July 2018

  • #BookBingoNW2018: Award-Winning Authors

    I’m sure you have heard of the Newbery Medal, Man Booker Prize, Hugo Award, and many, many other author awards. In addition to these well-known awards, let me introduce you to a few newer ones and their winning authors. Black Caucus American Library Association (BCALA) Literary Award, established in 1994, recognizes African American authors in… Continue reading

  • Bus Reads for July

    Commuting to Seattle by bus five days a week gives me a lot of reading time. Here’s what I read on the bus in July: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: One of the main themes I loved about this book was the character’s experience of being two different people in two different worlds and having… Continue reading

  • Romance throughout American history

    Romance throughout American history

    Happy 241st birthday, America! You don’t look a day over 240 years old. In honor of Independence Day, here are a few romances from some eras of American history that aren’t as beloved in the romance world as the Wild West or the Civil War, in chronological order. Hamilton’s Battalion by Courtney Milan, Rose Lerner,… Continue reading

  • ‘Lauren Weedman Doesn’t Live Here Anymore’ at ACT

    When For Better, or Worse turns out worse than you imagined, just say “Lauren Weedman Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.” Put on your favorite dress, fix up your Country Music Hair, strut out of the house and onto the stage of This Sweet Old World .  Give yourself a break; have a Ladies’ Night out!  In… Continue reading

  • Eisner Awards for Comics 2018

    The nominations for the 2018 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards were announced on April 26th, with the awards to be presented July 20th at Comic-Con International in San Diego. The awards, presented annually since 1988, after the discontinuation of the Jack Kirby Award, are the most well-known honor in American comics. The nominations span 31… Continue reading

  • Library Reads: New Books for August

    Library Reads: New Books for August

    Ten books coming in August 2018, chosen by librarians across the U.S. You’ll find more librarian-recommended fiction and nonfiction featured in previous Library Reads lists. (Insider tips: Go back a few months for a better chance of finding a book without a holds list. And, of course, place holds on forthcoming books each month when we publish… Continue reading

  • #BookBingoNW2018: A SAL author

      There is no shortage of ideas for the Book Bingo challenge to read a Seattle Arts & Lectures (SAL) author. SAL has been bringing writers to Seattle for three decades (here is the complete list), so there are literally hundreds of options. In the spirit of being current with this year’s literary happenings around town,… Continue reading

  • #BookBingoNW2018: Memoir or biography — deep thoughts from funny people

    #BookBingoNW2018: Memoir or biography — deep thoughts from funny people

    If you’re looking for a lighter summer read but still want some substance, check out these memoirs by comedians. Lately I’ve been feeling a little too world-weary for anything heavy but a little too… existentially keyed up? for pure escapism. Luckily, the library has a great collection of memoirs that weave in issues of family… Continue reading

  • #BookBingoNW2018: A book that takes place in the area where you were born

    #BookBingoNW2018: A book that takes place in the area where you were born

    Yukon-born Pierre Berton’s advice to aspiring authors that they get themselves “born in an interesting environment,” was facetious, but based on some sound evidence. Consider authors such as William Faulkner, Louise Erdrich, Jim Lynch – you can safely assume their story will be set in Mississippi, Minnesota, and Washington state, respectively.  I would argue that… Continue reading

  • #BookBingoNW2018: Written by an author from another country

    #BookBingoNW2018: Written by an author from another country

    Sitting in the top right corner, the category Written by an author from another country could be vital to making bingo vertically, horizontally, or the elusive diagonal bingo. We’re here to help you get it filled. For inspiration, you could consult previous posts about intriguing African fiction, East Asian fiction, European fiction, Latin American fiction, or Australian… Continue reading

  • Bus Reads for June

    Commuting to Seattle by bus 5 days a week gives me a lot of reading time. Here’s what I read on the bus this past June: How To Be Safe by Tom McAllister This book takes place in the aftermath of a school shooting and hits so close to home. Tom has his fingers on the vein… Continue reading

  • Books for Two

    There’s no need to go to the trouble of getting a large group together for a book group each month (unless you want to). I have a book group for two, and it’s going just fine. Here were our book selections for April through June: Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore… Continue reading

  • July Literary Holidays

    July Literary Holidays

    Here’s a quick look at some of the literary holidays you can celebrate this month: Almanacs, paperbacks, and the Wizarding World! The entire month of July is read an Almanac month. Providing a wealth of knowledge, they are typically published once a year. The most common almanacs are used for planting dates, tide tables, and… Continue reading

  • New Fiction Roundup – July 2018

    New Fiction Roundup – July 2018

    7/3: Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce – In 1940s London, Emmy takes a job at the London Evening Chronicle and ends up not as a journalist but rather as a typist to an advice columnist. When she sees all the letters that go unanswered, she begins responding on her own. 7/10: Clock Dance by… Continue reading

  • New Nonfiction Roundup – July 2018

    New Nonfiction Roundup – July 2018

    Looking for some new nonfiction for the summer months? A host of thoughtful and unique memoirs and gripping historical narratives are coming your way this July. Happy Reading! Continue reading