Book Buzz: The French Ingredient

The French Ingredient: Making a Life in Paris One Lesson at a Time by Jane Bertch

The French Ingredient: Making a Life in Paris One Lesson at a Time by Jane Bertch  Midwesterner Jane Bertch wasn’t much of a world traveler when her job in finance took her overseas. But after spending several years in London, she felt ready to sign on to life in Paris. It wasn’t long before she fell … Read more

Book Buzz: Daughters of Riga

Daughters of Riga by Marian Exall

Daughters of Riga by Marian Exall Bellingham author Marian Exall trades mysteries for historical fiction with her newest title, “Daughters of Riga,” which follows the lives of several women whose lives crossed paths in Latvia during World War II. While so much has been written about the Blitz in Britain and the occupation of France and the … Read more

Book Buzz: The Chaos Machine

Cover image for "The Chaos Machine: the Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds and Our World" by Max Fisher

The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds and Our World by Max Fisher Max Fisher, an international reporter and columnist, has written extensively on diplomacy, conflict and social change. In “The Chaos Machine,” Fisher turns his journalistic lens to the world of social media and its impact on society. … Read more

Book Buzz: This Is the Honey

This Is the Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets; edited by Kwame Alexander

This Is the Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets; edited by Kwame Alexander In 2020, poet Kevin Young, current director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and poetry editor for the New Yorker, published “African American Poetry: 250 Years of Struggle and Song.” Young’s 1,110-page anthology is a comprehensive array of Black poets from … Read more

Book Buzz: Brutalities

Brutalities: A Love Story by Margo Steines

Brutalities:  A Love Story by Margo Steines   Since she was a teenager, Margo Steines has been drawn to risk and self-inflicted suffering. Substance use, an abusive relationship, and careers as a dominatrix and a welder in high-rise buildings are all stops on her lifetime tour of pain—both physical and emotional. Even after she settles into a … Read more

Book Buzz: The Night Parade

The Night Parade: A Speculative Memoir by Jami Nakamura Lin

The Night Parade: A Speculative Memoir by Jami Nakamura Lin “Maybe this isn’t a story about ghosts, but a story about telling a story about ghosts.”  This genre-defying memoir uses multiple storytelling traditions to make sense of mental illness, motherhood, and grief. Jami Nakamura Lin, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at seventeen, has always struggled … Read more

Book Buzz: Find Yourself at Home

Find Yourself at Home: A Conscious Approach to Shaping Your Space and Your Life by Emily Grosvenor

Find Yourself at Home: A Conscious Approach to Shaping Your Space and Your Life by Emily Grosvenor Emily Grosvenor is a feng shui consultant, editor of Oregon Home magazine and author of “Find Yourself at Home: A Conscious Approach to Shaping Your Space and Your Life.” (Photo courtesy of Beth Olson Creative) How would your life change if your concept of home was not as sanctuary, a … Read more

Book Buzz: Sourdough

Cover image for "Sourdough: A Novel" by Robin Sloan

Sourdough: A Novel by Robin Sloan Like the joy of freshly baked bread, “Sourdough” is a warm and comforting read.   Satire traditionally employs irony and exaggeration to humorously point out social and political failings. Consequently, satire tends to run blunt and stark. In “Sourdough,” Robin Sloan crafts something different: A subtly satirical look at the … Read more

Book Buzz: The Lost Journals of Sacajewea

The Lost Journals of Sacajewea by Debra Magpie Earling

The Lost Journals of Sacajewea by Debra Magpie Earling Schoolchildren across the country have heard the story of Sacajawea, and can readily recall her association with the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804 – 1806.  She is commonly referred to as the expedition’s interpreter.  One has the impression of a beautiful, competent, wise young woman who … Read more