Chuckanut Reader - 2012 Spring Edition

The

Chuckanut Reader

Spring 2012

A Magazine for the Northwest’s Most Avid Readers A Village Books Publication Vol. 19 Issue 1

PNBA BOOK AWARDS 2012 PACIFIC NORTHWEST BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION AWARD WINNERS

2012

Each year since 1965, the PNBA Awards have celebrated exceptional books written by Northwest authors.

Congratulations to this year’s winners!

The Sisters Brothers

by Patrick deWitt

With off-kilter wit and the kind of charm that should leave the Coen Brothers tickled, deWitt has crafted a Western novel for people who think they don't like Westerns. Soft-hearted brother Eli's narration in the trail dust of gun-slinging brother Charlie is philosophical and funny—very funny—amidst a stark and violent backdrop. Filled with vividly drawn characters and sharp dialogue, The Sisters Brothers is a gritty, vibrant book.

Feathers

by Thor Hanson Feathers are pretty remarkable. And reading about them in Thor Hanson’s well-researched book is like sitting down for a lively chat with a particularly bright friend. Such enthusiasm, thorough research and rich language! Like the best teachers from our school days—fun.

West of Here

by Jonathan Evison Evison gleefully chews up the Northwest landscape from 1890, when dreamers, drifters, scoundrels and hardworking settlers dove in with unrestrained ambition to harness the wilderness for profit and posterity, to 2006 and their descendants, now suffering the consequences of that wild enthusiasm. The Olympic Peninsula is some of the most beautiful country in the world, and Evison has paid tribute to it.

Shards

by Ismet Prcic Families visiting the country on the weekend, browsing the shops, going to dinner. Bosnian families whose lives are just like ours—then one day, they are not. Powerful, gorgeous writing, complicated without a hint of intellectual grandstanding. This novel is a difficult treasure.

Habibi

by Craig Thompson The intricate artwork in Habibi weaves the beauty of Arabic calligraphy and traditional patterns into a story that feels simultaneously ancient and modern, starkly realistic and mythological. And the discovery doesn't end with the last sentence of the story. The footnotes add another stunning dimension. The appeal of this book will reach far beyond comics fans. Habibi should take its place alongside groundbreaking classics such as Maus and Persepolis.

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Chronology of Water

by Lidia Yuknavitch

Genuine and generous, this memoir risks much and succeeds powerfully. Yuknavitch has a striking story to tell, but the way she tells it is even more striking. The book becomes experiential, which fosters an intimacy between the writer and reader. You will be moved.

Building Community One Book at a Time

Dear Reader,

I

think it says something very positive about our customers that many of you regularly ask how we're doing. You obviously understand that it's a chaotic time in the book business and you are truly concerned about keeping your community bookstore. Well, for the first time in four years we can report that we had a pretty decent holiday season. Clearly it was not back to the glory days of independent bookselling, but we did experience an uptick in sales after several successive holiday downturns. We know it's because you understand the value of locally owned and independently operated businesses, and that you don't want to put the fate of what's published in the hands of impersonal corporations that care nothing about the future of Whatcom County. Many of you have taken the One Book Pledge, including Sharon Allen, who tells why on page 24. Thanks to all of you for caring and understanding.

As we roll into the second quarter of a new year, this edition of the Reader brings previews of many new titles, along with staff reviews of many more. There's also news of a number of Village Books community and national events (like World Book Night), our top stories of the past year, and What Whatcom Was Reading in 2011.

It's hard to believe that a quarter of the year has already passed. We hope you're having a good year and that you've been finding great books to read. It's been fun following your 12/12/12 book choices. May the rest of the year bring you good health, great prosperity, and terrific reading.

–Chuck, Dee,

and the entire Village Books/Paper Dreams Staff

VILLAGE BOOKS

In This Issue...

2012 PNBA Award Winners 2 Dear Reader 3 Activities in Fairhaven and Beyond 4-5 Top 10 Stories for 2011 6-7 The Chuckanut Writers Conference 9 Fiction, Mystery, and Sci Fi (book highlights & reviews) 10-15 World Book Night 16 eBooks - To e or not to e? If Yes, Then How? 17-19 What Whatcom was Reading 2011 20-26 FOOD What, Where, & How! Reviews & More 20-23 Taking the One Book Pledge 24 April is National Poetry Month (highlights & reviews) 25-26 Wednesday Farmer's Market - Can't Wait!

27 The Chuckanut Radio Hour Line-up 29 Religion, Science, Animals, & Nature (books!)

30-35 Memoirs & Biographies (highlights & reviews) 37,39 More Fun Activities you Don't Want to Miss!

40-41 Hisotry, Politics, & Culture (highlights & reviews) 42-43 VB Reads... VB Book Discussion Groups 44-45 New Books from Chuckanut Editions & Robert Spector 47 Reading at a Snail's Pace—The 12/12/12 Plan 49 National Children's Book Week 50-51 Books & More for Kids (highlights & reviews) 53-56 Natural Health Care Series at VB 57 What Whatcom was Reading 2011 58 Literature Live! Author Events at VB 59-62

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

The Chuckanut Reader Spring 2012

Publishers: Chuck and Dee Robinson Production Design: Kelly Carbert

Contributors: Kelly Carbert, Charles Claassen, Christina Claassen, Brendan Clark, Robert Gruen, Rachel Hanley, Paul Hanson, Sarah Hutton, Sam Kaas, Bob Keller, Nan Macy, Claire McElroy-Chesson, Lindsey McGuirk, Laura Picco, Chuck Robinson, Dee Robinson, Rem Ryals, Joan Terselich, Jonica Todd, Kelly Walters, Terri Weiner, & Cindi Williamson Cover: We have cool new organic cotton t-shirts in youth sizes!

Photo by Kelly Carbert.

Content except art & book covers ©Village Books 2012 Printed by the Lynden Tribune on paper made from 50% post-consumer waste

360.671.2626 800.392.BOOK (US & Canada) fax: 360.734.2573

browse & shop anytime!

VillageBooks.com

Village Books in Historic Fairhaven 1200 11th St., Bellingham, WA 98225

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Spring 2012

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, June 1 y a 6t rd u t

Village Books & Fairhaven Runners

Anniversary

5K Walk/Run for Literacy

h

Sa

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

including a Free Kids’ (10 & under) 1/2 mile Run

Pre-Register at Village Books or Fairhaven Runners!

We hope all runners, walkers, readers, and literacy advocates will come and participate in the 13th Annual Anniversary Walk/Run for Literacy.

Registration forms will be available at both stores AND online at villagebooks.com and fairhavenrunners.com by April.

VOLUNTEER! If you’re not up for walking or running and still want to help the cause, join us as a volunteer!

Co-presented by Village Books & The Western Washington University Libraries Contact Steve Roguski at Fairhaven Runners or VB’s Dave Lippiatt for more information.

Friday, April 20th

Literacy Trivia Bee ?

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and Silent Auction

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Have you heard the buzz?

The Whatcom Literacy Council’s Annual Trivia Bee is happening on Friday, April 20th.

The Trivia Bee is the Literacy Council’s annual spring fundraiser for know-it-alls, know-a-little-bits, and fun lovers of every stripe. Dozens of teams sponsored by local businesses––including Village Books’ team, The Village Idiots––converge at Bellingham High School and compete against each other while the witty remarks of host Dave Walker of KAFE Radio provoke laughter and competitive spirit. Fingers are crossed that Ken Jennings can make it again this year—he is waiting to see if his book tour dates will conflict.

The evening begins with a Silent Auction offering more than 200 great items. Bidding in the Silent Auction begins at 6pm and the Trivia Bee starts promptly at 7pm. You’ll have a great night of fun and you’ll be helping the WLC to help others. All proceeds go to support the Whatcom Literacy Council’s efforts to provide literacy tutoring to adults in Whatcom County.

Tickets are $8—or $20 for a family—and will be available at Village Books or at the door. For more information regarding the 16th Annual Trivia Bee and Silent Auction or to learn more about other ways you can promote literacy, call Rachel at the Whatcom Literacy Council at (360) 647-3264 or visit www.whatcomliteracy.org.

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Spring 2012

Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

Spring into Action!

Fairhaven Activities...

Saturday, March 31st, 10am - 3pm

The 23rd Annual Fairhaven Neighbors

PLANT SALE

Well into its second decade of operation, the plant sale that the Fairhaven Neighbors stage each year has become a real community tradition. With more than a dozen vendors, the sale provides a wide variety of plant material from bedding plants to trees. But beyond the gardening aspects, the event also gives folks a chance to get together and raise some money for some very good causes. The plant sale will take place on Saturday, March 31st, in the parking lot on Mill St. across from the Fairhaven Village Green, adjacent to the South Bay Trail. For more information about the event or about being a vendor, call Thom Prichard at 671-5517 or at joanandthom@yahoo.com.

Girls Night Out

Sunday, April 29th

Dirty Dan DAY

Seafood Festival

Let's Get Physical!

Have an evening of fun in Fairhaven and help raise money for the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cancer Research Center at this year's Girls Night Out.

Daniel Jefferson Harris, known as “Dirty Dan”–presumably for his hygienic habits–was the founder of Fairhaven in 1883 and is celebrated each year with Dirty Dan Day.

There will be various evening activities, including music, a fashion show, a dessert auction and an "action auction."

The theme this year is "Let's Get Physical."

This year’s festivities will take place all on one day— Sunday, April 29th—and will feature great food, fun contests, and other family-fun activities.

There will be rowing and paddling races on the waterfront, a Dirty Dan look-a-like contest, the ever-popular Chuckanut Chowder Cook-off, live music, and the always exciting piano race!

Purchase a "passport" for the evening, get it stamped at businesses throughout Fairhaven, and you can be eligible to win prizes.

Passports are $15, include 10 raffle tickets and entry into the events, and will be available for sale at select businesses.

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Stephanie Johnson

The festivities are free to attend and take place primarily on the Fairhaven Village Green.

For a schedule and details visit www.fairhaven.com.

in Fairhaven Friday, May 11th, 4-11pm

Open til 8:30pm, Village Books & Paper Dreams will have special displays and a raffle, so stop by to celebrate!

For more information about Girls Night Out visit www.girlsnightoutfairhaven.com.

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Top Ten Stories for 2011 Chuckanut Reader Goes Full Color, and Gets BIGGER

#10

You can see the results of the first change right on this page and throughout the magazine. Pages that were once a bit drab now have a bit more life to them. We're thrilled and readers have been as well.

Thanks to our wonderful friends at the Lynden Tribune who print the Reader—they're a joy to work with. And, now, at 64 pages, there's more room for reviews, articles and other features. More is not always better, but in this case we think it is. We hope you do too.

One Book Pledge Draws Hundreds of Responses

#9

Just a year ago we asked you to take a pledge to buy one more of the books you purchase from Village Books, and consequently one less from other online sellers and national retailers. Hundreds of you said you would when you signed the One Book Pledge. We would love it, of course, if you purchased all of your books from us, but just shifting some of your purchasing away from non-local competitors helps Village Books, the economy of the local area, and the culture of the community. Thanks! If you haven't pledged yet, go to VillageBooks.com and click on the One Book Pledge link in the left column of the main page.

#8

Chuckanut Writers Conference a Great Success

Late last June, in partnership with Whatcom Community College, we launched the Chuckanut Writers Conference. Held over two days on WCC's campus, the inaugural event drew more than one hundred and seventy-five participants (not bad for the first year of anything). And, the evaluations were, without exception, rave reviews. This year's conference will be held on June 22 and 23, with a number of notable faculty members, including Sherman Alexie and the Premier Washington State Poet Laureate, Samuel Green. Go to ChuckanutWritersConference.com for more information, and to register.

Major Transition at Paper Dreams

#7

Our sister store, Paper Dreams, went through a major transition last spring. JoAnn Hanesworth, who helped Chuck and Dee open the store and managed it for 28 1/2 years, retired. Following her lead, Jyl Huntley, a twenty-four year PD staffer, also retired. Dee stepped in to become the lead buyer for Paper Dreams, and Sarah, the bookstore manager, took on the hiring, training and scheduling functions for that store, in addition to the bookstore. Many new staff members were added, including assistant buyer Kelly Walters. If you ask Dee or Sarah they will likely tell you it's been both exhausting and exhilarating.

#6

Village Books Presents Shelf Awareness for Readers

Shortly after our friends at Shelf Awareness (a book trade email newsletter) debuted Shelf Awareness for Readers (a twice-weekly e-newsletter crammed with reviews of books being published during that week), we contacted them to see if there was a possibility of making that available to our readers. They said yes, and Village Books became the first bookstore in the nation to present the Shelf for Readers to its own readers—the number of stores doing so is now growing rapidly. Anyone who signs up for VB's e-newsletters receives Shelf Awareness for Readers each Tuesday and Friday. If you decide it's too much, you can opt out of it separately.

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Spring 2012

Shop 24 hours a day at www.VillageBooks.com

#5

A Year of Google eBooks

On December 4, 2010, Village Books began selling Google eBooks. The number of folks reading, even occasionally, on eReaders has grown exponentially in the past couple of years, and if your eReader is anything other than a regular Kindle, you can buy your eBooks from VB (you can now buy eBooks from VB with the Kindle Fire). We've sold hundreds of eBooks in the past year to folks with NOOKS, iPads, Android phones and tablets, and other eReading devices. In June, when Paul Hanson joined us as our Community Outreach Director, he also became our eReader guru. If you have questions about any eReader contact Paul at the store, and Paul and Chuck will be giving an eBook/eReader workshop on Wednesday, March 28, at 5pm.

#4

#3

Charles Celebrates One Year at Book Fare On the first of December, 2011, Charles Claassen celebrated the first anniversary of his ownership of Book Fare Café. Book Fare's menu, consisting of panini, salads, sandwiches, soups and fresh-baked items, is based on regionally and seasonally available ingredients. Before purchasing Book Fare, Charles spent more than twenty years leading professional kitchens, including being the first chef and foodservice manager at the North Cascade Institute's Environmental Learning Center, where he added further to his well-deserved reputation. Book Fare Café is open Monday through Saturday from 10am until 7pm, and Sundays from 11am until 6pm.

Holiday Store in Bellis Fair Mall

In an attempt to provide more convenience to our customers on the north side of town, in the county, and in Canada, Village Books operated a Holiday Store at Bellis Fair from October 1st until late January. The store provided a mix of local and nationally best selling books, a large selection of toys, calendars, holiday decor, Christmas cards, and gifts from Paper Dreams. It was a great opportunity to meet new customers and reach a bit further into the community. Will we do it again? If stars align correctly we might—stay tuned.

#2

Chuckanut Radio Hour Going Strong After Five Years

Who da thunk it? When the Chuckanut Radio Hour began, in a blizzard, on January 10, 2007, who would have believed it would still be going strong five years later? With a regular cast of characters including comic essayist Alan Rhodes, performance poet Kevin Murphy, and Chuckanut Radio Players Robert and Shelley Muzzy, Les Cambell, and Dee Robinson—not to mention Dee's cohost, Chuck Robinson, and announcer Rich Donnelly—the show goes on about once a month, usually at the Leopold's Crystal Ballroom. The spectacular lineup of guests has included such notables as Jody Picoult, Tom Robbins, David Guterson, Elizabeth George, Jim Lynch, Alexander McCall Smith, and Garrison Keillor.

Philip Dwyer, The Bellingham Herald

#1

Chuck and Dee Named Among 10 Who Cared Citing a long list of organizations with which Village Books has been engaged over the years, the Bellingham Herald named Chuck and Dee among "10 Who Cared." According to the article, "As bookstores deal with the industry's shift to the digital realm, the Robinsons find themselves shifting their approach to community service, but not their commitment." The article also mentioned that Village Books had been named Washington State's Outstanding Philanthropic Small Business and noted that the award "confirmed what local people already knew."

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

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TURN A NEW PAGE & JOIN THE CONVERSATION

A WORLD OF IDEAS IS WAITING Last Sunday Feb. – May & Sept. – Nov. • MEMBERS FREE GENERAL ADMISSION: $15 advance or at the door / STUDENTS UNDER 18: $10

3/8 - Literary\Arts Series - Amanda Hesser 3/15 - Poetry Series - Louise Glück - March 15 3/16 - SAL Presents - Alain de Botton 4/4 - Poetry Series - Troy Jollimore & John Koethe 4/18 - SAL Presents - Delia Ephron 4/25 - SAL Presents - Etgar Keret 5/2 - Literary\Arts Series - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 5/15 - Poetry Series - Matthew &Michael Dickman 5/24 - Literary\Arts Series - Colum McCann

MAR. 25 – CARLOS CASCANTE AND THE ‘PARATII JAZZ TRIO’ Latin Grammy award winning vocalist from the Spanish Harlem Orchestra!

Sponsor:

JOYCE & TERRY BUSCH

APR. 29 – JENNIFER SCOTT TRIO One of Canada’s most important jazz voices.

Sponsor:

WASHINGTON STATE ARTS COMMISSION

MAY. 27: MILES BLACK & ADAM THOMAS Piano & Bass duets with silky smooth vocals.

