The
Fall 2014 14 Summer 20
r e d a e R t u n a k c u h C on oks Publicati A Village Bo e3 Vol. 21 Issu
Back-to-School
SALE
September 15-30
20% OFF
CHILDREN'S BOOKS & Melissa & Doug TOYS
A Magazine for the Northwest’s Most Avid Readers
Fall Reading Recommendations
VB BOOK GROUPS Author Events and much more!
Visit www.thecrossingguide.com/nw-tours or call 360-224-2387
LOCAL TOURS
Discover the best eateries and breweries that only the locals know about. View some of the scenic natural beauty only our little corner of the state can offer. Find hidden treasures shopping at local boutiques. Enjoy a customized tour of the county with 7 other friendly people.
2
Fall 2014
• Shopping • History • Breweries • Food • Parks
Building Community One Book at a Time
Dear Reader,
The weather this summer may have prompted you to say, as I facetiously have, "so, what's wrong with climate change?" Well, we know that much of the world is paying for our enjoyment, and we too will pay dearly if we don't pay attention. That said, I doubt there are many of us who haven't enjoyed the unusual warmth and sun. It's one of the few times in our thirty-four years here that "beach reading" has been a real thing. But, the fall clouds and rain are bound to come, as are dozens of new, exciting books—many of which are reviewed and previewed in these pages. There is also a long list of author events detailed here, including Chuckanut Radio Hours and several special kids' activities organized by our new Kids Activities Director, Claire. You'll also find information about a new partnership with Whatcom Community College. After cooperatively producing the Chuckanut Writers Conference for four years, we'll continue our collaborative efforts with "Chuckanut Writers," creating conferences, classes, and retreats for the writing life. You'll find more information on pages 53-54. On pages 23-25 you'll find details of two new book discussion groups, one for Pacific Northwest literature, both fiction and nonfiction, and one for business books, co-sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and Sustainable Connections. This brings to nine the number of book discussion groups hosted at the store. They're all listed on those pages as well. The time is coming once again to snuggle up with a book. Take a look through this edition of the Reader. There are lots of ideas here for volumes to be added to your to-read list. Enjoy the rest of the summer and early fall weather, and thanks once again for reading locally and supporting your locally-owned and independently operated bookstore.
–Chuck, Dee,
and Everyone at Village Books & Paper Dreams
VILLAGE BOOKS
In This Issue... Dear Reader Fall Fun in Fairhaven & Beyond The Chuckanut Radio Hour Upcoming Shows What Whatcom Was Reading—VB Top Sellers Fiction, Mystery, Sci Fi (highlights & reviews) What to Read While Waiting, and Waiting... Two New VB Book Groups—Join Us! Art & Humor (book highlights) Cooking & Food (book reviews and highlights) Taking Care (reviews and highlights) Getting Out There—books and opportunities Science & Nature (book highlights) Current Events (highlights & reviews) Biographies Booze & Beer (book highlights & reviews) History (highlights & reviews) Take a Trip to Paris & a Little Bit of Poetry Whatcom Reads! 2015 Take the One Book Pledge with the Littles Celebrate Your Freedom to Read eBooks Chuckanut Writes—writing classes & seminars Great Books and Awesome Activities for Kids Literature Live! Author Events at VB
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
3 4-8 9 10 11-19 21-22 23-25 26-27 28-33 35 36-38 39-41 42-44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52-54 56-63 65-70
The Chuckanut Reader Fall 2014
Publishers: Chuck and Dee Robinson Production Design: Kelly Carbert
Contributors: Jenny Blenk, Hana Boxberger, Kelly Carbert, Charles Claassen, Christina Claassen, Elisa Claassen, Brendan Clark, Mike Cook, Stephanie Douglas, Kelly Evert, Robert Gruen, Anna Halleen, Paul Hanson, Sarah Hutton, Sam Kaas, Rachel McCausland, Claire McElroy-Chesson, Lindsey McGuirk, Laura Picco, Chuck Robinson, Dee Robinson, Rem Ryals, Chris Sanders, Joan Terselich, Jonica Todd, Terri Weiner, Cindi Williamson Cover: Don't miss our Back-to-School Sale - Sept. 15-30 Content except art & book covers ©Village Books 2014 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
Fall 2014 3
September 21 - 27, 2014
Banned Books Week Celebrating the Freedom to Read...Graphic Novels Banned Books Week is the national book community's annual celebration of the freedom to read. Hundreds of libraries and bookstores around the country, including Village Books, draw attention to the problem of censorship by mounting displays of challenged books and hosting a variety of events. The 2014 celebration will emphasize a thematic focus on comics and graphic novels. It will shine a light on this still misunderstood form of storytelling and will celebrate the value of graphic novels to readers from all walks of life. Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. More than 11,300 books have been challenged since 1982. Check villagebooks.com and our eNewsletter for details of programs during this week. You can also sign up to receive a discounted e-edition of a banned book each week in September by contacting sam@villagebooks. com. Rread more on page 51)
Fairhaven
SIDEWALK
New Venue!
International
Day of Peace Sunday, September 21st, 2014
Saturday, September 2oth 11am - 5pm Merchandise, gift, and clothing bargains in Fairhaven will be visible in every direction during the Annual District-wide Sidewalk Sale! Enjoy browsing and getting deals at the scores of shops within the district, and perhaps from some outside-the-core businesses situated under the pergola on the Village Green. Also passing through Fairhaven that day is the annual Bellingham Traverse, with runners coming through around 12:30pm, bikers handing off to trail runners around 3pm, followed by paddlers leaving Marine Park to cross the Bay—lots of viewing opportunities for visitors! See page 36 for more Bellingham Traverse information. There is so much happening in Fairhaven—enjoy it all!
