LibraryThing Local

“Mediterranean Fresh: A Compendium of One-Plate Salad Meals and Mix-and-Match Dressings” Many of us know Joyce Goldstein for her food advice as a columnist in the San Francisco Chronicle. But did you know that for twelve years she was chef-owner of Square One, the pioneering San Francisco Mediterranean ... (more)restaurant? Now, in Mediterranean Fresh, Ms. Goldstein gives us the inside view to her savvy advice to great Mediterranean meals that are perfect for summer. Mediterranean salads can be anything from tabbouleh to white beans and prawns in a lemony dressing to small plates of mezze, antipasti and tapas. Joyce Goldstein shows how to make 140 of these delicious, healthy, easy-to-prepare dishes for a sensuous and satisfying meal. With thirty versatile dressings, the reader will expand their salad horizons. By changing the dressing and garnish, a chopped salad can become Moroccan, Spanish or Turkish. Roasted peppers can be Italian with anchovies and olives or spicy with a Tunisian harissa dressing. Beets and greens can move to France with walnut vinaigrette or to the Middle East with tahini dressing. Goldstein explains the art of dressing a salad and how to use dressings as marinades, spreads, dips and finishing sauces. Along the way the cook will learn how to taste, balance flavors and develop their palate. This is a perfect title for both the beginning chef as well as the expert! Bookshop Santa Cruz is delighted to welcome Ms. Goldstein—an outstanding cookbook author and one of our favorites—to our store, where she’ll share more of her food wisdom, answer questions from the audience, and sign copies of her book. You will be able to sample recipes from Mediterranean Fresh (featuring ingredients from the Santa Cruz Farmer’s Market) at this event!

The King of Marathons Runs the Kings Highway! Dean Karnazes, bestselling author of 'Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner' will introduce his new book '50/50: Secrets I Learned Running 50 Marathons in 50 Days -- And How You Too Can Achieve Super Endurance' by running to Books Inc. stores ... (more)on the Peninsula that are adjacent to El Camino Real. Along the way, Dean will stop and sign books and chat with fellow running enthusiasts. The Starting Line at Books Inc. in Mountain View at 9:00 am A 10K Respite at Books Inc. in Palo Alto at Noon Crossing the finish line at Books Inc. in Burlingame at 4:00 pm

Vedic scholar and Sanskritist(and Toadstool bookseller!) George Thompson has produced a fresh new translation of the Bhagavad Gita, based in current scholarship, and meant to be as accurate, accessible, and engaging as possible.

NEW DATE! This event is now taking place on Tuesday, August 26th!Led by Julie Minnis and including a discussion with Jonathan Franzen. Celebrating our third Community Book Group—a monthly Book Group, open to everyone in the community and centered around works by local authors. Bookshop’s next community ... (more)selection is local summer resident, Jonathan Franzen, for his book The Corrections. The meeting will feature a discussion at 7:30pm facilitated by Julie Minnis, followed by a dialogue with the author Jonathan Franzen at 8:15 pm. The Corrections will be discounted to the whole community at 10% off its cover price from July 24th until the August 28th meeting date (for those last minute readers!). We hope you’ll join us!

Led by Julie Minnis and including a discussion with Jonathan Franzen. Celebrating our second Community Book Group—a monthly Book Group, open to everyone in the community and centered around works by local authors. Bookshop’s next community selection is local summer resident, Jonathan Franzen, for ... (more)his book The Corrections.. The meeting will feature a discussion at 7:30pm facilitated by Julie Minnis, followed by a dialogue with the author Jonathan Franzen at 8:15 pm. The Corrections will be discounted to the whole community at 10% off its cover price from July 24th until the August 28th meeting date (for those last minute readers!). We hope you’ll join us!

Local author Moazzam Sheikh will read from his short story collection ‘The Idol Lover.’ These sexually-charged tales unfold against a backdrop of colonization and ethnic tensions in Pakistan and the Middle East, and they also explore the immigrant's dilemma in the United States.

