‘Book Reviews’ Articles
Written by tgrJams on 06 December 2011
C.A.S.A. Is Here for the Children
Please be there for C.A.S.A.
Russo’s Books 3rd Annual Christmas Book Drive for C.A.S.A.
Needs Your Help to Succeed!
By Thomas G. Robinson, Fake Reporter
Mi casa es tú casa. Probably one of the easiest translations of a Spanish saying to English. You see this saying all over, but usually at the entrance to someone’s home, or out on the patio by the bar-b-que pit, near the table. We know what it means, ‘my house is your house’, but we never really look at the words, or genuinely mean them right? I mean, I prefer the other well known quote, “Friends and fish both smell after three days!” Right?
But take a little closer look at the true meaning of that phrase and you’ll end up in some kind of setting like the CASA headquarters over on 24th Street. The office is always busy and they are constantly trying to get these children the help they need while they are dealing with the most “unchildish” of situations. In this case, it truly is the about “mi casa”.
You see, when kids are in an unfortunate situation where they have been listed by the courts as abused, neglected or abandoned, they become separated from their families and begin their journey through the juvenile court system. The Juvenile Court then notifies CASA , and an Advocate is assigned to their case. The Advocate evaluates the child and discusses with the judge his or her report prior to the judge making a decision. This is a great help for the judge who will now use this very important insight to decide the course of action the courts will take for the betterment of the child.
Now, going through this horrible mess at any given time of the year is not a good thing for a child. But add to that, that it’s Christmas Season, and there’s a whole new set of loneliness and a stronger sense of abandonment that they feel now, that they don’t at other times of the year.
Russo’s Books wants to help take some of the grief out of these children’s lives, if not but for a minute or two, or ten, or a couple of hours! And you can help too! How? By buying a brand new book and giving it to us to give to CASA, you will ensure that these children will not feel like they’ve been forgotten this holiday season! For some of these kids, it may even be the very first book that they can truly call their own! Something happens when you own a book. You get a sense of self worth and self esteem. You cherish it more. You may even want to read it over and over again.
We think that when children own their very own brand new book, it will not only take their minds off of the very big and awful situation they are going through, but it just may increase their wanting to embrace reading just a little more!
Our goal this year is to raise 400 books for CASA. Each child will receive one, maybe even two books from this effort. Won’t you help us?
So help CASA help these kids! Stop by Russo’s Books at The Marketplace and donate a book to a CASA Kid. Give the gift of literacy! Porque, mi casa es en realidad su casa, y me allegro de que lo es!
Tags: abuse, advocates, casa, children, christmas, donate, family, giving, help, russo's books
Posted in Activities For Kids, Arts & Entertainment, Book Reviews, Business News, Community Submitted News, Local News, Out and About | Comments Off
Written by Laura on 18 September 2011
NEWS FROM CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, BAKERSFIELD
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
One Book, One Bakersfield, One Kern announces 11th community read
Sept. 13, 2010 — All of Kern County is invited to join the 11th annual community read organized by One Book, One Bakersfield, One Kern. The book, “The Other Wes Moore” by Wes Moore, is part-memoir, part-biography. It’s a story of two Wes Moores growing up at the same time in the same neighborhoods, but who end up on vastly different life paths. One is a Rhodes Scholar, decorated war veteran and successful businessman. The other is serving a life sentence in prison.
The themes that resonate throughout the book can be found right here in Kern County, said Kristie Coons, coordinator of One Book, One Bakersfield, One Kern. They include the importance of parenting, mentoring, education, and community in helping our youth grow up to make the right choices for success.
“We have a lot of Wes Moores in Kern County and as a community, we want to support good life outcomes for all of them,” Coons said.
Led by Kern County Library and CSU Bakersfield, the One Book committee has pulled in multiple community partners to present free programming related to the book. The read begins with a kickoff event on Sept. 20 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, followed by six weeks of expert panels, book discussions, arts events, and more.
The read culminates with the author himself giving a free talk at CSUB on Nov. 8. The author’s visit is made possible through CSUB’s Runner Reader Program, which incorporates a multicultural book for all freshmen on campus to read and share a common experience during their first year of college.
“When we first started this program, we had the author come talk to students at the end of fall quarter. Now that we’ve partnered with One Book, we get to invite the community to come onto campus as well,” said Emerson Case, CSUB English Professor and First Year Experience Coordinator.
Community members are encouraged to read the book, hold book discussions, participate in the many events related to the read, and consider becoming a mentor to local youth. People may also donate copies of “The Other Wes Moore” to disadvantaged youths. Every $10 donation puts a book in the hand of a young person in Kern County. Checks should be made out to “Friends of the Kern County Library, Inc.” with “One Book Project” in the notation line. Drop donations off at Beale Memorial Library, 701 Truxtun Ave.
###
PROGRAM SCHEDULE:
3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20
Kick-Off Event: The kick-off for the 2011 One Book Read of The Other Wes Moore will feature special guest speakers and local youth talent reflecting the book’s themes through dancing, dramatic readings, and testimonials. FREE. Dr. Martin Luther King Community Center Gym, 1000 S. Owens St., (661) 322-9874.
7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22
Movie Showing & Discussion: Will Smith stars in the film The Pursuit of Happyness, a moving tale inspired by the true story of a salesman struggling to build a future for himself and his young son. Like author Wes Moore, he overcame many life obstacles. FREE. East Bakersfield High School, Auditorium, 2200 Quincy Dr., (661) 871-7221.
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23
Bakersfield High School Tribute Ceremony: The late Wes Moore, aka “The Colonel,” led the Driller band at Bakersfield High School from 1946 to 1979, influencing countless youth in positive ways. A home football game half-time tribute will honor Bakersfield’s own Wes Moore. Call for admission prices. Bakersfield High School, Griffith Field, 1241 “G” St., (661) 324-9841.
