Open Earlier and Later

Temporary holiday hours this week . . . not to say there are any last-minute shoppers out there, but just in case ;-)

Monday - Friday: 9:30-7:00
Saturday: 9:30-6:00
Sunday: 10:00-5:00
Monday 12/24: 9:00-1:00

If you know exactly what you want, you can always call ahead of time and we'll pull it off of the shelf for you and have it wrapped and ready when you pick it up. We have until Thursday (12/20) morning to place our last holiday order, so if there's anything out there you want us to order simply give us a ring and we'll get it in the order for arrival on Friday.

STORY TIME ... Christmas books galore on WEDNESDAY, 12/19 at 3:00. I plan on reading Snowmen at Christmas, The Night Before Christmas, and Olive the Other Reindeer. The craft is a good ol' paper chain garland.

We have 4 copies left of the author- and illustrator-signed Life of Pi Illustrated Edition books left (hardcover/$29.95). A great and rare gift for the book lover. I'm in love with Bird: The Definitive Guide from DK & Audubon (hardcover, $50.00). It's a gorgeous book and would be a welcomed treat by any birder on your list.

We still have a few stuffed penguins left, and the kids love these (2 ft. plush toy, $19.99). Pair the stuffed penguin with a penguin book and, voila, you're a hero ... Santa would be jealous. Or, for the mini chef, perhaps a copy of William Steig's hilarious book, Pete's a Pizza (hardcover, $16.99), paired with Melissa & Doug's Pizza Party pizza toy ($19.98). Mmmm, pizza.

For the know-it-all, try The New York Times Guide to Essential Knowledge (hardcover, $31.95). They may know a lot, but this book will show them that there still are a few new things to be learned.

And, yep, gift wrap is complimentary! We get backed up from time to time with wrapping, but you can always buy it, leave it, let us wrap it, and come back later if you're short on time.

Happy holidays!! We look forward to seeing you soon . . .

The holidays are upon us and we at Camalli are caught in a festive whirlwind of wrapping paper and ribbon! Wow . . . some of us are simply impressed that people get their shopping done anytime before the 15th. But it's been wonderful to meet so many new people and catch up with our more regular visitors. Our Holiday Catalog titles are moving quickly . . . remember, titles from the catalog are 20% off through December! The Adventures of Cinnamon Bear is in much demand, but luckily we have many in stock. Whether the person on your list is a little reader-to-be or a life-long bibliophile, we have great ideas for unique gifts. And remember . . . COMPLIMENTARY GIFT WRAP lets you cross one more thing off of your list!

NEXT STORY TIME . . . we hope to see you Thursday 12/13 at 10:00 a.m. with your little one. Our theme this week is HOLIDAY, and if we miss you on Thursday the story time and craft repeats on Wednesday, 12/19, at 3:00 p.m.

BOOK CLUB . . . remember to mark your calendars for January 10, 5:30 p.m., when we will discuss our December book selection, The World to Come. It's not too late to pick up and read this fabulous book. Dara Horn's provoking tale centers on a Chagall painting, tracing its possible provenance in Russia through its theft from a Jewish museum in New York and forward in time to the thief's motivations. Drawn from the real-life theft of the painting, Horn's narrative beautifully blends the real and the mystical to paint a memorable tale that will stay with you long after you've finished the last page.

Thanks so much for sharing your love of reading with us!

Camalli Book Company Recent Bestsellers:
The World to Come
The Adventures of Cinnamon Bear
Three Cups of Tea
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
The Omnivore's Dilemma
Water for Elephants
... and cookbooks! Lots and lots of cookbooks!

Be Independent!

Stuffed Turkey, Stuffed Store

Unbelievably, the holiday shopping season is already upon us. Our holiday catalog is filled with great titles for gift giving, from northwest authors to children's books. If you didn't get your catalog in the Bulletin, be sure to swing by and pick up one. All books in the catalog are 20% off through December. Going fast: the Mark-My-Time digital bookmarks. These are GREAT for kids! They make it easy to track your child's reading time . . . and therefore make it a breeze to fill in their time on those class reading logs.

We have a few copies left of the Life of Pi signed illustrated editions, but they are going much faster than I had anticipated. So many people loved this book. And the illustrations in this new edition are gorgeous. The books are first edtion/first printing, and they're signed by Yann Martel and illustrator. A rare treat!

