A Magazine for the North
west’s Most Avid Readers
The
Chuckanut Reader
FALL 2011
A Village Books Publication Vol. 18 Issue 3
Holiday
Store
VILLAGE BOOKS
Will "Pop Up" at
BELLIS FAIR
October–January
Folks in the north part of town and the county, and our loyal friends from Canada will have a convenient spot to shop for books this holiday season. On Saturday, October 1st, Village Books Holiday Store will be open near Macy's in the Bellis Fair Mall. The store will offer a combination of books, calendars, holiday decorations and cards, and a wide selection of gift items. "We know that a lot of our customers shop at the mall during the holiday season," said Dee Robinson. "We thought it was time we offered them some added convenience." "While such a store had been under consideration in the past, what made it possible now was the hiring of a person who could manage it," according to Chuck Robinson. Paul Hanson, a sixteen-year veteran, and thirteen-year manager of Eagle Harbor Books on Bainbridge Island recently moved to Bellingham and has come to work as the Community Outreach Director (see story on pg 21). "All of us here already had our hands full," said Chuck. "Bringing in a seasoned manager gives us the capacity to do this." The store will maintain regular mall hours through January.
Back to School
Don’t miss our
L A E! S
20% OFF
Children’s Books & Toys
SEPTEMBER 15-30 2
Fall 2011
Building Community One Book at a Time
Dear Reader,
Perhaps it's due to the crash of Borders, but we've never been asked so often about the health of the store or the future of the book business. We hope you'll take the time to read Chuck's article, "Turning the Page" (page 5). It captures a lot of what is going on in the business these days, and asks a couple of very important questions. We've often commented how, being former teachers, the fall season feels like a new beginning. This year it seems to be a beginning of lots of things—we have a new Community Outreach Director (see page 21), we'll be opening a holiday store at Bellis Fair (see page 2), and the scene has greatly shifted at our sister store Paper Dreams (see pages 50-51). Other items in this reader include an unusual "road trip" article by Cathy Belben, complete with ten book reviews (pages 15-16), an update on our Espresso Book Machine (page 32), some exciting news about the Chuckanut Writers Conference (page 19), plus lots of book previews and reviews and other news for avid readers. We hope you had a great summer (what there was of it) and are, like us, heading optimistically into a fall of great new adventures, some of which—we hope—will include books.
–Chuck, Dee,
and all of us at Village Books
In This Issue... Village Books HOLIDAY STORE at Bellis Fair Dear Reader Fall Activities in Fairhaven and Beyond Turning the Page—changes in the book industry Paul Hangs Out with the Good Time GIrls Fiction, Mystery, & Sci Fi (book highlights & reviews) Cathy Belben Rides, Races, and Recommends Literature Recommendations & WWU Connections The Chuckanut Writers Conference 2012 Affiliates & a New Community Outreach Director In the Kitchen with Charles––Cookbook Reviews Wine Tasting Food (book highlights) Run the Waterfront & Travel to Europe Biographies & Humor (book highlights) Banned Books, Whatcom Reads, & Printing Books The Chuckanut Radio Hour Fall Line-up Literacy Matters—Have Breakfast with Nancy Pearl! Women, Helath, Poetry, Spirituality (book highlights) Crafts, Art, Music, & Building Current Affairs, Adventure, & Travel (non-fiction books) Check out these Great Fairhaven Restaurants What Whatcom's Been Reading This Year VB Reads... VB Book Discussion Groups Sustainability, Science, Nature & more (books!) New Faces & Back-to-School fun at Paper Dreams Books & More for Kids (highlights & reviews) Literature Live! Author Events at VB
2 3 4 5 6 7-13 15-16 17-18 19 20-21 23 24-25 26-27 28-29 30-32 33 34 35-37 39 40-41 42 43 44-45 47-49 50-51 52-57 59-62
VILLAGE BOOKS
The Chuckanut Reader Fall 2011
Publishers: Chuck and Dee Robinson Production Design: Kelly Carbert
Contributors: Cathy Belben, Kelly Carbert, Charles Claassen, Christina Claassen, Robert Gruen, Alex Hatch, Rachel Hanley, Paul Hanson, Alex Hatch, Sarah Hutton, Sam Kaas, Claire McElroyChesson, Laura Leigh, Lindsey McGuirk, Laura Picco, Tiffany Riesenberg,Chuck Robinson, Dee Robinson, Rem Ryals, Joan Terselich, Jonica Todd, Kelly Walters, Terri Weiner, Cindi Williamson Cover: Fall Fashion. Snuggle into a VB sweatshirt while sporting a stylish Vera Bradely from Paper Dreams! Photo by Kelly Carbert. Model: Lindsey McGuirk content except art & book covers ©Village Books 2011 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
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
www.VillageBooks.com 360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
Fall 2011
3
What's Going On?
Fairhaven Salmon BBQ & Sidewalk SALE
September 17th
Saturday, September 17th - Rain or Shine! The ever-popular Fairhaven Salmon BBQ is once again combining with a Fairhaven-wide Sidewalk Sale! Fairhaven’s Annual Salmon BBQ is a great tradition, and this year it has a special family flavor to it. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Bellingham Boys & Girls Club. This is a great opportunity to enjoy that BBQ flavor while supporting a great cause! We will be serving delicious Pacific Northwest Salmon plus coleslaw, corn-on-the-cob, bread, dessert, and ice cold beverages. There will be gluten free cupcakes & rolls for those of you that ask. For the little ones, we will have a separate hot dog meal available.
FAIRHAVEN SIDEWALK SALE 11am- 5pm
SALMON BBQ
1-4pm Tickets $15
Fairhaven was famous for this event in the 1980s and we continue to celebrate that tradition! The Kids Meal-$6 annual “ District-wide Sidewalk Sale" will be going on from 11:00am to 5:00pm, so come for the food and stay for the local selection of books, clothes, shoes, pottery, crafts, housewares, garden items, and services... the list of what's available in the district is endless! There will be live music, face painting, a fun photo booth, balloons, games, raffles, kid friendly vendors and much more. Don't forget you can always count on great local music and other fun in Historic Fairhaven!
Autumn
ART Series Village Books is hosting an Autumn Art Series in October to celebrate local arts and art organizations. Join us every Friday in October for opportunities to learn about or participate in events featuring live music, literature, dance, visual arts, and theater. Stay tuned for details at VillageBooks.com.
4
Fall 2011
International
Day of Peace
Wednesday, September 21st The Whatcom Peace & Justice Center will host its 8th annual International Day of Peace featuring Keynote Speaker Executive Director Rosalinda Guillen from Community to Community Development, the Kulshan Chorus, and the presentation of the Lifetime Peacemaker Award. It is an inspiring family event that will kick-off at Maritime Heritage Park with an opening rally emceed by local musician Robert Sarazin Blake followed by a half-mile peace march leaving at 5:45pm. The evening program, emceed by radio personality Joe Teehan, will be at Assumption Catholic Church (2116 Cornwall Ave.) from 6:30-8:00 PM. For more info, contact office@whatcompjc.org. Admission is free, donations requested.
5:00pm: Opening Rally at Maritime Heritage Park
5:45pm: Peace March 6:30pm: Program
at Assumption Catholic Church
Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm
G TURNIN the PAGE by Chuck Robinson
O
ver the course of the past three decades there have been many challenges in operating an independent bookstore. The film, "You've Got Mail" chronicled the rollout of the big box corporate stores and the difficulty of surviving in their shadow. Amazon, during the height of the dot com boom, spent millions of dollars (and were able to lose money for several years) marketing a delivery system made popular by Sears and Montgomery Ward at the turn of the previous century—mail order. And now, with the advent of eBooks, everyone, including publishers, is scrambling to determine a workable business model. Add in an uncertain economy, escalating operating costs, and the sale of books in nearly every type of retail store, and it becomes clear that in our thirty plus years at Village Books we've never seen the confluence of challenges that we've experienced in these past few years. It may be, in fact, "the perfect storm." So, what does the future hold? I have to admit that my crystal ball is a little cloudy, but what seems clear is that we—the bookstore, our customers and the community as a whole—need to determine the value we add, and figure out a way to monetize that. Bookstores, both indies and chains, have increasingly become showrooms for books, without always having commensurate sales. In more urban areas especially, it's become common to see someone in a bookstore browse a book, then download it or order it online from another seller. That wouldn't be so bad if stores like ours were compensated to display and market the books, rather than sell them, but that's not currently the case. Each year we host around two hundred and fifty author events. Only a handful of those events are ticketed, and in those cases the ticket price generally offsets additional costs or raises money for a local non-profit. Though we've not seen it to the extent some of our colleagues around the country have, occasionally someone will come to an event with a book they've purchased online or onsite from another retail outlet. There is a cost associated with planning and putting on every event, and when costs exceed revenue...well there's a bit of a problem. A number of stores have begun to charge for most of their events, and though we're not currently moving in that direction, it may become necessary. Though I would argue that the collapse of the Borders chain was due in large part to a series of bad management decisions, that bankruptcy has brought attention to the difficulties across the book publishing and retail industry. Though not surprising, their demise gave us no joy. The reduction in bookstores doesn't bode well for the industry, or for society. On a positive note, we've been pleased with recent discussions with publishers who are recognizing the importance of independent booksellers and investigating ways to change the industry to better assure our survival. Conversations about inventory consignment, print on demand, and other alternative business models are occurring every day. We're guardedly optimistic that changes will come quickly enough. We've also been gratified by the response we've had to our One Book Pledge campaign. Many of you have said that, of the books you plan to buy, you'll buy one more of those from us, and one less from other sellers of books. If that becomes common behavior, not only will Village Books survive, the store should thrive. We hope everyone will ask themselves this question,"what is the value of an independent bookstore to me, and to my community, and would things be just fine without one?" Your answers are important; we hope you'll share them with us.
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
Fall 2011
5
OUR DATE WITH THE
GOOD TIME GIRLS by Paul Hanson
I
f you’ve been downtown on a Friday or Saturday evening this summer, chances are you’ve witnessed a pair of corseted ladies with a gaggle of smiling people in tow. The ladies are Annie Jo (Sara Holodnick) and Magnolia Pearl (Marissa McGrath), affectionately known as the Good Time Girls. When Chuck got word that they were giving Sin & Gin Tours based upon THE BROTHELS OF BELLINGHAM by Curtis Smith (see sidebar), he was naturally intrigued. So he decided to send me, Paul Hanson, VB’s new Community Outreach Director (see page 21) and Kelly Walters (new to Village Books & Paper Dreams) and our dog, Harry, on a tour to find out more. I’m a newcomer to B’ham while Kelly, a recently returned B’hamster has lived here off and on for over eight years. Despite that, what we learned on the tour about this town’s sordid past was new to both of us. Annie & Magnolia profess to not being historians, but they’ve done their research and their knowledge in this specialized subject is deep. These saucily-dressed historians blow the dust off the past and bring it to life… and they’re easy on the eyes ta boot. They begin their tour on Railroad Avenue where, 100 years ago, it was possible, they point out, to “get a glass of gin, a tattoo, and a social disease all within one block.” And not much has changed since then. Except now you can also get a waxing and a rhubarb ice cream. As they led us on a leisurely stroll around downtown, we listened to stories of local characters and buildings’ histories (especially the second floors) and the city’s past was illuminated. In addition to touching upon some of B’ham’s biggests, bests, & firsts, Annie and Magnolia peeled away the whitewashed self-image of this colorful town—including a dark chapter in Old City Hall’s past—and revealed to us how Bellingham was literally built on the backs of the ladies in these brothels.
Thanks to much well-deserved praise and loads of publicity, the Sin & Gin Tours—scheduled to go through September—are selling out fast so check their website (goodtimegirlsbham.com) for availability. When you do go (and you definitely should) your ticket will get you $2 off a copy of
THE BROTHELS OF BELLINGHAM where you can find out even more. There are rumors of cold-weather tours this fall and they’re considering a Downtown Ghost Walk so friend them on Facebook to keep abreast of future offerings!
As the sun went down, it was time for our tour to end… almost. To cap it off, we were treated to specialty cocktails at the Bayou Oyster Bar by bearded bartender extraordinaire, Jim Parker. After much consideration, I selected the Red Light (with a hint of raspberry, yum), Kelly picked The Notorious Tart (naturally) and Harry had a bone (as usual). Thank you Marissa and Sara… er, I mean Magnolia and Annie!
6
Fall 2011
Shop 24 hours a day at www.VillageBooks.com
FICTION The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
available now, hardcover, Ballantine Books
Victoria Jones is a reclusive foster child whose only solace is in flowers and the meanings they convey. With no possessions and nowhere to go, she spends her nights in a public park, where she plants a small garden. Her talent is soon discovered by a florist and she realizes she can help others through the flowers she chooses for them.
The Lantern
Cain: A Novel
by José Saramago translated by Margaret Jull Costa October, hardcover, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
In this, his last novel, Saramago daringly reimagines the characters and narratives from the Bible through the story of Cain. He experiences the almost-sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham, the Tower of Babel, the destruction of Sodom and Gommorrah, Joshua at the battle of Jericho and finally Noah’s ark and the Flood.
by Deborah Lawrenson
The Visible Man: A Novel
available now, hardcover, Harper Collins
Did you love Rebecca? I did, and this story is unapologetically reminiscent of that Gothic classic. Deftly weaving back and forth from past to present, Lawrenson tells two dark tales of secrets, lies, murder, and of course, love. The story takes place in an old, crumbling estate in Provence, and frankly, I'll read just about anything that takes place in France. Spooky and satisfying to the very end, I was captivated. ––Claire
by Chuck Klosterman
October, hardcover, Scribner
Interspersed with notes, correspondence, and transcription that catalog a client/therapist relationship based on uncertainty, curiosity, and fear, The Visible Man touches themes from interaction with pop culture and the influence of media to issues of voyeurism, normalcy, and reality. “Klosterman ...strikes a perfect balance between the funny and the profound." –Publishers Weekly
Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore: A Novel
The Dovekeepers: A Novel
by Stella Duffy
by Alice Hoffman
September, paperback, Penguin
Roman historian Procopius publicly praised Theodora of Constantinople for her piety— while secretly detailing her salacious stage act and maligning her as ruthless and power hungry. Saint or sinner? Stella Duffy vividly recreates the life and times of a woman who left her mark on one of the ancient world's most powerful empires.
October, hardcover, Scribner
In 70 CE, nine hundred Jews held out for months against armies of Rome on a mountain in the Judean desert, Masada. Hoffman weaves a spellbinding tale of four extraordinary, bold, resourceful, and sensuous women whose lives intersect in the desperate days of the siege. All are dovekeepers, and all are keeping secrets.
In The Sea There Are Crocodiles: Based on the True Story of Enaiatollah Akbari by Fabio Geda
available now, hardcover, Doubleday Books
A small and unassuming book that packs a massive punch, In the Sea There Are Crocodiles tells the story of Enaiatolla Akbari and his epic five-year journey from rural Afghanistan to Italy. Reminiscent of Dave Eggers’ What is the What, it is sad, funny, thrilling, beautiful and painful, often all at the same time. ––Sam
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
Fall 2011
7
FICTION
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
September, hardcover, Doubleday
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the striped canvas tents is a unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. Written in seductive prose, this novel will delight your senses. Lindsey (see review below), Terri, Jonica, & Dee all love this book. I'm not going to bother describing what the book is about. You can read that on your own. Instead, you need to know how this book will make you feel. Imagine the first time you saw lightning bugs. Remember that feeling? That's how The Night Circus will make you feel. Erin Morgenstern creates an incredible story where every chapter is like pulling back the curtain to reveal a room filled with your most brilliant dreams. You want to know what booksellers are loving? It's this one. –Lindsey
The Great Leader: A Novel by Jim Harrison
October, hardcover, Grove
On the verge of retirement, Detective Sunderson begins to investigate a hedonistic cult. At first the self-declared Great Leader seems merely an oddball, but as Sunderson pursues him from Michigan to Arizona a more sinister figure emerges. In the meantime Sunderson has his own demons to grapple with. Rich with character and humor, Harrison has delivered another rich excursion through America’s strange landscapes.
The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: A Novel in Pictures by Caroline Preston October, hardcover, Ecco
Through a kaleidoscopic array of vintage postcards, letters, magazine ads, ticket stubs, catalog pages, fabric swatches, candy wrappers, fashion spreads, menus and more, we meet and follow Frankie on her journey in search of success and love. When a family crisis compels Frankie to return to her small New England hometown, she finds exactly what she had been looking for all along.
8
Fall 2011
The Wandering Falcon by Jamil Ahmad
October, hardcover, Riverhead
“The Wandering Falcon,” is a character who travels throughout the tribes, over the mountains and the plains, in the towns and tents where Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan meet. The media today speak about a geopolitical hotbed of conspiracies, drone attacks, and conflict— now, told in the rich, dramatic tones of a master storyteller, this stunning, honor-bound culture is revealed from the inside.
