Wendelin Van Draanen
Curtis Martin
, March 21, 2012
I was attracted to this book because I'm a runner, and I also dream about running. I really liked the author's realistic treatment of Jessica's transition through the emotional stages of her recovery. The author must have done lots of research into the whole issue of rehabilitation from an amputation. I liked how Jessica's perspective was gently expanded by her interactions with other disabled characters during the course of the story. Eventually she comes to understand that it's not all about her, and pushes herself to help fulfill someone else's running dream. A wonderful story.
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Summer Without Men
by
Siri Hustvedt
Curtis Martin
, October 04, 2011
Thanks for introducing me to a new author. I will certainly have to check her out. :-)
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