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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
Paul K has commented on (8) products
Words of Radiance
by
Brandon Sanderson
Paul K
, December 07, 2014
Do you like fantasy books? Have you read all of Game of Thrones currently available? All of The Kingkiller Chronicles? Well then you need to read The Stormlight Archive. Book 1 (The Way of Kings) is a fantastic introduction to the series and sets up all the main characters well. Then the second books explodes into the stratosphere. It was so good I just could not put it down for the last 250 pages. The characters are really well developed, the plot is compelling and at times totally unexpected, and the action is riveting. One of my favorite books of the year. I cannot wait for book 3!
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The Master and Margarita
by
Mikhail Bulgakov
Paul K
, October 23, 2014
I read this book as a 16 year old and I really liked it. However, reading comments by published authors on the book, and doing a little research on the political message of the book, I realize I didn't "get" a lot of what the book meant. Yet I enjoyed reading it. The book is very creative and magical and presents a world where talking cats and visits from the devil are part of everyday life. I would highly recommend reading it and starting out with an open mind for whatever. I guess knowing what I do know about politics I am going to have to read this book again.
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Way of Kings Stormlight Archive 01
by
Brandon Sanderson
Paul K
, May 13, 2014
I have read many fantasy books and many series, and Brandon Sanderson is emerging as one of my favorite authors. This list is topped by Tolkien, but putting Sanderson in the same class as JRR is completely appropriate. If you like epic fantasy novels that encompass not just Kingdoms but Worlds, then but this book. The character development is phenomenal, which I think is really Sanderson's strength. Sometimes the plot feels like its dragging, but that's because he spends so much time getting the reader into the lives of the characters, and it makes all the difference when the plot does advance because you truly care. Don't be daunted by the size, this book is fantastic and worth the extra few weeks it will take to finish. The second book in the series just came out and I cannot wait to read it.
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Compass of Pleasure: How Our Brains Make Fatty Foods, Orgasm, Exercise, Marijuana, Generosity, Vodka, Learning, and Gambling Feel So Good
by
David J. Linden
Paul K
, March 21, 2014
David Linden is a very well respected Neuroscientist, and he understands how the brain works at a mechanistic level that many popular science writers don't. This level of understanding is combined with a gift for writing into a book that explores the brain and specifically the pleasure and reward circuits of the brain. If you are interested in neuroscience, in how the brain works, and in understanding why we do what we do, check out this book. It makes you think.
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Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking
by
Malcolm Gladwell
Paul K
, March 18, 2014
Blink was an interesting read and gave me a new perspective on a phenomenon that I had noticed before, specifically that my gut reactions were often the best reactions. This is a science-y book without being too "science-y." I learned a lot, without feeling like I was learning, and I had lots of fun too. If you're going to read any Malcolm Gladwell books, this is the one. If you're just looking for a fun read and to learn something new - this is also the book for you. Enjoy!
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The Martian
by
Andy Weir
Paul K
, February 16, 2014
The Martian is a modern Sci-Fi story that reads as a historical novel brought back in time. What makes this book so great is that author did his Research on what equipment NASA has and could have in the near future for a trip to Mars. Do the astronauts travel by magical warp engines? No, they use very real ion drive technology. Do they use magic terraforming to colonize bits of Mars? No way! They use technology that we have today to set up camps on Mars. All of these details make this sci-fi novel a great read, because you're drawn into a scenario in your mind where this plot is very, very real. The book is written from the perspective of one astronaut writing journal entries, with some interspersed first-person narrative from within NASA. I thought this style gave deep insight into the main character's trials on Mars, but that it also sometimes got a bit hard to read, since the journal entries almost felt too personal. Other than that, I really enjoyed reading this book, and I hope you do too!
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Mistborn Final Empire Mistborn 01
by
Brandon Sanderson
Paul K
, January 28, 2014
This is one of those books where you imagine a really cool scene months after finishing the book and you think "what was that scene from? it was so cool!" This books is really fun to read and it offers some quality fantasy fiction without the commitment of multiple thousand-page books. There is really good character development, a good plot line and some really interesting ideas. I stopped reading the trilogy after the first book, but I recently just bought Well of Ascension because I wanted to read more! The first book is pretty good as a stand-alone novel though.
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The Phantom Tollbooth
by
Norton Juster
Paul K
, January 27, 2014
I can almost definitively say that this book sparked my curiosity in the world, and led me to start thinking about everything in a new way. And today I am getting my PhD in Neuroscience, so clearly this book molds young minds into scientist patterns. Clearly. But seriously, this is a book about puns and words and math, but it is fun and imaginative and, though it was written 50 years ago, still very relevant to life today. I think all children should read this book, or have it read to them by an adult before bedtime.
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