2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24
Book Discussion: Families are invited to attend an active community discussion relating the themes from The Other Wes Moore to everyday life in Lamont. FREE. Lamont Branch, 8304 Segrue Road, Lamont, (661) 854-5934.
4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4
Book Discussion: How One Decision Changed My Life – Everyone is invited to join a unique discussion centering around their one positive life-changing decision. FREE. Russo’s at The Marketplace, 9000 Ming Ave., (661) 665-1643.
6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6
Town Hall Meeting: Solutions for our Children’s Future – Community leaders offer an evening of discussion and possible solutions to the obstacles to success facing local families; music and entertainment provided. FREE. Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 825 California Ave., (661) 325-1978.
10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 14
Preschool Storytime/Parent Workshop: That’s How the Story Starts – Families are invited to learn tips and tricks on creating family storytimes powerful enough to help raise responsible and compassionate children. Join special guest reader and early childhood expert Wendy Wayne for a parenting workshop following the storytime. FREE. Beale Memorial Library, 701 Truxtun Ave., (661) 868-0745.
6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11
Dramatic Readings: Moore or Less: You Get What You Give – Local actors will present an evening of dramatic readings as they interpret the story of Wes Moore. Meet/greet mixer 6 p.m., reading at 7 p.m. FREE. Bakersfield Museum of Art, 1930 “R” St., (661) 323-7219.
4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14
Lecture: CSUB History Dept. presents a History Forum featuring Dr. Sheila Lloyd, Asst. Prof. of English at University of Redlands. The lecture will focus on our society’s attraction to the exceptional few while holding low expectations for the majority of the population. FREE. $5 parking. CSUB Dore Theatre, 9001 Stockdale Highway, (661) 654-2166.
Noon Saturday, Oct. 15
Community Festival: Join in the family fun at the Good Neighbor Festival. A community celebration and resource fair will offer vendor booths, entertainment, games, prizes and food. The festival will honor local hidden heroes of the Southeast community. FREE. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park,1000 S. Owens St., (661) 322-9874.
4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15
Panel Discussion: Winning Our Future – An engaging intergenerational conversation with expert community leaders in education, parenting, spiritual guidance, and law enforcement will address the societal issues which affect our lives in Kern County. FREE. Bakersfield Senior Center, 530 4th St., (661) 325-1113.
11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18
Toddler Time/Parent Workshop: Parents are invited to accompany their 18-month through 2-year-old-children for music, nursery rhymes, stories, interactive play, and a workshop featuring a local expert on pre-kindergarten readiness. FREE. Beale Memorial Library, 701 Truxtun Ave., (661) 868-0745.
7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18
Panel Discussion: Life Choices Panel – Local youth and law enforcement representatives from multiple agencies will tell their own stories of success, failure and redemption. FREE. Bakersfield College Fireside Room, 1801 Panorama Dr., (661) 326-3803.
3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19
Children’s Art Event: Picture Yourself – This session of Art in the Afternoon will help your child imagine their future while developing different art techniques and expanding creativity through word and collage art, supplies provided. FREE. Beale Memorial Library, 701 Truxtun Ave., (661) 868-0745.
11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22
Local History Lecture: The Legacy of Friendship House – For over five decades, the Friendship House on Cottonwood Road has inspired and mentored families of Southeast Bakersfield. Friendship House pioneer, Fuchsia Ward, will tell the story of the founding of the Friendship House against the backdrop of an era of exciting political change. FREE. Beale Memorial Library, 701 Truxtun Ave., (661) 868-0745.
7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27
Poetry Slam: Positive Prose and Poetry: Action Through Art – What does it take to create poetry so powerful it lifts people up and out of a dark place? Local writers and poets invite the community to gather for an evening of spoken word. FREE. Bakersfield Community Theatre, 2400 S. Chester Ave., (661) 831-8114.
Thurs. Nov. 3 – Sun. Nov. 6
Live Theater: CSUB Theatre Dept. presents Ernest Gaines’ A Lesson Before Dying. A young man in late 1940s Cajun country facing the death penalty learns what it means to be a man. Call for performance times and admission. CSUB Dore Theatre, 9001 Stockdale Hwy., (661) 654-3150.
7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8
Evening with the Author: CSUB presents Wes Moore, the best selling author of the unique dual biography The Other Wes Moore. Enjoy an evening of interactive conversation with book signing to follow. FREE. Parking Lot I is free after 6 p.m. CSUB Student Recreation Center Gym, 9001 Stockdale Hwy., (661) 654-2144.
Jennifer Burger (Baldwin)
Public Affairs Coordinator
California State University, Bakersfield
Connect with us at Facebook.com/csubakersfield
Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Book Reviews, Community Submitted News, Local News | Comments Off
Written by tgrJams on 16 November 2010
OH NO? OH YES!!! Apolo Skates to Russo’s!
by Thomas G. Robinson
Whenever I hear of the name ‘Apollo’, I think of either the famous landmark in Harlem or the heavyweight foe that Rocky must fight in III. One is a legendary theatre where one night’s ‘Amateur Night’ gave us the Jackson 5. The other was one of the best of the Rocky franchise movies, and gave us Mr. T!
But, who knew if you got the ‘L’ out of his first name (yeah… sorry, I had to), you’d come up with the legendary record-holding Olympic gold medalist, Apolo Ohno. Even more – who knew one day he’d be coming to Bakersfield on a stop from his very busy tour promoting his new book, ZERO REGRETS: Be Greater Than Yesterday.
