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Louise's Reviews

Louise has been working at Bookshop Santa Cruz since 2012, and is now Head of Receiving. When she's not absorbed in a book (be it a law dictionary or a biography) she likes to play strange games with her cat Heyhey and discuss the more refined aspects of Star Trek. Louise is a transplant from the Central Valley of California, where she spent a lot of time developing a hay allergy and sitting on the edge of her bed playing guitar.

Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay

Roxanne Gay may think she's a "bad feminist", but this collection of essays would speak for her otherwise. Inquisitive, reflective, and timely, Bad Feminist had me laughing out loud one page and solemnly nodding in agreement on the next. Every woman with problems with the f-word should read what Ms. Gay has to say about it, as her stories speak volumes to the amount of internalized misogyny American women must purge from our systems.
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Bad Feminist: Essays By Roxane Gay Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780062282712
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Harper Perennial - August 5th, 2014

The Residue Years by Mitchell S. Jackson

I was captivated by Jackson's writing style from start to finish. He deftly weaves hard truths and murky beauties together, juxtaposing a gritty crack-riddled tale with a need for security drugs cannot provide. Set in 1990s Portland (our nation's whitest city), Jackson also exposes the injustices of dissimilar sentences for crack and cocaine across racial lines. If you love novels with realistic characters and authors who aren't afraid to be vulnerable, this is for you.
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The Residue Years By Mitchell S. Jackson Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9781620400296
Availability: Not On Our Shelves, But Available from Warehouse - Usually Delivers in 3-14 Days
Published: Bloomsbury USA - May 6th, 2014

Euphoria

Three anthropologists find themselves on the island of New Guinea in the 1930s: Nell Stone, discerning and famous, à la Margaret Meade; Fen Stone, her jealous and rough husband; and Andrew Banson, the loner who lusts after Nell when he’s not meditating on the untimely death of his brother. Together, they unearth an ancient mystery and usurp a fragile peace among the Tam society. Perfect pacing and captivating voices make Euphoria one of my favorite books this year. 

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Euphoria By Lily King Cover Image
$25.00
ISBN: 9780802122551
Availability: Not On Our Shelves, But Available from Warehouse - Usually Delivers in 3-14 Days
Published: Atlantic Monthly Press - June 3rd, 2014

Against Equality: Queer Revolution, Not Mere Inclusion

Against Equality calls for queer people everywhere to rally against capitalism, militarism, and neo-liberal politics in this succinct collection of essays written by members of the Against Equality collective. In a time where basic human rights are being linked to one’s access to marriage and the repealing of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is seen as the apex of inclusion, it’s nice to know that there are queers around who write books that bash back and question pinkwashing tactics.

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Against Equality: Queer Revolution, Not Mere Inclusion By Ryan Conrad (Editor) Cover Image
By Ryan Conrad (Editor)
$15.00
ISBN: 9781849351843
Availability: Not On Our Shelves, But Available from Warehouse - Usually Delivers in 3-14 Days
Published: AK Press - April 15th, 2014

The Sibley Guide to Birds (2nd edition)

This edition features over 100 added species, 600+ new paintings, expanded notes on eating habits and behavior, and updated range maps. One gripe that I’ve always had with bird guides is the lack of attention paid to common species. But Sibley really has taken the phrase “expanded and updated” to a whole new level, one that will find beginners and experts making fewer mistakes and discovering new things to love about our more common aerial friends.

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The Sibley Guide to Birds, Second Edition (Sibley Guides) By David Allen Sibley Cover Image
$45.00
ISBN: 9780307957900
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Knopf - March 11th, 2014

Afro-Vegan: Farm-Fresh African, Caribbean, and Southern Flavors Remixed

If you’re like me, you’re a broke, lazy, kind-of-vegetarian/ part-time vegan cook who knows five different ways to make tofu but still feels uninspired staring at that little white block. That’s where Afro-Vegan comes in to save the day! From the author of the critically acclaimed Vegan Soul Kitchen comes an entirely new cookbook based on a myriad of different cultural traditions from the African diaspora. Highly recommended for those who like to read cookbooks cover to cover, Afro-Vegan is sure to satisfy.  

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Afro-Vegan: Farm-Fresh African, Caribbean, and Southern Flavors Remixed [A Cookbook] By Bryant Terry Cover Image
$27.50
ISBN: 9781607745310
Availability: Not On Our Shelves, But Available from Warehouse - Usually Delivers in 3-14 Days
Published: Ten Speed Press - April 8th, 2014

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Full of longing for both love and country, Americanah is the story of two Nigerians who find themselves separated by continents and time on their escape from their politically unstable home. While Ifemelu makes her way to America in search of an education, Obinze is locked away from the states and finds himself in London sans papers. Together their stories weave an outsider's perspective on western society. Insightful, funny, and astute Adichie has garnered much attention for this novel, and I'm sure you'll find it's deservedly so.

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Americanah: A novel By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Cover Image
$18.00
ISBN: 9780307455925
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Vintage - March 4th, 2014

Redefining Realness by Janet Mock

Janet Mock is an emerging voice for modern feminist politics. She, along with a handful of other notable advocates, has brought trans inclusion and womanist ideology to the forefront of the American consciousness. Her new memoir is a waterfall of emotion. It's told as if you were having coffee together, and invites you to consider and incorporate many different definitions of violence.
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Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More By Janet Mock Cover Image
$24.99
This item may be available from the publisher! Give us a call or send us an email to find out.
ISBN: 9781476709123
Published: Atria Books - February 4th, 2014

Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America

One of our country's foremost intellectuals examines the axis of race, class, and gender in her most recent body of work. Sister Citizen discusses how internalized misogyny, anti-blackness, and respectability politics police how black American women engage in public discourse. An absolutely necessary read for anyone interested in womanist studies and modern American politics.
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Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America By Melissa V. Harris-Perry Cover Image
$18.00
ISBN: 9780300188189
Availability: Not On Our Shelves, But Available from Warehouse - Usually Delivers in 3-14 Days
Published: Yale University Press - April 23rd, 2013

The End of San Francisco by Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore

Mattilda tells the reader all, never shielding us from the ugliness of her past, which will render you absolutely speechless. But rather than waxing poetic about what it all means, Sycamore unleashes a tidal wave of frustration, happiness, and sometimes drug-induced euphoria in this heartache of a book. It will severely enrich your life--you'll never think of SF in the same way again.
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The End of San Francisco By Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore Cover Image
$18.95
ISBN: 9780872865723
Availability: Not On Our Shelves, But Available from Warehouse - Usually Delivers in 3-14 Days
Published: City Lights Books - March 19th, 2013

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