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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
Melwyk has commented on (22) products
Dream Life Of Sukhanov
by
Olga Grushin
Melwyk
, January 05, 2010
A beautiful first novel, this has dazzling shades of Nabokov and Bulgakov. Telling the tale of a Russian art critic who has shaped his whole life around the demands of The Party, the style of the narrative follows Sukhanov's mental state. As Russia opens up and Perestroika begins to change their society, Sukhanov begins to question the purpose of his self-sacrifice, and to wonder whether stifling his artistic convictions was worth it after all.
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Faust in Copenhagen: A Struggle for the Soul of Physics
by
Gino Segre
Melwyk
, June 11, 2009
This was the best science book I've read in a long time. Extremely well written, full of the drama and excitement of the birth of quantum physics, and told in a gossipy tone which makes you feel like you're getting to know all the strange quirks of the scientists involved. I've been recommending it to everyone I know -- you will laugh and be entertained while learning about the history of physics. (And you'll come away with lots of oddd facts to use for dinner party conversation)
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Force of Nature The Frontier Genius of Ernest Rutherford
by
Reeves, Richard
Melwyk
, June 11, 2009
This was an entertaining and well written biography of the great experimental physicist, Rutherford. The science was clear, not dumbed down but still comprehensible to a non-scientist like me. Full of fascinating tidbits about the great figures of early 20th century scientists (Einstein, Bohr and so on.)Illuminating and fun reading!
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A Covenant of Salt
by
Martine Desjardins
Melwyk
, March 28, 2009
Desjardins' gothic imagination is in full flight here, as in her first novel, featuring mummified bodies, clandestine births, jealous violence, musty old houses, and family secrets. The major symbol of the book is salt itself, its many properties elucidated by our main character, Lily, or by others such as the local Bishop, who introduces Lily to the delights of salt-sniffing. Salt's preservative and seasoning abilities are important, but so is its blighting effect on growth. Lily's focus on her past, her looking back, has biblical overtones; she is like Lot's wife who for looking back at Sodom and Gomorrah was turned into a pillar of salt. Desjardins has made a habit of writing brief novel about varied elements; crystal and ice, then gold, and now salt. I can only wait to discover what she will fasten upon for her next book.
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All That Glitters
by
Martine Desjardins
Melwyk
, March 28, 2009
This is a short novel, set in Flanders during WWII. It gives a nod to the codes and mysteries of books like The Da Vinci Code, but is told in a surreal manner. One of the characters, a nurse named Nell, is an expert at suturing wounds; she embroiders images on to her patients' skin. It makes sense to use this time period for this story, and Desjardins paints a clear picture of opportunists at war. The writing style is brief and unsentimental, which adds to the feeling of dissociation from society that all the participants seem to feel. The combination of war, secrets and codes, hidden treasures, and the strangeness of embroidered skin are woven together to make a fascinating reading experience.
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Fairy Ring
by
Martine Desjardins
Melwyk
, March 28, 2009
I was stunned by this book! I'd never heard of the author when I picked it up to give it a try, but I could not put it down again. This is not a book for the faint-hearted. Psychological and sexual abuse, graverobbing, cannibalism, sadomasochism, insanity, hinted-at-murder; all find a place here. Yet somehow it is also extremely erudite and compelling. It feels like a modern Poe, his suggested horrors taken one step further and viewed through a feminist eye. This was a challenging but rewarding read, an outgrowth of a unique sensibility.
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Smuggling Donkeys
by
David Helwig
Melwyk
, March 28, 2009
Despite the surface appearance -- a book about an old guy dumped by his wife, flirting with a young & attractive former student, selling off his stuff to live a young man's unencumbered life? Doesn't sound very appealing, does it -- despite this, this short novel is a great read. With David Helwig I felt I was in good hands; he knows what he is doing. He controls the language of his character without faltering, turning out a masterful monologue. His insights are sharp, characterization exact, and he is also very funny. I enjoyed this book, and as always from Porcupine's Quill Press, it is beautifully produced with quality paper, attractive font and a proper sewn binding (these things are appreciated).