American Boy by Larry Watson
October, hardcover, Milkweed Editions
Matthew Garth’s story begins in the fall of 1962, when the shooting of a young woman sets off a chain of unsettling events in small-town Minnesota. Fueled by his feverish desire for this mysterious woman and the affluence that appears to surround her, Matthew finds himself drawn into a vortex of greed and betrayal. Immersive and heart-breaking, this long-awaited novel marks the return of a great storyteller.
Two Staff Recommendations for...
The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan
available now, hardcover, Knopf
Meet Jake. He's 200 years old. He's a werewolf, the last of his kind...and tired. Jake's ready to meet his executioner, a professional werewolf hunter with a personal vendetta, but others out there have different plans for him. Turns out the last werewolf is more useful alive than dead after all. In this sexy and literary novel, Duncan pulls you under the skin of the werewolf and into his mind. With this perspective comes understanding, and with this comes compassion. This may be a monster story, but it transcends the genre and is so very human. ––Paul I don't typically read the werewolf/vampire books, but a trusted friend recommended this one to me, so I had to listen. I now have to step off my high and mighty "I don't read werewolf books" pedestal because not only have I read one, I also loved it. The same friend also gave the best description of this book: It's like Le Carre wrote a werewolf novel. That's spot on. Even if werewolf books aren't your "thing," you should give this one a shot. ––Lindsey
Building Community One Book at a Time
1Q84
by Haruki Murakami October, hardcover, Knopf
Masterly Japanese novelist Murakami returns with what seems rightly billed as his magnum opus, published in Japan in three volumes in 2009–10. The title plays with the Japanese pronunciation of 1984 and indeed this revered and best-selling author gives us his hypnotically addictive, mindbending ode to George Orwell's 1984.
Chango's Beads and Two-Tone Shoes: A Novel by William Kennedy October, hardcover, Viking
The novel follows journalist Daniel Quinn from 1957 Cuba to the streets of Albany in 1968 when Robert Kennedy was shot. Kennedy masterfully gathers together an unlikely cast of vivid characters, including Castro, Bing Crosby and Hemingway, in a riotous story of revolution, romance, and redemption, filled with music, mysticism, and murder.
E I NV YOU AtoRVB’s Fall ITE D Open Book Talk You're invited to Village Books' fall Open Book Talk on Thursday, October 20th at either 10:30am or 5:15pm. VB co-owners Chuck and Dee Robinson will talk about a variety of books for you to consider adopting for your book groups or adding to your fall reading list. If you're in a book group, bring the whole gang. If you're not and want to be, maybe you'll meet someone to join you in starting a new group! Don't miss this celebration of books and reading!
Open Book Talk with VB Owners, Chuck & Dee
Thursday, October 20th, 10:30am & 5:15pm in the VB Readings Gallery
Are YOU Receiving VB Email Updates? 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! 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!
Dead or Alive by Tom Clancy
September, paperback, Berkley Publishing Group
Shop 24/7 at VILLAGEBOOKS.com
THRILLS
Dead or Alive is an another excellent spy thriller in Clancy's Jack Ryan series. The story is about Jack Ryan Jr., Jack Ryan's son, and his intelligence group tracking down a terrorist mastermind known as "The Emir". The story uses many modern warfare and intelligence tactics to give the novel a more realistic feel. This book is excellent for any fan of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan series and an excellent return for the Jack Ryan character. ––Alex
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
Fall 2011
9
FICTION Paperback The Little Bride by Anna Solomon
September, paperback, Riverhead
Inspired by the little-known real history of the Jewish settlement of the Great Plains, The Little Bride is an elegantly written tale of a sixteen-year-old Russian mail-order bride stranded on the South Dakota prairie, married to a man twice her age, and falling increasingly in love with her nineteen-year-old stepson.
An Accident in August by Laurence Cossé, translated by Alison Anderson available now, paperback, Europa
A young woman's life is thrown into turmoil when fortune places her at the scene of the fatal car crash in which Lady Diana Frances Spencer, then Princess of Wales, lost her life. Scared and alone, she flees the scene of the accident. Wonderfully paced, suspenseful and dramatic, this is the story of an ordinary person radically changed by her chance involvement in an extraordinary event.
Fathermucker: A Novel by Greg Olear
October, paperback, Harper
Stay-at-home dad Josh Lansky has held everything together—a five-year-old with Aspergers, the most stubborn three-yearold known to man, the mommies, and the chance to interview a local rock star for his "Fathermucker" blog—during his wife Stacy’s business trip. But now the revelation that Stacy might be having an affair upsets the rickety apple cart that is life. What Josh needs is a break. He’s not going to get one.
The Great House by Nicole Krauss
September, paperback, W.W. Norton
This is a novel of four stories, told in eight chapters. The characters are from different times and places, yet all share a past of torment and loss. A wife keeping a secret, lost loves reminiscing, siblings growing into their own. Krauss (The History of Love) unites the characters with a writing desk that is inherited from one person to another, linking events in the lives of these characters. I love Krauss's use of language, and found myself rereading sentences again for the sheer pleasure of their beauty. ––Kelly W.
The Postmortal: A Novel by Drew Magary
A Call From Jersey by P. F. Kluge
October, paperback, Penguin
In his new novel Kluge takes a long view of the American experience and the steady mutation of the American Dream. Set in the 1980s, it follows the life of Hans Greifinger, a German-American who immigrated to the United States in 1928 and built a life for himself and his son, George, who has adopted the surname Griffin for his nationally-syndicated but lackluster travel column.
available now, paperback, Penguin
A fresh, bold take on the speculative novel, the story imagines a near future where a cure for aging is discovered and—after much political and moral debate—made available worldwide. Immortality, however, comes with its own unique problems—including evil green people, government euthanasia programs, and a disturbing new religious cult. The Postmortal envisions a preapocalyptic world so real that it is completely terrifying.
Vestments
by John Reimringer September, paperback, Milkweed
Selected by Publishers Weekly as a "Best Book of 2010", they praised: "This sensitive and searching debut confronts the conflicts of a newly ordained young priest from a family whose men 'have always loved strong drink and a good fight,' torn between his desire for spirituality and the temptations of the flesh... Reimringer has crafted a suspenseful, illuminating, and highly readable saga." Winner of the 2011 Minnesota Book Award for Novel & Short Story.
10
Fall 2011
Building Community One Book at a Time
A Study in Sherlock
by Laurie R. King, Leslie S. Klinger
MYSTERY
October, paperback, Bantam
Co-edited by bestselling author Laurie R. King and Leslie Klinger, an expert in all things Sherlock Holmes, more than a dozen writing superstars unveil stories inspired by that intrepid detective. With mystery, comedy, and even illustrations, A Study in Sherlock will reveal new insights into Holmes...as well as some of today's top authors.
Librarian Writes the Final Chapter on Popular Librarian Last month Jo Dereske appeared at Village Books to talk about Helma Zukas for the last time. Beginning in 1994, with Miss Zukas and the Library Murders, Jo created a series of books about a fastidious librarian in the vaguely recognizable town of Bellehaven. The series delighted readers near and far. Then three years ago, during the beginning of the economic downturn, Jo's contract for the series—along with the contracts of many other authors—was cancelled, leaving readers hanging. Taking the bull by the horns (or, more likely, her computer by the keyboard), Jo decided to publish the final book in the series herself. Though we won't give away the outcome, we can say that some loose ends are tied up—the wedding dress on the cover should be a clue. But, don't jump to conclusions. After Wayne finally pops the question, murder and mayhem ensue. Readers will be pleased with a proper ending to the series the New York Times called, "a loving sendup of the stereotype of the prim and proper librarian." Is Jo now done writing? Hardly. She's currently at work on a novel and a mystery set in 1902.
Best American Short Stories 2011
edited by Geraldine Brooks, series editor Heidi Pitlor October, paperback, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Edited by award-winning, best-selling author Geraldine Brooks, this year’s collection will be another sure bet for gripping, emotional and challenging reading. America’s oldest and best-selling story anthology is a sort of antenna for what is going on in the world. Reading a story a night you will have over three weeks of reading pleasure.
SHORT STORIES
Jane Austen Made Me Do It by Laurel Ann Nattress
October, paperback, Ballantine Books
Indisputably one of history's most cherished and widely read writers, Jane Austen has had an incomparable influence on contemporary fiction, inspiring countless sequels and spin-offs. This engaging collection of completely original short fiction pays homage both to the great Jane as well as to the wonderful stories she helped to create.
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
Fall 2011
11
SCIENCE FICTION
Reamde: A Novel by Neal Stephenson
September, hardcover, William Morrow
Stephenson returns with his most accessible novel to date, a highstakes thriller in which a wealthy tech entrepreneur gets caught in the very real crossfire of his own online fantasy war game. "It’s not just that his prose is smooth and often witty or that his intelligence is wide-ranging and speculative, but that he wrestles with concepts . . . in ways that would shame most ‘literary’ novelists.”—Los Angeles Times
How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu
Every day in Minor Universe 31, people get into time machines and try to change the past. That's where Charles Yu, time travel technician, steps in. He helps save people from themselves. Literally. When he's not taking client calls, Yu searches for his vanished father with the aid of a book he got from his future self: How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe.
Book Three: A Storm of Swords Book Four: A Feast for Crows
and NOW...
by Connie Willlis October, paperback, Spectra
Connie Willis has won more Nebula awards than any other writer and has recently been inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. In All Clear, Willis concludes her beautiful, harrowing, and utterly charming story started in Blackout that has earned her the well-deserved devotion of a legion of fans.
available now, hardcover, Bantam Books
This is the most amazing series, and yes, it is full of swords and fantasy. It is also the most diabolical view of human nature and the twisted way fate can change in a minute, written as a vast epic with a character cast of thousands. Each different character truly has a unique voice, which, to be honest, is unusual since most authors just have a thin disguise on only one real character. The most astounding aspect of this series is the careful development of multiple plots and twisted plot-trails of breadcrumbs winding a tortured way through dark forests. Pictures of this author show him to be a jolly, kindly, happy-looking fellow, but don't be fooled. This is extremely wicked stuff. Be prepared to absolutely NEED to read all four previous books before starting this newest installment. If you're like me, you'll become a Westeros junkie. ––Jonica
by Ernest Cline
available now, hardcover, Crown
Cline pulls off the seemingly impossible trick of integrating into his plot the details of John Hughes movies, old Cap'n Crunch commercials, eight-bit Atari classics, Philip K. Dick novels, Japanese giantrobot battles...and much more. The result is something both utterly charming and entirely different from any other novel you've read.
Fall 2011
This is account of Atwood’s relationship with the literary form of science fiction. This bonding has been lifelong; stretching from her days as a child reader in the 1940s through her time as a graduate student, where she explored the Victorian ancestors of the form, and continuing with her work as a writer and reviewer.
by George R. R. Martin
Ready Player One
12
October, hardcover, Nan A. Talese
A Dance with Dragons: Book Five of A Song of Ice and Fire Series
A Song of Ice and Fire Series Book Two: A Clash of Kings
the Human Imagination
by Margaret Atwood
All Clear
available now, paperback, Vintage
Book One: A Game of Thrones
In Other Worlds: SF and
The Star Trek Book of Opposites
HUMOR!
by David Borgenicht
September, board book, Quirk Books
Is your child exploring strange new words? Or are you a Trekkie who needs a goofy gift for a fellow fan? This kitschy treasure will transport you to an exciting world of educational fun; pairing colorful photographs of Trek's heroes and aliens. I'm a doctor, Jim, not a board book.
Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm
VB’s first (ever)
STEAMPUNK MASQUERADE
Thursday, September 15th, 5–7pm VB Mezzanine (2nd floor)
Wear your finest Steampunk costume
Mask optional (…for those who have something to hide!)
Treats Galore!
Win a Prize! (a book, of course) Mingle and Talk Books!
Steampunk!: An Anthology of Fantastically Rich and Strange Stories edited by Kelly Link & Gavin J Grant October, hardcover, Candlewick Press
Wow, who knew steampunk came in so many flavors? This book includes a police procedural, a western with a band of dangerous outlaw time-bending girls, clever orphans trying to free themselves from the oppression of an evil workhouse, and my favorite: steampunk Ancient Roman historical (?) fiction. You can share these fun stories with your favorite teen, they are 50% less dark than the usual fare. –Terri
DEMOCRACY NOW 8 9 . 3 F M
KUGS . ORG STREAMING LIVE
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
35TH ANNIVERSARY
STUDENT OPERATED RADIO NEWS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
available now, paperback, Plume Books
Best one-liner to describe this: It's like Harry Potter goes to college... in upstate New York. The magic in Grossman's world is complex, and the grown-up lessons that the main character, Quentin Clearwater, learns are hard, with dire consequences. Once you start reading this eccentric story, it will cast its spell on you and you'll not want to stop. It's the most fun I've had reading in a long time. If you don't get it for yourself, get it for the magic-lover in your life. They'll thank you for it. ––Paul
The Magician King by Lev Grossman
available now, hardcover, Viking
In this splendid sequel to the Magicians, we rejoin Quentin and his fellow magicians as they traverse the realms on an epic quest to save Fillory. This time, readers come to understand Julia, the pissed-off, self-taught magical genius who contrasts the university-regimented, spell-casting of Quentin and his crew. This is literary fantasy at its best. ––Paul
Fall 2011
13
Who else
wants fun fitness?
Small class size • Progressive workouts • Individualized attention
TENNIS BTC Tennis Academy for all ages FIT BODY BOOT CAMP Unstoppable fitness formula
Call NOW to sign up for Fall programs!
360-733-5050
CYCLE MOLES Coached cycling program 360.733.5050 | www.bellinghamtennis.com 800 McKenzie Avenue, Bellingham 360-733-5050 | www.fairhavenfitness.us
"It helped us make a great life even better." –Chuck & Dee Robinson
14
Fall 2011
Shop 24 hours a day at www.VillageBooks.com
BELBEN'S
RACE
for COPAN'S PLACE
Two Gals, Four Wheels, Six Races, Eight States, and Ten Books
by Cathy Belben
I
left Bellingham in June to travel the Southwestern U.S. to compete in six sprint-distance triathlons in six weeks as part of a fund-and-awareness raiser for Copan’s Place, a cancer treatment center for cats and dogs established by my lifelong friend, Amy Baklund, and staffed by Bellingham veterinarian Dr. Edmund Sullivan. My camper and truck were loaded with my gear, my Bernese Mountain Dog, Frida, and (of course) a cargo of books and listening material. Over the course of my forty-day adventure, Frida and I drove about 6000 miles. We stopped regularly to sight-see, visit friends and acquaintances scattered around the southwest, and relax in assorted state and national parks. During the driving time and the static rest periods, I listened to many audiobooks and dipped into the stash of print books I’d brought along. Here are my favorites. Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink helps explain why I took off for a summer of solitude and competition. Pink spent years studying human behavior, specifically motivation, and found that typical strategies used to encourage better performance are misdirected. Instead of being motivated by rewards, Pink asserts, humans are compelled towards accomplishment by a desire for autonomy, mastery of their skills, and a sense of purpose. Teachers, parents, personal trainers, and anyone who wants to help themselves and others in their lives achieve their potential will find something worthy to take from this book. (paperback, Penguin)
Bold Spirit by Linda Lawrence Hunt is the story of Helga Estby and her teenage daughter, Clara, who walked from Spokane to New York in 1896, making my little drive around the Southwest feel remarkably luxurious in comparison. Estby, the mother of nine, undertook the endeavor in order to win a cash prize that would save her family from financial ruin. Her journey and its consequences were unspoken of by her immediate family and her descendents for years after, and much of her story was lost. Hunt recreates, as much as possible, the trek the women undertook, its impact on her family, and the powerful importance of story-keeping and story-telling. (paperback, Anchor) In You Know When the Men Are Gone by Siobhan Fallon, interconnected short stories reveal the inner lives and family secrets of women and men living in Fort Hood, Texas, one of the drive-by locations on my journey. From the outside, there’s nothing out of the ordinary about the insular Army community, but as this collection demonstrates, there is always a story beneath the surface. A cancer-stricken mother is bewildered and shaken by the disappearance of her belligerent teenage daughter; an intel officer sets up surveillance on his wife; a wife reads her husband’s email and discovers unsettling possibilities about marriage and military service—as do all of these amazing stories. (hardcover, Penguin) (continued)
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
Fall 2011
15
(continued from page 15)
Bad Dog: A Love Story by Martin Kihn is the only dog-memoir I’ve read specifically about the Bernese mountain dog—the breed of my dog, Frida, who accompanied me on my roadtrip. In Kihn’s story, his marriage is crumbling due to alcoholism, and his badly behaved Berner, Hola, doesn’t help matters by terrorizing his wife. When Kihn’s wife leaves, he is determined to win her back. In addition to quitting drinking, he undertakes to re-train Hola and earn the Canine Good Citizen medal, an AKC honor for pet dogs that fulfill 10 behavioral requirements. The story of Hola and her human’s adventures to improve themselves and win back their woman reveals the fun and frustration of dog-human partnership and is a terrific read for anyone who loves—and is sometimes exasperated with—their furry friends. (hardcover, Pantheon) I traveled through Austin, Texas, one of my favorite cities, and spent several days enjoying the sun next to Barton Springs. In James Hynes’ novel, Next, Kevin Quinn flies there for a job interview in the wake of several missile attacks on U.S. cities. The entire narrative traces this one day in Quinn’s life, as the attacks prompt him to reflect on his relationships, past and present, and on the meaning of his life. His reveries take us through his chronology of love, sex, various infatuations, regrets, and current desires, concluding in one of the most unforgettable, stunning endings I’ve experienced as a read. I cannot stop thinking about this book. (paperback, Little Brown) How could I not read Rebecca Makkai’s novel, The Borrower, when it’s about a librarian on a road trip?! Lucy Hull, a 26-year-old librarian, helps a 10-year-old patron escape his fundamentalist parents, who are trying to “de-gayify” him in a controversial church program. Their roadtrip across the country struck me as implausible, but their relationship was authentic and moving. The two bond over a shared love of reading, and both are struggling with families they don’t understand—in Lucy’s case, their journey enables her to sort out her complicated feelings about her Russian émigré father, who has a mysterious past. Despite straining my credulity, I loved the road trip, the book references, and sweet, precocious Ian. (hardcover, Penguin)
My American Unhappiness by Dean Bakopoulos was my favorite novel on the trip. Protagonist Zeke Pappas is the head of a government organization that distributes money for humanities projects and the overseer of a project on the reasons behind Americans’ unhappiness. As such, he interviews individuals and fields letters, phone messages, and emails from people unloading their burdens. His own unhappiness is another subject altogether—his estranged brother and sister-in-law have died, orphaning young twin daughters, and according to stipulations in a will, they will live with their mother’s sister out of town unless Zeke marries. His quest to find love—or at least-matrimony is only one of several subplots in this entertaining novel, at the core of which lies a secret that may explain all that is truly troubling Zeke. (hardcover, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) On the other end of the spectrum, The Geography of Bliss is NPR correspondent Eric Weiner’s quest to discover not what makes people unhappy, but what makes them happy, and he travels to various points on the globe to determine what role, if any, geography plays in our happiness, and why places we’d expect to be misery-causing (isolated, freezing-cold Iceland, for example) are some of the most joyous on earth. Weiner, who admits that he’s not, on average, a particularly happy person, discovers and relates a great deal of wisdom about what makes a happy life, and his insights are often funny and profound. (paperback, Grand Central Publishing)
Weiner notes, in one chapter of The Geography of Bliss, that we often don’t know how travel changes us until long after the trip is over. I sure hope that the discoveries I made this summer, and the joy I found traveling, competing, relaxing with my dog, continue to surprise me and teach me in the months and years to come. Cathy Belben is a librarian, a writer, a dog-mom, and a triathlete-on-hiatus. She’s lived and read in Bellingham her whole life, and she plans to stay right here for a while, teaching, reading, and writing about books. You can read her monthly book recommendations at www.belbensbookblog.blogspot.com .