What a coincidence – One of the events I watched at this year’s Olympics in Vancouver, was Apolo’s incredible 3 out of 4 wins. I watched, quite simply, because Apolo was competing. Prior to that, that particular event never interested me. It wasn’t until I started hearing the stories of this young man and his father, that I started paying attention. By the time he was racing against the others, I was standing and cheering – shouting at the television, “Go Ohno! Go Ohno!”
Now he’s on his bus tour promoting his new book and making a special stop at our bookstore in The Marketplace! You get a chance to meet this incredible Olympic gold medalist and have your book signed by Apolo himself. He’ll be at our store Monday, November 29th at 12:00 Noon! He is scheduled for an hour, so don’t be late or you’ll miss this opportunity!
From the publisher:
Apolo Ohno is the most decorated American Winter Olympics athlete of all time with eight medals (two Gold, two Silver, four Bronze) and it’s safe to say that he not only changed the face of competitive short track speed skating, he put it on the map. He’s a role model for people of all ages and backgrounds, and he has transcended his sport to become an American icon. ZERO REGRETS (Atria Books; $26.00; October 26, 2010) is his story.
More than just a book that details Apolo’s amazing career, it is an intriguing and intimate glimpse of the person he really is. In this refreshingly honest, accessible, and practical book, Apolo doesn’t pull any punches as he shares with readers what makes him tick, how he evolved from a troubled youth into a disciplined and record-setting athlete, and where he finds inspiration every single day.
—
Our book store, Russo’s Books at The Marketplace, has had a stellar year with famous author signings! Through our hard work, our connections and our persistence, we’ve been able to bring you one of the hottest writers on the New York Times Best-Sellers list (Justin Halpern, Sh*t My Dad Says), a legendary Pulitzer Prize nominee (Victor Villaseñor, Rain of Gold, Burro Genius), a presidential nominee (Mike Huckabee, A Simple Christmas and Can’t Wait Till Christmas, coming Nov. 30th) and a speed skating legend and multi gold medal winner, Apolo Ohno (ZERO REGRETS, coming Nov. 29th , 12:00 Noon).
Your support of these events, both physically – by being here, and monetarily – by purchasing your book here at Russo’s, will only continue to help us in bringing these famous and controversial authors to Bakersfield. We appreciate the support! :-)
Posted in Activities For Kids, Arts & Entertainment, Book Reviews, Business News, Community Submitted News, Local News, Out and About, Sports | Comments Off
Written by tgrJams on 29 October 2010
“SH*T MY DAD SAYS” NYTIMES’ BEST-SELLING AUTHOR
JUSTIN HALPERN TO VISIT RUSSO’S!
By Thomas G. Robinson
In the book world, unless there’s a major book release happening like the good old days when J.K. Rowling was pumping out those Harry Potter books once every two years; or Stephenie Meyer was creating goth, sulken, sexy vampires; or Stephen King would occasionally get hit by a car - there’s not a lot to be excited about. On occasion, we’ll be invoved in community efforts that encourage kids to read, write, etc… or we’re tied to a big event, and we get a major author to sign at our store every now and then. This is one of those times!
When a new book came out earlier this year called, Sh*t My Dad Says, the title alone let you know this was no ordinary book. The book was an instant smash hit! And now, amazingly, he has Captain Kirk himself, playing his father on the show inspired by the book. And that’s all it took, and that’s how easy it was.
In May, 2009, Justin Halpern was 28 years old and for reasons beyond his control, had to move back in with his parents in San Diego, CA. Justin works from home, on his computer, for Maxim.com. His dad, Sam Halpern, 74, a retired doctor, was now home all day with Justin – quite the switch from when Justin lived there during college and he had the house to himself during the day. Now, his father is there and whenever he wants, or feels it necessary, spews his knowledge to Justin about all things, in all topics.
His dad is never too shy to talk about current topics of the day, The only difference is that when his dad brings forth his rap, it’s usually riddled with four-letter words, ‘F’ bombs, and other unprintable content for a family article. It is with this in mind that, at his friend’s urging, Justin posted some of his dad’s words of wisdom to his Twitter page (http://twitter.com/shitmydadsays).
Justin watched as his twitter following went from a few friends to hundreds of thousands followers. He says in his book, “When one of my friends suggested I create a Twitter page to keep a record of all the crazy things that come out of his mouth, I started “Shit My Dad Says.” For about a week , I had only a handful of followers –a couple friends who knew my dad and thought he was a character. Then one day I woke up to find that a thousand people were following me. The next day, ten thousand. Then fifty thousand. Then one hundred, two hundred, three hundred thousand, and suddenly a picture of my dad’s face and his quotes were popping up everywhere. Literary agents were calling, wanting to represent me; TV producers were inviting me onto their shows; and reporters were asking for interviews.”
I’ve had a chance to review it over and over again… it’s like that. You’ll keep flipping through it long after you read it! The book is quite good. Humorous, witty, and rash – it’s funny from cover to cover. You almost wish you had a dad like his just for the laughs… Almost. But don’t take my word for it, check out some of the “sh*t” this dad says that I could print!
“Pressure? Get married when you want. Your wedding’s just one more day in my life I can’t wear sweat pants.”
“You look just like Stephen Hawking…Relax, I meant like a non-paralyzed version of him. Feel better?… Fine. Forget I said it.”
“I hate paying bills… Son, don’t say “me too.” I didn’t say that looking to relate to you. I said it instead of “go away.”
“Just pay the parking ticket. Don’t be so outraged. You’re not a freedom fighter in the civil rights movement. You double parked.”
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg!
