The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell “The Marriage Portrait” is an imaginative work of historical fiction set in Renaissance Italy. Author Maggie O’Farrell takes scant details about the life of Lucrezia di Cosimo de’Medici d’Este, Duchess of Ferrara, and her relationship with her husband, the Duke of Ferrara, to craft a harrowing tale about the … Read more
Tell It to Me Singing by Tita Ramirez Life is not turning out the way Mónica Campo intended. Pregnant with her first child and newly engaged to a nice guy, Mónica can’t stop thinking about her ex-boyfriend Manny, despite all the ways their relationship went wrong. But things get even more complicated when Mónica’s mother develops … Read more
After Annie by Anna Quindlen Annie Brown dies at dinnertime, struck down by an aneurysm as she’s making the mashed potatoes. Her death is a shock; to those who love her, Annie is the heartbeat of life, and absent her steady sensibility, their lives are immediately upended. Husband Bill fumbles through his grief, incapable of parenting … Read more
Arctic Traverse: A Thousand-mile Summer of Trekking the Brooks Range by Michael Engelhard Warning: reading Arctic Traverse: A Thousand-mile Summer of Trekking the Brooks Range by Michael Engelhard may cause you to fall in love with Alaska’s Brooks Range – and also to dream about being pursued by grizzly bears. Engelhard is an evocative writer, and Arctic Traverse is very … Read more
Adrift: the Curious Tale of the Lego Lost at Sea by Tracey Williams For some, summer days spent along Washington’s rocky shores conjure up memories of kite flying, flipping rocks to startle baby crabs, and beachcombing. The joy of finding the occasional shell or sand dollar, a piece of interesting driftwood or the ultimate prize – … Read more
Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune Reading “Under the Whispering Door” by T.J. Klune is, as the name suggests, like curling up in a cozy chair with a hot cup of tea. Some books inform the reader with new knowledge, but Klune’s writing inspires the reader to live more fully. Wallace, a career-minded lawyer … Read more
Medicinal Plants of the Pacific Northwest: A Visual Guide to Harvesting and Healing with 35 Common Species by Natalie Hammerquist Hikers beware! It’s the season for stinging nettles, and they’re all over the place on local trails. But one person’s hazard is another person’s healthy elixir — so if you’re like my friend, the minute you … Read more
I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger Against the backdrop of a dystopian landscape in a climate-changed near future, “I Cheerfully Refuse” by Leif Enger tells the story of Rainy, a gentle bear of a man, house painter and aspiring bass player, as he seeks redemption after the loss of his beloved wife, Lark. Setting sail on … Read more
Calling for a Blanket Dance by Oscar Hokeah “Calling for a Blanket Dance” is a moving tale of the power of heritage and generational connections. Author Oscar Hokeah stitches together a series of distinct narrative vignettes to create a unified story; one deeply profound and heartbreaking, yet also uplifting and inspiring. The thread running throughout … Read more
Thunder Song: Essays by Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe’s debut memoir, Red Paint, was all about healing. Her new book, Thunder Song, is all about embracing contradiction—about both charting a new path and staying rooted. These carefully crafted, multi-layered essays explore themes that are dear to LaPointe’s heart: her queer and indigenous identity, activism, and family history. … Read more