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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
odijooonpurpose has commented on (18) products
The Warmth Of Other Suns: The Epic Story Of America's Great Migration
by
Isabel Wilkerson
odijooonpurpose
, September 02, 2012
One of the best/most important books I read all year. This one changed the framing of black-white relations in the American 'not-south' so that I better understand many of the dynamics that were previously opaque to me. Isabel Wilkerson did a FINE (as in really good, not just passable) job in bringing her lead personalities to life, letting history speak for itself. Brava!
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Sparks of Divinity The Teachings of B K S Iyengar from 1959 to 1975
by
B K S Iyengar, Georgia LeConte, Philippe LeConte
odijooonpurpose
, May 19, 2012
Finally, a long out-of-print classic. Short 'sparks' from BKS Iyengar compiled by his student Noëlle Perez-Christiaens, give a window into Mr. Iyengar's being & practice. Rodmell press has created a lovely book, nice to hold, complete with very useful index & glossary. "In yoga, three very important things have always to be united in everything: love, knowledge, and action." -4.14
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Meditations from the Mat Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga
by
Rolf Gates
odijooonpurpose
, May 19, 2012
I love this book -- one day at a time, exploring themes that START on the mat, & very quickly expand outward to include your whole life. YUM. "Hint: The cage is not locked." - Nova Knutson
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A People's History of the United States: 1492-Present
by
Howard Zinn
odijooonpurpose
, April 12, 2012
everyone who lives in the US should read this one!!
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(4 of 7 readers found this comment helpful)
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Unfamiliar Fishes
by
Sarah Vowell
odijooonpurpose
, March 27, 2012
A-plus -- this was great to read on my first trip to the islands. I was already very aware of being on someone else's land, this book brought home some of the history, and made it come alive. Vowell's dry humor comes through bringing some dark days in American history forth for us to hold together. Pick this one up, read it, savor it!
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The Warmth Of Other Suns: The Epic Story Of America's Great Migration
by
Isabel Wilkerson
odijooonpurpose
, March 27, 2012
This book is an important one. It reframed race relations in the US-not south for me in a way that I very much appreciate. This was powerful & is on my list of books I'm recommending to everyone! You must read it!!
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Sparrow
by
Mary Doria Russell
odijooonpurpose
, October 03, 2011
I'm not so much on sci-fi, but this book held me through the strength of the characters, I was compelled to read on. This book tackles some pretty heavy topics, even on the other side of the solar system. I loved the characters, though I will say I found the aliens a bit flat. The majority of the book takes place in the interrelationships with the main explorers. Brought up lots of good fodder for examination of who we are as a human collective.
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Miracle Fair Selected Poems of Wislawa Szymborska
by
Wislawa Szymborska
odijooonpurpose
, October 03, 2011
wow! -- I hadn't read her poetry before. In this collection Szymborska skips lightly from swooney falling in love poems to the brutality of war, the worst of what humans can do to other humans, and then back to the absurd all without leaving the impression of trivializing any of it. Everything is part of being human, no more, no less. I was left with a feeling of wholeness. She embraced ALL of humanity & in the process, all of us. Really a fantastic read, well worth reading cover to cover!
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How Yoga Works Healing Yourself & Others
by
Geshe Michael Roach
odijooonpurpose
, July 29, 2011
I liked the book even though the premise was a bit contrived, & occasionally irritating. STILL, the background story made the meting out of messages palatable & I looked forward to what would happen next to Bukusu & the Captain. I found some of the 'messages' were great reminders to me @ just the right time in my life. Paying attention to where I am committing my attention seems a message never out of place. Pick it up -- it's a light read, & might make you smile with delight of recognizing yourself once or twice.
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Orange Is the New Black My Year in a Womens Prison
by
Piper Kerman
odijooonpurpose
, June 05, 2011
Great memoir looking at humanity. Humanizes the experience of prison & turns prisoners into real people. Ms. Kerman's experiences point to many of the issues within our prison system (why do we lock up so many nonviolent drug offenders, for example) without beating you on the head with it. I found myself engrossed, & eager for her release.
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My Own Country A Doctors Story
by
Abraham Verghese
odijooonpurpose
, January 24, 2011
Abraham Verghese is one of my new favorite authors. As in /Cutting for Stone/, Verghese's compelling use of language pulls the reader IN to the heart of the story. I grew to love Verghese, in particular, his ongoing self-examination. He spots prejudice both in others and in himself, and is not afraid to look it in the face. He wrestles openly with difficult questions of balancing a passion and love for his patients with his family life which seems remote and isolated from his work. He is able to draw the reader in to the lives and deaths of each of his patients. I was drawn along, expectant, hungry, and then sad to see each vibrant personality fade as they reached their final destination. Stigma, bravery, defeat, bravado, shame, all make their appearances in this skillfully composed work.
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If Beale Street Could Talk
by
James Baldwin
odijooonpurpose
, January 16, 2011
Baldwin does it again, as he always does -- excellent writing drew me into a portrait of the american dream that many of us would rather look away from. What happens when you are presumed guilty before innocent? I was carried forward & grew to love even the sisters. Aside from being beautifully written, this book is a page turner as we explore injustice in our modern society.
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Magicians
by
Lev Grossman
odijooonpurpose
, January 16, 2011
Yes, Harry Potter (how can you not make the comparison when there are teenagers & a magic school?), meets Narnia, meets Alice in Wonderland. A delightfully modern tale that lifted me out of my otherwise all too REAL reading of late into something light and other. I love the twists, and the recognition of the modern age all around. Let this one carry you away from reality for a bit!
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(4 of 8 readers found this comment helpful)
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Cutting for Stone
by
Abraham Verghese
odijooonpurpose
, January 02, 2011
The story opens with a nun from Madras giving birth to twins in Adis Ababa, Ethiopia & it just keeps going. A compelling read with believable details, cross cultural themes and characters worth falling in love with. I’ll be looking up others from this author!
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Personal History of Rachel DuPree
by
Ann Weisgarber
odijooonpurpose
, December 17, 2010
wow! this was great. I read this while driving through the badlands of south dakota, imagining the isolation of a young black couple homesteading on such a moonscape. Ann Weisgarber deals artfully with the racial tensions of the time, as well creating a compellingly human narrative. I fell in love with Rachel Dupree, and wanted to follow her to whatever came next.
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For the Benefit of All Beings A Commentary on the Way of the Bodhisattva
by
Dalai Lama
odijooonpurpose
, December 17, 2010
This commentary on a classic by Shantideva by one of our great spiritual minds, gave me many moments to pause and look at how something written hundred's of years ago, still has relevance in my life. I found myself loving some passages & HATING some (those passages had lessons for me!). I've grown from reading this -- I loved reading this next to Pema Chodron's (more formidable in size) commentary on the same text (called _No time to Loose_ I think. Both are different and both inspiring. Read 'em side by side!?
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Midnights Children
by
Salman Rushdie
odijooonpurpose
, December 17, 2010
This still, after YEARS rates as one of the most compelling & most artfully written books I've read. I love the way reality shifts on a dime, and what could be a mundane plot takes unexpected twists & turns. Rushdie's use of imagery and metaphor is unparalleled.
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Golden States of Grace
by
Rick Nahmias
odijooonpurpose
, December 17, 2010
I love the images, and the text makes them all the more rich. This book hangs together well, has some stunning images, and lifts up the humanity of folks in a wide array of communities way outside the mainstream. As a collection, a portrait of the disinherited. I love the folks in it.
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