Three on a theme

  • 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

  • Three on a Theme: Cozy Horror

    ‘Tis the season for terrifying tales! But do they all have to be terrifying? Could they also be cozy? Yes, they absolutely can be cozy! What constitutes a “cozy” horror story is highly subjective, but some common examples that folks reference are The Addams Family, Over the Garden Wall, Scary Stories to Tell in the… Continue reading

  • 1990s Vampires

    The days are getting shorter and colder, the fog is rolling in every morning. Fall has arrived, and with it, spooky season! Many may be familiar with local sparkly vampires, but for horror fans looking for a more menacing take on the creature, check out these three titles. My Soul to Keep by Tananarive Due… Continue reading

  • While You Wait: Fourth Wing Readalikes

    “Romantasy” (fantasy romance) is really taking off this summer with the social media sensation Fourth Wing topping holds charts everywhere. While you wait to read this book or its sequel, here are three more books to try: To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose Anequs, a young Indigenous woman from the Maqsuisit nation, is… Continue reading

  • Mixing History with Mystery

    Fellow readers, there are few things I love more than crossover titles – books with footing in multiple genres. I am a huge mystery reader, and I will follow mystery plots into many other genres. Today, let’s talk about some new mysteries that are also quite good historical fiction titles. The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne… Continue reading

  • Deep Dives: The Natural World

    Sometimes, when the world and news cycle seem really fragmented, I take great solace in diving deep on a particular topic. While this can be done on the internet, for me the most satisfying method is to sit down with a book and just let myself sink into the minutia. If you’re craving that same… Continue reading

  • Classic Literary Elections

    Packed with high stakes and inherent drama, it is little surprise that elections figure in many great novels. Drawn from our latest list of literary elections, here are excerpts from a few of our favorites classic fictional campaigns. The Pickwick Papers, by Charles Dickens. “There was a moment of awful suspense as the procession waited… Continue reading

  • Amateurs Getting It Done

    As an avid mystery reader, one aspect of the genre I love the most is knowing that however tumultuous the situation is at the beginning, by the end of the novel the state of affairs will be set right again. Real life is never so certain. Here are three mystery novels wherein regular everyday people… Continue reading

  • Three on a Theme: LGBT Comics

    While many of us tend to associate the graphic novel and comic book genre with superheroes, in a cultural market dominated by companies like Marvel and DC that produce blockbuster movies based in on graphic novels every year, there are plenty of other types of comic books out there that are available to you with… Continue reading

  • Three on a Theme: Animal Comics

    Animals often figure prominently in comic strips and graphic novels, but the ways in which they are represented and the roles they play in telling a story vary greatly across genres and the works of different authors. Often, animals in the comics genre exist mainly for comedic relief, representing cartoon caricatures or anthropomorphisms that tell… Continue reading

  • Three on a Theme: Films About Elections

    With the 2020 elections on the horizon and dominating the news cycle, it is a great time to engage with media that focus on various aspects of electoral politics. Here are three documentary films, available for free with your library card to stream on Kanopy, that tell specific lesser-known election stories from the United States… Continue reading

  • Three on a Theme: Disability Justice

    2020 is an important year for disability rights in America, as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) turned 30 years old this July. This landmark piece of legislation was the result of the hard work of activists in the disability justice movement, which is still in progress today. Here are some SPL resources from disabled… Continue reading

  • Three on a Theme: Pandemic Philosophy

    As we progress into what seems like the umpteenth month of this pandemic, the long-term effects of what it feels like to be isolated from loved ones, constantly exposed to news reports about death and infection rates are starting to feel quite exhausting. Even though some lockdown measures are slowly thawing (have you tried curbside… Continue reading

  • Three on a Theme: Movies About Being Outside

    What is almost as good as getting outside in the summer time? Watching movies about other people getting outside! The outdoors are a great component of so many amazing films available at the library, but there are some films in which “outside” features almost as a character all on its own. These films are different… Continue reading

  • Three on a Theme: Music Documentaries on Kanopy

    The library has always had great resources for music buffs, but lesser known among these are the many documentaries about music, musicians, and musical history that are available on our video streaming services. Often, these include both great insights into the works of famous musicians or hidden gems that tell a particular story about music… Continue reading

  • Contemporary Plays Available as E-Books

    Months into this pandemic, Seattle’s theatres are still dark and the Central Library’s amazing play file is still behind closed doors. Nonetheless, there are still ways for you to access play scripts virtually and stay engaged with some stimulating contemporary theatre as we all await the theatres’ re-openings. Here are three plays that are available… Continue reading

  • Library Resources on Compassion

    “Compassion” and “empathy” have become self-help buzzwords lately, with the recent rise of TED-talk superstars like researcher, author, and speaker Brené Brown. But what does it actually mean to practice compassion towards oneself and others, and how can we use these tools to take better care of our relationships? Here are some library resources for… Continue reading

  • Freegal playlists to stay home and stay healthy with

    Spending all day alone in a silent home isn’t easy. Luckily, you can stream plenty of music through Freegal – for free! – with your library card. What’s more, there are some fantastic mixes already curated and available on the platform to accompany your Stay Home, Stay Healthy experience, no matter what you have planned… Continue reading