Sponsor:

Your Backstage Pass to the Writer’s Mind

DOROTHY SHERWOOD

Illustration by Christopher Woitach

This ad is supported, in part, by a grant from the Washington State Arts Commission and the City of Bellingham Tourism Lodging Tax • The Jazz Project is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit Organization • All concerts produced by Jud Sherwood, Jazz Project Director

www.lectures.org 206.621.2230

Upcoming EvEnts at Mount Baker Theatre Season Sponsor

Winter Repertory Theatre: The Fantasticks

Late Nite Catechism 3: Till Death Do Us Part

Capitol Steps - Sat 3/10

Lily Tomlin - Fri 4/20

RAIN: A Tribute To the Beatles

Cirque Dreams: Pop Goes The Rock

Now thru Mar 18

Tue 3/13

Chris Isaak - Tue 3/20 Blast! - Thur 4/5

Opens 4/12 - Ends 5/13

Sat 4/28

Mary Chapin Carpenter & Shawn Colvin - Thurs 5/10

National Geographic Live! Mattias Klum - Wed 5/2 SPEAKER SERIES Peter Athans - Sun 6/10

Mount Baker Theatre | 360.734.6080 | mountbakertheatre.com 8

Spring 2012

Building Community One Book at a Time

Register Today for the 2nd Annual

CHUCKANUT

WRITERS CONFERENCE

Friday & Saturday, June 22nd-23rd Registration is now open for the 2nd annual Chuckanut Writers Conference (CWC)—an intensive craft-focused, cross-genre gathering that excited and edified writers of all persuasions and experience levels during its inaugural 2011 event.

Co-presented by Village Books and the Whatcom Community College Community and Continuing Education program, CWC spotlights both talented authors who are some of the best writing teachers anywhere, and respected agents who will share industry insights and hear pitches. A portion of conference proceeds will benefit the Whatcom Community College Writing Center.

This year’s stellar teaching faculty members are Alice Acheson, Sherman Alexie, Erica Bauermeister, Sheila Bender, Wendy Call, Oliver de la Paz, Samuel Green, Christina Katz, Laurel Leigh, Priscilla Long, Frances McCue, Naseem Rakha, Nancy Rawles, Betty Scott, Oona Sherman, Kate Trueblood, and Storme Webber. Literary agents Elizabeth Kracht, Vickie Motter, and Elizabeth Wales round out the roster. Jeremy Voigt, 2011 CWC faculty, will be the 2012 emcee.

The conference begins at Whatcom Community College at 9:00 am on Friday, June 22, 2012 with featured speakers and multiple breakout craft sessions, and will extend through an early evening of faculty readings, a book signing, and a catered reception. The program will continue Saturday, June 23, with a full day of author sessions, panels, and an additional book signing. CWC will conclude Saturday evening with concurrent open mics for conference attendees at venues in Bellingham's historic Fairhaven district.

As a special bonus, Village Books will present a pre-conference event on Thursday, June 21 with author Terry Tempest Williams at Bellingham High School. All registered CWC conference attendees are invited to attend this event at no extra cost.

Register by May 15th for the early bird rate of $229. After May 15th, the rate will be $259.

For more information or to become a sponsor, contact Whatcom Community College Community and Continuing Education at 360-383-3200 (M-F, 9-5 PST), "Like" the conference on Facebook, visit the conference website at www.chuckanutwritersconference.com, or send an email to comed@whatcom.ctc.edu.

Register by May 15th for the early bird rate of $229.

After May 15th, the rate will be $259.

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

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FICTION

Iago

by David Snodin available now, hardcover, Henry Holt & Co.

A newly imagined sequel to Shakespeare's Othello; while lovers of the Bard will find much to savor, you don't need to be a Shakespeare buff to get sucked in. The plot resembles a TV crime show--blood has been spilled, investigators must track down the killer and discover his motives. Throw into the mix Iago, often described as the most haunting villain ever written, whose role as the remorseless agent of chaos makes discovering his motives an investigator's worst nightmare. Immersed in historical context, this book explores both the psychology of a killer and the rotten heart of sixteenth-century Europe. –Brendan

Our Lady of Alice Bhatti

The Sea is My Brother: The Lost Novel

by Jack Kerouac

available in March, hardcover, Da Capo

This is the long-awaited release of Kerouac's lost first novel, now published in North America for the first time. Written when he was just 21 and a merchant marine, this book is an important, formative work that bears all the hallmarks of his classic style: the search for spiritual meaning in a materialistic world, spontaneous travel as the true road to freedom, and the strange, terrible beauty of loneliness.

At Last: A Novel

by Mohammed Hanif

available in May, hardcover, Knopf

by Edward St. Aubyn

Alice’s father is a part-time healer in Karachi’s Christian slum—and it seems she has inherited his gift as well.

With a bit of begrudging but inspired improvisation, Alice brings succor to the patients lining the hospital’s corridors. Thus begins this subversive, often shockingly funny new novel about second chances, thwarted ambitions, and love in the most unlikely places.

available now, hardcover, Macmillan

Here, from the writer described by The Guardian as “our purest living prose stylist” and whom Alan Hollinghurst has called “the most brilliant English novelist of his generation,” is a work of glittering social comedy, profound emotional truth, and acute verbal wit. At Last is also the stunning culmination of one of the great fiction enterprises of the past two decades in the life of the English novel.

On Canaan's Side: A Novel

by Sebastian Barry

available now, hardcover, Viking

Sebastian Barry, who is my favorite Irish author (nominated for the Booker Prize 3 times), has written another epic, multi-layered novel about Irish immigrants in the early 20th century fleeing IRA assassins: On Canaan's Side. Lilly Bere reminisces about her 89 years, recalling many sorrows, but does not succumb to bitterness. Instead she kindles a powerful yet sere acceptance of life's sadness and holds onto the love she has felt, which can never be lost. Despite murder, abandonment and war, she is the sole survivor of her ill-fated family, and endures... with a surprise twist, of course, as only Sebastian Barry can achieve. –Cindi

Norumbega Park: A Novel

Home

available now, hardcover, Macmillan

available in May, hardcover, Knopf

by Anthony Giardina

Norumbega Park is a novel about class and parental dreams, sex and spirituality, the way visions conflict with stubborn reality, and a family’s ability to open up, for others, a world they could never fully grasp for themselves.

“One might be tempted to call Anthony Giardina America’s best-kept literary secret, but there is nothing secret about this much talent. He knows so much about human beings and doings it is almost terrifying, and always thrilling.” —Tom Bissell

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Spring 2012

by Toni Morrison Frank Money, a Korean War veteran, finds himself back in racist America after enduring trauma on the front lines that left him with more than just physical scars. As he revisits the memories from childhood and the war that left him questioning his sense of self, he discovers a profound courage he thought he could never possess again.

Building Community One Book at a Time

NEW • HARDCOVER • NEW • HARDCOVER • NEW • HARDCOVER • NEW • HARDCOVER • NEW • HARDCOVER

FICTION

May the Road Rise Up to Meet You: A Novel

by Peter Troy

available now, hardcover, Doubleday

Peter Troy looks at the Civil War through the eyes of several characters: an Irish immigrant photographer who survived the Hunger to begin a new life in NYC, a New York society abolitionist, and two slaves whose skills (a carpenter and a seamstress) allow them greater than usual mobility. The story follows Ethan McOwen from Ireland in 1847 to Brooklyn to the battlefields of Virginia with the Irish Brigade. Troy’s characters are warm and engaging, and I found myself totally wrapped up in their stories. –Terri

The Mirage: A Novel

by Matt Ruff

available now, hardcover, Harper

11/9/2001: Christian fundamentalists hijack four jetliners. They fly two into the Tigris & Euphrates World Trade Towers in Baghdad, and a third into the Arab Defense Ministry in Riyadh. The fourth plane, believed to be bound for Mecca, is brought down by its passengers. The United Arab States declares a War on Terror. Summer 2009: Arab Homeland Security interrogates a captured suicide bomber who claims that the world they are living in is a mirage—in the real world, America is a superpower, and the Arab states just a collection of "backward third-world countries." Other captured terrorists have been telling the same story. The president wants answers.

JIM LYNCH will be the guest author at the CHUCKANUT RADIO HOUR Thursday, April 19th in Ferndale!

See page 29 for details!

Truth Like the Sun

by Jim Lynch

available in April, hardcover, Knopf

New from the Northwest’s own Jim Lynch: a cat-and-mouse story of intrigue in Seattle both in 1962, when Seattle hosted the World’s Fair, and in 2001, after its transformation in the Microsoft gold rush. Wonderfully interwoven into this tale are backroom deals, the best and worst ambitions, and all the aspirations that shape our communities and our lives.

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

The Song of Achilles: A Novel

by Madeline Miller

available in March, hardcover, Harper

At ten, Patroclus, a small, awkward prince, has been exiled to the kingdom of Phthia, to be raised in the shadow of King Peleus and his golden son, Achilles. The boys become steadfast companions, their bond deepening as they grow into young men.

When word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, the men of Greece must lay siege to Troy in her name. Achilles joins their cause and Patroclus follows him, little knowing that the cruel Fates will test them as never before.

Raylan: A Novel

by Elmore Leonard

available now, hardcover, Harper

It turns out all the bad guys Federal Marshal Raylan Givens is after are girls this time.

The nurse who collects kidneys and sells them for ten grand a piece. Carol Conlan, the mine company executive who comes to Harlan County to sell mountaintop removal, shoots a miner who wastes her time, then meets the miner's widow in a scene you won't forget. The third girl's only offense is missing a court date. Jackie Nevada plays high-stakes poker for a living and is last seen in the shower with Raylan.

Arcadia

by Lauren Groff

available in March, hardcover, Hyperion Books

Set in New York State in the late 1960’s, a group of idealists—aka hippies—loosely organize a utopian community in a field centered by a decaying Mansion called Arcadia House. We follow the story of Bit, a little boy quietly witnessing the dysfunctional craziness of his commune family. As an adult, Bit’s profession as photographer finds him still observing and creating still memories of the people around him. He is a sensitive character and the reader feels the love and loss he is surrounded by. This is a great book for book groups, one that will lead to many different discussions about human character, the family, historical perspective in America, and pure love. –Joan & Kelly W.

Spring 2012

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NEW • HARDCOVER • NEW • HARDCOVER • NEW • HARDCOVER • NEW • HARDCOVER • NEW • HARDCOVER

FICTION • FICTION • FICTION

When Captain Flint Was Still a Good Man: A Novel

by Nick Dybek

available in April, hardcover, Penguin

Every fall, the men of Loyalty Island sail from the Olympic Peninsula up to the Bering Sea, to spend the winter catching king crab. To Cal, the stories his father returns with are as mesmerizing as those he once invented about Captain Flint before he turned pirate. When the owner of the fleet dies, leaving the business in the hands of his son, who seems intent on selling away the fishermen's livelihood, Cal stumbles on evidence that his father may have taken extreme measures to salvage their way of life.

As winter comes on, his suspicions deepening and his moral compass shattered, he is forced to make a terrible choice.

Sacré Bleu: A Comedy d'Art

by Christopher Moore

available in April, hardcover, Harper

Absolutely nothing is sacred to Christopher Moore. The phenomenally popular, New York Times bestselling satirist whom the Atlanta JournalConstitution calls, “Stephen King with a whoopee cushion and a doubleespresso imagination” has already lampooned Shakespeare, San Francisco vampires, marine biologists, Death, even Jesus Christ and Santa Claus! Now, in his latest masterpiece, Sacré Bleu, the immortal Moore takes on the Great French Masters. A magnificent “Comedy d’Art” from the author of Lamb, Fool, and Bite Me, Moore’s Sacré Bleu is part mystery, part history (sort of), part love story, and wholly hilarious as it follows a young baker-painter as he joins the dapper Henri Toulouse-Lautrec on a quest to unravel the mystery behind the supposed “suicide” of Vincent van Gogh.

The Newlyweds

by Nell Freudenberger available in May, hardcover, Knopf

George falls for Amina because she doesn’t “play games”, yet each is hiding something from the other. Amina struggles to find her place in America—as a Muslim woman, an aspiring teacher, a wife with her own desires. But it is only when they put an ocean between them that they will discover whether they have a future—or if their secrets will tear them apart.

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Spring 2012

The Book of Jonas

by Stephen Dau

available in March, hardcover, Penguin

Jonas is fifteen when his family is killed during an errant U.S. military operation in an unnamed Muslim country. With the help of an international relief organization, he is sent to America, where he struggles to assimilate—foster family, school, a first love. Told in spare, evocative prose, The Book of Jonas is about memory, about the terrible choices made during war, and about what happens when foreign disaster appears at our own doorstep.

The Snow Child: A Novel

by Eowyn Ivey

available now, hardcover, Hachette

This is a beautiful debut novel by an independent bookseller (Fireside Books in Palmer, Alaska) who also graduated from Western Washington University.

Set in Alaska in the 1920’s this is a magical tale of a husband and wife who find themselves far from home, struggling with the hardships of a new homestead, a loss, and a miracle. The story is based on a fairy tale of a couple who build a child out of snow. The next morning the snow child is gone, yet they see a young girl and fox running through the forest. This is a pure story of people building a life through love and devotion.

–Kelly W.

Lonesome Animals

by Bruce Holbert

available in May, hardcover, Counterpoint

Arthur Strawl, a tormented former lawman, is called out of retirement to hunt a serial killer with a sense of the macabre who has been leaving elaborately carved bodies across three counties. Described by our publisher rep as “True Grit on acid,” this reinvention of the western is in the great tradition: one man’s elegiac search for justice on the brutal edges of civilization.

Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

PAPERBACK • PAPERBACK • PAPERBACK • PAPERBACK • PAPERBACK • PAPERBACK • PAPERBACK • PAPERBACK

FICTION • FICTION • FICTION

Hemlock Grove: A Novel

by Brian McGreevy

available in March, paperback, Macmillan

Hemlock Grove is an exhilarating reinvention of the gothic novel, inspired by the iconic characters of our greatest myths and nightmares. At once a riveting mystery and a fascinating revelation of the grotesque and the darkness in us all, Hemlock Grove has the architecture and energy to become a classic in its own right—and Brian McGreevy the talent and ambition to enthrall us for years to come.

Outside the Lines

by Amy Hatvany

available now, paperback, Washington Square Press

Most recently, Ms. Hatvany captivated us with a story about a mother struggling with alcoholism and the loss of custody of her son in Best Kept Secret. Now she draws us into a riveting portrayal of a father and daughter, and his decent into mental illness. Hatvany's mastery of language and emotional tension is so captivating, I felt as though I were right there with him as he unraveled. —Claire

If You Were Here: A Novel

by Jen Lancaster

available in March, paperback, Penguin

If You Were Here follows Amish-zombieteen romance author Mia and her husband Mac (and their pets) through the alternately frustrating, embarrassing, terrifying, but always funny, process of buying and renovating their first home in the Chicago suburbs that John Hughes's movies made famous. As they struggle to adapt to their new surroundings, their very own money pit will force them to use the little they've learned watching home improvement shows, and all of their life savings.

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Glaciers: A Novel

by Alexis M. Smith

available now, paperback, Tin House Books

Alexis Smith's short novel is full of creative imagery. Her language is sparse, yet also very visual. The story of Isabel, a single thrift-store shopper and collector is sweet and sad at the same time. The book is like poetry in prose, and Alexis tells the story of this young women with strong imagery, juxtaposing the character's current emotions against the loss of the Alaskan glaciers of her childhood. This is a nice little book to read and then share with your girlfriends. –Christina

The Tragedy of Arthur: A Novel

by Arthur Phillips

available now, paperback, Random House

Capturing romantic and familial love and betrayal, while simultaneously jousting with the tension between storytelling and truth telling, and the act of literary mythmaking, this novel both stands on its own and deepens in resonance with the play as the two Arthurs—Arthur the novelist and Arthur the king—play out their individual but intertwined fates.

The Midwife of Venice

by Roberta Rich

available now, paperback, Gallery Books

This great piece of historical fiction from a great Vancouver, B.C. writer focuses on a Jewish midwife who finds herself unwittingly caught up in a plot to kill a baby that she has delivered of a Venetian noblewoman who is also a Christian. It is up to her to save this child and try to rescue her own enslaved husband on the island of Malta! This book is truly a non-stop ride of action, intrigue, and emotional tension, and Rich's writing is top-notch. —Claire

Spring 2012

13

FICTION

Touch of Power

By Maria V. Snyder

available now, paperback, Mira Books

I didn't want to put this book down!

Avry is easy to empathize with and her dilemmas had me asking myself at every turn, "What would I do?"

She's a magical healer who can absorb her patient's illness or wound into herself and then she heals much faster than a normal person would.

However, after healers become the scapegoats for a terrible plague, Avry must go into hiding.

When she's caught and awaiting execution, she's rescued/ kidnapped by men who want to use her gift for their own purposes. –Rachel

The Haunting of Maddy Clare

by Simone St. James

available in March, paperback, Penguin

I don't often read ghost stories.However, I picked this book up wanting a bit of fun.

Holy moly this book had everything! A murder mystery, a very angry ghost with some revenge and unfinished business to take care of, scars of World War I, and my oh my steamy romance. Let's just say it was a great read outloud on a dark winter evening sort of a book. –Kelly W.

