Winter Soldiers- History-Iraq/Afghanistan

Winter Soldier By Iraq Veterans Against the War and Aaron Gantz

Whether you support the war in the Middle East or not, this book is a must read. I picked up this title after a family member was sent to Afghanistan and tore through it in a matter of days. Published by the Iraq Veterans Against the War they are not necessarily asking for your support but they are asking for you to take a moment and listen to what they have to say. One of the best lines in the book comes from the foreword by Anthony Swofford (author of Jarhead). He says, "Do not turn away from these stories. They are yours, too."

Waiter Rant- Essay

Waiter Rant By Steve Dublanica

After dropping out of seminary and being laid off from the mental health sector for essentially being too ethical, Steve Dublanica was at his wit’s end. After awhile he realized he would have to return to a job but really had no idea what to do. His brother, a waiter at an upscale New York restaurant landed him a job and what followed was a wildly popular blog: WaiterRant.net. This book is both a how-to guide for those of us not versed in the proper behavior of eating out and a manifesto to our millions of wait staff who deal with the absurdity of psychotic diners. If you’ve ever wondered how to get good service, tip properly or not have the staff spit in your food, then Waiter Rant is for you. Hilarious and eye opening don’t eat out again until you’ve read this book!

Nobody Move- Fiction

Denis Johnson is a brilliant writer. After winning the National Book Award for A Tree of Smoke I wasn't sure what he could do to follow up such a brilliantly written novel. Then he surprised me with Nobody Move. This novel is both an homage to crime noir and a play on its predictable style. The dialogue moves and the characters are real and seedy but at the same time you find yourself rooting for that moment of salvation- but I won't tell you whether it comes or not.

Don't wait for the paperback, you need to read this book now!

Game Boys- Essays

As sales on games sky rocket past Hollywood box office profits, Michael Kane takes a deeper look into video gaming and the underground world of competitive play. Instead of taking an abstract view of this insider’s world he follows two clans and their struggle to stay on top and make money for their skills. A rivalry as deep as the Yankee’s versus Red Sox, meet CompLexity and 3D. Do you have what it takes to be a cyber athlete? These guys do and they want you to know it.

What made this book difficult to get through was my constant desire to break out my own video game system. Kane is fair in his reporting and shows the greed and desire of the men on top, not the players, who are raking in the large profits, as well as a look at the 15-23 year olds who make playing video games their life.

Fun Home:A Family Tragicomic- gay/lesbian

Alison Bechdel, author of the comic 'Dykes to Watch Out For,' strikes a cord with a look back on her family life. This memoir told in graphic novel form (comic book form) is easy to devour in one sitting. The drawings and short dialogue actually slow you down in a good way and help you focus on the simple story of a girl, her father and the secret they both keep. The narrative is both hilarious and heartbreaking all with the back drop of the family business- a funeral home- or as the family and title describe, a 'fun home.' Eventually, as Alison is away at college, her and her father form a bond over books but the attention is both overwhelming and repulsive- not really understanding why he finally offers the relationship she had longed for. This is great for just about any reader teen and up (due to one slightly explicit sex scene) but would be a great fit for those just coming out or dealing with family issues and sexuality.

Lesbian Pulp Fiction- Lesbian Anthology

Gay and lesbian literature has come a long way from its early years as trashy little paperback novels but this collection of pulp fiction will remind you how far that really is. This hefty anthology pays homage to the past and you will find yourself lingering over the pages, laughing at the over sexed descriptions and wanting to head online to find these out of print supermarket treats. This collection is good for the old school lesbians as a sort of blast to the past but also a great fit for us youngsters that need a little lesson on our history. Either way the book is a brilliant collection put together by Katherine V. Forrest with a little historical context in the foreword. Skip lesbian literature 101 and pick up this volume today and if you're not sure the cover gives a good idea of what you're in for!

Lesbian Couples- Gender (Gay/Lesbian)

"Written by two experienced lesbian therapists, "Lesbian Couples" covers a range of topics--from marriage to money to conflict resolution--and presents a variety of helpful examples and problem-solving techniques, drawing from research done on lesbian couples over the past decade." http://www.ipage.com/

My partner and I are currently using this book as a weekly book club of sorts and are enjoying it. As we move through the book I'll update this review.