Join Diesel Bookstore as investigative journalist & author, Nena Baker presents and signs her compelling new book, The Body Toxic: How the Hazardous Chemistry of Everyday Things Threatens Our Health and Well-being. Nena spent a quarter century in the trenches of journalism before writing THE BODY TOXIC. ... (more) She began her career in New York as a copy editor for GQ magazine, later moving on to positions at TV Guide and a jewelry trade magazine, where she exposed the illegal disposal of toxic chemicals by retail jewelers. She also worked as a reporter and editor on the national financial desk of United Press International in New York before returning to her home state of Oregon, where, as an awrd-winning staff writer for The Oregonian, she was the first U.S. reporter to investigate deplorable conditions at Nike's Indonesian factories. Her writing has appeared in SELF, Town & Country, Seventeen, and Mademoiselle. A graduate of Lewis & Clark College, Baker currently lives in Portland, OR, where she is a licensed private investigator specializing in interviewing, database, and public-records research.

A month of activities celebrating the 5-Year milestone of a successful collaboration—the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, kicked off by a special day featuring exhibits and multicultural activities for all ages, both in the library and on Caret Plaza. Check the library website (www.sjlibrary.org) ... (more)for future announcements with more detail, or call (408) 808 -2355.

A month of activities celebrating the 5-Year milestone of a successful collaboration—the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library—kicked off on September 6 with exhibits and multicultural activities for all ages. Activities highlight opportunities for learning together at San José’s landmark library. ... (more)Check the library website (www.sjlibrary.org) for future announcements with more detail, or call (408) 808 -2355. This month long celebration ends on Sunday, October 5, 2008

Book sales are held on the second Saturday of the month. Location: Campbell Library, Lower Level. 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

10:30am - 12:30pm Jeff Towle will give a poetry reading from A Future of Remebrances.

10:30am-12:30pm Local Poet Don Young reads from & signs his new poetry collection.

Educator Night: Including Surprise Authors!

Celebrating the opening of the NEW Willow Glen Library!

“Crime” Irvine Welsh, cult novelist most known for his title Trainspotting has written a sizzling new novel, Crime; a thrilling journey into the bright glamor of the Sunshine State and a seething underworld of utter darkness. Now bereft of both youth and ambition, Detective Inspector Ray Lennox ... (more)is recovering from a mental breakdown induced by occupational stress and cocaine abuse, and a particularly horrifying child sex murder case back in Edinburgh. On vacation in Florida, his fiancée Trudi is only interested in planning their forthcoming wedding, and a bitter argument sees a deranged Lennox cast adrift in strip-mall Florida. In a seedy bar, Lennox meets two women, ending up at their apartment for a coke binge, which is interrupted by two menacing strangers. After the ensuing brawl, Lennox finds himself alone with Tianna, the terrified ten-year-old daughter of one of the women, and a sheet of instructions that make him responsible for her immediate safety. Lennox takes the girl to an exclusive marina on the Gulf coast, and quickly suspects that he has stumbled into a hornet’s nest: a gang or organized paedophiles, every bit as threatening as the monster that haunted him back in Edinburgh. His priority is to protect the abused girl, but can the edgy Lennox trust his own instincts? And can he negotiate her inappropriate sexuality as well as his own mental fragility? In Crime, Welsh has written his most thoughtful and nuanced story yet, a shocking and gripping tale about the corruption and abuse of the human soul and the possibilities of redemption. Bookshop Santa Cruz can’t wait to welcome Mr. Welsh here for the reading and signing of this new title.

Release of the new Christopher Paolini novel:BRISINGR All copies purchased before the release date of September 20 will receive a 20% discount from Hicklebee's! (List Price: $27.95)

Diesel Bookstore is proud to welcome back Irvine Welsh, the bestselling author of Trainspotting as he presents his newest book, Crime. As Welsh's very first novel set in the U.S., CRIME is a shocking and gripping story about the corruption and abuse of the human soul, and the possibilities for redemption.

