Food! Food! Food! (And music...)

Join us at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 16, when Suzanne Martinson talks about her new book THE FALLINGWATER COOKBOOK: ELSIE HENDERSON'S RECIPES & MEMORIES. Henderson was the longtime and last cook for the Kaufmann family at the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Fallingwater; author Martinson is a former food editor and writer for the Pittsburgh Press and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Martinson is bringing snacks based on the recipes in the book ... and we will of course provide the wine for our guests over 21. Some recipes that make my mouth water include Salmon Rillette, Roquefort Souffle in Phyllo Cups w/ Apple, and an Onion Tart from Alsace.

Also this week . . .

On Wednesday, December 17, at 3:00 p.m. we're joined by the folks at KinderMusik for our story time. This is a great way to get the kids moving!

Great Events This Week!

TONIGHT AT 6:30 . . .

Local author Darin Furry discusses his new book, BEYOND SAGEBRUSH: SECRETS OF CENTRAL OREGON'S NATURAL WORLD. Furry's book explores the natural history that is specific to Central Oregon. At this presentation and booksigning, the author will discuss what makes our area unique while giving insight to the science behind our natural world.

Also coming up in the store . . .

Wednesday, Nov 19 2008, 3:00P
Story Time with Guest Reader Leah Davies

Thursday, Nov 20 2008, 7:00P
THIRD THURSDAY WORDS .... swing baby, swing! with jazz singer Teresa Ross

Friday, Nov 21 2008, 6:00P
George Wright :: Book Discussion & Signing

Monday, Dec 1 2008, 6:30P
Book Club Discussion ... LOVING FRANK ... discussion is open to any and all

Author Paty Jager Signing Books 11/8

Author PATY JAGER will be at Camalli Book Company on Saturday, November 8, from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. signing copies of her new book MARSHAL IN PETTICOATS.

Tonight's Discussion ... THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE

Monday night in the store (10/27 @ 6:30) we discuss THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE, which was our October book club pick. It is quite a long book at over 500 pages. All are welcome.

As is always the case, I am up against the wall and rushing to finish the book in time for the discussion. And this is why I struggle with book clubs in general … I rarely choose to read a book that large groups are interested in reading, perhaps because I am, in no small measure, obstinate. So when compelled—shall we say—to read a book as part of a group "project" I fall woefully behind. I always have three to four books going at once and somehow manage to move the required reading to the bottom of the stack. All of which makes me a very, very bad candidate for book club leader … I fully admit this. So after this month Deirdre takes over book club duties and I'm happy to hand it over to her; and I'm quite sure everyone will be much happier with her as leader/organizer as opposed to me. I'll likely participate in discussions, but I think (I know) she is much more congenially suited to a book club than me.

With all of that said, I think Deirdre does have some good ones in the queue for the coming months, including:

* LOVING FRANK (November)

* HANNAH'S DREAM (December, with author Diane Hammond joining the discussion)

* CHURCH OF THE DOG (early 2009, with author Kaya McLaren visiting the store on May 28!)

But back to THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE. So many people have read the book, and any and all are welcome to join in the discussion. Don't get me wrong ... I am not panning the book. I'm just being a grump who wishes the book was perhaps 100+ pages shorter. It's a very ambitious first novel, and one that deserves much of the attention it is receiving. The supernatural and suspenseful elements of the book make me think it is well suited to people who liked THE LIFE OF PI. Very different books, but there's something there that connects the two somehow. If you can pull through the first 100 pages, you will undoubtedly go on to finish the book ... but in my opinion it's getting through those first 100 that provides the challenge. Some editing could have been done. It was likely a skilled editor that once said something along the lines of "in every fat book there is a thin book trying to get out." THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE is a good read that could have been made even better if that thinner book had been allowed to come through.

Camalli Downtown Tonight for Art Walk

Tina will be downtown tonight at UMPQUA BANK as author Thor Hanson discusses and signs his book THE IMPENETRABLE FOREST: MY GORILLA YEARS IN UGANDA.  I'll be selling copies of his book and partaking in the free wine ;-)

If you're out and about please stop in and say hi!  I'll be handing out special store bookmarks that have a 20% off coupon.

Did I mention the wine?

Special Story Time

Thursday, October 2, we have a GREAT story time with KINDERMUSIK! Bring the kid(s) in and enjoy music and motion. Starts at 10:00 a.m. ...

Fundraiser for THE NATURE OF WORDS

Ales for Authors!

Enjoy great beer, catch some open mic performances and support The Nature of Words at "Ales for Authors" this Wednesday, October 1, at Bend's Silver Moon Brewing. The evening's $3.00 cover charge will go to benefit Central Oregon's premier literary festival, scheduled for November 5-9, 2008. Local slam poet Jason Graham will emcee the Open Mic from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Silver Moon Brewing is located at 24 NW Greenwood Avenue.)

Camalli Book Co. will definitely be there! Come on out and hear about The Nature of Words 2008, featuring eight guest authors, including Patricia Smith, four-time national individual poetry slam champion. The author roster also includes Ursula K. Le Guin, icon of the science fiction and fantasy genre; Craig Childs, adventure travel writer and desert ecologist; Charles Bowden, journalist and essayist who writes about the environment and social issues along the U.S.-Mexico border; Luis Urrea, 2005 Pulitzer Prize nominee whose dual-culture heritage influences his themes in fiction and literary non-fiction; Ekiwah Adler-Belendez, 19-year old poet prodigy from Mexico; Pam Houston, award-winning short story writer and novelist; and Judith Barrington, internationally known poet and memoirist.

Bring your own work to share at the Open Mic, or just come to listen and learn about The Nature of Words.

Monday Night Book Club - 9/29, 6:00 p.m.

