Linda J.

  • It’s okay to read teen books …

    Here are just a few novels I found displayed with this sign at the Central Library: Fire by Kristin Cashore The First Part Last by Angela Johnson City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare What They Always Tell Us by Martin Wilson Supernaturally by Kiersten White The Watch That Ends the Night: Voices from the… Continue reading

  • Judging a book by its author photo

    I was on a tight budget in 1989 when a book cover totally seduced me and weakened my fiscally conservative resolve. I’d already read most of the stories in Raymond Carver’s collection Where I’m Calling From when I saw the Vintage paperback at Elliott Bay Book Company. But that photo. I couldn’t walk away. That… Continue reading

  • Five terrific campus novels

    I’ve spent a fair amount of time recently thinking about college. Specifically these two questions: Why did Beverly Hills, 90210 (the original, people) get so dreadfully dull when the gang went to college? And why are there so many novels about academics but so few about college students?  While I’m still contemplating the 90210 question, I’m happy… Continue reading

  • And here are the 10 children’s books selected for Global Reading Challenge!

    Lookee! Five of our librarians give the inside scoop on the 10 titles included in this school year’s Global Reading Challenge.     And here are the same 2012 Global Reading Challenge titles with links to our Library catalog: Seaglass Summer by Anjali Banerjee Extra Credit by Andrew Clements The Magician’s Assistant by Kate DiCamillo Jackie… Continue reading

  • Five authors and one Smartypants in six days

    So many authors in town this week  — and something free going on every SINGLE night at the Central Library. Here’s a quick event round-up: Monday: Russell Banks reads from his newest novel Lost Memory of Skin, which a Booklist review described as “intrepidly inquisitive, magnificently compassionate, and darkly funny novel of private and societal… Continue reading

  • Loading up my Nook for vacation

    There are more than 750 people on the hold list for Ann Patchett’s State of Wonder. No waiting for me, however. I searched for the ePub version, checked it out, downloaded it to my laptop and transferred it to my Nook in less time than it took me to type these two sentences. I could… Continue reading

  • Let us help you find your next five books!

    Wondering what to read next? Looking for a few suggestions for your summer reading? Well, we’ve got Your Next 5 Books, and all you have to do to find out what they are is fill out a brief form telling us about a handful of books/authors you’ve liked. We’ll email you a personalized reading list with five… Continue reading

  • Our online book group discusses “Little Bee”

    We’ve been talking for years about doing an online book discussion group, but we never saw a model that really inspired us. It’s easy enough to start something online, but how do you get people to actually show up? People might be eager to share an opinion, but how do you create enough of a sense of… Continue reading

  • A presidential playlist

    by Linda J. I celebrate Presidents’ Day with gusto ever since I heard Dina Martina sing “The Presidents’ Day Song” during one of her December holiday shows in Seattle. It seemed like an excellent idea for a party and a playlist, so a few years ago I brought cherry pies (to perpetuate the wrongheaded notion… Continue reading

  • Armistead Maupin is a man I dreamt up

    A couple of weeks ago I checked out Mary Ann in Autumn: A Tales of the City Novel by Armistead Maupin and felt positively giddy about my reunion with the characters I’ve gotten to know so well through all eight novels. It was way back in 1976 when Tales of the City began running in weekly… Continue reading

  • Looking for a mystery? Try one of the Edgar finalists

    To celebate the birthday of Edgar Allen Poe (born 202 years ago today!), the Mystery Writers of America just announced the finalists for the prestigious Edgar Awards for best mysteries published in 2010. A huge shout out to Seattle author Mary Jane Beaufrand, a finalist in the young adult category! The winners will be announced… Continue reading

  • Place your holds now!

     Moon Over Manifest won the Newbery Medal this morning, Ship Breaker took home the Printz, and A Sick Day for Amos McGee received the Caldecott Medal. Check out the full list of winners from the ALA’s Youth Media Awards 2011. And here’s a neat trick: You can search award titles easily in our catalog. Here are… Continue reading

  • Books for the college-obsessed parent

    Last summer I texted my son to tell him I was bringing home a copy of  Colleges That Changes Lives. His reply, via text: “Shouldn’t all colleges change lives?” I should end this post right here, because that says it all. Nope. I can’t leave it alone, no matter how hard I try to not… Continue reading

  • Reading the Top 10 Books of the Year lists

    I cannot resist a Top 10 Book List, which can be sort of a time suck because just about every publication, website and book blogger has a “Best of 2010” list going right about now. I like to see how many I’ve read (often less than half; okay, sometimes just one or two) and see… Continue reading

  • Metro Reads 4: What are you reading on your commute?

    Some books we saw on Metro and Link: Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel on Route 7 to Rainier Beach Foods That Fight Pain by Neal D. Barnard  on Route 54 to West Seattle A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin on Route 54 Web of Love by Mary Balogh on Route 54 The… Continue reading

  • The Novel: Live! 36 authors to create a novel in six days

    Here’s your chance to read it as they write it: Tomorrow morning at 10 sharp, novelist Jennie Shortridge will write the opening lines of a new novel, something she’s certainly done before, but never in so public of a space. This time, Shortridge and 35 other local authors are writing on stage in The Novel: Live!  —… Continue reading

  • Loving fiction to the soles of my feet

    If you spend a lot of time in the fiction stacks, you may have noticed shoes and feet gracing the covers of many adult novels and teen novels. This certainly isn’t a new trend, but it does seem more prevalent in the last five years for all sorts of novels (not just chick lit, which,… Continue reading

  • Children’s novels: Summer adventures away from home

    Have you noticed that there’s something extra appealing when you get the parents out of the way in a children’s novel? I certainly don’t intend for that to sound disprespectful or malicious, but I find stories especially satisfying when the child is out on his or her own, often in unfamiliar situations. Summer settings are ideal for… Continue reading