
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Staff Recommendation: Smoke and Mirrors

Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Staff Recommendation: The Moosewood Restaurant Cooking for Health

Sunday, December 27, 2009
Staff Recommendation: Ender's Game

Saturday, December 26, 2009
Staff Recommendation: In The Time of Butterflies

Friday, December 25, 2009
Did Santa bring a gift card to a store you don't like?
and big-box stores - Home Depot, Barnes&Noble, Costco, etc. Give us a call to find out if we'll accept your gift card. Then, turn your unwanted gift card into that book you've been wanting that Santa forgot to leave under the tree.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Staff Recommendation: The Brothers K

Monday, December 21, 2009
Staff Recommendation: Beast in the Garden

Saturday, December 19, 2009
Staff Recommendation: Death from the Skies

Thursday, December 17, 2009
Staff Recommendation: Child 44

Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Staff Recommendation: Chronic City

Sunday, December 13, 2009
Staff Recommendation: Turning the Mind into an Ally

Friday, December 11, 2009
Staff Recommendation: Republican Gomorrah

Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Staff Recommendation: The Hidden Life of Deer

Monday, December 7, 2009
Staff Recommendation: The Undertaking

Saturday, December 5, 2009
Staff Recommendation: Cleaving

Thursday, December 3, 2009
Staff Recommendation: Lost to the West

Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Staff Recommendation: The Insider's Guide to the Peace Corps

Sunday, November 29, 2009
Staff Recommendation: That Bird Has My Wings

Confucius said: "Only when the year turns cold do you find that the pine and the cypress are the last to lose their leaves." Someone who can achieve profound Buddhist spiritual development on San Quentin's death row is surely an exceptional man. This is his harrowing memoir. Forward by Pema Chodron.
That Bird Has My Wings by Jarvis Jay Masters
Reviewed by Digs
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Staff Recommendation: Ansel Adams in Color

That's right: who knew that back in the 30s one of the first people to experiment with Kodachrome was Ansel Adams. Previously unpublished, in these photographs we can more vividly experience his glorious eye as we share his palpable joy in exploring this new medium. Open it anywhere, and see.
Ansel Adams in Color edited by John Shaefer
Reviewed by Digs
Friday, November 27, 2009
Staff Recommendation: Homer & Langley

Not only is this novel about an intriguing subject—the mysterious and eccentric Collyer brothers—but Doctorow moves beyond the historical and mythological accounts of these infamous hermits to unearth, with dignity and compassion, their more intimate, hidden lives. He brings you in among their occasional relationships as well as the detritus of their lives.
Homer & Langley by E.L. Doctorow
Reviewed by Alyssa
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Staff Recommendation: Her Fearful Symmetry

The author of The Time Traveler's Wife returns with another riveting novel about the endurance of love: a ghost story, set in and around Highgate Cemetery, that is both romantic and eerie. Elspeth’s death and afterlife unite a cast of intriguing, troubled characters: her former lover; her estranged twin sister's twin daughters; and a crossword-puzzle creator.
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
Reviewed by Alyssa
Monday, November 23, 2009
Staff Recommendation: Will I Ever Be Good Enough?

It is magical to come across the right book at the right time, because you can see that transformation is on its way. The abandonment and/or engulfment of narcissistic mothers leaves deep scars on their daughters, and as Dr. McBride relates in this book, such scars remain for a long time and permeates every single aspect of the daughters life, without their knowledge of it. And yet, this book is not about victims. It is about empowering.
Will I Ever Be Good Enough? by Karyl McBride
Reviewed by Helena Bolduc
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Staff Recommendation: The Flying Carpet of Small Miracles

This true story of Hala Jaber, a Lebanese reporter in Iraq, casts light into the darkest corners of a world where even hope struggles. Hala, suddenly faced with the lives of two orphan girls, is left holding the weight of their futures. As time runs out, she must learn to accept the Iraqi people's pain as her own. Powerful, and brutally honest, Jaber's story should be read by all.
The Flying Carpet of Small Miracles by Hala Jaber
Reviewed by Mari
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Staff Recommendation: Animals Make Us Human

Temple Grandin is autistic and processes information in much the same way as animals. From this unique standpoint, and with an impressive back round in animal science and activism, Grandin's book show us how we can best interact with animals if we understand the emotions that motivate them. A must-read author for animal lovers!
Animals Make Us Human by Temple Grandin
Reviewed by Cesa
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Staff Recommendation: Farmer John's Cookbook

