Our in-store writing group is open to writers of all types. We meet on the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 P.M. to read our work and to give and receive feedback.
It’s easy to participate! Just bring five (5) copies of your poem, short story, essay, novel, screenplay, play, children’s story, or other written work to share. We’ll read and offer constructive comments on everyone’s work.
For more information, email Jef Blocker at jef@boundtobereadbooks.com.
On Thursday, July 8th at 7:30 p.m., Bound To Be Read Books will host a special tribute to Kahlil Gibran,a poet, philosopher and mystic, whose wisdom has passed the test of time and gave poetry another dimension.
This is an open-mic event hosted by David Hirschorn, director of the Atlanta branch of the New Acropolis NPO. Everyone is welcome to participate by either contributing their impressions or a poem by the well-known artist.
Bring your own Kahil Gibran poems! Wine and cheese served.
If you don’t normally read graphic novels, consider checking out Maus I: A Survivor’s Tale: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman (Pantheon, 1986, 160 pp., pbk., new $14.95)
Maus is the story of Vladek Spiegelman, a Jewish survivor of Hitler’s Europe, and his son, a cartoonist coming to terms with his father’s story. Maus approaches the unspeakable through the diminutive. Its form, the cartoon (the Nazis are cats, the Jews mice), shocks us out of any lingering sense of familiarity and succeeds in “drawing us closer to the bleak heart of the Holocaust” (The New York Times).
Maus is a haunting tale within a tale. Vladek’s harrowing story of survival is woven into the author’s account of his tortured relationship with his aging father. Against the backdrop of guilt brought by survival, they stage a normal life of small arguments and unhappy visits. This astonishing retelling of our century’s grisliest news is a story of survival, not only of Vladek but of the children who survive even the survivors. Maus studies the bloody pawprints of history and tracks its meaning for all of us.
Art Spiegelman is a contributing editor and artist for The New Yorker, and a co-founder / editor of Raw, the acclaimed magazine of avant-garde comics and graphics. His drawings and prints have been exhibited in museums and galleries here and abroad. Honors he has received for Maus include the Pulitzer Prize, a Guggenheim fellowship, and nominations for the National Book Critics Circle Award. He lives in New York City with his wife, Françoise Mouly, and their two children, Nadja and Dashiell.
The book club discusses Postcards from a Dead Girl (Harper Perennial, 2010, 272 pp., pbk., reg. $13.99; sale $12.59) by Kirk Farber on Thursday, July 15, 2010.
“Kirk Farber has a style very similar to Chuck Palahniuk, with offbeat observations, a view of our world through a slightly distorted lens, and a tone that’s … hilarious and tragic at the same time.”
—Garth Stein, author of The Art of Racing in the Rain
Sid is going crazy . . .
A telemarketer at a travel agency, Sid is becoming unhinged and superneurotic. Lately he’s been obsessed with car washes and mud baths. His hypochondria is driving his doctor sister mad. And it’s all because of his ex-girlfriend, Zoe, who’s sending him postcards from her European adventure, one that they were supposed to take together. It’s all quite upsetting.
A fact-finding tour of local post offices—and a new friendship with postman Gerald—followed by a solo European jaunt will do little to ease his anxiety. A long talk with his mother’s spirit in a wine bottle doesn’t help either. But what he really needs are a few more tentative dates with the chatty Candyce. Sid needs to get over Zoe and find love again—even though Zoe, apparently, has no inclination to be gotten over.
Wonderfully poignant, funny, odd, and more than a bit macabre, Postcards from a Dead Girl marks the emergence of a truly gifted and original literary voice.
Kirk Farber lives with his family in Colorado, where he writes and works at a library with a lovely mountain view.
For more information, contact us at (404) 522-0877 or jef@boundtobereadbooks.com.
“Generously confessional enough to give a compelling edge to her battle with substance abuse and her quest for spiritual balance . . . a harrowing cautionary tale.”
—Kirkus
“A remarkable early Cinderella story . . . Carlisle writes candidly . . . heartfelt and winning.”