The next thing you know, Justin has a best-selling book on his hands. Instantly, it became the ‘must have’ book for those who just want to laugh. The book debuted at #8, August 2010. At the time of this writing, the book is still secure in the top twenty, posted at #11. A drop from last week’s #8. It has become a phenomenon. His father’s take on this new found fame? You’ll have to read the book – I can’t print it here!
Oh, but wait, there’s more! At this particular signing, not only will we have Justin Halpern, we’ll have actors from The Empty Space Theatre reading excerpts from the book, as well. Live comedic readings… Don’t miss this event!
Justin Halpern, author of Sh*t My Dad Says, will be at Russo’s Books at The Marketplace, Saturday, November 6th at 1:00 PM., at 9000 Ming Avenue, Bakersfield, CA., 93311. For more information, please call 665.4686.
Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Book Reviews, Business News, Community Submitted News, Local News, Out and About | Comments Off
Written by tgrJams on 17 September 2010
This weekend, Russo’s Books at The Marketplace will celebrate two “hometown hero” authors. Congressman Kevin McCarthy will sign his new book, “Young Guns: A New Generation of Conservative Leaders” at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19. The day before, the bookstore will honor an award-winning children’s author. Read on for her story.
By Thomas G. Robinson, Russo’s Books Business Development Representative
It is not often that we get to take part in a proclamation. In this case, a “day” will be set aside to honor a local celebrity who is one of the biggest children’s and young adult authors in the nation. This national best-selling, multi-award winning and internationally recognized author will be honored by both Bakersfield Mayor Harvey Hall and Assemblywoman Jean Fuller on Saturday, Sept. 18.
Oh, and she happens to be a Bakersfield native, too – born and raised!
Author Pam Muñoz Ryan (“Esperanza Rising,” “Becoming Naomi León”) is a member of Bakersfield City School District’s Hall of Fame (having attended McKinley and Longfellow Elementary and Washington Junior High). After graduating from Bakersfield High School, she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from San Diego State University. She currently resides in the San Diego area.
“Esperanza Rising” by Pam Muñoz Ryan has won several awards, including the Pura Belpré Award which honors Latino authors whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in a children’s book.
Her 30+ books for young people range from children’s picture books to young adult novels. A two-time winner of the Willa Cather Award for Writing, her novels have garnered some of the nation’s most prestigious accolades for children’s writings. Most recently, she received the 2010 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award for her book “The Dreamer.”
Pam Muñoz Ryan has been invited to the White House on three occasions for the National Book Festival and other literary events. She is the National Education Association Author recipient of the Civil and Human Rights Award. Next month, she will travel as the American author representative to South Korea, where she and others from 26 countries will collaborate on an international book on peace for the International Board on Books for Young People.
Saturday, Sept. 18, will be proclaimed Pam Muñoz Ryan Day in Bakersfield. The celebration will take place at 2 p.m. at The Marketplace fountain, 9000 Ming Ave., with a reception to follow at Russo’s Books at The Marketplace.
In attendance will be the author’s family, “Esperanza Rising” cover artist Joe Cepeda, Nick Olmos and the College Heights Elementary Mariachi Band (who will perform), actors Bob Kempf, Michelle Weingarden, Kristina Saldaña and Jason Monroe from The Empty Space Theatre (who will perform a play based on her children’s book “When Mirian Sang”), her cousin (and local journalist) Lisa Kimble who will speak on growing up with Pam, and Sandra Yoon, BCSD Coordinator of Library Media Services who will speak on the importance of the author’s literary efforts. Finally, Pam Muñoz Ryan herself will speak.
The event will conclude with refreshments served at Russo’s Books, where Pam will meet and greet her friends and fans, and sign copies of her books.
The event is part of a long line-up of programs being held from September to November in conjunction with National Hispanic Heritage Month and the latest One Book, One Bakersfield, One Kern community read of “Burro Genius” by California author Victor Villaseñor. Learn more about the read and the events surrounding it by visiting the Kern County Library’s website.
Posted in Activities For Kids, Arts & Entertainment, Assemblymember Jean Fuller, Bakersfield City Goverment, Book Reviews, Community Submitted News, Local News, Out and About | Comments Off
Written by One Bakersfield on 05 July 2010
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Glenn Beck has just shattered the fiction barrier. The Overton Window is the perfect all-American thriller.”—Brad Thor, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“A novel ripped from today’s headlines and destined to be as controversial as it is eye-opening. No matter your politics, this Hitchcockian thriller will have you turning pages well into the night.”
—James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author
“A visionary work of fiction. One of the best thrillers I’ve read in years.”
—Vince Flynn, New York Times bestselling author
“Glenn Beck never fails to amaze. The Overton Window, a rip-roaring read of the first order, is as good a political thriller as you’re going to find this year.”
—Nelson DeMille, New York Times bestselling author
Pro
duct Description
A plan to destroy America, a hundred years in the making, is about to be unleashed . . . can it be stopped?
There is a powerful technique called the Overton Window that can shape our lives, our laws, and our future. It works by manipulating public perception so that ideas previously thought of as radical begin to seem acceptable over time. Move the Window and you change the debate. Change the debate and you change the country.
For Noah Gardner, a twentysomething public relations executive, it’s safe to say that political theory is the furthest thing from his mind. Smart, single, handsome, and insulated from the world’s problems by the wealth and power of his father, Noah is far more concerned about the future of his so cial life than the future of his country.
But all of that changes when Noah meets Molly Ross, a woman who is consumed by the knowledge that the America we know is about to be lost forever. She and her group of patriots have vowed to remember the past and fight for the future–but Noah, convinced they’re just misguided conspiracy-theorists, isn’t interested in lending his considerable skills to their cause.
And then the world changes.
An unprecedented attack on U.S. soil shakes the country to the core and puts into motion a frightening plan, decades in the making, to transform America and demonize all those who stand in the way. Amidst the chaos, many don’t know the difference between conspiracy theory and conspiracy fact–or, more important, which side to fight for.