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Doctor Glas
by
Hjalmar Soderberg
Melwyk
, March 28, 2009
One of my favourites, it is hard to believe this stunning book was written over a hundred years ago. It's written in journal format, and describes the moral question Doctor Glas struggles with as he is tempted toward murder. It's fresh in style and in subject, and I think it would be perfect for book club discussions; despite its brevity it is packed full of controversial subject matter.
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The Hatbox Letters
by
Beth Powning
Melwyk
, March 28, 2009
This is a beautifully written novel, about a widow's grief after her husband dies unexpectedly. Kate is distracted from her grief by hatboxes from her grandparents' attic, full of old family photos and letters. The book interweaves the stories of her grandparents and Kate's own life, and the author has an exquisite ability to describe the natural world and make you feel as if you're living in the New Brunswick countryside alongside Kate. A meditative novel, I'd recommend it to anyone fond of thoughtful writing.
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Birth of a Bookworm
by
Michel Tremblay
Melwyk
, March 28, 2009
This was a wonderful read, told in the casual, slangy voice of this admired Quebecois writer. It traces Tremblay's creative development as a reader and a writer from his childhood onward, by tracing the effect of a specific book in each chapter. Books did not only influence his creative life, they reflected his love life as a young gay teen as well. It's very funny, and a delight for a fellow book lover to read.
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Where Our Food Comes from Retracing Nikolay Vavilovs Quest to End Famine
by
Gary Paul Nabhan
Melwyk
, March 28, 2009
I was interested in this book for two reasons, both for its theme of agricultural biodiversity and for the part that Russian scientist Nikolay Vavilov plays in this story. It was a wide-ranging story of Nabhan's decision to follow in Vavilov's footsteps and travel around the world looking at agricultural biodiversity. It is extremely readable: fascinating locales, heartbreaking biography and political machinations, and some beautiful photos. Reading it provides so much compelling scientific evidence of the ever increasing importance of being aware of just where our food comes from. I enjoyed it, and think that anyone interested in food issues would be equally enthralled.
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Love Mercy
by
Earlene Fowler
Melwyk
, March 28, 2009
This is a gentle story which fans of inspirational fiction may like. The main character is named after a bible verse and faith is a big part of the storyline. As in Fowler's other books, the landscape of coastal California is lovingly brought to life. Fans of Fowler's Benni Harper series will enjoy the cameos by characters from those books as well. This was a moving story of women's relationships, both of family and of friendship.
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Las Orchestra Saves the World
by
Alexander McCall Smith, Alexander McCall Smith
Melwyk
, March 28, 2009
This is a standalone novel by the prolific McCall Smith, best known for his No.1 Ladies Detective Agency novels. It takes place in England during WWII. La (short for Lavender) lives in a small house in Suffolk, where she has moved after first having been abandoned by her philandering husband and then widowed. The novel follows her as she gets to know her fellow villagers, volunteers for some war work caring for chickens on a neighbouring farm, starts up an amateur orchestra made up of locals and soldiers from the nearby air base, and forms a closer acquaintance of one of these soldiers. McCall Smith can always populate a novel with a wide and varied cast of characters. The addition of the air base injected another element into the book, adding to its breadth. Overall, I thought this was a good wartime book, told in McCall Smith's inimitable calm and thoughtful style.
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Will Storr Vs. the Supernatural: One Man's Search for the Truth about Ghosts
by
Will Storr
Melwyk
, August 21, 2008
Will Storr writes an expose of his search for "Truth" about the supernatural. He is a sceptic but open to learning whether there is something more... he is also an entertaining writer who can be very funny at the same time that he is scared stiff. He approaches many people in many different areas of psychic research, discussing their varied approaches to the world of the dead. It's a fascinating read; just don't read it alone in bed!