16
Fall 2011
Building Community One Book at a Time
Why Read Moby-Dick? by Nathaniel Philbrick October, hardcover, Viking
Moby-Dick is perhaps the greatest of the Great American Novels, yet its length and esoteric subject matter create an aura of difficulty that too often keeps readers at bay. Philbrick skillfully navigates Melville's world and illuminates the book's humor and unforgettable characters—finding the thread that binds Ishamel and Ahab to our own time, indeed, to all times.
The Ecstasy of Influence: Nonfiction, Etc. by Jonathan Lethem
November, hardcover, Doubleday
A collection of previously published pieces and new essays as provocative and idiosyncratic as any he's written, this volume sheds light on an array of topics from sex in cinema to drugs, graffiti, Bob Dylan, cyberculture, 9/11, book touring, and Marlon Brando, as well as a shelf's worth of his literary models and contemporaries.
BOOKS ON BOOKS
Unstuck in Time: A Journey Through Kurt Vonnegut's Life and Novels by Gregory D. Sumner
November, hardcover, Seven Stories Press
Vonnegut has always resisted celebrating the traditional values associated with the American Dream: grandiose ambition, material success, rugged individualism and winners over losers. Instead, we read and share Vonnegut's outrage, his empathy for those who struggle under the ethos of survival of the fittest--something he once described as "an impossibly tough-minded experiment in loneliness."
North Cascades Institute Celebrating 25 Years of Conserving & Restoring Northwest Environments Through Education Sept. 8-11 The 12th Annual Thunder Arm Writing Retreat with Tim McNulty, Ana Maria Spagna & Langdon Cook Sept. 24 Our 25th Anniversary Open House & BBQ Picnic at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center — free! media sponsors: Cascadia Weekly & KUOW Sept. 24-25 NW Harvest Cooking with Debra Daniels-Zeller Oct. 7-9 The Art of the Essay with Lyanda Lynn Haupt Oct. 22-23 Faith of Cranes with Hank Leftner Oct. 29 Northwest Mushrooms with Lee Whitford Nov. 24-26 Thanksgiving Family Getaway
(360) 854-2599 www.ncascades.org/get_outside 360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
Fall 2011
17
WWU
C NNECTIONS A Brown Bag Speaker Series
Village Books and the Western Washington University Libraries are pleased to present another season of the WWU Connections brown bag speaker series highlighting the expertise of WWU faculty and staff. Join us at Village Books in our Readings Gallery the second Tuesday of each month, from September through December, noon-1pm. We're in the process of scheduling presentations, so keep an eye on VillageBooks.com for details.
Carola ... hereʼs the proof for the chuckanut reader
Co-presented by Village Books & The Western Washington University Libraries
Study Skills — Speed Reading Writing Skills — Comprehension
If your child’s school work is below grade level, s/he may need stronger reading skills.
Servicing Most European & Japanese Models
For diagnosis and appropriate 1:1 instruction, contact
Carola Tossetti, M.A. Credentialed Reading Specialist Students, parents and teachers can learn about Carola’s programs and rates at:
Bellinghamreading.com 360 671.2420
Don’t miss the VB
18
Fall 2011
I-5 & Samish Way • 360.333.8777 Today is a great day to begin reading a new book!
SAL E
20% OFF
Children’s Books & Toys
SEPTEMBER 15-30
Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm
Chuckanut Writers Conference A Rich Meal
by Laurel Leigh
I
www.chuckanutwritersconference.com
Chuckanut Writers Conference Friday and Saturday June 22 and 23, 2012
Whatcom Community College Bellingham, Washington
n June, the inaugural Chuckanut Writers Conference, with the theme "Inspiration into Action", attracted nearly 200 writers to the Whatcom Community College campus and raised funds for an important non-profit organization. The conference was co-presented by WCC Community Education and Village Books, and planning has already begun for the 2012 conference. At this year’s cross-genre, craft-oriented gathering, writers of all levels of experience had opportunities to attend writing craft workshops, hear authors read, and mingle with award-winning writers, publishing representatives and seasoned literary agents. Many attendees came from Whatcom County and the Northwest, but several came from around the country, with one traveling all the way from Brazil. Attending writers bonded over lively discussions of writing technique, shared meals, formed friendships and gave each other encouragement when pitching their work to literary agents. The two-day conference concluded with five concurrent open mic events held in Fairhaven, allowing conference attendees to share their own written works with the public. The 2011 faculty roster included, among others, Washington State’s first poet laureate Samuel Green, renowned children’s book author and illustrator Nina Laden, American Book Award–winner Alex Kuo, professor and six-time Pushcart Prize–winner Brenda Miller, ten-time novelist Tom Robbins, Living Legacy author and speaker Gloria Burgess, Seattle-based award-winning writer and teacher Priscilla Long, American Book Award–winner Nancy Rawles, and award-winning regional favorite Jim Lynch. Perhaps conference attendee Marla Tuski said it best—"The quality of the faculty was great—I feel like I’ve eaten a –– Marla Tuski, conference attendee rich meal.”
"The quality of the faculty was great—I feel like I’ve eaten a rich meal.”
“One of the goals of the conference is to give back to the community, with a portion of the proceeds of each year’s conference donated to a related non-profit,” said Linda Howson, conference chairperson and programming coordinator for WCC Community Education. Whatcom Literacy Council, dedicated to increasing literacy skills for adults in Whatcom County, was the designated non-profit this year. Whatcom Community College Foundation, a non-profit organization that champions the needs of students and the initiatives of Whatcom Community College, has been selected for 2012, with funds specifically supporting the Writing Center and related tutoring services at the College. The Writing Center, a branch of Whatcom’s Learning Center, serves students who are writing for classes and for job and college applications. “The WCC Foundation is honored to have been chosen as the designated charity for the 2012 Chuckanut Writers Conference,” shared Executive Director Anne Bowen. With the success of this year's conference and an eye toward creating an annual event, WCC Community Education and Village Books have begun planning the next Chuckanut Writers Conference, scheduled for June 22-23, 2012. "The community really got behind this event," said Village Books co-owner Chuck Robinson, "and we're looking forward to an even more engaging community event this next year." Nearly everyone engaged in the conference—planners, faculty and attendees—would likely agree with attendee Devyn Nixon, who commented "the conference was beyond my greatest expectations. I am so proud of my city." For information and updates about the 2012 conference visit www.chuckanutwritersconference.com or call 360-383-3200. 360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
Fall 2011
19
Village Books in Historic Fairhaven
AFFILIATE PROGRAM • Do you want to extend the knowledge and passion of Village Books into your own online community? • Do you want to generate income through your website? If so, the Village Books in Historic Fairhaven Affiliate Program is a productive way to achieve both; a great opportunity that is just one Online Enrollment away! As part of the VillageBooks.com Affiliate Program, you can extend the passion and knowledge of Village Books in Historic Fairhaven into your website, and earn generous commissions.
1) Link from your website to books for sale on VillageBooks.com 2) We monitor your traffic and send you referral fees 3) You demonstrate your partnership with Village Books
We'll walk you through how to link to our online bookstore. When a visitor to your website clicks on your Village Books in Historic Fairhaven hyperlink, they will enter the Village Books in Historic Fairhaven website, where they can order books, read interesting articles, get information about store events, and more. All books ordered by visitors that come to Village Books in Historic Fairhaven by way of your website are tracked, so that you will receive a commission for each sale. The best part is that becoming an Affiliate of the Village Books in Historic Fairhaven community costs you nothing––in fact, it pays! Just look for “Become a Village Books Affiliate” under Village Books Information on our website. If you need assistance or have any questions about the Program, please email lindsey@villagebooks.com. We’re MUCH more than a Newspaper at the
We’re a Full Service Print comPany!
Want a sample of our work?
You’re holding one!
Why go anywhere else? Call us for all your
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
20
Fall 2011
Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm
Reaching Out to the Community...
Even More
VB Hires Community Outreach Director
For Village Books "building community one book at a time" has long been more than a marketing slogan; it's been the core of the store's mission. Partnering with numerous other businesses and nonprofits has allowed business to leverage its visibility and help accomplish worthwhile goals in the community. It has also earned Village Books the distinction of being the Outstanding Philanthropic Small Business in Washington State. In spite of that ongoing outreach, owners Chuck and Dee Robinson felt there was an opportunity to do even more. "With our time spread across two businesses (the Robinsons also own adjacent card and gift shop Paper Dreams) and a number of non-profits, we sometimes feel like our efforts are not very well organized," said Dee. So, when Paul Hanson, longtime manager of Eagle Harbor Books on Bainbridge Island, announced that he was moving to Bellingham, they snapped him up for a new position as Community Outreach Director. "We've known Paul for years. He served on the board and as president of the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association and serves on the Booksellers Advisory Council for the American Booksellers Association," said Chuck. "He seemed a perfect fit for this new role." As Community Outreach Director Paul will work with businesses, schools, and non-profits to build partnerships that are mutually beneficial, and help build community. He'll also lead outside sales efforts for special events, book fairs and conferences, and work with businesses who want to provide a focused selection of books to their customers. In addition, he'll represent Village Books in its partnership with Whatcom Community College in producing the Chuckanut Writers Conference, and will manage the Village Books Holiday Store (see story on page 2). Anyone wishing to build a community partnership or arrange book sales for an event or at their business can contact Paul by email at Paul@Villagebooks.com or by phone at 671-2626.
You can follow Village Books on Twitter. Each day we “tweet” about book events, new books, and book-related topics. We are @VillageBksBham.
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
If you haven’t visited our Facebook page and become a fan, please do. 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.
Fall 2011
21
FOOD CO OP
Good Food Good Health
fresh
LO CA L
organic
Two c onven ient
Downtown
1220 N. Forest St. Open daily 7 am–10 pm
locatio
ns
Cordata
315 Westerly Rd. Open daily 7 am–9 pm
Anyone can shop the Co-op
Is the Willows Inn All That? See for Yourself!
book fare café in village books
One of ten restaurants worth a plane ride –NY Times
I’ve seen the future on a little island in the Pacific Northwest. –Joe Ray, Boston Globe
The Willows… is symbiotically connected with Lummi Island. Nowhere else could this food exist, in no other time can this menu take place. –Kevin Pang, Chicago Tribune To connect the food to its place, the chef uses textures, scents and flavours found near the main ingredient. –Alexander Gill, Globe and Mail …the burning-hottest restaurant on the West Coast—if not in the entire country… –Bethany Jean Clement, the Stranger
360-758-2620 | 888-294-2620 www.willows-inn.com
22
Fall 2011
Dinners are served Thursday-Sunday, Cocktails 4:00pm, Dinner 6:30pm Taproot Cafe Hours: 11-7 Fri-Sun, 11-9 Mon & Tues, closed Wed & Thur Call: 360-758-2930
seasonal local organic allergy-friendly come see what’s new on the mezzanine level upstairs in village books www.bookfarecafe.com 360.734.3434
Building Community One Book at a Time
ITCHEN IN THE Kwith Charles Book recommendations from one of our favorite chefs. Bon Appetit!
The Big New York Sandwich Book:
99 Delicious Creations from the City’s Greatest Restaurants and Chefs by Sarah Reistadt-Long & Jean Tang
available now, paperback, Running Press
From old school grilled cheese with bacon and tomato to wild gourmet interpretations, NYC’s best sandwich recipes are collected in this encyclopedic tome. Chefs of all stripes contribute their takes of the humble ‘wich with amazing results. This season at the Book Fare Café, we’ll be featuring two sandwiches of note: Prosciutto, Grilled Fennel & Pear on Challah with Gorgonzola Aioli, and the Spanish tapas-influenced Albacore Tuna Bocata.
Chicken & Egg: A Memoir of Suburban Homesteading with 125 Recipes by Janice Cole
available now, paperback, Chronicle Books
As a diary of one woman’s journey through the seasons with her chickens, this cookbook is a great narrative as well as an inspired collection of recipes. If you keep chickens, you should keep this book. Enjoy the seasonal flavor of Pumpkin Spice Cake with Salted Caramel Sauce at Book Fare Café. We’ll also be offering more breakfast dishes this fall, so try the Mushroom Egg Bake with Applewood Smoked Bacon, too.
Food Trucks: Dispatches and Recipes from the Best Kitchens on Wheels by Heather Shouse
available now, paperback, Ten Speed Press
Street food is making a nationwide comeback, and this book documents the trend with great recipes and inspiring profiles of the chefs on the cutting edge. At Book Fare this fall we’ll be making Spam Sliders with our own signature version of Nunya Sauce, as in “nunya business”. We’ll also be making the recipe for French Toast with Shaved Apples and Wild Boar Sausage.
Love in a Dish…and Other Culinary Delights by M.F.K. Fisher
available now, hardcover, Counterpoint
Although technically not a cookbook, this slender little volume is required reading for any gourmand. This collection of some of M.F.K. Fisher’s more obscure essays focuses on the emotional connections we have with our food, and all of the pleasures and pains that come along with them. Lust, desire, longing, and love, Fisher cooks up a delicious meal in “Love in a Dish.”
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
Fall 2011
23
W ! NO EN P O
Book-worthy
1080 Lakeway Drive • Bellingham
Great food is for everyone! The Market Kitchen:
We prepare fresh in our kitchen - sandwiches, salads, soups, side dishes, hot & cold entrees that include a wide variety of wheat free, vegetarian and vegan choices every day. There is a huge salad bar too. Choose from over 400 possibilities available every day from the Market Kitchen.
Bake House
From “Amazing Cakes” to artisan breads, scratch baking is back in Bellingham! Real butter, farm fresh eggs, Madagascar vanilla, premium chocolate, Bake House made fillings - you really can taste the difference. 100’s of fresh baked goodies right from our ovens everyday.
Wok-On:
The Markets take on a Mongolian grill style stir-fry bar. You pile up fresh noodles and veggies, pick a sauce and a protein and we stir fry it fresh right before your eyes. Gluten free and Vegan options too!