4 Fall 2014
Whatcom Peace & Justice Center will host its 11th Annual International Day of Peace Celebration on September 21st, at the Majestic Ballroom on North Forest in downtown Bellingham. In 1982, the United Nations declared this day an annual worldwide 24-hour cease-fire to envision what our world can look like without weapons, violence, and oppression. Hundreds gather every year on September 21st in solidarity with people around the world. The Bellingham Celebration will feature the Howard Harris Lifetime Peacemaker Award, the UpFront Players, as well as music by the Walrus and Snug Harbor. You'll find a food truck from Goat Mountain Pizza, children's activities, face painting, organization tables and more. Solidarity Donations Accepted! 5-10pm at the Majestic Ballroom, 1027 N. Forest, Downtown Bellingham
Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm
Join us for
Come in and Enjoy!
15% OFF
y p p Ha r u Ho 0 1 8 i r n-F ks o o B e g Villa
Mo
Selected SectionS
Mysterious Mondays (Mysteries & Sci-Fi)
Traveling Tuesdays (Travel)
YA Wednesday
pm
(Young Adult)
Hungry & Thirsty Thursday (Cooking)
the and upstairs at
Fictional Friday
é Book Fare Cafe
(Fiction)
win $1 OFF Beer & Plates Menu $2 off small
R E I N V I TE D YOU A to VB Buyers'
Best Bet Books
Best Bet Books with VB Book Buyers Joan & Sarah
Thursday, October 23rd, 11am & 5:15pm in the VB Readings Gallery
You're invited to Village Books' Best Bet Books on Thursday, October 23rd at either 11am or 5:15pm. VB Book Buyers, Joan Terselich and Sarah Hutton 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.
Attention Students & Graduates
We now buy USED TEXTBOOKS!
Bring your used textbooks in and get cash or twice as much in store credit. We buy gently used books with minimal underlining, but our offers are comparable with college stores. And we buy YEAR-ROUND, EVERY DAY! We buy "regular" used books as well—bring them all in and get a big credit for Christmas shopping! 360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
Fall 2014 5
Fairhaven Gives Back
RHA VEN I A F
Thursday, November 13th Mark your calendars now for Thursday, November 13, and save the date. Many businesses in the Fairhaven Historic District will again donate 10% of their sales that day to non-profits in the community during the Second Annual Fairhaven Gives Back celebration. As you make your purchases in participating businesses, you'll be asked to choose one of many non-profit organizations to which your donation will go. At the end of the evening all donations will be tallied and sent to the respective organizations.
GI
VES BACK
This will be a great chance to accomplish two things at the same time—get a jump on your holiday shopping (stores will be well-stocked with gifts for everyone on your list), and help deserving non-profit organizations in the community. Please join us for the Second Annual Fairhaven Gives Back.
Bellingham Theatre Guild 2014—2015 Season You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
September 26 – October 12, 2014
Miracle on 34th Street
November 28 – December 14, 2014
Leading Ladies
February 13 – March 1, 2015
The Foreigner
April 17 – May 3, 2015
The Drowsy Chaperone June 12 – 28, 2015
Season Tickets on sale now
Tickets 733 733--1811 1600 H St., Bellingham bellinghamtheatreguild.com
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Fall 2014
Shop 24 hours a day at villagebooks.com
Literacy Matters Join us for the 12th Annual
LITERACY BREAKFAST Featuring Author & NPR Commentator
NANCY PEARL Friday, October 17th 7-9am - Bright and Early!
The proceeds from this r will fundraise ore m rt suppo LC W 0 than 5 r fo ts n stude r. a e y one
Each year, Whatcom Literacy Council helps hundreds of adults in Whatcom County build their literacy skills and move forward in their lives. The funds raised at the Annual Literacy Breakfast help make that possible. This year’s Literacy Breakfast will be held on Friday, October 17th, at 7:00am at Settlemyer Hall in the Campus Center building at Bellingham Technical College. The witty and wonderful Nancy Pearl, author of Book Lust, More Book Lust, Book Crush, and Book Lust To Go, will be back again this year to share her thoughts on some of the best reads available. Village Books will be on hand selling books. Seating is limited (it sold out last year!), so please go to whatcomliteracy.org or call 752-8678 to reserve your spot. Although there is no charge for breakfast, this is a fundraiser and guests will be asked to make a donation. Proceeds are used to fund literacy programs right here in Whatcom County.
The Annual
Whatcom Literacy
USr. E HO OPa ELifeN . Become a Tuto
Advance reservations only: go to whatcomliteracy.org for the link to register. Contact WLC at 752-8678 or events@whatcomliteracy.org for more information.
Change
17th Wednesday, Septembelicr Library m Pub 5-6pm at the Bellingha
ut the welcome! Learn more abo Our doors are open; all are and ching impact of illiteracy, 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 m improve their readin adults in order to help the es tak ng ining is provided and tutori skills or learn English. Tra t for munity at hours convenien place within your own com skills ge gua lan n eig teaching or for your schedule. No previous e hav and at least 18 years old are needed. Tutors must be . graduated from high school
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
June Anniversary Benefit Concert with the Atlantics a Success! Village Books raised $2500 for the Whatcom Literacy Council by hosting a June concert at Boundary Bay Brewery featuring the local band, The Atlantics. We enjoyed a great evening of boogie, pop, rock, and good ol' rhythm & blues. A huge thanks to everyone who joined us.
Fall 2014
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Mount Baker Theatre Main Stage Rep
EVENTS
MaRSaliS Well-teMpeRed
Season Sponsor
MiSChief on WheelS
GRAMMY
Art by Conner Peirson
award-winner
a n ev e n i n g Wi t h B R an f oR d M aR Sa l i S
$10*
Student tiCketS! Sponsor
Sept 24 - 28 Times vary
tickets: $20-$45*
Sunday, Oct 19 6pm
featuRing
the ChaMBeR oRCheStRa of philadelphia
Sunday, Oct 5 • 3pm exclusive Sponsor
tickets: $32-$69*
tickets: $20-$45*
Mount Baker Theatre | 360-734-6080 |www.MountBakerTheatre.com
*Plus applicable fees
The premier guide to arts & entertainment happenings in the region! Click on the cover of the magazine at ennw.info to download or read online.
Pick up a copy at one of nearly 200 locations in Whatcom & Skagit Counties.
Visit ennw.info for reviews, updates and advertising info.
