Massive loss that left so many feeling helpless, fragile and unmoored. The ongoing fight for equity. A catch-all anxiety tied to the simple passing of time. Moments of true rest were few and far between this past year. But there were moments.
In 2020 we all turned to our usual methods of distraction and I unsurprisingly turned to reading. Or, I wanted to turn to reading. But like so many booksellers this year, even with more time to read than ever before, reading felt like a chore rather than an escape. No matter what I picked up, nothing grabbed my attention long enough to make me forget all the other thoughts swirling around in my head. I’ve had reading-slumps before, but this felt different. It felt like I’d never be able to lose myself in a book again.
We get it. It's been a rough year and time is really just a loose concept at this point. I can hardly wrap my head around the fact that Christmas is less than a week away. So if you haven't gotten all your gifts yet, don't worry, we've got a couple sure-fire gifts to make things a little easier.
The phrase "History book" might give you flashbacks to high school social studies classes, but there's more to the subject than the dates and figures you memorized while sitting at a desk. The past is replete with astonishing and hilarious tales, and the origins or impact of everyday items might surprise you.
Alright people, it's officially holiday season. I can't believe it's already that time of year again but somehow here we are. Our resident Romance and Mystery & Suspense experts have picked out some of their favorite holiday themed books just for you. Enjoy!
'Tis the season to express gratitude, and boy, do I have plenty of people to thank! Since April, I have been the point person for our Books to Students Fund, an ongoing fundraiser to support students across the greater Seattle area during the COVID-19 school closures.
To celebrate Indigenous Heritage Month this November, we collected a list of amazing books by Native and Indigenous authors that have been shaking up the literary world in the last couple years. From the genre-bending brilliance of Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq, to the wonder and whimsy of Darcie Little Badger’s Elatsoe, the inventiveness, modernity, and sheer talent of these writers is what makes us booksellers excited to do our jobs.
Don’t know where to start with kids' books these days? No worries! We’ve got you covered with a list of your favorite classics paired with modern titles to help you find some great, new reads for the young readers in your life. These newer books tackle a lot of the same themes and storylines as the classics but with fresh twists and more diverse perspectives.