WINES
at Book Fare Café Tuesdays, September 27th & October 25th, 6:00-7:30pm Great books and great wine come together at the Book Fare Café, on the mezzanine level of Village Books. Join Gabriel Lukeris, a representative of Cavatappi Wines, and Book Fare chef-owner Charles Claassen as we explore the world of fine wines, foods that pair well with our selections, and world-renowned wine authors. We'll sample five different wines and enjoy five small plates to accompany the wines.
Market Q:
Carolina pulled pork, St. Louis style ribs, and Texas brisket that is cherry-wood smoked in our custom manufactured Texas made Klose off-set BBQ. We slow cook authentic regional BBQ for up to 12 hours every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Everthing made right here using our own recipes. You don’t have to travel thousands of miles for real BBQ - we are cooking it up every weekend for you to enjoy.
Flaming Pie Flaming Pie. RUSTIC
HAN
FRESH
Round or square, simple or slathered, pizza might be the most perfect food. Flaming Pie is no ordinary pizza - We began our quest for pizza perfection by working from the foundation up - the crust. Hand formed, rustic, light, fire kissed and blistered with a bit of crispness to the bottom. Topped with freshly made sauce, finest quality meats, and artisan cheeses - A real contender for the best pizza in town.
Plus many more exciting departments throughout the store!
A store like no other!
24
Fall 2011
Tuesday, September 27th will feature the book Been Doon So Long: A Randall Grahm Vinthology by Randall Grahm (hardcover, University of California Press)
Tuesday, October 25th will feature the book Reading Between the Wines by Terry Theise (paperback available in October, University of California Press)
The authors will not attend. Tickets are $20 per person, available at the Book Fare Café or online at brownpapertickets.com. Register by the Sunday prior to the event.
Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm
FOOD
Vegan Pie in the Sky: 75 Out-of-This-World Recipes for Pies, Tarts, Cobblers, and More
by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero October, paperback, Da Capo Lifelong
They Draw & Cook: 107 Recipes Illustrated by Artists from Around the World
by Nate Padavick & Salli Swindell October, hardcover, Simon & Schuster
Nate Padavick and Salli Swindell are doing what many foodies and artists are doing these days. They are taking their ideas and creativity off of their blog and turning them into a book. In They Draw & Cook, more than 100 artists share their recipes for food from around the world, and accompany the recipes with illustrations of their own. Some of my favorite artists are featured, including Geninne Zlatkis' recipe for salsa verde, and her little mariachi watercolor bird. This fun cookbook will make a great gift for the holidays, and a tasty addition to your kitchen library. ––Christina
52 Loaves: One’s Man Relentless Pursuit of Truth, Meaning, and a Perfect Crust by William Alexander
October, paperback, Algonquin
In order to create the perfect loaf of bread, the author raised his own field of wheat, ground it, and saw it through to the finished loaf. Still not satisfied, he traveled the world to learn bread baking from the masters. He finally ended up in a Norman monastery where he learned spiritual discipline as well as baking. This is an educational as well as an appetizing memoir.
In this third baking volume from vegan heavyweights Moskowitz and Romero, you’ll find innovative recipes ranging from old-fashioned Mom’s Apple Pie to new trends like Salted Caramel Pecan Pie. There are nut-based and gluten-free options, as well as a chapter devoted to making perfect vegan pastry crust. Lucious ice creams, toppings, and sauces will make your pie a showstopper.
The Splendid Table's How to Eat Weekends by Lynne Rossetto Kasper & Sally Swift
September, hardcover, Clarkson Potter
Celebrate the weekend! When the pressure is off, time becomes your ally, and you get to slow down and dig into cooking with a different mindset. Here are 100 new recipes, a chapter devoted to international menus, and a trove of stories, quips, and history that Splendid Table fans have come to love.
A SPECIAL EVENT! Tuesday, October 18th
GREG ATKINSON
–At the Kitchen Table: The Craft of Cooking at Home 5-6:30pm: Before Greg Atkinson's public event at Village Books (7pm), join him for appetizers prepared from his book and served with wine at the home of Chuck & Dee Robinson, above Village Books. The cost is $40 per person, which includes a copy of the book! Tickets are available at Village Books, by phone at 360-6712626, or at brownpapertickets.com.
How Carrots Won the Trojan War: Curious (but True) Stories of Common Vegetables by Rebecca Rupp
October, paperback, Storey Publishing
From Rebecca Rupp’s book I learned what Diogenes had to say about cabbages, Mark Twain’s comments on watermelons, Thomas Jefferson’s descriptions of his garden, and European reactions to the introduction of the potato from South America in the sixteenth century. She shares many more stories and histories of the plants in our gardens and on our plates. Rupp, a biologist and biochemist, adds a dose of scientific explanation––evolutionary and chemical––for the tastes and effects of the plants, and useful details about cooking and keeping properties. The book is filled with cute illustrations and amusing subtitles. How could a vegetarian/gardener/cook not love it? –Terri
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
Fall 2011
25
7th Anniversary
Fairhaven Runners
Waterfront 15K Saturday, September 10 th
Can you run on water? Well, kind of! Run or walk over the water, next to it, course around it, eye it, and ogle it. Savor the reflected views of mountains, sailing vessels and the cityscape as you wind your way on one of the prettiest courses in the northwest. Come run on the water with us! The Waterfront 15K, coordinated by event partners Fairhaven Runners & Walkers and Bellingham Parks and Recreation, offers a 9.3 mile (15K) scenic road and trail course along Bellingham Bay, linking Fairhaven, downtown, the marina and back, traveling through Boulevard Park and up Taylor Street Dock. The San Juan Islands, Mount Baker and the Olympic Mountains provide a stunning Pacific Northwest backdrop. Speaking about the event’s seventh year, Steve Roguski, owner of Fairhaven Runners, said, “I remember wondering (with a new race in mind) if my favorite Bellingham running route might possibly be 15K in length. Turns out it was! Our Bellingham Parks and Rec. friend, Lance Romo, agreed that this beautiful waterfront route could turn out to be a favorite for the entire region as well. Since then, we have worked together to put on a race that showcases the beauty of Bellingham. We are thrilled that so many folks now call it their favorite annual race and come from near and far. This year, runners will enjoy an improved trail system, especially the Pattle Point area of Boulevard Park. And building on tradition, expect the joyful vibe of the Skamania band to delight the delirious crowd while refueling at the well-stocked refreshment tables. While free massage, celebration and back slapping ensues, you might step back and marvel at this community and its fitness, joy and beauty—I know I will.” This not-for-profit event helps support Bellingham Parks and Recreation. Especially during these difficult economic times for city services, it's important to note how valuable this organization is to making this a healthy community. They consistently provide high quality parks and recreation services, while coordinating hundreds of community and athletic events each year. Always striving towards zero waste, the race directors encourage everyone attending to help in this effort by carpooling or using alternative transportation and placing compostibles in the SSC “Food Plus” containers that will be made available on site. We strive for a better and more responsible event every year! The race will feature commemorative Mizuno technical running shirts and chip timing. The post-race celebration includes great refreshments, live music from a ska/reggae band, Skamania, and complimentary massage. The awards ceremony features overall and age group winners (5 year age groups to 80+), random prizes including hotel stays and shoes, and prompt race results! Pre-registration is $25 and available at www.FairhavenRunners.com, the Fairhaven Runners & Walkers store and the Bellingham Parks and Recreation Cornwall office. Registration is capped at 1,000 participants. No day-of-race registration!
Village Books is a proud sponsor of this event! The Fairhaven Runners 15K Race is possible because of the generous support from these major sponsors: Mizuno, Village Books, The Market at Fairhaven, 790 KGMI News Talk Radio, Back in Motion Chiropractic and Wellness Center, Great Harvest Bread, Fairhaven Pizza, Archer Ale House, Colophon Café, Adventures NW Magazine, and Port of Bellingham.
26
Fall 2011
Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm
May 6th–17th, 2012
A Great Holiday Gift!
A Tale of Two Cities
TOUR
Art and Literature in Two of the World's Greatest Cities Since announcing the Tale of Two Cities Tour in the summer Chuckanut Reader, there has been one major change— Wade Marlow has withdrawn from his partnership in the tour. We're sorry to lose Wade, but financial challenges have forced him to close his business. The good news is that the tour will still go forward, and we've had a great response from potential travelers who are interested in exploring art and literature in two of the world's greatest cities. We'll begin in London on May 6th, where we'll venture out on a pub crawl of literary Bloomsbury, visiting places where many authors sipped and wrote. We'll visit Dickens' House and the Globe Theatre, and even get you out to Shakespeare's Stratford. And, we'll explore portions of the Tate and the National Gallery and other artistic sites. In Paris you'll be led through the streets where Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Joyce and Pound lived and worked in their expatriate literary days and you'll see highlights of the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay as well as smaller, lesser-known repositories of great art. We'll also visit Van Gogh's village of Auvers sur Oise and Monet's garden at Giverny. In both cities you'll have plenty of time on your own to visit other attractions or to just stroll and enjoy these fabulous places. Chuck and Dee are very familiar with Paris and have led a booksellers group to London. They'll be happy to supply information about places that pique your interest. We'll conclude our sojourn after breakfast on May 17, when you'll be free to extend your stay in Paris, travel elsewhere, or return home. The $2800 per person fee includes lodging in both cities (5 nights in London and 6 in Paris), day trips from each city, museum entry fees, guided walks and tours, transportation between London and Paris via the Chunnel, and several special events. Anyone interested in reserving one of the limited places on the tour may do so by sending $500 to Chuck Robinson c/o Village Books 1200 11th Street, Bellingham, WA 98225 by October 15. A second payment of $900 will be due on December 1st, when all deposits become non-refundable. The balance of $1400 will then be due on March 1st, 2012. There is now a page of updated information on our website and we are sending regular email updates to folks who send their email address to chuck@villagebooks.com and ask to be be included in the updates. 360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
Fall 2011
27
Drama: An Actor's Education by John Lithgow
September, hardcover, Harper
Lithgow brings the theatre worlds of New York and London to life as he relives his collaborations with renowned performers and directors including Mike Nichols, Bob Fosse, Liv Ullmann, Meryl Streep, and Brian De Palma. Lithgow's ruminations on the nature of theatre, performance, and storytelling cut to the heart of why actors are driven to perform, and why people are driven to watch them do it.
Memoirs of a Breton Peasant
by Jean-Marie Deguignet October, paperback, Seven Stories Press
An extraordinar y, one-of-a-kind historical document of nineteenth century France that reads like an adventure novel and offers first-person accounts of the military and peasant life of a colorful, opinionated freethinker. Deguignet is unique as a literate peasant and his voluminous journals were discovered in a farmhouse in Brittany a century after they were written.
BIOGRAPHY 100 Names for Love by Diane Ackerman available now, hardcover
Diane Ackerman describes her wordsmith husband's shattering stroke in this memoir and tribute to her marriage. Redemptive and hopeful, Paul West laboriously relearned language over 5 years. Both Diane and Paul are prolific authors whose lives revolved around words; so his loss of language was titanic. After the stroke Diane said, "Living with Paul feels like living with a koan." Yet Paul was able to rebuild his broken brain; he would not be silenced! He reported his aphasic experience poetically: "The words I sought lay like an angel begging to be used," beautiful and locked inside his head. The immense power of words and the unstoppable human spirit will inspire the lucky reader of this brilliant book. ––Cindi
At Village Books
Kate Whouley Thursday, October 6th, 7pm
MLK: A Celebration in Word and Image by Martin Luther King, Jr.
October, hardcover, Beacon Press
A striking collection of photos combined with powerful quotations, MLK: A Celebration in Word and Image is a photobiography of a great figure. Here we see King in all his aspects: as son and student, husband and father, preacher and leader of the civil rights movement and martyr for the cause of racial justice.
Remembering the Music, Forgetting the Words: Travels With Mom in the Land of Dementia by Kate Whouley
September, hardcover, Beacon Press
When the books are forgotten and the words begin to fade, it is the music that matters most to Kate's mother. Holding hands after a concert, a flute case slung over Kate's shoulder, and a shared joke between them, their relationship is healed—even in the face of a dreaded, and deadly, diagnosis. Chuck thinks this book is amazing.
Running the Books: The Adventures of an Accidental Prison Librarian by Avi Steinberg
October, paperback, Anchor
Seeking direction in his life, Steinberg takes a job at a Boston prison, where he's in charge of the library counter. Encountering con men, minor prophets, and an assortment of quirky regulars searching for the perfect book and a connection to the outside world, Steinberg is drawn into a community of outcasts that has formed among his bookshelves.
28
Fall 2011
Building Community One Book at a Time
The Letters of Ernest Hemingway: Volume 1, 1907–1922 by Ernest Hemingway, edited by Sandra Spanier & Robert W. Trogdon September, hardcover, Cambridge University Press
Readers will for the first time be able to follow the thoughts, ideas, and actions of one of the great literary figures of the twentieth century in his own words. This first volume encompasses his youth, his experience in World War I and his arrival in Paris. The letters reveal a more complex person than Hemingway's tough guy public persona would suggest: devoted son, affectionate brother, infatuated lover, adoring husband, spirited friend and disciplined writer. Unguarded and never intended for publication, the letters record experiences that inspired his art, afford insight into his creative process and express his candid assessments of his own work and that of his contemporaries.
re o t S y a d i l Ho at BELLIS FAIR
Check out the
VILLAGE BOOKS October - January
HUMOR Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling
November, hardcover, Crown Archetype
Mindy shares her observations about a wide-ranging list of topics: from life in The Office writers' room to her hatred of dieting and how much she loves her mom; this memoir, full of personal stories and laugh-out-loud philosophies, is a must-read by one of the most original comedic voices working today. Dee and Chuck heard her talk about this book—she was hilarious.
Awkward Family Pet Photos by Mike Bender, Doug Chernack November, paperback, Three Rivers Press
We love our pets so much! We hang a stocking for them at Christmas or include them in family photos when all they really want is a belly rub or a tasty treat. But maybe that's why we care about them so much—because for such simple pleasures, they allow us to be as awkward as we want.
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
The Girl With the Sturgeon Tattoo: A Parody by Lars Arffssen
September, paperback, Griffin
Sweden's only unpublished thriller writer has literally lost his head and Swedish police take Lizzy Salamander, Scandinavia's most heavily tattooed girl-sociopath and hacker extraordinaire into custody. Chick magnet Mikeal Bloomberg, overweight, under-exercised and hirsute in all the wrong places, believes Salamander has been framed. If Salamander is innocent, who is the flat-chested, 4'11'' girl ninja with the sturgeon tattoo captured on a surveillance camera decapitating the failed novelist?
True Prep: It's a Whole New Old World
by Lisa Birnbach, Chip Kidd November, paperback, Knopf
From the author of The Official Preppy Handbook, comes the hilarious True Prep, which concerns itself with a certain breed of natural-fiber-loving, dog-worshipping, G&T-soaked humans and how they adapt to the new order of the Internet, cell phones, rehab, political correctness, reality TV, and . . . polar fleece.
Fall 2011
29
September 24 - October 1
Banned Books Week "Free Your Mind: Read a Banned Book" Each year, during the last week of September, Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment by focusing attention on books that have been challenged and banned. Because most of these challenges occur in schools and libraries, we've chosen, this year, to concentrate on challenges to books for teens. On Wednesday, September 28, at 7:00pm, Sarah Hutton, Village Books' manager and children's and teens' book buyer, Aubri Keleman, the Teen Services Coordinator for the Whatcom County Library System, and a teen reader will participate in a panel entitled "Teens, Books & Censorship." There will likely be a lively discussion of who should decide what teens read.
Banned Books Week Event Wednesday, September 28, 7pm
Teens, Books & Censorship
You'll also want to stop by and take a look at our ever-popular annual display of banned books. Banned Books Week is sponsored and endorsed by nearly a dozen organizations, including the American Library Association and the American Booksellers Association.
whatcom folk school
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 30
Fall 2011
www.WhatcomFolkSchool.org Summer 2011 Catalog Available Now 360.319.7495 Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm
SAVE THE DATES! February 21st–23rd, 2012
Whatcom READS! is a community-wide reading and discussion program intended to encourage all Whatcom County residents to read the same book and create a county-wide book club experience.
Elizabeth George will be the 2011/2012 author for the program. The critically acclaimed and wildly popular Elizabeth George will come to Bellingham in early 2012 for three days of special programming with school and public appearances. George is the author of numerous books including the Inspector Lynley Mystery Series—adapted for television by the BBC. The Whatcom Reads! book selection is In the Presence of the Enemy—an insightful novel about ideals corrupted by self-interest, about the sins of parents visited upon children, and about the masks that hide people from each other and from themselves. Purchase In the Presence of the Enemy before February 23rd at Village Books and we will donate 10% of the proceeds to Whatcom Reads!