The Sisters Brothers: A Novel

by Patrick deWitt

available now, paperback, Ecco Press

Think Lonesome Dove... by the Coen Brothers. Set in the waning days of the California Gold Rush, hired guns Charlie and Eli Sisters are on the trail of their latest target as Eli begins to question his line of work. Fraught with memorable scenes, colorful characters, laugh-out-loud moments, and canny dialogue reminiscent of True Grit, this was my favorite book of 2011. (Newly out in paperback!) –Paul

Star Wars: the Essential Guide to Warfare

by Jason Fry, Paul R. Urquhart

available in April, paperback, LucasBooks

SCIENCE FICTION

The first Essential Guide entirely devoted to all aspects of the various militaries and major battles fought throughout the history of the Star Wars universe. All ground will be covered, including material from the films, The Clone Wars TV series, books, comics, and video games. And it will be presented with astonishing full-color artwork throughout!

GRAPHIC NOVELS A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel: Volume One

by George R.R. Martin, illustrated by Daniel Abraham

by Russ Kick

available in March, hardcover, Bantam

This one-of-a-kind trilogy brings classic literatures of the world together with legendary graphic artists and illustrators. From a rarely seen R. Crumb rendering of James Boswell’s London Journal to a massively popular Indian Bhagavad Gita, there are more than 130 literary works—many newly commissioned—reinterpreted here for readers and collectors of all ages.

Novelist Abraham and illustrator Patterson bring Martin's epic fantasy masterwork A Game of Thrones to majestic new life in the pages of this full-color graphic novel. Comprised of the initial six issues of the graphic series, this is the first volume in what is sure to be one of the most coveted collaborations of the year.

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Spring 2012

The Graphic Canon, Vol. 1: Gilgamesh to Dangerous Liaisons available in April, paperback, Seven Stories Press

Shop 24 hours a day at www.VillageBooks.com

The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Titanic Tragedy

MYSTERY

by William Seil

available in March, paperback, Titan

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest

Holmes and Watson board the Titanic on its ill-fated voyage, where Holmes is to carry out a secret government mission. Soon after departure, highly important submarine plans for the US navy are stolen. The famous duo must work through a list of suspects which includes Colonel James Moriarty, brother to the late Professor Moriarty—but will they find the culprit before tragedy strikes?

by Stieg Larsson

available now, paperback, Vintage

The third and final volume in the Millennium trilogy series is now available in paperback!

Lisbeth Salander awakens in the intensive care unit of a Swedish city hospital, finding herself in critical condition and facing a trial for three counts of murder. But no hospital walls—not even a bullet wound to the head—can stop her.

Professor Moriarty: The Hound of the D'urbervilles

by Kim Newman

available now, paperback, Titan Books

coming up with

andy porter

Just as the stories of Sherlock Holmes are told to us through the eyes of Dr. Watson, this collection of nefarious tales about Holmes' arch-nemesis, Prof. Moriarty, is narrated by Col. Sebastian "Basher" Moran—who, among many other characters that appear in Conan Doyles' stories and make cameos here. Moriarty/ Moran are a dark mirror to Holmes/Watson and we are given a front row seat to what's really going on behind the scenes. Brilliant, profane, witty, and MOST entertaining! —Paul

Courses for Writers Writing Children’s Literature and Knockout Editing evening courses begin in April!

For details visit:

ExtendedEd.wwu.edu

2012 Programs

eesp@wwu.edu • (360) 650-3308

Family Getaways • Base Camp • Poetry Skagit Tours • Speaker Series Classes featuring Art • Wolves & Grizzlies Fly Tying • Wild Foods • Poetry Northwest Naturalists Retreat • Digital Photography • Amphibians & Snakes Geology of Mt. Baker • Birding • Meditation

(360) 854-2599 • ncascades.org

Knockout Editing: From Polish to Publish Turn a good start into a great finish!

Courses are open to the community.

Active Minds Changing Lives AA/EO Institution

Connecting People, Nature & Community since 1986

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Spring 2012

15

of

readership

grew

alternative weeklies

to

14.1% of 18-24-years-old readers

&

42.6%

of readers 45 and older

World Book Night April 23rd, 2012 BOOK

LOVERS NEEDED

April 23 is a symbolic date for world literature. It is both the birth and death day of Shakespeare, as well as the death day of Cervantes, the great Spanish novelist. It is in their honor that UNESCO appointed it the international day of the book and that it was chosen to celebrate World Book Night.

The big idea behind World Book Night is for avid readers to spread the love and joy of reading to light readers and non-readers by giving away books they passionately love.

Other magazines and newspapers are reporting shrinking readership

Who do you want to advertise with?

The Media Audit conducted by International Demographics of Houston.

Audit Bureau of Circulation

Spring 2012

Laurie Halse And

Maya Angelou, I K Bird Sings

H.G. Bissinger, Fr

Octavia E. Butler

Orson Scott Card

Chris Cleave, Litt Suzanne Collins,

Michael Connelly

Junot Díaz, The B of Oscar Wao

Kate DiCamillo, B

Dave Eggers, Zei

Leif Enger, Peace Robert Goolrick,

Sue Grafton, Q is

Khaled Hosseini,

John Irving, A Pr

Stephen King, Th

Barbara Kingsolv Bible

Nicole Krauss, Th

Jhumpa Lahiri, T

Tim O’Brien, The Carried

Ann Patchett, Bel

Jodi Picoult, My S

Marilynne Robin

Alice Sebold, The

Give away 20 copies of one of these great books FREE in your community—SIGN UP NOW at www.worldbooknight.org and help spread the joy of books and reading

Launched in the UK last year, WBN is making its way to U.S. shores this year. On that one evening 50,000 volunteers from coast to coast will each give away 20 specially-printed and publisher donated copies of one of the 30 books on the WBN list—a book that he or she has read and loved. The list of books is amazing, and no avid reader would have a problem finding a favorite there. The list includes such notable titles as The Poisonwood Bible, The Hunger Games, The Kite Runner, and The Book Thief, to name only a few.

Village Books will be a pick-up point for those volunteers—including several VB booksellers—who registered with WBN earlier this year. For more information about World Book Night you can check out the website at www. worldbooknight.org.

cascadiaweekly.com \ 360.647.8200 \ marketing@cascadiaweekly.com

16

Sherman Alexie, Diary of a Part-Ti

Building Community One Book at a Time

Rebecca Skloot, T Henrietta Lacks Patti Smith, Just Jeannette Wells, Markus Zusak, T

“To e or Not to e?”

That is the QUESTION

by Bob Keller

S

hortly after returning from Germany in mid-December I strolled into Village Books to purchase four items. One, Wolves, by Art Wolfe, would be a Christmas gift. Given the season, there is nothing exceptional about that. The other three books were history texts: Eric Metaxas, Bonhoeffer; Candice Millard, The River of Doubt; and Timothy Snyder, Bloodlands. Nothing exceptional about that either, except that I already owned Metaxas, Millard and Snyder as eBooks. Why would one buy paper copies of books owned electronically? That is the question.

To begin, we need to recognize that eBooks offer a number of advantages. (1) they often cost less; (2) they are much more portable; (3) their transportation costs nothing; (4) built-in reference tools such as a dictionary and encyclopedia can be at our fingertips; (5) Village Books sells them.

Transportation of reading material is important for travelers. In the past I shipped books to and from Germany round trip for approximately $4.00 per book. With current postal rates even a small volume can cost $10 one-way. Last fall several dozen eBooks cost nothing to transport.

So why buy paper these days? My own reasons are both personal and practical.

On a personal level, I enjoy handling books. (Having done so for seventy years no doubt influences my feelings and reasoning on this topic.) Once finished with a good book, I like to place it in my library, believing that I now possessed that biography, history, novel, biology text, science fiction or political manifesto. I like having Herman Melville, Lewis & Clark, Condoleezza Rice, Bill McKib-

ben, U.S. Grant, Malcolm Gladwell, Socrates, Joyce Carol Oates, Alice Walker, Barack Obama, Bill Dietrich, Sarah Palin, Barry Lopez, Newt Gingrich, Erik Larson, Steve Jobs, Michael Savage, the Clintons, at my beck and call. It's nice to see these folk neatly stacked next to each other inside my home. Yes, I realize that Google and Wikipedia are faster and easier, but when I switch off a machine they disappear. Real books provide an illusion of ownership and order.

Nor can we possess autographed copies of eBooks, as I do from several of the above authors (not Socrates, Melville, Jefferson, or Twain).

Practically, a paper or clothbound book is easier to manipulate. For me, at least, it is faster to flip to an index or endnotes than to click-click-click to find them. I can also more quickly return to previous pages, that search enhanced by marking and annotating, a practice that also adds a sense of ownership, but alas not for resale value.

Returning to this year's Christmas purchase of Wolves, an eBook cannot do justice to Art Wolfe or any (continued on pg. 18)

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Spring 2012

17

(continued from previous page) photographer. Graphics may be missing: Metaxas' biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer had thirty photos omitted in the eBook version whereas Millard's River of Doubt journeyed across my Nook screen without its twenty-nine pictures and, more crucial, lacking its map. Also, digits and electrons do not provide tangible Christmas gifts.

The initial decades of any new technology bring challenges and threats as well as progress and expansion. Simply recall steam engines, electricity, gasoline motors, flight, and above all, the printing press. Humans do adjust, but let us be aware and cautious in the process.

Bob Keller is a retired Fairhaven College history professor, long-time board member of Whatcom Land Trust and the instigator and editor of the Whatcom Places books, an inveterate hiker, and a devoted traveler who has lived six times in Germany in the past dozen years.

We’re MUCH more than a Newspaper at the

We’re a Full Service Print comPany!

www.villagefamilyhealth.com Want a sample of our work?

You’re holding one!

Why go anywhere else? Call us for all your

Angela Belcaster ARNP

commercial Printing

Advertising | MAiling serviCes | digitAl & Offset Printing • Postcards • Calendars • Labels • Binding & Finishing • • Letterhead • Business Cards • Magazines • Newsletters • • Brochures • Presentation Folders • Carbonless Forms • • And More! • “We’re proud to be a locally owned and operated business in Whatcom County Since 1914.”

Call today for a free quote

360-354-4444 Mitze & Mary Jo

advertising@lyndentribune.com

Follow Village Books on Twitter! Each day we “tweet” about book events, new books, and book-related topics.

We are @VillageBksBham.

18

Spring 2012

"Like" us at Facebook. You’ll find our events listed there, and there are discussions of books and other book-related topics as well. Go to Facebook.com/VillageBooks.

Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

Got a New eReader or Tablet?

Yep, even the Kindle Fire

We'd LOVE to Have Your eBook Business!

1) eBooks are almost always THE SAME PRICE no matter where you buy them, whether from Village Books or from any other online book source.

2) There is a new IndieBound Reader App (for your iPad or Android device) that lets you download and read from Village Books FASTER and EASIER than ever before! Go to indiebound.org/reader.

3) Have a NOOK COLOR? Pick up a chip for as low as $34.99 from Village Books that turns your Nook Color into a terrific Android tablet. It's easy—and legal. No warranty issues, no changes to your ereader: It just works. Have a tablet for a fraction of the price!

4) Have a KINDLE FIRE? This just in... You CAN unchain it and use it to buy ebooks from Village Books! You can now "sideload" the IndieBound Reader App onto the Kindle Fire—which is built on Google's Android operating system. (Sideloading refers to installing apps without going through the official app store on the Fire.) There are many great sideloading walkthroughs for the Kindle Fire online. You can find them at villagebooks.com/kindle-fire-ebook-tutorial.

5) Need help getting your device to work? Give us a call or schedule an appointment with Paul by emailing him a paul@villagebooks.com.

6) Want insights into the current state of eBooks and eReaders or trying to decide what device to get? Come to our next eReader Support Group hosted by Chuck and Paul on Wednesday, March 28th at 5pm in our Readings Gallery.

eReader Support Group Hosted by Chuck and Paul Wednesday, March 28th at 5pm in the VB Readings Gallery

Check out Paper Dreams for

eBook & Smart Phone Covers/Protectors that will help you stand out from the crowd.

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Spring 2012

19

Fresh, Organic

Is the Willows Inn All That? See for Yourself!

and

Fair Trade One of ten restaurants worth a plane ride –NY Times Best meal in 2011 –Alexandra Gill, Vancouver Magazine

One of 5 “restaurants that are careening into that stratospheric position held by the globe’s top dining destinations.”

You’re going to love it!

–Katy MClaughlin, Wall Street Journal

Organic, fair trade coffee served in the Co-op Delis and available in the Co-op Bulk Departments

I’ve seen the future on a little island in the Pacific Northwest.

–Joe Ray, Boston Globe

…the burning-hottest restaurant on the West Coast—if not in the entire country… –Bethany Jean Clement, the Stranger

Downtown

1220 N. Forest at Holly St.

Cordata

315 Westerly Rd. at Cordata Pkwy. www.communityfood.coop

360-758-2620 | 888-294-2620 www.willows-inn.com

Open March - December Call for Reservations 360-758-2620 | 888-294-2620 reservations@willows-inn.com Taproot Cafe, 360-758-2930

book fare café in village books

seasonal local organic allergy-friendly come see what’s new on the mezzanine level upstairs in village books www.bookfarecafe.com 360.734.3434

20

Spring 2012

Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

n e h c t i K E H T N I

with Charles

Book recommendations from one of our favorite chefs. Bon Appétit!

Momofuku Milk Bar:

by Christina Tosi

available now, hardcover, Random House

This cookbook is fun! Inspired by a passion for yummy treats, close connection to childhood food memories, and a solid foundation of pastry technique, Christina Tosi takes us into the prep kitchens of New York's Momofuku Milk Bar. Cereal milk, soft serve ice cream at home, and a whack of creative cookies, cakes, and pies make this book a must for anyone interested in shaking things up in the kitchen.

The Cuban Kitchen: 500 Simple, Stylish,

and Flavorful Recipes Celebrating the Caribbean's Best Cuisine

by Raquel Rabade Roque

available now, paperback, Knopf

500(!) recipes collected in the finest oral tradition from the sunny tropical climes of faraway Cuba. Like most Cuban cookbooks, this one also is filled with witty, entertaining stories about the people who claim that their recipe is the only "real" way to make a dish. Unlike many, these recipes really turn out authentically delicious. Feel like an exile reconnected with food from the Madre Patria.

Shiro: Wit, Wisdom & Recipes from a Sushi Pioneer

by Shiro Kashiba

available now, paperback, Chin Music

This memoir of sushi pioneer Shiro is a charming look at an amazing man's life in the world of food and place. Bringing his deep respect for the Japanese tradition to Seattle while absorbing the flavors unique to our corner of the world, Shiro can claim almost singlehanded credit for our familiarity with sushi as we know it in Washington and the United States today. The final portion of the book contains a master's instruction on techniques, tools, and recipes to create beautiful, delicious sushi of your own.

Poulet: More Than 50 Remarkable Recipes That Exalt the Honest Chicken

by Cree LeFavour

available now, hardcover, Chronicle Books

Dedicated to the whole bird, Poulet is a celebration of the utility and elegance of the common yardbird. Cleverly arranged by geographical interpretations, from good old-fashioned American recipes to exotic Middle Eastern and Asian preparations, this book will provide you with delicious, easy ways to prepare a simple, satisfying meal. Great information is included on the hows and whys of purchasing good chicken for your home while avoiding the factory farm produced birds.

Charles Claassen is the chef/owner of the Book Fare Café on the mezzanine of Village Books. Through the seasonal menus at the café, teaching cooking and food classes in the community, and continuing to develop relationships with farmers and food artisans, he provides thoughtful, conscientious food that's quite tasty, too.

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Spring 2012

21

FOOD

From Our Kitchen to Yours, Delicious is in Bloom!

Greenhorns: 49 Dispatches from the New Farmers’ Movement edited by Paula Manalo, Severine von Tscharner Fleming, and Zoe Ida Bradbury available in April, paperback, Storey Press

A community of more than 5000 young farmers and activists, the Greenhorns are committed to producing food grown with vision and respect for the earth. This book comprises 50 original essays by new farmers who write about their experiences from a wide range of angles. Funny, sad, and serious by turns, these essays touch on everything from financing and machinery to family and social change.

The Taste of Tomorrow: Dispatches from the Future of Food

by Josh Schonwald

available now, hardcover, Harper

Whether you try some new items from the Market Kitchen or Bake House, or make some of your favorites at home, we have all the fresh, local and quality ingredients you need to create your special springtime recipes.

Schonwald introduces us to a motley group of mad scientists and entrepreneurs, renegade farmers, and food engineers who are revolutionizing the food we eat. There is the Harvard pediatrician who wants to change the way humans raise fish; a New York chef who believes he's found the next great ethnic cuisine; a lawyer-turned-nanotechnologist determined to eliminate hunger.

