Down and Out in Tokyo and Osaka

We're giving away another book! This time it's 1Q84, Haruki Murakami's massively popular, long-awaited 900 page novel. Murakami needs no introduction, you're either hooked or you're not.
Here's your challenge: Reimagine another George Orwell title with a Murakami-esque twist. (I know you all can do better than my title for this blog!)
Leave your e-mail in the comments if you want to be eligible to win! We have two more books after this one to give away, so check back, and as always, thanks for participating!




** UPDATE **
Comments are closed for this giveaway. We have two more books to go! Thanks!
--Seija

One Down, Four to Go!

Here's a pile of mystery books...


Are you guys ready for the next book in our giveaway? It's Before Seattle Rocked by Kurt E. Armbruster. This one's just about as local as we could get without giving away our teenage diaries (in your dreams!!).

From the introduction:
"Seattle is a music town, and for many, that means Rock & Roll. The "Northwest sound" of the region's early rock bands is universally acknowledged and the fact that their city succored in her bosom Ray Charles, Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Cobain fills Seattleites with proprietary pride. Fifty years of rock, however, were preceded by more than a hundred years of music that was equally exciting to its listeners and important to the community's evolution."

Sounds good! "...succored in her bosom" is quite a gem.
Here's the criteria for your comments. Describe the best live music show you've ever seen in Seattle. Make sure to leave your e-mail address in your comment if you want to be in the running! We'll randomly choose a comment and get in touch with the winner.
Three more books to go!

**UPDATE**
Comments are closed for this giveaway. Thanks!
-Seija

Stranger Advice

Our own Michael Walenfelds welcomes The Stranger's paul Constant to the booth.

 Paul gives up the goods on this year's best books.

And finally... The End.

More Expert Advice at the Booth!

 Seattle Time Books Editrix Supreme, May Ann Gwinn keepin' time at the advice booth.

Beloved Random House Rep and conversationalist, Katie Mehan sellin' and makin' merry like Christmas.

Calendars! The Easiest Panic Gift!

Don't worry.  There are plenty left.  They're beautiful and everybody likes them.  Go on.  Pick a few.  Maybe one for yourself.

Holiday Gift Advice!

Nancy Pearl offers counsel today, at our Holiday Gift Advice booth, while Marilyn Dahl looks on.

Our experts are waiting!  Come on in and they'll halp you find the perfect gifts!

And the Winner Is!

Congratulations Tsara! You were randomly chosen as the winner of The Swerve. Please send your contact information to:
ubs_askabookseller@earthlink.net
Thanks for participating, everyone!

Spread the Word... Free Books!!

I have five books sitting on my desk, and they could be yours, for free. Three are hardcovers, one is a novel, two are nonfiction, one is Seattle-related, two are for animal lovers, and one just won a major award. Those are some clues to get you excited. There's just a little bit of work you'll have to do to get your hands on our books.

Let's start with the National Book Award winner: The Swerve, by Stephen Greenblatt. It's about the profound impact of the rediscovery of Lucretius' On The Nature of Things in 1417. Here's a quote from the dust jacket:

"It was a beautiful poem of the most dangerous ideas: that the universe functions without the aid of gods, that religious fear is damaging to human life, that pleasure and virtue are not opposites but intertwined, and that matter is made up of very small material particles in external motion, randomly colliding and swerving in new directions."

Maybe you would like to win this book? Ok, just one little thing you have to do first. In the comments, post a short anecdote about a book you've rediscovered in your life. Something you hated as a teenager, maybe, but then grew to love in adulthood. Or something people had been recommending to you for years, and you avoided for one reason or another. We will choose a comment at random and get in touch with you. And remember, the other four books are going to be given away in the next few days, so keep checking back!

***UPDATE!***
Comments are closed! We will contact the winner soon. Stay tuned for a chance to win another great book in the next few days.
--Seija

We Have The Books Everyone Wants!

The elves up in the office at University Book Store have been hard at work this holiday season, making sure we have all the hot new titles you want. If you're having a hard time finding these books, never fear, we've got 'em! But hurry, once the word gets out, they may not last!

Just in case you were still on the fence...

...about where to buy your books this holiday season, our most awesome local paper, The Stranger, has published a gift guide for the 99 percent, and has included a great piece by Paul Constant that you should go read. Then come into the store and let us help you find some books!