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
Fall 2011
31
The
of
readership
grew
alternative weeklies
to
14.1% of 18-24-years-old readers
&
42.6%
of readers 45 and older
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
Espresso Book
Machine & Chuckanut Editions
We're coming up on the second anniversary of the installation of our Espresso Book Machine, the print on demand machine that dominates the area just north of the Fairhaven Village Green entrance on the lower level of the store. In those two years we've worked with more than sixty authors, getting thousands of copies of their books into print; printed hundreds of copies of Google public domain books, and in-print books from publishers; and published nine books through our Chuckanut Editions imprint. In addition, we've partnered with the Whatcom Writes program for the past two years and published the stories and essays that were submitted based on themes from the Whatcom Reads program books—Deceptions based on Tobias Wolff's book Old School, and Borders, based on Jim Lynch's book Border Songs. Recently, as a cosponsor with Whatcom Community College of the Chuckanut Writers Conference, we published the conference handbook. If you've thought of publishing your own book, whether a family history, Grandma's recipes or the great American novel, you should contact Lindsey and chat about how to do that. If you haven't seen the machine operate, stop in. It's usually printing books during the day Tuesdays through Fridays. When you pick up a book that has just slid down the chute after being printed and bound, you'll no doubt be tempted to say, "hot off the press." We'd advise you step back if Lindsey's in the vicinity. She's heard HOT OFF that so many times that we can't take responsibility for THE PRESS! her reaction.
Circulation
cascadiaweekly.com \ 360.647.8200 \ marketing@cascadiaweekly.com
32
Fall 2011
Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm
Chuckanut Radio Hour
The
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 KMRE 102.3FM.
Tuesday, SEPTEMBER 13th, 6:30pm
KENT HOLSATHER & WES GANNAWAY in the Crystal Ballroom of the Leopold
1224 Cornwall Ave., Downtown Bellingham
–Bays to Bells: The Story of Baseball in Whatcom County from the Earliest Known References to 2011 Join us in welcoming two of our favorite local historians for a fun night of local baseball history, music, and comedy!
Tuesday, OCTOBER 4th, 6:30pm
Tickets $5.00
KEN JENNINGS
Tickets $5.00
1224 Cornwall Ave., Downtown Bellingham
in the Crystal Ballroom of the Leopold
–Maphead: Charting the Wide, Weird World of Geography Wonks It will come as no surprise that, as a kid, Jeopardy! legend Ken Jennings slept with a bulky Hammond world atlas by his pillow every night. Maphead recounts his lifelong love affair with geography and explores why maps have always been so fascinating to him and to fellow enthusiasts everywhere. Maphead is filled with intriguing details, engaging anecdotes, and enlightening analysis. If you’re an inveterate map lover yourself—or even if you’re among the cartographically clueless who can get lost in a supermarket—let Ken Jennings be your guide to the strange world of mapheads. FUNDRAISER FOR COMMUNITY RADIO STATION KMRE!
-Receive one free ticket with each pre-event in-store purchase of Maphead (Sept., Scribner)
Thursday, November 10th, 6:30pm
DAVID GUTERSON 1224 Cornwall Ave., Downtown Bellingham
Tickets for all shows are available at Village Books & BrownPaperTickets.com
in the Crystal Ballroom of the Leopold
–Ed King
Tickets $5.00
-Receive one free ticket with each pre-event in-store purchase of Ed King (Oct., Bloomsbury)
An assured, propulsively written epic novel of unstoppable force, Ed King is a classic of contemporary American life: a daringly told story of a man and a myth, of blindness and narcissism, and of the precarious foundations on which carefully constructed lives are built – and timeless stories are created. From the bestselling author of Snow Falling on Cedars, this is a dazzling, darkly funny, extraordinary modern take on an ancient tragedy, quite unlike anything we’ve seen before.
A HUGE thanks to our amazing sponsors! 360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
Fall 2011
33
Literacy Matters 8th Annual
LITERACY BREAKFAST featuring Author & NPR Commentator
NANCY PEARL
Friday, November 18th 7:30am – 9:00am
The ro p ceeds un from this f r will fundraise ore support m LC than 50 W r fo students r. one yea
at the Bellingham Golf & Country Club Since 2003, folks throughout the community have looked forward each year to the Whatcom Literacy Council’s Breakfast for Literacy. This year’s event will be held on Friday, November 5th, at 7:30am at the Bellingham Golf & Country Club. Nancy Pearl, the author of Book Lust, More Book Lust, Book Crush, & Book Lust to Go will return as the keynote speaker. She will be sharing her witty and wonderful insights into books and the special meaning they bring to our lives. Along with Nancy, guests will also hear about the experiences of a tutor and learner in the program. Seating is limited, so please call 647-3264 now to reserve your place. This fundraising event supports the Literacy Council’s work to empower adults to achieve their goals and change their lives through literacy. Guests will be asked to make a contribution at the event. We urge you to participate in this fun morning event!
The Annual
Whatcom Literacy
$50/plate donation requested. Advance reservations only: call WLC at 647-3264 or email rachel@whatcomliteracy.org
USr. E HO OPa ELifeN . Become a Tuto
Change
ber 21st Wednesday, Septemlic Librar y Pub 5pm at the Bellingham
ut the welcome! Learn more abo Our doors are open; all are and cy ching impact of illitera Literacy Council, the far rea r literacy tutor. about becoming a voluntee for ntial, one-to-one tutoring WLC provides free, confide ng riti g/w din m improve their rea adults in order to help the sscla s are needed to assist in skills or learn English. Tutor vided all groups. Training is pro rooms and to work with sm at hours hin your own community and tutoring takes place wit foreign or ng ce. No previous teachi chosen for your convenien rs old yea . Tutors must be at least 18 language skills are needed high school. and have graduated from
Village Books & Fairhaven Runners & Walkers raise $2000 for the Whatcom Literacy Council The rain couldn't stop the amazing runners and walkers who participated in the 12th Annual 5K Walk/ Run for Literacy which took place June 18th. A great time was had by all and together we raised almost $2000! ALL money from registrations went directly to the Whatcom Literacy Council. Thanks to everyone who helped make this event such a success!
The Whatcom Literacy Council mission is to help adults improve their literacy skills as a means to improved self-sufficiency. Since 1978, WLC has served more than 9,000 adults in Whatcom County. For more information, go to www.whatcomliteracy.org. 34
Fall 2011
Building Community One Book at a Time
WOMEN Our Bodies, Ourselves: Informing and Inspiring Women Across Generations ––40th Anniversary Edition by the Boston Women's Health Book Collective October, paperback, Touchstone Books
Originally published in the 1970's, this book ushered in a radical new wave of self-awareness and self-empowerment for women. This year it appears in updated format, encompassing issues as diverse as gender and sexual identity, the politics of self-image, environmental and occupational health, and the economics of health care delivery. Every chapter is enhanced with sidebars quoting individual women describing the dimension of personal experience, and an extensive bibliography provides resources for further education and exploration. It's an indispensable addition to any woman's reference bookshelf. –Donna
HEALTH
Healing at the Speed of Sound: How What We Hear Transforms Our Brains and Our Lives by Don Campbell and Alex Doman October, hardcover, Hudson Street Press
Based on over a decade of new research, Campbell and Doman show how we can use music—and silence—to become more efficient, productive, relaxed, and healthy. Each chapter provides advice, exercises, wide-ranging playlists, and links so readers can use the music they love to create the perfect soundtrack for any goal or task.
Natural
HEALTHCARE SERIES Join us for a series of healthcare topics the first Wednesday of the month at 7pm. Each event will focus on different specific healthcare issues and will tie in to related books. This event is co-sponsored by Bellingham Natural Family Medicine. www.villagefamilyhealth.com
Angela Belcaster ARNP
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
Finding Emotional Balance Through Yoga Wednesday, September 7th, 7pm DR. KIM SANDSTROM September's speaker is Dr. Kim Sandstrom of Bellingham Natural Family Medicine. She will be talking about finding emotional balance through yoga. Yoga for Emotional Balance: simple practices to help relieve anxiety and depression provides clear, practical, compassionate guidance for using yogic breathing and restorative poses to feel calm and content. Kimberly Sandstrom, ND, LMP from Bellingham Natural Family Medicine will share passages from this book and include her perspective as a naturopathic physician, massage therapist, and yoga teacher and student. Fall 2011
35
At Village Books! Saturday, October 22, 7pm
DR. ROBIN MEYERS "The Historical Jesus" Dr. Robin Meyers, the Senior Minister of Mayflower Congregational UCC Church of Oklahoma City, and nationally-known author and speaker will conduct a series of events in Bellingham October 21st–23rd. In addition to ticketed lectures at the First Congregational Church of Bellingham on Friday evening and Saturday morning, Dr. Meyers will give a free talk at Village Books at 7pm, Saturday, October 22, and will be the guest preacher at the church on Sunday morning, October 23. Dr. Meyers rose to national prominence when an antiwar speech he delivered at the University of Oklahoma became an internet phenomenon, endorsed by Bill Moyers, Desmond Tutu, John Shelby Spong, and the late William Sloane Coffin Jr. He expanded that address into the book Why the Christian Right is Wrong: A Minister's Manifesto for Taking Back Your Faith, Your Flag, and Your Future. Dr. Meyers packed the Readings Gallery at Village Books when he came to talk about the book when it was first published.
You can find more information about the Friday and Saturday lectures and purchase tickets online at robinmeyers.evenbrite.com.
Real Quality. Real Local.
At Haggen we’re committed to bringing you the best from our own backyard. We’ve been proud to support local growers and producers since we opened our doors in Bellingham in 1933.
BelleWood Acres
Spring Frog Farm
We know the value of supporting our neighbors and friends. Not only is local food fresher, buying local gives back to the community and gives you peace of mind knowing where your food comes from. Visit Haggen today and find out why grown local just tastes better. McPhail Berry Farm
WE ARE A LOCAL COMPANY SUPPORTING LIVING LOCAL 110720-06
36
Fall 2011
Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm
POETRY
Saturday, October 29th, 7pm
CHAD HELDER
HALLOWEEN POETRY READING at Village Books
Just in time for Halloween, join VB Alum and Bram Stoker Award-winner Chad Helder for his return to Village Books as he reads from his humorous and creepy collection of "gay horror" poems and tales, The Vampire Bridegroom. In this collection, you will find a variety of poems that pay loving homage to the horror genre.
The Vampire Bridegroom by Chad Helder
available now, paperback,
Creepiest of visions, Most audacious. Guaranteed to make you squirm Raise every hair. The horror. Oh, the horror. ––Jonica
The Iliad
by Homer, translation by Stephen Mitchell October, hardcover, Free Press
Here, at last, is The Illiad for the twentyfirst century. “Homer's The Iliad is one of the defining masterpieces of our culture, the story is thrilling, and the language is perhaps the most beautiful poetry ever sung or written, but you'd never know it from even the best modern translations.... Without a strong narrative flow, many readers soon bog down and quit. In translating Homer, clarity and rhythm are everything" — Stephen Mitchell
Transfer
by Naomi Shihab Nye September, paperback, BOA Editions Ltd.
Naomi Shihab Nye has spent 35 years traveling the world to inspire students of all ages. In her newest poetry collection she draws on her Palestinian American heritage, the cultural diversity of her home in Texas, and her extensive travel to create poems that attest to our shared human experience. As William Stafford said, “She is a champion of literature of encouragement and heart.”
House of Bees
by Stephen Murray available now, paperback, Salmon Publishing
No, I won't. I don't write poetry book reviews. But Stevieboy lost his books And I was curious. Besides, I liked the pictures. I can't say I understand it all. But I like it. ––Jonica
SPIRITUALITY The Seasons of the Soul by Hermann Hesse
October, paperback, North Atlantic Books
Published for the first time in English, these vivid, probing short works reflect deeply on the challenges of life and provide a spiritual solace that transcends specific denominational prayers or rituals. This book offers guidance for those longing for a more meaningful life, or those seeking a sense of homecoming in nature.
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
Sunday, October 16 at 3 pm
! i r do i M
…the international superstar, known throughout the world as the most exciting, passionate violinist of her generation. For Tickets: $49, $40, $12 Mount Baker Theatre Box Office at 360-734-6080
WhatcomSymphony.com Fall 2011
37
DELIVERED DAILY NOVEMBER 19 – MARCH 25, 2012 Jack Carver was The Bellingham Herald staff photographer from October 1945 to August 1981. This exhibition curated by Jeff Jewell will feature images selected from the photographer’s remarkable legacy of 50,000 negatives and 20,000 original prints.
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!
Lightcatcher building, Grand & Flora. Open noon-5, Tuesday — Sunday www.whatcommuseum.org
In Barkley Village across from Starbucks! 360.756.9992 M - F: 10 - 6 Sat: 10 - 5 Sun: 12 - 4 | www.appleyarns.com
the premier guide to arts and entertainment happenings in the region
PAINT, BRUSHES, CANVAS, BOOKS, PAPER, PASTELS, DRAWING, CHILDREN’S ART & CRAFT SUPPLIES, DEMOS, WORKSHOPS, & MORE! BELLINGHAM 1415 CORNWALL • 360.676.8918 MOUNT VERNON 17873 SR 536 • 360.416.6556 SEATTLE 6110 ROOSEVELT WAY NE • 206.523.4830
visit www.ennw.info for distribution sites and advertising info
38
Fall 2011
WWW.DAKOTAARTSTORES.COM Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm
CRAFTS
The Bust DIY Guide to Life: Making Your Way Through Every Day by Laurie Henzel & Debbie Stoller
The Knitter’s Life List: To Do, To Know, To Explore, To Make
October, hardcover, Stewart, Tabori & Chang
By Gwen W. Steege
October, paperback, Storey
Listing more than 1,000 must-have experiences, this is the ultimate guidebook to everything knitting. It includes amazing yarns and techniques, most-loved patterns, and descriptions of museums and festivals worldwide. You’ll discover daring yarn-bombers and master designers. There are endless challenges and opportunities to take on here––and check off your knitting life list!
From the founders and publishers of Bust Magazine, one of my favorite alternative women's mags, comes a new book full of do-it-yourself projects. This book has everything you can think of, from recipes for making food from scratch, to textile crafts, to garden projects. Henzel & Stoller (who is the co-author of all the Stitch n'Bitch knitting books) bring their smart, hip style together in this book. After combing through hundreds of projects from the magazine's 15-year history, they gathered the "best of" for the collection. This, of course, is cause for celebration, and I may have to have a "craftacular" gathering of girlfriends to make some of these rockin' projects. ––Christina
Weekend Handmade: More Than 40 Projects and Ideas for Inspired Crafting by Kelly Wilkinson
September, hardcover, Stewart Tabori & Chang
The “Weekend” series for knitters and sewers has been hugely popular; now comes one for the more general crafter. Each project in it––from aprons to marmalade to memory boxes––can be completed in a few hours or over the course of a weekend, and is easily achievable by the average crafty dabbler.
ART Unfurling, A Mixed-Media Workshop with Misty Mawn: Inspiration and Techniques for Self-Expression Through Art by Misty Mawn
MUSIC Everybody Loves Our Town: An Oral History of Grunge by Mark Yarm
September, hardcover, Crown Archetype
Here's the whole story of grunge: the founding of originators like Soundgarden and the Melvins, the early successes of Seattle's Sub Pop record label, the rise of powerhouses Nirvana and Pearl Jam, the insane media hype surrounding the grunge explosion, the suicide of Kurt Cobain, and finally, the genre's mid-to-late-'90s decline.
available now, paperback, Quarry Books
For anyone wanting to break out of a creative rut, or overcome her resistance to beginning a creative venture, this book offers suggestions and clearly explained instructions for incorporating simple techniques into a playful practice of artistic expression. Lavishly illustrated with inspiring examples of the author's own work, each page is a multi-media presentation in itself, providing an intuitive insight into the process as well as the product of creation, in terms that even the artistically challenged can understand. ––Donna
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
BUILDING A Carpenter's Life as Told By Houses by Larry Haun
September, hardcover, Taunton
This unique story looks at American home building from the perspective of twelve houses Larry Haun has known intimately. From the sod house in Nebraska where his mother was born to the Habitat for Humanity homes he works on now, this is an engaging examination of home building, the desire for simplicity, and what we mean by "home."
Fall 2011
39
Mark Your Calendars!
KARL MARLANTES
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Tuesday, November 1st, 7pm Event location to be determined. Check VillageBooks.com for updates!
What It Is Like to Go to War by Karl Marlantes
September, hardcover, Grove Atlantic
The award-winning author of last year’s Matterhorn now delivers a powerful nonfiction account of his experiences in war. Dropped into the Vietnamese jungle at the age of 22 to command forty marines, Marlantes found he was ill-prepared to deal with the mental and physical ordeal ahead. Here he takes a deeply personal and historical look at the experience of combat, critically examining how we might better prepare our young soldiers for war.
Rock the Casbah: Rage and Rebellion Across the Islamic World by Robin Wright
September, hardcover, Simon & Schuster
Robin Wright has reported on the angry birth, violent rise, and globalization of Islamic militancy for almost four decades. In her recent reporting, she discovers a new trend spreading within the Muslim world, the rejection of Islamic extremists. This new jihad is doing what the West cannot, confronting extremism on its own terms, rescuing the faith from a virulent minority, and changing history.