“We Bought a Zoo” PLEASE NOTE SPECIAL TIME In the market for a house and an adventure, Benjamin Mee moved his family to an unlikely new home: a dilapidated zoo in the English countryside. Mee had a dream to refurbish the zoo and run it as a family business. His friends and colleagues thought he ... (more)was crazy. But Mee's pipedream became a reality when, in October of 2006, he and the rest of the Mee clan-wife Katherine, son Mil (age 6), daughter Ella (age 4), brother Duncan, and his 76-year-old mother, all moved into the Dartmoor Wildlife Park. Their extended family now included: Solomon, an African lion and scourge of the local golf course; Zak, the rickety Alpha wolf, a broadly benevolent dictator clinging to power; Ronnie, a Brazilian tapir, easily capable of killing a man, but hopelessly soppy; and Sovereign, a jaguar and would-be ninja, who has devised a long term escape plan and implemented it. The grand reopening of the zoo was scheduled for the spring, but there was much work to be done and none of it easy given the family' lack of experience as zookeepers. Tigers broke loose, money was tight, the staff was skeptical, and family tensions ran high. Then tragedy struck. Katherine Mee, Benjamin's wife, had a recurrence of cancer-a brain tumor-and died at the age of 40 in April, forcing Benjamin and his children to face the heartbreak of illness and the devastating loss of a wife and mother. But inspired by her memory and the healing power of the incredible family of animals they had grown to love, Benjamin and his kids resolved to move forward. Inspired by the memory of his wife and the power of his surroundings, Benjamin and his family opened the revitalized zoo to great success in July 2007. We Bought a Zoo is a profoundly moving portrait of an unforgettable family living in the most extraordinary circumstances. Bookshop Santa Cruz is proud to welcome Mr. Mee here and here is unconventional tale of family, love, and healing.

“Coming Clean: Breaking America’s Addiction to Oil & Coal” Personal friend and co-worker with Al Gore, Michael Brune has made green living his personal goal in the face of global warming and our present reliability on oil. According to recent polls, more than three-quarters of Americans believe ... (more)our nation should be energy-independent, and more than 70 percent believe our government should do more to help arrest climate change. Yet Congress and the White House take only tiny steps toward these goals, and large-scale investment in clean energy lags far behind the urgent demand. Why? And what can we do about it? In this timely book, Michael Brune, executive director of Rainforest Action Network (RAN), shows us how we, as motivated citizens, can engage in promoting solutions and collectively pressure policymakers and corporations to change their energy priorities. His vivid reports remind us of the economic, environmental, moral, and public-health costs of fossil-fuel dependence, and how our government and financial institutions are complicit. Brune also describes the most promising developments in renewables, biofuels, and efficient design, and outlines an inspiring vision of the clean energy future within our reach. Under Brune's leadership, RAN has had stunning success in getting corporations--including Home Depot, FedEx Kinko's, Citigroup, and Bank of America--to green their business practices, and his activist skills and passion are at the heart of this book. Offering well-tested action strategies, Coming Clean is rooted in the author's faith that Americans acting together can create profound change. Bookshop Santa Cruz is happy to welcome Mr. Brune here for what is sure to be an enlightening and educational night!

Teachers, librarians and parents who want to learn about the newest books, join us as children's books expert Valerie Lewis, offers an energetic presentation of her fall favorites.Valerie is the co-owner of Hicklebee;s and co-author of Valerie and Walter's Walter's Best books for children:A Lively Opinionated ... (more)Guide ($17.95, Harper). Please register for this popular event. Hand outs are provided for participants only.

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Join Hicklebee's Co-owner & author Valerie Lewis as she previews the best of the Fall 2008 titles for Preschool through Kindergarten. Here, you'll find lots of ideas for classroom use or bringing more enjoyment to the experience of reading with your child.This is a popular event so please call 408-292-8880 ... (more)or Email us for reservations!

Hip Hop Speaks to Children is a celebration of poetry with a beat, created by National Book Award nominee, Spoken Word Grammy nominee and New York Times best-selling author Nikki Giovanni, who led an advisory board comprised of leading hip hop poet Willie Perdomo, Howard University professor Tony Medina ... (more)and music specialist Michele Scott. Like Poetry Speaks to Children, the classic book and CD that started it all, this anthology is meant to be the beginning of a journey of discovery. Readers can immerse themselves in 51 selections from 42 poets and performers, and 30 performances on the audio CD, many recorded specially for this collection.Nikki Giovanni brings power and passion to everything she does, and is extremely enthusiastic with regard to the message of Hip Hop Speaks to Children and its ability to break ground and open up a new world to boys and girls. YES, poetry can be fun, hip hop can be hopeful and together they can inspire.

