Fiction

  • Dig Into These Books for Spring

    Read the latest column by Reader Services librarian Misha Stone on the Seattle Times website or below, where it’s republished with permission. The Seattle Public Library loves to promote books and reading. This column, submitted by the library, will be a space to promote reading and book trends from a librarian’s perspective. You can find these… Continue reading

  • Seattle Reads: Read Deeper

    Whether the 2024 Seattle Reads selection of Parable of the Sower was your introduction to the work of Octavia Butler or you’re a long time fan of the author, I hope you’re enjoying diving into Butler’s world of speculative fiction. Her creative and sometimes terrifying visions of the future, centering of Black experience, dreams of anti-hierarchical… Continue reading

  • Celebrating Seattle Reads and ‘Parable of the Sower’ With Performances, Panels and a Party

    The Library’s annual Seattle Reads program usually culminates with several days of events featuring the selected author and book. This year, our citywide book club is celebrating the 2024 selection, Octavia Butler’s “Parable of the Sower,” with more than two months of performances, panels and discussions that will be held in collaboration with community organizations… Continue reading

  • Messy Women in Fiction

    At the risk of “treating complex women in literature as a ‘trope,’” I must admit there are few archetypes I love more than a messy woman. Getting to witness female characters act badly, make wild decisions, and generally buck expectations can be a liberatory reading experience. Check out some of my favorite examples of messy… Continue reading

  • Cook the Books

    When you finish a novel that includes a strong food theme, you may want to make a dish that continues those yummy good book feelings. Or maybe you’re part of (or want to start) a combo book club/potluck. Some of the books below already include recipes, but here are some suggestions to go even further,… Continue reading

  • Love and Magic

    Sometimes on a dreary day, there’s nothing better than escaping into a book with the perfect mix of magic and romance. Here are some titles to start with: The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia In the city of Loisail, Nina arrives for her first season among high society, but she struggles to control her telekinetic… Continue reading

  • Interview with Robert Dugoni, local author of “A Killing on the Hill”

    Curious about what goes on in the mind of an author? Check out this deep dive with local author Robert Dugoni! Tell us a bit about your new book, A Killing on the Hill, coming out on Tuesday, April 9. What inspired you to write a book set in this specific time and place? I… Continue reading

  • New Fiction Roundup, April 2024

    April is another blockbuster month for new fiction releases! Fan favorites Amor Towles, Leigh Bardugo, Julia Alvarez, and Emily Henry are back with new releases, alongside very enticing work from potentially lesser known authors. 4/2: The Audacity by Ryan Chapman Victoria Stevens, wunderkind behind a Theranos-like startup, has slipped off the grid just in time… Continue reading

  • Seattle Reads 2024: Parable of the Sower

    Seattle Reads, The Seattle Public Library’s citywide book group, has announced its book selection for 2024: Parable of the Sower, by legendary science fiction author Octavia Butler. “We are thrilled to celebrate this incredibly influential author and book with new readers while celebrating her legacy with those who have been influenced by her work for… Continue reading

  • Reading and Writing the ‘Other’: Q&A with Nisi Shawl, Library Guest Curator

    On Thursday, March 28, a new author series kicks off at The Seattle Public Library’s Central Library. Curated by Seattle writer and editor Nisi Shawl, it’s called “Reading and Writing the ‘Other:’ Diversity and Inclusion in Our Worlds.” The three programs include the March 28 event on Writing the ‘Other’ and sensitivity reading with Nisi… Continue reading

  • Three on a Theme: Tarot in Fiction

    As someone with a long-time interest in the tarot, a deck of 78 cards that can be used in a multitude of ways – to practice magic, to tell the future, to dive deep into your soul, or even as a creative tool – I always keep an eye out for fiction books that feature… Continue reading

  • Get Me Out of Here!

    I must admit, I’m not typically a mystery reader. I’m impatient and I scare easily, which makes a genre that often features violent deaths and long solving processes difficult for me. I’ve found solace, though, in locked room mysteries, where the why and the how of the crime is often more interesting than the who.… Continue reading

  • These Books Became 2024 Oscar-Nominated Film Adaptations

    These Books Became 2024 Oscar-Nominated Film Adaptations

    The Seattle Public Library’s Reader Services team recently debuted a new monthly column in the Seattle Times. Read the article by Reader Services librarian Misha Stone on the Seattle Times website or below, where it’s republished with permission.    The Seattle Public Library loves to promote books and reading. This column, submitted by the library,… Continue reading

  • New Fiction Roundup, March 2024

    March blows in with a robust slate of new fiction, so get ready to place some holds! 3/5: Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez Raquel Toro, an art history student at Brown University, navigates feeling like an outsider among more privileged students. Then Raquel rediscovers the work of Anita de Monte, a Cuban… Continue reading

  • Teen Fiction for Women’s History Month

    Teen Fiction for Women’s History Month

    It’s officially March, which means Women’s History Month is here! Check out some teen titles highlighting women in historical fiction. In The Davenports by Krystal Marquis, set in 1910 Chicago, the titular Davenports are one of a few wealthy Black families, and teen sisters Olivia and Helen want to chart their own paths.  Olivia wants to… Continue reading

  • Take Flight with Dragon Reads

    Between the Year of the Dragon, the popularity of Fourth Wing, and the release of a new book in the legendary YA series The Inheritance Cycle, I’ve got dragon books on my mind. Try one of these titles to get into the spirit, with options for all ages! Dragon fantasy romance doesn’t always have to be serious… Continue reading

  • A look back at 2023’s best genre fiction

    A look back at 2023’s best genre fiction

    This January, librarians from across the country met to hash out the best books published in 2023 for adults. The Notable Books List highlights literary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry; the Listen List is all about outstanding audiobooks; and The Reading List, which I want to focus on today, highlights outstanding genre fiction in eight genres:… Continue reading

  • Fiction Picks for Black History Month 2024

    February is Black History Month and this year, it’s got a special theme: African Americans and the Arts. It’s a great time to read books by and celebrating Black artists across form and genre, so here are some titles to check out centering stories of Black artists. Teju Cole writes thought-provoking, meandering philosophical fiction; his… Continue reading