4/20/2006

Greetings, Readers!

   We have for you, on this warm and sunny April evening, an email full of interesting events and fun facts! I hope you are prepared!

   There is one thing you should all know, before we even get started. This is that we have a Renaissance Fair banner in the store! It is gorgeous, Readers, a true work of art! Come by and see it sometime - I assure you, you will not be disappointed.

   Friday, April 21 - A "mixed media" exhibit, featuring oil paintings and encaustics by Guy Baldovi, and sculptures, textiles, and digital collage by Michelle Carr, is opening at the Above the Rim Gallery! There will be a public reception from 5:00pm-7:00pm. Above the Rim Gallery is located at 513 South Main street in Moscow.

   Saturday, April 22nd, you all have the opportunity to meet Gail Stearns! Stearns is the author or "Writing Pauline: Wisdom from a Long Life", and she will be right here at Book People from noon until 2:00pm. "Writing Pauline" is a cheerful, hopeful, even optimistic book about wisdom, Christianity, and a fulfilling life. Pick up your copy today, Readers!

   An interesting fact for you, Readers - the average American eats nearly a 135 pounds (or 61 kilograms) of potatoes each year. And, oddly enough, potato consumption in America has decreased by almost 40% in 40 years. That means that 40 years ago, Readers, the average American ate around 225 lbs of potatoes! Impressive, no?

   Did you know, Readers, that the Moscow Food Co-Op is having a Leave Your Car At Home promotion? If you come, car-less, to the Co-Op, and spend at least $5, you can get your card punched. 20 punches gets you $5 off your next purchase! Sounds good, doesn't it? Start walking (or skating, biking, rollerblading, jogging, or whatever you like!) and start participating today!

Also, Book People has tickets for the following two events:
   - Moscow Community Theatre Presents Meredith Willson's "The Music Man" (Multiple dates and times - we've got them all!)
   - Comedy Night with David Crowe, a benefit for the Humane Society of the Palouse (Saturday, April 29th, 7:30pm at The Beach).

       Alert Reader Paula would like you to know about the following event:
"Tapestry, the area's popular 20-voice women's choir, will soon present its spring concerts. The program is entitled "Sisters," and there's something for everyone in it, from arrangements of folk songs and spirituals to contemporary settings of some beautiful poems, all reflecting aspects of women's lives. The women of Tapestry come from all over the Palouse, from Endicott, Lacrosse, Dusty, Colfax, Pullman, Moscow, Garfield, and places in between, rehearsing once a week throughout the school year. This spring's concert includes young musicians from the Garfield-Palouse schools. You can catch Tapestry's show at these places and times:

May 1, Colfax, United Methodist Church
May 2, Pullman, St. James Episcopal Church
May 3, Garfield-Palouse Middle School
- All performances are at 7:30pm."

   As we mentioned earlier, Readers, we have a Renaissance Fair banner. That means that the Renaissance Fair is almost here! This year, it will be held on May 6th and 7th, at East City Park. Make sure you don't miss it, Readers - this kind of quality fun only comes around once a year!

   Readers, how does an afternoon with Marilynne Robinson sound? The author of "Housekeeping" - a modern classic, to be sure, as well as "Gilead", her award-winning second novel. Robinson will be at the Panida Theater in Sandpoint, Idaho, Sunday May 14th at 3:00pm, along with the Sandpoint library's young writers' group, the Blue Dragons.

   Words of Wisdom - "An adventure is an outing gone wrong," and "There is no bad weather, only bad clothing." Keep this in mind, Readers, as we venture into the summer months.

   Finally, Readers, we have a book review from Alert Reader Nathan, who has this to say:
"Greg Keeler's 'A Mirror to the Safe' is a collection of some very interesting and evocative poetry. Now, I know very little about the man or his writing, so at times when I refer to the protagonist or the writer, I may reflect more of myself than him. Nevertheless, as Keeler said, "Memories are just/sparrows in the wind" - and I believe I've caught and stuffed one that was flying through his poetry.
   This book tells the song of a man imposing justice and order on reality and watching the results slip away like "leaves... falling/through the heart," falling into rivers like freshly released trout to stave in the winter's ice, then flying away like sparrows. How frustrating for a man who believes in the tranquility of order!
'A girl covers her eyes
and counts
to one hundred
while junebugs hit
the porch light above
and her best friend
and brother find
each other in a bush
ten yads away.
Which one dies in Vietnam?
Which will betray
a dozen lovers?
Which will be found
at the end of the count
below the bring
and peaceful buzzing
of a death in sleep?"
- A Line from the Sun

   Who will be saved if war ends, and who's to say this won't stop people from "find(ing) each other in a bush"? If man had the power to change the universe, what is the result of such meddling? And is the controller or the subordinated disintegrated and "shot gunned" like a "rabbit/tearing red circles/for a boy to wear/to the marriage/of light and shadow"? Who's the rabbit, and who's the boy?
   These poems reflect the loneliness of a dead man -- or at least of a man stuck high in the heavens. At the very least, they are a seed for great philosophical discussions. I recommend it between Louis Cannizzaro's 'Full of Grace' and 'To my Sweetheart' for a great fruit sandwich of literary abstraction!"

That's all for this time, Readers! Take care!
-Book People of Moscow

Readers,

 I'm very sorry for the extra email. Rest assured, I do not intend to make a habit of forgetting important things and then filling your inboxes up with follow-up emails about them. However, I could not let the evening pass without hastening to add that we have a very special new item in stock.

   Our new item would be none other than the Mary Janes Farm magazine Special Recipe Issue! That's right, Readers, the fabulous secret recipes of Mary Jane's Farm are now available in this latest, earth-friendly, ad-free special issue! There are 95 (yes, ninety-five!) recipes in all, and they all look delicious! I can't tell you how excited we are to have an offering of this caliber - don't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own your very own treasure trove of MaryJanesFarm recipes!

Thank you for reading, Readers, and take care!
-Book People of Moscow

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