Chris Bohjalian Visits on 10 February 2010 at Noon

What: Discussing and signing his new book, Secrets of Eden

When: Wednesday, 10 February 2010 at Noon

How much: Lunch by reservation only - $20. Make your reservations today by calling us at (925) 837-7337.

Why you should care: According to Publishers Weekly in a boxed and starred review, "Bohjalian has built a reputation on his rich characters and immersing readers in diverse subjects — homeopathy; animal rights activism; midwifery — and his latest surely won't disappoint. This is a masterfully human and compassionate tale." Julie also chimes in, "I loved Chris's new book. It's totally compelling." Chris has been a friend of the store for more than ten years and it's a real pleasure to welcome him back. Please join us for this special lunchtime event.

Check out Chris's website by clicking here.

Chitra Divakaruni Visits on 11 February at 7 PM

What: Discussing and signing her new book, One Amazing Thing

When: Thursday, 11 February 2010 at 7 PM

How much: Free but reservations are requested. Make your reservation today by calling the shop at (925) 837-7337.

Why you should care: When an earthquake rips through one afternoon's lull, trapping nine wildly individual characters together, their focus first jolts to a collective struggle to survive. There's little food. The office begins to flood. Then, at a moment when the psychological and emotional stress seems nearly too much for them to bear, the young graduate student suggests that each tell a personal tale, "one amazing thing" from their lives, which they have never told anyone before. As their surprising stories of romance, marriage, family, political upheaval, and self-discovery unfold against the urgency of their life-or-death circumstances, the novel proves the transcendent power of stories and the meaningfulness of human expression itself. One Amazing Thing is a passionate creation about survival — and about the reasons to survive.

A portion of the proceeds from this evening's sales will benefit relief efforts in Haiti.

Read the first chapter of One Amazing Thing by clicking here.

Erica Bauermeister Visits on 17 February at 7 PM

What: Discussing and signing The School of Essential Ingredients with a special performance by musical guest, The Cedar Trio.

When: Wednesday, 17 February 2010 at 7 PM

How much: Dinner by reservation only - $20. Make your reservation today by calling us at (925) 837-7337.

Why you should care: The School of Essential Ingredients follows the lives of eight students who gather in Lillian's Restaurant every Monday night for cooking class. It soon becomes clear, however, that each one seeks a recipe for something beyond the kitchen. Students include Claire, a young mother struggling with the demands of her family; Antonia, an Italian kitchen designer learning to adapt to life in America; and Tom, a widower mourning the loss of his wife to breast cancer. Chef Lillian, a woman whose connection with food is both soulful and exacting, helps them to create dishes whose flavor and techniques expand beyond the restaurant and into the secret corners of her students’ lives. One by one the students are transformed by the aromas, flavors, and textures of Lillian's food, including a white-on-white cake that prompts wistful reflections on the sweet fragility of love and a peppery heirloom tomato sauce that seems to spark one romance but end another. Brought together by the power of food and companionship, the lives of the characters mingle and intertwine, united by the revealing nature of what can be created in the kitchen.

We are delighted to welcome debut author Erica Bauermeister to Rakestraw Books. The School of Essential Ingredients is already a bestseller here. We can't think of a better way to welcome her and to celebrate the book than by hosting a dinner party. Please join us.

Read an excerpt from The School of Essential Ingredients by clicking here.

Richard Reeves Visits on 25 February 2010 at 7 PM

What: Discussing and signing his new book, Daring Young Men: The Heroism and Triumph of the Berlin Airlift

When: Thursday, 25 February at 7 PM

How much: $7 — Reservations are essential. This special event benefits the renovation and restoration of Danville's historic Veterans' Hall.

Why you should care: From the bestselling presidential biographer, a stirring tale of young men in old planes who achieved the "impossible": with planes landing and taking off 90 seconds apart supplying the food and fuel and medicines to supply a city of more than two million people by air for almost a year.

In the early hours of June 26, 1948, phones began ringing across America, waking up the airmen of World War II — pilots, navigators and mechanics — who were finally beginning normal lives with new houses, new jobs, new wives and new babies. Some were given just 48 hours to report to local military bases. The President, Harry S Truman, was recalling them to active duty to try to save the desperate people of the western sectors of Berlin, the enemy capital many of them had bombed to rubble only three years before.

Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin had ordered a blockade of the city, isolating the people of West Berlin, using hundreds of thousands of Red Army soldiers to close off all land and water access to the city. He was gambling that he could drive out the small detachments of American, British and French occupation troops because their only option was to stay and watch Berliners starve — or retaliate by starting World War III. The situation was impossible, Truman was told by his national security advisers including the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His answer: "We stay in Berlin. Period." That was when the phones started ringing and local police began banging on doors to deliver telegrams to the vets.

They did the impossible, living in barns and muddy tents, flying over Soviet-occupied territory day and night, trying to stay awake, making it up as they went along and ignoring Russian fighters and occasional anti-aircraft fire trying to drive them to hostile ground.The Berlin Airlift changed the world. It ended when Stalin backed down and lifted the blockade, but only after the bravery and sense of duty of those young heroes had bought the Allies enough time to create a new West Germany and sign the mutual defense agreement called NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. And then they went home again. Some of them forgot where they had parked their cars after they got the call.

What an amazing story! We feel tremendously honored to be able to present an evening with Richard Reeves, to tell the stories of the Berlin Airlift and to honor our nation's veterans. Please join us.

Check out Richard's website by clicking here.