As always, procrastination wins and I'm once again rushing to finish the book club selection for this month. But reading Ursula LeGuin's LAVINIA has been a treat. Lavinia comes from Virgil's (or Vergil's, depending on your source) 2000-year-old epic poem THE AENEID, where she is given ever-so-brief treatment and truly does not speak a word (though, her hair does catch fire most impressively). Lavinia is the daughter of King Latinus, and a plethora of men are doomed to die over who will eventually marry her. Her eventual marriage to Aeneas (after whom, of course, the epic is titled) signals the founding of the Roman race.

LeGuin weaves a story that imagines Lavinia's life as a young girl, her courting by that asshole Turnus, her eventual marriage to Aeneas--which leads to the war between the Trojans and the Latins--and on to the end of her life.

I do like feminine takes on old tales ... such as Marion Zimmer Bradley's MISTS OF AVALON ... but LAVINIA is more than a "feminist" tale. As one reviewer stated: "The three characters [Lavinia, Latinus, Aeneas] together embody the Roman belief in fate as it relates to the virtue of pietas (dutifulness, spiritual awareness, a deep listening for and acceptance of the truth at the heart of the matter)." It is a novel for anyone interested in classic mythology, and of course for anyone fascinated by the story of the Trojan War.

I don't think having read THE AENEID is essential, but it would certainly enrich the experience. For a translation, I'd suggest Robert Fagles's, which is now out in paperback.

ANYWAY ... book club discussion Monday night (9/29) at the store at 6:00. Wine flows freely, of course.

Great Event Thursday . . .

Locals Love Locals!

Hi Folks! We're happy to announce that Camalli Book Co. just got the Honorable Mention award for Best Bookstore by The Source Weekly! Our friends over at Between the Covers won top prize. We got Best Bookstore by Bend Living, and they got the honorable mention in that one. So, we're sharing awards. We have a great relationship with Between the Covers, and we all just want everyone to SHOP LOCAL! Buy here, buy there ... just buy at a local store! Thanks to everyone for your support over the last year; it's hard to believe we've been open for almost 13 months!

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Thursday, August 14 ... Join us at 7:00 p.m. for a reading and release party celebrating Jonathan Ludwig's first chapbook of poetry and short stories, FALSE STARTS, FRAGMENTS & FALSEHOODS. Ludwig's chapbook is published locally by THROWBACK BOOKS ... you may have seen the article about THROWBACK in the August 9 Bend Bulletin. Ludwig is a member of the 2006 and 2007 Bend Poetry Slam Teams. Either everything in this new chapbook is a lie or the title is--it is tough to tell. The content is difficult to believe: buying bits of a woman's body, making molotov cocktails for our generation out of Hostess Pink Snowballs and chopsticks, late night bottles of booze that have more of a social life than the author. But each becomes difficult to discount after reading these maybe-autobiographical stories. Typed in the font of a classic Oliver No. 5 with its butterfly falling keys, these textured stories will have you rereading each cryptic line to try to find a lie or a truth within it. This is a FREE event, open to all. Guests over 21 can enjoy complimentary wine or beer; those under 21 are welcome to soda or water.

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Thursday, August 21 ... THIRD THURSDAY WORDS in the store at 7:00! This Thursday we're lucky to have in a team of talented local poets: Pete Lovering, John Martin, Judy Montgomery and Ellen Waterston. They will read nothing but short poems (their own and others’), from haiku to limerick to sonnet. Peter is celebrating the publication of a new hand-produced book of haiku, INNERVOICE/OPEN SPACE. John, inspired by a month-long poetry residency at Caldera, will read new work and poems from his chapbook, NICK OF TIME. Ellen will read from her prize-winning chapbook, I AM MADAGASCAR, and give us a taste of work from her soon-to-be-published new book of poems. And Judy, just returned from a poetry getaway, will read some of her new (short!) poems and work from her recent chapbook, PULSE & CONSTELLATION. Join us—and if you'd like, bring a short poem (yours or one of your favorites) to read aloud! This, also, is a FREE event and open to all. Guests over 21 can enjoy complimentary wine or beer; those under 21 are welcome to soda or water.

Stephenie Meyer Frenzy!

So many people are getting amped up for the release of BREAKING DAWN, the fourth book in Stephenie Meyer's TWILIGHT series. The book is released on August 2 (Saturday), and you can get your hands on a copy at midnight! We're opening the doors at 11:00 p.m. on Friday, August 1 for some food, drink and low-key interaction (costumes welcome!), and the book goes on sale at the stroke of midnight. AND, get this ... everyone here that night can enter to win a free SIGNED COPY of Stephenie Meyer's THE HOST.

To make sure that you get your hands on a copy of BREAKING DAWN give us a call to reserve your copy. You can pick it up at midnight or the next day. But to win the signed copy of THE HOST you do need to be present on August 1 when we announce the winner just before midnight.

July 21 @ 6:00 ... "Our government can make you disappear..."

Join us on Monday, July 21, at 6:00 p.m. as Steven Wax discusses his new book KAFKA COMES TO AMERICA: FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE IN THE WAR ON TERROR.

