Begin your next reading adventure with help from our well-read staff. We have ideas and collections for every mood and every personality.
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| Booklist | |
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 | Hispanic Heritage Month: New Fiction Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with these engaging new novels by Hispanic and Latino authors! |
 | Branch Out 2024 Lightning Book Talks The 2024 Whatcom County Library Foundation fundraising celebration Branch Out was held on Friday, September 6 at the Bellwether Hotel. This yearly event featured four WCLS librarians doing one-minute lightning book talks of these titles. Check them out! And if you missed Branch Out this year, we hope you'll join us next year. (The list includes links to the print format; click the author name to find other formats.) |
 | Hit the Ground Running with Fast-Paced Fiction These fast-paced new novels are suspenseful, plot-driven, and action packed. |
 | Dive Deep with Microhistories Microhistories are history books that are laser-focused on particular event or cultural phenomenon, but they also open windows into broader historical themes. Learn something new with these micro histories that dive deep. |
 | No Frills Literary Fiction The new literary fiction books in this list feature spare, candid prose and introspective themes that get straight to the heart of the matter. |
 | Booker Prize 2024 Each year, the Booker Prize recognizes extraordinary literary contributions by selecting the top work of fiction written in English as determined by a panel of judges. The 2024 longlist has just been revealed and includes "blackly comic page-turners, multigenerational epics, meditations on the pain of exile – plus a crime caper, a spy thriller, an unflinching account of girls’ boxing and a reimagining of a 19th-century classic," just to name a few. Read on for the titles featured on both the longlist and shortlist. The winner of the Booker Prize will be announced on November 12. |
 | Take the Plunge: Swimming Nonfiction Pack your swimsuit and a towel and get into the water! These memoirs, how-to books, and travel guides will inspire you to swim all year long. |
 | Oceanic Nonfiction Nonfiction about everything ocean: marine biology, ecology, and underwater communication. |
 | Shipwrecks Maritime disasters, mutinies, and the hunt for shipwrecks on the ocean floor. |
 | Disability Pride Month In July we remember that disability impacts all of us. Over 1 in 4 Americans have some type of disability, whether visible, invisible, or a combination of the two. Celebrate the work of disabled advocates, activists and authors with these nonfiction books. |
 | Killer Humor Death doesn’t always need to be serious. These darkly funny mysteries feature unconventional, often cynical sleuths who find humor in tragic and absurd situations. |
 | Road Trip Romances Road trips provide plenty of opportunites for building sexual tension. Enjoy the reading journey with these travel-themed romantic comedies. |
 | Standalone Sci Fi Novels These sci fi and speculative fiction stories wrap up in just one volume and won’t leave you on a cliffhanger. |
 | Summer’s Most Anticipated Fiction 2024 Ahh summer! A time for leisure, hot sun and cold drinks – and of course loads of reading. Check out this list of some of the most anticipated novels of summer 2024 to find what’s worth saving room for in your beach bag. |
 | The Magic of Japan Explore Japan and its unique culture with books about travel, mythology, fashion, and traditional Japanese ways of being. |
 | Read with Pride: New Fiction Celebrate Pride Month with these newly published novels–including literary fiction, romances, and speculative genre fiction–featuring LGBTQIA+ characters and relationships. |
 | Read with Pride: New Nonfiction Celebrate Pride Month with these newly published nonfiction books, memoirs, and poetry collections by LGBTQIA+ writers. |
 | Love Bridgerton? Read This Next Dearest reader, once one has binge-watched all of Netflix’s Bridgerton, one finds oneself in need of further diversion. What delicious scandals will arise in these steamy page-turners? One must only turn the pages to discover! |
 | Music Meets Poetry Music and poetry are deeply intertwined. Beyond elements like rhythm and rhyme, the poets in this list integrate music into their work in surprising ways. |
 | Middle Eastern Poetry Explore the Middle East’s deep poetic history with poetry both ancient and contemporary. |
 | Understanding Autism April is Autism Acceptance Month. Celebrate with these books that explore the wide range of perspectives, experiences, and challenges within the autistic community. |
 | Cozy Fiction in Translation Short and sweet, these translated novels deliver the cozy vibes for a heartwarming and reflective reading experience. |
 | Birding Guides and Memoirs Birdwatching encourages us to slow down and pay attention to the natural world around us. These field guides and birding memoirs will inspire you to look and listen the birds in your own backyard, or even take up a birdwatching practice. |
 | Spring Cleaning Out with the old, in with the new! These books will help you harness spring cleaning energy and get organized. |
| Garden Wonderlands Get inspired with these gardening books that will teach you how to grow fragrant flowers, attract pollinators, compost nutritious soil, and more. |
