I just came back from a trip to my grandmother's, a place where every room not only has a stack of books, but they follow a theme of the room (i.e. princess stories in the girls' room, sports in the boys', old works of Tennyson and Jefferson in the living room). Many of her books range from old to ancient, in varying degrees of condition and it got me thinking about why I love books, not just literature but hold in your hands, need light to read, books. And more than that-- why I love buying them. I like having them on my shelves at home, I like loaning them out to people, I like being able to spill on them and turn the corners down to mark the page, and I even like getting rid of them either by passing them on to a loved one, or by giving them to a second-hand shop where someone else will find them, hold them, love them.
Also on this trip, we drove up hells canyon to the 10,000 year old pictographs etched on the rocks beside the Snake River. Examining these stories from an ancient time, even though I couldn't understand what they were about, I was endlessly amazed by their existence. Perhaps not created with the intent to communicate with people far into the future, they have achieved it none the less. I began to question what we would leave behind for future generations, species, cultures to surmise about our time on this Earth. It will not be our kindles, or iPads they peruse, it will be our buildings and our books. They will stumble upon great and beautiful libraries, monuments standing testament to the eternal quest for knowledge. They will find our homes, our bookshelves, they will guess who we were and what we loved by looking at the stories we kept, and how we arranged them. To me, this is the best possible prospect. It makes me proud to be a reader, and even more, to be a bookseller. I feel honored to help people build their character in life, and the legacy we will all leave behind. Thank you for letting us be a part of this journey, and thank you for being a part of ours.
Grass Roots Books and Music
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Happy Sunday!
My favorite magazines featured in the store are:
Under the Radar gives you a glimpse of Indie musicians before they hit the big time. Nee says this is where she first heard about The Lumineers, before she heard them on the radio! MGMT is featured in the current issue.
If you like to write, you will find this magazine tempting. Not only does it have interviews with current beloved authors such as Jesmyn Ward, but it also has information about upcoming writing contest deadlines, like the Narrative 30 Below Contest which offers $1,500 and publication of your poem, short story, essay or excerpt in Narrative magazine if you are under the age of 30.
My favorite magazines featured in the store are:
Under the Radar gives you a glimpse of Indie musicians before they hit the big time. Nee says this is where she first heard about The Lumineers, before she heard them on the radio! MGMT is featured in the current issue. If you like to write, you will find this magazine tempting. Not only does it have interviews with current beloved authors such as Jesmyn Ward, but it also has information about upcoming writing contest deadlines, like the Narrative 30 Below Contest which offers $1,500 and publication of your poem, short story, essay or excerpt in Narrative magazine if you are under the age of 30.
And! Excitingly, it is Banned Books Week! September 22-28 is a time to push to the forefront the books that have been thrown off the shelves, recently or historically. We've got a display of past and current banned books in the store, from 50 Shades of Gray by E. L. James (for reasons maybe obvious, maybe not) to Where's Waldo by Martin Handford!!! Make sure you ask us about why that last one was banned, it's a pretty funny story.
Onwards into the new week!
~By Maddy
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Sunday, September 15, 2013
On Being an Indie Bookseller
It's hard. And incredibly delightful.
Let me clarify that I mean Indie as in independent not in the coffeeshop-macbook-eccentric-dressing sort of way (though we do enjoy those customers when they come in). I say it's hard because sometimes it seems that no matter how hard we work, we will inevitably be replaced by online book buying or giants like Barnes & Noble. But really, the extreme pleasure outweighs that struggle. I am endlessly grateful to be a part of this legacy of a bookstore, which prides itself on its relationships with customers more than anything else. Every day we get to have one on one conversations with the variety of people we have coming into the store, and in this way, we learn so much about what the public holds close. We hear about the passions of one couple to push for a better health care system, the dreams of another to be a writer someday, and sometimes we can even help them get on their way.