—Publishers Weekly
As both a solo artist and lead singer of the Go-Go’s, Belinda Carlisle is responsible for some of the most iconic songs of the eighties. Her memoir Lips Unsealed (on sale June 1)—one of the rare adventures through rock stardom told by a woman—is a spellbinding look at life in the fast lane of the rock world and an exploration of her dramatic personal struggles.
The all-female members of the Go-Go’s will always be remembered as they appeared on the back of their debut record: sunny, smiling, each soaking in her own private bubble bath with chocolates and champagne. The photo is a perfect tribute to the fun, irreverent brand of pop music that they created, but it also concealed the trials and secret demons that they—and, in particular, their lead singer, Belinda Carlisle—struggled with on their rise to stardom.
Leaving her unstable childhood home at the age of eighteen, Belinda battled serious weight issues, having been teased for her pudginess throughout grade school, and grappled with her confusion about being deserted by her biological father as a child. This talented but misguided teen found solace in the punk rock world that so openly welcomed misfits.
Not long after forming, the Go-Go’s became queens of the L.A. punk scene, selling out venues, attracting a fiercely loyal fan base, and outpartying almost every male band they toured with. In the process, they kicked down the doors to the all-boys’ club of eighties rock and roll. With a chart-topping debut album, Belinda found herself launched to international superstardom—and with that fame came more access to A-list parties, and even more alcohol and drugs to fuel the Go-Go’s mania.
While struggling with addiction, Belinda married the love of her life and gave birth to a wonderful son. But the strain of keeping her vices a secret inevitably led her to self-destruct. Exactly how far she’d fallen was epitomized by a shocking series of events in which she put everything sacred to her—her husband, her son, and even her life—at risk. As improbable as it seems that a woman who appeared to have everything would suffer from such issues, it was only when Belinda finally quit running from the past and faced her pain and insecurities that she was able to start enjoying her life, her family, and feeling loved.
Lips Unsealed is filled with the wild stories that Belinda Carlisle fans are dying to hear—stories about the band’s crazy days on tour with acts like the Police and Madness and the fabulous parties and people to whom the Go-Go’s had exclusive access. But more than that, this candid memoir reveals the underbelly of the glamour, as Belinda shares in vivid detail her private struggles with abusive relationships, weight, self-esteem, and a thirty-year battle with drug and alcohol addiction.
Here are some of the topics that Belinda addresses in Lips Unsealed:
THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ALL-FEMALE BAND OF ALL TIME: The Go-Go’s rose from the gritty world of punk to make pop-music history as the first all-girl band to write and play their way to #1 on the Billboard charts with hits such as “We Got the Beat,” “Vacation,” “Cool Jerk,” and “Our Lips Are Sealed.” At that time rock was truly a man’s world; even though they were popular and played to sold-out crowds, it took some time for them to land a record deal because they were told by label after label that an all-girl band couldn’t sell records. As a solo artist, Belinda also was one of the biggest pop stars of the late eighties and early nineties. “Heaven Is a Place on Earth,” “Mad About You,” “I Get Weak,” and “Circle in the Sand” are some of her chart-topping songs.
SECRET STRUGGLE WITH DRUGS: Belinda was an addict for most of her life. This is well documented in her youth, but unbeknownst to the public, she struggled with drugs until 2005. For years she hid her addiction to cocaine from her husband and son, driving her into a cycle of self-hatred and depression.
MAINTAINING HER MARRIAGE: Belinda met the love of her life, Morgan Mason, but her struggle with drugs pushed his patience to the limit and put incredible strains on their marriage. Morgan’s willingness to be there for her and understand her addiction almost defies belief, while at the same time reveals a love of incredible depth. Belinda’s eventual confessions offer a window on this great love story.
BATTLE WITH WEIGHT: Belinda struggled with her weight from the time she was a young girl. The press always referred to her as “the chubby one” in the Go-Go’s, and almost every media story pointed out her size. When she lost weight and was lauded for it, she developed an eating disorder in which she would ping-pong between starving herself and bingeing.
