Library News

The Summer Reading for a Cause program has concluded with 1.4 million minutes of reading which exceeds its goal of one million minutes. Prizes are available for participants to pick up at Children's, Mitchell Park, or Rinconada Libraries through August 31, while supplies last. Read all about it!

The Library's choice of cause was Downtown Streets Team.

Also, the Library will be closed on Monday, September 2, for the Labor Day holiday. Please plan accordingly.

You can find out about things like this from the Palo Alto City Library Blogs page. Or you can subscribe to them with an RSS reader.

You can also find out about all this stuff and more from an infrequent e-mail from the Library. There's a signup form.

-Frank McConnell

 
August Book Sale News

Donations were especially strong since the last sale, and considering we had a backlog from July, our shelves are sagging under the weight of all the books. This means a super selection for buyers; this will be a great sale!

Sharing the special bays, the featured sections are, Architecture, Medicine and Anthropology/Sociology. This is a result of two large donations, one from Stanford's Cantor Art Museum and the other from the Stanford University School of Medicine Department of Anesthesiology/Medical Library. The latter special is an unusual collection of books on anesthesia, perioperative, pain medicine and more. (Perioperative care, also referred to as perioperative medicine, is the practice of patient-centered, multidisciplinary, and integrated medical care of patients from the moment of contemplation of surgery until full recovery.) If medical books are of interest, a fair amount of this donation can be found in the Bargain Room's Medicine section. Check out the Anthropology/Sociology special as well, this section continues to impress as once again they received a bounty of books, carefully curated into subsection by FOPAL's Anthropology/Sociology section manager Natalia K.

The Puzzles & Games section is jammed with a wonderful assortment in all categories, and an emphasis on puzzles as a result of a generous donation from the Pat & Andy Brown estate. You'll also find books from the Brown donation (110+ boxes) throughout other sections, especially in Military History. Look for a nice selection of Military History books this month enhanced by this generous donation and a smaller special on women who served.

-Janette Herceg

 
Art and Architecture

We had a huge donation of architecture books this month, almost all in perfect condition. They range from architectural history to monographs on individual architects and specific projects to essays on architecture and building types. You'll find them in the Specials section just inside the entrance to the Main Room.

-Melinda

 
Sociology/Anthropology

July-early August donations brought many books that primarily expanded three subsections of the Sociology/Anthropology section. They are "Race," "Foreign Affairs & Immigration," and "U.S.: Self-Reflection." Firstly, I want to draw attention to the 2016 memoir of J. D. Vance, Hillbilly Elegy. Since J. D. Vance became the running mate of Donald Trump, the attention to the book has increased which is reflected in its price as well as the range of opinions about it. While immediately after publication the book received many positive reviews, the attitude and tone of the recent ones have significantly changed. Those interested in judging the memoir by themselves may want to read the book. They will find it in the "U.S.: Self-Reflection" subsection.

The "Foreign Affairs & Immigration" subsection has been enriched by many books that can be of interest to those concerned with the often hard experience of the first immigrants from China, Japan, and Korea to the U.S.

The "Race" subsection, among many other newly received books, features the last book by Martin Luther King, Jr., Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? He worked on the manuscript in 1967, while isolating himself in a house in Jamaica. A short video on YouTube reproduces the speech of Martin Luther King, Jr. in which he presents the takeaway points of his last work. The 58 years that separate us from the time he wrote the manuscript have only increased its relevance.

Finally, I want to point to a few other newly donated books that stand out to me. One of them is a 2002 bestseller by the American urban studies theorist Richard Florida, The Rise of the Creative Class. An interested reader will find it in the "Theories and Methods" subsection. Another one is a 2003 book by American activist and academician Angela Davis, Are Prisons Obsolete? The book is in the "Sociology of Criminology" subsection.

Overall, the Sociology/Anthropology section offers 378 books for the August sale.

