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In Sisters
 
and in Redmond

Brad's picks

Brad Smith
Owning Paulina Springs Books since 2003 has been a bit different from the community-owned grocery store he managed for years, but Brad is a glutton for work. He opened Paulina Springs Books in Redmond in 2007 and is active in the independent booksellers association. Brad likes to read books about the absurdity of humanity from religion to farming or any other such area where our culture has become bent. He likes to commune with nature, so maybe that’s why he would like to return in his next life as a thorny devil stick insect called Phasmatidae.

 

Trash (Paperback)

By Andy Mulligan
$7.19
ISBN-13: 9780385752169
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Ember, 10/2011
Other Editions of this Title
After hearing this book reviewed on a radio program I sat down and read it in a single sitting. Set in a 'rubbish town' of India, we follow the story of three dumpsite boys who discover something in their trash picking that sets them on a journey of dangerous adventure and discovery. The story is good, and quickly develops an aura of intigue that sucks the reader in. Best of all, however, is the writing style. Each chapter is told in the voice of a different person. Voices range from Rat, an illiterate orphan living in a 'trash cave', to Olivia, a university student on vacation. Put this book in the hands of just about any young teen and they are likely to be appreciative. A perfect book for a reluctant young male reader.

The Left Hand of God (Paperback)

By Paul Hoffman
$12.00
ISBN-13: 9780451231888
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: NAL Trade, 7/2011
Other Editions of this Title
In his first book of a new epic trilogy, Paul Hoffman captures the attention of readers within a matter of pages. This is not a small book (390 pages), but it rarely drags and kept me wanting to get back to the story at the earliest possible opportunity. The protaganist, Thomas Cale, is a fascinating character albeit strange and extremely secretive. Cale is a 14-year old boy, older than his years by a long shot, whose harsh existence at the hands of the Redeemers has been to prepare him for some future role that is kept secret from the reader. Set in a non-specific geographical location (I thought of it as European, largely because of the technology and historical references) in a non-specific time frame (is it an alternate history to the Crusades or perhaps a post-apocalyptic setting where technology has been reset to earlier times?), the religious cult of the Redeemers have been at war for centuries with the Antagonists, and maintain a distrustful relationship of separation from the Materazzi. Thomas Cale has been prepared for what purpose? To help crush the Antagonists? To crush all but the Redeemers? The many mysteries hanging in the air never slow the action nor dilute the sense of intrigue. You can keep guessing where things are headed, but it's not likely you will be correct. In addition to Cale there are two other primary young characters - Vague Henri and Kleist - making it so the book would easily appeal to teen readers of fantasy. However, the book is dark, violent, and contains warring bloodbaths of a nature that adults should show caution in putting it in the hands of readers younger than 17 or so. Some reviewers I've read felt the humor in the book was misplaced. I on the other hand found the humor to be refreshing and made the storyline more human and believable. The second book in the trilogy The Last Four Things releases this fall. While the first ends with obvious unfinished business, it is a fully satisfying read on it's own.

Putting Away Childish Things: A Novel of Modern Faith (Paperback)

By Marcus J. Borg
$11.99
ISBN-13: 9780061888168
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: HarperOne, 5/2011
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Marcus Borg is a well known theologian, and considered by many to be one of the most progessive thinkers within the Christian community. He served as Chair of Religion and Culture in the Philosophy Department at Oregon State University until retiring a few years ago. He is the author of 19 books, but this one is a departure for him, as it is his first novel. It was also something of a departure for me, as it is not what typically catches my attention. In the preface Marcus refers to the book as a didactic novel - he hopes readers will learn something along the way. The storyline travels a path crossing a number of buzzword issues for Christians today. Characters in the book struggle to meld their Christian faith with realities in their lives and observations they hold. What captured my attention was the believability of the characters and their actions. Not being Christian, the issues they struggled with held little meaning for me, but I could fully relate to how one's beliefs don't always mesh well with the daily experiences we have in life. This strongly character driven story easily pulls readers into a position of caring for the people and perhaps cheering them on as they grapple with questions of importance to them.

My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey (Paperback)

By Jill Bolte Taylor
$12.00
ISBN-13: 9780452295544
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Plume, 5/2009
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You may have heard Jill Taylor speak on the radio or television, as this bestseller garnered considerable attention. I heard her speak and found myself interested in the book. Once I was about a third of the way through the book I realized it was the book I expected. This was a good thing, because the book challenged me to consider things much deeper than I would have had the book followed the course I expected. Jill is a brain scientist, who because of some paths she took in life is one who has spoken to audiences a great deal about the way the brain works. At the age of 37, Jill suffered a massive stroke in the left hemisphere of her brain. This forced Jill into a very long and difficult period of recovery and rehabilitation. More importantly, however, it set her on a course of learning in a very direct and personal way "how the brain works". Jill already had considerable scientific understanding of how the brain works, but her stroke gave her the first hand opportunity to meld that scientific understanding with an empathetic and experiential understanding. I truly think that anyone with a brain will find this fascinating.

Family Farming: A New Economic Vision, New Edition (Paperback)

By Marty Strange, Marty Strange
$15.26
ISBN-13: 9780803217485
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Bison Books, 6/2008
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Originally published in 1988, Bison Books has republished this book with a new introduction by Strange that adds some contemporary perspective and expands the vision to a broader national relevance. I read this book when it originally came out, at a time when I was fighting to either stop or grossly alter the impending Organic Foods Production Act which codified the definition of organic foods into little more than a marketing label. The book is as relevant today as it was when originally released. Marty provided both a vision of where agricultural policy was headed in America, as well as a alternative approach that would help to rebuild the health of our agrarian communities and create a sustainable farming community. The linchpin in his vision for a healthier future is a fundamental change to our socio-economic valuation of land. This book was well worth a reprinting. Anyone with an interest in family farming, agricultural policy, and how they could work together for the good of society will find this a valuable read.

The Origins of Dexter & Stray, Part One: The Horizon Line (Paperback)

By Z. A. Armstrong
$5.59
ISBN-13: 9780615370774
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Tres Klavas Press, 1/2011
Whether you're an adult or young reader, this whimsical put-a-smile on your face story is a great way to add some uplift to your life. You follow the adventures of Stray, who is a juggling vagabond. She knows not where she comes from, and is not so clear on where she is going. She meets up with Dexter along the way, and together they embark on a rather fantastical adventure. So many books written today boil down to pitting good against evil. It is so refreshing to read something where the people are dazzled by one another, taking life's challenges as just that - challenges, and keeping a smile upon their faces all the while. The story reminds me more of stories I read when I was young, but the characters in this story are clearly contemporary. Oddballs perhaps, but all lovable and thoroughly enjoyable. Give this to a young reader who needs a bit of whimsy in their life, or read it yourself for the same effect.
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