The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin Legendary music producer and founder of Def Jam Recordings Rick Rubin is known for his light touch with artists and an ear for what’s profitable. The list of musicians and bands he’s worked with is a who’s who of rap, hip-hop, heavy metal and rock: Beastie … Read more
Trailer Park Psalms: Poems by Ryler Dustin Ryler Dustin’s latest book of poetry, “Trailer Park Psalms,” is a slender volume of poems that speaks to readers with a quiet voice. Dustin developed his skill as a poet and spoken word performer at the long-running Poetry Night open mic at Stuart’s Coffeehouse on the corner of Bellingham’s … Read more
I Never Dreamed You’d Leave in Summer by Robert Lashley I have read and heard Robert Lashley’s work for more than 15 years. He has published three books of poetry and has presented his work in venues across the country. In 2021, at the peak of the pandemic, Lashley gave a live 10-poem performance via Zoom. … Read more
Phoebe’s Diary by Phoebe Wahl Welcome to Bellingham. The year is 2006. Teenagers smoke weed, play pool at Kendrick’s and rent movies from Trek Video. Flirting happens via flip phone and Myspace. Irony and ballet flats are in. Phoebe is a sophomore who wears DIY skinny jeans, listens to the best indie bands and attends play … Read more
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin There are books that love books; books that extol the virtues of books; books that fixate on the very nature of books; and then there are books that are heartfelt love letters to the power of books. “The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry” falls into the … Read more
American Mermaid by Julia Langbein This splashy debut novel is part Hollywood satire, part girl-power eco-thriller. High school English teacher Penny moves to LA for the summer to adapt her bestselling novel into a movie. In Penny’s book, also called American Mermaid, protagonist Sylvia is an asexual engineer who discovers that her disability—she has chronic pain in her … Read more
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang “Bad Art Friend” meets psychological thriller in this pacy, satirical page-turner. June Hayward is a struggling author whose debut novel flopped. Her college friend, Athena Liu, is a bestselling author who just landed a Netflix deal. When Athena dies in an accident, June finds herself in possession of the secret manuscript for … Read more
No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister Reviewed by Mary Kinser, collection development librarian, Whatcom County Library System At first glance, you might not understand the connection between the theme of this novel – the magic and power of story – and its title — No Two Persons. Inspired by the familiar adage “no two persons ever read … Read more
The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth by Sam Quinones The Least of Us takes us into the lives of people involved with and impacted by fentanyl and super-meth. Sam Quinones, a former award-winning investigative reporter and now author, has extensive contacts in Mexico and across the … Read more
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel Emily St. John Mandel’s latest work, “Sea of Tranquility,” takes readers on a journey across space and time in hopes of understanding a mysterious anomaly. Spanning from the northern reaches of Vancouver Island to the lunar colonies and ranging from 1912 to 2401, this story is a … Read more