April 2022... News, Events and What We are Reading
Springtime and Easter–
a Time For New Beginnings
Fresh blooms, green hills, blue skies. How apropos that we celebrate our earth this time of year (Earth Day – April 22). An important reminder to cherish and protect the earth's many precious resources. We all need to take personal responsibility for lessening impacts to our environment. We have many books on this timely topic in case you need ideas and/or motivation! My favorite Earth Day campaign? If you hug a tree and post a photo of your hug at #HugATreeChallenge,REI Co-op will donate $1 per entry to redwood reforestation. Personally, I have always loved hugging trees, even before it was politically correct.
April is also National Poetry Month – so don’t miss Sausalito's annual Evening of Poetry April 21st which I will be hosting with the Sausalito Woman’s Club and the Sausalito Library. As always, it promises to be a riveting celebration of prose. The late poet Lucille Clifton would often preface her readings with something she'd heard from a preacher: "I come to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable." Good poetry does just that. As we move from Women's History Month to National Poetry Month, refresh your shelves with poetry collections from women writers, past and present, whose works comfort and afflict. I can recommend a few hundred volumes if you need help…
Also, save the date and join us for Independent Bookstore Day, Saturday April 30. It will be a festive dock party showcasing local authors, with live music and complimentary sips and bites. Come show your support for your local bookshop. We need it now more than ever before. Meanwhile, good luck on that Easter Egg hunt!
Cheryl
Photo Gallery of Past Events
Top Left: The Empress of Entertainment Jan Wahl & astrologist Lisa Miranda offer Oscar Predictions… they were spot on with “Coda”
Top Right: Expert organizer & author Shira Gill sharing her book Minimalist at a Women Lit event with Cherilyn Parsons at the Pines
Bottom Left: Photographer Elizabeth Needham’s Pen Pals portraits were showcased & sold at a fundraiser for Marin Humane. There were as many four-legged guests as there were two-legged attendees! Thanks to everyone for their support!
Bottom: John Markoff, Stewart Brand & Mike Cerre / Whole Earth book launch
Upcoming Events
For the health & safety of everyone, attendees at ALL events must have proof of vaccination.
April 12th, 5:30pm
Book Club
Red Notice
by Bill Browder
Join us whether or not you have read the book yet!
April 14th, 6pm
Author Peter Mann
will be discussing his debut novel
The Torqued Man
This debut novel is a literary thriller set in wartime Berlin involving a German spy handler and an Irish secret agent… neither of whom are quite what they seem.
Peter has a PhD in modern European history, teaches literature at Stanford & the University of San Francisco and is also an accomplished graphic artist.
April 16th
Sausalito's 40th Annual
Easter Parade & Egg Hunt
April 17th
Easter
If you missed the City’s annual Easter Parade & Egg Hunt, feel free to come by and see us on Easter Sunday! We’ll be open and Easter Bonnets are welcome. We’ll even have jelly beans.
April 17th
125th Anniversary of Thornton Wilder's Birthday
Stay tuned for details on a special event with Tappan Wilder and Friends
April 21st, 7–9pm
A Virtual Evening Of Poetry Sponsored by the Sausalito Women’s Club & Sausalito Library
Join us for a special virtual community gathering celebrating some of the best poetry of our times. Explore where the particular and universal, the actual and possible intersect. Hear readings from entrepreneurs, teachers, clergy, parents, students, and award winning poets, as they share words that sear, that soothe, that jostle our minds and mark our hearts.
April 22nd
Earth Day
We all need to take personal climate action and lessen impacts to our environment.
April 24th
Opening Day on the Bay
Opening Day on the Bay is an annual celebration of the maritime community on the San Francisco Bay. Come on down to the waterfront and watch the show. It’s a Sunday and, as always, we’ll be open! Ahoy Mates!
April 28th, 5:30–7:30pm
Reception for Artist
Jeff Long / Celebrating his Art and His Monograph
Jeffrey Long Paintings 1970-2020
Jeff’s paintings will be showcased on our Gallery Wall through the end of May.
May 7th & 8th, 11-5pm each day
Bay Area Book Fest
Berkeley Civic Center
We will be hosting authors signing books at our booth in the Civic Center park.
Visit www.baybookfest.org for details on author presentation and come visit us!
The return of the festival's in-person literary extravaganza in downtown Berkeley features prominent authors including Douglas Kearney, Rebecca Solnit, Laurie R. King, Douglas Stewart, Shruti Swany, and many, many (many) others on indoor and outdoor stages and via livestream. Literary exhibitors, gourmet food vendors, and a big children’s area will take over Civic Center Park.
