January 2020

  • Weird Squirrel Behavior: A Reference Question

    Weird Squirrel Behavior: A Reference Question

    From the Ask a Librarian Reference Desk: “The squirrels in my neighborhood are clipping little twigs off of ornamental trees and throwing them on the ground. So many twigs everywhere! Why are they doing this?” Dear Patron, Thank you for contacting The Seattle Public Library for assistance unraveling your squirrel-related mystery! Experts in squirrel behavior,… Continue reading

  • Bus Reads for January

    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 January: The Wall by John Lanchester. Due to climate change an island nation has built a wall to keep out the Others – those adrift. Each citizen is assigned wall duty for… Continue reading

  • Craftfulness

    I recently found my crafting tote filled with two in-progress blankets, yarn, and crochet hooks. I’ve been spending my nights crocheting as a way to decompress and I’m enjoying how it has become a part of my settling in for the night. Slowing my busy mind and body to focus on the pattern I’m creating… Continue reading

  • Fresh Transgender and Non-binary Fiction

    Fresh Transgender and Non-binary Fiction

    As readers’ interest in diverse voices and experiences continues to expand, it can be challenging to keep up. Here’s a variety of recent novels and stories that reflect on aspects of transgender and non-binary lives and identities; see our accompanying list for more. Continue reading

  • Unexpected Embroidery Content

    There are times as a reader when you pick up a book and you think you know exactly what you’re getting: this is an historical romance; this is a novel about a family. And you’re right, but you also discover that it is deeply about something else. That was my experience with the two novels… Continue reading

  • Upon Losing A Pet

    Losing a pet is always hard. I recently lost my 20 year old cat, Stella. She was older then both of my children. Stella and my daughter had an unbreakable bond. My daughter’s first word at 8 months was “itty” as the cat would head bump against her. My daughter at times tried to say… Continue reading

  • Your Year of …Everything!

    What does the year 2020 hold in store for you? Are you struggling to keep any resolutions? Any new things you’ve set out to learn, or kinds of reading you plan to do? Perhaps you’re looking to pick up some new habits, or drop some old ones. Authors and publisher have plenty of annual ideas… Continue reading

  • For the Love of Winter

    Winter has always been the time for me to slow down, to cuddle up, to pause and recharge, especially after the holidays. But that slowing down doesn’t stop me from enjoying the season. Winterlust: Finding Beauty in the Fiercest Season by Bernd Brunner. In winter I’m not hiding out until the sun comes back–if anything… Continue reading

  • Gift Books for Teens (You Only Kinda Know)

    Gift books are a “thing”. They can be books that look awesome, box sets to keep readers satisfied, cutting edge content to sharpen their minds, – or some can be pretty, with unique covers or fancy bindings. Not saying that books should be all about looks, but when giving it as a gift this can… Continue reading

  • New Year, Do Nothing

    The refrain “new year, new you” is a popular one around the first of the year, exhorting you to fix bad habits, set new resolutions, and generally get your life in order. Maybe it’s time for a change; maybe it’s time to read some books that help you focus on the joy and purpose of… Continue reading

  • Upcoming Author Events for January

    Check out these upcoming events with Native storyteller Roger Fernandes, Neuroscientist Daniel Levitin, novelist Peter Curtis, and two open mic readings at Ballard and Columbia branches. The free programs listed below are held at a variety of library locations in January; please check our online Author and Books Events calendar for complete details on these… Continue reading

  • New Fiction Roundup, January 2020

    Whether reading is part of your New Year’s resolutions, or already a tried-and-true habit, here are some new novels coming out in January 2020 to consider. 1/1: Lost Hills by Lee Goldberg – Recently promoted as the youngest female homicide detective in the history of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Eve finds herself faced… Continue reading

  • New Nonfiction RoundUp – January 2020

    January offers a wide variety of nonfiction on topics ranging from aging, astrology, parenting, economics and much more. Happy New Year! American Oligarchs. Andrea Bernstein examines the sources of wealth for the Trump and Kushner families. Arguing with Zombies. Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman’s latest essay collection champions progressive policies. The Art of Resistance. Justus Rosenberg, 98, looks… Continue reading