GARDENING Natural Companions: The Garden Lover's Guide to Plant Combinations

by Ken Druse

available in March, hardcover, Stewart Tabori & Chang

the

markets

L.L.C. Lakeway • Birch Bay • Anacortes

22

Spring 2012

Acclaimed garden writer Druse presents hundreds of perfect plant pairings with diverse species that look great together and bloom at the same time. The striking photographs, created on a giant flatbed scanner, result in images of remarkable clarity. Druse also shows complete gardens with many of these plants growing together. Packed with information, this book is a powerful new tool for garden and flower lovers.

Building Community One Book at a Time

REGIONAL CUISINE! Pike Place Market Recipes: 130 Delicious Ways to Bring Home Seattle’s Famous Market

by Jess Thomson, Clare Barboza

available in May, paperback, Sasquatch Books

With its famous seafood and locally grown produce, Pike Place Market is seven acres of wonderful ingredients and inspiration for the home cook. Cookbook author Jess Thomson has prowled the Market’s stalls, shops, restaurants, and purveyors to assemble these wonderful recipes that express all of the flavors of this Seattle landmark.

Washington Food Artisans: Farm Stories and Chef Recipes

by Leora Bloom, Clare Barboza

available in April, hardcover, Sasquatch Books

Two of the biggest draws of the farmers’ market are the chance to buy local products and the opportunity to meet the producer—to skip the middleman and shake the hand of the farmer, the forager, the artisan. Writer Leora Bloom profiles 17 such Washingtonians and provides recipes for each farmer’s products, procured from Washington’s most renowned chefs and restaurants.

Edible Seattle: The Cookbook

by Jill Lightner

available in May, hardcover, Sterling Epicure

The popular magazine is now a book with a complete survey of the Seattle foodie scene. Crab, Shigoku oysters, chanterelles, pears, and Douglas fir syrup are but a few of the foods featured here, all produced locally and cooked seasonally. Visits to top food destinations and interviews with local chefs, along with over 100 recipes, makes this a must-have for all Northwest food lovers.

BELLINGHAM

FARMERS MARKET FRESH

Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream: Sweet Seasonal Recipes for Ice Creams, Sorbets, and Toppings Made with Local Ingredients

by Molly Moon Neitzel, Christina Spittler, Kathryn Barnard available in May, hardcover, Sasquatch Books

LIVELY CELEBRATING

20

SEASONS

j

2012

JOIN US FOR 38 GLORIOUS WEEKS COMMUNITY FUN

Follow us on Facebook

o

WWW.BELLINGHAMFARMERS.ORG

360.647.2060

Find us on Facebook

We accept SNAP/EBT benefits, Senior and WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

When Molly Moon Neitzel opened the first of her five ice cream shops in the spring of 2008, it was an instant hit with the folks of Seattle.

Now you can make her delicious ice creams, sorbets, and toppings at home! This cookbook is arranged by season, with the focus on using local fruit and herbs.

k

LOCAL

k

Spring 2012

23

One Book Pledger Sharon Allen, a realtor with Windermere Realty's Fairhaven office, has been shopping at Village Books for about ten years, but during Chuck and Dee's book talk last June she was inspired when she heard about the One Book Pledge. "I already bought most of my books here, just out of habit, but I wanted to be more intentional about where I spent my dollars, so I took the One Book Pledge," Sharon explains.

The One Book Pledge simply asks you to make one more of your book purchases from Village Books and one less from chains, online sellers, and other types of retail outlets. As you may have read in the papers, the future of bricks and mortar bookstores is uncertain, and taking the pledge could help to preserve Village Books long into the future.

Two factors are very important to Sharon in her decision to shop local.

The first is emotional. "The feeling I get when I walk into a local store is different than I get in chain stores," she says. "It feels like walking into Cheers, wondering who you're going to run into. I always encounter someone I know, someone interesting."

"I realized a lot more dollars stay in town when I shop at locally owned, independently operated stores, and that's very important to me; it boosts the local economy."

Sharon's second reason for shopping local is economic. "Somebody walked me through the math," she says. "I realized a lot more dollars stay in town (more than half again as much) when I shop at locally owned, independently operated stores, and that's very important to me; it boosts the local economy."

Sharon was also recently inspired by another shop local program she encountered, the 3/50 Project. It asks folks to select three independently owned businesses that they would miss if they disappeared, and then spend $50 each month in those businesses. Sharon picked Village Books (thanks, Sharon), Mallard Ice Cream, and the Pickford Film Center. "My fourth pick would be Hardware Sales," Sharon says with a grin.

You can learn more about the 3/50 Project at www.the350project.net, and you can learn more about the One Book Pledge at www.VillageBooks.com.

Whatever It Is, I Don't Like It: The Best of Howard Jacobson

Literature

by Howard Jacobson

available now, paperback, Macmillan

Jacobson brims with life in this collection of his most acclaimed columns from the Independent. From the unusual disposal of his father-in-law’s ashes and the cultural wasteland of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to the melancholy sensuality of Leonard Cohen and the desolation of Wagner’s tragedies, Jacobson writes with all the thunder and joy of a man possessed. Absurdity piles upon absurdity, and glorious sentences accrete to create a uniquely human collection, at times hilarious, at others heartbreaking, and always irresistibly entertaining.

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Spring 2012

Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

NATIONAL

P O E T RY

MONTH APRIL t

www.poets.org

I

naugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month is now held every April, when publishers, booksellers, literary organizations, libraries, schools and poets around the country band together to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture.

Thousands of businesses and non-profit organizations, including Village Books, participate through readings, festivals, book displays, workshops, and other events. There's a full listing of our events in our Literature Live schedule on pages 59-62.

OFF 20% POETRY !

ALL April

For the past several years Village Books has sent out Poem-a-Day emails during April. This year we're handing that off to the Academy. You can sign up for those daily poems by going to Poets.org and clicking on Poem-a-day on the upper right part of the main page. The great news is that you can get a poema-day everyday, not just in April.

A new feature of this year's National Poetry Month is "Poem In Your Pocket."

Everyone is encouraged to celebrate national Poem In Your Pocket Day on Thursday, April 26. Select a poem you love and then carry it with you to share with friends, family and co-workers that day. Village Books will have a special open reading that evening in which local poets will read their Pocket Poems and anyone in the audience will be encouraged to share theirs as well.

Receive a POEM-A-DAY go to Poets.org

All poetry books will once again be 20% off for the entire month!

What Rain Does

by Ann Spiers

available now, paperback, Egress Studio Press

While reading Ann Spiers' poems, I could feel a sense of the earth, and of the West. Her language is simple, but not elementary, and you can feel that each word and image was chosen carefully and intentionally. Each piece takes you to a specific place: a motel where "generations have parted," a stream near the Hoh "sliding oceanward rippling," or a valley of saguaros "with arms upraised above the mesquite." Not only are her words thoughtful, but her choice of using a regional small press to handbind her collection makes this book a small work of art. –Christina

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

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Her Story of Fire

POETRY

by Richard Widerkehr

available now, paperback, Egress Studio Press

New Collected Poems

by Wendell Berry

available in April, hardcover, Counterpoint

Wendell Berry revisits for the first time his immensely popular Collected Poems, reprinting the original 200 poems and adding those from his last three collections. This expanded book showcases the work of a man described

by The Baltimore Sun as "a sophisticated, philosophical poet in the line descending from Emerson and Thoreau. . . a major poet of our time."

MAGNETIC POETRY

Richard Widerkehr's collection of poems, Her Story of Fire, shows the complexity of darkness and light in family relations. Focused around Chloe, the character of the poems, there is a poetry within the poems, of a person, lost within herself, and the ripples it slowly sends to loved ones. Richard's writing is heartfelt, real and very moving. This beautifully bound poetry book from Egress Studio Press is worth adding to your poetry collection. –Christina

Fun & Easy for Everyone!

Available at Village Books!!

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Once a week, Village Books sends out an email newsletter packed full of store and book information including our latest LitLive events, sale dates, and on occasion, store coupons! Twice each week, we provide Shelf Awareness for Readers book reviews.

If you’re not currently receiving these updates and would like to, you may sign up in the store or, even easier, do it at VillageBooks.com today!

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Spring 2012

Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

Market Days in Fairhaven

Your Mid-Week Pick-Me-Up!

B

ellingham Farmers Market is celebrating its 20th season this year! Back in 1992, the Bellingham Farmers Market was just a dream for a few farmers and community members. With help from the city of Bellingham, the first Market was successfully launched with a couple dozen vendors. Through the years, the Market has evolved and grown as the community increasingly embraced it.

The flagship Saturday Market, held at Depot Market Square in downtown Bellingham from 10am to 3pm every Saturday from April through December, is a perennial favorite with locals and tourists alike. They come for the farm-fresh food, yummy treats, diverse, distinctive crafts, and the "buzz" created by the musicians, magicians, jugglers, and more.

Caprice Teske, Market Director. "It's an ideal place to meet a friend for lunch from the bountiful ready-to-eat options, or have a picnic on the grass with your kids. Stick around afterward to enjoy live music, browse the intriguing array of handcrafted items, and pick up farm-fresh veggies for supper!

"Circle June 6 on your calendar – it's opening day this season for the Wednesday Market!" she added. "But if you miss it, not to worry – there will be 16 more opportunities to relish the Wednesday Market, as it runs through September 26, noon to 5pm."

More than 25 vendors will gather on the Fairhaven Village Green on Wednesday afternoons to offer market-goers a diverse range of products, from fresh produce to fine jewelry, vibrant flowers to tasty treats, and much more.

The Market’s success and growth spurred on the developNew features have gradually been ment of a mid-week Market in Fairhaven added to the Wednesday Market to that the Bellingham Farmers Market WEDNESDAY MARKETS further enhance the casual, familybegan managing in the 1990’s. The on the Fairhaven Village Green friendly vibe. In 2011, the lively "Fresh, Wednesday Market has really begun to June 6 - September 26, noon to 5pm Local, Music!" series was launched, flourish over the last few years, delivering bringing music performance to the the same assortment of local food, crafts, Village Green on Market days. Among the performers in and fun in a more intimate experience on the Fairhaven Vilthe 2011 season were Amber Darland, Tom Hodge, Shawnee lage Green, right behind Village Books.

Kilgore, Ali Marcus, Kate Graves, Misty Flowers, Chuck "During the more relaxed days of summer, folks enjoy Dingee, Kris Orlowski, Ruvara Marimba, Jesse Morrow, taking a mid-week break at the Wednesday Market," said and Marion Weston.

This year, one of the most popular features from the Saturday Market has been added to the Wednesday Market programming – Kids' Vending Day! It's always exciting to see what the creative young entrepreneurs have made or grown themselves! In recent seasons at the Saturday Market, their products have ranged from duct tape wallets, paperweights, fabric bags, and toys for pets to original cards, jewelry, bath products, plants, and baked goods. Now kids can also try their hand at running a business at every Wednesday Market, July through August.

Village Books is a Proud 2012 Sponsor of Music in the Market 360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Spring 2012

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Servicing Most European & Japanese Models

360.733.5050 | www.bellinghamtennis.com

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Spring 2012

360 671.2420

Building Community One Book at a Time

The

Chuckanut Radio Hour

The Chuckanut Radio Hour is a radio variety show that began in January 2007. Each Chuckanut Radio Hour features a guest author and includes guest musicians, performance poet Kevin Murphy, Cascadia Weekly columnist Alan Rhodes, an episode of "The Bellingham Bean" serial radio comedy, and some groaner jokes by hosts Chuck and Dee Robinson and announcer Rich Donnelly. You're invited—join us! The Radio Hour airs every Saturday evening at 6pm and Sunday at 9pm on SPARK RADIO, KMRE 102.3 FM.

Tuesday, MARCH 27th, 6:30pm

GEORGE DYSON in the Crystal Ballroom of the Leopold, 1224 Cornwall Ave., Downtown Bellingham

–Turing's Cathedral: The Origins of the Digital Universe This month's special guest is author George Dyson, who vividly re-creates the scenes of focused experimentation, incredible mathematical insight, and pure creative genius that gave us computers, digital television, modern genetics, models of stellar evolution—in other words, computer code—in his new book Turing's Cathedral: The Origins of the Digital Universe. Dyson is a science historian as well as a boat designer and builder. He is also the author of Baidarka, Project Orion and Darwin Among the Machines. With live music by the Walrus, you don't want to miss this one!

-Receive one free ticket with each pre-event in-store purchase of Turing's Cathedral

Tickets $5.00

Thursday, APRIL 19th, 6:30pm

JIM LYNCH at Ferndale High School, 5830 Golden Eagle Drive, Ferndale

–Truth Like the Sun This month's special guest is Jim Lynch, who will be interviewed by Whatcom Community College Arts and Humanities Division Chair Bob Winters about the new novel, Truth Like the Sun. A classic and hugely entertaining political novel, the cat-and-mouse story of urban intrigue in Seattle both in 1962, when Seattle hosted the World's Fair, and in 2001, after its transformation in the Microsoft gold rush. The musical guest for the evening will be Sarah Goodin.

Tickets $5.00 Tickets for all shows are available at Village Books &

Ticket sales will benefit the Whatcom County Library System’s new Ferndale Library Project.

Tickets for this show are also available at the Ferndale Public Library

KMRE FM 102.3

A HUGE thanks to our amazing sponsors!

BrownPaperTickets.com FAIRHAVEN PIZZA

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Spring 2012

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Religion

Getting Out There!

Heaven on Earth: A Journey Through Shari'a Law from the Deserts of Ancient Arabia to the Streets of the Modern Muslim World

by Sadakat Kadri

available in April, hardcover, Macmillan

Heaven on Earth is a brilliantly iconoclastic tour through one of history’s great collective intellectual achievements, as complex as the religion that brought it to life. The shari‘a continues to shape both explosive political circumstances and the daily life of more than a billion Muslims, and Sadakat Kadri has given us a compelling and clarifying portrait of a changeable world of faith, reason, and justice.

Travel To a Mountain in Tibet

by Colin Thubron

available in March, paperback, HarperCollins

This is the account of a journey to the holiest mountain on earth, the solitary peak of Kailas in Tibet, sacred to onefifth of humankind. To both Buddhists and Hindus it is the mystic heart of the world and an ancient site of pilgrimage. It has never been climbed. Even today, under Chinese domination, the people of four religions circle the mountain in devotion to different gods.

Adventure Snow & Spire: Flights To Winter in the North Cascade Range

by John Scurlock

available now, hardcover, Wolverine Press

While Puget Sound and our maritime environment are one of the most defining factors of the Pacific Northwest, I believe it's the North Cascades Range that give this region grace, strength, and life. From the glaciers that feed our rivers and sea, to the geology of the mountains that write our history, it is the North Cascades, I believe, that ground us to this place. In John Scurlock's new photo book, Snow & Spire, he photographs these mountains from angles and artistic perspectives that are spectacular. His talent is not just in catching the right light or moment in photography, but in his ability to fly over such wild and remote places with passion. He also has a sense of precision, and he includes geographic and geologic information and maps in his book. Of course, I must admit that John is a friend, who I admire as an amazing pilot and photographer, but I think I am not alone in that admiration. This book is pretty amazing. –Christina

75 Classic Rides Washington: The Best Road Biking Routes

by Mike McQuaide

available in May, paperback, Mountaineers Books

Mike McQuaide will be at VB for an event in June so keep an eye on VillageBooks.com for details!

If you're seeking the best road biking The Evergreen State has to offer, you can bet your bottom bracket you'll find it in 75 Classic Rides: Washington. Filled with full color maps, photographs, and lively turnby-turn descriptions, cycling routes range from family-friendly paved bicycle paths to epic mountain pass climbs. Each route description starts with the basic essentials to get you going: a brief overview, full-color map, elevation profile, difficulty level, round-trip distance, road conditions, and advice on the best season to ride. Full narrative descriptions tell what sights to expect, best towns for food or a cup of coffee, safety info on road shoulders and bike lanes, as well as turn-by-turn descriptions and mileage logs.

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Spring 2012

Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

Science How it Began: A Time-Traveler’s Guide to the Universe

Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier Neil deGrasse Tyson

available in March, hardcover, Norton

A thought-provoking and humorous collection on NASA and the future of space travel. Thanks to Tyson’s fresh voice and trademark humor, his insights are provocative, on topics that range from the missteps that shaped our recent history of space travel to how aliens, if they existed, might go about finding us.

by Chris Impey

available in March, hardcover, Norton

This book is a majestic account of the most fascinating phenomena in our universe, and the science behind them. Chris Impey guides us through space and time, leading us from the familiar sights of the night sky to the dazzling strange aftermath of the big bang. Read this for your own armchair space travel.

In Pursuit of the Unknown: 17 Equations That Changed the World

Quantum Man: Richard Feynman’s Life in Science

by Lawrence M. Krauss

available now, paperback, Norton

by Ian Stewart

Perhaps the greatest physicist of the second half of the twentieth century, Richard Feynman changed the way we think about quantum mechanics, the most perplexing of all physical theories. Here Lawrence M. Krauss, himself a theoretical physicist and a best-selling author, offers a unique scientific biography: a rollicking narrative coupled with clear and novel expositions of science at the limits.

available in March, hardcover, Basic Books

Popular math writer Ian Stewart locates the origins of each of these equations—from Pythagoras's Theorem to Einstein's Theory of Relativity to Shannon's Information Theory—within a particular historical moment, elucidating the development of thought necessary for each equation's discovery. In turn, he details how each has had a major impact on science and technology. This is a must read for math enthusiasts everywhere.