IMPOSTER SYNDROME AND DEPRESSION: Even in her early days of success, Belinda never felt that she deserved any acclaim or the good things she received. When she found out the Go-Go’s album Beauty and the Beat had hit #1 on the Billboard charts, she locked herself in her apartment and did drugs, terrified that her fans and everyone else would find out how terrible she really was. Her disappearance prompted rumors of her death. Throughout her life, no matter what happened to her, she always doubted herself and never believed anyone when they tried to show her love or give her praise. This was the fear she was masking with drugs.
FAMILY PAIN: Belinda’s father left their family when she was just a small child; his absence was never explained, so she sat by the window each night, awaiting his return. Her mother soon remarried and told Belinda she should call her alcoholic stepfather “Dad.” Her biological father often tried to get in touch with her after she became well-known; that reunion that did not end well.
CELEBRITY ENCOUNTERS (a few examples):
*John Belushi—In a New York club, Belushi lectured the Go-Go’s about the evils of drug abuse after Belinda asked him if he had any cocaine. Shortly thereafter they saw firsthand what his own behaviors really were when it came to drugs.
*Rod Stewart—A wild, all-night party with Rod Stewart in Rio de Janeiro led a grumpy, hungover Rod to devise a way to make Belinda suffer as much as he did during his next day’s performance.
*Michael Hutchence—Belinda had a brief but passionate affair with Michael Hutchence of INXS. The girls in the band begged Michael to talk to her about the effect the drugs were having on her performances. He did, and gave her some insightful advice about the relationship between a rock star and his/her audience.
*Brian Wilson— A long-time idol of Belinda’s, Wilson agreed to provide background vocals on one of her solo albums. She was thrilled to work with him, but her excitement quickly turned to discomfort when she experienced the quirky realities of the disheveled genius.
*Fergie (Sarah Ferguson)— A friend of Belinda and her husband, Morgan, the three spent a day at the beach together. Tabloids then had a field day with photos of Fergie with her “new man.”
HER SON’S SEXUALITY: Belinda discusses how her son, Duke, came out to her and how she and her husband tried to balance their concern for their son’s safety with giving him unconditional love and support.
HER 2005 REBIRTH AS A WIFE, MOTHER, AND SOBER ARTIST: Belinda’s life changed five years ago when she dedicated herself to a 12-step program, yoga, and a new spiritual practice.
Lips Unsealed shares all the details of the eighties decadence that Belinda epitomized, but also reveals the dark despair hidden behind her charming smile. An open and honest account of her rise, fall, and the healthy and happy life she has since built for herself, LIPS UNSEALED tells the story of a life fully lived.
Kevin Sampsell always thought he was part of a normal family growing up in the Pacific Northwest. He never wondered why his older siblings had different last names or why one of them was black. But when his estranged father passed away in 2008, his mother revealed to him some of the family’s mysterious and unsettling history. A history of betrayal, madness, and incest.
A Common Pornography is a uniquely crafted, two-pronged “memory experiment”: a collection of sweet and funny snapshots from his childhood, and an unsensational portrait of a family in crisis. Sampsell blends the catastrophic with the mundane and the humorous with the horrific. From his mother’s first tumultuous marriages and his father’s shocking abuse of his half sister to Kevin’s own memories of first jobs, first bands, and first loves, here is a searing, intensely honest memoir that exposes the many haunting shades of a family—both its tragedy and its resiliency.
“For beauty, honesty, sheer weirdness, and a haunting evocation of place, Kevin Sampsell is my favorite Oregon writer. Ken Kesey, Chuck Palahniuk—make some room on the shelf.”
—Sean Wilsey, author of Oh the Glory of it All
Kevin Sampsell lives in Portland, Oregon, and works at the legendary Powell’s City of Books. He started his small press, Future Tense Books, in 1990 and has published small books by many of America’s most exciting new writers. His own writing has appeared widely in publications such as Nerve, McSweeney’s, Pindeldyboz, 3 AM, Hobart, Night Train, Elimae, Smith, Opium, and Failbetter. His essays and reviews of books and music have also appeared in various publications.