Peterson is the owner of the Angelic Organics CSA farm outside of Chicago. This goldmine of a cookbook has information on seasonal veggies and plenty of delicious recipes. Unlike ordinary cookbooks, Peterson peppers his pages with everything from nutritional advice to funny things he's recently overheard around town. This book is the ultimate resource for the locavore cook.
Farmer John's Cookbook: The Real Dirt on Vegetables by Farmer John Peterson
Reviewed by Jennifer R.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Staff Recommendation: What Was She Thinking?

Barbara, a matronly history teacher, leads an unremarkable life until Sheba, the beautiful and interesting new art teacher, chooses Barbara as a confidante. Barbara journals about their relationship in excruciating detail. When it comes to light that Sheba is having an affair with a 15-year-old student, Barbara's diary becomes a telling portrait of both women.
What Was She Thinking? by Zoe Heller
Reviewed by Jennifer R.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Staff Recommendation: Infidel

This story of a Somali woman who fled to the Netherlands to escape an arranged marriage is unequivocally amazing. The knowledge that things such as female circumcision and beatings happen may be common, but the enlightening fact she presents is that they happen here too. Hirsi Ali started a movement that made me rethink my views on tolerance.
Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Reviewed by Chris
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Merlin's Dragon: Doomraga's Revenge by T.A. Barron
Since the end of Merlin's Dragon, Basil and Merlin have become close friends, able to communicate telepathically with each other. They have teamed up to address the growing unrest in their beloved home of Avalon. Since Avalon was created in order that creatures could live together in peace, the mounting tensions are troubling both Merlin and Basil greatly. The fire dragons and dwarves have had several arguments, most of them resulting in violence and death, trolls have come out of their dormancy to terrorize villages, and even peaceful animals like the birds of Airroot have erupted in fighting with each other. Merlin and Basil finally decide that these incidents are not merely coincidental, but are somehow related.Unbeknownst to them, an agent of Rhita Gawr is growing in power far away in the Haunted Marsh in Woodroot. He has now given himself a name: Doomraga, which means "darker than dark." Having been thwarted once by Basil, he is waiting and growing in the marsh until the day when he grows strong enough to seek his revenge on Basil and Dagda.
Meanwhile, Merlin and Basil continue to settle the problems that arise among their fellow inhabitants of Avalon. Merlin is facing more and more problems everyday, not only in the larger world, but also within his family. Merlin's troubles are further aggravated when his sister informs him of a terrible blight plaguing the realm of Woodroot, destroying all forms of life. He and Basil must bring an end to this blight of the forest realm and prevent Doomraga from succeeding in his evil quest.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Staff Recommendation: Who Will Run the Frog Hospital?

It is rare that I read a novel and am so entirely swept away by the language, that the content becomes secondary. That said, the story being woven by the beautiful thread of Moore's writing is insightful, relatable, and endlessly human. Everyone can find something to love here, whether it be the musings on love & aging, or the lovely way she describes the world.
Who Will Run the Frog Hospital? by Lorrie Moore
Reviewed by Stephanie W.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Staff Recommendation: The Lost Symbol

Yes, it's a great yarn, but in the end you'll have tears in your eyes because the lore Dan Brown delivers is so beautiful, so profound, and, in its own way, so pro-American. The Lost Symbol recovers patriotism for visionaries. Pass it on.
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
Reviewed by Digs
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Staff Recommendation: Hurry Down Sunshine

