Misha S.

  • The Pitt Readalikes

    The Pitt Readalikes

    “The Pitt” season 2 recently wrapped and I already miss the characters and the unfolding drama. If you also miss the high stakes, mission-driven ER environment of The Pitt, as well as the interpersonal dynamics between the cast members, here are some books to read while we wait for another season:  The Hospital: Life, Death,… Continue reading

  • Complex Characters and Epistolary Novels: More Books Like The Correspondent

    Complex Characters and Epistolary Novels: More Books Like The Correspondent

    I don’t know about you, but I did not see the popularity of the epistolary debut The Correspondent by Virginia Evans coming. First novels, let alone novels written entirely in letters, are not necessarily burning up the bestseller lists these days. Book trends can follow predictable arcs at times, so it can be refreshing when a book or… Continue reading

  • Book Bingo NW 2025: Censorship

    Book Bingo NW 2025: Censorship

    While Summer Book Bingo has featured “Banned” as a category for many years (2015-2017) and “Banned or challenged book” in 2022, we still get reader requests to feature “Banned Books” as a category every year. As book bans are increasing, it’s not surprising that readers want to highlight this, but we mostly see the same… Continue reading

  • Arab American Heritage Month

    Arab American Heritage Month

    There have been some amazing Arab and Arab American books out lately, so just in time for Arab American Heritage month, here are some books and authors to explore: Omar El Akkad’s One Day, We Will All Have Been Against This is already one of the buzziest books of the year. Portland area Arab Canadian… Continue reading

  • Book Bingo NW 2024: Friendship

    “Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” — Anaïs Nin In 2023, one of our more popular Book Bingo categories was “Read With a Friend.” We often hear how often friends tackle Book Bingo… Continue reading

  • Book Bingo NW 2024: Queer Joy

    “We struggle and fight for our joy — an unreserved and unapologetic joy that springs from our ability to live as we are. It’s a joy worth fighting for and it’s this joy that links all of our struggles together.” — Lady Phyll Readers deserve all kinds of queer stories, but stories that center queer… Continue reading

  • Cozy Horror: Gross But Also Sweet!

    Yes, Cozy Horror is a THING! Even horror can combine elements of the gory and horrific with the sweet and reassuring. Don’t believe me? Here’s two to try: Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell This surprisingly delightful debut was fun, sweet, AND gross–frequently all at once! Who gets to call something… Continue reading

  • Characters with Real World Problems – No Matter the Genre

    Rich and royal characters are a mainstay in literature. We do like to know what it is like to have it all. To live in opulence and navigate the world with ease is something we are told to aspire to, so culturally we gravitate to depictions of wealth and plentitude. Plus, we also love learning… Continue reading

  • Author Spotlight: T. Kingfisher

    Fall is upon us, and with spooky season right around the corner, I can’t think of a better time to put T. Kingfisher on your radar. T. Kingfisher, aka Ursula Vernon (who writes children’s books under that name), is a prolific writer of humorous and often terrifying works of fantasy and horror. Some of her… Continue reading

  • Nightstand Reads with Tobi Ogundiran

    Tobi Ogundiran’s debut short story collection Jackal, Jackal is out this month with Undertow Publications, and he will be in Seattle at the Central Library in conversation with Nisi Shawl on Wednesday, July 26th at 7pm. Third Place Books is our community partner on the event. We asked him to share a bit about his… Continue reading

  • What’s new in Pacific Northwest Science Fiction and Fantasy

    The Pacific Northwest has always been a little different, as these wildly imaginative recent Fantasy and Science Fiction titles by NW authors attest. Feral Creatures by Kira Jane Buxton. Facing a battle in Seattle against a mutant horde, Cheeto loving crow S.T. takes Dee, the sole surviving human, under his wing, in the hilarious sequel… Continue reading

  • Adult Summer Reading Book Bingo NW 2022 Starts TODAY!

    Adult Summer Reading Book Bingo NW 2022 Starts TODAY!

    Today is the day–Wednesday, May 18th is the start of our 8th Year of Summer Book Bingo with our amazing partner Seattle Arts & Lectures! The bingo card artwork by local artist Jorge Villavicencio highlights the Library’s Year of Wonder theme with vibrant, whimsical balloons, kites, and reading aliens from outer space to help set… Continue reading

  • #BookBingoNW2021 is ON!

    Bluer skies, longer days, fewer masks – it can only mean one thing. Once again, it’s time for Summer Book Bingo! This is our 7th year – YES, the 7th! Such a lucky number! – partnering with Seattle Arts & Lectures to bring you a free adult summer reading program with reading challenges and drawing… Continue reading

  • PNW Asian American and Pacific Islander Authors

    May is Asian Pacific American Heritage month, but as author Nicole Chung noted, “work by Asian American writers is always timely.” The library has created some fantastic lists celebrating Asian American writers and artists for all ages to explore, but I wanted to call attention to some Pacific Northwest Asian American and Pacific Islander authors… Continue reading

  • Black History Month reading inspiration: short stories

    While February is a short month — too short — I decided to celebrate this Black History Month by reading a short story a day by Black authors. I have been rotating through a variety of anthologies and collections, delighted by the discoveries within: Heads of the Colored People: Stories by Nafissa Thompson-SpiresMy favorite story… Continue reading

  • WA Do I Read Next? (Part 3)

    In the final post of our trilogy of WA Do I Read Next suggestions, we share a few more recently published titles by local authors. (For more, see this Here is  list of many of the books we talked about at this year’s online conference. Conventionally Yours, by Annabeth Albert (Sourcebooks) This is a sweet, new-adult… Continue reading

  • WA Do I Read Next? (Part 2)

    Here is the continuation of last week’s WA Do I Read Next post, in which we share a few more recently published titles by local authors shared at this year’s Washington Library Association meeting. (For more, see this Here is  list of many of the books we talked about at this year’s online conference. We… Continue reading

  • WA Do I Read Next? (Part 1)

    The Washington Library Association met online this year instead of in Spokane. Most years there is a panel focused on Washington authors with the cheeky title “WA Do I Read Next?” This year I had the pleasure of joining this panel event online with other librarians and local authors to celebrate recently published books by… Continue reading