Guitar Zero: The New Musician and the Science of Learning

by Gary Marcus

available now, hardcover, Penguin

Non-musician and NYU psychology professor Gary Marcus took a year off from teaching to learn to play the guitar as he was turning 40. Is this a fantasy? Well, it’s my fantasy, but Dr. Marcus used the time to study the process of adult learning: the physical, intellectual, creative and possibly spiritual activities involved in making music. The book is a science text, an inspirational “sure, you can do it” cheerleader, and a fun personal story. I loved when he went to a kid’s music camp and joined a band of adolescents and I enjoyed his clear and readable insights into the whole complicated process. –Terri

Psychology Subliminal: How Your Unconscious Mind Rules Your Behavior

by Leonard Mlodinow

available in April, hardcover, Pantheon

Scientists are becoming increasingly convinced that how we experience the world—our perception, behavior, memory, and social judgment—is largely driven by the mind’s subliminal processes and not by the conscious ones, as we have long believed. Mlodinow brings us a fascinating, illuminating examination of the profound ways in which the unconscious mind shapes our lives.

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

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The $60,000 Dog: My Life with Animals

by Lauren Slater

available in March, hardcover, Norton

This book is a candid, compelling memoir that illuminates our human need for the companionship of animals. In recounting the love of animals that at time drives her to extremes—for example, attempting as a rebellious young vet to get plastic surgery for an injured swan—Slater makes sense of our human dependence on animals, refuting the guilt that we may feel for loving our pets “too much.”

ANIMALS Mother’s Love: Inspiring True Stories From the Animal Kingdom

by Melina Gerosa Bellows

Puss in Books: A Celebration of Cat Illustration Through the Ages

by Catherine Britton

available in May, paperback, Mark Batty Publisher

From as far back as ancient Egypt, cats have been the subject of illustrations in artwork and books. Notoriously finicky, wonderfully independent, fabulously fun, and super squirrelly, cats serve us as companions, muses, lap warmers and foils. The best evidence of these myriad roles filled by cats can be found in books.

available in March, hardcover, National Geographic

In this moving and intimate collection of animal mothers and their babies, beautiful photographs depict animal moms as they nurture, play, teach, and protect their young. Page after page will touch your heart and remind us all of the valuable roles that mothers play—both in the wild and at home.

Dog Sense: How the New Science of Dog Behavior Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet

by John Bradshaw

available in May, paperback, Basic Books

Nowadays we often treat dogs like furry humans or worse, like wolves to be dominated. In truth they are neither. Renowned anthrozoologist John Bradshaw seeks to rescue dogs by reminding us of their rights, gripes, and specific needs. He uses groundbreaking research to debunk a range of dominance-based training theories and show how positive reinforcement is often the more effective choice.

Village Books is a Dog-Friendly Store!

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Spring 2012

Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

NATURE Fraser's Penguins: A Journey to the Future in Antarctica

by Fen Montaigne

available now, paperback, St. Martin's Griffin

We hear a lot of static about climate change; this book represents the informed, descriptive voice of one who has seen the damage with his own eyes. Examining one piece of the puzzle to indicate truths about the greater issue, Montaigne focuses on one scientist's studies of one affected species, Adèlie penguins, connecting Antarctica's deterioration with threatened ecosystems on a global scale. From diet to habitat, from breeding habits to predators, Montaigne arranges Fraser's thirty years of study into a beautiful portrait of Adèlies, in my opinion among the most rugged, adorable, and strangely human species on the planet. –Brendan

The Forest Unseen: A Year's Watch in Nature

by David George Haskell

available in March, hardcover, Penguin

Biologist David Haskell uses a one-squaremeter patch of old-growth Tennessee forest as a window onto the entire natural world. Visiting it almost daily for one year to trace nature's path through the seasons, he brings the forest and its inhabitants to vivid life. Haskell spins a brilliant web of biology and ecology, explaining the science that binds together the tiniest microbes and the largest mammals and describing the ecosystems that have cycled for thousands—sometimes millions—of years.

The Magnetic North: Notes from the Arctic Circle

by Sara Wheeler

available now, paperback, Macmillan

Smashing through the Arctic Ocean with the crew of a Russian icebreaker, shadowing the endless Trans- Alaska Pipeline with a tough Idaho-born outdoorswoman, herding reindeer with the Lapps, and visiting the haunting, deceptively peaceful lands of the Gulag, Wheeler has brought the Arctic’s many contradictions to life—and has positioned an urgent, beautiful book at the center of the most important debates of our age.

Living GREEN Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We're in Without Going Crazy

by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone available in March, paperback, New World Library

Rather than focusing on the dire problems we face or the grand-scale solutions, the authors keep it simple and personal: the choice of active hope. We “focus on our [hopeful] intention and let that be our guide.” On this path we can face global crises without despair and play a personal role in the collective “Great Turning” toward a better society.

Local Dollars, Local Sense: How to Shift Your Money from Wall Street to Main Street and Achieve Real Prosperity

by Michael H. Shuman

available in March, paperback, Chelsea Green

Americans have over 26 trillion dollars invested in Wall Street and its products, despite a growing awareness of the inequities involved. Shuman—an economist, attorney, author, and entrepreneur at the forefront of building local economies—delivers the most thorough overview available of how to invest locally, explaining the options and obstacles and profiling the investors who have paved the way.

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

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TREAT Your Tastebuds

Go where the locals go, pick up your free Food & Farm Finder at Village Books, and plan your next foodie getaway right here in Bellingham and Whatcom County

eatlocalfirst.org

Choose local businesses taking action for a healthy community.

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Spring 2012

Building Community One Book at a Time

Building

GREEN

Design Like You Give a Damn [2]: Building Change from the Ground Up

edited by Architecture for Humanity available in May, paperback, Abrams

With more than 100 projects from around the world, this book addresses the need for basic shelter, education, clean water, and renewable energy. Interviews and provocative case studies demonstrate how innovative design like repainting Brazil’s urban slums is re-imagining and changing community from the ground up.

Tiny Homes: Simple Shelter

by Lloyd Kahn

available now, paperback, Shelter Press

Because of the real estate collapse there’s a grassroots movement in tiny homes these days, and popular builder Lloyd Kahn (“Shelter”) takes us on a wondrous journey of homes under 500 square feet. 1,300 photos show a rich variety of homemade shelters and sheds and greenhouses. Also included are many stories from the inspirational ownerbuilders at the forefront of this new trend in downsizing and self-sufficiency.

Handmade Houses: A Century of Earth-Friendly Home Design

by Richard Olsen

available in March, hardcover, Rizzoli

As fascinating as these structures are themselves, their owners—professionals and amateurs who personally designed and built each residence—offer their inspirations and stories behind these convention-defying homes. Examples of environmentally aware construction are given with tips for the aspiring homebuilder, but the true glory of this book is its gorgeous photos for the daydreamer.

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

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Chuckanut Writers Conference

“These were two of the best days of my life.”

Skylar Shinn, Florida

Inspiration into Action

2011 Attendee

Friday and Saturday June 22 and 23, 2012 Whatcom Community College Bellingham, Washington

Faculty: Alice Acheson Sherman Alexie Erica Bauermeister Sheila Bender Wendy Call Oliver de la Paz Samuel Green Christina Katz Laurel Leigh Priscilla Long Frances McCue Naseem Rakha Nancy Rawles Betty Scott Oona Sherman Kathryn Trueblood Storme Webber Jeremy Voigt, Emcee

www.chuckanutwritersconference.com presented by

Left: Original serigraph titled “Along Chuckanut Drive” by Nancy McDonnell Spaulding, commissioned by Chuckanut Bay Gallery, www.chuckanutbaygallery.com

"It helped us make a great life even better."

–Chuck & Dee Robinson

Celebrating fifteen years of stimulating presentations about topics that are important to our community.

Real people.

Real issues.

Meetings are from 12 to 1:30 p.m. on the 4th Wednesday of each month at Northwood Hall.

For more information, visit

www.bellinghamcityclub.org

We Look Forward to Seeing You

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Spring 2012

Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

Memoirs It Happened On the Way to War: A Marine's Path to Peace

Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?

by Jeanette Winterson

by Rye Barcott

available in March, hardcover, Grove Press

available in March, paperback, Macmillan

In 2000, Rye Barcott was a student on an ROTC scholarship when he first visited the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya. Once there, Barcott befriended a widowed nurse and a community organizer, and together they built Carolina for Kibera (CFK), an NGO that breaks cycles of violence and develops young leaders in one of Africa’s largest slums. Barcott continued his work with CFK while leading Marines in Iraq, Bosnia, and the Horn of Africa. He waged peace while fighting war, and struggled to compartmentalize the experiences and resist darker forces.

It Happened on the Way to War is a true story about what America’s role in the world could be.

All memoir, part philosophical, this is a wonderfully written true story about a little girl growing up in Manchester England with a tyrannical mother waiting for Armageddon and a silent father.

The author bravely tells her story of surviving childhood. This is a brilliant book; I laughed out loud, I cried, I dog-eared, I underlined. If you enjoyed the The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls you will also enjoy this story. –Kelly W.

Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French

Some Assembly Required: A Journal of My Son's First Son

by Pamela Druckerman

available now, hardcover, Penguin

by Anne Lamott with Sam Lamott available in March, hardcover, Riverhead

Stunned to learn that her son, Sam, is about to become a father at nineteen, Lamott begins a journal about the first year of her grandson Jax's life. In careful and often hilarious detail, Lamott and Sam struggle to balance their changing roles with the demands of college and work, as they both forge new relationships with Jax's mother, who has her own ideas about how to raise a child.

With a notebook stashed in her diaper bag, Druckerman—a former reporter for The Wall Street Journal—sets out to learn the secrets to raising a society of good little sleepers, gourmet eaters, and reasonably relaxed parents. She discovers that French parents are extremely strict about some things and strikingly permissive about others. And she realizes that to be a different kind of parent, you don't just need a different parenting philosophy, you need a very different view of what a child actually is.

Save the Date!

TERRY TEMPEST WILLIAMS Thursday, June 21st, 7pm at Bellingham High School

When Women Were Birds: Fifty-Four Variations On Voice Watch VillageBooks.com for ticket information!

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

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Whatcom READS!

Announces Next Author & Book Whatcom Reads, now entering its fifth year, has announced that DAVID GUTERSON will be the 2012/2013 author for the program.

The critically acclaimed and wildly popular David Guterson will come to Bellingham in early 2013 as the guest author.

Guterson is best known as the author of Snow Falling on Cedars (1994), the Whatcom READS! book selection and recipient of the 1995 PEN/Faulkner Award. To date, the novel has sold nearly four million copies and was adapted into a screenplay for the 1999 film of the same title. The film was directed by Scott Hicks and starred Ethan Hawke, James Cromwell, Sam Shepherd, and Max von Sydow and went on to receive an Academy Award nomination for cinematography.

Guterson's subsequent novels include East of the Mountains (1999), Our Lady of the Forest (2003), The Other (2008), and Ed King (2011).

Check WhatcomReads.org for updated information.

Your LOCAL Bellingham Real Estate Resource Proudly offering 60 years experience in Whatcom County Real Estate.

(360) 303-2734

FREE

moving truck for clients and non profits!

510 Lakeway Drive, Bellingham WA 98225 www.JohnsonTeamRealEstate.com 38

Spring 2012

Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

Biography

A Difficult Woman: The Challenging Life and Times of Lillian Hellman

by Alice Kessler-Harris

available in April, hardcover, Macmillan

Ke s s l e r- H a r r is re n d e rs Hellman’s feisty wit and personality in all of its contradictions: as a nonJewish Jew, a displaced Southerner, a passionate political voice without a party, an artist immersed in commerce, a sexually free woman who scorned much of the women’s movement, a loyal friend whose trust was often betrayed, and a writer of memoirs who repeatedly questioned the possibility of achieving truth and doubted her memory. A Difficult Woman is a major work of literary and intellectual history.

The Accidental Feminist: How Elizabeth Taylor Raised Our Consciousness and We Were Too Distracted bBy Her Beauty to Notice

by M. G. Lord

available now, hardcover, Macmillan

The legendary actress lived her life defiantly in public— undermining postwar reactionary sex roles; helping directors thwart the Hollywood Production Code, which restricted film content from 1934 to 1967; and as a member of the vanguard of fund-raising for AIDS research in the 1980s, which was entirely consistent with her championing the right of people to love whomever they love, regardless of gender. Yet her powerful feminist impact was hidden in plain sight. The Accidental Feminist will surprise Taylor and film fans alike with its originality—and add a startling dimension to the star’s enduring mystique.

Robert Redford: The Biography

by Michael Feeney Callan

available in May, paperback, Vintage

In this revelatory biography, we see the complex man beneath the Hollywood facade: his scattered family background and restless childhood, his rocky start in acting, the death of his son, his artistic successes and failures, and his friendships and romances. Including commentary and analysis of all of his films, this is an essential portrait of one of our most celebrated and least understood public figures.

Birdseye: The Adventures of a Curious Man

by Mark Kurlansky

available in May, hardcover, Doubleday

Break out the TV dinners! From the author who gave us Cod, Salt, The Big Oyster and other informative bestsellers, the first biography of Clarence Birdseye, the eccentric genius inventor whose fastfreezing process revolutionized the food industry and American agriculture. Learn how those frozen peas made it to your freezer!

Roosevelt’s Navy: The Education of a Warrior President, 1882-1920

by James Tertius de Kay

available in March, hardcover, Norton

This is the story of a much younger, physically active FDR during his early years in Washington, learning the complexities of gaining and exercising power. He arrives in Washington as a somewhat shallow, inexperienced neophyte, but by the time he leaves eight years later he will have transformed himself into a seasoned politician.

Add yourself to the growing list of people who recognize the importance of independent bookstores to the health and culture of communities by buying one more book from us, and one less from chain stores, other online sellers or other retailer s.

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Spring 2012

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!

A New Series

Pickford Film Center & Village Books Present

WRITERS IN THE LIMELIGHT On-screen Author Talks & Interviews Join us for the screening of lectures and presentations from some of the most celebrated voices in the humanities, arts, and sciences.

Series Kick-off!

Sun., March 11, noon at the Limelight Cinema, 1416 Cornwall Ave. Susan Orlean: Rin Tin Tin: The Life & Legend In this filmed book chat, Susan Orlean discusses her highly acclaimed book Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend. The program will include the 65 min. feature "The Return of Rin Tin Tin" (1947) starring Robert Blake.

Village Books is pleased to co-sponsor this event and will have Susan Orlean's books for sale at the cinema the day of the event.

Tickets are available through the Pickford Film Center. Check out Pickfordcinema.org for more information!

Coming up!

Saturday, March 24, CHRIS MATTHEWS Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero Saturday, April 14 DAVID BROOKS The Social Animal: A Story of Love, Character, and Achievement Saturday, May 12 KATHRYN STOCKETT The Help Saturday, June 9 STACY SCHIFF Cleopatra: A Life Saturday, July 21 MARC BITTMAN The Food Matters Cookbook: Lose Weight and Heal the Planet with More Than 500 Recipes

the premier guide to arts and entertainment happenings in the region

visit ennw.info for reviews, updates and advertising info 40

Spring 2012

Building Community One Book at a Time

Old Fairhaven Association Presents

Mark Twain in

Fairhaven

Don’t miss the last two shows of the Season!

At the Firehouse Performing Art Center This locally written production reflects what might have happened when Mark Twain visited Fairhaven in 1895. Full of wonderful tunes and witty dialogue, "Mark Twain in Fairhaven" is a fun family-friendly show everyone will enjoy.

Performances will take place Thursday, Friday & Saturday evenings with a Sunday matinee the weekends of August 9 - 12; August 16 - 19; & August 23 - 26

Flowers For Algernon

April 27 - May 13, 2012 The classic story about the things that make us human...poignant, romantic, funny, and tragic—but ultimately hopeful.

Annie Get Your Gun

June 15 - July 1, 2012 Meet Annie Oakley, legendary sharpshooter, in this rousing musical that hits the bullseye every time!

Save The Dates!

Ticket information forthcoming

Tickets 733 733--1811 1600 H St., Bellingham bellinghamtheatreguild.com

Join us on a Field Trip!

Tickets Available Now! Wednesday, April 25th

The Art of Racing in the Rain at Book-It Theatre

Twenty Years of Novel Theatre

Join us on Wednesday, April 25, for a trip to Seattle to see Book-It Theatre's rendition of Garth Stein's bestselling novel, The Art of Racing in the Rain.

Included will be round-trip transportation, theatre tickets, and a reception with author Garth Stein. We'll meet at the Village Green at 3pm. You'll have plenty of time for a leisurely dinner in Seattle before the show.