Censored 2012: The Top 25 Censored Stories of 2010-2011 edited by Mickey Huff and Project Censored
October, paperback, Seven Stories Press
Arm yourself with the knowledge they don't want you to have, with this compendium of the major news stories that were ignored or underreported by a mainstream press too busy covering the latest fluff. Censored 2012 is dedicated to the stories that ought to be the top features on the nightly news.
40
Fall 2011
Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War by Leymah Gbowee
September, hardcover, Beast Books
As a young woman growing up in Africa, Leymah Gbowee was broken by a savage civil war that destroyed life as she knew it. She began organizing Christian and Muslim women to demonstrate together and was instrumental in forcing peace after 14 years of war. This inspiring memoir chronicles her continuing journey as she harnesses the power of women to change history.
Operation Dark Heart: Spycraft and Special Ops on the Frontlines of Afghanistanand The Path to Victory by Lt. Col.Anthony Shaffer
September, hardcover, St Martins Press
When the media caught wind of the Pentagon buying and destroying the first hardcover printing, the story of Operation Dark Heart gained credibility. Schaffer saw firsthand how bureaucracy and government mismanagement got in the way of winning the war in Afghanistan. His efforts to speak to the 9/11 Commission about one of the worst intelligence failures in history ended his career.
The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined by Steven Pinker
October, hardcover, Viking
Exploding fatalist myths about humankind's inherent violence and the curse of modernity, Pinker shows that forms of violence such as war, slavery, infanticide, child abuse, assassinations, pogroms, deadly quarrels, and genocide, have dwindled and become widely condemned. He explains how changing circumstances have allowed our better angels to prevail over the inner demons that incline us toward violence.
Building Community One Book at a Time
Worm:
Blue Revolution:
The Story of the First Digital World War
Unmaking America's Water Crisis
by Mark Bowden
by Cythnia Barnett
October, hardcover, Atlantic Monthly
September, hardcover, Beacon Press
Forty states currently face water scarcity, and global climate change will exacerbate the problem. In the West, scientists say Lake Mead could go dry within twenty years. In the East, the Atlanta region has already come within ninety days of seeing the reservoir Lake Lanier, primary water source for five million people, dry up.
Unleashed upon the world in 2008, the Conficker Computer "Worm" is now present in millions of computers worldwide and possibly capable of overpowering our entire computer infrastructure. The "experts" still don't understand what its purpose is or where it came from. Best-selling author Bowden (Black Hawk Down) skillfully explores the digital chess match unfolding in this esoteric world of computer security, the next frontier of war.
Hollywood Left and Right: How Movie Stars Shaped American Politics by Steven J. Ross
POLITICS
September, hardcover, Oxford
In Hollywood Left and Right, Steven J. Ross tells a story that has escaped public attention: the emergence of Hollywood as a vital center of political life and the important role that movie stars have played in shaping the course of American politics. Ross traces the intersection of Hollywood and political activism from the early twentieth century to the present.
TRAVEL Breakfast at the Exit Café: Travels Through America by Wayne Grady and Merilyn Simonds September, paperback, Greystone
This unusual book is a trip through the United States told by a writing couple from British Columbia. The twist is that both have deep roots in the U.S. although they’ve seldom been here, so their journey becomes one into their own histories and the idea of the American dream itself. Told with wit and acuity, there are many side trips into fascinating nooks all over the country.
Following Atticus:
ADVENTURE On the Edge of Survival: A Shipwreck,
Forty-Eight High-Peaks, One Little Dog, and an Extraordinary Friendship
a Raging Storm, and the Harrowing Alaskan Rescue That Became a Legend
September, hardcover, William Morrow
October, paperback, Griffin
by Tom Ryan
Middle-aged newspaper editor Tom Ryan and a little dog named Atticus M. Finch, are an unlikely pair of mountaineers. During the winter of 2006-2007 they set out to pay tribute to a friend who died of cancer, by attempting to climb all forty-eight of New Hampshire’s 4,000-foot peaks twice while raising money for charity. Set against this remarkable feat of endurance is an extraordinary relationship that blurs the line between man and dog.
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
by Spike Walker
A Malaysian cargo ship ran aground off the coast of Alaska in 2004 during a brutal storm. When two Jayhawk helicopters lifted off to rescue the 18 crew members, one of them crashed into the ocean with its three-man crew and seven crew members from the ship. Spike Walker has crafted a white-knuckle read of survival and death in the unforgiving Alaskan waters.
Fall 2011
41
Enjoy Great Meals at These FAIRHAVEN Restaurants!
Come Check Out Our NEW Digs!
FAIRHAVEN PIZZA 1307 11th Street In the ♥ of Fairhaven • 756-7561
EVERYDAY 8 AM – 2 PM 1101 HARRIS AVENUE IN FAIRHAVEN
CLASSIC FAVORITES BEST MIMOSAS IN TOWN
PLAN, HOST, AND CATER YOUR PRIVATE PARTIES OR COMPANY GATHERINGS AT HARRIS AVENUE CAFÉ! E-MAIL ROBIN FOR MORE INFORMATION PALADINRESTINC@GMAIL.COM
42
Fall 2011
Building Community One Book at a Time
WWAS READING
HAT WHATCOM VB’s Top Sellers
January-July 2011
1. Aliens on Vacation by Clete Smith 2. Border Songs by Jim Lynch 3. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese 4. The Help by Kathryn Stockett 5. A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan 6. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins 7. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot 8. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson 9. A Walk Through Geologic Time by Don Easterbrook 10. The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
11. Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin 12. Little Bee by Chris Cleave 13. The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman 14. Dreams of Gold by Michael Impero 14. The Thank You Economy by Gary Vaynerchuk 16. The Social Animal by David Brooks 17. Hiking Whatcom County by Ken Wilcox 18. In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson 19. Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi 20. Inside of a Dog by Alexander Horowitz
It's always fun to look back over what we've sold well since the first of the year. This year our list is not only topped by a Whatcom County author, nearly one out of every five of these books was written by a local writer. That doesn't count another six from regional authors or the fact that more than a third of these folks have been part of our Literature Live series.
20. The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch 20. Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach 23. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein 24. Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin 25. The Happiness Project by Sarah Blake 25. The Postmistress by Paul Harding 27. Signature Tastes of Bellingham by Steven Siler 28. Bellingham Impressions by Mark Turner 29. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins 30. The Saturday Big Tent Wedding by Alexander McCall Smith
31. Where the Locals Go Coupon Book by Sustainable Connections 32. Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult 32. Room by Emma Donoghue 34. Born to Run by Chris McDougall 34. Crossing the Void by Carol Schultz 36. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen 36. Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin 38. Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin 38. Bossypants by Tina Fey 40. Unbroken by Lauren Hillebrand 40. Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
Fall 2011
43
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
Engaged Citizens 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.
September 21st, noon –Bright-Sided: How Positive Thinking Is Undermining America by Barbara Ehrenreich
October 19th, noon –The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement
FANTASY Book Group Join Rachel every THIRD TUESDAY of the month at 7pm for a lively discussion of fantasy books. Meetings are in the BOOK FARE CAFÉ on the mezzanine level of Village Books.
September 20th, 7pm –Warrior by Marie Brennan
October 18th, 7pm –The Sword of Shannara
NEW Day & Time!
by Terry Brooks
November 15th, 7pm –The Graveyard Book
by Neil Gaiman, Dave Mckean
by David Brooks
November 16th, noon –The Wealth of Nature: Economics as if Survival Mattered by John Michael Greer
VB Reads... Lesbian Book Group
Join Gabrielle for discussions of literary books by & about lesbians. Meetings are the 1st Sunday of every month at 2pm.
September 4th, 2pm –Animal Magnetism: My Life with Creatures Great and Small by Rita Mae Brown
by Slavenka Drakulic, Christina Pribichevich-Zoric
44
Fall 2011
Village Books' young adult book group, led by Rachel, looks at every kind of young adult book: award winners, what's popular, funny, tragic, some fantasy, history, and, most importantly, what WE want to read! Join us on the second Tuesday of every month in the BOOK FARE CAFÉ on the mezzanine of VB at 7pm.
September 13th, 7pm –Artemis Fowl & VOTING! by Eoin Colfer
October 11th, 7pm –Rampant by Diana Peterfreund
October 2nd, 2pm –Frida's Bed
November 6th, 2pm –Annie on My Mind
YOUNG ADULT Book Group
NEW Day & Time!
November 8th, 7pm –Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
by Nancy Garden
Open to everyone!
Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm
VB Reads... Unless otherwise noted, authors do not attend VB Reads Unless otherwise noted, groups meet in the VB Readings Gallery
environmental
conservation book group
Join us for the Village Books/Whatcom Land Trust co-sponsored Environmental Conservation Book Club that meets the second 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.
September 12th, 5pm – Impressions of the North Cascades: Essays about a Northwest Landscape by John C. Miles
October 10th, 5pm –A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold
November 14th, 5pm –Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food by Paul Greenberg
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.
September 12th, 7pm
Little Bee by Chris Cleave October 3, 7pm VOTING DAY for the next year’s book list!
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
Afternoon Book Chat Come discuss contemporary literature with Sittrea the second Wednesday of each month at 1pm. Open to all!
September 14th, 1pm –Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
October 12th, 1pm –The Postmistress by Sarah Blake
November 9th, 1pm –If You Lived Here, I’d Know Your Name: News from Small-Town Alaska by Heather Lende
Motherhood by the Book
Meet with Claire the SECOND SUNDAY of every month at 2pm in the readings gallery 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. Whether you be mother or stepmother to an infant, toddler, tween, or adolescent, we have a new book group at the store just for us!
September 11th, 2pm –NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman
October 9th, 2pm –Pavillion of Women by Pearl S. Buck
November 13th, 2pm –Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv
VB Reads... Fall 2011
45
Providing Whatcom County with special Places for our future readers. WLT protection project - Stimpson Family Nature Reserve
6th annual Business Partner
Leadership Luncheon
Guest speaker
Ross Chapin Wednesday Sept 21 11:30 - 1:30 pm Leopold Ballroom 1224 Cornwall Ave Award-winning architect and author Buffet lunch 12:00 noon $50 suggested donation • everyone welcome
Join us in our work.
Visit www.KulshanCLT.org for speaker, event and sponsor info RSVP JillClark@KulshanCLT.org or 671-5600, ext 5 xxxxxxxx
Investing in affordable homeownership.
WHATCOM LAND TRUST
360-650-9470
www.whatcomlandtrust.org
E
Good for business. Great for community. Thank you business partners!
nvironmental
Saturday
September 17 Keynote Speaker
th
2011 Awards Banquet
360.733.8307
www.re-sources.org
Denis Hayes President of the Bullitt Foundation, internationally recognized leader in environmental and energy policy, coordinator of the first Earth Day, & Time Magazine’s “Hero of the Planet.”
H
Hotel
Bellwether Honoring HEROES
our
eroes cocktails dinner Awards ceremony
&
John Davies Marie Hitchman Bill Dietrich Robyn du Pre Gerald Larson Bellingham Food Bank
BelleWood Acres • Community Food Co-op • Recycling and Disposal Services • Bay City Supply • Peoples Bank
46
Fall 2011
Shop 24 hours a day at www.VillageBooks.com
SUSTAINABILITY Folks This Ain’t Normal: A Farmer’s Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People, and a Better World by Joel Salatin
October, hardcover, Center Street
Farmer Joel Salatin discusses how far removed we are from the simple, sustainable joy that comes from living close to the land and the people we love. He shares practical and philosophical ideas for changing our lives in small ways that have big impact—from child-rearing, to creating quality family time, to respecting the environment. Salatin writes with a wicked sense of humor and true storyteller's knack for the revealing anecdote.
FRANCES MOORE LAPPÉ MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12th
in the Crystal Ballroom of the Leopold
5-6:30pm
Reception with the author! Tickets $20-available NOW at Village Books, The Community Food Co-Op &on-line at BrownPaperTickets.com. Proceeds to benefit the Co-Op’s Farm Fund.
7pm Author Event (no tickets required) FREE and open to the public.
Event co-sponsored by The Community Food Co-Op & Sustainable Connections.
True Wealth: How and Why Millions of Americans are Creating a Time-Rich, Ecologically Light, SmallScale, High-Satisfaction Economy by Juliet B. Schor
available now, paperback, Penguin
Economist Schor rejects the sacrifice message, with the insight that social innovations and new technology can simultaneously enhance our lives and protect the planet. She shares examples of urban farmers, DIY renovators, and others working outside the conventional market to illuminate the path away from the work-and-spend cycle and toward a new world rich in time, creativity, information, and community.
Ecomind: Changing the Way We Think, to Create the World We Want by Frances Moore Lappé
September, hardcover, Nation Books
From the renowned author of Diet for a Small Planet comes a new book that looks at research and science to critique our current ways of thinking about the environment. Lappé focuses not on all that isn't working, but rather, on what we can do to empower ourselves to make lasting, sustainable change. Lappé considers herself a "possibilist," and in this book she offers her advice on how, and why, we can all influence positive change in our world. Lappé returns to Bellingham this September, following up after her last visit for her book Liberation Ecology, and using the reader and audience feedback from the previous tour, she presents her findings in Ecomind. ––Christina
The Empowerment Manual: A Guide for Collaborative Groups by Starhawk
COMMUNITY
October, paperback, New Society
Transition Town groups, intentional communities, non-profits – all are dedicated to the highest ideals. But how do they work in the real world? Drawing on four decades of experience, Starhawk shows how groups can generate the cooperation and commitment critical to success. Through a fictional ecovillage called RootBound and real life case studies, she brings to life a toolbox of practical rules and creative innovation.
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
Fall 2011
47
SCIENCE
Best American Science and Nature Writing 2011 edited by Mary Roach, series editor Tim Folger
October, paperback, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Chasing the Sun: The Epic Story of the Star that Gives Us Life by Richard Cohen
September, paperback, Random House
The sun's influence can be seen everywhere—in mythology, religion, science and art. Cohen takes us on a chronological journey, from the Ancient Egyptians—who saw the sun as the right eye of a falcon—to Galileo first discovering blemishes on the sun's surface, from the discovery of radioactivity to the crisis of global climate change.
The Magic of Reality: How We Know What's Really True by Richard Dawkins, illustrated by Dave McKean October, hardcover, Free Press
What is the sun? Who was the first person? With characteristic clarity and verve, Dawkins devotes each chapter to big questions like these. Looking first at the myths that arose to answer the questions, he then, with the help of McKean's marvelous full-color illustrations, dazzles us with the facts. This is a frame-by-frame look at the infinite beauty behind everyday phenomenon.
A More Perfect Heaven: How Copernicus Revolutionized the Cosmos by Dava Sobel
October, hardcover, Bloomsbury
Over the course of two decades, Copernicus wrote and expanded his heliocentric theory through hundreds of observations, while compiling in secret a book-length manuscript that tantalized mathematicians and scientists throughout Europe. For fear of ridicule, he refused to publish. In her elegant, compelling style, Dava Sobel chronicles the conflicting personalities and extraordinary discoveries that shaped the Copernican Revolution.
48
Fall 2011
Edited by outrageously curious science writer Mary Roach, author of Stiff, Spook, Bonk, and Packing for Mars, this collection brings together the best and brightest writers on science and nature. Always a welcome edition for those who enjoy the charms of nonfiction intellectual journeys. This makes the perfect gift for the science reader.
Seeing Further: The Story of Science, Discovery, and the Genius of the Royal Society by Bill Bryson
November, paperback, Harper
This incomparable book tells the spectacular story of science and the international Royal Society, from 1660 to the present. It is gorgeously illustrated with photographs, documents, and treasures from the Society’s exclusive archives. The Royal Society has pioneered global scientific exploration and discovery. Its members have split the atom, discovered the double helix and the electron, and given us the computer and the World Wide Web.
The Chuckanut Radio Hour
KEN JENNINGS Tuesday, October 4, 6:30pm The Chuckanut Radio Hour is thrilled to welcome Ken who will share his new book, Maphead. In the Crystal Ballroom of the Leopold. Tickets $5 available now. See page 33 for details.
Maphead: Charting the Wide, Weird World of Geography Wonks by Ken Jennings
September, hardcover, Scribner
Jeopardy champ Jennings takes readers on a world tour of geo-geeks from the London Map Fair to the librarians in the bowels of the Library of Congress, from the pre-pubescent geniuses at the National Geographic Bee to the computer programmers at Google Earth. Maphead also explores the ways cartography shaped our history and is as relevant today as it has ever been.