His previous books include Beautiful Blemish (Word Riot Press) and Creamy Bullets (Chiasmus). He also edited the anthologies The Insomniac Reader (Manic D Press) and Portland Noir (Akashic).
Reading Shop Class as Soulcraft (Penguin, 2010, 256 pp., pbk., new $15.00) by Matthew B. Crawford creates great book club discussions.
A philosopher/mechanic’s wise (and sometimes funny) look at the challenges and pleasures of working with one’s hands
Called “the sleeper hit of the publishing season” (The Boston Globe), Shop Class as Soulcraft became an instant bestseller, attracting readers with its radical (and timely) reappraisal of the merits of skilled manual labor. On both economic and psychological grounds, author Matthew B. Crawford questions the educational imperative of turning everyone into a “knowledge worker,” based on a misguided separation of thinking from doing. Using his own experience as an electrician and mechanic, Crawford presents a wonderfully articulated call for self-reliance and a moving reflection on how we can live concretely in an ever more abstract world.
Everyday Voodoo (Schiffer Books, 2010, pp., 144 pbk., new $14.99) by Beth Dolgner
Did you know that Voodoo dolls are actually used for healing? Ever wonder what ingredients are inside a gris-gris bag—or even what one is? Find these answers and more in this introduction to Voodoo. Learn about the mysterious religion’s history, meet Voodoo’s pantheon of spirits, and witness a Voodoo ritual within a dark courtyard in the New Orleans French Quarter. You’ll also find spells and rituals for love, money, luck, protection, and more, as well as instructions for crafting your own voodoo dolls and gris-gris bags.
Mom will get a kick out of reliving memories as she flips through the pages of National Book Award Finalist Deborah Wiles’ new novel, Countdown, which includes reprints of ads, safety brochures, quotes, and pictures around the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis. And she’ll enjoy the story of young Franny and her family, too.
“This story is sure to strike a chord with those living through tough times today.” — Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)
“Wiles scores with both context and character.” — Chicago Tribune
“Many readers will find this on their own, but adults who read bits and pieces aloud will hook kids, who’ll eagerly await the next installments.” — Booklist (starred review)
It’s 1962, and it seems everyone is living in fear. Twelve-year-old Franny Chapman lives with her family in Washington, DC, during the days surrounding the Cuban Missile Crisis. Amidst the pervasive threat of nuclear war, Franny must face the tension between herself and her younger brother, figure out where she fits in with her family, and look beyond outward appearances. For Franny, as for all Americans, it’s going to be a formative year.
“An extraordinary new book. . . . Put this middle grade novel on your MUST read list.” —Lynn Rutman, Booklist Online/Bookends
“I really believe that Wiles has created a new way of experiencing history in the pages of a novel. Her achievement makes this book a must buy for school libraries all across the country regardless of age.”—Ed Spicer, SpicyReads
Marvel Masterworks: The Invincible Iron Man (Marvel Comics, 2010, 208 pp., pbk., new $24.99) by Stan Lee & Don Heck with Jack Kirby & Steve Ditko
The movie Iron Man 2 opens today in the U.S. Check out this collection of his origin and classic adventures …
As the ’60s unrolled, Stan Lee’s Marvel released hit after revolutionary hit, bringing fresh new heroes to a public all too ready for amazing adventurers with feet of clay. And there are none that touch both that adventurer ideal and human reality like Tony Stark, the Invincible Iron Man! A jet-setter, playboy, and brilliant scientist, Stark is cut down to Earth when a battlefield explosion rips into his heart. Only by creating the amazing Iron Man armor can he stay alive! Packed with the debonair and debutantes, Cold War monsters and sultry super-spies, the inaugural Iron Man Masterworks is a cover-to-cover classic that’s “must” reading for every fan of the sensational character that took both comics and film by storm. Led by Stan Lee, Don Heck, Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko—the trio of artists that launched the Marvel Age—bring you the creation of a cultural icon. You’ll see the ever-evolving Iron Man armor in development, the first appearance of classic characters from Happy Hogan and Pepper Potts, to the Crimson Dynamo and the Mandarin, and so much more. Collecting TALES OF SUSPENSE #39-50. All Ages.