#SFFSaturday THE DASTARDLY MISS LIZZIE by Viola Carr "My love for the Electric Empire series is immeasurable, and the newest installment is now out! Get reunited with forensic scientist Dr. Eliza Jekyll and her deliciously diabolical other half, Lizzie Hyde. It's an exciting, action-packed caper through a supernatural Edwardian London. Good luck trying to stay one step ahead of this dueling "duo" as they race to catch a murderer!" - Kelly #sffsat #sff #thedastardlymisslizzie #violacarr #electricempire #edwardian #supernatural #london #jekyllandhyde #stafffav #bookrecommendations #sciencefiction #fantasy (at Bookshop Santa Cruz)

#NationalPoetryMonth NO MATTER THE WRECKAGE by Sarah Kay "I first was introduced to Sarah Kay via her TedTalk called If I Should Have a Daughter where she recites two poems from this book as well as speak about how she uses poetry to figure out life's nuances. This is showcased in the book. I am in love with the poem "B" as well as "Postcards."" - Karena . . . #poetrymonth #poetry #nomatterthewreckage #sarahkay #tedtalk #poems #stafffav #life #bookrecommendations #poetryrecommendations #whatareyoureadingthismonth (at Bookshop Santa Cruz)

#NewRelease HALLELUJAH ANYWAY: Rediscovering Mercy by Anne Lamont "Anne Lamott wants us to start living like we value forgiveness and humility more than we value being right and winning. Unlikely in these divisive times, you say? Yet HALLELUJAH ANYWAY makes a reasonable case that we can and should start within our personal lives, weaving lofty spiritual wisdom with a dose of cynicism and silliness. In true Lamott fashion, even the God-talk isn’t dogmatic, but resonates as inspiring and relevant." - Julia . . . #newreleasetuesday #hallelujahanyway #annelamott #nonfiction #forgiveness #humility #mercy #inspiration #stafffav #bookrecommendations (at Bookshop Santa Cruz)

#SFFSaturday A CLOSED AND COMMON ORBIT by Becky Chambers "I loved The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet so much. Where its predecessor was more vignette, this sequel is more focused on two specific characters, Lovey and Pepper. Identity is a strong theme that more that one of the characters struggles with. I love that even in space, even hundreds of years from now, with all our technological advances we still struggle with who we are." - Karena #sff #saturday #sciencefiction #aclosedandcommonorbit #beckychambers #space #technology #identity #serices #scifi #bookrecommendations #stafffav #sffsat (at Bookshop Santa Cruz)

#FridayReads PARABLE OF THE SOWER by Octavia E. Butler "My cousin led me to this book when I was 16 - though a voracious reader of science fiction and fantasy, I'd never read anything like this before. A science fiction book in a world close to mine, but centered on a teenage girl of color, whose curse and weapon were both the ability to feel other's pain. More importantly, while describing an all-to real and possible dystopia, this book provide the inspiration and empowerment that you can fight back, that people can be better, that you can change your circumstances, and the world. This store read 1984 yesterday - it's definitely time for a re-read of Butler, for how to move forward." - Jocelyn What are you reading? #friday #reading #parableofthesower #octaviaebutler #sff #octaviabutler #sciencefiction #dystopia #fightback #resist #inspiration #afrofuturism #stafffav #bookrecommendations #whatareyoureading (at Bookshop Santa Cruz)

#BlackHistoryMonth Octavia E. Butler and her novel KINDRED "I owe all of my conceptions about the limitless world of science fiction, horror, and psychological thrillers to Octavia Butler. I feel indebted to her in a thousand way. I believe the only way I could ever pay her back for her gift is to increase the readership of her seminal work, Kindred. A modern-day woman, Dana, is catapulted into the Antebellum South to save a boy, Rufus, from drowning. Dana is repeatedly brought back in time to save Rufus, and each stint grows longer and more dangerous. Dana begins to question why she must continually save Rufus, drawing connections between his fate and hers that stem from a legacy of injustice that has stained the American psyche. An eerie, though-provoking thriller you'll definitely want to discuss with others." - Louise #blackhistory #blackauthors #octaviaebutler #kindred #sff #sciencefiction #fantasy #ushistory #afrofuturism #sffsat #thriller #psychological #timetravel #antebellumsouth #stafffav #bookrecommendations #whatareyoureadingthismonth (at Bookshop Santa Cruz)

#topten #stafffav #springwedding https://www.instagram.com/p/BsmxEYeFhe1/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=175c06wmwxx8a

#FridayReads THE ZOO by Isobel Charman "I just finished this amazing book that looks at the creation and formative years of the London Zoo through the eyes (and writings) of the men who were there. It's fascinating to see the different perspectives and priorities of the animal preserver (for example) compared to the architect or head keeper or surgeon. Young Charles Darwin was a favorite, seeing him wrestle with his discoveries and balance them with the social politics of the era. Zoo can be a hard read at times, since they were importing animals they had never seen before, let alone knew how to provide basic food and housing (and air in some cases). But even with hardship, or because of it, it was a joy to read about how dedicated most were to science and the goal of bringing such exotic wonder to people in this capacity." - Rachel What are you reading? #friday #amreading #thezoo #isobelcharman #londonzoo #history #animals #stewardship #stafffav #bookrecommendations #whatareyoureading (at Bookshop Santa Cruz)