Building Community One Book at a Time
NATURE
Dogs Make Us Human: A Global Family Album
by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson and Art Wolfe October, hardcover, Bloomsbury
Bears of the Last Frontier: The Adventure of a Lifetime Among Alaska's Black, Grizzly, and the Polar Bears by Chris Morgan
available now, hardcover, Stewart, Tabori, & Chang
This book, and the author who put it together, are incredible! There's also a three-part PBS series to go along with the book. Bears are amazing, but so under-appreciated in our society. Chris Morgan follows these powerful beasts, documenting their habitat and actions every step of the way. You must check out this book! –Tiffany
Art Wolfe has chosen one hundred of his favorite photographs of dogs, including shots from every continent--to illustrate what he and Masson maintain is the uniquely intimate and universal relationship between dogs and humans. The mystery of it still defies explanation, but these extraordinary photographs reveal that its uniqueness is understood throughout the world.
AUTHOR EVENT!
Andrew Nikiforuk & Ian McAllister
Empire of the Beetle: How Human Folly and a Tiny Bug Are Killing North America’s Great Forests
Tuesday, October 25th, 7pm Watch Villagebooks.com for details!
by Andrew Nikiforuk
September, paperback, Greystone
Beginning in the 80s, an insect the size of a rice kernel eventually killed more than 30 billion trees from Alaska to New Mexico. Award-winning journalist Nikiforuk examines this plague from all angles: the human activities like fire suppression that set the stage; the devastated landscapes left in its wake; and how despite billions of dollars spent, the beetles continue to burn like a fire that can’t be put out.
Check out the VB
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
Following the Last Wild Wolves by Ian McAllister
available nowr, paperback, Greystone
For twenty years, Ian McAllister has explored the rugged north coast of British Columbia, known as the Great Bear Rainforest, one of the last places on the planet where wolves live in an undisturbed way. His earlier book, The Last Wild Wolves, describes McAllister's experiences following two packs of wolves, one that dominates the extreme outer coastal islands, and another that lives farther inland in the heart of the temperate rainforest. Now, McAllister brings readers up to date describing what has happened to the wolves and their environment since the book first appeared.
Book Group! See page 45 for the reading list and meeting information.
Our Pacific Northwest Birds & Habitat by Craig & Joy Johnson
available now, paperback, Orange Spot Publishing
This is a gorgeous book featuring pictures of birds that can be spotted in our own backyards! This book is intriguing for any person, whether they are a bird-lover or not. I know next to nothing about birds, but the pictures are amazing and the descriptions are clear––I found myself much more fascinated after looking at this book than I ever thought I'd be! –Tiffany
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
Fall 2011
49
PAPER
Cami & Carol
DREAMS
New Faces
If you've been in Paper Dreams lately, you've probably noticed a few new faces. We thought you might like to put some names to those new faces, thus the staff photos. Why so many? Well, at the end of March JoAnn Hanesworth, the store manager and buyer since the beginning of the 29-year life of Paper Dreams, retired. Jyl Huntley, who was with the store for 24 years, and had been our candy buyer, thought retirement sounded good and followed close behind. Stephanie, Dee, & Kelly While we miss them both very much, and wish them all the relaxation they have earned, business continues and new faces have emerged. Sarah Hutton, the Village Books store manager, has added the Paper Dreams management to her many duties, and Dee has "moved across the aisle" to become the lead buyer, assisted by Kelly Walters. So please stop by and greet the "newbies" and let us help you with all your card, candy and gift needs!
EriKa
Jessica, Leanne, & Sarah
50
Fall 2011
Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm
BACK TO
SCHOOL
with PAPER DREAMS
By the time you read this, public school will be back in full swing, and the university students will be returning to the 'Ham. Paper Dreams is ready to help you start back in STYLE! Our new
Baggallini bagg
collection will hold just what you need as you navigate the halls.
lunch bags
Our , from Vera Bradley to robots, will make you feel like the coolest cat in the lunchroom!
Vera Bradley has a whole
assortment of stylish cover-ups for your technology, including laptops and e-readers.
Checkout our one-ofa-kind e-reader sleeves made from recycled cloth from Nothing New.
curtains
And we have
i-phone & i-pad covers/protectors that will help yours stand out from the crowd.
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
Fall 2011
51
Parents Librarians Grandparents
KIDS & TEACHERS PICTURE BOOKS
The Three Billy Goats Fluff
by Rachael Mortimer, illustrated by Liz Pichon
Bailey
by Harry Bliss
September, hardcover, Tiger Tales
available now, hardcover, Scholastic
Bailey is a dog who is headed for school. He struggles with normal kid worries but with a decidedly puppy twist––which collar will look better? Will he make the school bus on time without chasing squirrels on the way? Of course you can guess what happens to his homework. This back-to-school tale (pun intended) will ease the worries of any new students and make older students laugh in recognition.
Llama Llama Home with Mama by Anna Dewdney
available now, hardcover, Viking
I love the Llama books so much! The illustrations are always a delight and the stories are sweet but still recognizable to any mother and child. In this one, Llama isn’t feeling too well. Pretty yucky actually. Mama Llama takes very good care of him, and, because of that great care, Llama is able to return the favor when Mama herself starts sneezing too. This book is an adorable addition to the series! ––Sarah
Every once in a while, a retelling of a classic story comes along and turns the original on its head. This is one of those. The billy goats have to cross the bridge over Mr. Troll’s head in order to reach the good grass that makes their fleece extra fluffy to help with their mom’s knitting business. So when Mr. Troll says he can’t sleep with all the noise, the mother decides to knit booties for all of the young billy goats. The knitting shenanigans escalate from there, including my personal favorite of the troll with some stylish earmuffs. Take a look at this clever story! ––Sarah
What Animals Really Like by Fiona Robinson
October, hardcover, Abrams
Mr. Herbert Timberteeth has come to conduct a famous work he has written, performed by a full animal choir. However, once the animals get their parts, they have other ideas as to what they like. Mr. Timberteeth assumes lions like to roar but they really prefer flower arranging. The shrimp? They like to ski––and they have the vacation pictures to prove it! A very cute story about letting your true self shine.
Lisa Loeb's Silly Sing-Along: The Disappointing Pancake and Other Zany Songs; Illustrated by Ryan O'Rourke
October, hardcover + CD, Sterling Children's Books
Remember that sweet-voiced '90s singer-songwriter, Lisa Loeb? Ever wonder what happened to her and her music? Well, the native Texan has a fun new book and CD of children's songs that will have you and the kids singing silly. In Lisa Loeb's Silly Sing-Along, old favorites get modernized. You can sing "Fried Ham," complete with a Texas accent, opera voice, or underwater voice. You can sing the "Chewing Gum" song (bonus points if you do it while chewing gum). Or you can sing about "Opposite Day" (remember those days when everything you said and did meant the opposite). The illustrations by Ryan O'Rourke add to the fun nature of this music book, which would also make a great gift. ––Christina
52
Fall 2011
Check out the VB Reads Motherhood by the Book Book Group! See page 45.
Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm
New Works from
September 15- Oct. 13, Thursdays from 11-11:30am
CLASSIC AUTHORS
BILINGUAL
The Bippolo Seed and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss
Preschool Story Time
September, hardcover, Random House
A devoted Dr. Seuss scholar has collected assorted stories that appeared in various magazines over a two year time span. Some stories are recognizable as the stories they will become, while others illustrate transitions in Theodore Geisel’s career and exercises for future works. Be sure to add this new treasure to your collection!
Every Thing on It by Shel Silverstein
September, hardcover, Harper Collins
A new set of poems from Shel Silverstein! Over one hundred new poems and illustrations selected from the family’s archive highlight all of the humor, warmth, and pun-tasticness that readers have come to know and love. Be sure to put this right next to your wellworn copies of Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic.
Bring your preschoolers, ages 3-5 years old, to Village Books' Bilingual Preschool Story Time in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15). Story time will take place each Thursday, beginning Sept. 15th and ending Oct. 13th, from 11-11:30am in the Readings Gallery. Village Books' staff member Christina will read stories and rhymes in SPANISH & ENGLISH, so come prepared to celebrate Hispanic Heritage.
Middle Readers AT VILLAGE BOOKS
KIRBY LARSON
Saturday, September 10th, 2pm Kirby Larson is the author of ten books for young readers, including the 2007 Newbery Honor book, Hattie Big Sky. In addition to her historical fiction, Kirby has partnered with Mary Nethery to write two award-winning nonfiction picture books, Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival, and Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle.
The Friendship Doll by Kirby Larson
available now, hardcover, Delacorte
In the Friendship Doll, by Kirby Larson, Miss Kanagawa, one of 58 dolls is sent from Japan as an Ambassador of Friendship. During the Great depression Japanese girls would send these dolls to girls in America. This story is about one doll and how she helped four girls be better people. The book is based on a true story, and it has a very nice, happy ending. –Olivia, Christina's daughter
Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
September, hardcover, Scholastic
Ben and Rose secretly wish their lives were different. Ben longs for the father he has never known. Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue in his mother's room and Rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on desperate quests to find what they are missing. Set fifty years apart, these two independent stories––Ben's told in words, Rose's in pictures--weave back and forth with mesmerizing symmetry.
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
Fall 2011
53
Young Adult The Apothecary
by Maile Meloy, illustrated by Ian Schoenherr October, hardcover, Putnam
Janie is forced to move to London because of her parents’ work. She’s convinced she’ll hate it but soon she meets Benjamin, a young boy who is not afraid to speak his mind. Benjamin's father is an apothecary, and wants Benjamin to follow in his footsteps. One day, his father is kidnapped and a series of odd coincidences and weird happenings draw Benjamin and Janie into an international society that has something that everyone wants. This story is a great reminder of the magic that is possible if you just believe. ––Sarah
As I Wake
by Elizabeth Scott September, hardcover, Dutton
Ava is welcomed home from the hospital by a doting mother, lively friends, and a crush finally beginning to show interest. There's only one problem: Ava can't remember any of them. She can't shake the eerie feeling that she's not who they say she is. Ava struggles to break through her amnesia as she goes through the motions of high-school life, but the memories that surface take place in a very different world, where Ava and familiar-faced friends are under constant scrutiny and no one can be trusted. Ava doesn't know what to make of these visions or which life to believe is her true life.
A Monster Calls: Inspired by an Idea From Siobhan Dowd by Patrick Ness
September, hardcover, Candlewick Press
Most of us, even as grownups, simply have no words for the grief we feel at watching a loved one suffer; the anger that comes with helplessness; the loss of every bit of safety and normalcy. Even worse, with children we pretend we don't feel angry or helpless, and they shouldn't either. Recommended for young readers 12 and up, this book is so profoundly good that I wish I could put a copy in the hands of every person who has ever gone through the loss of a parent at a young age. The writing is fantastic, spare, sublime, spot-on honest, and darkly humorous. Plus, the illustrations are the work of beautiful, edgy genius, perfectly supporting the story. This is the most truthful and hopeful book I have ever read about losing a parent young. ––Jonica
54
Fall 2011
The Chronicles of Harris Burdick: 14 Amazing Authors Tell the Tales by Chris Van Allsburg et al
October, hardcover, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
When I was really young, my parents had this big hardcover copy of The Chronicles of Harris Burdick, Chris Van Allsburg’s book of mysterious illustrations (each accompanied by a caption). I’d spend hours imagining the stories that went along with the pictures, and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one. If you’ve ever wondered how an ocean liner came to rest in a Venetian canal, or just why that pumpkin is glowing, you’re in the company of Sherman Alexie, Lois Lowry and both Stephen and Tabitha King. All of them were among the fourteen bestselling authors who lent their voices to this collection of stories based on Van Allsburg’s images. This book is sure to inspire and entertain. ––Sam
Every You, Every Me
by David Levithan, photography by Jonathan Farmer September, hardcover, Knopf
Ever since Evan’s best friend Ariel has been gone, he's been unable to sleep, spending night after night torturing himself for his role in her absence. And as crazy as it sounds, Evan's starting to believe it's Ariel that's behind a series of photographs that are unnerving and occasionally feature Evan himself. This psychological thriller provides a twisty, messy ride.
Building Community One Book at a Time
Wildwood
by Colin Meloy, illustrated by Carson Ellis September, hardcover, Balzer & Bray
Oh, if only this book had been around when I was ten! To read it with the wonder of a younger person would be grand as this is just as engaging as any C.S. Lewis or Tolkein yarn. I know, that's a bold statement, but I stand by it. This story of young Prue, setting out into the Impassable Wilderness (located just outside Portland) to rescue her baby brother who has been abducted by a murder of crows, is fabulous. And, it's written by the lead singer of the Decemberists! What a talent. A truly magical tale from start to finish. ––Claire
Prue is taking a walk one day when, out of the blue, her baby brother is stolen by crows. Prue decides to go after him, even though that means penetrating the Impassable Wilderness outside the city of Portland. What follows is a tale of mystery and fantasy that is utterly engaging. Although I’ve read books set in the northwest, I’ve never read one that feels like it captures the sense of being an outdoors-y, northwestern girl like this story does. I don’t like the idea of an “instant classic” but this book just might deserve that accolade. ––Sarah
Check out the VB READS Young Reader and Science Fiction BOOK GROUPS!
Paul Recommends...
RICK YANCY!
The Monstrumologist #1 by Rick Yancy
available now, paperback, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
WARNING: THIS BOOK IS NEITHER FOR THE SQUEAMISH NOR THE FAINT OF HEART. This discovered journal of horror, the first of many by the orphaned apprentice of Dr. Warthrop (said Monstrumologist), will grab you by the guts and not let go. Set in 19th century New England and reminiscent of the gothic styles of Poe and Lovecraft, this gripping story includes a colorful cast of characters who will keep you reading in spite of—or perhaps in addition to—all the gruesome bits of this well-told tale. This one will keep you sleeping with the nightlight on. Ages 14+ ––Paul
And NOW...
See page 44 for information!
The Curse of the Wendigo: Monstrumologist #2 by Rick Yancy
September, paperback, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
This splendidly literary yet irresistably compelling young adult (but strong enough for adults) series introduces the rich tradition of gothic horror to a new generation. In this book, Dr. Warthrop (a studier of monsters who is a scientific genius but a social misanthrope) and his young apprentice, Will (the narrator of these stories who both hates and devotedly loves his master) search for the mythical wendigo of the north woods Native American legend whilst confronting their own demons. Their adventures range from the wilds of Canada to the slums of 19th century New York City. I love these books and will follow this series wherever it goes. Ages 14+ ––Paul
The Isle of Blood: Monstrumologist #03 by Rick Yancy
September, hardcover, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
When Dr. Warthrop goes hunting the "Holy Grail of Monstrumology" with his eager new assistant, Arkwright, he leaves Will Henry in New York. Finally, Will can enjoy something that always seemed out of reach: a normal life with a real family. But part of Will can't let go of Dr. Warthrop, and when Arkwright returns claiming that the doctor is dead, Will is devastated—and not convinced. Determined to discover the truth, Will travels to London, knowing that if he succeeds, he will be plunging into depths of horror worse than anything he has experienced so far—and will put Will Henry's loyalty to the ultimate test.
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
Fall 2011
55
You Don’t Want to Miss.... Open House
for Educators! Tuesday,
September 21st, 4-6pm Teachers and Librarians, it’s a special night just for you!
Village Books would like to invite our local teachers and librarians to join us for an evening dedicated just to you! This will be a great opportunity to talk to VB Manager and children's book buyer, Sarah Hutton, who would love to share great new books, help you find what you need, and answer any questions. Snacks and drinks will be served and there will be lots of great giveaways! Please RSVP to Sarah at 671-2626 or sarah@villagebooks.com.
Halloween Stories October 31, 4-6pm
While you’re trick-or-treating in the Fairhaven district this year (trick-or-treat from 3–6pm), stop by the Village Books Readings Gallery and stay for some ghoulish tales! You’ll be entertained by Storyteller Guild extraordinaires! Meet other goblins, fairies, and witches (and maybe a ballerina or two), and be prepared for a fiendishly fun time!
Don’t miss our
Back to School
A L E! S
20% OFF
Children’s Books & Toys
SEPTEMBER 15-30 Building Community One Book at a Time
Saturday, October 8th, noon
DUANE LAWRENCE
Family Event!
–Sammy Squirrel & Rodney Racoon to the Rescue: A Stanley Park Tale
Sunday, September 18th
The Reading Promise
100 Nights of Reading Pledge
Sammy Squirrel and Rodney Raccoon live a happy life in Vancouver's Stanley Park, but are terribly curious about the outside world. Find out what happens when they set out on an adventure and find themselves adrift at sea!
Come to Village Books any time today and pledge to read to your family for 100 nights. Pick up a "Reading Streak" bookmark and stickers, sign the pledge sheet, and check out Alice Ozma's book The Reading Promise. Come back in the New Year on Sunday, JanuThursday, September 15, 7pm ary 8th for an award ceremony to celebrate 100 –Skyship Academy: The Pearl Wars nights of family reading. Nearly 100 years from now, dissident political
AMAZING Events for Kids! DANA ROZIER
NICK JAMES
factions vie for the rare and powerful Pearls that are a dying Earth’s only energy source. When Skyship slacker Jesse Fisher discovers the power to control the Pearls, the Surface government sends young operative Cassius Stevenson to capture him. The boys' meeting is explosive, and leads to a dangerous discovery that threatens the entire planet. Anacortes native Nick James says his writing is inspired by the big drama and snappy dialogue of comic books and graphic novels he read as a kid. For young adults!