8 Fall 2014
Building Community One Book at a Time
Chuckanut Radio Hour
The
The Chuckanut Radio Hour, a recipient of Bellingham’s prestigious Mayor’s Arts Award, is a radio variety show recorded live and played on KMRE 102.3FM. Each Radio Hour features guest authors and musicians, performance poetry, comedy skits and some groaner jokes. It's a lot of fun so check out our upcoming line-up and join us! The following shows take place in the Heiner Theater at Whatcom Community College.
Thursday, September 11th, 6:30pm
Steven Galloway –The Confabulist Our special guest this month is Steven Galloway, author of The Cellist of Sarajevo, with his new book, The Confabulist, a fictionalized tale of the extraordinary life and sudden death of Harry Houdini. At once entertaining and suspenseful, historically rich and cleverly told, The Confabulist is a tale of magic and memory, truth and illusion, and the ways that love, hope and grief can, for better or for worse, alter what we perceive and believe. Receive one FREE ticket w/each pre-event, in-store purchase of The Confabulist.
Thursday, October 30th, 6:30pm
Garth Stein –A Sudden Light
Join us in welcoming author Garth Stein, author of The Art of Racing in the Rain, as he introduces his latest book, A Sudden Light, a rich, atmospheric work that is at once a multigenerational family saga, a historical novel, a ghost story, and the story of a contemporary family’s struggle for forgiveness and redemption. Receive one FREE ticket w/each pre-event, in-store purchase of A Sudden Light.
Thursday, November 6, 6:30pm
Tickets $5.00 Tickets for all shows are available at Village Books & BrownPaperTickets.com
William Dietrich with
Christian Martin & Craig Romano –The North Cascades: Finding Beauty & Renewal in the Wild Nearby
William Dietrich will join us with his new book about the North Cascades, co-written with Christian Martin and Craig Romano. Pulitzer-winning essayist Dietrich presents the ecology, geology, and cultural history of the North Cascades. Also joining us will be Christian Martin of North Cascades Institute. In the book, Christian profiles scientists, recreationists, educators, and others who live, work, and play on the land. The book is illustrated with stunning photographs by more than twenty conservation photographers. Co-sponsored by North Cascades Institute.
KMRE FM 102.3
A HUGE thanks to our amazing sponsors!
The Chuckanut Radio Hour airs every Saturday evening at 6pm, and Sunday at 9pm on KMRE 102.3FM. 360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
Fall 2014
9
W WAS READING
HAT WHATCOM VB’s Top Sellers
January-July 2014
1. The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown 2. Wild by Cheryl Strayed 3. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 4. Hiking Whatcom County by Ken Wilcox 5. Bellingham Impressions by Mark Turner 6. Divergent by Veronica Roth 7. Mink River by Brian Doyle 8. Tibetan Peach Pie by Tom Robbins 9. Thrive by Arianna Huffington 10. The Good News Chair by Harriet Arkley
11. The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin 12. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak 13. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt 14. A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki 15. Quiet by Susan Cain 16. Looking for Alaska by John Green 17. Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple 18. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein 19. Mount Baker (Images of America) by John D'Onofrio & Todd Warger 20. Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher by Timothy Egan 21. Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter 22. Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline 23. Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed 24. Frozen: A Sister More Like Me by Barbara Jean Hicks 25. Paper Towns by John Green 26. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr 27. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell 28. Leopard and Silkie by Brenda Peterson 29. Totem Tale by Deb Vanasse 30. Mockingbird by Julie Trimingham
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Fall 2014
It's always fascinating to see what our friends and neighbors are reading. This list represents the forty top-selling books through the first seven months of this year here at Village Books. As always, it's clear that folks here have been "reading locally." One half of the books on the list were written by folks from the region—seven of them by authors from Bellingham or Whatcom County. The top two selling books are both Whatcom Reads books—Wild from this year and The Boys in the Boat the 2014/2015 book. And, this year's Kids and Teens Whatcom Reads book (Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal— the World's Most Dangerous Weapon) was book #41. The book, by Steve Sheinkin, was a finalist for the National Book Award. Reflecting a national trend, young adult books have soared onto the list, and many of them are being read by adults. Scan the list. If there are some here you haven't read you might want to add them to your list.
31. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn 32. Minecraft: Redstone Handbook 33. Minecraft: Essential Handbook 34. Skyship Academy #1: The Pearl Wars by Nick James 35. Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt 36. Frozen: Anna's Act of Love/Elsa's Icy Magic by RH Disney 37. Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo 38. Allegiant by Veronica Roth 39. Haunted Fairhaven by Taimi Dunn Gorman 40. Frozen by Victoria Saxon Building Community One Book at a Time
FICTION hardcover FICTION
hardcover FICTION
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage
We Are Not Ourselves
by Haruki Murakami
available now, hardcover, Simon & Schuster
available now, hardcover, Knopf
"The mind is a mystery no less than the heart....Matthew Thomas has written a masterwork on both, as well as an anatomy of the American middle class in the 20th Century....Thomas does it with the epic sweep and small pleasures of the very best fiction. It's humbling and heartening to read a book this good." —Joshua Ferris, author of Then We Came to the End
by Matthew Thomas
Murakami gives us the remarkable story of Tsukuru Tazaki, a young man haunted by a great loss; of dreams and nightmares that have unintended consequences for the world around us; and of a journey into the past that is necessary to mend the present. It is a story of love, friendship, and heartbreak for the ages. A VB staff favorite!
A Sudden Light
A Sudden Light by Garth Stein
Riddell House sits on a large estate overlooking the Puget Sound. But this is no normal house. It's a mansion completely built out of full grown, giant trees. By spending the summer there with his father, 14-yearold Trevor is determined to send his grandfather to a home, sell the land, and bring his recently separated parents back together. However, he soon discovers that the house is not only home to his grandfather and aunt, but to many secrets and a ghost with its own story. Haunting and beautifully written, Garth Stein has delivered another wonderfully, captivating narrative and it was very difficult to put down! —Lauren S.
available in September, hardcover, Simon & Schuster
This is a book about family secrets and a ghost. Not new ideas, certainly, but Stein's story of a young boy returning to the family mansion with his dad during a trial separation from his mother is, at times, gut-wrenching in the discomfort that dredging up the past brings. And this family has a particularly grim past as timber barons that essentially raped any land that it owned. This is a story about debts to be paid and amends to be made, about family and honoring loved ones who have gone before us. It's also just plain spooky. —Claire
Buy the book and receive a FREE TICKET to The Chuckanut Radio Hour featuring author Tickets $5 - available at Village Books and brownpapertickets.com.