All of this for only $65 Tickets available at Village Books and online at brownpapertickets.com 360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Spring 2012

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HISTORY & POLITICS The Origins of Political Order: From Prehuman Times to the French Revolution

by Francis Fukuyama

available in April, hardcover, Macmillan

Francis Fukuyama, one of our most important political thinkers, provides a sweeping account of how today’s basic political institutions developed. The first of a major two-volume work, The Origins of Political Order begins with politics among our primate ancestors and follows the story through the emergence of tribal societies, the growth of the first modern state in China, the beginning of the rule of law in India and the Middle East, and the development of political accountability in Europe up until the eve of the French Revolution.

ARE

The Plots Against the President: FDR, A Nation in Crisis, and the Rise of the American Right

by Sally Denton

available now, hardcover, Macmillan

The Plots Against the President follows Roosevelt as he struggled to right the teetering nation, armed with little more than indomitable optimism and the courage to try anything. His bold New Deal experiments provoked a backlash from both extremes of the political spectrum. Wall Street bankers threatened by FDR’s policies made common cause with populist demagogues like Huey Long and Charles Coughlin. But just how far FDR’s enemies were willing to go to thwart him has never before been fully explored.

YOU IN THIS BOOK?

KMRE 102.3 FM A non-commercial, community-based radio station licensed to and operated by the Spark Museum of Electrical Invention since 2005. KMRE is a powerful and entertaining extension of the Spark Museum’s world-class media collection.

LOTS OF familiar places and faces in these pocket-sized time capsules drawn from the Whatcom Museum’s photo archives. So fun, everyone should

Underwriting a show here at KMRE supports independent local radio and connects your business, group or event to one of Bellingham’s best independent media outlets.

have one. So affordable, everyone can!

Available at the Museum Store (250 Flora) and Village Books in Fairhaven. www.whatcommuseum.org

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thousands of local listeners.

Listen and learn more online at:

KMRE.ORG

Building Community One Book at a Time

CULTURE Distrust That Particular Flavor

by William Gibson

Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World

by Jane McGonigal

available now, hardcover, Putnam

available now, paperback, Penguin

What can I say, I love a thoughtful person.

I love ideas, and wild imagination, and questioning. And I love the REAL process of creating, and pouring out, refining of an idea, changing and being changed.

William Gibson has influenced so many readers with his SF worlds of technologymeets-humanity and this collection of essays, magazine articles, and speeches lets us peek into the development of these ideas, and the process of creation that only a very eloquent writer can explain (and man, can this guy write). Not only is this an honest inward look at being a thoughtful, creative person in our society, it's also a look outward at how a single meeting, or opportunity, might change the shape of our individual vision. –Jonica

As awkward as it is to recommend a book promoting video games in a book magazine, hear me out.

With a rapidly growing worldwide population of gamers, now tens of millions strong, a global shift full of opportunities is taking place. In this book, McGonigal examines games from psychological, political, economic, and historical standpoints— including game design, game subculture, and the potential for games to satisfy emotional needs and inspire proactive mentalities. Supported by modern and historical evidence, McGonigal describes with rare foresight a world where games converge with reality to make our lives more efficient and fulfilling.

–Brendan

WWU

C NNECTIONS A Brown Bag Speaker Series

Are you a faculty or staff member at Western Washington University? Are you interested in talking about your area of experience and expertise to our customers and community? Village Books regularly hosts the Western Connections Series the second Tuesday of the month from noon-1pm in the Readings Gallery of the store.

This event is a free brown bag speaker series highlighting the expertise of WWU faculty and staff. Presenters usually share about their work at the University in the format of a talk, discussion or multimedia presentation.

We're looking for more speakers to be a part of this great program, which is co-sponsored by Western Washington University Libraries.

To participate, contact Christina Claassen, our events coordinator: events@villagebooks.com or by calling the store at 360-671-2626.

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

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Join a VB Book Club!

Authors do not attend VB Reads

Building Community One Book at at Time

Groups meet in the VB Readings Gallery (unless otherwise noted)

Engaged Citizens

Big Brothers Big Sisters NEW!

Book Group

Book Group

3rd Wednesdays of the month at noon.

Join Mary Dumas for a thought-provoking lunch hour discussing books that ask us to consider how we, as community members, can more skillfully contribute to the creation of a civilly engaged community.

Join us the last Saturday of the month at 2pm.

Meetings are in the VB Readings Gallery.

by Wendell Berry

Join us for the new Big Brothers Big Sisters Book Club. We meet the last Saturday of the month at 2pm. This is open to any active match through Big Brothers Big Sisters as well as any adult/child pair from the community. Recommended for children aged 10 and over, this book club is intended to be a supportive place for adults and kids to engage in stimulating conversation about books.

Everyone has an equal voice here.

May 16th, noon –Leadership and the New Science: Discovering Order in a Chaotic World

If you know a child who needs a nudge to enjoy reading or is chomping at the bit to share his or her excitement about the book just finished, this is the group for you.

March 21st, noon –The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration

by Isabel Wilkerson

April 18th, noon –Jayber Crow

by Margaret J. Wheatley

The group will vote on book selections taken from a list of books for youth recommended by Village Books staff. There is no commitment— come when the book appeals to you.

VB Reads...

General Lit

Discuss books from a variety of genres with Cindi at 7pm the 1st Monday of each month. This group is open to anyone and everyone who enjoys reading and discussing books.

March 5th, 7pm –The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet

by David Mitchell

April 2nd, 7pm –The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains

May 7th, 7pm –Mudbound

by Hillary Jordan

June 4th, 7pm –Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter

by Tom Franklin

by Nicholas Carr

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Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

Open to everyone!

VB Reads...

Unless otherwise noted, authors do not attend VB Reads.

environmental conservation book group

Join us for the Village Books/Whatcom Land Trust co-sponsored Environmental Conservation Book Club that meets the 2nd Monday of each month from 5-6pm. We discuss contemporary and classic texts on conservation, agriculture, and environmental issues in the Pacific Northwest. Occasionally, we also include fictional literature that inspires a sense of place and attachment to our native landscape.

March 12th, 5pm – Two in the Far North

by Margaret E. Murie

April 9th, 5pm –The Practice of the Wild

by Gary Snyder

May 14th, 5pm –Hope for Animals and Their World: How Endangered Species Are Being Rescued from the Brink

by Jane Goodall, Thane Maynard, Gail Hudson

Afternoon Book Chat Come discuss contemporary literature with Sittrea the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 1pm. Open to all!

March 14th, 1pm –The Great Gatsby

by F. Scott Fitzgerald

-VOTE! We will also be choosing books to read later!

April 11th, 1pm –The Tiger's Wife

by Tea Obreht

May 9th, 1pm –See VillageBooks.com for selection

Motherhood by the Book Meet with Claire the 2nd Sunday of every month at 2pm for an hour of spirited discussion of books that celebrate the trials, tribulations, and rewards of motherhood, and what it means to be a mother. This group is by no means exclusive to moms with kids still at home. Meetings are in the BOOK FARE CAFÉ on the mezzanine level of Village Books.

March 11th, 2pm –Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture

by Peggy Orenstein

Have you heard about our book group newsletter?

April 15th, 2pm **meeting is delayed a week so as not to conflict with Easter

This monthly newsletter, presented by VB staff member Rachel, is packed with author and staff interviews, book reviews, genre focuses, and discussion questions.

Caution: may result in a book addiction.

by George Estreich, Marcia Day Childress

Sign up by updating your email profile at VillageBooks.com or by emailing Rachel@villagebooks.com.

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

–The Shape of the Eye: Down Syndrome, Family, and the Stories We Inherit

May 13th, 2pm –The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie: A Flavia de Luce Mystery

by Alan Bradley

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“ The financial support Peoples Bank provides to local business is far greater than most know. A strong, local bank like Peoples is vital to the health of this community.”

– Dee & Chuck Robinson, Village Books

Call (360) 354-4044 or visit any of our 10 convenient offices in Whatcom County www.peoplesbank-wa.com

BEEF

PEO 1238_Chuckanut Reader Ad.indd 1

10/14/11 9:44 AM

Double R Ranch Beef To create an unforgettable steak dinner, start with some of the best beef you can buy—Double R Ranch beef from Haggen.

Each bite of Double R Ranch beef is tender, juicy and full of rich flavor, and comes from a commitment to produce beef of the highest quality. Double R Ranch beef is also renowned for their passion to produce beef in a sustainable manner, ensuring high quality beef will be around for years to come. And because Double R Ranch beef is filled with flavor it’s the secret ingredient to turning good meals into great meals, whether you’re preparing slow-cooked stews, tender roasts or juicy steaks.

Come in to Haggen today and pick up a cut of tender, juicy Double R Ranch beef. We guarantee you’ll love it.

www.haggen.com 46

Spring 2012

120208-06

Shop 24 hours a day at www.VillageBooks.com

NEW BOOKS

Announced from

Chuckanut Editions

Village Books' imprint Chuckanut Editions will publish two books later this spring. The first is a reissue of Century 21: The Story of the Seattle World's Fair, 1962 by Murray Morgan and photographer Steven C. Wilson, just in time for the 50th Anniversary celebration of the fair. Murray Morgan, the author of the classic Seattle history book Skid Road, wrote this book as the fair was being built and in operation. Steve Wilson, a photographer for LIFE and National Geographic, took photos of the fair during that same period. The book was first published in 1963.

A launch party will be held in the Leopold's Crystal Ballroom at 2pm on Saturday, April 28th. There will be fair-era music and a chance to meet photographer Steve Wilson and Murray Morgan's daughter Lane, who has written the introduction for the book. Belgian waffles, which were first introduced to the U.S. at the fair, will be served and guests are invited to bring fair souvenirs for an informal show and tell.

Haunted Fairhaven is the second book on the Chuckanut Editions spring list. Local writer and longtime Fairhaven business owner Taimi Gorman is the author of the book that will recount stories—from both recent times and long past—of ghosts in the historic district. Several years ago Taimi created a brochure featuring such stories for the Fairhaven Association. The book will reprise those stories in greater depth, and add many more.

Anyone with stories of ghostly encounters in the district should contact Taimi (taimi@ gormanpublicity.com). A launch party for Haunted Fairhaven will be announced for later in the spring.

Breakfast & Author Talk with

ROBERT SPECTOR Wednesday, April 4th 7:30-9:00am

in the Crystal Ballroom of the Leopold 1224 Cornwall Ave., Downtown Bellingham

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Virtually every company wants to be the Nordstrom of their industry. In Robert Spector’s revised edition of The Nordstrom Way to Customer Service Excellence, he offers principles that can be applied to your company. Robert is a Seattlebased freelance writer who has reported for various major US publications.

Tickets for the event are $10 and include breakfast. They are available at Village Books and BrownPaperTickets.com. *Tickets must be purchased no later than March 31st.

Co-sponsored by the Leopold Retirement Residence

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FROM THE MELTING POT INTO THE FIRE

Quilting MARCH 25 - JULY 8, 2012

Denyse Schmidt Modern Quilts Traditional Inspiration: 20 New Designs with Historic Roots

by Denyse Schmidt

available in April, hardcover, Stewart Tabori & Chang

Dori Zanger Schechtel Hand-warmers, 2006.

“…an astonishing exhibition for the exceptional quality of its artworks”

Known as a “modern” quilter, leading artist Schmidt actually draws much of her vision from the past. Here she focuses on 20 traditional designs that she has reinterpreted, among them Irish Chain, Mariner’s Compass, and Orange Peel, to name a few. Each beautiful pattern is fully illustrated and templates are provided on a full size pullout sheet.

— Barbara Matilsky, curator of art

Lightcatcher building, Grand & Flora.

Open noon-5, Tuesday — Sunday www.whatcommuseum.org

WHATCOM FOLK SCHOOL

Tickle your toes with our great selection of unique yarns from around the world.

Visit us on the web at www.appleyarns.com for the latest class calendar!

In Barkley Village across from Starbucks! 360.756.9992 M - F: 10 - 6 Sat: 10 - 5 Sun: 12 - 4 | www.appleyarns.com

www.WhatcomFolkSchool.org Spring 2012 Catalog Available Now 360.319.7495 48

Spring 2012

OFF 20% POETRY ALL April!

Building Community One Book at a Time

READING AT A

SNAIL'S PACE The 12/12/12 Plan

by Lindsey McGuirk, VB Digital Marketing Director

I

love books, but I’m a slow reader. Being a slow reader can be daunting when standing side-by-side with readers who have reached the “One Book a Week for One Year” mark or, the even more seemingly unattainable, “100 Books in One Year” status. I feel slightly embarrassed when I finish a book and proudly update my Goodreads status, only to see that my “Date Started” was more than a month ago (or two).

I stopped feeling sorry about my slow reading pace when I read an article earlier this year about the dwindling reading habits of Americans. To summarize it: • One-third of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives.

• 42 percent of college graduates never read another book after college.

• 80 percent of U.S. families did not buy or read a book last year.

• 70 percent of U.S. adults have not been in a bookstore in the last five years.

The statistics may be old (from 2003), but they’re not dated. Actually, if you do a search for reading habits of Americans, nearly every year since the beginning of this decade makes reference to the high percentage of Americans who NEVER read ONE book in a year’s time. I can’t even wrap my head around how that’s possible! It seems like even if it's a children’s picture book that was sitting on the table in the waiting room of a doctor’s office, everyone should have read at least one book in a year’s time!

These two extremes of reading got me thinking: Wouldn’t it be great to reduce that percentage of bookless Americans all the while making it perfectly OK to not feel inadequate if you don’t read 52+ books a year? Why not make reading attainable again by simply striving to read one book a month, whether it’s a children’s picture book or Murakami’s latest tome?

So in January 2012, we kicked off 12/12/12: 12 books in 12 months in 2012. You missed a couple months? Don't worry about it—10/10/12, 9/9/12, it all works! Here’s the plan: • You can participate through the Village Books Facebook page, Twitter feed, Goodreads group (Village Bookians) or by dropping your name and book title in the box at the store.

• At the beginning of each month, we’ll ask you what book you’ve chosen for that particular month • During the middle of each month, we’ll check in to see how your book is • At the end of each month, we’ll do a final check in to see what you thought of the book • Rinse, repeat Yeah, it’s kinda like a book club, but without the obligation of being somewhere at a specific time…or of having to read a book you don’t actually want to…or of having to drink wine…well, you could still Tell us what book your're reading enjoy the wine. And men? Yes, even you can feel comfortable participating! (We and you will be entered into our still truly and honestly believe that book groups are not just for women, despite monthly drawings! popular belief.)

We give away four $5.00 Village Don't want to actively participate in the discussion? Simply do this on your own and you'll still have the satisfaction of reading!

Learn more at www.villagebooks.com/12-12-12.

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Books gift cards every month—one each through Facebook, Twitter, Village Bookians & in the store where we have a display near the main counter where you can enter!

Spring 2012

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National

Children’s Book Week May 7th-13th, 2012

A week dedicated to celebrating children’s books!

J

oin us at Village Books this week as we celebrate Children's Book Week through a variety of in-store events. From story times, to an open mic reading, to author events, we will be celebrating youth literacy throughout the week. Check VillageBooks.com for updates.

Established in 1919, Children's Book Week is the longestrunning literacy initiative in the country. Each year, books for young people and the joy of reading are feted for a full week with author and illustrator appearances, storytelling, parties, and other bookrelated events at schools, libraries, bookstores, museums, and homes from coast to coast!

Administered by Every Child A Reader, the CBC Foundation, and sponsored by the Children's Book Council, Children's Book Week celebrates the transformative power of literacy.

VB donates 10% of all kids’ book purchases made during Book Week to the children’s departments of the city and county libraries!

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Spring 2012

Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

Check Out These Awesome

Book Week Events!

Monday, May 7th

Children's Book Week Kick-off Stop in the store today to check out our new Children's Book Week(CBW) window display, pick up a free bookmark, and enter a raffle to win a 2012 CBW official poster.

Tuesday, May 8 and Thursday, May 10, 10:30-11am

Preschool Story Time and Craft Activity For kids ages 3-5. Join Christina in the Readings Gallery for some fun stories followed by a craft activity. We'll read new and old favorites and do a related craft.

Friday, May 11, 6pm

Local Author Showcase Featuring

Local Children's Authors The second Friday of each month, Village Books hosts a Local Author Showcase to bring local authors to the community. This month we'll be highlighting some local children's authors and illustrators. Check our website for an update on the author line-up.

Saturday, May 12th, 4pm

Kids' Open Mic Readings Kids of all ages, bring your best writing, whether it's poetry, or a few paragraphs from a story or essay, and come read in our Readings Gallery. There will be a sign-up to read at the event, and each reader will have 5 minutes to share their work. Bring your friends & family and share your talent!

2012 AWARD WINNERS Newbery Medal Jack Gantos won for Dead End in Norvelt (Farrar, Straus & Giroux), his semiautobiographical tale of a boy growing up in a Pennsylvania town created during the Great Depression.

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Randolph Caldecott Medal Chris Raschka won for A Ball for Daisy (Random/Schwartz & Wade), a wordless story of an emotive dog’s busy day with a beloved red ball.

Spring 2012

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Enjoy Great Meals at These FAIRHAVEN Restaurants!

AW Asian Bistro A.W. Asian Bistro

COLD DAY? HOT SOUP!

Enjoy the fine art of Asian Dining!

