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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 11h

We're finally entering Spooky territory so it's time for some spooky kids' books! We have books about ghosts and ghouls for little readers to enjoy for a gentle Halloween-themed bedtime story. They're sweet. They're cute. They're silly. And just a touch spooky.

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

For all you spooky fans out there, we now have a dedicated Horror shelf! Located at the end of the Sci-Fi/Fantasy section, you'll find the classics like Carmilla and Stephen King's It along with some new titles like Stephen Graham Jones's Buffalo Hunter Hunter and Genki Kawamura's Exit 8.

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Join us for our author event with mystery writer Dwight Holing on Saturday, October 3rd, at 2:30 PM! www.eventbrite.com/e/author-eve...

eventbrite.com

Author Event with Dwight Holing

Dwight Holing, author of the Nick Drake mystery series, will be in conversation with John Onoda.

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Have we talked about the Bean Book? We've probably talked about the Bean Book. Great cookbook. Great diversity of recipes. Beans really are remarkable. 🫘 Then we found A History of the World in Twelve Beans! We do love a good book combo. Get them both, make a dish, and learn the history!

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Here are some books about artifacts or places or people that are missing from the archaeological record. Some are lost because of theft, destruction, time, or even just a lack of a record of where to find them. Both fiction and nonfiction! (Psst, read the Sam Kean one. It's fascinating!)

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Pat's Book Club will be meeting on Thursday, October 1, at 11 AM. They will be discussing Marjan Kamali's The Lion Women of Tehran.

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

We seem to have picked up an interest in pirates. I say it's because of the One Piece Live Action show but I suppose you could argue otherwise. Or it could be the success of Chakraborty's The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi. Either way, here are three new novels to fulfill all your piracy demands.

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Did you know there was a sequel to Kiki's Delivery Service? The book that inspired the beloved Ghibli film? And that the sequel has just been translated into English for the first time?? Now, you can get the deluxe edition of Kiki and the New Magic and the original Kiki's Delivery Service!

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

I've been thinking about baking these past few days (no time right now) and have been daydreaming about cake. This led my coworkers and I to looking at our cake baking cookbooks and fantasizing about baking. Here are three of our selections that you might want to try.

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

This month's meeting of Murder Over Easy, our local mystery book club, will take place on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 10:30 AM. This month's book is The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective by Jo Nichols.

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Happy Labor Day to all the people get us (and our things) moving! Here are two awesome picture books about airports: Behind the Scenes: Airports Airport Adventure: Behind the Scenes with Mo. T - The Airport Guy Follow along in Banana Express by Jung Jinho to learn about international shipping!

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Head into this three-day weekend with some poolside mysteries. Nothing too serious and just this side of hilarious. Don't Cross Mo Ellery by Birdie Horne Major Bricket and the Circus Corpse by Simon Brett

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Missed last week's newsletter? Fear not! We have a new feature on our website. If you click the pull-down list on the "About" tab on the homepage, you will find the link to our archive of Past Newsletters. The most recent newsletter will be listed at the top of the page.

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

To finish out August, we have two nonfiction Staff Picks. Nerd Reich by Gil Duran Recommended by Hannah Dinner with Kind Tut by Sam Kean Recommended by Cheyenne

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

There will truly be no one like her. We have some books about the amazing Dolly Parton (including a Little Golden Book!) if you want to learn more about her life, her music, and her never-ending generosity. Or you can always donate to her reading program, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Orinda Books will be closed on Monday, September 7th, for Labor Day. We will resume normal hours the following day on Tuesday, 9/8.

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Here's a book combo for the Talls & the Smalls: Ancient Egypt edition! For the Talls (that's you, grown-ups): Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi. A historical novel. For the Smalls: Live Like an Ancient Egyptian by Claire Saunders. A guide to life in Ancient Egypt with recipes and crafts.

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Don't forget tomorrow (8/22) is our 50 Year Birthday Celebration! We'll have treats, games, prizes, and a 20% off sale happening all day tomorrow. Click here to see more information: orindabooks.com/50thbirthday We can't wait to see everyone there!

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Highlighting another illustrator that we love in our store: Lian Cho! Cho has been an illustrator for other authors previously, like with David LaRochelle's 100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli. She has begun to write her own hilarious picture books such as Don't Eat Eustace and Pig Town Party.

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Still have Ancient Greece on your mind? We have some books other than the Odyssey to send you back to the time of Heroes and Olympic Gods. Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller No Friend to This House by Natalie Haynes An Odyssey by Daniel Mendelsohn Live Like an Ancient Greek by Claire Saunders.

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

The next meeting of Pat's Book Club will take place on Thursday, September 3, at 11 AM. The book they will be discussing is John Kenney's I See You've Called in Dead.

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

We have some staff picks among the new releases this month. Here are some books to grab for that last trip to the beach or the campsite before summer ends!

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Join us on Saturday, August 29, at 2 PM as we host Phil Cousineau, author of The Wisdom of the Odyssey. You can RSVP for FREE through our Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/author-eve...