Taken from the book's website:

A public defender’s dedicated struggle to rescue two innocent men from the recent Kafkaesque practices of our vandalized justice system

“Our government can make you disappear.” Those were the words Steven Wax never imagined he would hear himself say. In his twenty-nine years as a public defender, Wax had never had to warn a client that he or she might be taken away to a military brig, or worse, a “black site,” one of our country’s dreaded secret prisons. How had our country come to this? The disappearance of people happens in places ruled by tyrants, military juntas, fascist strongmen—governments with such contempt for the rule of law that they strip their citizens of all rights. But in America?
Under the current Bush administration, not only are the civil rights of foreigners in jeopardy, but those of U.S. citizens. Wax interweaves the stories of two men that he and his team represented: Brandon Mayfield, an American-born small town lawyer and family man, arrested as a suspected terrorist in the Madrid train station bombings after a fingerprint was incorrectly traced back to him by the FBI; and Adel Hamad, a Sudanese hospital administrator taken from his apartment to a Pakistani prison and then flown in chains to the United States military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Kafka Comes to America reveals where and how our civil liberties have been eroded for a false security, and how each of us can make a difference. If these events could happen to Brandon Mayfield and Adel Hamad, they can happen to anyone. It could happen to us. It could happen to you.

JULY 15, 3:00 p.m. … special children’s STORY TIME, craft & booksigning. Local author and illustrator JUNE ATSUKO MARTEL does a story time, reading her new book IN MY DAY to the kids. This children's book helps kids experience the sights and feelings of contrasting cultures in a nostalgic era by spending a day with a girl from Japan and a boy from America. June will also do a Japanese paper craft with the kids.

JULY 17, 7:00 p.m. … THIRD THURSDAY WORDS, featuring local artist, writer, performer and spoken word master JASON GRAHAM, aka MOSLEY WOTTA. Join us for what’s sure to be a great performance. I really encourage you to give this event a go. Graham is phenomenal performer and was featured in The Bulletin earlier this year. Those over 21, come on down and enjoy complimentary wine or beer … those under, we’re happy to share Coca Cola, tea or water.

JULY 19, 2:00 p.m. … I will be at the Tower Theatre selling TODD PARR’s books in conjunction with his STORY STARS presentation for the Deschutes Public Library. I'll be selling at the table before as well as after, when Todd will also be at the table to sign books. His many colorful children's books include the Otto series (OTTO GOES TO THE BEACH, OTTO GOES TO BED, etc.) as well as others, including READING MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD and a perennial favorite with the three- to five-year-old set, UNDERWEAR DO'S AND DON'TS. Tickets to this event are free, but are required, so be sure to pick up yours at the library.

JULY 21, 6:00 p.m. … Federal public defender STEVEN T. WAX is in the store to discuss his book KAFKA COMES TO AMERICA: FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE IN THE WAR ON TERROR, A PUBLIC DEFENDER'S ACCOUNT. Wax masterfully delivers a harrowing story of the erosion of civil liberties after the September 11 terrorist attaches in a powerful testimony that reads like a thriller. Wax’s book follows the story of two men he represented, both victims of post-9/11 conterterrorism measures.

And at the end of the month we have our BOOK CLUB (JULY 28 at 6:00 p.m.). Our book for July is the Oscar Wilde classic THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY. Reading this you can see why it was scandalous at the time (it first appeared in Lippincott’s Magazine in 1890). Immerse yourself in a classic and join us on the 28th for a good discussion and some wine. Speaking of classics, I finally watched the 2005 film version of Pride and Prejudice last night. While I’m not usually a fan of movies adapted from books, I must say it’s a delight to see Mr. Darcy come to life!

Top sellers in the store … moving fast are David Sedaris’s WHEN YOU ARE ENGULFED IN FLAMES, David Wroblewski’s THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE, Jhumpa Lahiri’s UNACCUSOMED EARTH, Salman Rushdie’s THE ENCHANTRESS OF FLORENCE, Richard Bartlett’s MATRIX ENERGETICS: THE SCIENCE AND ART OF TRANSFORMATION, William P. Young’s THE SHACK, and Stephenie Meyer’s TWILIGHT and NEW MOON, which are likely moving in anticipation of the fourth book in Meyer’s TWILIGHT series.

Speaking of the TWILIGHT series … that fourth book in the series, BREAKING DAWN, is released on August 2. We have a few cases coming in and will do a midnight selling for those of you who just cannot wait to get your hands on a copy! So, fans, mark your calendars for August 1 at 11:00 p.m., when we open the doors late for Meyer fans! We can begin selling the book at midnight. If you would like to reserve your copy just give us a call or send an e-mail.

Want to see your name in print?? Just fill out a CUSTOMER RECOMMENDATION and share your favorite books with the community! We have the little shelf tags in the store and would love to hear what you’ve read and loved .... just stop on in to pick one up.

Best of Bend 2008

Bend Living's Best of Bend 2008 just came out, and Camalli Book Company was voted Best Bookstore! Thanks to anyone and everyone who not only voted for us, but to everyone who has been so kind and supportive over this last year. I have a hard time believing that we've been open a full year come the end of July!

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Most of all, THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING YOUR INDEPENDENT RETAILERS AND RESTAURANTS.

What's New, What's New...

It’s been a busy week in the store. People are stocking up on their summer reads, many of them going off to enviable locals … Italy, France, Kauai. As for me, I’m pretty much here with Bodhi every day except Saturdays and some Sundays, but there are worse ways to spend your summer than sharing books. For those of you traveling with kids, we have a lot of activity books to help keep them occupied while in the car or on the plane.