One afternoon, without warning, Michael Greenberg's 15 year-old daughter comes unhinged. Once an intelligent and creative teen, Sally becomes driven by an obsessive vision, and Greenberg is faced with a decision no parent should have to confront. Hurry Down Sunshine will take its place among classics such as Girl Interrupted and Bell Jar. A surefire conversation-starter for bookclubs.
Hurry Down Sunshine by Michael Greenberg
Reviewed by Scott
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Merlin's Dragon by T.A. Barron
The dedication for Merlin's Dragon captures exactly what the book is about. Merlin has planted the seed that will become the Great Tree of Avalon, a new world that will essentially replace the lost land of Fincayra as a world between worlds. At the same time, however, something else was born. As Merlin plants Avalon's seed, a small egg lands nearby. This egg, in Avalon's first year, hatches in Woodroot, one of the seven root realms of the Great Tree. From it comes a small creature, somewhat like a lizard and somewhat like a bat. He is small, but his destiny is great.Monday, November 2, 2009
Staff Recommendation: The Yiddish Policemen's Union
This is another great novel by one of my favorite writers. This book takes on a murder mystery format, set in the forgotten Jewish community in Sitka, Alaska that is about to be re-integrated into the U.S. system, disrupting everything in the lives of the residents. As a seemingly insignificant murder is investigated, however, disturbing connections are uncovered that affect all of Sitka.The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon
Reviewed by Stephanie W.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Staff Recommendation: Just Like Us
Denver journalist (wife of Denver’s Mayor Hickenlooper) chronicles the lives of four young Mexican women, two legal and two undocumented, from their senior year of high school through college. Though they share a common heritage their lives are very different because of their legal status. Thorpe offers incredible insight into one of the most complex issues facing our nation.Just Like Us by Helen Thorpe
Reviewed by Sally Laventure
Friday, October 30, 2009
Staff Recommendation: Half Broke Horses
Jeanette Walls completely earned my admiration with her memoir, The Glass Castle, so I was excited to read her new novel, Half Broke Horses. Drawing on family stories, Walls writes about her grandmother, Lily Smith. Spunky, no-nonsense, and fearless, Lily was a true woman of the West and her story is made all the more captivating by Walls' descriptive writing.Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls
Reviewed by Mandy
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Staff Recommendation: However Tall the Mountain
Told from the perspective of eight girls, this is the true story of a team of girls who traveled from Afghanistan to the United States to compete in a soccer tournament. I read this book straight through, captivated by the bravery and spirit of girls who risked their lives in order to play a sport they loved.However Tall the Mountain by Awista Ayub
Reviewed by Mandy
Monday, October 26, 2009
Staff Recommendation: What Now?
For years I have been stuck at a crossroads and struggling with the question of “What now?” Reading this humorous and inspirational essay about Patchett’s own experiences grappling with and eventually embracing this seemingly daunting question, that she realizes is life's vitality, renewed my desire to explore the possibilities of the unknown with curiosity & hope.What Now? by Anne Patchet
Reviewed by Alyssa
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Staff Recommendation: My Abandonment
This beautifully tender and yet disturbing novel about a father and daughter who depend on one another for survival and love as they are alienated from everyone else will haunt you long after you're done reading, arousing more questions than it answers. Why do they hide out in the wilderness and fear discovery in the city?My Abandonment by Peter Rock
Reviewed by Alyssa
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Staff Recommendation: Stardust
This novel is much more than a murder mystery. It blends fact and fiction to explore the complex world of post-WWII Hollywood: an era that is both glamorous and deceptive. Solving his brother's "suicide" becomes more challenging when Ben Collier befriends the German émigrés who are not only America's brightest stars in the film industry but most vulnerable to the Red Scare.Stardust by Joseph Kanon
Reviewed by Alyssa
Monday, October 19, 2009
Staff Recommendation: No Impact Man
This is a truly inspiring account of one regular guy's courageous attempt to drastically reduce his environmental impact for one year. Beavan grapples with traditional American attitudes toward transportation, food, consumerism, and the idea of progress. Candid and unpretentious, he lays bare his failures, successes, insecurities and moments of clarity.
No Impact Man by Colin Beavan
Reviewed by Tracy
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Staff Recommendation: Terror from the Air
In this book, the contemporary culture theorist Peter Sloterdijk insists that the 20th century began in 1915 with the German chlorine gas attack on French-Canadian troops at Ypres. This was the first time that an enemy's living conditions were assaulted. This book is essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand how terrorist warfare has been made possible.Terror from the Air by Peter Sloterdijk
Reviewed by John
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Staff Recommendation: The Crying Tree
