May 2014

  • A Humble and Delicate Matter

    Posted by Jen B. and Ann G. Recently we posted A Literary Cure for Spring Fever in which we suggested fiction and nonfiction on a single theme. Whether you prefer one or the other, we think it’s important to present good options for maximum understanding of other important topics – like safe sex, emotional intelligence… Continue reading

  • Seattle Cooks: Canning and Fermenting

    Posted by Andrea G. It’s time to get canning, pickling, and fermenting, and preserve some of that market fresh goodness for the rest of the year. Also, you’re a grown-up; it’s time to start eating – and enjoying – turnips!! Brined Baby Turnips    —  Adapted from Saving the Season by Kevin West Yields 1… Continue reading

  • Attention Soccer and History Fans!

    By Richard C. GOLAZO! As the 2014 World Cup descends on Brazil (perhaps with diverse impacts?), here’s a terrific book for soccer fans and Latin American history buffs alike. How has soccer shaped Latin America, from forerunner games in Mesoamerican cultures to the dynamic nations of today? Writing clearly and engagingly, author Andreas Campomar reveals… Continue reading

  • Romantic Wednesdays: Spell Books

    Posted by Eric G. There is no shortage of romance books featuring witches, supernatural creatures and magical goings-on. One of the most prominent tales of the past few years is A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. For fans of this book, the third and final chapter, The Book of Life, is due in July! I’ve… Continue reading

  • Seattle Rep’s ‘Once: The Musical’

    Posted by Jen We’re excited about Seattle Repertory Theatre‘s production of Once: The Musical, opening next Tuesday, June 3 and running until June 8. Winner of eight 2012 Tony Awards, Once is the enchanting tale of a Dublin street musician who is about to give up on his dream when a beautiful young woman takes a sudden interest… Continue reading

  • Movie Mondays: Passing the Bechdel Test

    Movie Mondays: Passing the Bechdel Test

    Ever since I learned about the Bechdel Test, a way of measuring how women relate to each other in film, I haven’t been able to watch movies without thinking about it. Named after American cartoonist Alison Bechdel, who laid out the rules in a 1985 comic strip, there are three conditions that must be met… Continue reading

  • Seriously fun fiction

    Posted by Jen B. Literary fiction doesn’t have to be difficult, sad, or highbrow, but finding stellar writing, intriguing characterization and whip-smart wit in popular fiction is a needle-in-a-haystack hunt. Here are four great picks (plus their read-alike cousins) that are thought-provoking, good for discussion and just plain fun to read. The World to Come by Dara Horn There’s… Continue reading

  • Isn’t It a Pity

    by Library Staff   Are you tired of cookie-cutter songs with interchangeable melodies, sung by manufactured celebrities packaged in sound-bite-sized pieces? If so, I invite you to listen to one song which is the complete antithesis of this: “Isn’t It a Pity” by Nina Simone, from the album Emergency Ward (also available on Freegal). Continue reading

  • Romantic Wednesdays: Mary Stewart, First Lady of Romantic Suspense

    ~posted by Marlene H. Mary Stewart was arguably one of the pioneers of the genre that we now call romantic suspense. Before her, there was gothic horror, where the heroine inevitably does something stupidly dangerous and waits to be rescued, but that isn’t quite the same thing. And there was contemporary romance, where the entire… Continue reading

  • A Smorgasbord, A Potpourri

    Posted by Jenny I could pretend that there is some theme connecting these books, but the truth is, I’ve just been reading around a lot lately. Here are some highlights from my recent perusals. Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys Josie Moraine is a girl living in the seedy side of New Orleans, pulled between her… Continue reading

  • Movie Mondays: Foreign Language Trilogies

                  Posted by Frank If you think that trilogies are the exclusive domain of adaptations of young adult dystopian novels, think again. These four trilogies from Europe and Asia will satisfy your need for strong character development and in-depth storylines that span the length of three films. Continue reading

  • Found in a Book

    Posted by Erin M. Recently, the Greenwood Branch of the Seattle Public Library displayed a remarkable collection of bookmarks in their front window, an assortment of tickets, photos, bumper stickers, stamps, playing cards, feathers, postcards, really anything that could fit easily between two pages. Individually, these objects aren’t terribly interesting or important, but when brought… Continue reading

  • Get lost in some music

    Posted by Chelsea W. For me, lately, for personal reasons and also because of the stop-and-go-and-stop-again nature of the seasonal shift currently in motion, I’ve re-realized how fun it is to just get sort of lost sometimes. Take a break from the mundane and boring routines of day-to-day life and lose yourself in some music… Continue reading

  • Romantic Wednesdays: Recent Favorites

    ~posted by Eric G. Every month, librarians across the country contribute to LibraryReads, a site that features top ten lists of new, noteworthy books. These lists cover books across all genres that are often missing from other lists, from self-help books to biographies to romance. Here are some recent romance favorites from our nation’s librarians.… Continue reading

  • A tribute to director Errol Morris

    By Daniel S. Errol Morris is one of America’s leading documentary filmmakers with a long career of thoughtful and provocative features. Morris combines dramatic reenactments, probing interviews and a kaleidoscope of thematically linked images to create films that push the boundaries of nonfiction narrative. His signature invention is a special camera rig he calls the Interrotron,… Continue reading

  • Movie Mondays: SIFF Turns 40

    ~posted by Mike This Thursday kicks off for the 40th annual Seattle International Film Festival. Over the next three weeks, Seattle will be awash in exciting events and fantastic films from all corners of the world. If you’re looking to supplement your festival experience, the Seattle Public Library is here to help. Continue reading

  • Can bicycling save the economy?

    ~posted by Selby Can biking save our economy? This is the main question that Elly Blue tackles in her book Bikenomics: How Bicycling Can Save the Economy. I was skeptical when I picked up the book. I, like so many people, see biking as a recreational activity or a way to help save the environment.… Continue reading

  • Romantic Wednesdays: Angels Among Us

    ~Posted by Marlene H. Everyone falls in love. Even angels. Or at least that’s the way it works in paranormal romance. If demons are the ultimate bad boys (and girls) then angels are almost too good to be capable of falling for a simple mortal. Except that in angel romances, of course they do. Sometimes… Continue reading