April 2025 | Rooted in Community | |
Tsundoku
Tsundoku is Japanese for the act of acquiring reading materials and letting them pile up in one’s home. We thought it a perfect heading for this section, as we’ll feature books that are new or popular in the store. If you’re like us, tsundoku is a constant state of being.
Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza, Peter Beinart, $26.00
Beinart imagines an alternative narrative, one where victimhood and persecution is not the central theme of being in Jewish communal life. Instead, he imagines a world where Jewish and Palestinian safety are not mutually exclusive or based on supremacy. His keen understanding of history and the moral and political dilemmas, as well as his personal experiences, makes him the perfect person to appeal for the ending of this horrifying war.
The Dream Hotel, Laila Lalami, $29.00
This latest novel is an engrossing and troubling dystopian tale of a woman being detained under an US American regime where even dreams are being surveilled. Lalami warns of the consequences of unchecked power while displaying the tremendous impact of small acts of resistance. The novel's truly gripping message can be summarized in the main character's response to a bureaucrat who tells her that data doesn't lie. She responds, "It doesn't tell the truth, either." Previous works of this author include at least two other noteworthy books: The Moor's Account and The Other Americans.
There are Rivers in the Sky, Elif Shafak, $30.00
Published last summer, this book has not sold many copies at our store - yet!
This most recent novel by award winning British-Turkish novelist Elif Shafak does not disappoint! It is an odyssey sweeping across centuries from Mesopotamia to London in which Shafak conjures up a trio of characters living in the shadows of one of the greatest epic poems of all time. The story flows like a river from the past to the present day and will leave your heart happy. This book, and all of Shafak's works, are must reads.
Grape Leaves, edited by G. Orfalea and S. Elmusa, $25.00 (price varies as available only as used)
Published in 1998 and 2000, Grape Leaves: A Century of Arab-American Poetry is a collection of twenty master poets. Arab-American poetry is an especially rich, people-involved, passionate literature that was often spawned in isolation from the American mainstream prior to this anthology. This anthology reflects the current renaissance in the literature of an ethnic community asserting itself.
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Sara's Staff Pick
I recently finished Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au, a novel that follows a mother and daughter on a trip to Japan. As they spend time together, exploring the country’s landscapes, art, culture, and their shared history, the story gently focuses on their quiet, often unspoken relationship. It captures the nuances of family dynamics and the complexities of communication while emphasizing the value of simply observing and experiencing life, rather than always seeking to understand or analyze it. A passage that reflects this, is: "Maybe it's good, I said, to stop sometimes and reflect upon the things that have happened, maybe thinking about sadness can actually end up making you happy. I had one vague, exhausted thought that perhaps it was all right not to understand all things, but simply to see and hold them."
Through lyrical, minimalistic prose, Au explores themes of impermanence, the passage of time, memory, and identity, offering an introspective look at the subtle tensions between generations, the things often left unsaid, and the distance that can grow between people—even those closest to us. Cold Enough for Snow unfolds like a hazy, dream-like mirage, where characters, emotions, and intentions always seem just out of reach, leaving a lasting impression of beauty and mystery. A brief but impactful read for fans of contemplative literature, it lingers long after the final page, gently echoing with themes of both connection and distance.
Image: Cover of book - Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au
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Monthly Pearl from Ope!
Last month I talked about our Bourg binding machine freezing up and refusing to go on. Through previous experience, we learned there is only one man in a five (to seven) state radius who knows how to fix Bourg. His name is Neil.
We've met Neil a handful of times now, catching him on his long passes across the Midwest, on his way to save one small publisher or another, toting his whole supply of tools and parts across Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Whenever we’ve met, Roxanne and I watch his process, trepidatious and curious; he’s like a robot surgeon, opening Bourg's various panels and sections confidently and efficiently, revealing the deep, impossible inner workings of Bourg. Neil never fails to solve the issue, and he punctuates it all with the greatest laugh. Somewhere in his 70s, Neil’s laugh (more like an effervescing giggle) seems to have coursed through him his whole life, bubbling up and perfecting all along the way.
The fear, of course, is that he is the Last Bourg Repair Man on Earth. But for the time being, even as we hate to call him, we love to see him. This last time, all he did was turn the machine on and it worked (Roxanne and I also did this, to no avail). We now suspect Bourg will only respond to Neil. The good news: we got caught up on all the zines we wanted to bind, all of which are currently for sale here at the bookstore. And, of course, you’re invited to come to the bookstore at 6:30 on April 3rd to talk about Riding Over Land, our most recent release.
Thank you for reading!
Images of poster for Rachel MacFarland event on April 3; poster of When you support a small business you're supporting a dream!; and a poster When you support small businesses you support your community!
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Customer Corner with Luke Thering
We love Luke at Pearl Street Books. He helped us select a piano. He brings joy to our space when he plays. He supports us by joining events. And, he is just plain a very thoughtful human. If you don't already know him, we thought you might enjoy learning a bit about him this month in the below interview.
P.S. He has agreed to consistently play for us each month (Second Saturday Sessions!). Check out our events for more detail!
What is your music background?
I grew up in a musical household: Mom played oboe, Dad tinkered on the keys, and my three older siblings and I all took piano lessons. Strings too, for a time. My early influences were varied: Bach & Beethoven, John Philip Sousa, Johnny Costa & Fred Rogers.
As a youngster, I was fortunate to have a piano teacher who encouraged students to write down their musical ideas. So, the 'composer' seed was planted early, around age 7. From then on, my love of music continued to grow.
I went through a heavy “band geek” phase in high school, playing percussion and deepening my love for composition—before studying Music Composition and Jazz Piano Performance at UW-La Crosse.
Besides Pearl Street Books, where might people hear you play?
You might catch me playing light background music—before a symphony concert, at a dinner party, or similar events. I also play regularly in worship settings.
I have composed many piano pieces and scored local theater productions, including The Elephant Speaks Jazz and Dark La Crosse. Much of this music has been recorded, so, perhaps the best way to hear my work is through my albums and videos.
What excites you most about your music right now?
Right now, my compositional focus is simplicity—crafting short, heartfelt pieces—written with the everyday piano player in mind.
A listener recently described my music as having “simultaneous simplicity and depth.”
That balance excites me—pieces that are simple enough to play without stress, yet deep enough to touch the heart or stir the soul.
What do you wish people knew about the life of a musician?
Like any life, a musician’s path moves through different seasons. Some feel like summers—with exciting creative flow and many projects. Others are winters—marked by rest, quiet, and patience. Every season has value.
And what are you reading now?
My Grandfather’s Blessings by Rachel Naomi Remen
Image if Luke Thering at piano at Pearl Street Books
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