January's Issue: Happy New Year!

Thanks to everyone who came to see us during the holiday season! Thanks to you, we're headed into our 20th year in Tulsa. Let's see some of what it has in store for us.

NEW BOOKS IN JANUARY



Awakened by P.C. and Kristin Cast released 1/4/11
This is the 8th book in the House of Night series by local authors, the Casts. Absolved by the Vampyre High Council and returned to her position of High Priestess at Tulsa’s House of Night, Neferet is bent on revenge and Zoey is her target. However, Zoey is being groomed to be queen on the Isle of Skye. Will she return to Tulsa and face Neferet? We'll see.


A Hard Day's Knight by Simon R Green released 1/4/11
In this the 12th novel of the Nightside series, John Taylor finds himself in the role of leader after dispatching of Walker in book 11. After taking over, Taylor receives the ancient sword Excalibur in the mail to wield. To find out why, Taylor must venture to a place some find more frightening than the Nightside...London proper.



The Sentry by Robert Crais released 1/11/11
This is the third book in Crais's Joe Pike series. When Pike witnesses two business owners being roughed up for protection money, he steps in to help these Hurricane Katrina refugees. As the violence escalates, Pike finds out that most of what these two have told him may be lies. That would explain why they are being watched by some federal agents as well.



Strategic Moves by Stuart Woods released 1/18/11
This is the 19th book in the Stone Barrington series. In this latest novel, Barrington receives a million dollar bonus from his law firm, romances a widow, investigates a murder close to home, and counsels a fugitive who claims to know the whereabouts of Osama Bin Laden. Fair warning: early reviews suggest this book may be a bit lacking and weak.

From the Booksellers' Bookshelves: Whatcha reading?

“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. It’s about a young teenager who realizes he must leave the reservation if he wants a better life. It’s really funny in some places and completely heartbreaking in others.” - Krystal, Asst. Mgr.

“Caligula: The Corruption of Power by Anthony Barrett. It’s very good, and not just madness and naughtiness.” - Sean, Internet Sales Dept.

January Movies (based on books!)


True Grit (Rated R)

This film came out late last month, but with all the Oscar buzz I didn’t want to pass it by. When a young woman’s father is murdered, she hires the toughest US Marshall she can find to catch him. The 2nd film to be based on the book by Charles Portis, expect this one to be just a bit grittier than the original. Now in theaters.


I Love You Phillip Morris (Rated R)

A con man falls in love with a fellow inmate. His desire for them to have a perfect life together leads him to escape prison 4 times. Based on Steve Mcvicker’s memoir, Jim Carrey and Ewan Mcgregor star in a story so strange it must be true. Coming to Circle Cinema on Jan. 7th.



From Prada to Nada (Rated PG-13)

Two spoiled sisters lose their father and their fortune and fall into a more colorful life outside of Beverly Hills. This retelling of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility takes place in contemporary Los Angeles and is due in theaters January 28th.

The Rite (Rated R)

A doubtful seminary student attends exorcism school in the Vatican and learns about the darker forces in his faith. Adapted from journalist Matt Boglio’s book The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist, Anthony Hopkins stars in this film due out Jan. 28th.



New Year’s Resolutions

Here’s a quick look at some of the most popular resolutions people make this time of year.

• Lose Weight

At the top of the list for many when it comes to making lifestyle changes, The American Heart Association encourages a balanced diet of fruit, vegetables, grains & protein as well as regular exercise instead of restrictive diets for long-term weight loss.

• Quit Smoking

Lots of people want to quit smoking, but that doesn’t make it easy. Aside from the gum, patch, & prescription meds, smokefree.gov has additional information about ways to cope with the cravings.

• Debt Management

So many of us have debt to manage these days. Lots of free information about your rights as a consumer, dealing with creditors, settling your debts is available at ftc.gov/consumer.

• Read More

If you’re looking to read more in the New Year, be sure you're saving with Gardner's Used Books.

What's your New Year's resolution?

"I'd like become more organized. I've bought myself a day planner; I'm just not sure what I did with it." Cathy, Student

"I want to get back down to my playing weight. Back in '82 I could throw a pigskin a quarter mile." Rick, Salesman



Spotlight On: Tim Dorsey

If you are a fan of mystery with a twist of humor, then you may want to check out author Tim Dorsey.
Dorsey grew up in a town in Florida about an hour north of Miami. After graduating from Auburn university in 1983, he spent the next 15 years writing for various newspapers in Alabama and Florida. In 1999 he quit his job to write full time.
Now, Dorsey is the author of 12 novels all of which star his antihero Serge Storms. With titles like Atomic Lobster, Nuclear Jellyfish and Gator A-Go-Go you know that you are going to be in for a good time in these romps through the state of Florida.
Hitting shelves on January 25, 2011 will be Dorsey's 13th novel, Electric Barracuda. In it, Serge Storms exponential body count has finally caught the eye of one tenacious state agent who wants to solve the case. Meanwhile, Storms resurrects his travel website in order to give everyone the ultimate Sunshine state tour through the eyes of a fugitive. Even with that all on his plate, he still finds the time to help his grandfather find out why all his gangs life saving have suddenly disappeared. Just a normal day in the life of the lovable vigilante.
Fans of Carl Hiaasen, Dave Barry and Christopher Moore should find this right up their alley. For a good time, pick up a Dorsey novel today.