EVENTS

I’m very excited about this … on Thursday, June 19, we kicked off THIRD THURSDAY WORD here in the store. This will be a monthly event featuring a regional poet or writer. So mark your calendars for every third Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Graciously kicking it off for us on the 19th was c.vance, host of the Bend Poetry Slam and author of the new chapbook of poetry and short stories, The Alley Flowers Bloom. We of course have his books in stock … it’s a bargain at $5, people! Support a local writer. For THIRD THURSDAY WORD in July (7/17) we have Jason Graham coming in. Jason is a local artist/poet/musician … you may have read the article about him in the Bulletin back in January. Join us on July 17th for an evening of spoken word and perhaps a glass of wine or beer …

Another one to mark on your calendar … on Monday, July 21 at 6:00 author Steven T. Wax comes to Camalli to discuss his new book Kafka Comes to America: Fighting for Justice in the War on Terror, A Public Defender’s Inside Account. Here’s what Publisher’s Weekly had to say about the book (you also may have heard Wax on OPB a couple of weeks ago):

Federal public defender Wax masterfully delivers a harrowing story of the erosion of civil liberties after the September 11 terrorist attacks in a powerful testimony that reads like a thriller. Wax follows the stories of two men he represented, both victims of post-9/11 counterterrorism measures. The first---American citizen and fellow lawyer Brandon Mayfield---was arrested by the FBI as a suspect in the Madrid train station bombings in 2004, after the FBI claimed that a latent fingerprint found on the scene matched Mayfield’s. The second story revolves around Adel Hamad, a Sudanese-born hospital administrator arrested in Pakistan while doing refugee relief work. Imprisoned for six months in “a fetid hell” for alleged connections with al-Qaeda, Hamad was hooded and shackled and transferred to Guantánamo Bay, where he has languished for the past four years. With considerable finesse, the author narrates these two gripping stories in alternating chapters through each stage of his clients' cases. Wax offers personal insight and professional outrage; his is a powerful voice that deserves to reach all Americans.

BOOK CLUB

On Monday, JUNE 30, the Camalli Book Club discusses our June pick, Stef Penney's The Tenderness of Wolves (6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.). Join in for the discussion or just be honest about it, say you didn't read the book, and join us for a glass of wine, anyway ... that's okay, too! Our July pick is The Thirteenth Tale.

STORY TIMES

We went on a brief hiatus, but will resume story times starting Wednesday, July 2, at 3:00. Because of summer schedules, we are unable to do morning story times for awhile. Here’s the story time schedule for July:

• Wednesday, July 2, 3:00 p.m., Theme: The Moon
• Tuesday, July 15, 3:00 p.m. … special story time! Join us as local authors/illustrators June Atsuko Martel and Sandy Beelmann share their new children’s book, In My Day. June will also do a paper craft with the kids after the story. In My Day follows two children, one in Japan and the other in America, through a typical day in the early 1900s. It’s a charming book. Again, support your local authors!
• Wednesday, July 16, 3:00 p.m., Theme: Gardens
• Wednesday, July 23, 3:00 p.m., Theme: Trucks

Camalli Events

Events at the store this week:

Tuesday, June 17, 6:00pm-7:00pm … local authors and landscapers Fred Swisher and Sarah Whipple have recently released their book, 55 Myths, Tips & Secrets: Bend’s Essential Guide to Landscaping. Anyone who tries to garden in this town is well aware of the challenges involved. So come on down Tuesday night for a booksigning and discussion that will shed some light on some of those myths, tips and secrets.

Wednesday, June 18, 3:00-3:30 ... story time! Our theme this week is BIRDS.

Thursday, June 19, 7:00pm-whenever … landscaping of the mind. Bend Poetry Slam host c.vance is in the store for a reading/performance. He recently released a collection of poems and stories: the alley flowers bloom…. This Thursday kicks off the store’s Third Thursday poetry/spoken word events, officially titled Third Thursday Word. In July for Third Thursday we’ll have Jason Graham, aka MOsleyWOtta/MoWo. We very much enjoy c.vance's work, but just want to give everyone the head's up that there are some 'adult' themes and language.

Story Time AND Author Visit

Today (6/4) at 3:00 ... STORY TIME! The theme: The Beach! Come join us for some ocean-themed stories and, of course, a fun craft. Bodhi's here today and anxious for some kid love!

SUNDAY, 6/8, at 4:00 ... come in for a reading and signing by Portland-based author TREVOR SCOTT. A former Air Force officer and the author of more than a dozen books, Scott will stop in at Camalli for a reading and discussion centered on his books’ themes of espionage and intrigue. Scott’s most recent book, BURST OF SOUND, was called “highly entertaining” by the Midwest Book Review and “very exciting” by WP Book Reviews. Scott joined the Navy just shy of 18, working on the dangerous flight deck of aircraft carriers as an aviation ordnanceman on cruises to the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Letting an 18-year-old loose on the streets of the world was an excellent training ground for his future career as an international thriller writer. Done with the Navy after four years, Scott attended the University of Minnesota, earning a degree in English and journalism. He soon rejoined the military as an Air Force officer. He was stationed first in Missouri in a communications squadron supporting Minuteman II ICBMs. Then he moved on to a Ground-Launched Cruise Missile unit in Germany for three years during the crumbling of the Berlin Wall and the fall of communism, where he participated in joint exercises with the German Army and Air Force, and escorted Soviet inspection teams in compliance with the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

SO ... Scott's visit will be of interest to all kinds of folks. And if you're a budding writer yourself, come on in and ask questions! It's the best way to learn about publishing process.

Signed Editions

We're building a very small collection of signed books in the store. They're all for sale and would make great gifts for fans of the authors. Signed books include:

THE HOST, by Stephenie Meyer. Author-signed first edition, first printing. New hardcover. Price: $45.00.

FLOTSAM, by David Weisner. Author-signed first edition, first printing of his Caldecott Medal winner. New hardcover. Price: $50.00.

BUDDHA: A STORY OF ENLIGHTENMENT, by Deepak Chopra. Author-signed first edition. New hardcover. Price: $60.00.

ELDEST, by Christopher Paolini. Author-signed first edition, first printing. New hardcover. Price: $95.00.

LIFE OF PI, ILLUSTRATED EDITION, written by Yann Martel and illustrated by. Author- and illustrator-signed first edition, first printing. New hardcover. Price: $29.95.