STORY TIMES . . . we added another one to our schedule! This week's story time is on Thursday (11/29) at 10:00 a.m., with the theme of SNOW. That story time and theme then repeats next Wednesday (12/5) at 3:00 p.m. We'll of course do a craft after we read the books. Thursday Story Times are ideal for kids 2 - 5, while Wednesday Story Times will be geared to a little older audience (ages 3 - 6+) for those getting out of school early. Regardless of age, though, all are welcome!

AUTHOR SIGNING . . . Paty Jager joins us this Saturday, 12/1, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to sign copies of her latest Western romance, A Perfectly Good Nanny. Come by, pick up a cookie to munch on, and chat with Paty about her book as well as her experience as a writer.

Following the Thanksgiving holiday, I'm reminded of how thankful I am to own an independent bookstore. It's the best job I've ever had, and the people I've met have been amazing. Thank you for shopping with us!

Be Independent!

New Edition of Life of Pi ... Signed and Illustrated!

This just in . . . signed copies of the NEW illustrated edition of Yann Martel's Life of Pi! We at Camalli are very lucky to have these signed editions, especially considering that they are signed by both the author and the illustrator, and are first edition/first printing copies. Best of all, they're available at the retail price of $29.99. We have only 20 copies, and when they're gone, they're gone. A copy of this beautiful book would make a wonderful gift for a friend . . . or a perfect gift for yourself! With the gorgeous illustrations, now is the time to re-read (or read for the first time) this Man Booker-prize winning novel.

Camalli Events

Friday, November 2, 6:00 p.m.: Come meet author Paty Jager as she reads from her latest novel, Perfectly Good Nanny. Paty will also answer questions about writing and her road to publication. Perfectly Good Nanny received Four Lips from twolipsreviews.com, which said Jager ". . . paints a beautiful picture of truth, trust, determination, and love . . . captures the essence of working hard for your family and home."

Friday & Saturday, November 9 & 10, all day: Camalli will be in the Literary Lounge at the Women's Expo at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond. Stop by and browse . . . we'll have plenty of titles on hand that will be of particular interest to women and girls. We'll of course be open at the store, too!

Thursday, November 15, 10:00 a.m.: Story Time! Join us as we read stories and do a craft centered on the theme of THANKSGIVING.

Wednesday, November 14, 5:00 p.m.: Kid Poets! A third grade class of students will be in the store reading their poetry. I've been amazed at what I've heard from some of these youngsters.

Friday, November 16, 6:30 p.m.: Join Rick Steber for a release party celebrating the publication of his latest novel, Forty Candles on a Cowboy Cake. Coming to us from Prineville, Rick has gained a well-deserved national reputation and is best known for writing honest stories about the strong people and the open landscapes of the Old West. Of Rick's writing, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer said "Steber's writing is plain, picturesque, almost Hemingwayesque; the measure that lends dignity and understanding to the colorful past," and the LA Times said "Steber's words remind you of Hemingway or Fitzgerald...."

Readings and . . . a Sale!

A few things to mention today . . .

STORY TIME: Thursday's Halloween Story Time was a hoot. The kids were adorable in their costumes . . . from princesses (three of 'em) to a ghost to a ladybug to a horse. The kids really got into The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything, and after stories we made some not-so-spooky finger puppet bats. Next story time will be Thursday, November 15, and theme will be THANKSGIVING.

STORIES FOR GROWN UPS: Join us on Friday, November 2, at 6:00 p.m. for the release of Paty Jager's Perfectly Good Nanny. This western contemporary romance received four lips from twolipsreviews.com, so come in on the 2nd and meet Paty as she reads from the book and answers questions about writing and her road to publication.

SALE, SALE, SALE!: Be sure to come in and take advantage of our book sale! You'll find a table full of titles discounted from 20% to 40%. Sale titles include fiction and non-fiction, so browse the selection and you're likely to find something of interest!

WOMEN'S EXPO: Look for Camalli in the Literary Lounge at this year's Central Oregon Women's Expo! We'll have a table full of books that are of particular interest to girls and women.

GIFTS: We just received another toy shipment, so we're stocked to the gills with presents for kids. Whether you're birthday shopping or are one of those people who are ahead of the rest of us in your holiday shopping, be sure to stop by and have a look. Remember, we'll gift wrap your present, too!

SIMPSON IN THE CLEAR?: Simpson Avenue, that is. Looking out the window today there's NO sign of the construction on Century and Simpson. Phew! Could they really be done for good? Traffic is flowing again, so come on down!

Story Time Thursday, 10:00 a.m.