Journals (Kurt Cobain)- Music

When Kurt Cobain took his life many fans were left wondering how a talented musician who changed the face of rock n' roll could be gone. Many fingers were pointed at who was responsible for his death- from tragic stories of substance abuse and conspiracy theories of Courtney Love actually pulling the trigger, conjecture has continued to surround his death. Reading Journals opens even the most devoted fans' eyes to the pain and suffering Cobain lived through. This intimate look into his life shows his love of rock n' roll and desire to leave a mark in it. Thought provoking and emotional this quick is a must-have for Nirvana fans.

Safe in Heaven Dead- Fiction

This amazing debut novel from EWU professor Samuel Ligon is told in reverse and even though you know the end right away you can't wait to figure out how the main character gets there. In fact, the story telling is so precise, you will forget Robert Elgin's fate once the story wraps itself back around. Sam is an amazing writer and just recently won the Autumn House Fiction prize which enabled him to have his newest collection of short stories Drift and Swerve published. I highly recommend both his books as they each have something different to offer. We can only hope Mr. Ligon will receive the kind of attention an author of his caliber deserves. Discover him now before every one else does!

Tobias Wolff

I am fairly certain I have read everything Tobias Wolff has written. Most people know his childhood memoir This Boy's Life, which was turned into a movie starring a young Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert DeNiro. I have to say, by far, he is my favorite author of all-time. In fact I was able to meet him a year or so ago and was thankful when a friend pushed me to ask for a photo with him to mark the occasion. He was everything I hoped he would be and that doesn't happen often.

Even though Mr. Wolff is most well known for a memoir, the majority of his career is marked by short stories. His writing style is similar to Ernest Hemingway's short stories, and are typically concise and more on the minimalistic side. Our Story Begins is a good jumping off point as it contains the best of along with a few new stories. I used A Night in Question as a thesis book and was amazed at the structure and content of his stories and found myself enthralled each time I read it. If you prefer nonfiction he has an amazing Vietnam memoir entitled, In Pharaoh's Army. If you only want to give Tobias Wolff one chance, read his short story 'A Bullet to the Brain.' It will blow your mind- pun completely intended!

We carry just about all of Tobias Wolff's book in-store and we can point you in the right direction. Happy reading.

Zookeeper's Wife- History- WWII

My bookclub picked this book and a lot of people were disappointed. I think the general 'story' is good but the author felt distant from the text and really lacked a strong narrative. This is a great book for someone interested in WWII who doesn't mind reading a book they have to work at a bit.

Jesus' Son- Fiction

This gritty and sharply written short story collection remains not only my favorite book but what I believe to be Denis Johnson's greatest piece of work. I first read this linked collection as a recommendation from my professor and started it sometime during the night and found I could not put it down. I was mesmerized by the prose, the flow of sentence and emotion invoked. I finished the book, flipped back to the front and started again. I will be surprised if a book ever pulls at me the way this one does.

Into the Wild- Essays

This is a story of heart break, adventure, and a longing for life to be lived to its fullest. Chris McCandless was driven and quiet but this story taps into our need for life to be something different and unexpected, even if it costs us our lives.

The Glass Castle- Biography

There's something special in the way that Jeannette Walls speaks of her childood that is neither sentimental nor woe is me. Her and her siblings dealt with the charismatic father who was a great dad and a horrible father all at once. His alcoholism seems the root of the families trouble but as she peels back the layers of her youth we find that Rex was not the only one holding this family back from enjoying the simple luxuries of food, electricity, and hot water. This book was a great read and although your heart will go out to Jeanette for what she and her siblings endured she's definatley not asking for sympathy- it's more like she needed to clear her concious about who she really is and where she has come from.

The Barrack's Thief- Fiction

It's no secret that Tobias Wolff is one of my favorite authors, so I've been in the process of returning to some of his earlier works. The Barracks Thief was his first novella and I have to say at first read I kept expecting more to happem. Somehow I had anticipated in my head that the unit would go to vietnam and the story would conclude in some heroic fashion- but the it started to sink in. All the characters, how human and real they were- how the theft seemed silly and simple until the heart of it sinks in. You may not like this book first time through but I found it affecting me days and weeks after I finished. Even now I'm thinking of the thief and wondering how he got so wrapped up in nonsense to steal from his own platoon. If you liked this book try Tobias Wolff's memoir In Pharoh's Army- it's a side of Vietnam that isn't really discussed and has a quiet, haunting feel to it.