This debut novel by NPR broadcast journalist touches on some difficult subjects: the violent death of a child, hatred and ultimately, forgiveness. How long can a family cling to an emotion for survival even though it is destroying their lives? Can hate really be left behind and forgiveness take its place? This would make an excellent bookclub selection.The Crying Tree by Naseem Rakha
Reviewed by Sally Laventure
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Staff Recommendation: Between Me and the River
When Carrie Host came to speak at an event here at the store, she said that the reason she felt compelled to write a memoir was because there were all these books about "battling cancer" and "surviving the fight" but nobody had written about the love. That is just what she features: the love of and for her family and friends that enables her to stay afloat. This is a descriptively rich memoir.
Between Me and the River by Carrie Host
Reviewed by Christine
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Staff Recommendation: The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It
What's the best soil to use for potatoes? How do you make beer from the barley you've sewn? When do you plant which crops and why? And plenty of answers to questions you didn't even know you needed to ask. Just like the high school text books it resembles, Seymour's book has all the answers to your pre-farming studying delivered in a very approachable manner.
The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It by John Seymour
Reviewed by Christine
Friday, October 9, 2009
Staff Recommendation: Siesta Lane
Through a series of themed entries, musings and poems, Minato invites us to eavesdrop on her life-experiment with sustainability in a little cabin in the backwoods of Oregon. We come to know her quirky "landmates," the resident wildlife (including a lizard who survives the spin cycle) and the land itself. Generous helpings of humor, observation and self-reflection.
Siesta Lane by Amy Minato
Reviewed by Tracy
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Under the Covers: The 4th Annual Boulder Book Store Talks to Bookclubs
Are you a member of a book club? Want to start a bookclub? Want to know what a bookclub is? Come join us at the Boulder Book Store to hear suggestions, ask questions, and/or share your bookclub experience. Bookclubs from all over the Boulder area are invited to come to this annual event where we will be discussing anything and everything that has to do with bookclubs. No matter what genre, no matter how old your bookclub is, we'll help you out by providing suggestions for new books to read, new bookclubs to start, and even bookclub etiquette! Any and all of your questions will be answered, you will be able to meet other bookclub members, and you will find some great new ideas for your bookclub for the upcoming year. This is a great resource for all current and future bookclub members!Staff Recommendation: Wild Justice
This book is filled with amazing stories about altruistic wild animals and house pets that have completed acts that have no purpose other than fairness, kindness, or assistance. Even animal skeptics who believe they act on nothing more than instinct will be convinced that not only do animals possess morality, but that their moral drive can often SURPASS our own.Wild Justice by Marc Bekoff
Reviewed by Cesa
Monday, October 5, 2009
Dining at Salt Bistro, the Restaurant Next Door
This week, I decided to write about a brand new restaurant that has opened up right across the street from the Boulder Book Store. Many locals are familiar with Tom’s Tavern, a restaurant that thrived in Boulder for years and had one of the best burgers in town. However, the restaurant closed about a year ago, and Salt has recently taken over its location. A contemporary and delightfully simple bistro, Salt uses organic and local farmers to bring you the best of what’s around. Every dish on their menu references which farm it came from, which is quite thoughtful as it allows customers to know exactly where their meal is coming from, and it recognizes the farms, giving them due credit.
Since Tom’s Taverns was famous for their delicious burgers, I thought it only fair that I try Salt’s version. Their grassfed burger from Lasater Ranch was a generous size, came with delicious fries, and simply put, was scrumptious. They are most certainly a contender for one of the best burgers in town. Furthermore, the service was very friendly and the atmosphere was relaxed and enjoyable. Surrounding tables seemed to devour their meals just as quickly as I did.
Overall, I believe Salt will be one of the most popular restaurants on Pearl Street. With an unbeatable combination of great food, friendly staff, and decent range of prices, this restaurant can hold their own as well as any other restaurant in Boulder. If your curiosity gets the best of you, check out their website at http://saltboulderbistro.com/, or try it for yourself. They are located at 1047 Pearl Street, Boulder CO 80310.
Jillian's Joints is a new weekly column devoted to highlighting some of the great shops and restaurants on Boulder's beautiful Pearl Street Mall. Jillian is a CU student and is interning with Boulder Book Store's Marketing Department this fall.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Staff Recommendation: Stitches
Award-winning illustrator David Small has an unnerving knack for portraying creepy in just a few brush strokes. Lurking within these pages are the all-too-real members of his unfortunate family scowling, smirking, baring their teeth, and furrowing their brows. Darkly funny, infuriating, and emotionally charged, Stitches is a fascinating study and an engrossing visual experience.
Stitches by David Small
Reviewed by Tracy