We also have in stock signed copies of local author and naturalist Al St. John's OREGON'S DRY SIDE: EXPLORING EAST OF THE CASCADE CREST; Brian A. Connolly's novels for the 8 - 12 set, including WOLF JOURNAL, HAWK, and NOT FAR FROM TOWN; and Judy Montgomery's poetry collections RED JESS and PULSE & CONSTELLATION.

Coming Up...

UPCOMING:

Thursday, May 29, 10:00 a.m. ... ANIMALS story time

Thursday, May 29, 6:00 p.m. ... book club discussion for THEY POURED FIRE ON US FROM THE SKY

Sunday, June 8, 4:00 p.m. ... author Trevor Scott in store to discuss his books

Tuesday, June 17, 6:00 p.m. ... local landscapers/gardeners Fred Swisher and Sarah Whipple in store to discuss gardening in the high desert.

Big Bodhi's Birthday

Bodhi the Bookstore Dog turns 11 today! We're celebrating all day long by giving him lots of treats and love (more than the normal amount of outrageous treats and love) AND by having a sale ... all "dog" theme books are 25% off. That includes all categories, from kid picture books to biographies to, of course, the breed-specific books.

STORY TIMES!

WEDNESDAY, May 21 @ 3:00 p.m. (Theme: Silly Stories)

THURSDAY, May 29 @ 10:00 a.m. (Theme: Animals)

WEDNESDAY, June 4 @ 3:00 p.m. (Theme: More Animals)

As always, story times last approximately 30 minutes (including a craft after the stories). Our schedule may change during the summer, where we may cut back to two story times a month ... it will depend on turnout in the next couple of weeks.

Check back or call (323-6134) for story time details.

Story Time Thursday

Come in Thursday morning (May 1) at 10:00 for our TRAINS story time! Remember ... every story time at Camalli is FREE, and every story time includes a craft. Story times last approximately 30 minutes, and the ideal ages are 3 - 6, however the younger & older ones are always welcome, too. We just ask that parents mind their little ones so that everyone can hear and participate in story time.

Story Time Thursday!

Thursday morning 10:00 a.m. is story time. This week the theme is penguins and we have a VERY cute craft to go with our stories. All kids, all ages welcome.

We hope to see you!

Cold Day, Warm Poem

Those of us in Bend woke up to more than an inch of snow on the ground this morning. Yep, on the eighth of April we woke up to snow, when in many other places the only white on the trees comes from the spring blossoms. So, we're sharing a warm poem. It's a Neruda poem, so the warmth comes from the author's love heat ;-)

Te recuerdo como eras (I Remember You as You Were)

by Pablo Neruda (1904-1973)

I remember you as you were in the last autumn.
You were the grey beret and the still heart.
In your eyes the flames of the twilight fought on.
And the leaves fell in the water of your soul.

Clasping my arms like a climbing plant
the leaves garnered your voice, that was slow and at peace.
Bonfire of awe in which my thirst was burning.
Sweet blue hyacinth twisted over my soul.

I feel your eyes traveling, and the autumn is far off:
grey beret, voice of a bird, heart like a house
towards which my deep longings migrated
and my kisses fell, happy as embers.

Sky from a ship. Field from the hills:
Your memory is made of light, of smoke, of a still pond!
Beyond your eyes, farther on, the evenings were blazing.
Dry autumn leaves revolved in your soul.

Driving with Books

I’m about to take a long drive … down to Berkeley, California for a dear friend’s wedding on April 12. So I’m driving down on Thursday the 10th and when it comes to a long trip like that I’ve discovered that I actually do enjoy books on CD. If you’re traveling with others listening to a book is tough, because not everyone enjoys the same thing. But seeing as this is a solo trip for me, I can pick whatever I want! Being a reader and a book lover, listening to a book has always felt like cheating to me, but I was quickly converted on my last drive south. I listened to three books on that trip: The Reluctant Fundamentalist, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, and The Fourth Bear. I did miss my music a bit … another joy of driving by yourself is you can crank up the stereo as loud as you want and no one asks you to change the CD. There is a certain joy to be found cruising down I-5, a joyless stretch on its own, and twisting the knob clockwise and being washed over by tunes from your favorite bands (for me, Wilco, Flaming Lips, vintage X and Throwing Muses).

So this time I may do one or two books on CD and some music. I’m thinking about listening to a personal hero, Joseph Campbell … perhaps The Hero with a Thousand Faces. I’m also considering a good classic, such as Hesse’s Siddhartha or Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury. Hmmm. I also very much want to read Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray (so twisted!) … but that I may save to read rather than listen to.

Decisions, decisions. Regardless of what I listen to, it will be a great trip. A weekend spent with life-long girlfriends, sharing a hotel room and laughing into the wee hours. It’s hard for any book to beat that.

Spring is Springing!

Many people (us included) are anxiously awaiting that warmer weather, whether it's to dig our fingers in the dirt or to sip a glass of wine on the deck. If you're itching to get your home ready for a new season there are (of course) some books you may want to consider. Architect Sarah Susanka's books bring to light a new way of thinking about what makes a place feel like home—characteristics that many people desire of their homes and their lives, but haven't known how to verbalize. Her books include The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live, Outside the Not So Big House: Creating the Landscape of Home, and one of my favorites, The Not So Big Life: Making Room for What Really Matters. For your yard, local landscapers and gardeners Fred Swisher and Sarah Whipple offer up 55 Myths, Tips and Secrets: Bend's Essential Guide to Landscaping. Fred and Sarah were in the store last month, but they'll be back again with more tips and answers to local gardening dilemmas.

