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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
Jonathan has commented on (36) products
Tigerman
by
Nick Harkaway
Jonathan
, October 21, 2014
Harkaway takes a fantastic, almost absurd premise and imbues it with the ugly realities of political maneuvering and a kid's vision of comic book superheroes. The result is an origin story that almost seems plausible. It's a costumed crime-fighter for the literary crowd, perhaps the best comics-inspired prose I've read since Michael Chabon's Kavalier & Clay.
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Brixton Brothers 01 Case of the Case of Mistaken Idenity
by
Mac Barnett
Jonathan
, February 02, 2010
A fantastic riff on kid detectives like Encyclopedia Brown and the Hardy Boys! A great mix of secret conspiracies, mistaken identities, and a boy detective trying to prove he's NOT really a detective.
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Tale of Despereaux Being the Story of a Mouse a Princess Some Soup & a Spool of Thread
by
Kate Dicamillo
Jonathan
, January 10, 2010
I've read The Tale of Despereaux out loud twice now, once to my wife and then three years later to my five-year-old, and both times I was amazed by the depth of the story and the beauty of the writing even while describing very ugly things. Yes, it's a children's book about talking mice, and yet sometimes it felt more real than a lot of adult fiction that I've read in the past decade. I will certainly be reading it again to my daughters when they're older, and I'm sure that each time they (and I) will discover something new.
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Leviathan 01
by
Scott Westerfeld
Jonathan
, November 17, 2009
Fantastic book combining steampunk elements with alternate history and bizarre biological hybrids. Set at the start of World War I, Leviathan follows two very different young adults as they navigate through conspiracies and secrets. I can't believe I have to wait another year for the next book!
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Any Which Wall
by
Laurel Snyder
Jonathan
, November 07, 2009
A wonderful kids-discover-magic story in the tradition of Edward Eager, but with kids who have an idea of how stories play out, and that magic has rules. I read this right after reading two of Eager's magic stories, and it fits nicely with those; set in the modern world, but with a lot of the same flavor.
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When You Reach Me: (Newbery Medal Winner)
by
Rebecca Stead
Jonathan
, October 26, 2009
A wonderful brain-twister of a book: like "12 Monkeys" meets "A Wrinkle in Time," for the middle-school set. And I've already said too much.
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Nurtureshock
by
Po Bronson, Ashley Merryman
Jonathan
, October 11, 2009
A truly surprising book about parenting, based on decades of scientific research rather than "instinct," which is shown again and again to be wrong. I haven't stopped talking about this book since I started reading it, and I strongly recommend it to anyone who has kids or works with kids.
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Important Artifacts & Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan & Harold Morris Including Books Street Fashion & Jewelry
by
Leanne Shapton
Jonathan
, September 13, 2009
Absolutely brilliant--the story of a relationship as told through its physical remnants: books, old photographs, Christmas gifts, letters and emails, etc.; organized as an auction catalog. Trust me: you haven't ever seen anything like this before.
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Where the Mountain Meets The Moon
by
Grace Lin
Jonathan
, September 13, 2009
Grace Lin weaves together a collection of Chinese folk tales into one fantastic story about a little girl's journey to Never-Ending Mountain to talk to the Old Man of the Moon. I read it to my five-year-old daughter and she was simply entranced.
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City & the City
by
China Mieville
Jonathan
, August 11, 2009
It's best if you read this without knowing much about the premise; Mieville has created an amazing world with its own rules and customs, and within this world a bizarre crime takes place. It takes a while before the realization sinks in, but once it does you're in for a heck of a ride.
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Born to Run A Hidden Tribe Superathletes & the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen
by
Christopher McDougall
Jonathan
, July 13, 2009
Runners, you need to read this book to find out what you're missing. Non-runners, reading this book might just inspire you to get started. McDougall's writing is both captivating and informative, and his stories about running are sure to shake things up in the running world.
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Three Bags Full
by
Leonie Swann
Jonathan
, January 21, 2009
A fantastic murder mystery in which a flock of sheep try to figure out who killed their shepherd. The sheep make great characters (and, as it turns out, not too shabby detectives).
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Mysterious Benedict Society 01
by
Trenton Lee Stewart, Carson Ellis
Jonathan
, January 07, 2009
A terrific book for both adults and kids, particularly those who love puzzles. Four kids, each talented in different ways, find themselves fighting a sinister plot to take over the world. There are wonderful characters with quirky names, Morse code and secret messages, action and adventure, exits and entrances. It's a hefty book but a fast read and I can't wait to share this with others.
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Quiet Girl
by
Peter Hoeg
Jonathan
, December 16, 2008
Unusual and not an easy book to read, but what a reward for your effort! The way Hoeg describes the world as Kasper Krone hears it is truly amazing, and worth a read even if you get a bit lost in the plot.
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Kenny & The Dragon
by
Tony Diterlizzi
Jonathan
, October 16, 2008
A delightful little book about a rabbit named Kenny and the dragon he befriends. Of course, the whole town wants to exterminate it, which is the source of a little tension.
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Truancy
by
Isamu Fukui
Jonathan
, September 14, 2008
Forget that other "written by a teenager" series--it's derivative and inconsistent. The author of _Truancy_ wrote about what he knows--the school system--but projects it into a dystopian society where Educators rule the City and students are nothing but obedient future citizens.
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(8 of 12 readers found this comment helpful)
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Adventures Of Blue Avenger
by
Norma Howe
Jonathan
, August 22, 2008
A bizarrely entertaining book dealing with the conundrum of free will vs. fate. You gotta love a guy who decides to change his name to Blue Avenger, just because.
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(4 of 9 readers found this comment helpful)
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The Stolen Child
by
Donohue, Keith
Jonathan
, July 09, 2008
A beautifully written tale about a changeling who takes the place of seven-year-old Henry Day. Henry and the changeling take turns narrating the book, and it's a fascinating story about identity and what makes us human.
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Book of Lost Things
by
Connolly, John
Jonathan
, July 09, 2008
"Once upon a time—for that is how all stories should begin—"John Connolly begins a tale about books and fairy tales and the world of the imagination that grips you and doesn't let go until the end. These are definitely not the Disney versions of fairy tales that you grew up with; nor are they Grimm's originals. They are something more sinister, with our modern fears and sins mixed in, and some of them are extremely creepy. If you're a fan of books about reading, Neil Gaiman, and fairy tales, give this one a go.
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Skylar
by
Mary Cuffe Perez
Jonathan
, July 09, 2008
It's a journey story and a friendship story, with some comparisons to Watership Down but much shorter and targeted to a younger audience. Still, it is not without its share of real dangers and tragedy. It's a beautiful tale and the language that Cuffe-Perez uses to describe "the way," the migration paths, is evocative and gorgeous.
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Japanese Temari A Colorful Spin on an Ancient Craft
by
Barbara Suess
Jonathan
, May 02, 2008
This book was my first encounter with temari balls and I've found it to be a great resource for beginners. It's a fun craft and Suess covers a lot of the basic techniques for getting started.
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Fortune Cookie Chronicles Adventures in the World of Chinese Food
by
Jennifer Lee
Jonathan
, May 01, 2008
While following the trail of some fortune-cookie Powerball winners, Lee traces the history of the fortune cookie (were they really Japanese in origin?), tracks down the family of General Tso, and discovers the man who might possibly have invented "chop suey." She ponders the link between Jews and Chinese food, tells the sordid tale of the human smuggling that supplies Chinese restaurant workers, and gives me a good reason never to buy La Choy soy sauce (which contains no actual soy). She posits the reason why Chinese restaurants, though decentralized, still seem to serve the same thing all over the country; and she tracks down the greatest Chinese restaurant in the world. It's a wonderful, ambitious book filled with lots of conversation fodder. I found the poignant chapters about Chinese restaurant workers particularly eye-opening, and the book provides some history lessons by way of cuisine. It may not change what you eat, but it will certainly give you food for thought the next time you head to the China Buffet.
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Beginners Greek
by
James Collins
Jonathan
, April 08, 2008
Peter Russell is an incurable romantic who wrestles against all the bizarre circumstances conspiring to keep him from his one true love, Holly. Beginner's Greek is a book that doesn't take itself (or its subjects) too seriously, and is all the more enjoyable for that. In the end, just about everybody (except the truly malicious characters) gets a happy ending, but the road to get there is pretty rough at times.
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(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
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13 1/2 Lives Of Captain Bluebear
by
Walter Moers
Jonathan
, March 09, 2008
Pure fantasy, an imaginative string of tall tales written (purportedly) by Bluebear, recounting the first half of the 27 lives that all bluebears have. There are adventures with Minipirates, daring last-minute rescues, lessons from a professor with seven brains, the city of Atlantis, and encounters with a multitude of other beasts, common and otherwise (mostly otherwise). It's unlike any book you've ever read.
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Time It Takes To Fall
by
Margaret Lazar Dean
Jonathan
, March 07, 2008
Margaret Lazarus Dean really captures what it felt like to grow up on the Space Coast, where everyone's parents were involved in the space program, and the shattering loss of innocence after the Challenger disaster.
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(4 of 5 readers found this comment helpful)
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In Cold Blood A True Account of a Multiple Murder & Its Consequences
by
Truman Capote
Jonathan
, February 15, 2008
Capote ties together recollections, testimonies, conversations, and letters to paint a vivid picture of this horrendous crime and its aftermath. It's like a car wreck: terrible, yet you can't peel your eyes away without finding out what really happened. The writing is a little uneven towards the end but for the most part Capote is a masterful storyteller with a gripping tale.
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Deadline
by
Chris Crutcher
Jonathan
, January 04, 2008
A sarcastic teenager's take on his last year to live, "Deadline" tackles some serious issues in a way that high schoolers (and probably many adults) could stand to learn. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to consider what's most important in life.
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(5 of 7 readers found this comment helpful)
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Magical Life of Long Tack Sam
by
Fleming, Ann Marie
Jonathan
, January 04, 2008
A strange-but-true tale of a Chinese magician who traveled the world and astounded audiences ... and then somehow died in obscurity and was forgotten even by his own family. Thankfully, his great-granddaughter was able to dig up his story and tells it in a scrapbook-comic format.
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(4 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
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The Arrival
by
Shaun Tan
Jonathan
, January 04, 2008
Shaun Tan tells a moving story about immigration without using any words; his surreal images perfectly capture the feeling of being lost in a totally unfamiliar world.
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(4 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
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Touchstone Trilogy 02 Celandine
by
Steve Augarde
Jonathan
, January 04, 2008
This is one of the best books I read in 2007 (and the only one I read twice). It's part 2 of a planned trilogy and outshines most of the books being marketed to Harry Potter fans, but for some reason has received very little publicity as far as I can tell.
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(1 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
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Soon I Will Be Invincible
by
Austin Grossman
Jonathan
, July 19, 2007
A fun take on the superhero genre, not quite as deep as Alan Moore's Watchmen, but a good prose version. Told by Doctor Impossible, evil genius, and Fatale, a cyborg superhero. Not always spectacular, but pretty clever and worth a read.
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Folded World
by
Amity Gaige
Jonathan
, July 16, 2007
The Folded World is a beautifully written book that celebrates relationships. Finally, a book that is more about triumphs than failures! Gaige is excellent at capturing what it feels like to fall in love and putting it into words.
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(4 of 8 readers found this comment helpful)
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Castle Waiting
by
Linda Medley
Jonathan
, July 02, 2007
Beautifully illustrated and filled with references to folk stories and fairy tales. This is a graphic novel that any fairy-tale lover should check out.
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(8 of 13 readers found this comment helpful)
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Green with Envy A Whole New Way to Look at Financial UnHappiness
by
Boss, Shira
Jonathan
, June 10, 2007
Probably the best financial book I've read lately. It's not a how-to book; instead, it tackles the problem of envy by delving into the lives of people you probably envy and exposes the not-so-wonderful stories behind them.
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Top 10 Book One
by
Alan Moore
Jonathan
, March 08, 2007
Alan Moore's a great comic-book writer, and this is no exception. Neopolis is where they dumped all the superheroes and supervillains after WWII, and it makes for a mess of a place to police. It's a mixture of serious mystery-solving and police procedures with sight gags and comic-book references, and overall pretty entertaining.
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Mommy
by
Maurice Sendak, Matthew Reinhart
Jonathan
, November 04, 2006
This is one of the most amazing pop-up books I've ever seen, and it's Maurice Sendak's first. A fantastic set of monsters, all bested by a little boy seeking his mommy.
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