GARTH STEIN Thursday, October 30th, 7pm in the Heiner Theater at Whatcom Community College
Some Luck
by Jane Smiley available in October, hardcover, Knopf
This book is the first of a trilogy, following a midwest American farm family, the Langdons, over the years from 1920 to 1953. We get snapshots of the main characters each year, seeing not only their personal lives, but also the history that they are living through. If you like a good long story that really gets you involved with a family, you're in luck—there are two more books coming, which will follow the family up to the year 2020! —Chris
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
POW!
by Mo Yan translated by Howard Goldblatt available in September, hardcover, University of Chicago
In this novel by the 2012 Nobel Laureate in Literature Mo Yan, a benign old monk listens to a prospective novice's tale of depravity, violence, and carnivorous excess while a nice little family drama—in which nearly everyone dies—unfurls. But in this tale of sharp hatchets, bad water, and a rusty WWII mortar, we can't help but laugh. Displaying his many talents, as fabulist, storyteller, scatologist, master of allusion and cliché, and more, POW! carries the reader along quickly, hungrily, and giddily, up until its surprising dénouement.
Fall 2014 11
FICTION
brand new hardcover The Bone Clocks
The Book of Strange New Things
by David Mitchell
available in September, hardcover, Random House
by Michel Faber
available in October, hardcover, Hogarth
Peter Leigh's mission of faith takes him galaxies away from his wife, Bea. He becomes immersed in the mysteries of an astonishing new environment and the work of ministering to a native population hungry for the Bible. But he soon begins to receive increasingly desperate letters from home. Typhoons and earthquakes are devastating whole countries, governments are crumbling, and Bea's faith, once the guiding light of their lives, begins to falter.
The first novel in four years from Mitchell, and his most Cloud Atlas-y novel since, you guessed it, Cloud Atlas. An intricate novel that weaves six narratives and spans from 1984 to the 2030s about a secret war between a cult of soul-decanters and the small group of vigilantes who try to take them down. An up-all-night story that fluently mixes the supernatural, sci-fi, horror, social satire, and heartbreaking realism.
har mo ny (här’m -ne) n., e
A pleasing combination of parts and labor.
REPAIR OF EUROPEAN & JAPANESE VEHICLES
360 671.2420
Afternoon Book Chat Come discuss contemporary literature with Sittrea the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 1pm AND/OR the Sunday following that meeting at 1:30pm. Yep, we meet twice a month! Join us for one or both chats —open to all!
12 Fall 2014
VB Reads... Join us Wednesday, Sept. 10, 1pm & Sunday, Sept. 14, 1:30pm Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Jeannette Walls
Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm
NEW FICTION
California
by Edan Lepucki available now, hardcover, Little, Brown & Co
In this suspenseful, unique twist on the post-apocalyptic genre, a young married couple try to find their place in a world that has been mysteriously but irrevocably altered. Leaving behind their solitary cabin in the woods, they must integrate themselves into a sheltered, enigmatic community of survivors. I was skeptical at first, but was soon riveted by the author's intimate depiction of people struggling to maintain societal order and marital happiness after the total collapse of society as we know it. Stephen Colbert recommends buying this book from an indie bookstore, and so do I! —Brendan
De Potter's Grand Tour by Joanna Scott
available in September, hardcover, Macmillan
The con-man in the story delivers a hapless urbanity while deceiving unsuspecting travelers who've signed on to tours sketchily organized and somehow theatrically pulled off by our hero who has also managed to bamboozle an erstwhile innocent girl into becoming his wife. His disappearance at sea may be explained throughout the novel's peeling back the "onion" of his nefariousness.
Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good:
The Confabulist
The New Mitford Novel
by Steven Galloway
available now, hardcover, Riverhead
From the author of The Cellist of Sarajevo, an exciting new novel that uses the life and sudden death of Harry Houdini to weave a tale of magic, intrigue, and illusion. What is real and what is an illusion? Can you trust your memory to provide an accurate record of what has happened in your life? Buy the book and receive a FREE TICKET to The Chuckanut Radio Hour featuring author
STEVEN GALLOWAY Thursday, September 11th, 6:30pm in the Heiner Theater at Tickets $5 - available Whatcom Community College at Village Books and brownpapertickets.com.
by Jan Karon
available in September, hardcover, Penguin
Father Tim and his wife return to Mitford from Ireland in Karon's first Mitford book since 2005. Millions of fans will applaud the chance to spend time, once more, in the often comic and utterly human presence of Jan Karon's characters. Indeed, they have never been more sympathetic, bighearted, and engaging.
Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult
available in October, hardcover, Random House
Jodi Picoult does a wonderful job incorporating her research into her novels. Leaving Time centers on Jenna, whose mother disappeared years ago, and Jenna’s two unlikely accomplices, a psychic and a private eye who’d rather be left alone. This compelling story will make you want to learn more about each character as the chapters alternate back and forth. —Anna
The Last Kings of Sark by Rosa Rankin-Gee
available now, hardcover, St. Martin's Press
How do you recover from a perfect moment? It seems like an odd question to ask, but let me put it this way: If you'd experienced a time that everything felt perfect and right with the world, how does one accept the fact that it will never happen again, that you'll never feel exactly the same way? The three main characters in this lyrical novel all have different ways of accepting—or not—that their magical summer together on the island of Sark may have been the happiest time of their lives. It's a bittersweet story full of wonderful imagery and heartfelt emotions. —Jenny
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
Fall 2014 13
The Children Act by Ian McEwan
Hardcover Fiction
available in September, hardcover, Nan A. Talese
After Fiona's husband Jack moves out, she decides to throw herself into her work as a judge—especially a complex case involving a boy whose parents will not permit a lifesaving blood transfusion because it conflicts with their beliefs as Jehovah's Witnesses. But Jack doesn't leave her thoughts, and the pressure to resolve the case—as well as her crumbling marriage—tests Fiona in ways that will keep readers thoroughly enthralled until the last stunning page.
