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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
gooser114 has commented on (16) products
Wasteland
by
Jo Sinclair
gooser114
, September 01, 2011
A story of a man coping with his religion and family life. The main character learns about the struggles of his family members and the beauty behind his religion. His place in the family is defined by his role in the Passover Seder. He feels trapped by his family and his religion. This is his story of reconciling independence and family values. The secondary characters were intriguing and their individual stories revealed bit by bit throughout. This makes for a wonderful story of self realization and acceptance.
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Number 9 Dream
by
David Mitchell
gooser114
, September 01, 2011
The main character, Eiji, is searching for his mysterious father whom he has never known. Through his quest Eiji encounters obstacles from every angle including the Yakuza. Eiji's journey takes him from his rural home to a large city. This is a coming of age and fish out of water story. This book is a wonderfully imaginative modern quest through Japan. I really enjoy Mitchell's writing style and this book made me want to visit Japan.
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Spot Of Bother
by
Mark Haddon
gooser114
, September 01, 2011
A story about a dysfunctional family told through each of their points of view. I liked the fact that the story was told from different characters view points, but overall I think this book dragged on. The characters were interesting, but not memorable. Their individual stories were appealing, but I just wasn't engaged by the story and was unable to connect with the characters. I was expecting more after reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.
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At the Villa of Reduced Circumstances
by
Alexander McCall Smith, Alexander McCall Smith
gooser114
, September 01, 2011
This third installment of Professor Dr. Von Igelfeld books is similar to the others. The story is outlandish and the characters are eccentric. Heading to Colombia to be inducted into a prestigious group Professor Dr. Von Igelfeld is entangled in a revolution that ends with a surprising outcome. This was a light and humorous read. I truly enjoyed the series and this book was a nice end to the series.
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In Defense Of Anarchism
by
Robert Paul Wolff
gooser114
, September 01, 2011
Robert Paul Wolff’s “In Defense of Anarchism” is a well-organized fresh look at anarchism. Wolff discusses the conflict between authority and autonomy, the problems with democracy (with particular emphasis on the American democratic system), and the legitimacy of a State. While I do not subscribe to anarchism, Wolff puts forth an argument in this book that I found intriguing. I was not particularly knowledgeable about anarchism before reading this book and found Wolff’s theory of Marxism and anarchism easy to understand. I would recommend that anyone who has read or wants to read this books should also read Robert A. Dahl's "Democracy and its Critics" (specifically chapter 3 titled "Anarchism") for a critique of Wolff's theory.
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The Healing of America
by
T. R. Reid
gooser114
, September 01, 2011
Reid is able to take the current issue of health care and explain it in a manner that is easy to digest. He discusses his travels through foreign health care systems with his own injured shoulder. By doing this he is able to be a real life example of how each system deviates from the other. Comparing each system illuminates the problems with each. I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about the American health care system as well as others. The reader is able to see that there is no truly perfect health care system and that even the most respected systems have flaws that jeopardize the nation. Anyone who wants to gain an educated opinion on this health care debate should read this book.
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Weight of Silence
by
Heather Gudenkauf
gooser114
, September 01, 2011
This is the story of two missing seven-year-old girls. The entire story takes place during one day and through the points-of-view of numerous characters. The main character Calli is one of the little girls missing and has not spoken in four years and no one knows why. As the mystery begins to unfold the past of the characters is told as flashbacks. The characters were interesting and the scenarios that took place were exciting. There were times when I could not put this book down. For me the most interesting part of the book was not the missing girls per se but on Calli’s selective mutism. The way that both mysteries were interwoven was excellent and I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
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Vanishing of Katharina Linden
by
Helen Grant
gooser114
, September 01, 2011
In a small town in Germany little girls begin to vanish. The main character, an eleven year old girl with a past that ostracizing her from her peers, begins searching for these missing girls. The history and folk stories of the town are weaved in and provides clues for the current mystery at hand. Searching for where the girls have gone and who is responsible brings old suspicions to the surface and divides that town. The story is a fun read. It has an almost supernatural mystery feel to it while maintaining a real world aspect. At times I wanted to slap the main character for being so difficult in situations, but overall it was an enjoyable read.