Thursday's dinosaur story time was a hoot. Funny how kids of all ages and genders seem to be fascinated by dinosaurs. We followed up the books with a craft, and the kids made their own dinosaurs:

Our craft for the previous story time involved taking some beautiful fall leaves and pressing them between clear Contact paper:

On Thursday, October 25, at 10:00 a.m. we'll have our HALLOWEEN story time. We would love the kids to come in costume!

Stories . . . and Dust

Next story time is Thursday, October 18, at 10:00 a.m. Our theme this time is DINOSAURS. Looking out the window I realize I perhaps should have chosen the theme of CONSTRUCTION TRUCKS, as the construction on Simpson continues. Again. Which makes it hard for customers trying to access either the shopping center we're in or the one across the street. Make your way in via Century/14th if you can. The trucks are a bit loud and they're kicking up some dust, but anyone with a young child who loves construction trucks should stop in in the next two days and read some big truck books while watching the show outside the window. Lots of "heavy machinerey," as my son used to call them.

I recently finished Mister Pip, a book that was shortlisted for this year's Man Booker prize. A very good book, but it drained the emotion out of me at one point. I won't give it away here. But I was left thinking about it for days after. Very powerful. It was one of those books that affected me in a way that I had to immediately get into another book to help clear my head of the imagery. So I picked up an advance reader's copy of The Somnambulist, which doesn't publish in the U.S. until February, though it's already out to good reviews in the U.K. It's somewhat of a gothic mystery set in Victorian England. Or, as the cover describes it, "An extraordinary tale of poetry, secret societies, travelling circuses and walking dead set in a richly realised Victorian London." Interesting so far.

What are you reading? What have you loved? We'd love to publish you favorites in the store . . . give you your own little shelf corner with your recommedation. Just drop an e-mail!

Hot Reads

We've had two book clubs meet at Camalli this week, and it's been great fun listening in on their discussions. One group just finished Eat, Pray, Love, while the other group read Mountains Beyond Mountains. Eat, Pray, Love has been one of the best sellers at the store since we opened back in August, and it's keeping a top position along with Three Cups of Tea, Water for Elephants, and Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. Just recently Timothy Egan's The Worst Hard Time has been flying off the shelves. Egan will be in Bend at the end of the month along with an impressive line up of authors and poets for The Nature of Words. I'm currently reading Benjamin Percy's Refresh, Refresh: Stories. Percy will also be here for The Nature of Words, and his short story collection is filled with references to Bend and Central Oregon; it's a wonderful read.

Also on the nightstand right now is Mister Pip, which has been short-listed for the Man Booker prize. From the short list I've also read On Chesil Beach and The Reluctant Fundamentalist. I'm very much enjoying Mister Pip, but I think The Reluctant Fundamentalist remains my favorite so far. Still to read from the short list: Animal's People, Darkmans, and The Gathering.

But before I get to the next Man Booker title, I'm reading up on my dinosaurs . . . Camalli's next story time is Thursday, October 18 at 10:00 a.m., and we'll be reading about dinosaurs. Nothing scary; we'll keep this fun and colorful for the preschool crowd.

Story Times and Stories

We had a lovely story time today, complete with fall leaves--the warm colors of which kept us cozy as it rained and hailed outside! Our next story time is Thursday, October 18, at 10:00 a.m.; the theme will be DINOSAURS. We'll then follow that up with another story time one week later on Thursday, October 25, with a HALLOWEEN theme (costumes welcome!). If you want your name added to the e-mail announcement list for story times let us know.

Central Oregon's premier literary event, The Nature of Words, is quickly approaching (October 31-November 4), so now is the time to get your tickets ... and to get your hands on some of the books by this year's guest authors. I'm currently reading Benjamin Percy's wonderful short story collection, Refresh, Refresh, and Timothy Egan's National Book Award winner The Worst Hard Time is moving off the shelves at a rapid pace. And there's plenty more to choose from! Look for:

TIMOTHY EGAN: The Good Rain, Lasso the Wind, and The Worst Hard Time
HEATHER VOGEL FREDERICK: The Education of Patience Goodspeed, The Voyage of Patience Goodspeed, The Mother-Daughter Book Club, Spy Mice: The Black Paw, Spy Mice: For Your Paws Only, and Spy Mice: Goldwhiskers
CRAIG JOHNSON: The Cold Dish, Death without Company, and Kindness Goes Unpunished
TED KOOSER: Delights & Shadows, Flying at Night, The Poetry Home Repair Manual, Writing Brave & Free, and Weather Central
KATHLEEN DEAN MOORE: The Pine Island Paradox and Riverwalking: Reflections on Moving Water
BENJAMIN PERCY: The Language of Elk and Refresh, Refresh
PATTIANN ROGERS: Firekeeper: Selected Poems, Generations, and Splitting and Binding

Story Time Thursday: Fall Leaves

Thanks again to everyone for the fantastic turnout at our last story time! This Thursday, October 4, we'll have our second story time. Our theme this week centers on Fall and the changing season. We'll read a few books about leaves and will then do a kid craft using some of the gorgeous leaves we have around Bend at this time of year. If you and you child find some beautiful leaves feel free to bring them in for the craft.