Shaping Up in Spring
Some might consider doing a little spring cleaning beyond their homes. I spoke with a customer today who goes through a multi-day fast at the start of every spring ... a body spring cleaning, if you will. If you're looking to do some personal spring cleaning, consider joining Camalli on Friday, April 11 at 6:00 when Lorette Simonet-Jones discusses her book, Kiss Your Fat Goodbye. By no means a slim-down-quick book, Lorette's book focuses on helping people develop the healthy attitudes that allow them to achieve the health and fitness they deserve. Lorette is a yoga instructor, health educator, and weight managment expert.

Book Club
We had a great discussion on Monday that started with Philippa Gregory's The Other Boleyn Girl and eventually branched off into all sorts of thought-provoking topics. Eventually we got around to naming our April pick: Bernhard Schlink's The Reader. Originally published in Germany, Schlink's book explores the difficulties of comprehending the Holocaust as experienced by the generations growing up afterward—and whether it can be understood through language alone. We will discuss The Reader on Monday, April 28 at 6:00 p.m. Remember … EVERYONE is welcome to join us!

Story Times
Here are the April Story Time dates:
Thursday, April 3, 10:00 a.m. ... theme: DOGS
Wednesday, April 9, 3:00 p.m. ... theme: SPACE
Thursday, April 17, 10:00 a.m. ... theme: PENGUINS & PUFFINS
Wednesday, April 23, 3:00 p.m. ... theme: TINA'S PICKS

Thursday, May 1, 10:00 a.m. ... theme: TRAINS
Story times are approximately 30 minutes long, and that includes craft time.

Recent Releases and Top Sellers
Perhaps you heard the interview on NPR … Kurt Vonnegut's son discussed his Dad's posthumous release, Armageddon in Retrospect. It was officially on sale today and was snapped up immediately (but of course more are now in)! Also out and receiving a lot of attention given the recent uprising in Tibet is Pico Iyer's The Open Road: The Global Journey of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. Saturday's article in the Bulletin has renewed interest in Molly Gloss's novel, Hearts of Horses, and it's moving back onto the bestseller table. If you're a mystery lover, look for this year's Edgar Award nominees, including Benjamin Black's Christine Falls; Tana French's In the Woods; Vincent Bugliosi's Reclaiming History: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy; Kevin Wignall's Who is Conrad Hirst?; and Michael Chabon's The Yiddish Policeman's Union. Also off the shelf as soon as it landed … Red Bird: Poems by Mary Oliver

Speaking of Poetry . . .
April is National Poetry Month! National Poetry Month was established by the Academy of American Poets as a month-long, national celebration of poetry. So celebrate! Pick up an anthology, a classic, or something brand new. And remember … Camalli posts new poems weekly (sometimes bi-weekly) outside the front of the store. These poems are by locals whenever possible (hint, hint: submit your poems!) and are BEAUTIFULLY illustrated by our lovely artist and bookseller, Britanny Zendejas.

Camalli Book Club Discussion 3/31

Open to all ... Monday night, 3/31 at 6:00 p.m. we discuss Philppa Gregory's The Other Boleyn Girl. Whether you've recently read the book, read it years ago, or have only seen the movie, feel free to join us! There's usually a free glass-o-wine to be had ... ;-)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Top o' the mornin' to you . . . and a merry St. Patrick's Day! St. Patty's 'tis also the birthdate of Camalli's own Britanny Zendejas, so a happy birthday to Brit Brit. This annual feast day honors one of the patron saints of Ireland, and what better way to show honor than with green beer, corned beef, and green clothes?

In the store we celebrate St. Patty's ... and Britanny's birthday ... as we celebrate most things: with a book! Tina is in the midst of four books: A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory, Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, and How to Be Happy All the Time by Yogananda. Note that A NEW EARTH and THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL will be discussed as part of the store's book club, which is open to anyone and everyone. We will discuss A NEW EARTH on Thursday, March 20 from 5:30-6:30, and THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL on March 31 from 6:00-7:00.

Deirdre just finished A Thousand Splendid Suns and is now reading A New Earth. Remy is reading the graphic novel, Persepolis, and Jonathan is reading the graphic novel Maus as well as Port Townsend, a history of the Washington port town.

We have two more story times scheduled for March: March 20 at 10:00 a.m. and March 26 at 3:00 p.m. For our March 26 story time we will have in a guest reader, preschool teacher Marcee Zendejas. Our story time with Karen Kassy and her dog Splash was great! Splash was a perfect gentleman with all the kids. Tina's dog, Bodhi, is often at the story times as well, but even at 110 pounds Bodhi looks like a mini-lab compared to Splash!

There's still time to register for Karen Castelbaum's inspiring series of "playshops," which are designed to help you drink from the inner wellsprings of creativity, imagination, and curiosity through guided work and art play. This three-part series features: THURSDAY, MARCH 20 - Alluring Activity: The Art of New Beginnings ... THURSDAY, APRIL 3 - The Gifts You Bring to the World ... and THURSDAY, APRIL 17 - The Muse is "IN": Living with Vision & Zest. Each workshop goes from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. The cost for each session is $25.00, and Karen is donating 10% of all proceeds to the Kid's Center. Karen is a counselor, artist, & expressive arts facilitator who loves fooling around with words and images. Contact the store for more information or to register.

Special Story Time

Join us on WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12 for a special story time! Local author Karen Kassy will read from the book Seaman's Journal: On the Trail with Lewis and Clark, by Patricia Reeder Eubank. Kassy will bring her dog, Splash, who happens to be the perfect likeness of the book's hero, Seaman! The book tells the tale of Seaman, a newfoundland dog, who spends three years on an adventure of more than 8,000 miles to the Pacific Ocean and back. The book tells the story of Lewis & Clark's expedition from Seaman's viewpoint. Based on the true entries in Lewis's own journal describing his dog, Seaman. This story time will be great for young readers as well as elementary-school age children who are studying, have studied, or will study this important part of history.