April 30th, 2–5pm
Independent
Bookstore Day
Join us for an Open House / Dock Party!
Meet local authors, enjoy complimentary beverages and
Live Music!
May 12th, 6pm
Panel Discussion:
The Environment & Social Justice: Understand the Issues. Be the Difference in Your Community with...
Dalia Adofo – Policy Program Manager for Bayview Hunters Point Community Advocates; John Hart – poet, environmental journalist & author of sixteen books. Winner of many prestigious awards including David R. Brower Award for Service in the Field of Conservation; Terrie Harris Green – environmental justice advocate for Marin City and Co-Director of Shore Up Marin; Janelle Kellman, Mayor City of Sausalito, a land use & environmental attorney.
May 19th, 6pm
Bonny Meyer shares Perfectly Paired
& Her Favorite Wines
Come meet local author, Bonny Meyer, who co-founded Silver Oak Cellars with her wine legend husband Justin Meyer. Her memoir is an intimate portrayal of their love affair which infused Silver Oak with its remarkable wines. It is also a insightful and moving account of the making of one of Napa Valley's most iconic wineries. Buy the book and enjoy tasting Bonny's favorite wines – including Meyer Family and Silver Oak Cabernets.
May 22nd, 12pm-5pm
Woofstock
Marin Humane Campus
in Novato
This is a super-dog-friendly event outdoors on the grass; food & wine and all to benefit the shelter and it’s programs. Come by our Sausalito Books by the Bay booth and browse our collection of dog, cat & other animal books, as well as all our great pet swag!
April 12th, 5:30pm
Book Club
We will be discussing
Red Notice by Bill Browder
A true story of high finance, murder and one man's fight for justice. A thrilling page-turner that reads like a novel. Timely insights into the evils of Putin and his heartless, corrupt Russian regime.
Join us whether or not you have read the book yet!
Book club participants receive a 10% discount if you buy the book from us.
If you are interested in joining our book club, please email me cheryl@sausalitobooksbythebay.com or sign up at the bookshop on your next visit!
Save the date for our May Book Club – Tuesday, May 10th, 5:30pm
We will be reading The Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead
What's New
When it comes to sidelines, all our merchandise has to have a “story”, just like all the books have stories. We want unique, unusual products and gifts that have a story to tell. Here are some of our “new” stories.
We are gathering an extensive collection of new & interesting candles for your personal enjoyment and gifting. New this month are fragrant French Bee candles – luxury, hand poured, soy-blend wax candles that come beautifully packaged and beribboned, including some that pay homage to Hermes and Veuve Clicquot. Beautiful gifts. Fragrances are created from the finest botanicals around the world. A favorite? Amber Noir— a sweet and sultry fusion of creamy vanilla and rich amber with undertones of sandalwood and musk.
Elsewhere on the candle spectrum, we now also have Candlefy candles. These are the perfect souvenir/gift as they are very portable and are named after local areas/landmarks, including our custom made “Sausalito” candle which is a botanical blend of sea minerals, moss & eucalyptus. These natural coconut & soy wax candles are hand-poured into apothecary inspired amber jars with a burn-time of 60 hours.
Animals and wine lovers unite! Candles with a cause! And a great scent! We love this soy wax candles produced in Truckee, CA by our friends who not only use re-purposed wine bottles but donate a proceed of sales to animal rescue causes. What could be better?
Environmentally-animal friendly, Italian-designed, shoulder bag purses in great shades and sizes. These stylish Smateria bags look like leather but are made from all recycled, reused plastics. Each bag prevents 270g of extra CO2.
Our summer hats & tote bags / purses have arrived and pair wonderfully with our great selection of scarves. The woven bucket bag is one of my favorites!
We’ve added some great dog & cat swag to our already extensive collection of books about our four-legged friends.
Collars, bow-ties, ceramic food bowls & cannisters, canvas pouches, jig saw puzzles, note cards, gift wrap & bags… come shop for your favorite feline or Fido… or yourself!
Wine of The Month
Veuve Clicquot Champagne was unavailable for months (somehow we survived!) but it’s back in stock at last! A delightfully bubbly way to welcome the warm Spring weather. With it we have some very swell Veuve Clicquot branded swag from one of our favorite new vendors The FRENCH BEE & Co. These include porcelain trays, coasters and candles. Nice additions to that hostess gift of chilled Veuve. Gotta love all that orange!
