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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
Danielle M has commented on (12) products
To Kill a Mockingbird
by
Lee, Harper
Danielle M
, June 26, 2013
Somehow, I was never assigned this brilliant novel in school and would have gladly taken it over "The Scarlet Letter" any day. It may have been written over fifty years ago, but the novel's themes of justice, compassion, and courage are every bit as relevant today. (Particularly in light of the Supreme Court's DOMA decision.) But these themes never feel heavy-handed or preachy, especially as explored by Scout Finch, one of the most delightfully stubborn yet true and honest narrators of all time. The way Lee is able to impart such wisdom through the thoughts and struggles of a young, innocent child is truly astonishing.
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Arcadia
by
Groff, Lauren
Danielle M
, January 29, 2013
A lush, intoxicating novel that charts the life of Bit Stone, the first born into the hippie commune of Arcadia, in the mid-sixties. Bit is acutely perceptive and it is this characteristic, along with Groff’s lyrical and heady prose, that make the novel come alive. From the smallest details (a peppermint that looks like a bloodshot eye) to the seemingly insurmountable obstacles in Bit’s life, like the “black dog” of depression that trails his mother’s heels, every experience of Bit’s is keenly felt. As Bit makes his passage into adulthood, so too does Arcadia suffer from a loss of innocence, falling short of the utopian ideal it set out to create. The plight of the commune and Bit’s own journey, both so intrinsically linked, are immensely satisfying. Even with one foot deeply rooted in the past and another stretching into the near future of 2018, Groff’s novel seems timeless-a swift kick to the heart that will surely resonate for a long time to come.
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(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
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Moby-Dick: Or, the Whale
by
Herman Melville
Danielle M
, June 20, 2012
Reading Moby-Dick is a bit like confronting the mighty leviathan himself. Melville’s monster of a novel is cunning, enigmatic, and full of blustery passion--except, perhaps, for the chapters on whale anatomy, physiology, genealogy, and the whaling industry. These chapters may feel somewhat dry, but, in truth, they are the blood and bones of the piece, upon which this seemingly simple tale of one man’s cruel obsession is built. Of course, Moby-Dick is much more than that. It is, at its best, operatic, Shakespearean, even biblical. Immersing yourself in this epic tale is a bit like being sucked into a whirlpool. Take heed for, by the end, you’ll find yourself deep in the belly of the beast.
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Arcadia
by
Lauren Groff
Danielle M
, May 10, 2012
A lush, intoxicating novel that charts the life of Bit Stone, the first born into the hippie commune of Arcadia, in the mid-sixties. Bit is acutely perceptive and it is this characteristic, along with Groff’s lyrical and heady prose, that make the novel come alive. From the smallest details--a peppermint that looks like a bloodshot eye--to the seemingly insurmountable obstacles in Bit’s life, like the “black dog” of depression that trails at his mother’s heels, every experience of Bit’s is keenly felt. As Bit makes his passage into adulthood, so too does Arcadia suffer from a loss of innocence, falling short of the utopian ideal it set out to create. The plight of the commune and Bit’s own journey, both so intrinsically linked, are immensely satisfying. Even with one foot deeply rooted in the past and another stretching into the near future of 2018, Groff’s novel seems timeless--a swift kick to the heart that will surely resonate for a long time to come.
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Swamplandia
by
Karen Russell
Danielle M
, January 23, 2012
I read Swamplandia! almost a year ago and was immediately impressed by Karen Russell's unique voice and awkward, yet irresistible characters. After just a few chapters, I declared myself a devoted fan and, as soon as I'd finished the novel, went on to devour Russell's collection of short stories (St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves) which were equally as bright, wild, and entrancing. I've read many excellent books this past year, but none have evoked that same awe and delight I found in the worlds of Russell’s creation--worlds which are somehow simultaneously familiar and exotic, new and so very ancient. She is a true Storyteller and I can’t wait to see what beast (be it alligator or Minotaur) she tackles next.
