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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
Michele Jacobsen has commented on (4) products
Worthy Brown's Daughter
by
Margolin, Phillip
Michele Jacobsen
, February 26, 2014
First of all, I must state that this is the first Margolin novel I have read, so I didn't come into this with any preconceived notions of what to expect (although I understand he is a very popular author). That said, I was pleasantly surprised with what I found: a fast-paced, well-plotted historical novel rooted in an actual legal case that took place in Oregon in the mid-1800s. When a white man relocated to Oregon from the South with his slaves he promised to free them once he got settled in Oregon (where slavery wasn't legal, which isn't to say that black people were welcome in Oregon...quite the opposite in fact). He only freed part of the slave family, keeping one for himself and this is the crux of the legal case that ensues and the novel. Margolin does a fantastic job keeping the narrative moving along quickly and yet still creating fully developed characters. At no point does the novel get bogged down in legalese or lengthy descriptions as one might expect. Instead, Margolin expertly weaves the legal case and history with the action of the novel and as a result, I was consistently interested throughout and never once found myself bored or my attention wandering. Overall, I'd recommend the novel for any American history buff....especially anyone who enjoys the American West. Although this is historical fiction, the case it is based upon makes it a fascinating read.
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The Light Between Oceans
by
ML Stedman
Michele Jacobsen
, September 18, 2013
Someone could have warned me this was a tear-jerker in the end. Sheesh. Okay, so here's the deal. The first half is rather predictable so I don't consider the following synopsis a spoiler: childless couple working/ living on a lighthouse island off the coast of Australia in the years following World War I come across a boat washed up on shore containing one dead man and one live baby. What to do? Of course they raise the baby. And of course a few years down the road you can see where this is going when, on one of their rare trips to the mainland, the mother turns up. And this is where the story really begins. We've got a ton of moral quandaries here. Not only the right and wrong of it all, but what is best for the child. Not to mention the trouble stirred up between husband and wife when they disagree about the best course of action. And I've already warned you it's a bit of a tear-jerker, haven't I? Well, there you go. I give it 4 stars only because it took a good 150 pages for the story to really get going. Glad I hung in there, but jeepers, it shouldn't take that long.
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Kingmaking Book One of the Pendragons Banner Trilogy
by
Helen Hollick
Michele Jacobsen
, March 03, 2009
The Kingmaking is Book One of The Pendragon's Banner Trilogy, by Helen Hollick, re-released by Sourcebooks on March 1. An epic undertaking, The Kingmaking is the tale of the mythical King Arthur and his queen Gwynefar, stripped of wizards, magic swords, and mythical ladies rising from lakes. It is the tale of Arthur as he may have been. Many talented writers have spun the tale of Arthur and his knights of the Round Table (Mary Stewart notably comes to mind here), but it took author Helen Hollick to strip away the trappings of myth and magic and write what possibly might be the most compelling account of all. Little is known of England during that murky time period between the abandonment of Rome and the invasion of the Normans in 1066. Hollick takes advantage of this and drawing from what little is known about the Angle, Jute and Saxon warlords that vied for control of England, she paints a vivid portrait of a divided land populated by a widely diverse population caught between their pagan past and the introduction of Christianity . Here we are presented with an Arthur who is a product of these dark times, a complex man who is, in turn, both a brilliant strategist with touching compassion for his people and a Hollick acknowledges the guidance of renowned historical fiction author Sharon Kay Penman in her forward - indeed the book is dedicated to her - and the influence shows. A comprehensive afterword to the novel reveals her meticulous attention to historical detail and provides a most satisfying end to this first novel of the trilogy. But perhaps her most impressive strength as an author lies in her development of character, specifically the Pendragon himself. If you are looking for a saint-like Arthur, hoodwinked by his golden Guinivere (Gwynafar), you won't find that here. Arthur is a red-blooded man of his times who takes women at his pleasure, lies and cheats as necessary to take what he feels rightfully belongs to him, yet still manages to remain - by and large - a sympathetic character you will cheer for. Fans of Sharon Kay Penman will appreciate Hollick's complex character development, plot pacing, and attention to historical details while any afficianado of Athurian legend should appreciate this original vision of the myth. This is first-rate writing, indeed. Historical fiction lovers, meet Helen Hollick. Enjoy!
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Dumbocracy: Adventures with the Loony Left, the Rabid Right, and Other American Idiots
by
Marty Beckerman
Michele Jacobsen
, October 15, 2008
For those of you who are tired of the endless empty campaign promises, finger-pointing, and soapbox platforms, author Marty Beckerman has provided some much-needed comic relief in the form of Dumbocracy: Adventures with the Loony Left, the Rabid Right, and Other American Idiots. It has ever been my contention that if we picked ten random Republicans and ten random Democrats off the street and locked them in a room together, we'd find that we meet in the middle more often than not. The problem is - and has always been - that the important issues are not decided by the "average" American. Rather, it is people with extreme, inflexible platforms who do their best to polarize the American public and make compromise impossible. In a quest to understand the fundamentalists at both sides of the political spectrum (you know, the ones who make compromise impossible), Beckerman spent four years in their world, interviewing, attending thier funcions and rallies, and just in general taking one for the team and saving the rest of us from their extremist vitriol. Covering incendiary topics such as abortion, women's rights, freedom of speech, and international relations (amongst many others), Beckerman pokes fun at the ridiculous lunatics who shape our laws and policy, making for many laugh-out-loud moments. As the title of the book implies, Beckerman goes after the left and right ends of the political spectrum with equal zeal. But underneath the sarcasm and humor this book brimming with good research. And it has to be, because you wouldn't believe the idiocy of our leaders without documentation to back it up. With biting wit and commentary Beckerman reveals the root of voter apathy: what sane person even wants to wade through the lunacy surrounding politics? A word of warning: Dumbocracy is not for the prudish. Like most of us, the subject of politics brings forth language that would make a sailor blush (with apologies to any sailors out there) and this author is no exception. Crossing the line into unnecessary crudeness in places, you might want to skip this if you have delicate sensibilities. Don't say I didn't warn you. But you will laugh till your sides hurt, so don't say I didn't warn you about that, either.
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