Gatsby's Grill - Soup's On!

[Updated to include new hours]

The crew at Gatsby's is taking a well-deserved vacation the first week of January, but will be back Monday the 10th to offer relief from the cold with a hot bowl of soup. Just like their specials, there’s a new one available each day, with everything from classic potato to roasted mushroom and bacon miso! Their soups, along with their specials, are posted on via Facebook so be sure to check your feed. Open Monday thru Thursday 7am – 7pm, Friday 7am - 8pm, Saturday 8am – 8pm, and closed on Sundays.

October Issue

New Books Out in October



At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson released 10/5/10
Bryson takes the reader on a tour of his rural English home. Each room becomes a starting point for discussion of rarely noticed aspects of social life. As per usual, Bryson is sure to treat us to a few laughs along the journey.

American Assassin by Vince Flynn released 10/12/10
The 11th book in the Mitch Rapp series gives readers a glimpse into the beginnings of Rapp's tenure with the CIA. After a terrorist attack leaves him looking for revenge, Rapp is approached to join a group of operatives that do not exist. He then brings the war to his enemy's doorsteps.


 
Worth Dying For by Lee Child released 10/19/10
The 15th book in the Jack Reacher series finds Jack falling afoul of a local clan that has terrified an entire county into submission, but it's the unsolved, cold case of a missing child that he can't let go. Fans of action-packed books should give Lee Child a try.

The Confession by John Grisham released 10/26/10
In Grisham's latest work, a guilty man sits on the sidelines and watches as someone else takes the fall for his crimes. Nearly a decade later and four days before the innocent man’s execution, he has a change of heart. But is it too late?

October Movies

It’s Kind of a Funny Story
(Rated PG-13)
When 15 year old Craig Gilner checks himself into the hospital for depression, the only room left is on the adult psychiatric ward. Zach Galifinakis costars in this quirky comedy based on the young adult novel by Ned Vizzini. Due for release on Oct 8th.



Freakonomics (Rated PG – 13)

Based on the bestselling book of the same name, a different director tackles each chapter of the book in this new documentary. This is scheduled for limited release on Oct 1st, but may take longer to come to Tulsa.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest (Rated R)

The final installment of the trilogy that began with The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played With Fire. I’ve seen two release dates for this Swedish-language film: October 15th & October 29th. Hopefully Circle Cinema will bring this one to us.



Gatsby's Grill - Breakfast!

Gatsby’s Grill opens at 7am Mon—Fri and 8am on Sat and serves breakfast all day. Try the Green Eggs and Ham - a delicious scramble of eggs, ham, and spinach - or the biggest and best breakfast sandwich you’ve ever seen, all served with hashbrowns. Previous breakfast specials include sausage pancakes and the garden scrambler for veggie lovers, so come on down and spend the most important meal of the day with us.

Old-Time Radio

If you like old-time radio programs like The Lone Ranger, Dragnet, Inner Sanctum, and Chandu the Magician, then you’ll want to tune into Gardner’s Old-Time Radio stations at www.gbsradionetwork.com/
We have separate stations for Westerns, Mysteries, Sci-Fi, Horror, and more. Stream us online and, if you feel like it, check out the forums while you’re there. You may discover some new shows and meet some new friends. For a limited time, if you join the discussion by leaving a book review in one of our forums, you'll be entered into a weekly drawing for a $20 gift certificate.



Spotlight On: John Zakour

Fans of humorous science fiction novels should check out the works of John Zakour. Some of his titles include The Plutonium Blonde, The Doomsday Brunette and The Radioactive Redhead. His series of books involving Zachary Nixon Johnson, P.I. now span seven titles with new ones seemingly released each year. Zach is the world's last freelance private investigator. In each novel he is approached by a stunningly beautiful, and usually very powerful, woman looking for his outdated sleuthing skills. Zach couldn't do it alone, which is why he has his trusty computer HARV implanted in his brain. These books are basically a parody of science fiction and hardboiled detective fiction. The pulp covers are fun to look at and the one-liners are fast and hilarious.

Just for Fun…

If you could take a road trip with any fictional character, who would it be?

“Japhy (Dharma Bums), who is not strictly fictional, but awesome all the same. Reason A) he'd rock at packing and preparing for any kind of trip. Reason B) he could tell you funny Zen stories from Japanese and Buddhist mythology while you drive.” - Sarah, Bookseller

“Peter Pan, and we wouldn't drive, we'd fly.” - Jacqui, Server at Leon's

“[Cyperpunk comic] Transmetropolitan’s Spider Jerusalem. Now that would be an interesting road trip.” - Hilton, TV News Producer/Stand-Up Comic

Next issue— who’s your favorite villain? Tell us in a comment!

