Misha S.

  • Science Fiction Fridays: The World’s Saddest Assassin

    I love fantasy with detailed world-building, complex characters and political intrigue, so I was pleased to come across Robin Hobb’s Assassin’s Apprentice the first book in the Farseer trilogy. Assassin’s Apprentice starts when a six year old child, only known even to himself as “boy,” is dropped at the royal court by his grandfather. The boy, later… Continue reading

  • Science Fiction Fridays: He Was A Friend Of Mine

    There are some movies that mean more to you because of when you saw them. They can bear repeated watchings because they are just that good or because some combination of story and nostalgia provides a kind of comfort food. One such movie for me is the science fiction sleeper, “Enemy Mine” (1985). Starring Dennis… Continue reading

  • Science Fiction Fridays: Epic Fantasy to Sink Your Teeth Into

      If you are a new fantasy reader, it can be hard to know where to start. I read so much fantasy as a child that I am mystified in retrospect why I ever stopped. But in trying to regain my fantasy footing, I have been disappointed and delighted at times by the range of… Continue reading

  • If you like Jeffrey Eugenides …

    Jeffrey Eugenides has become an author that readers tell one another about. His first two books, The Virgin Suicides and Middlesex, showcase his unique style and talent with language and storytelling. Eugenides’ new novel, The Marriage Plot, which was just named one of the top ten books of the year by Publishers Weekly as well… Continue reading

  • Librarians select Top 20 Teen Novels

    After some spirited discussion, our Teen Services Librarians whittled down an admirable list of contenders to get to the Top 20 Teen Novels of the 21st Century. Then they decided to take it one step farther: Each Monday they feature one of the titles over on our Push to Talk blog, where there’s a bit… Continue reading

  • Too good to miss: Josephine Tey

    I recently discovered classic mystery author Josephine Tey. A patron and a colleague had told me about her years ago, and I filed the name away until Nancy Pearl mentioned Tey as well. And like many other readers in Seattle, when Nancy Pearl says something is good, you move that book or author to the front… Continue reading

  • Seattle Picks: Book Group Best Bets

    Is your book group in need of some new books to discuss? Try these new titles that are already becoming book group darlings! Bloodroot by Amy Greene  In lovely, lyrical Appalachian cadence, family members take turns narrating the life of a willful, heartbreaking and bewitching woman, Myra, from the Great Depression to the present time. Continue reading

  • Books About New Sibs

    If your family is expecting a new addition sometime soon, you may find yourself scrambling to help your first child cope with and understand the huge change coming their way. When I was looking for picture books for my toddler about new babies, I was surprised how hard it was to find books that weren’t… Continue reading

  • Reader’s Resolutions

    Every New Year resolutions are made. Some go on diets. Some pledge to save. Some pledge to write those thank you cards in a timely manner.  Me, I resolve to do all of those things, but I usually also resolve to read more and more broadly. Not that I always succeed. Continue reading

  • Outcasts & Underdogs

    I love coming-of-age stories. I love them in fiction and in film. But I recently realized that what I love most are coming-of-age stories about outcasts and underdogs. Adolescence (when many, but not all, come-of-age) is pretty awkward for just about everyone, but for some it is a Greek tragedy. Perhaps I identify with these… Continue reading

  • Music That Says Fall

    The transition from summer to fall in Seattle is often a subtle shift in weather — it gradually grows darker, colder and the leaves turn. As soon as that first chill enters the air, I gladly wear scarves and sweaters and find myself drawn to thicker books and darker, more introspective music. Here are some albums I will… Continue reading

  • Lesser Known Children’s Classics

    Everyone has heard of classics like The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Goodnight Moon. But what of those lesser-known picture book treasures, once enjoyed but now a distant memory? Luckily for you, we still have some of these wonderful stories at the library. The Man Who Lost His Head by Claire Huchet Bishop What a wonderful and odd… Continue reading

  • In the Stacks: Short & Sweet

    Recently at the Central Library we did a large display of staff picks with plastic-encased “Shelf Talker” sleeves. We thought we would share some of these with you: The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan Finished with boarding school, Bess Heath returns home to find her family’s prospects drastically changed. She also… Continue reading

  • Hey Grown-ups, Only One Month Left for Summer Reading!

    Summer is more than half over, which means that the Library’s Summer Reading Program is reaching its final weeks. What does that mean to you? Well, it means that we  have only the month of August to reach our reading goals at all of our libraries. We are actually pretty close to meeting our goal for… Continue reading

  • Read-aloud tongue-twisters

    Some picture books are just meant to be read aloud. Your voice flows over the words as you unravel the story for little (or big) ears. Others are meant to be read aloud even though they are written to be hard to read aloud — with rhymes that trip you up and wordy mouthfuls that make them… Continue reading

  • Move Over, Twilight: Try Vampire Academy

    At this point, there are two kinds of readers (and media consumers) out there: those who can’t get enough of vampires and those who can’t stand to hear the word vampire. That being said, like any genre, there are some fantastic books and some that just don’t quite make the cut. I enjoyed the Twilight series even… Continue reading

  • Celebrate Pride with Two Seattle Films

    June is GLBTQ Pride month. Seattle Pride Fest is coming up on June 27th. The Seattle Public Library’s own Bookineers will be marching once again, so look for us there. Looking for other ways to celebrate Pride? Here are two films with ties to Seattle. Alice Wu designed software for Microsoft before she became a director.… Continue reading

  • Celebrate Mother’s Day

    Why not celebrate Mother’s Day with some books? Here are a few picture books celebrating mothers: Olympia papercut artist Nikki McClure just released a picture book called Mama, Is It Summer Yet? In her beautfully simplistic papercut style, each page depicts a mother and son as they have a conversation about looking in nature for signs… Continue reading