Cart
|
|
my account
|
wish list
|
help
|
800-878-7323
Hello, |
Login
MENU
Browse
New Arrivals
Bestsellers
Featured Preorders
Award Winners
Audio Books
See All Subjects
Used
Staff Picks
Staff Picks
Picks of the Month
Bookseller Displays
50 Books for 50 Years
25 Best 21st Century Sci-Fi & Fantasy
25 PNW Books to Read Before You Die
25 Books From the 21st Century
25 Memoirs to Read Before You Die
25 Global Books to Read Before You Die
25 Women to Read Before You Die
25 Books to Read Before You Die
Gifts
Gift Cards & eGift Cards
Powell's Souvenirs
Journals and Notebooks
socks
Games
Sell Books
Blog
Events
Find A Store
Don't Miss
Spring Sale
Big Mood Sale
Teen Dream Sale
Powell's Author Events
Oregon Battle of the Books
Audio Books
Get the Powell's newsletter
Visit Our Stores
Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
(0 comment)
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...
Read More
»
Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
(0 comment)
Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
(0 comment)
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
Customer Comments
blbooks has commented on (10) products
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Classic Regency Romance-Now with Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem
by
Seth Grahame-Smith and Jane Austen
blbooks
, March 31, 2009
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains. As you can see, this isn't your traditional Pride and Prejudice. And Elizabeth and Jane aren't your traditional heroines. Meet the Bennet family. "The business of Mr. Bennet's life was to keep his daughters alive. The business of Mrs. Bennet's was to get them married." Why is life so dangerous? Zombies, of course! Fortunately, all five of his daughters have been trained in the deadly arts. All know how to defend themselves from the unfortunates, the undead, the unmentionables. If you're familiar with the original, you'll recognize the basics. Yes, some of Jane Austen's lovely text remains. It definitely provides an outline for the rest. Here is a classic scene which you'll remember if you've read the book or scene the movie: "Upon my honor!" cried Mr. Bingley, "I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life as I have this evening; and there are several of them you see uncommonly pretty." "You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room," said Mr. Darcy, looking at the eldest Miss Bennet. "Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable." "Which do you mean?" and turning round he looked for a moment at Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said, "She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me; I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men." As Mr. Darcy walked off, Elizabeth felt her blood turn cold. She had never in her life been so insulted. The warrior code demanded she avenge her honour. Elizabeth reached down to her ankle, taking care not to draw attention. There, her hand met the dagger concealed beneath her dress. She meant to follow this proud Mr. Darcy outside and open his throat. But no sooner had she grabbed the handle of her weapon than a chorus of screams filled the assembly hall, immediately joined by the shattering of window panes....(13-14) Here is another one of my favorites, the scene where the highly critical Catherine meets Elizabeth for the first time: "Have your ninjas left you?" "We never had any ninjas." "No ninjas! How was that possible? Five daughters brought up at home without any ninjas! I never heard of such a thing. Your mother must have been quite a slave to your safety." Elizabeth could hardly help smiling as she assured her that had not been the case. (126) Yes, the book is gimmicky. But it's clever and fun. Though personal taste plays a big role in rather you find it so. I enjoyed most of this one. I loved some of the twists and turns. Some of the lines were just genius. There was only one chapter which angered more than amused. (But I won't spoil that for you!) You'll find all the same characters and situations...but the women--as warriors--are more empowered than the originals. As a comedy, this works. And Pride and Prejudice becomes a page-turner for a whole other reason.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(8 of 8 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba
by
Margarita Engle
blbooks
, February 13, 2009
Engle, Margarita. 2009. (March 31, 2009 Pub.) TROPICAL SECRETS: HOLOCAUST REFUGEES IN CUBA. Henry Holt. 198 pages. Read. This. Book. True, it won't be released for a few more weeks. But make note of it now to get to this one when you get the chance. Written by Margarita Engle--an acclaimed verse novelist--the book is the story of Daniel, a Jewish refugee, and the friends he makes in Cuba--Paloma and David. Daniel had no intentions of going to Cuba. When his parents tearfully sent him away--hoping and praying that at least their son may survive--this was right after the Night of Crystal or Broken Glass; they all thought that his ship would reach American shores--having heard stories of Lady Liberty and America being the place where all were welcome and the land where dreams could come true. But Daniel's ship was turned away from both Canada and the United States. His one chance for survival now depends on Cuba's mercy. The year is 1939. Does Daniel have a prayer of a chance? This verse novel is told primarily in three voices: Daniel, Paloma, and David. Paloma is the daughter of "El Gordo" a man who is hoping that these refugees will make his wallet fat--very fat. The