Summer reading

  • A Dream of Summer

    A Dream of Summer, because we are all dreaming of summer… Here we are in the heady rush of summer, where busy summer plans are making themselves felt regardless of the on-again, off-again weather. In the midst of all the hurry, I find myself longing for quiet dreaming reads – the ones that speak of… Continue reading

  • Summer reading: Suggestions from readers at our Northeast Branch, part II

    Austenland by Shannon Hale Like most of us Austen fans, Jane adores Mr. Darcy, and has a hard time with real men not matching up. She is given a vacation in Jane Austen’s world (costumes, men, and everything!) and the chance to sort out fiction from real life.      ~ Erin In the Garden of… Continue reading

  • Summer reading: More suggestions from Ballard readers

    Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace by Ayelet Waldman Oh Ayelet Waldman, will you be my BFF?!? I laughed, I cried, I vowed to become a be tter “bad mother.” If parenting has you searching for some truth, this is the place to find it. ~ Rain An… Continue reading

  • Summer reading: Suggestions from Green Lake readers

    Elephant Winter by Kim Eichlin The protagonist — a companion to a dying woman —  finds love, loss and drama in a part-time job in a Canadian exotic animal farm. Lovely meditation on family, trust and letting go of loved ones. ~ Debra The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson Last year’s Booker Prize winner caused… Continue reading

  • Summer reading: Suggestions from Queen Anne readers

    Extreme Careers: Secret Agents by Claudia Manley I have a good job now but I always wondered ….and this book had answers!      ~ Agent ? Little Women by Louisa May Alcott It’s been 64 years since I first read Little Women. I had to read it again after reading Cheever’s biography of Alcott. I… Continue reading

  • Summer reading: Suggestions from Fremont readers

    Dead Man’s Handle by Peter O’Donnell Action heroine Modesty Blaise faces her worst danger yet when her right-hand man Willie Garvin is brainwashed to think she’s a doppelganger.  ~ Amber The Wee Free Men  by Terry Pratchett I got hooked on the Nac Mac Feegles, the tiny blue men with foul mouths and Scottish accents… Continue reading

  • Summer reading: Suggestions from readers at the Beacon Hill branch

    Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese An excellent surprise, a novel based on real characters, places, and events. It unfolds into a love story not apparent in the beginning of the book. Rich and lovely! ~ Rachael The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd Summer 1964: Fourteen-year-old Lily runs away from her hometown… Continue reading

  • Personalized teen book lists!

    Going on a road trip? Looking for an audiobook that both you and your teen can enjoy? Our teen services librarians are standing by to help. Use our Next 5 Books service to request suggestions for audiobooks that everyone in the family will enjoy. And of course, we’re also happy to suggest beach reads for… Continue reading

  • How about a little horror for your summer?

    Our librarians put together a list of some of their favorite horror novels and short stories from the past couple of years. Most of the books are available now, or have short waitlists. Here are a few to get you started: Horns by Joe Hill After the murder of his girlfriend, Ig Parrish gets drunk… Continue reading

  • Come on, try this at home!

    Not every child comes with a compelling drive to sit with the latest 400-page blockbuster novel.  This, in no way, implies that such a child is not a reader. It just means that she might look beyond fiction books for her particular fun.  And this lucky child will find countless opportunities for exploration in the… Continue reading

  • Personalized reading suggestions for teens in Seattle!

    For all you teens in Seattle — our incredible teen services librarians are ready to help you find a book you WANT to read. All you have to do is use the Ask-a-Librarian form to tell us a little bit about what you like to read. We’ll get back to you in a day or two… Continue reading

  • What’s your summer reading goal?

    At The Seattle Public Library, our goal is for the good people of Seattle to read 148,000 books this summer. That’s right: 148,000 books. And we’re pretty sure we can reach that goal — with your help, of course. It’s an all-ages kind of reading celebration this summer: Kids, teens and adults can sign up for… Continue reading

  • Children’s Summer Reads: Chapter Books

    Summer is almost here, along with Summer Reading programs, days at the beach, camping, and a much deserved respite from school. Now is the time for some fun, recreational reading. These new titles are sure to put kids in a summer state of mind: Animal Rescue Team: Gator on the Loose! , by Sue Stauffacher… Continue reading

  • Summer reading countdown …

    We have 24 days to reach our goal of reading 125,000 books in Seattle this summer! Stop by your neighborhood branch or Level 3 of the Central Library to let us know how many books you’ve read since June 1. Pictured above: Sign at the Greenwood Branch, photo taken in July. Help your branch reach its goal! Continue reading

  • Even More Summer Staff Favorites for Children

    Gully’s Travels, by Tor Seidler J SEIDLER Gully lives a happy life of luxury, residing in Manhattan and travelling to Paris with his professor. Everything changes when his master rejects him and he is forced to live a simpler life-style with a happy-go-lucky family. Gully tries to solve the riddle of why he was abandoned… Continue reading

  • ‘The Help’ reaches its tipping point

    There’s a lot to love about summer reading when you work in a library, but the best part is when people stop by to tell you what they’ve been reading. And that’s how, early in June, I found one of my favorite books of the past several years: The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  In this… Continue reading

  • More Summer Staff Favorites for Children: Historical Fiction

    The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had, by Kristin Levine J LEVINE Prepare to fall in love with the narrator of this story! Dit tells the tale of a memorable year in tiny Moundville, Alabama, during World War I, the year he meets and befriends Emma.  Dit provokes a blatantly racist sheriff to shoot at… Continue reading

  • Summer Reading: A few favorites from Montlake

    Books pictured here include: Love is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss One Song at a Time by Rob Sheffield Blackbird House by Alice Hoffman Two Rivers by T. Greenwood The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier The Book of Joe by Jonathan Tropper The Secret of Lost Things by Sheridan Hay Two… Continue reading