And the holidays are starting to approach... Stay tuned for sales and specials! (And the best way to do that is by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter!)

September Issue

Tent Sale!

Gardner’s 2nd annual Tent Sale is coming up 9/17 thru 9/26. We’re selling thousands of books & comics for just $1 including sales tax! What’s more, we are not sorting these items for collectible value; once it goes into the tent we have to sell it for $1. We’ll restock the tent every morning so there’ll be new items each day. Our biggest sale of the year is our way of saying thank you to our customers, the people who’ve kept us in business for almost 20 years. Thank you all.




New Books out in September



No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon Released: 9/7/10
The latest release in the Dark Hunter series finds Dev and Samia battling an enemy that has found a new source of power- one that makes a mockery of anything they’ve faced to date. Fans of paranormal romance authors J.R. Ward and Christine Feehan should check out Kenyon as well.

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
Released 9/14/10
A mysterious young woman shows up in a small North Carolina town. Just as she lets down her guard and begins to love, whatever she is running from turns up and she must choose: a life of transient safety or one of riskier rewards. Keep the kleenex nearby.




Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary by David Sedaris Released: 9/28/10
Though the characters in Sedaris latest work may not be human, the situations in these stories bear an uncanny resemblance to the insanity of everyday life. Sweet but short at 176 pages.


Bad Blood by John Sandford Released: 9/21/10
Virgil Flowers is investigating a murder, but when his suspect is found hanging in his prison cell the next day his investigation begins to uncover a multigeneration, multifamily conspiracy so awful he's not sure what to do next. This is the fourth book in this series.


September Movies

Never Let Me Go (Rated R)

As children, Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy grow up in what seems to be a perfect English boarding school. Later on, when they learn the horrifying reality, all they have is each other. Based on the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, this film is due out September 15.



Legend of The Guardians : The Owls of Ga’Hoole (Rated G)

A young barn owl is kidnapped, but the legend of the Guardians inspires him to escape and warn others. Based on the first three books in the bestselling Young Adult series by Kathryn Lasky, it is set to be released on September 24 in 3D.

Howl (Rated R)

James Franco stars as Allen Ginsberg in this film about the poem that would come to define the Beat Generation, and the obscenity trial it inspired. Costarring Mary-Louise Parker and Jon Hamm. Also scheduled to be released on September 24.




Gatsby’s Grill - New Desserts


If you have a sweet tooth, Gatsby’s Grill is the place for you. Their dessert case is always stocked with a wide variety of pastries, pies, cookies and cake. Try some of the cheesecake or a chocolate raspberry cupcake. For your convenience, we also have cookies from Gatsby’s for sale at the front counter of the bookstore. So indulge in one of Tulsa’s best-kept secrets. You know you want to.

Spotlight on: Christopher Moore



Christopher Moore is the author of twelve hilarious novels. These include a trilogy of vampire books titled Bloodsucking Fiends, You Suck and Bite Me. They are unlike any paranormal books on the market today (to give you an example, at one point in the series there is a pack of vampire cats). Funny as this trilogy is, Moore's most popular and well known title would have to be Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal. Basically, Biff is resurrected by an angel to write this new gospel of Christ and hilarity ensues. Biff tells an extraordinary story, one with magic, kung-fu, reanimated corpses, demons and more. Prior knowledge of bible stories makes this even funnier. While these titles are especially noteworthy, not one of Moore's books should be missed; he’s written about twelve of them. When you are ready to laugh out loud, give him a read.

Just for Fun…

If you could have dinner with one author, living or dead, who would it be?

“Azar Nafisi (Reading Lolita in Tehran). I think she’d have fascinating things to talk about.” - Natalie, Library Clerk

“Hunter S. Thompson. I’d like to know how much of his Hell’s Angels books or Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was real, how much was embellished, & how much was just made up.” - Ron, Nutritionist

“I'd like to have a steak and a beer with Louis L'Amour. I began reading for pleasure because of Mr. L'Amour. I'd love to talk to him about his life as well as his books and characters. He lived through the Depression, WWII, and had various professions including sailor, miner, rancher and boxer among others. I'd love to talk about my favorite books with him. The Bowdrie books, The Sacketts, The Walking Drum and Smoke From This Altar. I've always admired his ability to paint a landscape or one's surroundings so perfectly with words. His characters were so believable and human. ” - Jason, Production Manager

"Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club, Choke). Who wouldn't want to get inside his head with a good conversation?" - Angela, Bookseller [Editor's note: I am a little afraid of the inside of Chuck Palahniuk's head. But I can see why someone else might want to visit.]

Next Issue - if you could go on a road trip with any fictional character, who would you pick and why? Let us know with a comment!

By the way, Movie Nights are returning in October! Stay tuned for more details in the next issue!