Join Diesel Bookstore for a green event with Van Jones, author of Green Collar Economy! ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Van Jones is the founder and president of Green For All, based in Oakland. The mission is to help build an inclusive, green economy - strong enough to lift millions of people out of poverty. Van ... (more)is a tireless advocate, championing "green-collar jobs and opportunities" for disadvantaged people. He is committed to creating "green pathways out of poverty," while greatly expanding the coalition fighting global warming. He's worked to combine solutions to America's two biggest problems: social inequality and environmental destruction. Under the slogan "green-collar jobs, not jails," he is calling for green economic development in urban America. As an advocate for the toughest urban constituencies and causes, he has won many honors, which include the 1998 Reebok International Human Rights Award, the international Ashoka Fellowship, selection as a World Economic Forum "Young Global Leader," and the Rockefeller Foundation "Next Generation Leadership" Fellowship. He's also served on the boards of numerous national environmental organizations. Presently, he is a board member of the National Apollo Alliance, which advocates for clean energy jobs. He is also a founding board member of 1Sky, a national coalition working to avert catastrophic climate change. In 2007, Van helped the City of Oakland pass a "Green Jobs Corps" proposal; the City allocated funds to train Oakland residents in eco-friendly "green-collar jobs." At the national level, Van worked successfully in 2007 with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), U.S. Rep. Hilda Solis (D-CA), U.S. Rep. John Tierney (D-MASS) to pass the Green Jobs Act of 2007. That path-breaking, historic legislation authorized $125 million in funding to train 35,000 people a year in "green-collar jobs." Van is also a co-founder of a new national coalition that promotes the idea of a national "Clean Energy Jobs Corps." This multi-billion-dollar federal initiative would put hundreds of thousands of people to work rewiring and retrofitting the energy infrastructure of the United States. In 2005, Van produced the "Social Equity Track" for the United Nations' World Environment Day celebration. UNWED 2005 drew dozens of mayors from around the world to San Francisco, where they developed policies promoting the concept of "Green Cities." In 1996, Van co-founded (with Diana Frappier) the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, now located in Oakland, California. Named for an unsung civil rights heroine, the award-winning Center promotes alternatives to violence and incarceration. The Center, for which Van serves as board president, incubated Green For All in 2007 and spun it off in 2008. His many media appearances includes the popular Peabody award-winning show, The Colbert Report.

Join Clare Langley-Hawthorne at Diesel Bookstore as she presents the second book in her fantastic new historical mystery series! Featuring the strong, outspoken, intelligent and sassy Ursula Marlow, THE SERPENT AND THE SCORPION is a thrilling story of scandal and betrayal that's richly detailed and ... (more)action-packed. ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Clare Langley-Hawthorne was raised in England and Australia. She practiced law in Melbourne until 1995 when she emigrated moved to the United States and began work as a health economist. Clare has since put her pursuit of a PhD on hold to focus on her career as a writer. She lives in the San Francisco bay area with her husband and twin sons. This is her second novel. For more information, visit her web site at www.clarelangleyhawthorne.com

Book sales are held on the second Saturday of the month. Location: Campbell Library, Lower Level. 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard ($12.99, Scholastic) Coming this December 4th! J.K. Rowling says, "The new edition will include the Tales themselves, translated from the original runes by Hermione Granger, and with illustrations by me, but also notes by Professor Albus Dumbledore, which appear by generous ... (more)permission of the Hogwart's Headmaster's Archive." Containing clues that were to prove crucial to Harry Potter's final mission to destroy Lord Voldermort's Horcruxes, The Tales of Beedle the Bard is the volume of five wizarding fairy tales left to Hermione Granger by Albus Dumbledore in the seventh and final book. Save 20% when you pre-order your copy from Hicklebee's! 408-292-8880

Book sales are held on the second Saturday of the month. Location: Campbell Library, Lower Level. 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.