But for Noah, the choice is clear: Exposing the plan, and revealing the conspirators behind it, is the only way to save both the woman he loves and the individual freedoms he once took for granted.
After five back-to-back #1 New York Times bestsellers, national radio and Fox News television host Glenn Beck has delivered a ripped-from-the-headlines thriller that seamlessly weaves t ogether American history, frightening facts about our present condition, and a heart-stopping plot. The Overton Window will educate, enlighten, and, most important, entertain–with twists and revelations
no one will see coming.
(edited by author)
About the Author
Glenn Beck, the nationally syndicated radio and Fox News television show host, is the author of five #1 New York Times bestsellers: An Inconvenient Book, The Christmas Sweater, Glenn Beck’s Common Sense, Arguing with Idiots, and the children’s version of The Christmas Sweater. America’s March to Socialism is available now from Simon & Schuster Audio or downloadable from Simon & Schuster Online. He is also the author of The Real America and publisher of Fusion magazine. Visit www.glennbeck.com.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
CHAPTER 1
?
Most people think about age and experience in terms of years, but it’s really only moments that define us. We stay mostly the same and then grow up suddenly, at the turning points.
His life being pretty sweet just as it was, Noah Gardner had devoted a great deal of effort in his first twenty-something years to avoiding such defining moments at all costs.
Not that his time had gone entirely wasted. Far from it. For one thing, he’d spent a full decade building what most guys would call an outstanding record of success with the ladies. Good-looking, great job, fine education, puckishly amusing and even clever when he put his mind to it, reasonably fit and trim for an office jockey, Noah had all the bona fide credentials for a killer eHarmony profile. Since freshman year at NYU he’d rarely spent a weekend night alone; all he’d had to do was keep the bar for an evening’s companionship set at only medium-high.
As he’d rounded the corner of age twenty-seven and stared the dreaded number thirty right in the face, Noah had begun to realize something about that medium-high bar: it takes two to tango. While he’d been aiming low with his standards in the game of love, the women he’d been meeting might all have been doing exactly the same thing. Now, on his twenty-eighth birthday, he still wasn’t sure what he wanted in a woman but he knew what he didn’t want: arm candy. He was sick of it. Maybe, just maybe, it was time to consider thinking about getting serious.
It was in the midst of these deep ruminations on life and love that the woman of his dreams first caught his eye.
There was nothing remotely romantic about the surroundings or the situation. She was standing on tiptoe, reaching up high to pin a red, white, and blue flier onto a patch of open cork on the company bulletin board. And he was watching, frozen in time between the second and third digits of his afternoon selection at the snack machine.
Top psychologists tell us in Maxim magazine that the all-important first impression is set in stone within about ten seconds. That might not sound like much, but when you count it off it’s a long damn time for a guy to stare uninvited at a female coworker. By the four-second mark Noah had made three observations.
First, she was hot, but it was an aloof and effortless hotness that almost double-dared you to bring it up. Second, she wasn’t permanent staff, probably just working as a seasonal temp in the mailroom or another high-turnover department. And third, even in that lowly position, she wasn’t going to survive very long at Doyle & Merchant.
They say you should dress for the job you want, not the job you have. That’s especially true in the public relations business, considering that that’s where appearance is reality. Apparently the job this girl wanted was head greeter at the Grateful Dead Cultural Preservation Society. But that wasn’t quite right; she didn’t strike him as a wannabe hipster or a retro-sixties flower child. It was more than the clothes, it was the whole picture, the way she carried herself, like a genuine free spirit. An appealing vibe, to be sure, but there was really no place for that sort of thing—neither the outfit nor the attitude—in the buttoned-up world of top-shelf New York City PR.
At about five seconds into his first impression, something else about her struck him, and he completely lost track of time.
What struck him was a word, or, more precisely, the meaning of a word: line. More powerful than any other element of design, a line is the living soul of a piece of art. It’s the reason a simple logo can be worth tens of millions of dollars to a corporation. It’s the thing that makes you believe that a certain car, or a pair of sunglasses, or the cut of a jacket can make you into the person you want to be.
The definition he’d received from an artist friend was rendered not in words but in a picture. Just seven light strokes of a felt-tip marker on a blank white page and before his eyes had appeared the purest essence of a woman. There was nothing lewd about it, but it was the sexiest drawing Noah had ever seen in his life.
And that is what struck him. There it was at the bulletin board, that same exquisite line, from the toes of her sandals all the long, lovely way up to her fingertips. Unlikely as it must seem, he knew right then that he was in love.
