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Browsers' Bookstore Newsletter for December, 2005

STORE NEWS

Thank you to everyone who helped make our Anniversary Sale a success! A two-day sale was a bit tiring, but I'm thinking we might just do it again next year...

This holiday season, Browsers' would like your help in donating books to two local groups. The first group is Waypoint Corvallis, which helps raise funds for the Corvallis School District. (Remember our sidewalk sale earlier this year? Waypoint is the organization that handled all of the proceeds from that benefit sale.) The second is Dixie School, which is the Linn-Benton Counties Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education school. I can tell you from personal experience that a lot of the books in these classes are very beat up.

On our front counter is a tree with star-shaped donation cards. For every book you buy for one of these schools, Browsers' will donate another of equal value. Picture books, board books, pop-ups, etc. will be sent along to the Dixie School, and chapter books and most non-fiction books will be sent to older kids via Waypoint. You can either buy a specific book, or buy a star and we'll select some nice books: $2 for chapter books, $3 for picture books.

Thanks in advance for whatever you can do to help our young readers.

THIS MONTH'S HIGHLIGHTS

We've purchased some great items for you this month! You know how much I like to group books into "themes" so we'll start off with those, and then get to a few nice items at the end, including a neat book by Darwin.

Our first theme is super fun! These are history books written by . . . adventure novelists!! I'm not talking about Tom Clancy writing a non-fiction book about submarines -- how different, really, can that be from Hunt for Red October? Check these out:

1. Pharos and Parillon: A Novelist's Sketchbook of Alexandria Through the Ages. E. M. Forster. What?? This is the guy who wrote Howards End, A Passage to India, and A Room with a View -- what's he doing writing an historical overview of an Egyptian city? This book was first published in 1923, the copy we have is from 1962. An unusual but cool complement to any collection of his novels. $7.50

2. The Rulers of the Mediterranean. Richard Harding Davis. Davis has been called the "first modern war correspondent", and was one of the most influential (and sensational) reporters of his time. He was buddies with Theodore Roosevelt and is credited with helping generate the legend surrounding the Rough Riders. He also wrote several popular adventure novels. This book, however, is a record of his travels in the Mediterranean. Okay, so it's not exactly a history, but makes fascinating armchair travelling, well told by a pro. Illustrated, 1893. $7.50

3. The Steel Bonnets: The Story of the Anglo-Scottish Border Reivers. George MacDonald Fraser. Ha, ha, ha, ha, I could not believe my eyes when I came upon this book. Fraser is the author of the ribald historical adventure novels Flashman , two of which were serialized in Playboy. (One was voted Playboy novel of the year!) He also wrote the screenplay for Octopussy. Crazy! In 1943, at the age of 18, Fraser joined the Border Regiment, stationed in India. He apparently was promoted several times, but then was demoted, once for losing a tea urn. At any rate, he was a journalist for a while, then turned to fiction as an escape. This book, which covers the 13th-16th century Anglo-Scottish borderlands, was first published in 1971; we have a 2001 trade paperback reprint. $11.50

Awesome! The next theme is . . . a few of my favorites:

4. The Book of the Dun Cow. Walter Wangerin. This is sort of a mix of Richard Adams' Watership Down and C.S. Lewis' Narnia series: it is a rather grim animal-character story like Adams', and it is a Christian allegory like Narnia. Throw in Animal Farm, and you've got this book. At any rate, it's a wonderful book that I've read a couple of times, though it is not necessarily a happy read (hey, does Oprah know about this one?) After all, the sequel - also good - is called The Book of Sorrows. $7.99 (we also usually have a paperback in the science fiction room for $1.50-$2.00.)

5. A Little Schubert. M. B. Goffstein. This guy writes the most adorable and poignant kids books. My favorite is My Noah's Ark. Check our picture books section for any of his little books, they are great to read to any preschooler. $1.50.

