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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
Nancy L has commented on (15) products
Manson The Life & Times of Charles Manson
by
Jeff Guinn
Nancy L
, September 15, 2015
I didn't feel curious about Manson so wasn't initially inclined to read this. But, I really enjoyed Jeff Guinn's "Go Down Together", about Bonnie and Clyde so I picked this book up on impulse and, am so glad I did. Guinn does a great job tying the whole set of circumstances together and creating a story that while horrifying in facts, is a satisfying read. It takes you back to the days when the Manson Family fascinated those who knew them, but didn't know what they were capable of. It also puts the reader into the frame of mind everyone had before becoming de-sensitized to the story of their crimes.
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The Man in the Rockefeller Suit: The Astonishing Rise and Spectacular Fall of a Serial Impostor
by
Mark Seal
Nancy L
, July 05, 2015
I love true crime; but not the gruesome accounts of violent killers as much as the fascinating stories of those who manage to lead double lives. The Man in the Rockefeller Suit is astonishing. Not only did Christian Gerhartsreiter manage to dupe people for 30 years; he duped the Boston Brahmins of Beacon Hill into thinking he was a member of the Rockefeller family and conned his way into the most exclusive private clubs. He duped people in the Manhattan art world into thinking he had a world-class art collection. He hid his native German accent by imitating Thurston Howell, III of Gilligan's Island! He also duped a Stanford and Harvard educated woman into marrying him and believing he had fabulous wealth, but no access to it. How did he charm and lie his way into such intelligent people's lives without them realizing he had no documented past? The story of Gerhartsreiter's amazing path to wealth and privilege; and of course his downward spiral as the truth unfolds is a great summer read, especially if you enjoy truth that is stranger than fiction.
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The Patriarch: The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy
by
David Nasaw
Nancy L
, November 22, 2013
I only thought I knew who Joe Kennedy was. Nasaw's biography is a very well-written account of a remarkably talented and shrewd, yet incredibly naive man. It's a fascinating story: He made his millions in the pre-depression stock market, then became the first chairman of the SEC, where the laws were written that criminalized his money-making schemes! As ambassador to the UK he was such a loose cannon that FDR kept him in the dark. He believed Hitler could be negotiated with long after all evidence pointed to the contrary. I really enjoyed the insights into his family life. Despite all the stories of harsh competitiveness and philandering, he was clearly a devoted father. His determined influence on his sons' decisions to enter politics is poignant. As always, a good biography teaches history. The run-up to WWII, and Kennedy's activities and their relationship with the Catholic church during JFK's political rise were especially interesting. For people my age, the sons have overshadowed the father, making Joe Kennedy's story all the more compelling.
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Enemies A History of the FBI
by
Tim Weiner
Nancy L
, January 22, 2013
As he did in Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA, Tim Weiner takes us through history, this time as the FBI is created and evolves. The focus is on intelligence and national security; I was surprised there wasn't more content on famous criminal cases. Of course, the story of J. Edgar Hoover is a large part of the FBI's story, and I think Weiner did a good job of describing the offensive and eccentric side of Hoover, while also attempting to give the reader Hoover's perspective. It is interesting to learn how the presidents have worked (or not) with the FBI, and how the modern-day FBI continues to struggle to define itself and its mission.
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Barbarian Nurseries
by
Hector Tobar
Nancy L
, January 22, 2013
Contemporary fiction at its finest. The Barbarian Nurseries depicts one family's marital struggles as they live the American dream and cope with their relationship, parenting, and present-day financial insecurity in L.A. The story has a strong sense of place, but it's not set in the L.A. of movie stars and Disneyland. It's the L.A. where families really live. Both parents separately decide to take a temporary break, and leave without telling each other, or their maid Araceli, an illegal immigrant from Mexico. As a bewildered Araceli makes one uninformed, but thoughtful decision after another during the parent's absence; the story becomes a real page-turner. I could not put it down until I found out what happened to the kids, and to the parents when they realized what they'd done, and to Araceli once her ordeal was over.
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Cancer Clinical Trials a Commonsense Guide to Experimental Cancer Therapies & Clinical Trials
by
Beer, Tomasz M. and Axmaker, Larry W.
Nancy L
, August 28, 2012
Drs. Beer and Axmaker have written a helpful resource for people who need more information than a brochure, but less than a textbook, about clinical trials. It's concise in its delivery while providing a comprehensive overview of the clinical trials process. It is well-organized with clear explanations. It's only shortcoming is that the information on potential financial concerns speaks only to issues that affect the insured. The uninsured are not acknowledged.
