Bookshop Santa Cruz

“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.

Too excited to wait until the Saturday, September 20th release of the third title in Christopher Paolini’s Eragon Inheritance series? Bookshop Santa Cruz is here to save the day (or rather the night) and will be having a midnight release on Friday, September 19th for Brisingr, Inheritance Book ... (more)3. We last left Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, after the colossal battle against the Empire's warriors on the Burning Plains, having narrowly escaped with their lives. But there is more at hand for the Rider and his dragon, as Eragon finds himself bound by a tangle of promises he may not be able to keep. When unrest claims the rebels and danger strikes from every corner, Eragon must make choices that may lead to unimagined sacrifice. Be the first to find out what happens and pick up your copy of Brisingr on Friday, September 19th for the midnight release of the book. Books can be picked up outside the Pacific Avenue door starting at midnight where there will also be treats and giveaways. Call us ahead at (831) 423-0900 to order your copy now!

“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!

Bookshop Santa Cruz’s Community Book Group Led by Julie Minnis with a discussion with JOHN HUBNER “Last Chance in Texas: The Redemption of Criminal Youth” BOOKSHOP’S FOURTH BOOK GROUP We are celebrating our fourth Community Book Group—a monthly Book Group, open to everyone in the community ... (more)and centered on works by local authors. Bookshop’s next community selection is with Santa Cruz resident, John Hubner, for his book, Last Chance in Texas: The Redemption of Criminal Youth. A powerful, bracing and deeply spiritual look at intensely, troubled youth, Last Chance in Texas gives a stirring account of the way one remarkable prison rehabilitates its inmates. Cutting through the political platitudes surrounding the controversial issue of juvenile justice, Hubner lays bare the complex ties between abuse and violence. By turns wrenching and uplifting, Last Chance in Texas tells a profoundly moving story about the children who grow up to inflict on others the violence that they themselves have suffered. It is a story of horror and heartbreak, yet ultimately full of hope. The meeting will feature a discussion at 7:30pm facilitated by Julie Minnis, followed by a dialogue with the author John Hubner at 8:00 pm. Last Chance in Texas will be discounted to the whole community at 10% off its cover price from August 26th until the September 25th meeting date (for those last minute readers!). We hope you’ll join us!

DONNA HARAWAY, professor in the History of Consciousness Department at UCSC, will read and sign copies of her new book, WHEN SPECIES MEET. Whom do we touch when we touch a dog? How does this touch shape our multispecies world? As never before in history, our pets are truly members of the ... (more)family. But the notion of “companion species”--knotted from human beings, animals and other organisms, landscapes, and technologies--includes much more than “companion animals.” In When Species Meet, Haraway digs into this larger phenomenon to contemplate the interactions of humans with many kinds of critters, especially with those called domestic. “When Species Meet is a breathtaking meditation on the intersection between humankind and dog, philosophy and science, and macro and micro cultures.” --Cameron Woo, Publisher of Bark magazine

Led by Julie Minnis with a discussion with Elizabeth McKenzie Stop that Girl BOOKSHOP’S FIRST BOOK GROUP In addition to launching our Book Group Registration Program ... (more)in March, this summer, Bookshop will be starting our own monthly Book Group—open to everyone in the community and centered around works by local authors. Our first Book Group selection is Elizabeth McKenzie’s Stop that Girl. The first half of the meeting at 7:30pm will feature a discussion facilitated by Julie Minnis, followed by a dialogue with the author Elizabeth McKenzie at 8:00 pm. Stop that Girl will be discounted to the whole community at 10% off its cover price from May 1st until the June 12th meeting date (for those last minute readers!). We hope you’ll join us!

Led by Julie Minnis with a discussion with Todd Newberry. The Ardent Birder: The Craft of Birdwatching BOOKSHOP’S SECOND BOOK GROUP 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 ... (more)selection is Todd Newberry’s The Ardent Birder. The meeting will feature a discussion at 7:30pm facilitated by Julie Minnis, followed by a dialogue with the author Todd Newberry at 8:00pm. The Ardent Birder will be discounted to the whole community at 10% off its cover price from June 12th until the July 24th meeting date (for those last minute readers!). We hope you’ll join us!

American Girl Party featuring Kit, from the 1930's Depression Era

Little Bookworms Vampire Ball: Breaking Dawn Release PartyFriday, August 1st from 10 p.m. until midnight Breaking Dawn will be released at 12:01 a.m. The wait is almost over . . . Join Little Bookworms for an amazing vampire ball to celebrate the midnight release of the final installment in Stephenie ... (more)Meyer’s Twilight Saga. Come in prom attire (if you want) for an unforgettable party — music, dancing, refreshments, trivia contests, photos and activities. Admission is one pre-order of Breaking Dawn ($22.99) per family. Call, visit, or pre-order right now online. If you order online we will send your voucher in the mail. Vouchers will be checked at the entrance. Don’t miss this unforgettable event – pre-order your book today!

“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!

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!