 | If You Liked Red Paint These memoirs, essays, and poetry collections draw from similar themes as Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe’s candid, lyrical memoir: family history, healing from trauma, and the power of language. |
 | Punk Revolution These books about punk music and the women who make it are full of rebellious energy and the DIY spirit. |
 | Coast Salish Culture and Stories Coast Salish peoples have called this area home since time immemorial. These books recognize the Puget Sound's indigenous history and celebrate the work that modern artists, poets, and thought leaders do to honor Coast Salish culture. |
 | Historical Fiction from Black Authors Full of interesting settings and characters, these works of historical fiction from Black authors transport readers to the past for an immersive reading experience. |
 | At the Movies Nonfiction that takes us behind the scenes of Hollywood, filmmaking, and our favorite movies. |
 | Hollywood Historical Fiction |
 | Pacific Northwest Book Awards 2024 |
 | Book Club Picks Winter 2024 If you're in need of ideas for your next book club selection, we can help! Our quarterly lists are filled with engaging titles sure to spark discussion. Each title is available in various formats so you can read the way you want to; just click the author's name to see the full list of options. Happy reading! |
 | 2024 Carnegie Medals - Nonfiction The Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction, established in 2012, recognize the best fiction and nonfiction books for adult readers published in the U.S. in the previous year. These awards are presented by the American Library Association. Winners were announced on January 20, 2024. |
 | 2024 Carnegie Medals - Fiction The Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction, established in 2012, recognize the best fiction and nonfiction books for adult readers published in the U.S. in the previous year. These awards are presented by the American Library Association. Winners were announced on January 20, 2024. |
 | Nonfiction to Satisfy Your Curiosity "I love listening to audiobooks, and my favorite genre is nonfiction. It’s like listening to a super-long podcast! I gravitate toward accessibly-written microhistories and sociology—books that teach me something new about how the world works. These were the nonfictions books I read in 2023 that have stuck with me, from the irreverent to the lifechanging." -Emma, Collection Development Librarian |
 | Mystery and Suspense for All Moods "I read pretty widely and enjoy lots of genres, but for me, nothing compares to a page-turning thriller or whodunit. Happily, this was a banner year for interesting, well-crafted mystery and suspense novels. Not only did we get books from big names in the genre, we also were introduced to debut authors that are sure to become favorites. From gritty and realistic to funny and snarky, these are my top picks of the year." -- Mary K, Collection Development Librarian |
 | Meet Your Next Favorite Poet "I love poetry so much that I am convinced I can find a poet or poem to make everyone fall in love with it. My love for poetry comes from great teachers, amazing professors, and participating in poetry slam and spoken word events around the world. My pick list includes a variety of poetry that I have enjoyed from the stage to the page to the audiobook. See if you can find a poem to make you fall in love." -Cynthia F., Communications Specialist |
 | Native Author or Contributor There's a lot of material available about Native American/Indigenous People, not all of it is by Native People. In this list you'll find material made by people from across Native America. |
 | WCLS Staff Favorites 2023 As 2023 winds down, WCLS staff are looking back at their reading year and picking out their top choices. Take a look at our wide-ranging list of staff picks - maybe you'll find a new favorite of your own! |
 | A Small Town Holiday Romance Capture the cozy vibes this holiday season with these novels filled with family, love and small-town charm. |
 | Fiction from the Equator Keep on the sunny side with fiction from equatorial countries. These novels are written by authors from South America, Africa, and island nations in between. |
 | Arctic Fiction for Dark Days These novels are by authors who live in the coldest, darkest places: countries that touch the Arctic Circle. |
 | New Memoir Fall 2023 Fall offers a bumper crop of interesting memoirs for readers. From celebrities to names that are less well known, read on to explore these recently published picks. |
 | Sub-Zero Nonfiction These exciting nonfiction books are about life, death and adventure on the coldest continent: Antarctica. |
 | Inspiration for NaNoWriMo This is your year! You're finally going to write that novel and National Novel Writing Month (aka NaNoWriMo) is just the time to do it. Look to these guides for inspiration as you work toward that 50,000 word goal. |
 | Native American Heritage Month: Titles for Adults These books and DVDs provide many perspectives on the Native American experience. Read on to explore memoir, history, poetry and more. |
 | Understanding Mental Health Whether you're looking to better understand your own experiences or that of a friend or loved one, these memoirs and guides can help. |