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When the Mississippi Ran Backwards: Empire, Intrigue, Murder, and the New Madrid Earthquakes of 1811-12
by
Jay Feldman
Nancy L
, August 05, 2012
Where did the largest earthquakes in North America occur? California? Wrong! It was a series along the New Madrid (prounounced Mad-rid) Fault in the Missouri Bootheel, along the Mississippi River in 1811-1812. Feldman chronicles the history of the area leading up to the quake. The people and politics are quite interesting and were largely unfamiliar to me. Anyone who has an interest in earthquakes, American history (specifically pre-civil war history), Mississippi River history, Native American history, or even the history of Pittsburgh or New Orleans would enjoy this book.
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Personal History
by
Katharine Graham
Nancy L
, June 23, 2012
If you enjoy reading autobiographies or American history, this book is for you. Katharine Graham has an interesting story to tell, and she does so with generosity and candor. In addition to her moving personal story, the reader gets a good dose of American history. Although I expected to read much about her role in exposing Watergate, I was pleasantly surprised that much of the book is focused on her and her family's role in government and business (her father was the first head of the World Bank), about her friendships with the the movers and shakers of her time; and her own story of confronting her unquestioned and conventional views on gender roles as she finds herself at the helm of a large corporation.
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Behind the Beautiful Forevers Life Death & Hope in a Mumbai Undercity
by
Katherine Boo
Nancy L
, February 26, 2012
I love non-fiction that reads like a novel. Behind the Beautiful Forevers depicts the compelling dramas that unfold as the author spends time among the citizens of an Indian slum. As they see the luxury highrise hotels, offices, and international airport thrive and grow before their very eyes, the people of the slum literally live off of the trash that is generated by global progress. The Annawadi people deserve to have their story told, and Boo does a remarkable job; not only of reporting their situation, but also of helping the reader understand what they think and how they cope with their lives, their families, and their futures.
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The Warmth Of Other Suns: The Epic Story Of America's Great Migration
by
Isabel Wilkerson
Nancy L
, January 01, 2012
It's always fun to learn history through great story-telling. The Warmth of Other Suns tells an important and often neglected chapter in American history that helped me understand the America of today.
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The Orphan Masters Son
by
Adam Johnson
Nancy L
, December 06, 2011
Who hasn't wondered what life in North Korea is like? The Orphan Master's Son takes us there, where "nothing is spontaneous". Pak Jun Do, "a survivor with nothing to live for" comes of age in extraordinary circumstances. As one who is deemed an orphan, yet knows who is parents are; he learns early on that in North Korea, "if a man and his story are in conflict, it is the man who must change". Through multiple story lines, Jun Do is both perpetrator and victim. He kidnaps and rescues, tortures and nurtures, and serves the "Dear Leader" as soldier, prisoner, expert, and officer. Like people everywhere, he yearns for love and acceptance. After reading the book, I find the story difficult to describe. But I am struck by the images in my mind, many of them haunting, that reading it provoked. I feel they will stay with me long after I've forgotten the details of the book.
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Love at Absolute Zero
by
Christopher Meeks
Nancy L
, November 07, 2011
A 32-year old physicist who studies the behavior of atoms at absolute zero degrees, Gunner Gunderson decides it's time to find a wife. Ever the scientist, he approaches the task of finding love using the scientific method and giving himself a deadline: 3 days. Although the premise is rather contrived, Love at Absolute Zero is an engaging story. Just as atoms become increasingly unpredictable near absolute zero, Gunner finds that the pursuit of romance can lead to unpredictable choices and outcomes. I thought the story's pace was good. The description of Gunner's first trip abroad captured an American's first taste of Europe very well. I would have liked to have more insight into the female characters' thoughts and feelings, but overall found it an entertaining read.
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Rough Guide to Climate Change
by
Robert Henson
Nancy L
, September 12, 2011
Thorough, well-organized and written, The Rough Guide to Climate Change works as both a cover-to-cover read and as a reference book. The science, history, and politics of climate change are presented in an engaging style. After reading this, you'll come away well-equipped to debate, possibly influence, or just have an interesting conversation about our Earth.
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Half a Life
by
Darin Strauss
Nancy L
, June 05, 2011
Darin Strauss feels guilty, although he did nothing wrong. He also grieves for nearly two decades, although he didn't really know the girl who died. In "Half A Life", Strauss describes his experience after driving a car that collided with a bicyclist, who also attended his high school, and who did not survive the crash. It is a compelling read. Strauss' writes using matter-of-fact language, yet his descriptions of his feelings and the effect the accident had on his life are poignant and thought-provoking.
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The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
by
Michelle Alexander
Nancy L
, May 29, 2011
"The New Jim Crow" provides an explanation that absolutely rings true for problems I was aware of (the disproportionate number of African Americans in prison, and harsher sentences for "black" drugs vs. "white" drugs), but lacked an understanding of the underlying causes. The culture and the politics that created the the injustices African-Americans in the U.S. currently face are finely detailed here. Alexander explains clearly how the new racial caste system developed, how it works, and why it works. It is truly eye-opening.
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