January 2011

  • Audiobooks Obsession: Read by the Author

    As a fervent believer in the “So Many Books So Little Time” school of thought, I can add to my scarcely allotted and woefully inadequate reading time by listening to audiobooks. I can get more books “read” by using commuting time, exercise time, household chore time (except vacuuming does not work too well) and time wasted… Continue reading

  • Catnip for the technophobe: Learn to love e-books

    As a great fan of detective stories, I have learned over the years that the genre includes many forgotten gems, no longer in print or on library shelves.  Part of the pleasure of reading such books is discovery of new authors—the phrase ‘new to me’ describes the work of so many authors it is impossible… Continue reading

  • Staff Favorites: Two novels for teen readers

    Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters by Natalie Standiford Each of the three Sullivan sisters has committed a crime against Almighty, their rich and powerful grandmother. She threatens to cut their entire family out of her will, leaving her vast estate to Ponchos for Puppies (the most ridiculous charity on earth) if the culprit who has… Continue reading

  • Royal Reading

    My latest favorite author is Alison Weir because she writes so elegantly and compellingly of medieval and Renaissance Britain, focusing especially on the lives of female rulers.  Better yet, this esteemed historian has in recent years branched out into luxuriously detailed, historically accurate novels that bring to life great historical figures. I recently read Weir’s… Continue reading

  • January Question of the Month – an irregular series

     I would like to know how long it would have taken to travel by train from Seattle to Boston in 1910. Thank you for your assistance. Thank you for using our Ask a Librarian service with an inquiry about the length of time it would take to travel by train from Seattle to Boston in… Continue reading

  • Looking for a mystery? Try one of the Edgar finalists

    To celebate the birthday of Edgar Allen Poe (born 202 years ago today!), the Mystery Writers of America just announced the finalists for the prestigious Edgar Awards for best mysteries published in 2010. A huge shout out to Seattle author Mary Jane Beaufrand, a finalist in the young adult category! The winners will be announced… Continue reading

  • Staff Favorites: Two children’s novels

    The Farwalker’s Quest by Joni Sensel When Ariel and Zeke find a telling dart, an ancient form of communication, it catapults them on a perilous quest to discover the origin of the dart and, as a result, their own destinies. Local author Joni Sensel paints a vivid post-apocalyptic world with strong characters and a difficult… Continue reading

  • Songs for Winter

    A few months ago, my colleague Misha wrote a great post on Shelf Talk about the albums that make up her autumn soundtrack. Now that the seasons have turned, I’d like to share some of the records I can’t stop listening to when the temperatures drop, the nights grow longer and life slows to a… Continue reading

  • Let them read cake

    Having just celebrated my birthday, I’ve been thinking about cake for some time and have noticed a trend: we need cake now more than ever.  In an unofficial cake cookbook census taken by *me,* statistics indicate a rise in the Library’s purchase of how-to-bake-cake books. The library owns ten cake cookbooks published from 1991 to… Continue reading

  • Books About New Sibs

    If your family is expecting a new addition sometime soon, you may find yourself scrambling to help your first child cope with and understand the huge change coming their way. When I was looking for picture books for my toddler about new babies, I was surprised how hard it was to find books that weren’t… Continue reading

  • Place your holds now!

     Moon Over Manifest won the Newbery Medal this morning, Ship Breaker took home the Printz, and A Sick Day for Amos McGee received the Caldecott Medal. Check out the full list of winners from the ALA’s Youth Media Awards 2011. And here’s a neat trick: You can search award titles easily in our catalog. Here are… Continue reading

  • Staff Favorites: Two novels to start the year

    Our newest edition of “Staff Favorites” — with book recommendations for children, teen and adult readers —  is hot off the press and on its way to your favorite branch. Here are a couple of novels included in the brochure: One Day by David Nicholls The classic story of boy meets girl with a twist:… Continue reading

  • Reader’s Resolutions

    Every New Year resolutions are made. Some go on diets. Some pledge to save. Some pledge to write those thank you cards in a timely manner.  Me, I resolve to do all of those things, but I usually also resolve to read more and more broadly. Not that I always succeed. Continue reading