•Chinese • Vietnamese

Fairhaven Garden •Thai • Japanese 1138 Finnegan Way HAPPY HO Bellingham, WA Sun.-Thurs. 3: UR open daily for Lunch & Dinner 00-5:30pm 360.715.3028 Fax 360.715.1803 12th & Mill in Historic Fairhaven • 715-3028

Happy Hour Everyday 3-6pm $3 Pints and House Wine $3 Appetizers “The Heart of Fairhaven since 1985” Open Daily on Fairhaven Village Green www.colophoncafe.com 360-647-0092

EVERYDAY 8 AM – 2 PM 1101 HARRIS AVENUE IN FAIRHAVEN

CLASSIC FAVORITES

Breakfast and Lunch Served Daily Homemade Soups and Pastries Wheat Free Pastries Available BEST MIMOSAS IN TOWN PLAN, HOST, AND CATER YOUR PRIVATE PARTIES OR COMPANY GATHERINGS AT HARRIS AVENUE CAFÉ!

E-MAIL KELLY FOR MORE INFORMATION KB.PALADINRESTINC@GMAIL.COM

WWW.HARRISAVECAFE.COM

The

Chuckanrut Reade

Spring 2012

Please Support all of our Wonderful Advertisers! the Northwest’s A Magazine for s Most Avid Reader A Village Books

Publication

Vol. 19 Issue 1

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Spring 2012

Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

YOUNG READERS Their Families & Educators

PICTURE BOOKS The Lonely Book

by Kate Bernheimer, illustrated by Chris Sheban available in April, hardcover, Schwartz and Wade

When a wonderful new book arrives at the library, at first it is loved by all, checked out constantly, and rarely spends a night on the library shelf. But over time it grows old and worn, and the children lose interest in its story.

The book is sent to the library's basement where the other faded books live. How it eventually finds an honored place on a little girl's bookshelf—and in her heart—makes for an unforgettable story sure to enchant anyone who has ever cherished a book.

Silly Doggy!

written and illustrated by Adam Stower available in Apri, hardcover, Orchard

Lily wants a pet. Imagine her delight when there is a doggy waiting for her outside her window. Alas, the “doggy” is actually a lost bear. Lily takes her new pet on all sorts of adventures, eventually using them, and her art skills, to create posters to help her new pet find his real home. An adorable story, cleverly illustrated! –Sarah

Chloe & the Lion

by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Adam Rex available in April, hardcover, Hyperion

A rivalry between author and illustrator plays out on these pages and Chloe, the main character, is caught in the middle. Mac Barnett and Adam Rex are a dynamic duo, and two of the strongest contemporary voices in picture books today. In an accessible and funny way, Chloe and the Lion talks about the creative process and the joys and trials of collaboration.

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

How to Babysit a Grandpa

written by Jean Reagan, illustrated by Lee Wildish available in Apri, hardcover, Alfred A. Knopf

A little boy is sharing his tips and tricks for what to do when he goes over to “babysit” Grandpa. It’s very important to eat snacks involving ketchup and ice cream, crucial to look for puddles, and a fort is a definite must. Naptime is a funny little twist between the two. A very cute book for the Grandpa (and young person) in your life. –Sarah

Puzzled by Pink

written and illustrated

by Sarah Francis Hardy available in Apri, hardcover, Viking

Izzie hates pink as much as her sister, Rose, loves it. So when Rose plans an all-pink birthday party with the guests dressed in fairy costumes, Izzie decides to give her own alternative party in the attic, where the guests will be monsters, spiders, ghosts, and the pet cat. But some powerful magic triggers the appearance of yet another guest to create an unforgettable finale to the party.

C.R. Mudgeon

written by Leslie Muir, illustrated by Hector Julian available now, hardcover, Atheneum

To say the hedgehog C.R. Mudgeon is set in his ways is an understatement. No spicy food, no strong tea, no loud noises. He goes through his days with no interruptions, but no excitement either. One day, a new neighbor moves next door and she plants beautiful flowers, loves trying new recipes, and plays music. Although they don’t immediately hit it off, the resulting story shows that trying new things and meeting in the middle are some great rules to live by. –Sarah

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Middle Readers Chomp

The Year of the Book

by Carl Hiaasen available in April, hardcover, Alfred A. Knopf

by Andrea Cheng, illustrated by Abigail Halpin

Wahoo Cray lives in a zoo. His father is an animal wrangler, so he's grown up with all manner of wild things in his backyard. The critters he can handle.

His father is the unpredictable one—his dad takes a job with a reality TV show called "Expedition Survival!" They've only been on location in the Everglades for a day before lead-star Derek gets bitten by a bat and goes missing in a storm.

available in May, hardcover, Houghton Mifflin

The False Prince

written by Jennifer Nielsen available in April, hardcover, Scholastic Press

In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable but Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well. As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies.

Fourth grader Anna really loves to read. Sometimes she'd rather read her books than talk to some of the girls in her class, go to Chinese school on Saturdays, or go to work with her mom. But slowly she discovers that all of these things may not be as bad as she thinks, and that maybe she can share her love of books with others. As a book-worm myself, I enjoyed reading this story. I think it would make a great book for any 3rd or 4th grader who may feel different, or has difficulty making new friends. –Christina

Join us August 6th -10th for

CAMP VILLAGE Summer BOOKS 2012 Boys & Girls Ages 7 to 10

Camp Village Books will combine art, writing, science, history and some physical activity in five half-day sessions (1 ~ 5PM) from Monday, August 6, through Friday, August 10. We'll explore Fairhaven and a bit beyond, have some great craft and science activities, hear some stories, and do a little bit of fun writing.

Registration is for the entire week and is limited to 10 campers.

Check our website for updates and registration information.

Only $99 for the Entire Week 54

Spring 2012

Building Community One Book at a Time

Young Adult Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe The Drowned Cities

by Paolo Bacigalupi

available in May, hardcover, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Set in a dystopian America, this is an unabashed adventure story about coming of age in a very troubled world, by a talented, award-winning SF author. Imagine a U.S. so troubled and torn apart by conflict that children are recruited as soldiers. Imagine a world so changed that Washington D.C. has everglades and alligators. But the troubles of this world are only a backdrop to the choices the characters must make to survive and endure, yet still remain human. Or, perhaps being human is something no-one in their right mind might want.

This was a great read, and I enjoyed the adventure each step of the way. –Jonica

Providing Whatcom County with special Places for our future readers.

WLT protection project - Stimpson Family Nature Reserve

by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

available now, hardcover, Simon & Schuster

This story of a very special bond between two unlikely friends is a breath of fresh air for young adult readers. Dante and Aristotle are outsiders and dreamers in a small Texas community, trying to make sense of adolescence and their unique relationship. The reader can't help but be drawn in and begin to care deeply about what will become of these two boys. A great read through and through! ­—Claire

The Book of Blood and Shadow written by Robin Wasserman

available in April, hardcover, Alfred A. Knopf

While working on a project translating letters from 16th-century Prague, high school senior Nora Kane discovers her best friend murdered with her boyfriend the apparent killer and Nora becomes caught up in a dangerous web of secret societies and shadowy conspirators, all searching for a mysterious ancient device purported to allow direct communication with God.

Code Name Verity

by Elizabeth Wein

available in May, hardcover, Hyperion

Join us in our work.

WHATCOM LAND TRUST

360-650-9470

www.whatcomlandtrust.org

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Similar to The Book Thief, this story takes a blunt look at Nazi actions during World War II through the eyes of two British best friends (OK--one is Scottish); one caught in France as a spy and the other attempting a rescue.

That they are both girls, and drawn to jobs not normally allowed to girls (pilot and spy), adds to the story. To be honest, the torture scenes are sometimes hard to take, and the casually brutal attitude of the Germans beyond comprehension. But this story is so well written and exciting that I could not put it down. And the most important part of the story is the best—-the bond of love and loyalty between best friends, and how such love supports even the most difficult of decisions and brave actions. –Jonica

Spring 2012

55

Young Adult Favorites

Eona

by Allison Goodman

New in Paperback

available in April

The sequal to Eon!

Split

by Swati Avasthi available now

Deadly

Some things you can't just walk away from.

by Julie Chiabbaro available now

How do you catch an invisible killer? Find out!

Stolen

by Lucy Christopher available in April

The sensitive, sharp, and captivating Printz Honor Book!

Where She Went

by Gayle Forman available in April

The sequal to the New York Times bestseller If I Stay.

Come Check Out Our NEW Digs!

FAIRHAVEN PIZZA 1307 11th Street In the ♥ of Fairhaven • 756-7561

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Spring 2012

Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm Building Community One Book at a Time

WWAS READING 2011 HAT WHATCOM VB’s Top Sellers

1. Aliens on Vacation by Clete Smith 2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett 3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins 4. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese 5. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot 6. Border Songs by Jim Lynch 7. A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan 8. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson 9. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin 10. Unlikely Friendships by Jennifer Holland

11. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

by Jamie Ford 12. A Walk Through Geologic Time

by Don Easterbrook 13. Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach 14. Farewell, Miss Zukas by Jo Dereske 15. Bellingham Impressions by Mark Turner 16. Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin 17. Born to Run by Chris McDougall 18. A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin (tie) 18. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein 20. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi 21. The Postmistress by Sarah Blake 22. The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman (tie) 22. Signature Tastes of Bellingham by Steven Siler 24. Little Bee by Chris Cleave 25. Room by Emma Donoghue 26. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins 27. In the Presence of the Enemy

by Elizabeth George 28. In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson 29. Sarah's Key by Tatiana DeRosnay 30. Dreams of Gold by Michael Impero

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Whatcom County not only buys local, it reads local.

Nearly one third of the books in our top 40 this past year were written by Washington State authors including our number one bestseller by Bellinghamster, Clete Smith.

Two series hit the list—all three of Suzanne Collins young adult books and the first three of George R. R. Martin's series, A Song of Ice and Fire. A dozen of the books were by authors who have been part of Village Books' Literature Live events, and #12 was published by our own Chuckanut Editions and printed and bound on our Espresso Book Machine—the third Chuckanut Editions book to hit our top 40. Finally, in the endurance race, 14 of the titles also appeared on last year's list, four were on the list from 2009, and a special tip of the hat to local photographer Mark Turner whose Bellingham Impressions has made the list each of the past four years.

31. Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand 32. Inheritance by Christopher Paolini 33. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin 34. Idiot America by Charles Pierce 35. A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin (tie) 35. Saving Jesus from the Church by Robin Meyers 37. The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch 38. MockingJay by Suzanne Collins (tie) 38. Empire of the Summer Moon by S. C. Gwynne 40. Inside of a Dog by Alexander Horowitz

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Natural Health Brown Bag Series

Join us the first Wednesday of each month, from noon-1pm for a natural healthcare brown bag series featuring a variety of local health care providers.

Bring your lunch and come listen to local health care practitioners talk about their work, recommend related books, and answer some of your questions.

Wednesday, March 7th, noon-1pm DR. KIMBERLY SANDSTROM, Naturopath Staying Healthy Through Yoga & Nutrition Yoga, nutrition, and Ayurvedic medicine are beautifully intertwined in Yoga & Ayurveda: Self-Healing & Self-Realization by David Frawley.

Learn more about living in harmony with your own body and the seasons by applying ancient health practices to modern life. Dr. Kimberly Sandstrom, a naturopathic physician and yoga teacher and student, will present pearls from this book and naturopathic tips for staying healthy throughout the year. Recipes for herbal teas and immune-boosting meals will be provided. Kimberly Sandstrom, ND, LMP is a licensed, board-certified naturopathic physician and massage practitioner at Bellingham Natural Family Medicine.

Wednesday, April 4th, noon-1pm DR. MONIQUE ARSENAULT, Homeopath Putting the "Health" Back into Healthcare In this talk Monique will be re-examining historical and contemporary approaches towards staying fit & healthy as well as teaching some simple techniques to bring quality healthcare back into your own hands. Monique Arsenault is a Certified Counselor and Homeopath at The Natural Health Clinic. After receiving her BA in Psychology at WWU, Monique moved to London, England, where she was employed by the world's most respected homeopathic pharmacy, Helios, at the same time earning her Diploma in Homeopathy from The Centre for Homeopathic Education at Regent’s Park. After a short apprentice in India, friends and family steered her course back to Bellingham where she is an impressive tool for homeopathic healing, an advocate for sustainability.

Wednesday, May 2nd, noon-1pm RHYS WEBB, Licensed Massage Practitioner Massage Therapy: Strategies for Recovery with Injury Treatment & Deep Tissue Massage Discover how massage treatment works for common injuries and conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, and plantar fasciitis.

We will explore deep tissue massage techniques such as myofascial release, trigger point, British Sports Therapy, and Hydrotherapy. There will be a brief question and answer period following the presentation. Rhys Webb, L.M.P., N.C.B.T.M.B. is a Nationally Certified and Washington State Licensed Massage Practitioner and specializes in injury treatment and wellness massage. He has had a massage practice in Fairhaven since 2003. He currently is a yoga instructor at City Gym and X-Fit and has been teaching yoga since 1998. Mr. Webb volunteers massage therapy at Peace Health Cancer Center.

Free Events in the Village Books Readings Gallery

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Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

Literature LIVE!

EVENTS

Sun., March 4, 2pm JOANN ROE –The San Juan Islands: Into the 21st Century

VB’s Literary Events Program

Additions & changes to this schedule will occur so check out

www.VillageBooks.com

to stay updated–or even better, let us come to you!

Register online for the VB e-vent newsletter!

So far in

MARCH

Thurs., March 1, 5:45pm Knockout Editing: From Polish to Publish with Laurel Leigh Join Laurel Leigh, instructor, at Village Books for an informational session to learn more about Western Washington University's exciting editing program.

Thurs., March 1, 7pm S. BRIAN WILLSON –Blood on the Tracks: The Life and Times of S. Brian Willson: A Psycho-historical Memoir

Free Event at Mon., March 5, 7pm The Shakedown ALICE BAG –Violence Girl: East L.A. Rage to Hollywood Stage: A Chicana Punk Story Violence Girl takes us from a violent upbringing to an aggressive punk sensibility, but this time a difficult coming-of-age memoir culminates with a satisfying conclusion, complete with a happy marriage and children. This free author event will take place at The Shakedown on 1212 N. State Street, in downtown Bellingham.

Tues., March 6, 7pm MAC MACDONALD –Lighting Your Own Fuse: A Glossary of Mission, Vision and Passion A book for the Ages, a book for all ages, Mac MacDonald’s Lighting Your Own Fuse is a compilation of wisdom as old as man on earth coupled with the latest in leadership and self-actualization technology. Mac Alexander Macdonald, corporate trainer, national speaker and motivator, brings a wealth of applicable experience to this wonderful book.

Wed., March 7, noon-1pm Natural Healthcare Series with KIM SANDSTROM, ND, LMP “Staying Healthy Through Yoga and Nutrition”

S. Brian Willson’s story begins in small-town, rural America, where he grew up as a "Commie-hating, baseball-loving Baptist," and moves through life-changing experiences in Viet Nam, Nicaragua and elsewhere. It culminates with his commitment to a localized, sustainable lifestyle. Co-sponsored by Veterans for Peace

Sat., March 3, 10:30-11am Preschool Story Time with Claire

From a fifty-year resident’s viewpoint, The San Juan Islands: Into the 21st Century examines this remote yet oft-visited northwest corner of Washington State. The author tells of farming lavender rather than wheat and alpacas rather than cattle; of inter-island boats and barges that still fight stormy seas and riptide; of the development of reliable medical care only during the 1950s; of the emphasis today on sensible land management, the orca whales that are native to the area, and the former and current identity of these island people.

KIDS!

Join Village Books employee Claire for our preschool story time, for ages 3-5 years old. Our preschool story time takes place the first Saturday of each month from 10:30-11am on the bean bags in the Kids' Section.

Sat., March 3, 2pm SUSAN O’BRIEN –Gluten-Free Vegan Comfort Food: 125 Simple and Satisfying Recipes, from “Mac n’ Cheese” to Chocolate Pudding In Gluten-Free Vegan Comfort Food, Susan O’Brien proves you can satisfy your cravings and support your health at the same time with delicious recipes. O'Brien is a gourmet cook, baker, cooking instructor, and food-management consultant from Gig Harbor, WA. Co-sponsored by the Community Food Co-op & Sustainable Connections.

Sat., March 3, 4pm JOSHUA McNICHOLS –The Urban Farm Handbook Is that a goat in your garage, broccoli in the driveway, and biochar staining your coffee cup? Do you want to grow homegrown healthy foods while living in city limits? Join Bellingham native Joshua McNichols as he reads from The Urban Farm Handbook: City-Slicker Resources for Growing, Raising, Sourcing, Trading, and Preparing What You Eat. Co-sponsored by the Community Food Co-op & Sustainable Connections.

Yoga, nutrition, and Ayurvedic medicine are beautifully intertwined in Yoga & Ayurveda: Self-Healing & Self-Realization by David Frawley. Learn more about living in harmony with your own body and the seasons by applying ancient health practices to modern life with Dr. Kimberly Sandstrom, a naturopathic physician and yoga teacher and student.