Saturday, October 8th, 4pm
–Natural Hawaii: An Inquisitive Kids Guide Featuring colorful photographs, uncommon facts, and informative sidebars, this knowledgeable field guide explores Hawaii’s volcanoes, plants, and animals with an undertone of basic science. The book also teaches Hawaiian names and pronunciations, and presents intriguing facts about the state’s history, culture, and language. Natural Hawaii: An Inquistive Kid's Guide won the 2011 Book of the Year Award in the Educational Travel Books for Kids category. Dana Rozier is the author of Whatcom County with Kids: Places to Go and Things to Do.
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
EMILY JENKINS
Thursday, October 27th, 5pm
–Toys Come Home Fans of acclaimed author Emily Jenkins's and Caldecott Award—winner Paul Zelinsky's Toys Go Out and Toy Dance Party, as well as newcomers, will happily discover how Lumphy, StingRay, and Plastic came to live with the Girl. Emily Jenkins has also written various picture books, including The Little Bit Scary People, Skunkdog, That New Animal, and Five Creatures.
Fall 2011
57
Bellingham Theatre Guild 2011—2012 Season 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee September 23 - October 9, 2011
Plaid Tidings
November 25 - December 11, 2011
Becoming Eleanor
January 27 - February 12, 2012
BOAT Festival
February 20 - March 3, 2012
Flowers For Algernon April 27 - May 13, 2012
Annie Get Your Gun June 15 - July 1, 2012
Season Tickets on sale now
Tickets 733 733--1811 1600 H St., Bellingham bellinghamtheatreguild.com
58
Fall 2011
Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm
Literature LIVE!
VB’s Literary Events Program
EVENTS
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
SEPTEMBER
Thurs., Sept. 1, 7pm Spirituality CARYL SHERPA –I taste fire, earth, rain: elements of a life with a Sherpa Tues., Sept. 6, 7pm STACY CARLSON –Among the Wonderful
Sat., Sept. 10, 7pm Health & Biography GEORGE ESTREICH –The Shape of the Eye: Down Syndrome, Family & the Stories we Inherit Sun., Sept. 11, noon Fiction JACQUELINE ST. JOAN –My Sisters Made of Light Mon., Sept. 12th FRANCES MOORE LAPPÉ –Ecomind: Changing the Way We Think, To Create the World We Want In the Crystal Ballroom of the Leopold 5-6:30pm: Reception with the author! Tickets $20—available at Village Books, The Community Food Co-Op & BrownPaperTickets.com. Proceeds to go to the Co-Op’s Farm Fund. See page 47 for details.
7pm: FREE Author Event.
Open the the public—not ticketed.
Event co-sponsored by The Community Food Co-Op & Sustainable Connections.
Mon., Sept. 12, 6:30-7:30pm WWU Professional Editing Certificate Program Info Session Come to an informational session for the Professional Editing: Print and Online Certificate Program offered through WWU Extended Education, and presented by Carolyn Dale.
Tues., Sept. 13, noon-1pm Western Connections Brown Bag Series
Fiction
Check VillageBooks.com for topic. Co-sponsored by Western Washington University Libraries.
Tues., Sept. 13, 5:45-6:45pm Info Session for WWU’s Writing the Modern Memoir Certificate Program with Laura Kalpakian
Wed., Sept. 7, 3pm LYNDA HOPKINS –The Wisdom of the Radish Pre-event appearance on Village Green at 2:15pm, to coincide with the Wednesday Farmer’s Market. Co-Sponsored by the Bellingham Farmer’s Market, Sustainable Connections, and the Community Food Co-Op.
Tues., Sept. 13, 6:30pm THE CHUCKANUT RADIO HOUR
Wed., Sept. 7, 7pm KIM SANDSTROM, ND, LMP Finding Emotional Balance Through Yoga
authors of Bays to Bells: The Story of Baseball in Whatcom County from the Earliest Known References to 2011 See page 33 for more information!
A non-author natural health care series co-sponsored by Bellingham Natural Family Medicine. Read more on page 35.
Fri., Sept. 9, 7pm Includes Slideshow! AMY PENNINGTON –Apartment Gardening: Plants, Projects, & Recipes for Growing Food in Your Urban Home Amy will be participating in Sustainable Connections’ Annual Whatcom Farm Tour on Sat., Sept. 10th. Co-sponsored by Sustainable Connections’ Eat Local First! campaign, and the Community Food Co-Op.
Sat., Sept. 10, 2pm KIRBY LARSON –The Friendship Doll
Kids’ Event!
Read a review of The Friendship Doll on page 53.
In the Crystal Ballroom of the Leopold. Tickets $5
WES GANNAWAY & KENT HOLSATHER,
Thurs., Sept. 15, 11-11:30am Ages 3-5 years old Bilingual Preschool Story Time KIDS! Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month! Thurs., Sept. 15, 5-7pm STEAMPUNK MASQUERADE Party on the mezzanine level of the store! See page 13 for more information!
Thurs., Sept. 15, 7pm YA/Kids’ Event! NICK JAMES –Skyship Academy: The Pearl Wars See page 57 for more information.
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!
Continued... Fall 2011
59
Literature
LIVE!
Fri., Sept. 16, 7pm Panel Discussion! ANDREW LATIES –Rebel Bookseller: Why Indie Businesses
Sat., Sept. 24, 2-4pm Mini Workshop! MARGARET CARPENTER ARNETT –The Art of the Inner Journey Sat., Sept. 24, 7pm Includes Slideshow! DEREK HAYES –Historical Atlas of Washington and Oregon Sun., Sept. 25, 4pm Local authors! MARY GILLILAN, editor –Clover: A Literary Rag, Vol. 2
Represent Everything You Want to Fight For-From Free Speech to Buying Local to Building Communities
Mon., Sept. 26, 7pm Open mic with Laurel Leigh
Sat., Sept. 17, 4pm KATE CHRISTIE –Beautiful Game
Local Author! Lesbian Fiction
Tues., Sept. 27, 6-7:30pm Book-Worthy Wines—Wine Tasting
Sat., Sept. 17, 7pm KRISTIN MARRA –78 Keys
Lesbian Fiction
Wine Tasting at Book Fare Café. Tickets available at Book Fare Café or BrownPaperTickets.com. See page 24 for more information.
Sun., Sept. 18th Family Event! The Reading Promise—100 Nights of Reading Pledge Come to Village Books any time today and pledge to read to your family for 100 nights. See page 57 for details. Archaeology Sun., Sept. 18, 2pm & Native KATHERINE KIRKPATRICK American –Mysterious Bones: Studies The Story of a Kennewick Man
Tues., Sept. 20, 7pm Fiction JULIE OTSUKA –The Buddha in the Attic
Tues., Sept. 27, 7pm Fiction! THERESE AMBROSI-SMITH –Wax: A Novel About Women in the 1940s Wed., Sept. 28, 7pm Banned Books Week event! Teens, Books & Censorship Panel Discussion See page 30 for details.
Thurs., Sept. 29, 11-11:30am Bilingual Preschool Story Time
Ages 3-5 years old
Thurs., Sept. 29, 7pm Local Author! SUSAN KANE-RONNING –Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: I Am My Mother After All
Wed., Sept. 21, 11:30am-1:30pm ROSS CHAPIN –Pocket Neighborhoods: Creating
Fri., Sept. 30, 7pm Local Author! BRENDA MILLER –Listening Against the Stone
Small-Scale Community in a Large-Scale World In the Crystal Ballroom of the Leopold. Kulshan Community Land Trust’s Business Partner Appreciation Luncheon. Guests are requested to make a donation of at least $50 to support KulshanCLT.
Wed., Sept. 21, 4-6pm Teachers’ Open House in the Readings Gallery See page 56 for details.
Thurs., Sept. 22, 11-11:30am Bilingual Preschool Story Time
Ages 3-5 years old
Fri., Sept. 23, 7pm Local Fiction Author! RACHEL BALLARD –A Long-Forgotten Truth
Read all about these and other LitLive events at VillageBooks.com! 60
Fall 2011
Are YOU Receiving VB E-vent Mail Updates? Once a week, Village Books sends out email newsletters packed full of store and book information including our latest LitLive events, sale dates, and on occasion, store coupons! 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.
So far in Sat., Oct. 1, 7pm TONY TRIGILIO –Historic Diary
OCTOBER Poetry
Sun., Oct. 2, 4pm Short Stories MARINA SONKINA –Lucia’s Eyes & Other Stories Tues., Oct. 4, 6:30pm THE CHUCKANUT RADIO HOUR In the Crystal Ballroom of the Leopold. Special Guest KEN
JENNINGS, author of
–Maphead: Charting the Wide, Weird World of Geography Wonks Tickets $5. Read more on page 33.
Wed., Oct. 5, 7pm Non-author Natural Health Care Series Event Co-sponsored by Bellingham Natural Family Medicine. Check VillageBooks.com for topic and details.
Thurs., Oct. 6, 11-11:30am Ages 3-5 years old Bilingual Preschool Story Time Thurs., Oct. 6, 7pm Health/Biography KATE WHOULEY –Remembering the Music, Forgetting the Words: Travels with Mom in the Land of Dementia See page 28 for more information.
Fri., Oct. 7 Autumn Art Series: Visual Arts In-store visual art activity. Check VillageBooks.com for updates.
Fri., Oct. 7, 7pm Fiction IAN WEIR –Daniel O’Thunder Sat., Oct. 8, noon Kids’ Event DUANE LAWRENCE –Sammy Squirrel & Rodney Racoon to the Rescue: A Stanley Park Tale See page 57 for details.
Sat., Oct. 8, 4pm Kids’ Event DANA ROZIER –Natural Hawai’i: An Inquisitive Kid’s Guide See page 57 for details.
CHANGES & ADDITIONS TO THIS SCHEDULE WILL OCCUR SO GO TO
www.VILLAGEBOOKS.com for the most up-to-date information!
Tues., Oct. 11, noon-1pm Brown-Bag Event WESTERN CONNECTIONS Brown Bag Series Co-sponsored by Western Washington University Libraries. Check VillageBooks.com for topic.
Tues., Oct. 11, 7pm KURT ARMBRUSTER –Before Seattle Rocked: A City & Its Music Thurs., Oct. 13, 11-11:30am Bilingual Preschool Story Time Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month!
Thurs., Oct. 13, 6:30pm BILL BECKWITH, –Managing Your Memory: Practical Solutions to Forgetting LAURIE MARSHALL, –Beating the Odds Now Co-Sponsored by the local Alzheimer’s Society
Fri., Oct. 14, 5pm Autumn Art Series: Live Music on the main floor of the store! LYDIA MCCAULEY Featuring music from a variety of her albums.
Mon., Oct. 17, 7pm ORAN HESTERMAN –Fair Food: Growing a Healthy, Sustainable Food System for All Co-sponsored by Sustainable Connections & The Community Food Co-Op
Tues., Oct. 18th GREG ATKINSON –At the Kitchen Table:
The Craft of Cooking at Home
5-6:30pm: Ticketed reception at store owners, Chuck & Dee Robinson’s home (available at Village Books & BrownPaperTickets.com)
7pm: Free Author Event in the Readings Gallery (no tickets required) Read more on page 25.
Wed., Oct. 19, 7pm Travel WAYNE BERNHARDSON –Moon Patagonia:
Slideshow Included!
Including the Falkland Islands
Thurs., Oct. 20, 10:30am & 5:15pm Chuck & Dee’s Open Book Talk See page 9 for details.
Thurs., Oct. 20, noon Lunchtime Brown Bag Author Event BRAD MATSEN –Death & Oil: A True Story of the Piper Alpha Disaster on the North Sea
Thurs., Oct. 20, 7pm Local Artist JOANNA POWELL COLBERT –Gaian Tarot (card & book set)
If you can’t make it to an event, just call us to arrange for autographed copies!
VillageBooks.com for up-to-date Lit Live info!
Ages 3-5 years old
Fall 2011
61
Fri., Oct. 21 —Autumn Art Series: Improv Theater Mini-Workshop Sheila Goldsmith & friends from Improv Playworks Check VillageBooks.com for time & updates.
Sat., Oct. 22, 2pm ROBERT WRIGHT –Beyond Ultra
Local Fiction Author!
So far in
NOVEMBER
Tues., Nov. 1, 7pm KARL MARLANTES –What It Is Like to Go to War Event location TBD, check VillageBooks.com for updates. Read about this book on page 41!
Wed., Nov. 2, 7pm Non-author Natural Health Care Series Event
Sat., Oct. 22, 4pm Meditations for a Daily Life Guided by Kelsang Kunshe from Bellingham’s Dharmakirti Buddhist Center Meditations for Daily Life (CDs)
Co-sponsored by Bellingham Natural Family Medicine Check VillageBooks.com for details.
Sat., Oct. 22, 7pm Religion/Christianity ROBIN MEYERS –Saving Jesus from the Church:
Sat., Nov. 5, 4pm Health ROY HOLMAN –Healing Self, Healing Earth
How to Stop Worshipping Christ & Start Following Jesus
Sun., Oct. 23, 2pm Sports/Hispanic Culture STEVE WILSON –The Boys from Little Mexico: A Season Chasing the American Dream
Mon., Oct. 24, 7pm MONIQUE TRUONG –Bitter in the Mouth
Fiction!
Sat. Nov. 5, 7pm Nature/Animals JANA HARRIS –Horses Never Lie About Love: The Story of a True Heart Named True Colors
Tues., Nov. 8, noon-1pm Western Connections Brown Bag Series CLARISSA MANSFIELD Veganism: It’s Not Just Tofu and Leafy Greens
A Hedgebrook North: Women Authoring Change Series event
Co-sponsored by Western Washington University Libraries
Tues., Oct. 25, 6-7:30pm Book-Worthy Wines—Wine Tasting
Thurs., Nov. 10, 6:30pm THE CHUCKANUT RADIO HOUR
Wine Tasting at Book Fare Café. Tickets available at Book Fare Café or BrownPaperTickets.com. See page 24 for more information.
In the Crystal Ballroom of the Leopold
Tues., Oct. 25, 7pm Nature & Environment ANDREW NIKIFORUK, –Empire of the Beetle
Tickets $5 - one free w/each pre-event purchase of Ed King. Read more on page 33.
&
IAN MCALLISTER, –Following the Last Wild Wolves Location to be determined. See page 49 for information about these books.
Thurs., Oct. 27, 5pm Kids Event! EMILY JENKINS –Toys Come Home See page 57 for more info. Fri., Oct. 28 Autumn Art Series: Dance Presentation by Dance Gallery.
Special Guest DAVID GUTERSON, author of Ed King
Fri., Nov. 11, 7pm Spirituality MARGARET MCGEE –Haiku-The Sacred Art: A Spiritual Practice in Three Lines
Thurs., Nov. 17, 7pm Live Music & Mystery GARY MCKINNEY –Darkness Bids the Dead Goodbye Come early for live music by Fritz & the Freeloaders before author talk!
Check VillageBooks.com for updates.
Sat., Oct. 29, 7pm Undead! CHAD HELDER—VB Alum! –The Vampire Bridegroom See pagee 37 for details. Mon., Oct. 31, 4-6pm Halloween Storytellers with the Storyteller’s Guild Mon., Oct. 31, 7pm Open mic with Laurel Leigh 62
Fall 2011
Literature LIVE!
EVENTS Building Community One Book at a Time
INDEPENDENT CINEMA RULES You’ll find the new PFC at 1318 Bay
PFC’s Limelight is at 1416 Cornwall
Three screens New comfortable seats Expanded programming Beer & wine
Not a PFC member yet? Now is the perfect time to join! Enjoy the beautiful new theatre and our newly restored old space–PFC’s Limelight—along with these expanded benefits:
• No Convenience Fee for Advance On-line Tickets (saves 95 cents!)
Visit us online and become a member today:
pickfordfilmcenter.org/membership.asp
• Discounted popcorn (free on Mondays and your birthday) • Pickford Calendar sent directly to your home or office • Discounted admission to select events • Discounts of 15% on PFC merchandise
NEW! Gift cards now available in PFC lobby. Give the gift of the movies!
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
Let’s go to the movies!
gift card
• Discounted admission of $6.25 to all showings
Fall 2011
63
1200 11th St. Bellingham, WA 98225 360.671.2626 www.VillageBooks.com Whatcom County’s Favorite Bookstore since 1980 Building Community One Book at a Time
- Renting and leasing available.
- All Apple products on display.
- Training and installation.
- Warranty and non-warranty service.
- Trade-in your old Mac.
www.tdcurran.com
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 200 BELLINGHAM WA
!PPLE 3PECIALIST
1
1
Now at TD Curran! The Verizon iPhone 4.
16GB
From $199
32GB
From $299
1. Requires new two-year wireless service contract, sold separately to qualified customers: credit check required: must be 18 or older.