Fiction

  • Four Flights of Fantasy for Your Listening Pleasure

    Tired of looking longingly out your window while stuck inside? Then escape into these fantastic worlds each offering endless hours of aural pleasure! Each of these first books in their respective series represent a different flavor in the enormous fantasy pie. Have a slice, or better yet try them all! Happy listening.  The Belgariad Series… Continue reading

  • Oh, doggone it!

    Dogs can completely change the way we feel—for the better. They are funny, loving, and intelligent. Canine companions live in an estimated 63 million U.S. homes, so it’s no wonder stories, movies, and videos featuring dogs have always been big hits. Let’s not forget our own local legend, the public-transit-riding dog, Eclipse, who rides the… Continue reading

  • Award Winning Comics for Your Bucket List 

    A Bucket List is a number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime. This can take many forms, but for many lovers of the written word this comes more often in must read books. Here are award winning comics that are a must read for any one… Continue reading

  • Change In A Time Of Longing

    While browsing Instagram the other day, I came across a post from Sonya Renee Taylor, author of The Body Is Not An Apology: The Power of Radical Self Love, that called out the collective longing to return to our normal state for what it is: a longing to return to a world that “normalized greed, inequity, exhaustion,… Continue reading

  • More Short Stories Online

    Short stories are the form in which many writers hone their craft. And while each year’s Best American Short Stories and Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy anthologies compile some of the best of that year, they don’t highlight all of what gets published and is worthy of note. So much depends on who edits… Continue reading

  • #BookBingoNW2020: Animal as Main Character

    There’s something about stories narrated by animals that provide a very different reading experience. Whether they are anthropomorphized or remain true to their wild selves, animal narrators give us a chance to step out of our human skin and see the world around us in new ways. Here are some titles that are in turn… Continue reading

  • Bus Reads for April: Quarantine Edition

    I’ve found that commuting by bus gave me a lot more time to focus on my reading and being at home creates so many more distractions, I have less time to focus on a book in my hand. My few little escapes to walk the neighborhood have really been the only time I can slow… Continue reading

  • Missing the Library? Us, Too…

    There’s a good chance you are longing for the days when you could simply walk into the library to pick up a book, watch a DVD, browse the internet or peruse the rest of the endless available services and materials. You’re not alone! So, in the spirit of the library being closed but many services… Continue reading

  • Hoopla Comics: Tips and Recommendations

    Many people are now familiar with Hoopla for music and videos, but it is also an excellent place to download comic books and graphic novels! The Seattle Public Library doesn’t carry individual issues of comics, but you can find many of them in Hoopla. If there is a hot new title you want to keep… Continue reading

  • The Odd World of the Tiger King

    If you are like the rest of America, you may have seen the documentary “Tiger King” on Netflix.  The weird mix of true crime, eccentric characters, and cute tiger kittens left me wanting more. Get your quirky fix with these reads! Continue reading

  • Independent Women Creating Comics

    Like so many others I was terribly disappointed when Emerald City Comic Con announced its cancellation. Not only for fans, but for the creators that depend on such platforms to connect with the community and broadcast their works. Fortunately for us there is Hoopla, a free service that makes literally thousands of comic titles available… Continue reading

  • #BookBingoNW2020: Nature

    Today we unveil yet another Book Bingo category: nature. As someone who loves the outdoors as much as I love reading, I’m very excited for this square! Whether you’re a nature lover or not, here are some different ways to find a book that best suits your reading interests: Think Local: If you’re taking daily… Continue reading

  • Try these Children’s eAudiobook Series on Overdrive!

    Stuck inside and looking for entertainment the whole family can enjoy? Try these three outstanding eAudiobook series available on Overdrive! Alcatraz Series, Book 1: Alcatraz vs The Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson, read by Ramon De Ocampo Alcatraz Smedry isn’t just some kid. Growing up in multiple foster homes, he has found that he has a… Continue reading

  • Hoopla and Chill (with Penguins)

    It seems that the penguin is still a huge mystery to some. Penguins are some of the coolest (no pun intended) creatures around, but the majority of us never have any first-hand experience with them. This is usually due to geographical limitations; however, with our current climate of being stuck indoors, we can now digitally… Continue reading

  • Science fiction and fantasy books about change

    During these times of uncertainty, many of us are looking to our favorite writers for comfort and guidance. For decades, speculative-fiction writers have shown themselves to be especially well-versed in the subject of uncertainty, using their magical worlds to explore social problems and existential questions that complicate our daily lives. Here are three science fiction… Continue reading

  • #BookBingoNW2020: On your shelf

    I’ve always been a reader but, as time goes on, I find that my eyes are perpetually larger than my literary stomach, resulting in piles of books all over the house and a Goodreads “to read” shelf that requires constant pruning.  Between teleworking and homeschooling there isn’t nearly much time to read as I had… Continue reading

  • Imagining Life, Post-Pandemic

    There was a time – two months or so ago – when readers flocked to dystopian fiction so that they might imagine  what strange, dark days might lay ahead. Now that we’re all living through something that feels a bit like sci-fi itself, futuristic fiction is still there to help us envision and contemplate the… Continue reading

  • Escape to Hoopla!

    Right now the world can be a lot, but Hoopla has something for all ages to escape when you need to check out for a bit. ALL AGES Avatar, the Last Airbender: Fun for the whole family! Ang, the last Airbender, finally comes back to help save the world after being trapped in ice for… Continue reading