We'll open a little early on Thursday so that we can begin our story time at 10:00 a.m. PLEASE, to keep spaces available for our neighboring businesses, we would greatly appreciate it if you either parked directly in front of Camalli or in one of the spots in the interior lot. Please do not park in front of Pizzicato.

Thanks again to everyone for supporting your local, independent bookstores!

I Read Banned Books.

And I don't even live dangerously. Did you know that this week, September 29 through October 6, is Banned Books Week? This week is sponsored by the American Booksellers Association, American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, American Library Association, American Society of Journalists and Authors, Association of American Publishers, and National Association of College Stores. It is endorsed by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.

Come in to Camalli and view some of the many books that have been challenged in the past . . . from Harry Potter to Catcher in the Rye, you may be surprised by what you find.

Live on the edge and let your inner rebel run loose . . . read a Banned Book!

Story Time Thanks!

Wow ... what a fantastic turnout for our FIRE TRUCK AND FIREFIGHTER story time this morning! Thanks so much everyone for you patience with our first venture into Story Time World. The kids were great, and the firefighters were absolutely amazing. I think we overwhelmed them with our turnout, but they of course took it in stride like the pros they are. Thank you Bend firefighters!

Our next story time will be on Thursday, October 4, and the theme will be FALL COLORS AND LEAVES. No exciting trips to the fire station, but we will do a craft that involves using some of the beautiful fall leaves we have here in Bend. It would be great if you and your child could find some leaves of various colors and shapes to bring in.

While I'm here, I'll post our best sellers at Camalli over the past week:

FICTION:
1. A Thousand Splendid Suns
2. Water for Elephants
3. Spot of Bother
4. Kite Runner
5. Middlesex

NON-FICTION:
1. Three Cups of Tea
2. Eat Pray Love
3. Glass Castle
4. Worst Hard Time
5. Dangerous Book for Boys

CHILDREN'S INTEREST:
1. Runaway Bunny
2. Look What I Did with a Leaf
3. Big Red Barn (board book)
4. Puff the Magic Dragon
5. B is for Beaver

Fire Truck Story Time Scheduled!

This just in . . . our first story time will be on Thursday, September 20 at 10:15 sharp. We will read a few books that center on fire trucks, fire fighters, and fire safety. Following our story time we will take a short walk across the parking lot to the fire station, where the kids will get an eyefull of REAL fire trucks and REAL fire fighters! Fire fighters are so important to all of us; if your child wants to draw a special picture to take to the fire station I would encourage you to help him or her do so. These folks put their lives on the line for us every day, and they still find time to do station tours for the kids!

Note for story times the prime ages are between 2 and 5. The younger folks are welcome, too, but stories will be geared to a pre-school audience.

Thursdays will continue to be our story time hours for the near future, aiming for every Thursday at 10:30. This first Thursday (9/20) starts a little early because of the extra field trip, but other story times will be at 10:30, and we'll do our best to include an activity. Have a suggestion for story time? Let us know; we'd love to hear from you! camallireaders@gmail.com

Stories & Teachers

Lots of construction going on lately on Simpson and Century . . . but don't let that deter you! We're open every day. Friday, September 7 we'll stay open until 7:00, so stop by, browse and have a cup of tea or coffee.

We're close to finalizing our story times . . . the first one will be with the Bend Fire Dept. We'll read stories here about fire engines and fire fighters, and then as a special treat we'll walk over to the fire department to see the real engines and real fire fighters! E-mails will be going out to those who signed up to be notified by e-mail, and we'll post the times here as well.

Teachers . . . Camalli Book Company appreciates our local teachers. Bring in a pay stub or other proof of employment at a local school and we'll offer you a 20% discount on most items (books only, please; discount does not apply to sale merchandise or to "short" discount items).