bigger the bribe, the higher the cost for a visa to enter the country, the richer he becomes. And with the Nazis even sending men to spread propaganda about Jews, the public isn't necessarily on their side--open to the idea of Jews being allowed to enter and settle there. Still, Daniel's ship is allowed. But we're not talking about one ship or even a dozen ships. David is a Jew--a Russian Jew who fled Russia many years before. Paloma helps David--and others--help the refugees providing food and clothing and friendship and support--teaching them Spanish, for example. The book is a novel about meaning things: hope, life, survival, friendship, tolerance. But it doesn't hide the fact that this was a very ugly, very brutal, very cruel time in history. I don't know about you, but I'd certainly never heard about Cuba in regards to the Holocaust. It's interesting to see how this one island, small in size especially when comparing it to Canada and the United States, was able to provide some shelter to Jews fleeing Hitler. In the author's note she shares, "Despite tragedies and scandals, Cuba accepted 65,000 Jewish refugees from 1938 to 1939, the same number that was taken in by the much larger United States during the same time period. Overall, Cuba accepted more Jewish refugees than any other Latin American nation." This book is fascinating. It's absorbing. Read. This. Book.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
A Mighty Fine Time Machine
by
Suzanne Bloom
blbooks
, February 13, 2009
Meet Samantha the anteater, Grant the aardvark, and Antoine the armadillo. These three star in Suzanne Bloom's latest picture book A Mighty Fine Time Machine. Can three friends make the impossible happen? Can they turn a seemingly ordinary box into a time machine? They can sure try! But Samantha's determination along with her keen insights make this one a fun read. In what will probably be a rare occurrence, A Mighty Fine Time Machine had me at hello. Here's how it starts off, "Boys," said Sam, "you've been bamboozled." Grant and Antoine did not know what to say. They had just traded twenty Yummy Gummys and a bag of Buggy Bonbons for a time machine. I love the language. It is so expressive. So intelligent. I'm not sure intelligent is the right word. Is there a word that means clever but that also means really, really fun? The language and style has a rhythm to it. It just makes for a fun read-aloud because the words--the sounds--are so fun to say. For example, They plotted and planned. They mixed and matched. They stood back and admired their work. It was a mighty fine time machine, and it was ready to launch. Grant set the dials to another time and place. Sam counted backward. Antoine made blast-off noises. Flippers flapped. Wings whapped. Nothing happened. "We're still here," said Grant. "It's still now," said Antoine. "Maybe we've miscalculated," said Sam. "Maybe it's not a rockety kind of time machine." "It's rickety," said Grant. "It's rackety," said Antoine. But definitely not rockety, they all agreed. "Back to work, boys." I just loved this one cover to cover. The language. The style. The characters. The premise. And the magical ending. Not that I'll ever tell you if this group succeeds on their mission! Definitely recommended!
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Duke Ellington: His Life in Jazz with 21 Activities Volume 27
by
Stephanie Stein Crease
blbooks
, February 12, 2009
I enjoyed reading Duke Ellington. Not only did I learn about this legendary jazz musician, I also learned about the life and times he lived in--the society, the culture, the history, the economics, the politics. And, of course, I learned about music. (Not just his music--great as that would have been--but about music in general.) What makes this biography extra-special (in addition to the rich details) are all the extras--the photographs, yes, but perhaps more importantly the built-in activities. Activities that invite young readers--I'd say middle schoolers on up--to get involved in music and art. (The book gives a great sense of appreciation for fine arts in general.) What kinds of activities? Well, a bit of this and that. I like how it incorporates a little bit of everything--because it's a fact that everyone has different abilities, talents, skills, aptitudes. Not everyone can find the rhythm, right? But maybe they'd find that they'd be good at making a costume for a floor show or baking corn bread. The text itself was well-written. It was both informative and interesting. The book is quite good just as it is, but it would have been nice if it had included a cd of his music. That being said, using Project Playlist, you can easily find music to accompany the book.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(2 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
All Gods Critters
by
Bill Staines
blbooks
, February 09, 2009
Staines, Bill. 2009. All God's Critters. Illustrations by Kadir Nelson. Simon & Schuster. Are you a fan of Kadir Nelson? I sure am! One of his newest includes the picture book, All God's Critters. This is one of those picture books that illustrate a song--the lyrics are well known (or relatively well known at least) and the illustrations just add extra incentive to make this a part of your collection. (And the fact that it's by Kadir Nelson? Huge incentive!) I brought this book to church to show off. It was loved by old and young alike. People just loved looking at all the details; everyone had a different 'favorite' animal. It was just joyous to see how people reacted to the book. This book, All God's Critters, might pair well with another one of Kadir Nelson's books--He's Got The Whole World In His Hands. Looking at that cover just makes me happy...how about you? Kadir Nelson's other books include Henry's Freedom Box, Moses, Coretta Scott, Abe's Honest Words, and We Are The Ship. Yes, that We Are The Ship that won the Sibert Medal, and attention (both an honor and a winner) in the Coretta Scott King Awards. (Honor for illustration; Winner for Writing)