That's my favorite part about this store. It's been around for 42 years and has yet to become complacent or stagnant. We continue to back local artists and writers who are just getting started, sell tickets to local events, work with charities and promote reading among children by supporting schools and educators. Grass Roots has worked hard to serve the changing needs of the community; in one way by selling Kobo e-readers, which in my opinion is the e-reader that was made for true readers in mind. Many things have stayed the same though, like our monthly book club and our continuing tradition of author events.
My point in discussing all these things is to remind you what is magical about small bookstores. That as soon as you walk in, you are among family -- people who share a love and commitment to the same things as you: the sharing of knowledge with integrity and joy. You come into a place with a world of learning instantly available at your fingertips, with passionate guides to help you on your way.
The most loved book on my shelves at home is a worn and tattered copy of Harry Potter, each ding and blotch is a reminder of the many journeys we have taken together, the innumerable lessons it has taught me. This bookstore is much the same to me-- the scars in the brick, the mixing of new and old structure, all stand testaments to the generations of readers it has served and grown with.
By Kendall
Let me clarify that I mean Indie as in independent not in the coffeeshop-macbook-eccentric-dressing sort of way (though we do enjoy those customers when they come in). I say it's hard because sometimes it seems that no matter how hard we work, we will inevitably be replaced by online book buying or giants like Barnes & Noble. But really, the extreme pleasure outweighs that struggle. I am endlessly grateful to be a part of this legacy of a bookstore, which prides itself on its relationships with customers more than anything else. Every day we get to have one on one conversations with the variety of people we have coming into the store, and in this way, we learn so much about what the public holds close. We hear about the passions of one couple to push for a better health care system, the dreams of another to be a writer someday, and sometimes we can even help them get on their way.
That's my favorite part about this store. It's been around for 42 years and has yet to become complacent or stagnant. We continue to back local artists and writers who are just getting started, sell tickets to local events, work with charities and promote reading among children by supporting schools and educators. Grass Roots has worked hard to serve the changing needs of the community; in one way by selling Kobo e-readers, which in my opinion is the e-reader that was made for true readers in mind. Many things have stayed the same though, like our monthly book club and our continuing tradition of author events.
My point in discussing all these things is to remind you what is magical about small bookstores. That as soon as you walk in, you are among family -- people who share a love and commitment to the same things as you: the sharing of knowledge with integrity and joy. You come into a place with a world of learning instantly available at your fingertips, with passionate guides to help you on your way.
The most loved book on my shelves at home is a worn and tattered copy of Harry Potter, each ding and blotch is a reminder of the many journeys we have taken together, the innumerable lessons it has taught me. This bookstore is much the same to me-- the scars in the brick, the mixing of new and old structure, all stand testaments to the generations of readers it has served and grown with.
By Kendall
Saturday, September 14, 2013
HOLY MOLY NEW MUSIC
We got in an abundance of new music this week, which is exciting not only because we now have new demos to play but also because we know you've been dying for new music too!
Big E: Salute to Steel Guitarist Buddy Emmons
Surrounded
The Worse Things Get the Harder I Fight -- Neko Case
These Changing Skies -- Elephant Revival
After the Fair -- Tish Hinojosa
World Boogie is Coming --North Mississippi Allstars
Silver Gymnasium -- Okkervil River
Meet Me at the Edge of the World -- Over the Rhine
Long Night Moon -- Reckless Kelly
Sweet Relief 3: Pennies from Heaven
Live at the Great American Music Hall, San Francisco -- Ry Cooder and Corridos Famosos
Feels Like Home -- Sheryl Crow
Privateering -- Mark Knopfler
Tell the Ones I Love -- Steep Canyon Ranger's (My favorite)
Savor Flamenco -- Gipsy Kings
Big E: Salute to Steel Guitarist Buddy Emmons Surrounded The Worse Things Get the Harder I Fight -- Neko Case These Changing Skies -- Elephant Revival After the Fair -- Tish Hinojosa World Boogie is Coming --North Mississippi Allstars Silver Gymnasium -- Okkervil River Meet Me at the Edge of the World -- Over the Rhine Long Night Moon -- Reckless Kelly Sweet Relief 3: Pennies from Heaven Live at the Great American Music Hall, San Francisco -- Ry Cooder and Corridos Famosos Feels Like Home -- Sheryl Crow Privateering -- Mark Knopfler Tell the Ones I Love -- Steep Canyon Ranger's (My favorite) Savor Flamenco -- Gipsy Kings
MATT THE ELECTRICIAN AND IAN DOESCHER
The wonderfully talented and hilarious Matt the Electrician will be performing at the Harris Bridge Winery at 7pm on September 27th! We can't wait to go, and we hope you come out too. I've seen him live twice before and he's one of my favorite performers, funny insightful and kind, he always puts on a good show!