What To Read About Ukraine,
Russia & Putin
Since we’re getting asked about this these days, for starters we suggest:
To learn more about these books go to The Book Lane by Barbara Lane and her recent column “A Putin Primer” March 28, 2022 https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/books/a-putin-primer-books-can-offer-a-sobering-look-into-his-mind-and-soul While you’re there, sign-up for her weekly posts for the SF Chronicle.
What We're Reading
The Pages
Hugo Hamilton
In this unique bit of storytelling, the narrator is a book itself, a first edition of a book written by a Jewish Austrian saved from the Nazi’s book burning. Multiple characters, both real and invented, touch on many aspects such as censorship, war, mental health, violence and the enduring reach of a book. A book I was unable to put down. Angela K.
At the Edge of the Haight
Katherine Seligman
A homeless youth witnesses a murder in Golden Gate Park. In the times that follow, she must live with the knowledge that the killer is still out there and navigate her new relationship with the victim's family. The book has received considerable praise for its detailed and timely depiction of homelessness in the city, as well as its compassionate story about the idea of family. I was pulled in by the author's keen page-turning prose. An excellent plot and portrait of San Francisco. Matthew K.
The Torqued Man
Peter Mann
A debut novel that is a literary thriller and darkly comic blend of history and invention. Set in wartime Berlin and told by a German spy handler and his Irish secret agent, neither of whom are quite what they seem. Don’t miss our event with the author April 14th. Cheryl P.
The Golden Couple
Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
Marisa and her husband go see therapist Avery to help repair their relationship after Marisa drops a bombshell on him in their first session. Avery claims to have an incredible success rate, you just have to follow everything she tells you to do, no questions asked. But who is this miracle therapist? And why was she discredited? Why is she so jumpy and paranoid? And what are her plans for the Golden Couple as she begins to manipulate them week by week? Evan A.
Norse Mythology
Neil Gaiman
Classic Scandinavian myths are retold in brilliant modern prose by an author who clearly relishes every moment of these stories. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman covers the full spectrum of tones, from epic and gut-wrenching to lighthearted and tremendously silly. An excellent experience that further illuminates how the likes of Thor and Loki still hold such a presence in our culture today. Matthew K.
The Guide to James Joyce's Ulysses
Patrick Hastings
Two of my favorite books of the year so far are publishing in May but, in the meantime, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the publication of Ulysses, comes this meaty romp through the second most difficult book of the 20th century (after Finnegans Wake). If, like me, you've had an unread copy of Ulysses on your bookshelf for decades, you actually need this! Some of you already know this, but as hard as we try we can't keep track of every book published and rely on all of you to give us some guidance. Loyal customer and friend of the store, Tom Delebo, turned us on to this one. Jeff B
Books To Read According To Stewart Brand
At our recent event with this iconic visionary, celebrating the publication of his biography The Whole Earth: The Many Lives of Stewart Brand by John Markoff, I noted that so much of the inspiration in Stewart’s life came from books. In fact, as noted in Markoff’s book, “Reading was almost always the portal through which Brand veered off in new directions…”.
So, at the end of the program, I asked Stewart about books. What should people be reading NOW to anticipate the future? He suggested Kim Stanley Robinson's Ministry for the Future, and Neal Stephenson's Termination Shock. Science fiction books? I was surprised. Our inimitable, long-time bookseller Jeff Battis was NOT surprised. In fact, he was also delighted.
JEFF BATTIS: Unless I am talking to someone under 40, I no longer mention Science Fiction titles when customers ask me for recommendations, as those two words, uttered together, are seemingly anathema, having nothing to do with literature. Really? Jules Verne. H.G. Wells. Arthur Conan Doyle. Isaac Asimov. George Orwell. Ray Bradbury. Arthur C. Clarke. Phillip K. Dick. Much of our post-1970s engagement with an imagined future is fed largely by these antecedents.
Which brings me to Stewart's recommendations. Although they are separated by 8 years, the trajectories of the two authors are shockingly identical. Both Robinson and Stephenson came to the attention of the Sci-Fi cognoscenti in the same year, 1984, and published the works that cemented their reputations in 1992, Red Mars and Snow Crash, respectively.
My vision of where we are headed has been indelibly informed by those named above, and others, but even more so by Stewart's understanding of the contribution individuals can make to a movement, in however small increments. In the late 1970s I was deeply engaged with the burgeoning Zine subculture, much of it based in the Bay Area, and all of it, whether I was conscious of it or not, born of the seismic shift that was The Whole Earth Catalog.
Bravo, Jeff! Wise words
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100 Bay Street, Sausalito, CA 94965, 415.887.9967
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