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Uprising
by
Margaret Peterson Haddix
blbooks
, December 24, 2008
Uprising is very straightforward. It makes no apologies for being what it is: a heartbreaking story of an all-too-true tragedy, the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company. In the first chapter, we meet two survivors--a Mrs. Livingston--and a young woman named Harriet. Harriet had been just a girl--five to be exact--when the fire occurred. (And her presence at the factory that day was circumstantial--just happened to be there visiting her father, the owner of the company.) Now as a grown-up, or an almost grown up on any account, Harriet is on a quest to discover the truth about the past, her past, her father's past, his role in the tragedy. It is a book that addresses many "issues"--women's rights--the suffrage movement included; the plight of the immigrant--the prejudices and discrimination not to mention the language barriers and the poverty; workers' rights--the need for unions to protect the rights of the employees from greedy and corrupt employers. The truth isn't pretty. To be an immigrant. To be a factory worker. To be living in the tenements. Not pretty at all. It was harsh and ugly and all-too-real for the characters we meet. Our story is narrated by three girls--two of whom will meet an untimely end; we just don't know which two. Bella. Yetta. Jane. "We did not know one another for long," Mrs. Livingston says. "We had so little time." This is both a lament and an accusation. After all these years, she still wants the story to end differently. Three girls meet, become friends, struggle, find happiness, and have their lives go on and on and on until they are three old ladies in rocking chairs. It just didn't happen that way. Mrs. Livingston stares off into the distance, off into the past, off into a time when she didn't know the fire was coming. "The story begins like so much else," she says slowly. "With hope. Hope and dreams and daring..." (4-5) Each of the girls make for a compelling narrator--particularly Yetta and Bella. Bella is an Italian immigrant. Yetta is a Jewish immigrant--I am almost certain she's from Russia. When Bella first arrives in New York, she mistakenly learns Yiddish thinking that she's learning English. It takes some convincing too for her to realize her mistake! Two girls, two different natural languages, yet they share so much in common. Jane? Well, she's a rich society girl. How does Jane become mixed in with a bunch of poor immigrants who can barely speak English? I'll let you discover for yourself! Richly detailed, this is a novel with haunting power. It is so good.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(0 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Word of Promise Next Generation - New Testament: Dramatized Audio Bible
by
John Kirby
blbooks
, December 05, 2008
THE WORD OF PROMISE NEXT GENERATION uses the International Children's Bible. This is a version of the Bible that as an adult I'm less than impressed with. Then again, I'm not the target audience. The International Children's Bible (ICB) is designed to be read by children aged nine through twelve--it's on a third grade reading level. So what does this mean for you? For kids, this might be an inviting and appropriate translation but it might prove slightly unsatisfying to adults who want a little bit more. THE WORD OF PROMISE NEXT GENERATION uses a large cast of various actors to narrate the new testament. The narrator is Sean Astin. This--at least to me--was the perfect choice. Why? I'm not sure I can put it into the words. You want the narrator to sound natural yet powerful and to resonate but never be over the top. You don't want the narrator to be a distraction, and you don't ever want it to turn into a 'me, me, me' production. I think Astin works perfectly in this role. Other actors play specific roles in the gospels. The most important star in any cast would be Jesus, of course. This role is played by Cody Linley. Let me just tell you that I was completely skeptical. I didn't think he had a chance of pulling this one off. I couldn't imagine him being serious enough or respectful enough or calm enough to do the task of speaking Jesus's words. Yet this mostly works. I won't say that his voice is perfect for the job. There are a few places here and there where his voice is a bit of a distraction, where it's a bit unnatural--he speaks too slow at times. But for the most part--more often than not--it works. I wish I could say the same for Marshall Allman's performance as Paul. Which is frustrating because Paul's letters make up a large part of the New Testament. If I had to describe his narration I would say slow and stumbling. (There are places where the rhythm and cadence is just very awkward and unnatural--taking pauses in unusual places, weird emphasis on certain words over others, etc. There are plenty of other actors--both listed and unlisted--which fill out the cast of performers.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
My Life As A Rhombus
by
Varian Johnson