Electric City
by Elizabeth Rosner available in October, hardcover, Counterpoint Press
Elizabeth Rosner's latest book centers on a place, Electric City, as opposed to a particular plot line. Three friends from diverse cultural backgrounds grow, change, and go their separate ways as the city follows a cycle of greatness and decay. Rosner draws heavily on her own experiences as the daughter of Holocaust survivors in writing one of the characters, and fans of Terry Tempest Williams will appreciate her observations about the changing natural environment. —Jenny
Station Eleven
by Emily St. John Mandel available in September, hardcover, Knopf
In this amazingly excellent dystopian novel, the main theme crops up often in the form of a quote from Star Trek:Voyager: "Survival is insufficient." Besides the fact that I got the warm and fuzzies figuring the author must be a Star Trek fan, this quote perfectly describes the band of wandering musicians and Shakespearean actors eking out an existence in a world totally ravaged by deadly disease. When the human species is struggling just to survive, do we still need art and beauty? In my mind, the answer is a resounding YES! —Laura P.
Island of a Thousand Mirrors by Nayomi Munaweera
available in September, hardcover, St Martin's Press
"By turns tender, beautiful, and devastating, [this] is a deeply resonant tale of an unraveling Sri Lanka. Incredibly moving, complex, and with prose you may want to eat, this debut is a triumph." —NoViolet Bulawayo, award-winning author of We Need New Names. This is also a favorite of the Macmillan sales reps.
The High Divide
9
available in September, hardcover, Algonquin Books
Set in the American West in the 1880s, this absorbing family saga chronicles the journey of two boys in search of their father—a man coming to terms with his buried past. Enger's breathtaking portrait of the vast Plains landscape is matched by the rich expanse of his characters' emotional terrain.
The Bully of Order by Brian Hart
available in September, hardcover, HarperCollins
Set in a logging town on the lawless Pacific coast of Washington State at the turn of the twentieth century, this is a spellbinding novel—told with a muscular lyricism and filled with a cast of characters Shakespearean in scope—in which the lives of an ill-fated family are at the mercy of violent social and historical forces.
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Fall 2014
RISK FREE READS
GU
ck
y Money B Da a 0-
by Lin Enger
A R A N TEE
Fives and Twenty-Fives by Michael Pitre
available now, hardcover, Bloomsbury
Written by a two-tour Iraq War veteran, Fives and Twenty-Fives follows three members of a USMC road repair platoon—a lieutenant, a medic, and an Iraqi interpreter—through two parallel plotlines—their lives during the war, dealing with legions of enemy explosives, and their lives after the war, struggling to live in a society that seems incapable of understanding them. Built from a rich assortment of resonant details, the resulting narrative artfully balances camaraderie and solitude. Pitre not only confronts readers with the brutal reality faced by our armed forces, but also forces us to consider our nation's place in the modern world. —Brendan
Shop 24 hours a day at villagebooks.com
FICTION paperback
FICTION
paperback
FICTION
The Mathematician's Shiva A Free Event - Open to All!
STUART ROJSTACZER Sunday, September 7th, 11am At Congregation Beth Israel 2200 Broadway, Bellingham
by Stuart Rojstaczer
available in September, paperback, Penguin
Rachela, a famous Polish émigré mathematician and professor, is rumored to have solved the milliondollar, Navier-Stokes Millennium Prize Problem. Rumor also has it that she spitefully took the solution to her grave. A ragtag group of socially challenged mathematicians crashes the shiva, vowing to do whatever it takes to find the solution. A comic, bittersweet tale of family evocative of The Yiddish Policemen's Union and Everything Is Illuminated.
Sherwood Nation by Benjamin Parzybok
available now, paperback, Small Beer Press
In drought-stricken Portland sometime in the future, a Robin Hood-esque water thief is caught on camera redistributing an illegal truckload of water. Nicknamed Maid Marian, Renee rides the public disgust at government, raises an army... and secedes a quarter of the city. Jedediah Berry calls this novel, by the author of Couch, "part political thriller, part social fable, and part manifesto, its every page brimming with gonzo exuberance."
Beneath the Darkening Sky by Majok Tulba
available in September, paperback, Oneworld Publications
On the day that Obinna's village is savagely attacked by the rebel army and his father murdered, he witnesses violence beyond his imagination. Along with his older brother, he finds himself thrown into a truck to be shaped into a child soldier--an agent of horror. Enduring a brutal daily existence, Obinna slowly works out which parts of himself to save and which to sacrifice in this world turned upside down.
The Tilted World
by Tom Franklin and Beth Ann Fennelly available now, paperback, HarperCollins
It's 1927 and the rising Mississippi is getting ready to breach its levy and take out a million homes. Prohibition agents are looking for a couple of missing agents who were hot on the trail of a slick bootlegger. Add an orphaned baby, a romance, and a host of great characters and you have this superbly written literary thriller.
The Hired Man by Aminatta Forna
available in October, paperback, Atlantic Monthly Press
A powerful novel of a small Croatian town and its dark wartime secrets, unwittingly brought into the light by a family of outsiders. This a rich, layered portrait of a man caught in the crossfire of the Croatian War of Independence, and the tensions that fester within a town coping with the aftermath of conflict.
No Stopping Train by Les Plesko
The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan
available now, paperback, Ecco
A deeply evocative narrative about the profound connections between mothers and daughters, The Valley of Amazement returns readers to the compelling territory of Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club. With her characteristic insight and humor, she conjures a story of inherited trauma, desire and deception, and the power and stubbornness of love.