Shelf pictures at https://fopalbooks.com/social.html

-Natalia Koulinka

 
Puzzles and Games

Once again gamers, we had several donations of new or barely used strategy games--30 of them! So come peruse the now 55 of them on our shelves.

Puzzlers, we had a huge donation of puzzles all by one artist. They are priced at just $3 each and most are 1000 pieces. Come see who it is and grab a bargain.

-Vicky Evans

 
Children's Room

On the counter under the front windows, you'll see a wonderful assortment of colorful board books for the youngest "readers," including Richard Scarry and first words and first animals books, in sizes ranging from very small for tiny hands, to quite large. You'll also find anthologies of classic poems and very short stories--just long enough to hold children's interest (but short enough for parents to read at the end of the day).

Marvel movies are popular, and in the School-age Fiction section we have several Marvel books highlighting the adventures of the Black Panther, Captain Marvel, and the Avengers. If you need a gift book, how about a beautifully illustrated Percy Jackson's Greek Gods, or Wizardology, Dragonology, Fantastic Beasts, or Harry Potter's Journey Through a History of Magic? The Fantasy shelves and the Popular Authors cart are packed; look for an array of Star Wars books on the bottom shelf of Fantasy. On the Award Winning Authors shelves, you'll find gift-quality editions of Brian Selznick books: The Marvels and The Invention of Hugo Cabret.

This is a big month in our Activity section! The shelves are bursting with games, many in giftable condition, including a wooden chess set in a wooden box that doubles as a chess board. You could pair that with one or two of the chess strategy books in our Puzzles and Games blue bin. You'll also find jigsaw puzzles for all ages, including several from Ravensburger. Once again, we have a table (next to the overflowing graphic novels bookcase) filled with math textbooks and workbooks. Our science table, located under the north window, boasts some engineering kits, as well as bins loaded with books of science experiments--perfect for science fair projects or just for fun. And once again we have a full bin of paper-airplane and origami books!

-Carolyn Davidson

 
August Book Review

Warcross by Marie Lu

I recommend Warcross to those who enjoy futuristic stories where technology is enmeshed with the world and how characters grow and overcome their challenges against the odds.

The setting is similar to books like Ready Player One where virtual reality is everywhere and everyday. In Warcross, people don their VR glasses as an extension of themselves, a reliance so ingrained that nearly no one is without. This sets the stage for a diverse cast of characters with unique backgrounds and quirky personalities, of which you can relate to, antagonize against, and want to read more of from the author's detailed crafting.

Of these characters, the main protagonist, Emika Chen, enthralled me the most. Despite her struggles and downturns in life, she mustered the will to learn and adapt to become a strong and self-sufficient person on her own. Equipped with her smarts and skills, she launched herself into the world stage and, albeit unintentionally, caught their attention, as well as the eye of the genius inventor of the titular title, Hideo Tanaka.

Warcross develops important themes of why we should stand up for what is right, and that even though it may seem you are standing alone, there will always be someone there for you. Please note that this book has scenes of violence in it as well as romantic themes. (Recommended for ages 13 - 16)

-Emma Chen

 
Children's Vintage

These long, lazy days of August are just the right time to re-read the old classics. We have many this month in giftable form, some in their own slip cases that add just that extra touch of vintage! Try Grimm's Fairy Tales (illustrated by Arthur Rackham) or the double set of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Four of the boxed books are the 1940s Illustrated Junior Library editions. We also have all 8 volumes of the 1935 Picturesque Tale of Progress children's encyclopedia in really fine shape. Read through the pages and see what the world was like almost 100 years ago! Our World Languages section (especially Russian and Spanish) and the Fairy Tales and Myths section are especially robust this month, and we've brought out those Ladybird books from fairy tales to factual that fit in the palm of your hand!