Story Times

Story times will start up in September . . . when the "big" kids are heading back in school and everyone is back from their summer vacations. To begin we'll have one story time a week, but would like to add a second. First story times will include themes such as Off to School and Fabulous Fire Engines. Because Camalli is so close to the fire department, our Fabulous Fire Engines story time may include a walk next door to see the trucks and the fire fighters in person! Dates are to be scheduled in the coming weeks, so watch the web site for details.

What are you reading?

We'd love to know what your favorite books are . . . whether they be contemporary or classic. Give us your recommendation and we can include it on the shelf with the book(s) you think other people need to know about. Stop by the store for your "Community Pick" form, or e-mail us at camallireaders@gmail.com and let us know the book title, author name, and a brief description of why you recommend the book.

Wired & Wireless

In addition to books, gifts, cards, and coffee, we failed to mention we also offer free wireless access in the store. Just stop at the register to get your login key number.

We're loving the kid area! It has a lot of room for the younger set to move around, and some plush bean bags for relaxing with a good read. Our 8-12 section is bursting with good books, too! And the teen/young adult section a nice selection . . . remember, Stephenie Meyer's Eclipse comes out on Tuesday, 8/7. We also have Twilight and New Moon in stock for anyone who's ready to start reading this vampire love saga.

Grand Opening Sale ... and Coffee's On!

Camalli Book Company officially opened its doors Tuesday (7/31) with a ribbon cutting ... and our signs are finally up! We're on Simpson Avenue, just three spaces down from Pizzicato and right next to Complements in the Ray's shopping center.

Grand-opening sale . . . hard-back titles in stock are currently on sale for 20% off, so pick up your next read at a great price! The sale runs through August 15. While here, sign up for our frequent buyer program and earn a $5.00 credit for every $100.00 spent. Look for popular hard-back titles such as The Dangerous Book for Boys; Peony in Love; The Yiddish Policeman's Union; The Diana Chronicles; Einstein; Animal, Vegetable, Miracle; The Omnivore's Dilemma; and more.

We also sell Strictly Organic coffee in the store, as there's nothing quite like a good book and a good cup of coffee. And if a cup of tea is more your, well, cup of tea, then stop in for a cup from Harney & Sons.

We hope to see you soon!

Ribbon Cutting & More

Join us for our ribbon cutting on Tuesday, August 31, at 4:30. We'll have a small smattering of refreshments on hand.

In the meantime, we're busy adding books to the shelves. Besides Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the hot sellers this week have been Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin's Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time, Jeffrey Eugenide's Middlesex, and Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants. Coming up on August 7 for young adult readers Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer's much anticipated third book in the Twilight vampire series.

Come on In!

We opened our doors for the first time at 10:00 p.m. on July 20, just two hours ahead of the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. We are now open seven days a week, so come on by!

Monday - Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Hours may extend, so watch this space for details.

We're building our donations to The Education Foundation for Bend-LaPine Schools and the Friends of the Library. With every purchase of HP7 we're donating $5.00 to the organization of the customer's choice. We still have copies of the book left, so upcoming purchases of HP7 also qualify.

We hope to see you soon!

Indies for Muggles!

Whew ... it's close to opening time! Harry Potter is about here. We receive a very limited quantity on Friday, July 20 and will begin selling those at MIDNIGHT ... technically July 21. Because planning a store opening is a full-time job in and of itself, we are not having a big-splash party for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. We are having a low-key, open-the-doors kind of thing to ensure the die-hard fans can get a copy of the book at midnight.

We'll open at 11:00 pm on July 20 and will then unchain the boxes at midnight and sell the book on a first-come first-served basis. If we sell out, we'll have more on the way next week. If you want to reserve a copy to make sure we have one for you at midnight call us at 323-6134 and leave your name and phone number. We'll hold your book for the evening, but will have to release all unsold copies on Saturday at noon.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will sell for $29.99, and with your purchase we will donate $5.00 to the organization of your choice . . . The Education Foundation for Bend-LaPine Schools or the Friends of the Library. We obviously love books and are excited to donate to organizations that support learning and literacy in our community.

Following this weekend's release of Harry Potter, we hope to remain open permanently, but there are kinks still being worked out. Watch this space or call for details on store hours.

Celebrate our opening with Harry Potter

It's coming . . .

Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows is released on July 21. $5.00 of every copy of HP7 sold will go to the local organization of your choice: either The Education Foundation for Bend-LaPine Schools, or to the Friends of the Library for the Deschutes Public Library.

In the meantime, we're working like crazy to get the books on the shelves and the doors ready to open. We're in a great spot just off of the Century/Simpson roundabout, so finding us and finding parking is easy.

1288 SW Simpson Avenue
Suite C
Bend, OR 97702