Monday, March 4 at 7:30 pm
Christopher Moore
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal (Morrow)

Iconoclastic and daringly original, the acclaimed author of Bloodsucking Fiends thrills with his boldest tale yet. Everyone knows about the immaculate conception and the crucifixion, but what happened to Jesus between the manger and the Sermon on the Mount? In this hilarious novel, Christopher Moore shares the greatest story never told: the life of Christ as seen by his boyhood pal Biff. Screamingly funny and audaciously fresh, Lamb rivals the best of Tom Robbins and Carl Hiaasen, with a bit of Douglas Adams mixed in. Even the legendary Mr. Hiaasen himself has called Moore "a very sick man, in the very best sense of the word."

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Tuesday, March 5 at 7:30 pm
Cynthia Black
Spiritual Writing: From Inspiration to Publication (Beyond Words)

The fastest growing literary genre since the novel, spiritual writing can be a double-edged sword for aspiring authors: the energy and desire which leads the writer to develop and share their special message may be diminished or even broken by a lack of publishing know-how. Cynthia Black, President and Editor-in-Chief of Beyond Words Publishing, shares her knowledge and hands-on experience to show writers how to create a product that is true to their vision and attractive to the publishing industry. Including the "Seven Lessons of Spirit" that help create balance and confidence and practical lists of "spirit friendly" agents, Spiritual Writing is a literary resource treasury.

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Wednesday, March 6 at 7:30 pm
Bruce S. Feiler
Walking the Bible: A Journey by Land Through the Five Books of Moses (Morrow)

Beginning at the foot of Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey, journalist Bruce Feiler narrates his journey following the footsteps of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses, covering 10,000 miles across Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Israel, and the Sinai Desert. Traveling through three continents, five countries, and four war zones, Feiler is the first person to complete such a historic expedition. He crosses the Red Sea, climbs Mount Sinai, and interviews bedouin and pilgrims alike, as he attempts to answer the question: Is the Bible just an abstraction or is it a living, breathing entity? With eloquence and insight, he explores how geography affects the larger narrative of the Bible and ultimately realizes how much these places -- and his experience -- have affected his own faith.

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Thursday, March 7 at 7:30 pm
Amitav Ghosh
The Glass Palace (Vintage)

The struggles that have made Burma, India, and Malaya the places they are today are illuminated in this wonderful novel by the writer Chitra Divakaruni calls "a master storyteller." Set in Burma during the British invasion of 1885, The Glass Palace tells the story of Rajkumar, a poor boy lifted on the tides of political and social chaos, who goes on to create an empire in the Burmese teak forest. When soldiers force the royal family out of the Glass Palace and into exile, Rajkumar befriends Dolly, a young woman in the court of the Burmese Queen. He cannot forget her, and years later, as a rich man, he goes in search of her. J. M. Coetzee calls The Glass Palace, "An absorbing story of a world in transition, brought to life through characters who love and suffer with equal intensity."

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Monday, March 11 at 7:30 pm
James Hynes
The Lecturer's Tale (Picador)

A pitch-perfect satire of the perilous halls of academia, The Lecturer's Tale confirms James Hynes as a storyteller of rare and hilarious gifts. Nelson Humboldt, once a bright star of the Midwest University English department, has been reduced to teaching the lowly and detested composition classes, and his publishing record is hitting an all time low -- a devastating combination for an academic. The axe falls, yet soon after Humboldt discovers a magical power that allows him to force his will upon anyone thus allowing him to renew the lease on his university housing and pick up some extra classes. But how far will he go? Tenure?! Kirkus Reviews praised this literate dark comedy saying, "Hynes bathes his ship of overeducated fools in such luscious detail that he vaults to the head to the crowded class of academic satirists."

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Wednesday, March 13 at 7:30 pm
Anne Perry
Southampton Row (Ballantine)

Anne Perry again proves herself a master without parallel in the world of elaborate historical mysteries! This international best-selling author has transported millions of readers into the very heart of one the richest, most vibrant societies the world has ever known: the golden days of Victorian England. Gaslight, cobblestones streets, halls of power, haunts of vice - all the splendor and sordidness of a world that believed opulence would last forever. But the Victorian gold is tarnishing, and we are thrust into a pivotal political time - with the aristocratic Tories and Liberal opposition battling in public and private - leaving Thomas Pitt, hero and London sleuth, in the midst of murder and national disaster. First time Perry readers and long time fans will all hit the ground reading, and enjoy every suspenseful minute!