 | Lambda Literary Awards 2023 The Lambda Literary Awards, also known as the "Lammys" are awarded yearly by Lambda Literary and celebrate outstanding LGBTQ+ storytelling from a given year. Read on for a selection of 2023 winners! |
 | Astronomy and the Stars Read about the stars, space exploration, about our place in the universe with some of the best science writing Earth has to offer. |
 | Astrology for Self Care Get introspective with these new astrology books and use the stars to manifest success. |
 | Audiobooks for Exploring Nature Grab your earbuds and get outside! These nature-themed audiobooks make the perfect companions for a hike, picnic or ramble on the beach. |
 | A Sense of Place: Audio There's nothing like a strong sense of place to take a story to the next level. In these audiobooks, the setting is just as much a character as any of the people. Sink into one of these unique worlds for an absorbing listening experience. |
 | Read by the Author: Celebrity Memoirs What's juicier than a celebrity memoir? That same memoir brought to life by the celebrity's own voice! Check out these glimpses at life in the limelight, read by their famous authors, for a fascinating listening experience. |
 | Wild Family Weddings Weddings bring together large casts of characters who share family history--and family drama. These novels are the perfect combination of funny, dramatic, and romantic. |
 | Summer Fun for the Young at Heart The books in this list will help you slow down, get outside, and reconnect with your childhood sense of joy and wonder. |
 | From the Garden to Your Kitchen: Cookbooks These cookbooks will inspire you to make the most of summer produce from the farmers market or your garden. |
 | Whatcom Grooves: Books for a Summer of Jazz Celebrate our summer jazz series with books about jazz and music appreciation! Gather with your neighbors for a joyous hour of live music at events hosted by Friends of the Library in South Whatcom, Ferndale, and Blaine. Learn more at wcls.org/jazz. |
 | Trees & Forests - Nonfiction For Adults This summer, join us as we read for trees. Find out more at the library or wcls.org/summer-reading. Turn to this list for nonfiction books about trees and forests. |
 | Pride Month: Books for Allies Whether you're looking to become a stronger ally to family and friends or to better understand the varied experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community, these resources offer perspective, insight and support. |
 | Juneteenth: Resources for Adults Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, is an American holiday celebrated annually on June 19th. On this day in 1865, Union General Granger read orders in Texas notifying enslaved people that they were now free. Those freedoms had come with the Emancipation Proclamation, which became law in January 1863; however, enslaved persons in Texas did not become aware of their freedoms until two and a half years later. Learn more about slavery, emancipation, and Juneteenth with these Black History resources. |
 | Must-Read Fiction by Native Authors From thrillers to fantasy to literary fiction and more, these novels by Native American and First Nations authors explore a range of topics and provide plenty of page-turning reading. |
STAFF REVIEWS
Book Buzz: Wolfish
Wolfish: Wolf, Self, and the Stories We Tell About Fear by Erica Berry Why are wolves so feared and reviled? How do the stories we tell about them unconsciously shape our relationship to our environment? When is fear healthy and realistic? Portland author Erica Berry’s debut book, “Wolfish,” wrestles with these questions, blending memoir, science … Read more
Book Buzz: Take
Take by Jennifer Bradbury Skagit County author Jennifer Bradbury’s most recent novel for teens is a mystery/thriller set in the peaks of the North Cascades. Cara just graduated from high school and is working multiple part-time jobs to earn enough for her gap year, which she intends to spend climbing in Patagonia. She’s looking forward to … Read more
Book Buzz: Why We Read
Why We Read: On Bookworms, Libraries, and Just One More Page Before Lights Out by Shannon Reed Why do you read? Is it to find companionship, escape, adventure? If you’re Shannon Reed, it’s for all those reasons and plenty more. As a child with a hearing impairment, books became Reed’s lifeline. That connection strengthened with time, … Read more
Book Buzz: I’ve Tried Being Nice
I’ve Tried Being Nice: Essays by Ann Leary Ann Leary is done being nice. No one can say she hasn’t tried, but after a lifetime of people-pleasing, and with her children finally launched, Leary has stopped bending over backwards. In this relatable essay collection, the novelist sheds her always-agreeable image and shares the nitty-gritty details of … Read more
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COMMUNITY READS
Northwest Washington’s premier annual literary event, Whatcom READS celebrates reading, readers and strong communities through the shared experience of one book. The 2024-2025 selection is No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister Whatcom READS is hosted by all the public and academic libraries in Whatcom County and community partner Village Books. Learn more at whatcomreads.org.
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WCLS in Whatcom County presents Library Stories
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