Snuff- Fiction

As with most of Chuck Palahniuks books, they are not for the faint of heart. Here he delves into the world of pornography and into the moments leading up to and surrounding the life of porn queen Cassie Wright and her decision to break the world record of serial fornication- 600 men to be exact. The alternating voices in each chapter can get irksome if you don't like that kind of thing but it does keep the story fresh and helps it unfold in a unique way. Overall I felt a little set up for the end but the ultimate finish is worth it. If you're a palalhniuk fan or a 'collector of all things erotic' this book is for you (or if you're curious about what surrounds porn)- but if you're squimish about sex don't even bother picking it up.

The Life and Times of Michael K- Fiction

I have to be honest- when I first started reading this book I wanted to chuck it across the room because I could care less about Michael K. The voice is extremely distant and the character is difficult to like because I'm not even sure he likes himself- having said that, after I forced myself through to part 2 the book it started to open up and I understood more why the author chose such a distant voice to tell this tale. It's a good book and worth struggling through but I think it's one of those novels that you need to talk about latet to fully appreciate. Great for a bookclub that has some strong readers in it. Coezee also is fantastic at his descriptions of place and character.

The Spiderwick Chronicles- Children's Middle Series

If you're an adult reading this book you can probably read it one day if not in an hour or two at the most. This first volume in the series sets the tone for the upcoming books and is very imaginitive. A good fix if you're looking for something "magical" after Harry Potter. It follows the Grace children and their discovery of things we should not know- even the authors pull themeselves into the story to make it more believable. If your child has a strong imagination and you want them to be looking for faeries, goblins, and all the unseen fantastical creatures this would be a great book- if your child is more on the practical side I would look elsewhere.

The Diving Pool: Three Novellas- Fiction

I recently finished the Diving Pool and had to stop and reflect about the relationships that we long for- the connection that is lost somewhere between desire and isolation. The three novellas are all haunting in their own way. The first, a story of a lonely teenage girl with a longing for love that manifests in deep and sinister ways. The second piece I did not find as meaningful but I feel as if there is something missing- some clues that I read too hastily through. The third novella lingers over past and the want to go back- to relive youth, despite not knowing what exactly is missed. A lonely housewife reconnecting with her cousin and the 'dorm' she once called home. This last piece read like a mystery or thriller, perhaps even a set-up for a horror movie- but it moves slowly and methodically- the way you would hope a good story would. In the second and third novella I would like a little more resolution but all three of these pieces are worth more than a singular read.

Gang Leader for a Day- Current Affairs

Fantastic book! I first learned about Sudhir Venkatesh in Freakonomics so when I saw his book I had to read it. The book didn't disappoint. It chronicles his friendships and research from hanging out with a gang for almost ten years and what life was like in Chicago's Robert Taylor Projects. Eye opening, this is a very intense look at urban poverty and what it means to be poor and voiceless.

Couch- Fiction

Couch is a well written, hilarious account of three slackers who end up saving the world. The dialogue is witty and quick and the characters are so unique. This book will appeal to any college graduate in the last 10 years that left school being fed dreams of success and money only to find rejection and a crapmaster job market. This book is sure to be made into a movie- it has everything- comedy, romance, adventure- everything! Reminds me of a gen x On the Road...

Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian- Teen Novel

This book is a must read for teens and adults. My bookclub read this book and it leant itself to a great group conversation. What I learned from discussing this book with friends is even if you have nothing in common with the main character, you still relate. It's a story of trying to fit in, putting yourself first to succeed, and ultimately friendship. Lots of lessons to be learned with out being heavy handed. Auntie's has been fortunate enough to host Sherman Alexie on several occasions and we look forward to the next time he's in town!

I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell-Essays

I have to admit- the book was funny and Tucker Max is an okay writer. It's not really his writing in question because the stories flow well and you definately get his voice- I think there's just only so much you can do with a stream of party stories- some of which might even make Chuck Palahniuk blush (I actually really doubt that statement but you get my point...) Despite all the negative connotations I think the reader see's a little growth come out of the author and I have to admit he has a lot of funny stories to tell- this book will make a great gift for a brother or drinking buddy.