Shelf pictures at https://fopalbooks.com/kids.html

 
Home & Crafts

The August Home shelves include makeup, beauty, and hair care, plus How to Get Dressed. Look for The Great Fashion Designers by Brenda Polan and Roger Tredre, as well as Candy Pratts Price's American Fashion Accessories. Home decorating references feature Bunny Williams' An Affair with a House and Parish-Hadley: Sixty Years of American Design. Don't miss: Charlotte Moss Decorates and 150 Best of the Best House Ideas, as well as several kitchen and bath references. Try Candice Olson's Family Spaces, and for those with kids off to college, there's Knack's Dorm Living. Home maintenance titles range from: How to Do Just About Anything to Confessions of an Organized Homemaker, plus Home Sweet Maison, and What Your Clutter is Trying to Tell You.

This August in Floral Arts a standout title is Elton John's Flower Fantasies. You can also try Willow Crossley's Inspire: The Art of Living with Nature. Another feature on our Crafts shelves: The Ultimate Papercraft and Origami Book. There are titles on drawing and sculpture, plus jewelry design, beading, and gem craft. You'll also find titles on packaging your crafts, and Twyla Tharp's The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life. In Fabric Arts there are some unique stories and essays on knitting: The Knitting Sutra: Craft as a Spiritual Practice; At Knit's End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much; and Knit Lit: Sweaters and Their Stories...and Other Writing About Knitting. You saw the movie; now read the crocheting book: Crochet for Barbie Doll by Nicky Epstein. Or, like my Irish grandmother, create your own Irish Chain Quilts.

Shelf photos can be found at https://fopalbooks.com/crafts.html.

-Virginia Perry

 
Antiques & Collections

Antiques titles in August feature Geza Von Habsburg's Fabergé, a Feldman edition, and the 250-year history of Villeroy & Boch 1748 - 1998. There are multiple jewelry collections including: 7000 Years of Jewelry edited by Hugh Tait; Jewelry: From Antiquity to the Present by Clare Phillips; and Jewels: A Secret History by Victoria Finlay. Look for many titles on coins, medals, and stamps, especially Every Stamp Tells a Story from the National Philatelic Collection, and The One-Cent Magenta: Inside the Quest to Own the Most Valuable Stamp in the World by James Barron. Peruse through the Antique Lamp Buyer's Guide, or Collecting Historical Documents: A Guide to Owning History. For your furniture collection, try Restoring Antique Furniture: a Practical Guide.

Shelf photo can be found at https://fopalbooks.com/crafts.html.

-Virginia Perry

 
Judaica

Browse the Judaica section for books on the Jewish religion and culture including editions of the Torah and other basic texts, Kabbalah, Jewish history, the Holocaust, memoirs, Israel, Jewish Women, the Jewish American Experience and other related subjects.

Special interest this month - The Nazi Hunters: How a Team of Spies and Survivors Captured the World's Most Notorious Nazi; Jewish Communities in Exotic Places; Australian Genesis: Jewish Convicts and Settlers 1788-1850; A Family Secret (graphic novel for younger readers); Memories of My Life in a Polish Village, 1930–1949 (pre-2024 edition); The Children of Noah: Jewish Seafaring in Ancient Times; Into the Fullness of the Void: A Spiritual Autobiography.

Most fiction with Jewish themes will be found in Modern Literature/Classics or Current Fiction. Books entirely in Hebrew are shelved in the European Languages section.

Shelf photos at https://fopalbooks.com/judaica.html

-Charlotte Epstein, Judaica Section Manager

 
Classic and Modern Literature

In honor of the New York Times list of the 100 best books of the twenty-first century, there is a shelf with as many of the pre-2014 titles as we have this month. They're on the top shelf of the section near the middle aisle.

-Melinda

 
The West

The West covers the U.S. from the Mississippi to Hawaii. There are several sections. On the top shelves are large oversize books divided into Palo Alto/Stanford, San Francisco, California, and the West groups. On the intermediate shelves there are groups on Palo Alto/Monterey, San Francisco, California, the West, and Western Novels (including 30 Louis L'Amour stories in faux leather bindings). The West group has books on ranching, mining, cowboys, outlaws and women in the West. Finally, on the bottom shelves are more oversize Palo Alto history books and other books on the West.