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Orinda Books turns 50 this month! Woohoo! 🥳 We're having a celebration on Saturday, August 22, and we invite all of you to join us! There will a scavenger hunt, treats, a prize wheel, a raffle, and a 20% discount on in-store purchases all day long! Visit our website to learn more: orindabooks.com

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Ever see a book and feel like you're experiencing déjà vu? Don't worry, similar covers happen more often than you think. Here are two books that unexpectedly became Book Cover Twins by both coming out around the same time.😉 😉

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Murder Over Easy, our local mystery book club, will read and discuss Seven Reasons to Murder Your Dinner Guests by KJ Whittle on Thursday, 8/27, at 10:30 AM. Seven guests, one mysterious dinner party, and a chilling prediction with deadly implications.

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Though we might not want to admit it, summer vacation is coming to a close. 😔 That's right, school will be picking back up in a couple of weeks. But it's not all bad! That means new books for the new school year! 🥳 Be sure to check out our back-to-school books table!

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

What better medium can one relate the trials and tribulations of high school girls than Shoujo Manga? Granted, these three manga series have their own distinct story lines but they all also portray the joys and dramas of everyday life for teenage girls. Here are three I recommend.

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Gather round for some good ol' campfire stories! We have some suggestions to bring with you on your next camping trip to get the ball rolling on stories to tell around the fire. The Erik Larson audiobook can be bought through our friends @libro.fm

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Here are some recent Indigenous Sci-Fi/Fantasy works to enjoy as we approach what is called the Buck Moon, named for the time when bucks get their new antlers. Door on the Sea by Caskey Russell Hole in the Sky by Daniel H. Wilson Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Pat's Book Club will meet on Thursday, August 6, at 11 AM to discuss Ian McEwan's What We Can Know. All are welcome to join the book club discussion.

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Want a historical fiction set in an era besides WWII? Why not go Medieval? Here are some titles set in the Middle Ages. The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling The Secrets of Saint Olaf's Church by Indrek Hargla Confessions of a Pagan Nun by Katie Horsley

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Nolan's adaptation of The Odyssey is out now! If you want to read a little more into the original epic before you tackle this 3 hour film (and yes, it is that long), we gathered some titles together for you (and our younger readers).

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Book Subscriptions are now available through our store! We have subscriptions for paperback or hardcover books for six or twelve months. We also have a cookbook subscription sent quarterly for a year. There are even book subscriptions for kids! See the choices: orindabooks.com/book-subscriptions

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Here are some books for our younger readers to enjoy by the pool! We have these summertime titles and several more on display in our Children's section for kids to read to beat the heat.

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

I don't know if you know this but the U.S. is a pretty big place. And in that are 63 National Parks, so there's a lot to explore! To give you some inspiration for your future adventures, we've put together a display of books about hiking, biking, and traveling across the U.S.

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Murder Over Easy, our local mystery reading book club, will meet and discuss The Murder of Mr. Wickham on Thursday, July 23, at 10:30 AM. All are welcome to join the book club discussion!

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Join us on Saturday, July 18, at 2 PM to hear author Miranda Yaver discuss her book Coverage Denied: How Health Insurers Drive Inequality in the United States. Head over to our Eventbrite to RSVP for FREE: www.eventbrite.com/e/author-eve...

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Happy Fourth of July! Enjoy all the parades and barbecues tomorrow. We'll be closed tomorrow but will be back on Monday!

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Stop by and see our front table display for Independence Day! We have plenty of history books about the Revolution, our founding fathers, and more. (Don't sleep on the History Smashers. It's a well-delivered history series for middle readers.)

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Don't forget to pack your books before you hit the beach! Here are some new YA paperbacks that won't weigh down your bag and offer some sweet romance (plus one murder). Flirting with Murder by Amanda Sellet Ancient History Between Us by Kaitlyn Hill The Summer of Lost Things by Jenn Bennett

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

It's been a wonderful time of international sportsmanship and friendship with FIFA. Continuing our soccer (or football) recommendations, we bring you two novels to read during our remaining FIFA time. Godwin by Joseph O'Neill Abby Offsides by Anna McCallie

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Letting you know ahead of time, we will be closed on Saturday, July 4th. We'll be watching the downtown parade with the rest of you! We will still be open the day before with our regular hours, 10 AM to 5:30 PM, and on the following Monday.

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Before we finish off Pride Month, here are some middle reader and picture books featuring LGBT+ characters to add to your shelf!

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Want some stories about fathers? Or father figures? We've gathered some titles about dads (and the dads-who-stepped-up) as we head into father's day weekend.

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Happy Summerween! The summer celebration of all things spooky! It's not as far fetch as it sounds. In Japan, summertime is the spooky season when all the ghosts come out to play. So, why can't we partake in a spooky summer, too? Here are some recent titles to get int eh Summerween mood.

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

FIFA has begun! Spread across three North American countries, several of the games will be in our own backyard in Santa Clara! ⚽️ We've assembled a display together for the soccer enthusiasts and soccer-newcomers alike. Don't forget to grab the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Guide!

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

On Thursday, July 2, at 11 AM, Pat's Book Club will meet and discuss Anne Tyler's Three Days in June. All are welcome to join the book club and discussion.

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

June 21st is Father's Day! It is also, coincidentally, the first day of summer. Be sure to be prepared to buy your dad, or the dad in your life, a gift before the summertime daze (days?) gets to you. Happy Father's Day to those who celebrate!

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Orinda Books @orindabooks.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Andrew Sean Greer, author of Less and Less is Lost, has a new novel out tomorrow, Villa Coco! Be the first to buy a copy of Villa Coco in-store tomorrow and receive some free book swag!

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