September 2019

  • Bus Reads for September

    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 September: Circe by Madeline Miller. The story of Circe, the daughter of the sun god Helios, banished to an island for Zeus believes her to be a threat. Unlike other children… Continue reading

  • Book picks from the author of ‘Growing Up Gorilla’

    Clare Hodgson Meeker’s new nonfiction picture book, Growing Up Gorilla: How a Zoo Baby Brought Her Family Together, is a  heartwarming true story about a baby gorilla at the Woodland Park Zoo. When a mother gorilla walks away from her newborn, the staff at the zoo finds innovative ways for mother and baby (Yola) to… Continue reading

  • If only my library were in a bar… Booktoberfest 2019!

    Think of it: the nerdy erudition of your neighborhood library, crossed with the convivial bonhomie of your local pub. That’s Booktoberfest, now in its fifth year! Trivia, karaoke, happy hours, all with a bookish twist. Storytimes, art class, and literary readings, all in bars! Come out and celebrate the season with us. Here’s what’s in… Continue reading

  • Anna Deavere Smith’s Living Theater

    Life and literature reflect each other in interesting ways. As the trial begins for Amber Guyger (the Dallas police officer charged with killing Botham Jean in his own apartment last September), I have been led to read books about the aftermath of previous trials and grand jury decisions involving police officers, and how they affected… Continue reading

  • Nightstand Reads with author Sara Donati

    Where the Light Enters is the latest from Sara Donati, a bestselling author known for her riveting and well-researched historical novels. We asked her to share her own reading list with us: I read a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction out of personal interest and professional necessity. My novels are deeply researched, so I spend… Continue reading

  • Pride and Prejudice Redux

    Published in 1813, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice seems to be showing no signs of slowing down in terms of either popularity or endurance. In fact, a recent handful of offerings make it abundantly clear that the famous novel of romance and manners still has plenty to offer for modern readers. Pride, Prejudice, and Other… Continue reading

  • Library Reads for October 2019

    Ready to place some holds? Check out these ten books coming in October that librarians across the US are loving. The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson A fascinating look at the human body and how it functions. Each historical tidbit is well-researched and thoroughly cited. Interesting stories, such as how diseases, cells,… Continue reading

  • Author Vicki Conrad Shares Favorite Picture Book Biographies

    We asked the author of Just Like Beverly, a new picture book biography of Beverly Cleary, to share her favorite biographies for children in this Nightstand Reads post. Here are five picks from Vicki Conrad: As a child, the Ramona Series was dear to my heart. I truly felt so much like her. My two… Continue reading

  • Scary Stories: All Grown Up Now

    As October looms near, I can’t help but to think about making a Spooky Stories display for the library. As a children’s librarian, I am mostly gathering books for young readers. I just put on hold several of my favorites, like Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz, and the thought occurred… Continue reading

  • Naomi Shihab Nye shares her Nightstand Reads

    Internationally beloved poet Naomi Shihab Nye, who is coming to Seattle September 19 for a SAL event, shares a mix of her recent favorites in fiction, memoir, nonfiction and poetry. Nye is the author and/or editor of more than 30 volumes, including  19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East (a finalist for the… Continue reading

  • If You Like Tana French

    We librarians hear a lot about readers’ favorite writers, and some names come up over and over again. One of these is Irish mystery writer Tana French, whose gritty Dublin Murder Squad series provides the perfect blend of police procedure and intricate psychological suspense. Only trouble is, she doesn’t write them fast enough. No worries:… Continue reading

  • Longer nights: Stranger tales

    You can feel it in the air, can’t you: Autumn is just around  the corner, and here at the library that means gathering around to hear some spooky stories. Once again this Fall, we’ll be presenting our ‘Ales from the Crypt spooky story time in bars around town (visit the Booktoberfest page soon for details,… Continue reading

  • New Nonfiction Roundup – September 2019

    September marks the beginning of the fall publishing season, and you’ll see new releases from some big names: Malcolm Gladwell, Demi Moore, Patti Smith, Edward Snowden and Tegan & Sara, just to name a few. Happy reading! Audience of One. James Poniewozik explains how Trump mastered television as a businessman, TV host and President. A Beginner’s… Continue reading

  • New fiction roundup, September 2019

    9/3: Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore – England, 1879: a fiercely independent vicar’s daughter earns a place among the first cohort of female students at the University of Oxford, and ultimately takes on a powerful duke in a fiery love story that threatens to upend the British social order. 9/3: Dominicana by Angie… Continue reading