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
available in October, paperback, Soft Skull Press
The final novel by the late writer Les Plesko, this is a powerful novel of memory and violence set during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, the nationwide revolt following World War II. The new government pledged to re-establish free elections, until a large Soviet force invaded, killing more than 2,500 Hungarians and forcing 200,000 to flee the country. Although the revolution failed, it served as a source of great inspiration to many Hungarians, including Les Plesko.
Fall 2014
15
The 16th Annual
nila.edu/wiwc Northwest Institute of Literary Arts • Freeland • Washington 16 Fall 2014
Building Community One Book at a Time
FICTION paperback
FICTION
Enon
by Paul Harding available now, paperback, Random House
Charlie Crosby is out on a pleasant fall walk, birdwatching. He gets back to his car and the phone is ringing. His wife's voice tells him that his daughter is dead, killed in a biking accident. Immediately we are thrown into the hallucinatory world of sudden grief. Harding charts Charlie's breakdown over the coming year with sharp detail and lyrical metaphor, as he did in Tinkers. It's terrible but there's a strange beauty too, as though Charlie is hovering over the world as a ghost. A scene halfway through the book, when he tries to make a simple trip to a convenience store, is alone worth the price of admission. —Rem
paperback
FICTION
A God in Every Stone by Kamila Shamsie
available now, paperback, Atavist Books
In the summer of 1914, a young Englishwoman finds herself fulfilling a dream by joining an archeological dig in Turkey. She falls in love with an archaeologist and joins him in his quest to find an ancient silver circlet. The outbreak of war in Europe brings this to a sudden end as friends become enemies. Throughout the years, adversaries and friends meet and lose sight of each other, and their loyalties are tested amidst massacres, cover-ups, and the disappearance of a young man.
At Night We Walk in Circles by Daniel Alarcón
available in September, paperback, Penguin
You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz
available in September, paperback, Hachette
"Korelitz does not disappoint as she chronicles the emotional unraveling of her heroine in this gripping saga... A cut above your average who-is-this-strangerin-my-marriage-bed novel, You Should Have Known transforms itself at certain moments from a highly effective thriller into a nuanced novel of family, heritage, identity, and nurture." —The Boston Globe
The Way Inn by Will Wiles
available in September, paperback, HarperCollins
Up in the Air meets Inception in this smart, innovative, genre-synthesizing novel. Hailed as "Fawlty Towers crossed with Freud," by the Daily Telegraph, it takes the polished surfaces of identikit mid-budget motel chains, the branded coffee, and the free wifi, and twists them into a surrealistic nightmare of infinite proportions.
Join us Monday, October 6, 7pm The Swerve: How the World Became Modern by Stephen J. Greenblatt
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
Nelson, an actor traveling his South American country with a touring company, is revealed through the investigation of the narrator, a young man obsessed with Nelson's story. In sharp, vivid, and beautiful prose, Alarcón delivers a compulsively readable narrative and a provocative meditation on fate, identity, and the large consequences that can result from even our smallest choices.
The Good Lord Bird by James McBride
available now, paperback, Penguin
From the bestselling author of The Color of Water is the story of a young boy born a slave who joins John Brown’s antislavery crusade—and who must pass as a girl to survive. Winner of the 2013 National Book Award for Fiction and soon to be a major motion picture, The Good Lord Bird is an absorbing mixture of history and imagination, a rousing adventure, and a moving exploration of identity and survival.
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. Fall 2014
17
A Free Event at Village Books
SPECIAL OFFER
Receive a hardcover copy of Pete Fromm's debut novel, How This All Started, FREE! While supplies last. No purchase necessary. Ask at the main counter for your copy today.
PETE FROMM Tuesday, September 30th, 7pm
If Not For This by Pete Fromm
available now, paperback, Red Hen Press
paperback fiction
“If Not For This is a terrific novel, poignant as hell, but feisty, funny, and romantic, too. Pete Fromm is a powerful, lucid writer, a perfect guide to the unpredictable rivers and people of the interior West, to their deep channels and breathtaking turns.”—Jess Walter
Mystery A Free Event!
The Long Way Home:
A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel by Louise Penny
available now, hardcover, Macmillan
Clara's husband has failed to show up as promised on the first anniversary of their separation. She wants Gamache's help to find him. Newly retired Gamache feels a near revulsion at the thought of leaving Three Pines but, together with his former colleagues, they discover the terrible damage done by a sin-sick soul.
Converging Parallels by Timothy Williams
available in October, paperback, Soho Crime
Commissario Piero Trotti, trusted senior police investigator in an anonymous provincial city off the River Po, has two difficult cases to solve. An unidentified, dismembered body has been found in the river, and it's up to Trotti to figure out who the murder victim is. Meanwhile, an estranged friend approaches Trotti with a desperate personal plea: his six-year-old daughter—Trotti's own goddaughter—has been kidnapped.
Deep Shelter by Oliver Harris
available in September, paperback, HarperCollins
In this gritt y, white -knuckle crime thriller, Detective Nick Belsey—shrewd, street-smart cynic who is one of London's sharpest, but most unprincipled, inve stiga t o rs—is p lun g e d int o a perplexing mystery of secrets, danger, and suspense beneath the city's streets. "A beguiling bastard of a hero—what a recipe for a great read." —Val McDermid, Scottish Crime Writer
18 Fall 2014
At Village Books
CHRISTINA DODD Tuesday, September 9th, 7pm
Virtue Falls
by Christina Dodd available in September, hardcover, St. Martin's Press
Twenty-three years ago, Misty Banner was brutally slashed to death in her home in Virtue Falls, Washington. Her husband was convicted of the murder. Their four year old daughter Elizabeth witnessed the crime, but has no memory of the killing. Now, two decades later, Elizabeth is back in Virtue Falls. She soon discovers her father is innocent. The real killer is still out there. Another riveting novel from bestselling author Christina Dodd.
Extended Hours! Monday - Saturday: 10am - 10pm and Sundays: 10am - 8pm
Weirdo
by Cathi Unsworth available now, paperback, Anansi Press
Corinne Woodrow was 15 when she was convicted of murdering one of her classmates on a summer's evening in 1984. Twenty years later, new forensic evidence suggests that Corinne didn't act alone. Private investigator Sean Ward— whose promising career as a detective with the Metropolitan Police was cut short by a teenage gangster with a gun—reopens the case. He discovers a town full of secrets and a community that has always looked after its own.
Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm
Science Fiction VB Reads...
Book Group
Meet with Rachel the 3rd Monday of every month at 7pm to discuss thought-provoking speculative fiction in a group that welcomes diversity. Meetings take place in the Writers' Corner on the mezzanine level of Village Books.
Join us Monday, September 15, 7pm Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
City of Stairs
by Robert Jackson Bennett available in September, paperback, Crown Publishing
This is a sociopolitical fantasy adventure with a good helping of philosophical debate. Colonialism, religion, murder, and intrigue all converge around Shara, one of her country's most accomplished spies. It's a thinking person's fantasy book, sure to inspire some debate on the nature of humanity and religion, but don't worry; there's still a good helping of monsters. And there's also Sigurd. You'll love Sigurd. —Jenny
Peripheral
by William Gibson available in October, hardcover, Putnam
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
by Beth Cato
available in September, paperback, HarperCollins
In this steampunk tale of adventure and romance, I found the author's world-building to be of special interest. Most of the story takes place over the course of a few days aboard a dirigible, amping up the suspense with a closed environment. It's a quick read, perfect for a sunny vacation or an afternoon on the porch. —Jenny
Living Language Dothraki: A Conversational Language Course Based on the Hit Original HBO Series Game of Thrones by David J. Peterson
available in October, hardcover, Living Language
This course includes a 128-page language guide and a one-hour audio CD featuring over 200 words and phrases, grammar explanations, cultural notes, dialogue, and exercises. Containing words never before heard on HBO's Game of Thrones or seen in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, this is the ultimate Dothraki language guide. *Me nem nesa! = It is known!
The Magician’s Land by Lev Grossman
available now, hardcover, Viking Books
Finally, the culmination of the amazing fantasy that began with The Magicians is here. I’ve walked the magical and flawed footsteps of Quentin Coldwater, sharing his adventures, exploring the world behind our world, waiting and wanting him to overcome his personal demons and finally fulfill his quest… proving it’s never too late to come of age. —Paul
y Money B Da a 0-
RISK FREE READS
GU
ck
It's hard to pin down exactly what genre this story might be, except, perhaps all of them. Revolving around the family of a returning veteran with possible PTSD employed in beta testing on-line gaming, this is part futuristic thriller, part conspiracy homeland security/military secret theories, murder mystery, and all-around entertaining. This is Gibson at his very best.
The Clockwork Dagger
9
Speculative Fiction
A R A N TEE
Fall 2014 19
PAPER
DREAMS
Fall Fashio n
The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting cooler, leaves are changing color, and the blackberries and apples are ripe. Fall is quickly approaching and Paper Dreams is ready to help you enjoy it in STYLE!
We Have.... ToeSox!
Inspiring natural movement for healthy living. In addition to having a fabulous no-slip sole, ToeSox spread your toes which helps strengthen the feet and increase blood circulation. They come in great colors and numerous styles including full and partial toe, ankle length, and low rise. They're great for yoga and pilates practitioners—a hygienic solution to bare feet in public areas.
Discover.... Fall Fashion Accessories
Stop in to peruse a huge variety of scarves, fun hats, and fashionable warm gloves.
You'll Find.... A Wide Selection of Handbags! Check out the new Maruca Design bags which are 100% U.S. made with seasonally-changing jacquard woven fabrics. We also have the latest bags from Baggallini and Lug as well as many others.
20 Fall 2014
3.325” x 4.5”
Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm
BOOKS to READ While
WAITING… and Waiting Some More
by Elisa Claassen
I
n an age of “instant” everything, we still find we have moments where life comes to a stop and we can feel so inconvenienced. Our carefully planned day comes to a standstill. We are stuck in traffic. We are sitting at the doctor’s office…and sitting…and sitting some more. We check our watches—or cell phones—and see we have been there five minutes, ten minutes, and even an hour. These days we have options for relieving the stress—and enjoying ourselves possibly—during these moments of waiting. (Even better is that our reading options can come via print book, audio CD book, or eBook.) My cousin Gaye walked with me through Village Books for inspiration of items to add to my wish list, and I confess we stopped in the humor section the longest. Sometimes a perfect title—and its cover—can elicit some interesting sideward glances and looks from those waiting along with you. (It could potentially create some new friendships as well!) So along with your tote bag filled with knitting needles and yarn or your cell phone powered up to Facebook, grab a few books:
Via audio: Lonely Planet French Phrasebook and Audio CD by Lonely Planet I have been used to commuting from the rural reaches of Whatcom County into town to work and enjoy using that time to attempt to better my language capacity. Lonely Planet has phrase books and accompanying audio CDs to go with several languages if preparing for a trip abroad. At this point no trips are planned for me, but you just never know! I have difficulty just sitting to listen, but these are a wonderful option for not only the drive, but for going on walks or while working in the yard.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on CD by J.K. Rowling, read by Jim Dale (Listening Library) As much as I loved coming to Village Books for the release parties for these popular children’s, and then teen, books, so I could sit up and read them through the first night I bought them, I have truly loved the audio version and have listened to each unabridged book more than once. Jim Dale, a veteran actor/songwriter, has just the perfect British voice to properly convey these well-known characters in a believable, and British, way. This one may need to be ordered as it's not always in stock. continued on next page 360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
Fall 2014 21
continued from previous page
Via print book (most are also available as Kobo eBooks): A Beautiful Mess Photo Idea Book: 95 Inspiring Ideas for Photographing Your Friends, Your World and Yourself by Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman (paperback, Potter Style) I happen to be a visual person and am always looking for more ways to share my world with my friends. The two authors are sisters who have a DIY blog and this has resulted in a series of e-courses and a website. They not only show how to take self-portraits in a flattering way but how to make gifts with the images that should appeal to the do-it-yourselfer in many of us.
