Nonfiction

  • #BookBingoNW2020: Mentioned in another book

    Book Bingo is still underway, and some of those squares may be giving you trouble. Here are some suggestions for the mentioned in another book square. The beauty of this category is that there are so many books about books to choose from. Additionally, so many books mention other books in them, naturally and surreptitiously,… Continue reading

  • #BookBingoNW2020: Trans or Non-Binary Author

    For transgender and non-binary folx, 2020 has been a mixed bag politically, while the intentional killing of trans folx continues, unabated. Publishing has been a bright spot, as trans and non-binary authors are more visible than ever before; yet J.K. Rowling’s controversial position on trans rights, considered by many to be transphobic, shows more work… Continue reading

  • Our Table: Sharing Stories and Meals

    We begin, as with so many meals, with thanks. Thank you to our grocery clerks, farmers market vendors, restaurant owners and employees for all you do and all you have given for your neighbors, your customers and fans. Thank you for sharing what Seattle needs: sustenance for body and heart. To satisfy both, look to… Continue reading

  • #BookBingoNW2020 Poetry or Comics

    One of the best things about Summer Book Bingo is how it challenges readers to step outside their comfort zones.  Of all the different kinds of books out there, however, poetry and graphic novels can be some of the most challenging. Readers not used to a visual format can sometimes struggle to make a cohesive… Continue reading

  • The Art of Protest: Artists Art Protest

    Between The Dead Eye and the Deep Blue Sea, there are artists who step back, survey the temperature of the times, put their fingers on the pulse and paint, write, compose, all the while Regarding the Pain of Others. There are artists who take to the streets, join the ranks of The Resisters. They can… Continue reading

  • #BookBingoNW2020: Philosophy or spirituality

    In this year’s Book Bingo, the philosophy or spirituality square gives us a chance to explore. For philosophy, we can seek aspects about the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence that interest us.  And, for spirituality, it can be how to look more deeply, or less, into our soul or inner life.  To me… Continue reading

  • Comics before Cinema! Part Three

    This is the third and final feature of comics as the original source material before their cinematic adaptations. I admit that I have not watched or read many of what I’ve listed (though not for a lack of trying!) and I made it a point to explore outside the expansive DC and Marvel universe. Today I will be showcasing the nitty gritty of graphic novels and comics, and how those stories… Continue reading

  • Write On!: Writers Writing Life

    You’ve read their work, admire their writing and anticipate reading their next book. Have you ever wondered, from whence did those words spring forth? Some readers are curious about the forces that give shape to a writer’s identity. They are intrigued about the circumstances that were foundational to the development of an author’s work. Continue reading

  • #BookBingoNW2020: In Translation

    This year traveling around the world is put on hold, but there is another way you can do it this summer with Summer Book Bingo. The “In Translation” square let’s you travel by armchair from China to Morocco to India. Here are a few recommendations to get you started on your Book Bingo journey. Safe… Continue reading

  • Write On!: Publish Your Writing

    Check! You did it, you’ve done the hardest part. You’ve taken an idea, a slither of an idea and honed it into a strong piece of writing. Now, you’re ready to send it out into the world. This brings you to another beginning. This beginning is just as crucial and just as important as completing… Continue reading

  • #BookBingoNW2020: History or alternate history

    “Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.” – Winston Churchill One of the squares for adult bingo this year is History or Alternate History.   History is just one great big story told from different perspectives.  Also, since it’s so diverse the chances are high that you will find a story… Continue reading

  • The Art of Protest: The Language, Music and Images of Civil Discontent

    Joining a protest is personal and a public event. People from all ages and all walks of life take to the streets calling for societal change. Throughout history worlds of people have marched, from handfuls to millions with voices raised, through cities and towns. When The People Speak, heads turn. Everybody is filled with a… Continue reading

  • #BookBingoNW2020: Myth or Fable (original or retold)

    During quarantine one of my goals was going through all the Marvel movies in order of release (I’ve heard I’m not the only one).  This had me falling in love with Loki all over again.  This set of a spark in me to read more books about Loki and myths in general. I also lucked… Continue reading

  • Pride Reads: Black Women Writers

    This Pride month, as the world is rising up in solidarity with American cities protesting against racism, white supremacy, and police brutality, it is sobering to think about the many Black, queer lives that have been lost to these oppressive systems. As queer people, it is also a great time to remember that we celebrate… Continue reading

  • Staying Healthy with Your Library: LGBTQ History & Culture

    With materials from hundreds of institutions and organizations, including major international activist organizations, local, grassroots groups, and governments, the database LGBTQ History & Culture (also known as the Archives of Sexuality and Gender) collects an incredible set of primary sources for the historical study of sex, sexuality, and gender. Use this resource to investigate how sexual… Continue reading

  • Write On!: Get Moving, Write that Screenplay

    Do you wonder How Hollywood Does It? Are you intrigued by all the moving parts that are part and parcel of getting a film on the screen? From where you sit, gazing up at the final cut, are you one of the few people in the audience who even knows the screenwriter’s name? Every film… Continue reading

  • #BookBingoNW2020: Debut Book by Author Over 50

    Does age matter when we’re talking about a book’s author? It does for this specific Book Bingo square! Here we’re celebrating authors who published their first book after they reached 50, reminding us it’s never too late to start writing. Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War by Karl Marlantas Washington state author Karl Marlantas published… Continue reading

  • Magical Thinking

    Sometimes we need a little magic in our lives, whether we create it ourselves or look to others to create it for us. Let these magic-makers offer you inspiration, wonder, and escape. Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman is a classic of the genre. It introduces us to sisters Gigllian and Sally Owens and their efforts… Continue reading