April 2009

  • A Perfect Match: Psychologist-detectives on the case

    There’s something about the endeavor of psychology that lends itself perfectly to crime fiction.  Psychologists seem to be able to plumb the depths of human emotion in a way that gives them unique crime-solving insights, to which the rest of us mere mortals can only aspire.  We want to know their secret.  Why else would… Continue reading

  • Olmsted’s Landscape Architecture

    Just as soon as the weather warms up a bit, we will all be out in our wonderful parks jogging, taking our four-legged friend for a stroll, visiting with a friend from out East, or rowing happily in some much loved boat.  The backbone design for Seattle Parks was done by one of the premier… Continue reading

  • Trying to get back a stolen life

    Editor’s note: Susan Hildreth, our City Librarian, will be checking in with us from time to time to let us know what she’s been reading. I just finished reading The Girl She Used to Be by David Cristofano. This is the story of Melody Grace McCartney who has been in the Federal Witness Protection Program for… Continue reading

  • Imagining The Garden

    Imagine a garden wherein an eye does fly from a leaf’s invitation into a petal’s inspiration. Whether you prefer painting a garden or gardening with an artistic eye is not Spring the perfect time to begin such imaginings?  “To create a little flower is the labour of ages,” said William Blake.  Before you begin your… Continue reading

  • April Question of the Month – an irregular series

    The reference librarians at Seattle Public Library are pretty darn amazing. They don’t know everything, instead they know where to findeverything. As part of an irregular series of posts we salute the talented and dedicated reference staff at your local library. Names and other identifying information have been removed from the questions we showcase. Got… Continue reading

  • A Conversation with Mark Morris and Peter Boal

    An extraordinary conversation will take place on Tuesday, April 28, 7-8 p.m. in the Microsoft Auditorium, Central Library, when Pacific Northwest Ballet Artistic Director Peter Boal engages in a lively discussion with director and choreographer, Mark Morris. Co-sponsored by Seattle Theatre Group, this event requires no tickets or reservations, but seating is limited and available on… Continue reading

  • In Praise of Felicity

    I am a sucker for television series about high school or college.  In other words, I love coming-of-age stories. So it was a surprise to me when I stumbled across the WB series Felicity. It started in 1998, when I was without television, so I missed its four seasons in the life of the plucky… Continue reading

  • Frost/Nixon at the Library.

    For many of us who grew up in the early 1970s, Richard Nixon was almost a storybook figure, his iconic visage glowering from hundreds of political cartoons, his resignation speech one of our “where were you when” moments. (At Summer camp, eating supper in silence while listening to the radio, since you asked). As years go by, his administration… Continue reading

  • Staff Favorites: Three novels for spring getaways

    Lost and Found by Carolyn Parkhurst Ten teams of two have been chosen to compete on “Lost and Found,” a reality television program in the form of a world-wide scavenger hunt. But each contestant hides a secret, and with the show’s producers throwing out twist after twist, those secrets slowly begin to come to light.… Continue reading

  • Yokes and Chains

    “I am so sorry. “ These very powerful words have the ability to transform a  relationship.  When an apology is offered sincerely, the opportunity for healing and forgiveness may begin. Most of our lives have been touched by offering or receiving a heartfelt, courageous  apology.  But what good can it do to apologize for something you did not do? Michael Lienau… Continue reading

  • Book review: Ghouls Just Haunt to Have Fun

    In Ghouls Just Haunt to Have Fun by Victoria Laurie, ghost-hunting medium MJ Holliday signs on to film a reality TV series centered around her paranormal talent. When a murderer strikes at the hotel where MJ and her crew are staying (and where the TV show is set to be filmed), it quickly becomes apparent… Continue reading

  • Tax Haiku for You

    Much work goes on behind the scenes at the library ordering and channeling federal tax forms into the hands of our patrons. Like our fellow citizens we look forward to today, the last filing day of the 2008 tax period and offer you a few haiku moments in honor of the day… April’s cruelest day… Continue reading

  • Gardening in the City, or “No yard, no problem!”

    Spring is finally in the air, rousing the deep need in many of us to get down in the dirt and help things grow. About this time of year I flash back to summer days in my grandmother’s garden with its aromas of sweet peas, fresh earth, and tangy tomato vines. I’d love to grow… Continue reading

  • Staff Favorites: Three mysteries for spring

    Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story by Leonie Swann “Act naturally,” bleated the sheep attempting to evade notice. Standing around munching grass seems to be the most natural thing for sheep to do, but solving a murder mystery? When this Irish flock’s favored shepherd shows up dead in a field, our intrepid sheep detectives,… Continue reading

  • Genealogy Classes at The Seattle Public Library

    If you’re getting started researching your genealogy or if you’re having trouble finding information using online databases such as Ancestry, you may be interested in our upcoming genealogy classes and tours. We currently offer two classes – a beginning class, a database class – and a tour. Beginning Your Family History Are you interested in… Continue reading

  • Staying Safe in Seattle

    Seattle is a very friendly place to live. It has one of the lowest crime rates in the country and, just over a year ago, Mayor Nickels and Chief Kerloikowske (who has since been tapped to be the new national drug czar) announced that crime had hit a 40 year low. But Seattle is still a… Continue reading

  • Got Poems?

    April is more than just the month when sun tries to return to the Seattle skies. It’s also National Poetry Month. What does poetry mean to you? For some of us, we recall that haiku writing assignment in elementary school. Then there’s that familiar and famous line from Robert Frost of “Two roads diverged in a wood,… Continue reading

  • Viewing History through a wide-angle lens

    A Shelf Talk post last month called Viewing History with a tightly focused lens generated a lot of comments and great book suggestions from readers.  That post looked at the growing popularity of history books that focus on a single thing—salt, baseball bat, pencil—and trace its impact (huge, according to the author) over time.  Our reviewer… Continue reading