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Just & Unjust Wars 4th Edition A Moral Argument with Historical Illustrations
by
Michael Walzer
gooser114
, September 01, 2011
A well executed theory of justifying acts of war and what is ethically acceptable during times of war. While I did not agree with all of Walzer’s ideas I respect his work and believe his theory of just war to be a valid one. My only contention with the theory is that throughout the book Walzer explains what can and cannot be done during war, ethically and justly. At the very end he seems to throw out his theory stating that in times of emergency a state may ignore these justifications and do whatever is necessary. This seems be Walzer falling in line with a realist stance. However, Walzer presents a wonderful argument that should be taken seriously.
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Sex Lies & Handwriting A Top Expert Reveals the Secrets Hidden in Your Handwriting
by
Michelle Dresbold
gooser114
, September 01, 2011
The topic of handwriting analysis has always intrigued me and this book was a great beginner’s guide to understanding the basics of graphology. Dresbold gives wonderful examples of the handwriting she discusses. She illustrates the major points of handwriting profiling be utilizing examples of criminals, madmen, and the average person. This was a relatively light and easy read that was always interesting. This is a great book for anyone interested in graphology that wants an easy to understand explanation of handwriting analysis.
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I Am Not a Serial Killer
by
Dan Wells
gooser114
, September 01, 2011
John Cleaver is struggling with his sociopathic tendencies and ideas of violence. He fears that he is destined to become a serial killer and must fight himself in order to maintain a normal existence. When murders begin happening in his own town he must come face to face with an unusual killer and chose to protect the town or his fragile state of mind. This was not the book I expected it to be. I was hoping for a book about a serial killer or about a character battling with the ideas. However, the story quickly turned into a supernatural thriller. I enjoyed the struggle that John Cleaver dealt with and his explanation of how he controls himself. There were times of real suspense, but overall not the story that I wanted.
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Brave New World
by
Aldous Huxley
gooser114
, September 01, 2011
The society that Huxley creates is one dependent on a hallucinogenic drug, soma. No one is able to function without soma to allow them to escape from the problems of everyday life. The government utilizes soma in order to keep the people unaware of the totalitarian regime that they are forced to live in. Only when an outsider is brought into this society are their actions questioned. This outsider is unable to understand this society and unable to change people’s ideas. This is a wonderful dystopian story that illuminates the dangers of government control and medicalization.
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Oryx and Crake (Maddaddam Trilogy #1)
by
Margaret Atwood
gooser114
, September 01, 2011
The story opens with Snowman describing his current situation and environment. There has been some kind of event that has eliminated humans and a new species has emerged. Through flashbacks and memories of Snowman the story of how this has occurred is explained. I was captivated by this story. The way the story was told through the intermingling of Snowman’s current state and through his memories created confusion and made the discoveries more impactful. I didn’t feel a particular connection to any of the characters, but it made the detachment that Snowman felt more real. If you like dystopian literature this is a great book to turn to.
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Olive Kitteridge
by
Elizabeth Strout
gooser114
, September 01, 2011
A collection of short stories that all intertwine around Olive Kitteridge in some way. She may be directly involved in the story or is simply mentioned as a past teacher of the narrator. This stories focus on different characters with very different experiences and anecdotes. However the common thread between these stories is Olive Kitteridge. Olive Kitteridge is a character that really takes hold of you. Possibly because Olive is so realistic ��" her flaws, fears, doubts, happiness are all real for any person. A great read that will get you thinking about how an individual impacts another’s life even if for simple reasons.
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How We Are Hungry
by
Dave Eggers
gooser114
, September 01, 2011
Some of the stories, typically the longer ones, were engaging with interesting characters. The stories that I particularly enjoyed were: “Another” and “Up the Mountain Coming Down Slowly.” However, most of the stories seemed to lack a crux. I was not particularly moved or attached to any of the characters or stories. Overall it was a good read, but nothing that I would consider especially remarkable.
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Standing at the Crossroads
by
Charles Davis
gooser114
, September 01, 2011
Even though it is a relatively short book it is truly an impactful story. Each page has beautiful language discussing differences between cultures, religious / ideological disparities, and the fight for continued existence in a war stricken country. Ishmael, a barefoot librarian traveling the country collecting books, meets Kate, who is determined to bring awareness to the atrocities that are occurring in this African nation. They are both trying to evade the Warriors of God, a group of religious zealots who are resolute in destroying anything they don’t understand. While being chased through mountains they stumble upon a little girl fleeing an unknown danger. Eventually a confrontation is destined to take place and the outcome is uncertain.
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