Plus, look at him with his awesome beard holding a chicken!
Also coming soon is Ian Doescher. His delightful take on Star Wars through the words of Shakespeare has been a huge hit and we're so lucky to have him coming to the store on October 12 at 2:00 pm. He'll be talking about the book and singing copies so come on down!
Plus, look at him with his awesome beard holding a chicken!
Also coming soon is Ian Doescher. His delightful take on Star Wars through the words of Shakespeare has been a huge hit and we're so lucky to have him coming to the store on October 12 at 2:00 pm. He'll be talking about the book and singing copies so come on down!
FALL IN CORVALLIS
With the arrival of September we're all in the mood for fall over here! I'm prematurely donning boots and sweaters even though it's still plenty hot, but it's worth the discomfort. Start getting in the mood with us! Grab a pumpkin latte at New Morning Bakery and pop on over to Grass Roots and check out the tons of new titles we just got in.
Fall coming in also means some great events in Corvallis:
Corvallis Farmer's Market continues Wednesdays and Saturdays through November
OSU Football August through November
Quilt County 2013 August through October
Cycle and Sip September 1-21
Corvallis Beer Week September 9-15
Shrewsbury Renaissance Faire September 14-15 (Neé and I are working and so bummed to be missing it, so come in and tell us all about it!)
Rhapsody in the Vineyard September 21
Corvallis Fall Festival September 28-29
U-Pick Pumpkins & Corn Mazes (Neé's favorite) October
The Great Pumpkin Run October 13
Halloween with Harry [Potter] (Kendall's favorite) October 27
Trick or Treat Downtown October 31
Neé is so excited for picking pumpkins and doing the mazes, while I can't wait to attend my first Halloween with Harry (where the OSU Symphony Orchestra plays the music of Harry Potter). Mostly though, I'm excited to see the way this town is beautifully transformed in autumn. There are already some leaves changing color and falling to the ground. Their golden and fiery hues make fall seem more like a season of life and rebirth, than of death. And the beauty makes school starting up again a little more tolerable.
Fall coming in also means some great events in Corvallis:
Corvallis Farmer's Market continues Wednesdays and Saturdays through November
OSU Football August through November
Quilt County 2013 August through October
Cycle and Sip September 1-21
Corvallis Beer Week September 9-15
Shrewsbury Renaissance Faire September 14-15 (Neé and I are working and so bummed to be missing it, so come in and tell us all about it!)
Rhapsody in the Vineyard September 21
Corvallis Fall Festival September 28-29
U-Pick Pumpkins & Corn Mazes (Neé's favorite) October
The Great Pumpkin Run October 13
Halloween with Harry [Potter] (Kendall's favorite) October 27
Trick or Treat Downtown October 31
Neé is so excited for picking pumpkins and doing the mazes, while I can't wait to attend my first Halloween with Harry (where the OSU Symphony Orchestra plays the music of Harry Potter). Mostly though, I'm excited to see the way this town is beautifully transformed in autumn. There are already some leaves changing color and falling to the ground. Their golden and fiery hues make fall seem more like a season of life and rebirth, than of death. And the beauty makes school starting up again a little more tolerable.
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