1. This week (Sept. 24- Oct. 1) is Banned Books Week! Join the Virtual Read-out, the centerpiece of this year's Banned Books celebration. Record a video of yourself reading from your favorite banned or challenged book and upload it to the Banned Books Week channel.

We fit them under our beds and over our kitchen cabinets and stack them into twin pillars on either side of the actual bookcase. We set them down in the bathroom and the backseat of the car and on the kitchen tables of friends and family. Booksellers are notorious book-hoarders, so we here at Diesel thought we'd share the places (and mis-places) we stash our stash.

It seems that publishers are creating more books that appeal to the senses; albeit a textural cover or an interactive interior. It's these features that can't be mimicked on an electronic device. Pages that literally unfold and spill out or pop to life at the turn of a page. Close your eyes and run your fingers over the raised cover and imagine what lies inside. This, is the magic I speak of. Let your imagination run wild. So, let loose, adorn your bookshelf with beautiful, mental sustenance that can be passed down through the generations--it is within your grasp.

-Cheryl 

1. Seeing Trees.

It isn’t very often that you see a good book trailer (by nature they seem counter-intuitive), but this trailer for Seeing Trees is actually visually arresting and informative. Out today, Seeing Trees: Discover the Extraordinary Secrets of Ordinary Trees is “a gorgeous journey into the life cycle of trees.” If you like trees, come in and check out the book. 

2. The Customer Knows Best. 

You know the situation all too well.  You go to a grocery store, a BART station, or any other wide “parking lotted” location, and you are immediately locked into an uncomfortable stare-down with a pseudo-impassioned plain-clothed youth, armed with a clipboard and an intrusiveness that ranks somewhere between an aggressive homeless person and a Macy's employee desperate to meet a quota.  You normally think up some lie, pretend to be on your phone—anything to just get into the store and on with your life. 

Thanks to all who entered and congratulations to our winners!

John Sayles' new film Amigo opens August 19th and we're giving away tickets! Comment here or on our facebook page for a chance to win a pair of ticket vouchers to see the film.

The Brentwood winner will win tickets for the Laemmle's Monica 4 in Santa Monica.

The Oakland winner will win tickets for the Cinemark Union Landing 25 in Union City.

About the film:

   AMIGO, the 17th feature film from Academy Award-nominated writer-director John Sayles, stars legendary Filipino actor Joel Torre as Rafael, a village mayor caught in the murderous crossfire of the Philippine-American War.

   When U.S. troops occupy his village, Rafael comes under pressure from a tough-as-nails officer (Chris Cooper) to help the Americans in their hunt for Filipino guerilla fighters. But Rafael’s brother (Ronnie Lazaro) is the head of the local guerillas, and considers anyone who cooperates with the Americans to be a traitor. Rafael quickly finds himself forced to make the impossible, potentially deadly decisions faced by ordinary civilians in an occupied country.

   A powerful drama of friendship, betrayal, romance and heartbreaking violence, Amigo is a page torn from the untold history of the Philippines, and a mirror of today’s unresolvable conflicts.

   For Trailer & More Info, Please Visit: www.AmigoTheMovie.com

Playing at these theaters:

At Diesel, Oakland we have an architect in our midst. Well, half architect, half inspired trash sculptor, Daniel Nelson. With cardboard, bookmarks, and just a little packing tape, Danny (above) has taken our global-studies alcove around the world in way less than eighty days. Check out just a few of the titles on our Great Wall display:

"All it takes is a single image to evoke our favorite Grimm’s fairy tales and other childhood stories: Rapunzel’s golden braid, the Cheshire Cat’s toothy grin in Alice in Wonderland, Snow White’s poison apple. These are the stars of Christian Jackson’s minimalist kids-book posters, which provide a refreshing alternative to the loud, busy Disney-style design of most entertainment-inspired children’s decor." -- Via Flavorwire.

"First we had slow food, then slow writing and now, quite naturally it seems, we have slow bookselling..." Read more.