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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
Susan Lock has commented on (3) products
Secret Affairs of the Soul
by
Paul Hawker
Susan Lock
, January 17, 2009
After a profound 40 days & 40 nights in the New Zealand mountains on his own personal quest (Soul Survivor), Paul Hawker became interested in others' experiences with 'the divine' (sometimes expressed as 'God' but more often not). He presents research from surprising sources (Oxford University, for one) documenting events & moments described by many people (more likely to be non-religious & outside religious settings) of connections that often came unbidden & which were profound in the lives of many of the people reporting. A most interesting read by a serious 'seeker'. Hawker approaches his material with a background in documentary films, so he is no stranger to hunting down information. An excellent & most interesting follow-up to his own personal search.
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The Sparrow
by
Mary Doria Russell
Susan Lock
, January 01, 2009
As with all great science fiction, this is more than a story. It is a study in personal spiritual fragility but, more importantly, a study in first contact between cultures. Setting the tale off-world allows the author to explore this issue while keeping the reader no wiser than the explorers as to the facts at hand. With the best of intentions (something previous earthly explorers may or may not have possessed) a group of carefully chosen & seemingly well-prepared inquirers sets off with great anticipation of meeting the first intelligent off-world culture ever located. To my chagrin, I found myself making many of the same assumptions as the protagonists & came to appreciate the many difficulties inherent in encountering a new culture for the first time. To her great credit, the author keeps the reader on the edge of his/her seat through every twist & turn of the plot, revealing one surprise after another. I found the writing rich & deep & the characters well-developed. The wild plot ride was often breathtaking & the source for much soul-searching, both personally & culturally. Easy to point fingers of blame in historical hindsight, but what if we were having first-contact now, with all our supposed sophistication & awareness? Beyond that, what does this suggest about our ability to truly understand another seemingly familiar earth-based culture outside of our own? A great good read & my hat is off to Ms Russell!
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Sister
by
Poppy Adams
Susan Lock
, January 01, 2009
A mouldering old English mansion, Gothic undercurrents, family obsessions & misperceptions, tragedies, an eerie-voiced narrator - all add up to a wonderfully convoluted read for a winter's night. Add to these a most unusual additional character: moths. Who would have thought that moths could occupy such a prominent place - both for this unusual family constellation and also for the reader? Manipulation & dissection of specimens both winged & filial will keep the reader nose-in-book for many satisfying hours.
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