blbooks
, November 12, 2008
Rhonda the Rhombus. Perhaps not the most-appealing nickname a girl can have. But...Rhonda makes for quite a good heroine as one of the stars in Varian Johnson's My Life As A Rhombus. Rhonda Lee is great at math. She excels so much that she tutors students of all ages at West Columbia Community Center. Which is how our heroine comes to meet Sarah Gamble. Sarah is one of the beautiful, popular people. Sarah needs help...and she needs it quickly if she's going to pull her grades up. But what starts as a rather reluctant relationship...becomes much much more through the course of the novel. As these two unlikely teens find they have much in common. Their common bond? Unplanned pregnancies. Rhonda's is in the past--two years previous--and Sarah's is in the present. Sarah's secret is revealed to Rhonda alone. And the two come to discuss life and all its hardships in detail as Sarah puzzles out what to do with her life, her body. Rhonda's pregnancy ended in abortion--it's a choice that was out of her hands. Rhonda's father controlled the situation then, and this has put some strain into the relationship. It's not that Rhonda wanted to have her baby--not really. But she wanted to be the one to think it through, the one to decide. She wanted the choice to be hers. And the whole situation--sex, pregnancy, abortion--still haunts her in many, many ways. Her past keeps her from living in the present. Sarah's friendship--and Sarah's brother, David--offer Rhonda a unique opportunity. A chance to offer comfort and support, yes, but a chance to heal as well. A chance to learn that your life need not be defined by past mistakes and regrets. A chance to accept life in all its fullness. I enjoyed this one. I liked the transformation and development of the relationships between Rhonda and Sarah and Rhonda and David. For that matter, I liked the characterizations in general.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
The Screwed-Up Life of Charlie the Second
by
Ferguson, Drew
blbooks
, November 12, 2008
What can I say about this one? I think you'll either love it or hate it. If you're looking for a book about the awkwardness and glory of a guy having his first boyfriend--plenty of firsts elaborately and graphically described--then this one may be for you. Not that you have to be looking for that to enjoy it. Drew Ferguson does a great job with characterization in general. From our main narrator, Charlie, to his boyfriend, Rob, to his best friend, Bink, to the families of Rob and Bink. Good characters. Good plotting. This is a nerdy coming-of-age story that no doubt is authentic--the awkwardness of being that age in general, the uncertainty of what to expect out of a more intimate relationship, the bittersweetness of life itself at any age--the loves lost and gained. The writing is full of humor. But it isn't without heart. Charlie falls--and hard--for Rob. And the joys of learning that that love is returned brings happiness and joy. But it also adds complications. Rob is going through a rough time. His mom is dying (and does in fact die through the course of the novel). And Rob and his father are going through the stages of grief--shock, denial, anger, etc. Charlie is young and inexperienced (in more ways than one). He doesn't know how to deal with Rob's heartaches. Rob is on an emotional roller coaster, and Charlie doesn't know how to deal with the situation. I think few people his age would. Friendship. Love. Heartache. Life lessons learned the hard way. Not for everyone certainly--no one book is for everyone.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(3 of 5 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Poison Ink
by
Christopher Golden
blbooks
, October 31, 2008
In a way, Poison Ink reminded me of Devilish, Zombie Blondes, and Dead Is The New Black. It is the story of friendship that becomes warped and twisted by...you guessed it...poison ink. Sammi (only her parents can get away with calling her Samantha) has four best friends--T.Q., Letty, Caryn, and Katsuko (don't even think about calling her Kat). And while at a last-chance-slumber party (the weekend before school starts), one of them suggests that they should all get tattoos to show how bonded and super-loyal they are. Each of the five girls having the exact same tattoo. True, they're all under eighteen. And true, none of them would have the consent of their parents. But surely there is someone out there willing and able to help these girls out, right? Enter Dante. A smooth-talking tattoo artist who just happens to be inspired to create a unique tattoo on the spot for these strange-but-attractive girls that have stumbled into his tattoo parlor. What's the problem? Don't get me started. But it's really quite simple. Sammi starts having doubts about getting a tattoo. She has BIG doubts. And so she refuses. Only problem is that all four of her friends now seriously hate her. Friendless or almost so at any rate, Sammi is one of the first to notice just how strange her friends--or former friends--are becoming. It is like they're completely different people. Angry. Bitter. Slutty. Violent. And there is even a rumor or two that they're on drugs. And did I mention they've all started cutting classes? What's a girl to do. Sammi to the rescue! She's determined to figure out why her friends have become "possessed" (for lack of a better word) and to do all that she can--at no small risk--to get her friends back.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(2 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment