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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
The Cybrarian has commented on (9) products
Fragile Beginnings: Discoveries and Triumphs in the Newborn ICU
by
Adam Wolfberg
The Cybrarian
, March 13, 2012
The story of Dr. and Mrs. Wolfberg's harrowing experience with the birth of their premature daughter is one that will tug at anyone's heartstrings, parent or not. The difficulty of the situation must have been nearly overwhelming at times yet Dr. Wolfberg has turned that experience into the opportunity to furnish us with not only his personal story but a well-researched examination into the state of NICU care today and its future going forward. What struck me most about this book was the situation the author found himself in when thrust to the other side of the exam room curtain. Usually privy to all conversations regarding a patient care situation Dr. Wolfberg finds himself cast in the role of worried parent while others decide his daughter's fate. His ability to blend both experiences and produce this lucid, moving book like this speaks volumes about his dedication to his profession and his strength of character. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an emotionally taut medical story that will keep you on the edge of your seat or a meticulously researched insight into the current state of NICU operations and ethics.
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Sister of Silence
by
Berry, Daleen
The Cybrarian
, February 20, 2012
Unfortunately the beginning of Daleen Berry's story is not unique. Sexually abused from the age of thirteen, she became pregnant in high school and by the age of twenty-one found herself the mother of four children, trapped in a joyless marriage to an abusive alcoholic. The important part of Daleen's story is what happened next. Repeated fantasies of harming one of her children leads her to seek help and she eventually discover that the intense stresses of her life have left her mentally ill. By the end of this chapter in her life Daleen is in treatment, having ended her relationship with Eddie, and on her way to changing nearly every aspect of her life. The book is not without its flaws. Early on, the pace is slow and the chronology is sometimes patchy. There are some grammatical and spelling errors as well but the story Daleen tells is so intense and so important we are willing to overlook these small problems and focus on the more important story of the prevalence of abuse in our society. Indeed, as the book progresses the writing seems to improve, making Daleen's transformation from a victim to a survivor all the more evident. Berry pulls no punches. She admits that she is not perfect. She has made some mistakes. What is important to her and evident to the reader is her drive to move forward, to purge the negativity of the past from her life and to tell her story in such a way as to make other young women in similar situations realize that they too can break free, save their own lives and thrive. Daleen's second book 'Children of Silence', which deals with the emotional struggle faced by her children due to their experiences with abuse, is soon to be published. Her life will have changed for the better but for Daleen, struggle and challenge are never far away. The future will undoubtedly be have its difficulties but through the exercise of her own emotional courage Daleen is able to face them not only as a survivor but as a warrior and a spokesperson for abused women and children everywhere.
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Lost Kingdom Hawaiis Last Queen the Sugar Kings & Americas First Imperial Adventure
by
Julia Flynn Siler
The Cybrarian
, February 18, 2012
First visited by foreigners in when Captain James Cook arrived in 1778, Hawaii was already an established society with a thriving culture and economy. The arrival of Christian missionaries thirty years later and the subsequent conversion of the Royal Family to Christianity was only the first link in a chain of events that eventually led to the American military annexation of this sovereign nation in America's first act of international imperialism beyond its own borders. Award-winning journalist and author of the New York times best-seller, The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty, Julia Flynn Siler, tells the story of Queen Lili'uokalani, sovereign of a nation already heavily mortgaged to foreign interests when she took power at the end of the nineteenth century. The gradual erosion of a broad-based subsistence economy eventually led to the creation of a one-crop system based on the raising and exporting of sugar cane for the benefit of a small group of wealthy men known as the sugar kings. Finally, the U.S. Marines landed on the island and, marching to the palace, incited the monarch's overthrow. Ms. Flynn Siler's accessible style brings the reader into the life of the island immediately with her glossary of native Hawaiian words so important to our understanding of local cultural concepts. The main players are introduced straight off and then the historical drama begins to proceed to, what seems to be, its inevitable conclusion. Her lively writing avoids the pitfall of dry, historical reportage, retaining the colorful palate of the islands themselves in order to better illustrate their unique story. Equal parts history lesson, human drama and social, political and economic commentary, Lost Kingdom is an insightful look into America's past and may provide an important lesson for those who will determine her future. For today's Americans, desirous of a more responsible participation in world affairs, this examination of the events of the last century may lead to better understanding of a unique part of our own nation and a clearer view of the effects of our participation in the affairs of other nations. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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Talking to Girls About Duran Duran: One Young Man's Quest for True Love and a Cooler Haircut
by
Rob Sheffield
The Cybrarian
, August 21, 2011
Music journalist Rob Sheffield has put together a chronological series of essays based on pop tunes from the 1980s that he feels define some major turning points in his life as he came of age in that decade. One would think that such a limited time-frame would exclude those of us who experienced adolescence earlier or were born later, but this is not the case. We are all aware of the major players in this game: The Go-Go's, Culture Club, Hall & Oates, Prince and Madonna and if we find ourselves floundering with L'Trimm or Haysi Fantaysee Sheffield stands by to throw us a lifeline from his vast footlocker of pop music trivia. His references to early MTV bear surprising parallels for those of us from the birth-of-FM-radio generation. In fact he transcends the whole idea of generations by taking us back to our own eras when the answers to life's most difficult questions could be found on the radio. We all have a store of emotional and biographical touchstones, these are Rob's and he explores them with sensitivity and wit that brings the reader into the picture with him. And the guy can turn a phrase. His stream-of-consciousness style rapping has a rhythm as infectious as any good dance tune and his wide-ranging references, from Byron to Baba Ram Dass and back, are esoteric enough to make us feel smart while accessible enough to let us all in on the joke. So, if you can't tell John Taylor from Nick Rhodes don't despair, Rob Sheffield will see you through, and let you in on the secret to proper toilet paper placement when entertaining female guests as well- "They just DO".
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The Sisters Brothers
by
Patrick Dewitt
The Cybrarian
, August 19, 2011
Narrated by the stouter half of a pair of old west hitmen, Patrick deWitt's The Sister's Brothers takes us on a journey from Oregon to California during the gold rush, ostensibly to complete an assignment from their shadowy boss, but really in search of the dual protagonist's futures. Eli Sisters is becoming ambivalent about his career path and longs to settle down, Charlie prefers to drink and womanize as always but this particular assignment will change them both permanently. A new western novel full of the taste of dust and grit, plenty of pain and blood, and large doses of humor and human emotion, The Sister's Brothers delivers on all levels with rich and complex characters, a plot full of twists and a conclusion that takes both the characters and the reader by surprise.
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Revenge Through Landscaping
by
E N Larsen
The Cybrarian
, May 09, 2011
Welcome to E.N. Larsen's world. Deeply flawed individuals trapped in adversarial relationships work at unfulfilling jobs for faceless, ungrateful corporations. Scoundrels, scammers and sociopaths roam free. Murder and random violence are commonplace and cats, all named Shawn, talk back and pretty much run the place. Sound familiar? Don't be so sure. Larsen's plots and characters veer, climb and plunge at odd intervals. Some are recognizable, almost mainstream, others bizarre and dadaesque. Stories begin in the middle of a party or end when the narrator gets bored. There is no terra firma. Will you enjoy every story? Frankly, no. Hopefully some will make you smile, maybe a couple will make you laugh out loud, and more than a few will leave you scratching your head. But that's not a bad thing. In this modern age where 140-character tweets, 10-second sound-bites and two-paragraph news stories wrap everything up in nice neat packages it might be good to have a few question marks floating around. Yes?
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1065131 A Memoir
by
Jason Breedlove
The Cybrarian
, April 04, 2011
In this, his second book, Jason Breedlove attempts to come to terms with his past as an addict and an incarcerated criminal and to illuminate the difficulties he faces in recovery, alone, in a new city. Jason's writing style can be difficult to follow. Some stories follow a chronological path, while others are grouped thematically. Although not an unusual fault in an unschooled author it does make the narrative somewhat difficult to follow and leaves the reader with a kind of patchwork impression. His use of language is similarly unpolished although it does remain true to his own voice. The sprinkling of profanity does not offend and the short, terse sentences ring true as the author's natural speech pattern honed by his years behind bars. Many of the book's vignettes contain the kernel of a truly interesting story and could be developed into an interesting fiction collection, should Jason decide to pursue it. By the end of the book the reader wishes him luck. Life has been, and will continue to be, difficult yet he seems to be working his way out of the past and toward a brighter future.
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Adrift Seventy Six Days Lost At Sea
by
Steven Callahan
The Cybrarian
, March 27, 2011
This is without a doubt the most enthralling book of its genre. Callahan's story is so spell-binding and so well written that one feels that they are accompanying him through every moment of his ordeal. I have bought this book many times, given it away to friends and relatives, and have never gotten an unenthusiastic response. Try it, the physical and emotional ride will wear you out!
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(3 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
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Glory of Their Times
by
Lawrence S. Ritter
The Cybrarian
, March 24, 2011
What makes this book unique amongst books of its sort is that the points of view of the various commentators are so individual and subjective. Many of the interviewees discuss the same person, team, or aspect of the game, yet come to very different conclusions. I found that this brought an immediacy to the book, as if those days were still alive and the games and individual rivalries were still a part of current events. Kudos to Mr. Ritter for capturing so many of these voices before they were all gone.
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