What's In Store ... In the Store

WRITER'S WORKSHOP

There's still time to take part! Bestselling local author, national journalist and writing coach Linden Gross will conduct a series of five one-hour workshops geared towards helping aspiring writers get published. The series, conducted at the store, will cover the following topics: (1) Getting Started, (2) Breaking into Magazines, (3) Getting a Book Deal, (4) Writing that Grabs the Right Kind of Attention, and (5) The Ins and Outs of Publishing vs. Self-Publishing. The How to Get Published workshop series will be conducted on five consecutive Wednesday evenings, starting tonight at the stpre, from 5 - 6 p.m. Linden's fee is $25 per workshop or $100 for the series of five. Contact us for registration information. Walk-in registrants are welcome.

CREATIVITY WORKSHOPS

Release your creative spirit! Join Karen Castelbaum for an inspiring series of "playshops" designed to help you drink from the inner wellsprings of creativity, imagination, and curiosity through guided work and art play. This three-part series features: THURSDAY, MARCH 20 - Alluring Activity: The Art of New Beginnings ... THURSDAY, APRIL 3 - The Gifts You Bring to the World ... and THURSDAY, APRIL 17 - The Muse is "IN": Living with Vision & Zest. Each workshop goes from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. The cost for each session is $25.00, and Karen is donating 10% of all proceeds to the Kid's Center. Please call about a sliding price scale if cost is an issue. Karen is a counselor, artist, & expressive arts facilitator who loves fooling around with words and images. Contact the store for more information or to register.

BOOK CLUBS

We have two books going on this month, and everyone and anyone is invited to join the discussions. First up is the Oprah pick, A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, which we will discuss on Thursday, March 20 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. (NOTE TIME CHANGE FROM 6:00 to 5:30).

SECOND BOOK ... the March pick for the store is The Other Boleyn Girl, which is of course now out as a film. I have many customers who count this as one of their favorite reads ever, so it seems like an appropriate time to delve in. We will discuss The Other Boleyn Girl on March 31 at 6:00 p.m.

STORY TIMES

Thursday, March 6 at 10:00 a.m. ... all Dr. Seuss!

Wednesday, March 12 at 3:00 p.m. ... special story time with guest reader and local author of Health Intuition, Karen Kassy. Karen will read from the children's picture book Seaman's Journey, which tells the tale of a Newfoundland dog who traveled with Lewis & Clark on their journey. Karen will bring her own Newfoundland, Splash, for the reading. Karen is a health intuitive and all-around great spirit. The story time will be fun for kids and grownups.

Thursday, March 20 at 10:00 a.m. ... Super Silly Stories

Wednesday, March 26 at 3:00 p.m. ... Super Silly Stories II. For this story time we're looking for anyone who might want to be a guest reader. Tina will be out of town.

READING MATERIAL

Tina is in the midst of four books . Tolle's A New Earth, Gregory's The Other Boleyn Girl, Yogananda's How to Be Happy All the Time, and Richard Yates's Revolutionary Road. I'm amazed by Revolutionary Road, a modern American classic that on one hand I wish I would have read long ago, but on the other hand it's such a pleasure to be so swept away by something for the first time. New in hardback or paperback . check out Aryn Kyle's The God of Animals, just in in paperback, as is Peony in Love, Lisa See's latest since Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. Recent hardcover releases to check out include John Burnham Schwartz's The Commoner, Geraldine Brooks's People of the Book, and Life Class by Pat Barker. Do you have a book-contemporary or classic-that you love, and that you'd love to tell others about? Write a recommendation and we'd be happy to place it with your book selection in the store. Just stop by and ask for the Customer Pick card.

Thursday 2/21 Events

On Thursday 2/21 we have a few things going on . . .

10:00 a.m. . . . Aaargh, matey, it's Pirate Story Time! After reading some books and swabbin' the decks, my hearty mateys will be makin' hats and eye patches.

5:30 p.m. . . . Ladies, join us for a discussion and Q&A with naturpathic physician Dr. Azure Karli. Dr. Karli is focus on menopause and bio-identical hormones. Now’s you chance to pepper an expect with questions! Join us for a fun and informative discussion while you enjoy a cup of tea or a glass of wine.

ALL DAY LONG . . . it's Deirdre's birthday!

Book Event Tonight: POWERLESS

Join us tonight when local author Jim Owen discusses his new book Powerless: Our Children's Future at 7:00 p.m. here at Camalli (1288 SW Simpson, Suite C). We are not daunted by the snow, so the event goes forward as planned.

Other upcoming events . . .

February 7 . . . Story Time at 10:00 a.m.; theme is transportation
February 8 . . . Judith Montgomery @ 6:00 p.m., reading from her latest poetry chapbook, Pulse and Constellation
February 13 . . . Story Time at 3:00 p.m.

Outside the store, mark your calendars for February 21, when Word Cafe once again takes place at COCC at 7:30. This event features poetry and fiction performed featuring Brad Hills new repertory group as well as a unique reading of poetry interpreted by dance and accompanied by live music. The performances will be followed by readings by featured local authors--including Suzanne Burns (see below) and an open mic.

On FEBRUARY 4 we begin Creative Consciousness. The idea for this program was taken from local resident Karen Castelbaum, who places an information box (real-estate style) in front of her house. Every month she places a poem in the box for people to take. We're using the idea (thanks Karen!) with Creative Consciousness. Each week we'll feature a new poem, literary passage, or piece of art (changing each Monday). On Monday the 4th we begin with a wonderful piece of poetry by Bend resident Cassie Moore, with original art by our own Britanny Zendejas. The poem and art are beautiful together, so be sure to stop by sometime after the 4th to pick one up! These are FREE, and you can pick up your piece of Creative Consciousness from the flyer box outside the front door of the store. If you'd like to submit your own work just e-mail us! We want this to be a community-centered project.