Thurs., March 8, 6:30-8:30pm “Independent Publishing and Distribution Today” with Erik Korhel Come to a workshop about independent publishing and distribution facilitated by owner and operator of Piecemeal Publishing and EDK Book Distribution, Erik Korhel. He will be discussing the almost daily changes in the independent publishing industry, and answer questions you may have about publishing and distribution. Register at Village Books for this free workshop.

Fri., March 9, 7pm Local Author Showcase Featuring RON LEALOS, –No Direction Home and JOHN HENNESSEY, –The Cry of Havoc: Life Descending Join us for our monthly Local Author Showcase, featuring Ron Lealos and John Hennessey. In Lealos’ novel No Direction Home, Jesse Lang loves Bellingham and being a radical anti-war student at WWU during the tumultuous 60s. He grows into a man while fighting his draft board and the establishment, learning to inhale and hold it, and shutting down the university, all the time dragging his rugby teammates along with him. John Hennessey’s sci-fi novel, The Cry of Havoc is about a man who desperately tries to figure out what has happened to him, awakening on a strange new world. A world where four-legged animals walk upright, fanatical kings rule, and magic exists.

Continued...

Events take place in the Readings Gallery of Village Books and are FREE unless otherwise noted.

If you can’t make it to an event, just call us to arrange for autographed copies!

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Literature

LIVE!

... events continued from the previous page

Sat., March 10, 2pm ALLAN RICHARDSON –Nooksack Place Names: Geography, Culture and Language Nooksack Place takes readers on a voyage into the history, language, and culture of the Nooksack people of Washington State and southern British Columbia as it documents more than 150 places named by elders and mentioned in key historical texts. Allan Richardson is a consulting anthropologist, retired from teaching at Whatcom Community College in Bellingham.

Sun., March 11, noon Movie Showing at the Pickford Film Center’s Limelight Cinema 1416 Cornwall Ave., Downtown Bellingham

Susan Orlean: Rin Tin Tin: The Life and Legend In this film, Susan Orlean discusses her book Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend. The program will include the 65 min. feature "The Return of Rin Tin Tin" (1947) starring Robert Blake.

Tickets are available through the Pickford Film Center. *Authors do not attend. Read more about this and other PFC/Village Books co-sponsored Writers in the Limelight Series events on page 40.

Sun., March 11, 4pm DOUG BENOLIEL –Northwest Foraging: The Classic Guide to Edible Plants of the Pacific Northwest (Revised Ed.) First published nearly forty years ago by noted wild edibles authority Doug Benoliel, the original Northwest Foraging became the standard field guide for the region’s wild foods. Come listen to Doug discuss his fully updated and expanded edition. Co-sponsored by the Community Food Co-op & Sustainable Connections

Mon., March 12, 7pm AMY WALKER –On Bicycles: 50 Ways the New Bike Culture Can Change Your Life On Bicycles explores many angles of transportation cycling culture in an accessible and entertaining format. This book was designed to give everyone the inspiration and information to start riding: to work, to school to the shops, and most of all for fun! Amy Walker is a co-founder of the cycling lifestyle magazine, Momentum. She lives in Vancouver, BC. Co-sponsored by Sustainable Connections and EverybodyBIKE

Tues., March 13, 5:45pm WWU Info Session—Writing Children’s Literature Class Your passion for children's books has another chapter: a product of your own!

Join us in the Readings Gallery for a preview of Western Washington University's "Writing Children's Literature" class.

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Stop by the store or go to VillageBooks.com

Register for the VB Events-Newsletter today!

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Spring 2012

Fri., March 16, 7pm KENT HARTMAN –The Wrecking Crew: The Inside Story of Rock & Roll’s Best Kept Secret Author and music business insider Kent Hartman discusses the real musicians behind legendary groups like the Beach Boys, the Byrds, and the Mamas & the Papas, a top-secret group of highly skilled LA studio sidemen known as the Wrecking Crew. Kent lives in Portland, OR.

Sat., March 17, 7pm M.A. MARK FARRELL –The Insatiable Cloud: How Wall Street and Washington Broke Capitalism The Insatiable Cloud is an educational, fun, quick read that takes a caustic, if not satirical look on the 'special' relationship between Washington & Wall Street. M.A. Farrell is an entrepreneur and inventor, and is the founder of four start-up companies.

Sun., March 18, 2pm LIDOÑA WAGNER –Pilgrimage: Wonder, Encounter, Witness Pilgrimage: Wonder, Encounter, Witness is a visual and verbal record of LiDoña Wagner's multi-decade quest throughout the world. It opens with photo collages, maps and brief contextual material describing "where I went, what I saw, what I did, what I gave, what I received." She serves in Education Administration at the University of Eugene, OR.

Mon., March 19, 7pm Mystery CARA BLACK –Murder at the Lanterne Rouge Murder at the Lanterne Rouge is the 12th book in the Aimée Leduc mystery series. Cara Black lives in San Francisco with her husband and son and visits Paris frequently.

Sat., March 24, 2pm Nautical CHRISTINE SMITH –More, Faster, Backwards: Rebuilding David B In More Faster Backwards: Rebuilding David B, Bellingham author Christine Smith takes her readers through the wilds of the Inside Passage on the Motor Vessel David B’s maiden voyage to Alaska, while she weaves in tales of how she and her husband Jeffrey restored the rotten sixtynine year old wooden boat.

Sun., March 25, 2pm BOB FRIEL –The Barefoot Bandit: The True Tale of Colton Harris-Moore, New American Outlaw The Barefoot Bandit tells the riveting true store of Colton HarrisMoore. Set against the backdrop of the Pacific Northwest’s evergreen islands, where Internet millionaires co-exist with survivalists and ex-hippies, this is a fascinating tale about a neglected child who outfoxed the authorities, gained a cult following, and made the world take notice. Bob Friel has authored more than one hundred feature articles along with hundreds of columns for national magazines. He lives on Orcas Island.

Mon., March 26, 7pm Open mic with Laurel Leigh Village Books invites everyone to enjoy local talents as they share their own stories, poems and essays. Sign up at our main counter on the first floor or call (360) 671-2626. Laurel Leigh, local writer and teacher, will emcee.

Events take place in the Readings Gallery of Village Books and are FREE unless otherwise noted.

Tues., March 27, doors & music 6:30pm Crystal Ballroom of the Leopold

The CHUCKANUT RADIO HOUR with special guest GEORGE DYSON –Turing’s Cathedral: The Origins of the Digital Universe This month's special guest is author George Dyson, who vividly re-creates the scenes of focused experimentation, incredible mathematical insight, and pure creative genius that gave us computers, digital television, modern genetics, models of stellar evolution—in other words, computer code—in his new book Turing's Cathedral: The Origins of the Digital Universe. George Dyson is a science historian as well as a boat designer and builder. He is also the author of Baidarka, Project Orion and Darwin Among the Machines. Tickets $5 on sale now at VB and online at BrownPaperTickets.com. Receive one FREE ticket w/each pre-event purchase of Turing's Cathedral.

Wed., March 28, 5pm eBook Therapy Session Join a couple of our actual humans-in-residence, Chuck and Paul to learn about eBooks and eBook devices. Think of it as an eBook support group. Come learn about the new Indiebound reader app, converting your Nook color to an android, sideloading your Kindle Fire, and more!

Thurs., March 29, 7pm OWEN LAUKKANEN –The Professionals

Fiction

In The Professionals, Owen Laukkanen serves up a fast and furious chase to find four friends—three men and one woman— recent college graduates, who have brazenly concocted the ultimate kidnapping plot. Disillusioned and frustrated with the collapsing economy and faced with the post-meltdown job market, the gang decides to strike back at the only people who seem to be thriving: the stockbrokers, hedge fund managers, and bank vice presidents.

So far in

APRIL

Wed., April 4, 7:30-9am Ticketed Business Breakfast with ROBERT SPECTOR –The Nordstrom Way to Customer Service Excellence: The Handbook for Becoming the “Nordstrom” of Your Industry (2nd Ed.)

Virtually every company wants to be the Nordstrom of their industry. In Robert Spector’s revised edition of The Nordstrom Way to Customer Service Excellence, he offers principles that can be applied to your company. Robert is a Seattle-based freelance writer who has reported for various major US publications. This event is $10 (for breakfast) and will be held at the Crystal Ballroom of the Leopold Retirement Residence, 1224 Cornwall Ave. Tickets are available at Village Books and BrownPaperTickets.com. Co-sponsored by the Leopold Retirement Residence

Wed., April 4, noon-1pm Natural Healthcare Series “Putting the ‘Health’ Back in Health Care” MONIQUE ARSENAULT, homeopath Join us the first Wednesday of each month, from noon-1pm for a natural healthcare brown bag series featuring a variety of local health care providers. Read more about this and other Natural Healthcare Series events on page 58.

Thurs., April 5, 7pm Poetry OLIVER DE LA PAZ and STACEY LYNN BROWN –A Face to Meet the Faces: An Anthology of Contemporary Persona Poetry This is a groundbreaking anthology of works by contemporary poets writing in personas. The poems feature voices "beyond the poet" as writers explore

historical figures, figures from pop culture, madness, mayhem, mischief, and the miraculous. The collection is edited by Stacey Lynn Brown and WWU English professor Oliver de la Paz.

Fri., April 6, 7pm Poetry & Music The Liminal Project "Articulations: At the Intersection of Poetry and Music" The Liminal Project, a Seattle-based music intiative, celebrates Poetry Month at Village Books with "Articulations: At the Intersection of Poetry and Music." An exploration of language and music, "Articulations" weaves together poetry and works for solo flute in a unique format highlighting the historical, structural and creative connections between the two art forms.

KIDS!

Sat., April 7, 10:30-11am Preschool Story Time with Claire

Join Village Books employee Claire for our preschool story time, for ages 3-5 years old. Our preschool story time takes place the first Saturday of each month from 10:30-11am on the bean bags in the Kids' Section.

Sat., April 7, 7pm Poetry!

Group Poetry Reading with Various Local & Regional Authors Come listen to a variety of local and regional authors read their poetry in our Readings Gallery. This event is in celebration of National Poetry Month.

Sun., April 8, 4pm SCOTT TEITSWORTH –Krishna In the Sky with Diamonds: The Bhagavad Gita As Psychedelic Guide Known as a text of liberation and enlightenment, the Bhagavad Gita is one of the most commented-upon books of all time, yet one aspect has never before been examined: Arjuna's psychedelic soma experience with his guru Krishna. Drawing upon his many years as a student of Nitya Chaitanya Yati, whose teacher was Gita scholar Nataraja Guru, the preeminent disciple of Narayana Guru, Scott Teitsworth explains how the Bhagavad Gita provides complete guidelines for the spiritual use of entheogens.

Tues., April 10, 7pm MARY ALBANESE –Midnight Sun, Arctic Moon: Mapping the Wild Heart of Alaska A young upstate New York woman begins an adventure of a lifetime as she moves away from her safe and conventional path. She is unable to resist the excitement and challenge of a chance to become a geological explorer in Alaska, where she maps remote wilderness areas and journeys to the depths of her own heart.

Wed., April 11, 7pm—Whatcom Day Academy event at Whatcom Community College Heiner Theater HOWARD GLASSER “Inspiring Greatness” Howard Glasser, the author of Transforming Your Difficult Child, will speak about “Inspiring Greatness” as part of Whatcom Day Academy’s Week of the Young Child celebration. A FREE event!

Thurs., April 12, 7pm PHILLIP MARGOLIN –Capitol Murder: A Novel of Suspense New York Times bestselling author Phillip Margolin brings back favorites—Dana Cutler and Brad Miller—in Capitol Murder, the new installment in his Washington Trilogy. They are again caught up in an international security threat. With yet another gripping thriller, Margolin takes heart-pounding suspense to our nation’s corridors of power.

Continued...

Read more about these and other LitLive events at VillageBooks.com!

If you can’t make it to an event, just call us to arrange for autographed copies!

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... events continued from the previous page

Literature

Fri., April 13, 7pm Poetry Local Poetry Author Showcase DIANA LOLA CAPLE, –Under Rainbow Bridge and CATHY ROSS, –If the Moon Came Out Only Once a Month

LIVE!

Join us for Village Books' "Local Author Showcase" the second Friday of each month at 7pm. The events will bring two to four local authors to our store, offering a chance for the authors to talk about their books and promote their new work in the community. This month we will be featuring local poets Diana Lola Caple, Under Rainbow Bridge and Cathy Ross, If the Moon Came Out Only Once a Month in celebration of National Poetry Month.

Sat., April 14, 2pm MARIE MANUCHEHRI –Intuitive Self-Healing: Achieve Balance and Wellness Through the Body’s Energy Centers Reiki master and teacher Marie Manuchehri’s new book, Intuitive Self-Healing, will help readers understand the core connection between the human energy centers, emotions, and the body’s organs. Through fascinating true client stories you will walk away with a new understanding of how to heal. You’ll be guided through quick effective exercises that can instantly change your human energy system to begin the healing process.

Mon., April 16, 7pm COLLEEN MORTON BUSCH Fire Monks: Zen Mind Meets Wildfire at the Gates of Tassajara When a wildfire threatened Tassajara, the oldest Zen Buddhist monastery in the United States, in 2008, the monks who lived there successfully defended it. Their story, told in the book Fire Monks, presents a vivid example of a community choosing to take responsibility for themselves and their home.

Thur., April 19, doors & music 6:30pm at Ferndale High School 5830 Golden Eagle Drive, Ferndale

This month's special guest is Jim Lynch, who will be interviewed by Whatcom Community College Arts and Humanities Division Chair, Bob Winters about the new novel, Truth Like the Sun. A classic and hugely entertaining political novel, the cat-and-mouse story of urban intrigue in Seattle both in 1962, when Seattle hosted the World's Fair, and in 2001, after its transformation in the Microsoft gold rush. Tickets for the Chuckanut Radio Hour are $5 and are available at Village Books, on BrownPaperTickets.com, and at the Ferndale Library.

Ticket sales will benefit the Whatcom County Library System’s new Ferndale Library Project.

Fri., April 20, 7pm STEVEN GREENEBAUM –The Interfaith Alternative: Embracing Spiritual Diversity The Interfaith Alternative shows us how we can celebrate each other without fear of losing our own identity. It illuminates the path to creating a nurturing spiritual community that honors and includes all religious languages.

Steven Greenebaum is the founder of the Living Interfaith Church, in Lynnwood.

Poetry

Come listen to a variety of local and regional authors read their poetry in our Readings Gallery. This event is in celebration of National Poetry Month.

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Tues., April 24, 7pm TERRY BISSON –Any Day Now

Fiction

Any Day Now combines the coming-of-age story of a Middle American boy growing up in the 1950s with a surprising reimagining of American politics amid the radicalized culture that emerged in the '60s. Terry Bisson is a well-known author of science fiction books for adults and children.

Thurs., April 26, 7pm Poetry Poem In Your Pocket Day Open Readings Celebrate national Poem In Your Pocket Day with Village Books. Join us in the evening at Village Books as we open up the mic to anyone who would like to read their poems from their pockets. Read more on page 25.

Sat., April 28, 2pm in the Leopold Crystal Ballroom LAUNCH PARTY for the re-issue of –Century 21: The Story of the Seattle World's Fair, 1962 There will be fair-era music and a chance to meet photographer Steve Wilson and Murray Morgan's daughter Lane, who has written the introduction for the book. Belgian waffles, which were first introduced to the U.S. at the fair, will be served and guests are invited to bring fair souvenirs for an informal show and tell. See more on page 47. Co-sponsored by the Leopold Retirement Residence.

Sun., April 29, 2pm BENJAMIN BUSCH –Dust to Dust: A Memoir

THE CHUCKANUT RADIO HOUR with special guest JIM LYNCH –Truth Like the Sun

Sat., April 21, 7pm Group Poetry Reading with Various Local & Regional Authors

EVENTS

Benjamin Busch’s extraordinary memoir, Dust to Dust, is an unforgettable meditation on life, death, and how the child we were remains alive in us all. The son of the esteemed novelist Frederick Busch, Benjamin has had a singular life of varied accomplishments: an actor who played Officer Anthony Colicchio on The Wire, a writer twice-nominated for the Pushcart Prize, a guest commentator on NPR’s All Things Considered, a writer/director, and a decorated United States Marine Corps Infantry Officer.

Sun., April 29, 4pm SIBYL JAMES –The Last Woro Woro to Treichville: A West African Memoir The Last Woro Woro to Treichville is an account of Sibyl James’ experiences while traveling and teaching as a Fulbright professor in Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). The collection's topics range from commentary on daily life and culture to the coup that set the scene for the country's recent turmoil, as well as her relationship with the four African girls who "adopted" Sibyl.

Mon., April 30, 7pm Open mic with Laurel Leigh Village Books invites everyone to enjoy local talents as they share their written words. Not published? No worries. Feel free to share some of your own writing!

Bring your poems and flash fiction to celebrate National Poetry Month! Open mic is held the last Monday of each month at 7pm in the Readings Gallery. Sign up at our main counter on the first floor or call (360) 671-2626. Laurel Leigh, local writer and teacher, will emcee.

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