6. I May Not Be Totally Perfect, But Parts of Me Are Excellent. Ashleigh Brilliant. This guy is hilarious! The book is filled with his own quotes and drawings. Each of his "Brilliant Thoughts" are seventeen words or less, they must be able to be translated into any language and still retain their humor and insight, and they must have a universal meaning. A few random examples:
-- I live in a world of my own, but visitors are always welcome.
-- Due to circumstances beyond my control, I am master of my fate and captain of my soul.
-- My opinions may have changed, but not the fact that I am right. (hahahaha - I love this one!)
Silly, I know, but I happen to own three of his books, and I probably flip through them more than 90% of the rest of my books! $2.50

Our next theme is for those of you in dire need of . . . great gifts!

7. American Indian Medicine. Virgil Vogel. A fine copy of a trade paperback reprint of this classic study of the botany and history of Native American medicine. An excellent read for the historian, doctor, or ecologist. $14.99

8. Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades. Steve Solomon. The fifth edition, published 2000, in perfect condition. Probably the most requested gardening book in Corvallis, it is a perfect gift for your favorite local gardener. $9.50

9. I Ching: The First Complete Translation with Concordance. Rudolf Ritsema and Stephen Karcher. This is beyond me, but is a great gift for anyone interested in Chinese philosophy and religion. Comprehensive, 816 pages, great condition, yours for only $9.99!

Okay, those are my sales pitches. Now, let's go on to the expensive stuff!

10. Albert Bierstadt: Art & Enterprise. Nancy Anderson & Linda Ferber. Bierstadt painted great landscapes of the American West in the 1860s. He was tremendously popular at the time, but died virtually forgotten in 1902. The 1860s were the era of the "Great Picture" - an enormous painting, usually of a popular subject with a single-picture exhibition, pamphlet, engraving, and tour - and Bierstadt was a master of this. The late 20th century has seen a revival of interest in this artist. An excellent book with plenty of text and nice reproductions in color and b & w. Trade paperback, $50

11. Bunraku: Japan's Unique Puppet Theatre. Shuzaburo Hironaga. This is the first comprehensive book ever written in English on the 300-year-old puppet theatre of Japan. It covers the puppets, the history of the theatre, and the bulk of the book gives synopses of the 100 most important plays. Includes photos and drawings. These puppets are very cool - they're about three feet tall, have moving facial features, and are operated by three puppeteers. Unlike Western puppeteers, these guys are perfectly visible on stage. A few notes on the female puppets - they have no legs, and they are made with a sad face ("It must also be realized, of course, that Bunraku heroines are far more often in situations which call for unhappy expressions than they are in those which would bring them joy.") Hardcover with acceptable DJ, $50

12. A Home for Tandy. Audrey & Harvey Hirsch. Illustrated by Tim & Greg Hildebrandt. "The Brothers Hildebrandt", as they are known today, reached international fame by creating the Star Wars poster, although they generated a more devoted fan base with their Lord of the Rings calendars in the 1970s, and have been among the foremost fantasy artists ever since. They got their big start by illustrating children's books, starting in 1969. The book we have is from 1971, and is the tale of a little elf who must find a home for winter. A nice little kids' fantasy, with big illustrations on every page. Not in perfect condition, but only $15.

13. Brick and Marble in the Middle Ages: Notes of Tours in the North of Italy. George Edmund Street. 1876, 2nd edition. The first edition of this was published in 1855, and was highly influential in its time. Later, the author was to work with William Morris. This book includes Street's own and other artists' sketches of exteriors, interiors and floor plans, as well as some color plates showing brickwork, pavement patterns, etc. Beautifully bound in red leather, marbled endpapers and fore edges. An important and lovely addition to an architectural collection. $150. 14. Insectivorous Plants. Charles Darwin. In his later life, Darwin spent five years (1875-1880) studying plants closely, and this book is the first of five publications to come out of that time. In addition to describing insectivorous plants, he also covers their adaptation to harsh environments. It is 462 pages, and contains many small illustrations. This is the "fourth thousand" printing from 1876 which is a year after the first printing, and still before a revised, second edition was published. Some discoloration to covers, but still a very cool early work by a hugely influential scientist. $200

THIRD THURSDAY

Just a reminder that we are open until 7:30 on the third Thursday of every month for a live Celtic open jam session. So, if you play any kind of instrument, or if you enjoy listening to Celtic music, or if you just want to browse, come on in!

This newsletter is long enough! Thank you very much for a fun year, and I hope your holidays are joyful, warm, and relaxing.

Scott Givens

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