© 2009 Glenn Beck
[
]
Posted in Book Reviews | Comments Off
Written by One Bakersfield on 30 June 2010
Amazon Best Books of the Month, June 2010: You don’t have to be a fan of vampire fiction to be enthralled by The Passage, Justin Cronin’s blazing new novel. Cronin is a remarkable storyteller (just ask adoring fans of his award-winning Mary and O’Neil), whose gorgeous writing brings depth and vitality to this ambitious epic about a virus that nearly destroys the world, and a six-year-old girl who holds the key to bringing it back. The Passage takes readers on a journey from the early days of the virus to the aftermath of the destruction, where packs of hungry infected scour the razed, charred cities looking for food, and the survivors eke out a bleak, brutal existence shadowed by fear. Cronin doesn’t shy away from identifying his “virals” as vampires. But, these are not sexy, angsty vampires (you won’t be seeing “Team Babcock” t-shirts any time soon), and they are not old-school, evil Nosferatus, either. These are a creation all Cronin’s own–hairless, insectile, glow-in-the-dark mutations who are inextricably linked to their makers and the one girl who could destroy them all. A huge departure from Cronin’s first two novels, The Passage is a grand mashup of literary and supernatural, a stunning beginning to a trilogy that is sure to dazzle readers of both genres. –Daphne Durham
Click Here to Buy the Book The Passage[Ballantine Books](Hardcover)
Dan Chaon Reviews The PassageDan Chaon is the acclaimed author of the national bestseller Await Your Reply and You Remind Me of Me, which was named one of the best books of the year by The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, The Christian Science Monitor, and Entertainment Weekly, among other publications. Chaon lives in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and teaches at Oberlin College. Read his review of The Passage:
There is a particular kind of reading experience–the feeling you get when you can’t wait to find out what happens next, you can’t turn the pages fast enough, and yet at the same time you are so engaged in the world of the story and the characters, you don’t want it to end. It’s a rare and complex feeling–that plot urgency pulling you forward, that yearning for more holding you back. We say that we are swept up, that we are taken away. Perhaps this effect is one of the true magic tricks that literature can offer to us, and yet it doesn’t happen very often. Mostly, I think, we remember this experience from a few of the beloved books of our childhood.
About three-quarters of the way through The Passage, I found myself in the grip of that peculiar and intense readerly emotion. One part of my brain couldn’t wait to get to the next big revelation, and I found myself wanting to leapfrog from paragraph to paragraph, hurtling toward each looming climax. Meanwhile, another part of my brain was watching the dwindling final pages with dread, knowing that things would be over soon, and wishing to linger with each sentence and character a little while longer.
Finishing The Passage for the first time, I didn’t bother to put it on a shelf, because I knew I would be flipping back through its pages again the next day. Rereading. Considering.
Certain kinds of books draw us into the lives of their characters, into their inner thoughts, to the extent that we seem to know them, as well as we know real people. Readers of Justin Cronin’s earlier books, Mary and O’Neil and The Summer Guest, will recognize him as an extraordinarily insightful chronicler of the ways in which people maneuver through the past, and through loss, grief and love. Though The Passage is a different sort of book, Cronin hasn’t lost his skill for creating deeply moving character portraits. Throughout, in moments both large and small, readers will find the kind of complicated and heartfelt relationships that Cronin has made his specialty. Though the cast of characters is large, they are never mere pawns. The individual lives are brought to us with a vivid tenderness, and at the center of the story is not only vampires and gun battles but also quite simply a quiet meditation on the love of a man for his adopted daughter. As a fan of Cronin’s earlier work, I found it exciting to see him developing these thoughtful character studies in an entirely different context.
There are also certain kinds of books expand outwards beyond the borders of their covers. They make us wish for encyclopedias and maps, genealogies and indexes, appendixes that detail the adventures of the minor characters we loved but only briefly glimpsed. The Passage is that kind of book, too. There is a dense web of mythology and mystery that roots itself into your brain–even as you are turning the pages as quickly as you can. Complex secrets and untold stories peer out from the edges of the plot in a way that fires the imagination, so that the world of the novel seems to extend outwards, a whole universe–parts of which we glimpse in great detail–and yet we long to know even more. I hope it won’t be saying too much to say that there are actually two universes in this novel, one overlapping the other: there is the world before the virus, and the world after, and one of the pleasures of the book is the way that those two worlds play off one another, each one twisting off into a garden of forking and intertwined paths. I think, for example, of the scientist Jonas Lear, and his journey to a fabled site in the jungles of Bolivia where clouds of bats descend upon his team of researchers; or the little girl, Amy, whose trip to the zoo sets the animals into a frenzy–”They know what I am,” she says; or one of the men in Dr. Lear’s experiment, Subject Zero, monitored in his cell as he hangs “like some kind of giant insect in the shadows.” These characters and images weave their way through the story in different forms, recurring like icons, and there are threads to be connected, and threads we cannot quite connect–yet. And I hope that there will be some questions that will not be solved at all, that will just exist, as the universe of The Passage takes on a strange, uncanny life of its own.
It takes two different kinds of books to work a reader up into that hypnotic, swept away feeling. The author needs to create both a deep intimacy with the characters, and an expansive, strange-but-familiar universe that we can be immersed in. The Passage is one of those rare books that has both these elements. I envy those readers who are about to experience it for the first time.
Danielle Trussoni Reviews The Passage
Danielle Trussoni is the author of Falling Through the Earth: A Memoir, which was the recipient of the 2006 Michener-Copernicus Society of America Award, a BookSense pick, and one of The New York Times Ten Best Books of 2006. Her first novel Angelology will be published in 30 countries. Read her review of The Passage:
Justin Cronin’s The Passage is a dark morality tale of just how frightening things can become when humanity transgresses the laws of nature.
The author of two previous novels, Cronin, in his third book, imagines the catastrophic possibilities of a vampiric bat virus unleashed upon the world. Discovered by the U.S. Military in South America, the virus is transported to a laboratory in the Colorado mountains where it is engineered to create a more invincible soldier. The virus’ potential benefits are profound: it has the power to make human beings immortal and indestructible. Yet, like Prometheus’ theft of fire from the Gods, knowledge and technological advancement are gained at great price: After the introduction of the virus into the human blood pool, it becomes clear that there will be hell to pay. The guinea pigs of the NOAH experiment, twelve men condemned to die on death row, become a superhuman race of vampire-like creatures called Virals. Soon, the population of the earth is either dead or infected, their minds controlled telepathically by the Virals. As most of human civilization has been wiped out by the Virals, the few surviving humans create settlements and live off the land with a fortitude the pilgrims would have admired. Only Amy, an abandoned little girl who becomes a mystical antidote to the creatures’ powers, will be able to save the world.