-Ed Walker

 
Philosophy

An unexpected book for August is the illustrated Plato! Titled Journey to the Moon, it's a pairing of engravings by Gustave Dore to selected quotes from Plato, a very well produced book. We have 15 books on or by Aristotle including Aristotle's Children which discusses those who have been influenced by his philosophy. For a first appearance we have a very fine edition of Charles Taylor's Secular Age. Recently we have received a collection of books touching on the subjects of ethics and morality, these will be found on the bottom left bookshelf.

Shelf pictures at https://fopalbooks.com/philosophy.html

-Nigel Jones

 
Humor

This month we have two versions of the ever popular Complete Cartoons of the New Yorker, one being the hardback with all the cartoons in print and no CDs, and the other being the complete cartoons on eight DVDs.

For a first appearance we have Hannah Gadsby's memoir, Nanette, based on her award winning Netflix special.

Shelf pictures at https://fopalbooks.com/humor.html

-Nigel Jones

 
Romance Novels

We've opened a new section in the Main Room for Romance Novels. These include hardcover books by best-selling authors, many in like-new condition; the crossover genre of cozy romance/mystery; and historical romance novels (if you liked The French Lieutenant's Woman). You'll find the new Romance section in the Main Room next to Mystery. (Romance Novels will also continue to be available in the Bargain Room.)

-Nancy Tillman

 
Poetry

Featured this month: A collection of poems by Jimmy Carter (autographed); several volumes from former Poet Laureate Billy Collins with his quirky and funny take on everyday life; Advice for aspiring poets; and Images of a Complex World - a beautiful book of poetry and art concerning the artistic expression of complex scientific systems.

-Nancy Tillman

 
History

Current politics got you down? Think the world is a mess and getting worse? The planet's seen and survived worse, and you can read all about it! This month we have books on a number of US presidents and also-rans, as well as revolutions and uprisings all over the world. And if you're looking for something lighter, the Offbeat History shelf on the red cart has some unusual looks at history's odd corners.

-Lin McAllister

 
Self Help/Personal Growth

Pricing books this month was especially fun with many titles, some quite recent, that I haven't seen before. Most books are just 2-3 dollars so check out the four full shelves of New Books and the Enneagram section which has exciting new additions! There's a small subsection of colorful, inspirational SARK books; a subsection of 'Signed by Author' books; and now 2 FULL SHELVES of books on ADDICTIONS! Some Featured Books this month are: Briefly Perfectly Human; Healthy Brain, Happy Life; How to Know a Person; 12 Rules for Life; and Self Compassion by Kristin Nerf including a workbook. Look for a few of the popular, higher priced books in the 'Marked Down' section. Enjoy browsing,

-Marnie

 
STEM

While the quantity of donations have been strong this month the quality has not matched. Thus, many books can be found in the bargain room. Popular science continues to outpace other books and overflows to the left around the corner this month. The other sections are compressed into slightly different locations as sheet music expands its shelving needs.

Shelf photos can be found at https://fopalbooks.com/STEM.html

-Edwin El-Kareh

 
Sheet Music

Musicians are definitely cleaning out their closets this summer. The quality and quantity of sheet music donations continues to grow this month. Shelving will expand rightward into the STEM section.

Shelf photos can be found at https://fopalbooks.com/sheetmusic.html

-Edwin El-Kareh

 
Donations

We accept donations on Monday through Saturday from 3-5 pm in the Main Room. But we close to donations in the week before the sale so that we can prepare the Main Room for the sale. Which means that we are closed for donations from Sunday August 4 through Sunday August 11. Please hold your donations until Monday August 12.

Please read our donation guidelines before you bring materials to us.

 
Suggestions?

We're always eager to hear your suggestions for ways to improve our book sale. Please email us at suggestions@friendspaloaltolib.org.