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Magicians Book 1
by
Lev Grossman
Danielle M
, September 07, 2011
Teenage angst plus magic is a dangerous combination, but it also makes for a great story. With a nod to Narnia and a wink at Harry Potter, The Magicians sinks its magical roots deep into the real world. Against this cold and mundane backdrop, teenage love, lust, and desire flare brightly, drawing the reader in, making us too wish for new worlds where magic is commonplace and adventure lurks around every corner--even if it comes at a great price.
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Black Swan Green
by
David Mitchell
Danielle M
, May 27, 2011
Great coming-of-age story set in England in the early eighties. Definitely David Mitchell's most "normal" book (no exotic locations, fractured narratives, or reflective time frames) but excellent nonetheless and further proof that Mitchell is a master at creating three-dimensional worlds both small and vast.
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The Omnivores Dilemma
by
Michael Pollan
Danielle M
, May 12, 2011
If you eat, you need to read this book. I don't care if you're an ovo-lacto vegetarian or a meat eater who hunts and kills your dinner. I thought I was knowledgeable about what I ate and then I got schooled by Michael Pollan, who lays it all out in a very informative, entertaining, non-judgmental way. I only wish I'd read this five years ago instead of coasting by, feeling superior because I buy organic food and go the farmers market once in a awhile. Lesson learned. (Better late than never.)
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Story of Edgar Sawtelle
by
David Wroblewski
Danielle M
, April 20, 2011
In their 2008 review, O Magazine called The Story of Edgar Sawtelle a "comforting joy of a book for summer." I can't think of a less appropriate description. While the story of Edgar and his family and the unique and magnificent "Sawtelle Dogs" they breed and raise on their farm did bring me joy, it was not comforting in the slightest. It jostled me and mesmerized me. It made my heart race and filled my head with haunting images and untamed thoughts that kept me awake at night and will, I'm sure, creep back into my dreams for many years to come. Of course, to be fair, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is somewhat indescribable. It's a mystery. A thriller. A coming-of-age adventure. A ghost story. A tale for animal lovers. A Great American Novel. It defies definition and cannot be paired with a season like a glass of wine. Sure, read it in the summer. Or, perhaps, save it for a stormier season when the rain is rattling the windows and you are inside, warm by the fire, a dog curled up at your feet.
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St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves
by
Karen Russell
Danielle M
, April 08, 2011
Weird, wild, and wooly is the best way to describe the writing of the brilliant Karen Russell. After tearing through Russell’s novel “Swamplandia!” I was anxious for more and jumped right into this collection of short stories, which read more like modern day fairy tales, complete with wolves, alligator wrestlers, a minotaur, and distraught children aplenty. But, like in all great fairy tales, the true stories lie beneath the fairy dust and it is here where Russell’s talent truly shines as she pulls us into the darkly beautiful worlds that she’s created, whispering secrets into our ears, secrets of longing and loss, comfort and fear, and all the dark, quiet things that lurk in each of us, whether man or beast or minotaur.
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Swamplandia
by
Karen Russell
Danielle M
, March 29, 2011
A wonderfully inventive and unique coming-of-age story (complete with alligators)! Alligators are the least frightening things in 13-year-old Ava Bigtree's life, though. After the death of Ava's mother (who was also the star of the Bigtree's tourist attraction, Swamplandia!) the family is quickly unraveling. Ave hopes to save Swamplandia! by stepping into her mother's shoes but her family has plans of their own. In Ava, Karen Russell has created an endearing and courageous heroine. I instantly fell for Ava and her oddball family and especially for this clever, funny, and emotional tale of alligator-wrestling, ghosts, and unbreakable family ties.
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Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet
by
David Mitchell
Danielle M
, January 19, 2011
David Mitchell is a masterful storyteller. I was captivated by Cloud Atlas and didn't think that he could top it. And then came along "The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet." It's not that "Thousand Autumns" is necessarily better (the two novels are so remarkably different that it's difficult to compare them) but it once again showcases the brilliance of Mitchell's writing and his ability to transport a reader to a different place and time so entirely and so beautifully.
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