The Passage is no quick read, but a sweeping dystopian epic that will utterly transport one to another world, a place both haunting and horrifying to contemplate. Cronin weaves together multiple story lines that build into a journey spanning one hundred years and nearly 800 pages. While vampire lore lurks in the background–the Virals nick necks in order to infect humans, are immortal and virtually indestructible, and do most of their hunting at night–Cronin is more interested in creating an apocalyptic vision along the lines of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road.
Taking place in a futuristic America where New Orleans is a military zone, Jenna Bush is the Governor of Texas and citizens are under surveillance, The Passage offers a gruesome and twisted version of reality, a terrifying dream world in which our very worst nightmares come true. Ultimately, like the best fiction, The Passage explores what it means to be human in the face of overwhelming adversity. The thrill comes with the knowledge that Amy and the Virals must face off in a grand battle for the fate of humanity.
Questions for Justin Cronin
Q: What is The Passage?
A: A passage is, of course, a journey, and the novel is made up of journeys. But the notion of a journey in the novel, and indeed in the whole trilogy, is also metaphoric. A passage is a transition from one state or condition to another. The world itself makes such a transition in the book. So do all the characters—as characters in a novel must. The title is also a reference to the soul’s passage from life to death, and whatever lies in that unknown realm. Time and time again I’ve heard it, and in my own life, witnessed it: people at the end of life want to go home. It is a literal longing, I think, to leave this world while in a place of meaning, among familiar things and faces. But it is also a celestial longing.
Q: You are a PEN/Hemingway Award-winning author of literary fiction. Does The Passage represent a departure for you?
A: I think it’d be a little silly of me not to acknowledge that The Passage is, in a number of ways, overtly different from my other books. But rather than calling it a ‘departure,’ I’d prefer to describe it as a progression or evolution. First of all, the themes that engage me as a person and a writer are all still present. Love, sacrifice, friendship, loyalty, courage. The bonds between people, parents and children especially. The pull of history, and the power of place, of landscape, to shape experience. And I don’t think the writing itself is different at all. How could it be? You write how you write.
Q: The Passage takes place all across America–from Philadelphia to Houston to southern California. What prompted you to choose these specific locations?
A: Many of the major locations in the novel are, in fact, places I have lived. Except for a long stint in Philadelphia, and now Houston, my life has been a bit nomadic. I was raised in the Northeast, but after college, I ping-ponged all over the country for a while. In some ways, shaking off my strictly Northeastern point of view has been the central project of my adult life. This gave me not only a sense of the sheer immensity of the continent, but also the great diversity of its textures, both geographical and cultural, and I wanted the book to capture this feeling of vastness, especially when the narrative jumps forward a hundred years and the continent has become depopulated. One of the most striking impressions of my travels across the country is how empty a lot of it is. You can pull off the road in Kansas or Nevada or Utah or Texas and stand in the quiet with only the wind for company and it seems as if civilization has already ended, that you’re all alone on the planet. It’s a wonderful and a terrifying feeling at the same time, and while I was writing the book, I decided I would travel every mile my characters did, in order to capture not only the details of place, but the feeling of place.
The writer Charles Baxter once said (more or less) that you know you’ve come to the end of a story when you’ve found a way to get your characters back to where they started. The end of The Passage is meant to create another beginning, and the space for book two to unfold.
Q: Your daughter was the spark that set your writing of The Passage in motion. What else drove you to delve into such an epic undertaking?
A: The other force at work was something more personal and writerly. One of the reasons that the story of The Passage had such a magnetic effect on me was that I felt myself reclaiming the impulses that led me to become a writer in the first place. Like my daughter, I was a big reader as a kid. I lived in the country, with no other kids around, and spent most of my childhood either with my nose in a book or wandering around the woods with my head in some imagined narrative or another. It was much later, of course, that I formally became a student of literature, and decided that writing was something I wanted to do professionally. But the groundwork was all laid back then, reading with a flashlight under the covers.
Q: Did you have the narrative completely mapped out before you started, or did certain developments take you by surprise?
A: I had it mostly mapped out, but the book is in charge. I split and recombined some characters (mostly secondary ones.) I tend to think in terms of general narrative goals; the details work themselves out as you go, just so long as you remember the destination. And to that extent, the book followed the map I made with my daughter quite closely.
Q: When will we get to read the next book?
A: Two years (fingers wishfully crossed).
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Fans of vampire fiction who are bored by the endless hordes of sensitive, misunderstood Byronesque bloodsuckers will revel in Cronin’s engrossingly horrific account of a post-apocalyptic America overrun by the gruesome reality behind the wish-fulfillment fantasies. When a secret project to create a super-soldier backfires, a virus leads to a plague of vampiric revenants that wipes out most of the population. One of the few bands of survivors is the Colony, a FEMA-established island of safety bunkered behind massive banks of lights that repel the virals, or dracs—but a small group realizes that the aging technological defenses will soon fail. When members of the Colony find a young girl, Amy, living outside their enclave, they realize that Amy shares the virals’ agelessness, but not the virals’ mindless hunger, and they embark on a search to find answers to her condition. PEN/Hemingway Award–winner Cronin (The Summer Guest) uses a number of tropes that may be overly familiar to genre fans, but he manages to engage the reader with a sweeping epic style. The first of a proposed trilogy, it’s already under development by director Ripley Scott and the subject of much publicity buzz (Retail Nation, Mar. 15). (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Posted in Book Reviews | Comments Off
Written by tgrJams on 19 May 2010
There are many bonuses to working at a book store. I’ve been doing so for over seven years and love the bonuses! Stripped pocket books, magazines and nice discounts. Plus, you’re in an environment that allows you all you need to survive. Books and coffee. Ahhh.