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Thursday, March 14 at 7:30 pm
Jonathan Kaplan
The Dressing Station (Grove Atlantic)

As a young surgeon in his home of South Africa, Kaplan witnessed his first brutal tale of politics and violence: a fellow military surgeon was ordered to revive a torture victim so that Apartheid thugs could continue the torture that would end in death. Kaplan fled his life in Africa to continue his medical studies in Great Britain. He then traveled throughout the world as a field doctor in some of the most war torn locations, where, as he says, "death can come suddenly in a rain of explosions, [and] epidemics stalk and carry off the innocent." More than a wartime memoir, The Dressing Station is a powerful, fascinating narrative. Sue Cullinan of Time magazine writes, "Kaplan offers a salutary reminder of what war really means, not only to combatants but also to those caught in the crossfire. His account is born of two talents: to save lives and to bear witness."

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Monday, March 18 at 7:30 pm
Gus Gregory
The Money Tree (Dorrance Press)

Many small communities work on a budget that is comparable to their size. When something extra is needed, such as a community center or a playground, there is often no money in the budget to finance it. The task of raising funds may seem formidable, but not in the capable, talented mind of local activist Gus Gregory. In this insightful, timely book he divulges concrete ways smaller communities can work towards their towns goals and reach their dreams. Whether you're a non-profit looking for grant money, or a concerned citizen hoping to make a difference, this book shows you the way toward fiscal success. Come prepared for a thoughtful, forward-thinking discussion on the future of towns like Santa Cruz and Capitola.

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Tuesday, March 19 at 7:30 pm
Bill Hayes
Sleep Demons: An Insomniac's Memoir (Pocket)

The San Francisco Chronicle proclaims, "Hayes, a lifelong insomniac, pursues sleep as avidly and lyrically as Nabokov pursued butterflies." In this charming memoir, Hayes' offers an intimate look at one man's singular journey through contemporary life -- from his sleep-disturbed childhood through his sleepwalking in adolescence to the height of his insomnia, when his partner struggles with AIDS. Along the way, armed with an infectious curiosity and an obsession with the mysteries of his personal demons, Hayes leads us on a fascinating exploration of disorders such as sleep-talking, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea and contends with all manner of theories and experimentation, from the conceptions of sleep in ancient mythology to today's state-of-the-art sleeping aids and clinics. This is a book we couldn't put down: just don't read it before bed!

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Wednesday, March 20 at 7:00 pm
World Affairs Bookclub
Taliban by Ahmed Rashid

It should by now be hardly worth saying: Events in all parts of the world can (and often do) have everlasting effects on the people in all parts of the world. For those of us not fully aware of this fact, we had it thoroughly revealed to us by the events of September 11th and their aftermath. That is why the Book Cafe is introducing a new book club focusing on global current history. We welcome people of all backgrounds and affiliations to come participate. For our first meeting, we will be discussing Taliban by Ahmed Rashid (Yale, 2000). This accessible, interesting book presents invaluable information pertinent to the events currently unfolding in Afghanistan. According to Richard Bernstein, "One learns...a great deal from Mr. Rashid¹s book about the nature of local Central Asian politics and the consequences of interference by outside powers."
Please join Book Cafe's Graham Parsons in a provocative discussion.

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Wednesday, March 20 at 6:30 pm
Book Club Meeting
The Hadj: An American's Pilgrimage to Mecca by Michael Wolfe

On the middle Wednesday of every month, Capitola Book Cafe's Richard Lange hosts a book club meeting. Please join us this month for a discussion of Michael Wolfe's The Hadj. In The Hadj, Michael Wolfe, an American who converted to Islam, recounts his own journey as a pilgrim, and in doing so brings readers close to the heart of what the pilgrimage means to a member of the religion that claims one-sixth of the world's population.
All book club meetings are held upstairs in the back of the store and all are welcome to attend.

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Thursday, March 21 from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Writing Group

Every third Thursday of the month, join Book Café's Wendy Mayer as she leads our writer's group. Due to the limited amount of time, the group will focus on short exercises rather than group critique.

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Monday, March 25 at 7:30 pm
Neal Pollack
The Neal Pollack Anthology of American Literature (Harper Collins)

I knew then, as I know now, that I was truly the greatest writer in the world," says Neal Pollack, the definitive source on all current and past societal and political issues, historic and unremarkable events, musical trends, literary masterpieces, international traveling, and aggressive journalism. The Neal Pollack Anthology of American Literature is an outrageous, flippant mockery of the literary elite, the ultimate parody of journalistic and literary hubris. The star of the show is, of course, Mr. Neal Pollack - the legend of the page, the creator of all that is worth reading, and the only author who has a clue, really. Be prepared for a night of brazen audaciousness and belly-tearing laughter.

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Sunday, March 31 at 2:30 pm **
Robert B. Parker
Widow's Walk (Putnam)

Author of nearly forty page-turners, including Night Passage and Trouble in Paradise, Robert B. Parker - THE mystery master - is back! Wise-cracking, street-smart Boston private-eye Spenser returns as well, this time having to call on his grizzly experience to solve another heinous crime. Join the legions of fans who read Robert B. Parker's Spenser series; you won't be disappointed.