Nonfiction

  • A Milestone for the Beacon Hill Branch

    ~posted by Diane In July of 2004, the Beacon Hill Branch Library moved into a brand new 10,000 sq. ft. building, a sea change from the 3,000 sq. ft. storefront that had been our home since 1962.  Now 10 years old, we will celebrate with a neighborhood birthday party on July 12th from 12:30-5:30 p.m.… Continue reading

  • Color Fascination

    by Richard C. Toddlers. Oh my gad. Working at the library I walked by one the other day and saw her point out her little finger at a colorful book. Just barely, ever so softly, I heard her whisper… “rainbow.” Well. Thoroughly and utterly moved by her little murmur – I’m easily moved; it’s why I… Continue reading

  • Medieval cathedrals reach for heaven

    ~ Posted by Ann G. and Jen B., who have contributed several posts together on different subjects as portrayed in nonfiction and in fiction. Brunelleschi’s Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture by Ross King Imagine that you had to climb Mt. Everest– as Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay did, with no modern climbing equipment and 44-pound… Continue reading

  • Caring for the Caregiver

    ~posted by Ann G. Some of the toughest things about caring for older family members are knowing how to navigate the many systems we come up against, and taking care of ourselves so that we have the energy to take care of them too. In July, the library is hosting a series of lunchtime programs… Continue reading

  • I Want To Be A Real Princess

    Little girls and their princess fascinations…it’s bound to happen. Your daughter or niece becomes completely obsessed with those blinged-out, spoiled, little darlings and you’re stuck with the monotony of it all. Well, thanks to a mom who decided she wanted her daughter to know about real princesses with a bit more gusto and drive than… Continue reading

  • Nightstand Reads: Christopher Barzak, author of “Before and Afterlives,” shares what he’s reading

    Christopher Barzak will be reading from his recent collection of short stories, Before and Afterlives, on Wednesday, June 25th at the Central Library on Level 4, Room 2 at 7:00 p.m. His novel One for Sorrow was recently made into the film Jamie Marks is Dead, starring Liv Tyler and Judy Greer. Christopher was kind enough… Continue reading

  • The Books That Kept Me Up All Night

    There are good books and there great books—and then there are the books that you simply can’t put down. Work, friends, sleep—it doesn’t matter. Everything else fades away and all you can think about is finishing that book. This is my favorite thing about reading, and it’s what I hope will happen every time I… Continue reading

  • Wide Open Spaces

    I was lucky to grow up in a DIY environment since the women in my family have all been blessed with something like a “creating” gene. Smells of baking and crocheted projects lying about were just a part of my childhood. My dad was the fixer-upper working in the garage or the garden out back.… Continue reading

  • Hunt Like A Woman

    “Something will have gone out of us as a people if we ever let the remaining wilderness be destroyed…we simply need that wild country available to us, even if we never do more than drive to its edge and look in.” – Wallace Stegner (The Sound of Mountain Water) Growing up as a child, my grandfather would… Continue reading

  • Got Milk?

    As summer comes, many of us dream of dairy.  Ice cream, milkshakes, and corn on the cob with butter are just a few of the treats of the season that depend on that staple, milk.  Usually, we don’t give it much thought, but there’s actually a lot to explore in the history and uses of… Continue reading

  • A Humble and Delicate Matter

    Posted by Jen B. and Ann G. Recently we posted A Literary Cure for Spring Fever in which we suggested fiction and nonfiction on a single theme. Whether you prefer one or the other, we think it’s important to present good options for maximum understanding of other important topics – like safe sex, emotional intelligence… Continue reading

  • Seattle Cooks: Canning and Fermenting

    Posted by Andrea G. It’s time to get canning, pickling, and fermenting, and preserve some of that market fresh goodness for the rest of the year. Also, you’re a grown-up; it’s time to start eating – and enjoying – turnips!! Brined Baby Turnips    —  Adapted from Saving the Season by Kevin West Yields 1… Continue reading

  • Attention Soccer and History Fans!

    By Richard C. GOLAZO! As the 2014 World Cup descends on Brazil (perhaps with diverse impacts?), here’s a terrific book for soccer fans and Latin American history buffs alike. How has soccer shaped Latin America, from forerunner games in Mesoamerican cultures to the dynamic nations of today? Writing clearly and engagingly, author Andreas Campomar reveals… Continue reading

  • A Smorgasbord, A Potpourri

    Posted by Jenny I could pretend that there is some theme connecting these books, but the truth is, I’ve just been reading around a lot lately. Here are some highlights from my recent perusals. Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys Josie Moraine is a girl living in the seedy side of New Orleans, pulled between her… Continue reading

  • Can bicycling save the economy?

    ~posted by Selby Can biking save our economy? This is the main question that Elly Blue tackles in her book Bikenomics: How Bicycling Can Save the Economy. I was skeptical when I picked up the book. I, like so many people, see biking as a recreational activity or a way to help save the environment.… Continue reading

  • Running like a girl

    “Baby, every day you’re training to get the gold… That’s why your body’s crazy… But you can’t run from yourself, that’s where it’s difficult.” (from TKO by Justin Timberlake) I’ve been running on the elliptical for about two years and during that time, along with eating healthy and treating my body well, I’ve lost about… Continue reading

  • A Literary Cure for Spring Fever

    Posted by Jen B. and Ann G. Ann suggests: Many of us have a literary character who we long to meet in real life.  Mine has changed over time—my first was Harriet the Spy (I wanted to read her secret notebooks).  In Letters to Juliet by Lise and Ceil Friedman, we hear from the people… Continue reading

  • Spring Biking

    The daffodils and tulips are finally indicating that it is spring here in Seattle. It is time to shake off the winter doldrums and enjoy some fresh air and sunshine. A perfect way to do that in our beautiful city is by bike. Whether you pull an old clunker from storage or plunk down the… Continue reading