Also upcoming in the store ... local author Suzanne Burns will read from her wonderful new chapbook, Double Header. Check back in for date and time! Also look for upcoming author visits from Wayne Kee, author of the narrative poem Song of the Snake Wars . . . and Fred Swisher & Sarah Whipple, authors of 55 Myths, Tips & Secrets: Bend's Essential Guide to Landscaping.

Coming Now and Later

STORY TIMES: Thursday, 1/24, 10:00 a.m. & Wednesday, 1/30, 3:00 p.m. ... Tina's Favorites! Thursday, 2/7, 10:00 a.m. & Wednesday, 2/13, 3:00 p.m. ... Transportation. And great news ... we have guest reader Karen Grace Kassy coming in March. She'll read a story about Lewis & Clark and will bring her sweet and gentle Newfoundland, the type of dog that is at the center of our story. Mark your calendars for March 12 at 3:00 p.m. for that story time.

BOOK SUGGESTIONS: We've had some great special orders and book club picks recently. One book club is reading Ursula K. LeGuin's translation of Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching. It's one of the best selections yet, as it's unique and filled with simple & beautiful wisdom . . . and I was completely surprised to find this version from LeGuin. Another unique selection is Persepholis: The Story of a Childhood. This graphic novel tells the story of a young girl's life under the Islamic Revolution. If you've never looked through a graphic novel, we highly recommend you take a few minutes to browse a few. These are kids' comic books ... many graphic novels are sophisticated tales accompanied by amazing art. They certainly warrant a look.

The Devil and Miss Prym: A Novel of Temptation, by Paulo Coehlo, is another pick from a local book club. Coehlo's book is a parable of a community devoured by greed, cowardice, and fear—as it struggles with the choice between good and evil. Another club is reading Coehlo's Veronika Decides to Die.

If you're looking for a classic for your club pick, consider Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary. One of my personal favorites, this tale of adultery in the provinces certainly deserves another look following any requisite high school reading. The "Madame" here is Emma Bovary, the wife of a doctor who is less than satisfied with the banalities of her provincial life. She embarks on adulterous affairs and comes to a tragic end. She would be the most desperate of the desperate housewives. Other classics to look at again: The Scarlett Letter, Fahrenheit 451, Invisible Man, Atlas Shrugged, Lolita, Under the Volcano . . . so many!

BOOK CLUB: Camalli Book Co.'s next book club selection is SPECIAL TOPICS IN CALAMITY PHYSICS by Marisha Pessl. Don't let the title scare you! This mesmerizing debut novel centers on the clever, deadpan Blue van Meer, who has a head full of literary, philosophical, scientific, and cinematic knowledge. But she could use some friends. Upon entering the elite St. Gallway school she finds some--a clique of eccentrics known as the Bluebloods. One drowning and one hanging later, Blue finds herself puzzling out a byzantine murder mystery. Nabokov meets Donna Tartt in this novel--with "visual aids" drawn by the author--that has won over readers of all ages. Paperback. We will meet to discuss the novel on Wednesday, February 27, at 6:00 p.m. We had a great book-focused discussion for The World to Come, so we hope you can join us on the 27th! Everyone is welcome. Our March pick discussion will be held on Monday, March 31, at 6:00 p.m.

WHAT'S UP: Join us on January 31 as Bend author Jim Owen discusses his new book, Powerless: Our Children's Future. Owen explores the world’s need for a massive new energy economy in this powerful new book. Written by a grandfather to his three young grandchildren to read in ten years, it’s also a call to action, for anyone concerned about the world’s future. Powerless is a wake-up call based on the scientific research and ideas of great thinkers from Adam Smith, E.O. Wilson and Thomas L. Friedman. The book shows how four key elements create our coming environmental disaster: world population, distribution of power and wealth, natural resources and humans’ natural hesitation to act on long-term problems, even when they pose a threat to our children.

WOMEN ... HOT FLASHES GOT YOU DOWN?: On 2/21 Dr. Azure Karli of Bend Naturopathic Clinic will discuss the variety of menopause treatments available. Questions are welcomed, and you'll also find a range of books available to help you navigate your way through the change. :)

Story Time / Book Club

STORY TIMES
Story Times continue to be wild and fun! Here's the January schedule:

• Thursday, January 10, 10:00 a.m. - Folk/Fairy Tales
• Wednesday, January 16, 3:o0 p.m. - Folk/Fairy Tales
• Thursday, January 24, 10:00 a.m. - Tina's Favorites
• Wednesday, January 30, 3:00 p.m. - Tina's Favorites

BOOK CLUB
We're closing in on our discusson of Dara Horn's The World to Come. We'll meet on Thursday, January 10 at 5:30 p.m. here at the store. EVERYONE is welcome. If you can think of one discussion ahead of time that'd be great. I know I'll be re-reading the last two chapters of the book before we meet . . . what happens at the end will certainly help propel a spirited discussion! We'll also need to decide on our next read. Books in consideration include (all in paperback):

• The Known World, by Edward P. Jones
• The Autumn of the Patriarch, by Gariel Garcia Marquez
• Blood Meridian, by Cormac McCarthy
• Special Topics in Calamity Physics, by Marisha Pessl
• Revolutionary Road, by Richard Yates

But we're also open to more suggestions! Shoot me an e-mail if you have a book in mind. We hope to see you on the 10th!