Working at a bookstore also allows me the opportunity to read new books before they come out - prior to their actual release dates. These books are called “advanced reader copies”, or “ARC’s” (as we say in the business), and are sent to book stores sometimes up to six months in advance. They are usually uncorrected, unedited proofs, but come nicely packaged in paperback format and usually in a poor man’s version of the actual cover. This works out pretty cool for those of us who like to keep ahead of the game, and works out for the publishers, too, because having booksellers read their product early let’s them get “free” advertising when the bookseller loves the book and starts talking it up prior to release. That’s the idea, anyway. What happens if we don’t like it? Same thing. You can tell the customer that as well, but – chances are, if the customer is a fan of any particular author, they’re going to get the book anyway. Can someone say, “Win-Win Situation”?
The only downfall to this scenario is that you usually don’t get the highly anticipated copies of books that people are dying to get. You’d never have gotten Harry Potter’s last six books this way, as they were under lock and key until release date. I’m sure if someone has an ARC of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, it may just be worth something. After J.K. Rowling’s career took off and Harry became the must-have book, they required book stores to not even open the boxes of books until the release date. Same with The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. After his massively successful Da Vinci Code, it was “in the vault” until release date.
For authors who’ve been picked up by major publishers, I’m sure having your book sent out as ARCs must be a sign that they’ve “made it”. They’re in the big time.
This happened recently to a friend of mine. My friend worked with me at a book store about six years ago. She quit because her husband’s job was transferred out of state. She was sad to go, but said it would free her up to start writing that book she’s always wanted to write. These are the things people say when unexpected stuff like this happens. Some people follow through, some people don’t. Nora followed through. After completing her manuscript, she contacted a literary agent (with help from a friend) who then started to submit her work to publishers. She was awarded a three book deal with publishing giant Simon & Schuster! Not bad for a first timer! Not bad at all.
Nora was kind enough to send me a full copy of her actual manuscript! It was weird reading her book, which at this point resembled a stack of white paper as if you just opened a package to put into your printer. But, as I flipped through each page, carefully restacking it nice and slow, I noticed that my friend was, in fact, a damned good writer! I was reading it, not through her voice and personality, but from the characters in the book. I completely forgot that my friend had penned these words and phrase and fit them into a story that was pretty damned good! She told me her book would be out by next year (which is now this year), and that if I wanted, she’ll make sure the publisher sends me an ARC. I was thrilled for her, and thanked her for the offer (which I quickly accepted, by the way)!
Well, I just received the ARC for my friend’s book (which is due out in August, 2010). They (the publishers) changed the name from Shooter to A Bad Day’s Work and added a young woman on the cover carrying a news camera. Her book has reviews on it by famed mystery and suspense writers Marcia Muller and Lisa Scottoline. It also says it’s book one of a trilogy. Wow! My friend is big time!
The story is set in Bakersfield, and opens up with a murder in Buttonwillow where this shooter (mobile news camera person) must get to so the station can broadcast footage of her work on that evening’s news. Apparently, it’s a very competitive job – first shooter on the scene gets the best footage. The murders and suspects are all over the Bakersfield area, which should thrill all the locals, as we Bakos get the added bonus of actually knowing where she’s talking about.
Nora and I still communicate via facebook and emails. I’m so proud of her! She’s the same, though. No big head ego, no pompous attitude, just the same old Nora. Kinda goofy, kinda nerdy, silly laugh and same values… all the same things that make her so endearing to me. If you get a chance in August, come to Russo’s Books and buy A Bad Day’s Work by Nora McFarland. It’s funny, suspensful and very well written. And you may actually know who the murderer is! (Perhaps I can even talk her into a Russo’s book signing!) How far is Georgia from here?
Posted in Book Reviews, Local News | Comments Off
Written by tgrJams on 16 April 2010
By Thomas G. Robinson
The book is called “Not Lost Forever”, and is written by Carmina Salcido with Steve Jackson.
From the publishers: “On April 14, 1989, for reasons still debated today, Mexican immigrant Ramon Salcido went on a violent rampage in the idyllic Sonoma Valley wine country where he lived and worked. In the course of just two hours, he killed his wife, Angela, her two younger sisters, his mother-in-law, and the man with whom he suspected Angela was having an affair. He then slashed the throats of his three young daughters – four-year-old Sophia, three-year-old Carmina, and twenty-two-month-old Teresa, leaving them for dead in the county dump. A little more than a day later, the bodies of his daughters were discovered. Miraculously, tiny Carmina was still alive and able to tell her rescuers, ‘My daddy cut me.’”
Carmina survived. The way her body was thrown into the dump forced her head down and prevented her from bleeding to death from her knife wound. When she was rescued, she was able to point blame to the person responsible for this horrible crime, her own father.
Carmina went through many emotional roller-coaster rides throughout her childhood. From being adopted by a Catholic extremist family who tried to change her name and bury her past, to joining a Carmelite convent, to being sent to a ranch for troubled girls, until she found peace turning to the one relative that truly understood her pain – her grandfather.
Her story tells of tragedy to triumph – and finally of facing her murderous father eye to eye while he awaits his death penalty in a maximum security prison.
Carmina will speak and sign books at Russo’s Books at The Marketplace on Tuesday, April 20 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. She will then speak and sign at the Kern County Probation Department on Wednesday, April 21 at 10:00 AM at 1415 Truxtun Avenue.
Both events anticipate a high volume turnout, so please come early to ensure seating availability. You may call 665-4686 for more information regarding this event.
Tags: bakersfield, books, celebration, family violence, probation, russo's books, survival, uplifting
Posted in Book Reviews, Local News, Out and About | Comments Off