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Laughter Of Dead Kings
by
Elizabeth Peters
Melwyk
, August 21, 2008
The latest in the Vicky Bliss series, this was an engaging, entertaining read which measures up to the expectations one has of Elizabeth Peters. In this book Vicky and her entourage head to Egypt to deal with the theft of a very famous antiquity. Being in Egypt allows for Elizabeth Peters' strengths to shine through, and for a connection to be made between the Vicky Bliss books and my favourites, the Amelia Peabody series. This is well worth a read, and a reread!
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Thursday Next First Among Sequels
by
Jasper Fforde
Melwyk
, August 21, 2008
Another hilarious addition to the Thursday Next series, this story takes on time travel, family dynamics, ghosts, intertextual travelling into the classics, and questions of self-identity. It is densely plotted, quick moving and very funny. If you've ever wondered what the Bennetts do when Pride & Prejudice is not being read, wonder no more. Pick this up and find out!
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Miss Leavitts Stars The Untold Story of the Forgotten Woman Who Discovered How to Measure the Universe
by
George Johnson
Melwyk
, June 08, 2008
This brief biography is an excellent look at a woman who was held back by society, but was still able to make great strides in astronomy. The author makes it clear that there was not much biographical information to work with, but is able to present what there is in a manner which realistically places Leavitt's work in context. Much of the book deals with Leavitt's intellectual life; the work which absorbed her and the role her discoveries played in future developments in astronomy. Her realization that stars could be measured by their luminosity (this is explained much more clearly and lucidly by Johnson!) affected the research and the conclusions that the "real", or male, scientists were able to reach. A fascinating book about Leavitt and about her social and intellectual context.
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Changing Light
by
Nora Gallagher
Melwyk
, May 21, 2008
This is a beautiful novel, one I came to without any preconceptions, because to be honest I'd never heard of it. It's the story of a woman painter who gets caught up in events at Los Alamos during the development of the Bomb, and how along with her friend (a local priest) and a man who stumbles into her home (a scientist on the run) she discovers that they are all "changing light" in their own ways. Gorgeous reading.
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Veganomicon
by
Isa Chandra Moskowitz
Melwyk
, May 21, 2008
I love this book! Although some may be put off by the very few pictures in this volume, if you're a real cook you will appreciate the amazing variety and sheer number of recipes included in this valuable reference guide to vegan cooking. Need to know how to make a basic vegan gravy? It's here. Need to wow someone with a fabulous dessert? That's here too. The authors have put in their time in the vegan world, and it shows. The recipes are original and reliable, and if you like this one, definitely try Isa's other cookbooks. They are always fun - the attitude is refreshing and the recipes WORK.
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(19 of 29 readers found this comment helpful)
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Overcoming Underearning A Five Step Plan to a Richer Life
by
Barbara Stanny
Melwyk
, May 21, 2008
This is actually a very useful book. I read few 'self help' or financial books, but this one was recommended to me. It deals with why women have a hard time earning what they should be - for many reasons, such as societal restraints, conditioning, or lack of knowledge. It has exercises to assist in overcoming the mental blocks to earning more money, and I found it well put together and logical, as well as inspiring.
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(2 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
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From Three Worlds: New Writing from Ukraine
by
Ed Hogan
Melwyk
, May 21, 2008
Fantastic collection! If you're at all interested in Ukrainian literature, this is a must-read. The variety of prose, poetry and photography included represent many different styles, so you can get a taste of many of the new movements in the artistic life of independent Ukraine. Especially notable is the poetry of Oksana Zabuzhko and Yevhen Pashkovsky's story "Five Loaves and Two Fishes". Recommended!
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Plenty One Man One Woman & a Raucous Year of Eating Locally
by
Alisa Smith
Melwyk
, May 21, 2008
This was an entertaining read (though at times a bit too personal for me!). The attempt this couple made to eat within a 100-mile radius was, though not practical for many, an inspiration to begin thinking about just where your food does come from. It was one of the first books I read in this area, and I loved it. It was thought-provoking and provided ideas about how to actually do similar things. It made me remember some of the foods my Mom grew and harvested when I was young, foods I'd forgotten. Wonderful stuff.
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(20 of 32 readers found this comment helpful)
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