I See You Made an Effort: Compliments, Indignities and Survival Stories from the Edge of 50 by Annabelle Gurwitch (hardcover, Blue Rider Press) Maybe it's because I am heading so close to 50, but who wouldn’t love a humorous look at aging no matter how old you truly are? (I imagine that even those in their 30s and 60s, for example, could use a good laugh!) Instead of coming-of-age, it is a coming-of-middle age book of essays by a woman noted for her honesty and fun.
I Could Pee on This: And Other Poems by Cats by Francesco Marciuliano (hardcover, Chronicle Books) I confess that the title by the author of the Sally Forth cartoons caught my eye. Laughter is so healing and laughing while waiting seems to be a good combination. (I have had a few housecats myself and even though I’m more of a dog person at times, I enjoy them immensely.) For those who do consider themselves to be dog “people,” there is also I Could Chew on This: And Other Poems by Dogs and just out, I Knead My Mommy: And Other Poems by Kittens by the same author. Once you are done reading them, wrap them up and give them as a gift!
Living a Life of Gratitude: Your Journey to Grace, Joy & Healing by Sara Wiseman (paperback, Llewellyn Publications) No matter how much “fun” we may have whining and complaining about everything—let alone while we get impatient waiting—a life of gratitude can leave us far happier. Nothing like a series of uplifting stories to be...lifted up!
The Priority List: A Teacher’s Final Quest to Discover Life’s Greatest Lessons by David Menasche (hardcover, Touchstone Books) Take a beloved high school teacher, brain cancer and a seizure that takes away the ability to teach, and a road trip to visit past students…and see what happens. Although other books may take you on road trips stopping with visits along scenic roads for impeccable vistas, this is 101 days on the road with stops in 31 cities, and seeing not just one or two students but more than 75.
Happy Reading! Elisa Claassen graduated with a degree in a writing field which she occasionally uses in a public setting. She works for an international engineering firm and a clothing boutique, grows invasive plants in her junglelike garden, and dreams of adventures near and far. Her own home library includes humorous and beautiful pop-up books, books of the ancient Middle East with maps, and vintage children’s books.
22 Fall 2014
Building Community One Book at a Time
BOOK
GROUPS
GALORE!
A book is always better if you have someone to share it with. What could be better than sharing it with people who have read it, too? Join a book group and connect with diverse groups of individuals while discussing interesting subjects. You can discover books you wouldn't otherwise read while enjoying unique viewpoints and differing opinions. Village Books is home to nine different book groups open to members of the community. No commitment is required! Decide which group best suits your interests and come when you can. You are invited to purchase each book of the month from our book group wall at the front of the store. Don't forget, those who attend are eligible for a 15% discount on that group's selections—just let us know you're buying it for the book group when you're paying. If you're in a private book group, you can register your group with Hana at Village Books and receive the discount on your monthly selections. Questions? Email Hana@villagebooks.com.
VB Reads...
Groups meet in the VB Readings Gallery (unless otherwise noted)
Village Books Book Groups Pacific Northwest Book Group
Sharpen Your Saw
Business Book Group Meet with Mike Cook the 3rd Tuesday of every month from 11am-1pm to discuss an alternative approach to keeping your mind sharp and life balanced while being part of a continuous learning community. See page 25 for more.
Meet with Maren the 4th Monday of every month at 7pm to discuss books set in the Northwest, books about the Northwest, and books from local authors. Meetings take place in the Writers' Corner on the mezzanine level of Village Books.
Engaged Citizens Book Group
3rd Wednesdays of the month at noon. Join Mary Dumas for a Speculative Fiction thought-provoking lunch hour discussing books that ask us to consider how we, as community members, can more skillfully contribute to the Book Group creation of a civilly engaged community. Meet with Rachel the 3rd Monday of every month at 7pm to discuss thought-provoking speculative fiction in a group that General Lit welcomes diversity. Meetings take place in the Writers' Corner Discuss books from a variety of genres with Cindi at 7pm the on the mezzanine level of Village Books. 1st Monday of each month. This group is open to anyone and everyone who enjoys reading and discussing books. Afternoon Book Chat Come discuss contemporary literature with Sittrea the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 1pm AND/OR the Sunday following that meeting at 1:30pm. Yep, we meet twice a month! Join us for one or both chats —open to all!
Motherhood by the Book Meet with Claire the 2nd Sunday of every month at 2pm for an hour of spirited discussion of books that celebrate the trials, tribulations, and rewards of motherhood. Meetings take place in the Writers' Corner on the mezzanine level of Village Books.
Natural Concerns Book Group Join us the 2nd Monday of each month from 5-6pm as we discuss contemporary and classic writings that explore the issues, insights, and inspirations of our relationship with the natural world.
Cover to Cover Adventure For ages 8-12. Enjoy a book chat & activities with Hana at 4pm the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Read more about this fun group on page 59.
Go to villagebooks.com to see the monthly book selections for these groups! 360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
Fall 2014 23
Two New VB Book Groups The Pacific Northwest
NEW!
fi
Book Group
by Hana Boxberger, VB Book Group Coordinator
REGISTER YOUR BOOK GROUP AT VILLAGE BOOKS
September is a fabulous month& forReceive book groups. addition to Sharpen Your Saw, our new Business book group 15%In OFF your monthly selections! (see the next page), I am excited to announce the start of a book group focusing on our own gorgeous Northwest. The Pacific Northwest Book Group will be reading and discussing a variety of books which celebrate the beloved home in which we are so fortunate to live. This includes both fiction and non-fiction books set in the Northwest, books about the Northwest, and books from our local authors. Bellingham is an incredibly strong, community-oriented place. If you are as proud to live in the Pacific Northwest as we are, join Maren the fourth Monday of the month at 7 pm upstairs in our Writers' Corner. The first meeting will be September 22nd, and the group will discuss The Living by Annie Dillard. September 22nd: The Living by Annie Dillard October 27th: This Boy's Life: A Memoir by Tobias Wolff November 24th: Bretz's Flood: the Remarkable Story of a Rebel Geologist and the World's Greatest Flood by John Soennichsen
VB Reads...
Subscribe to the VB
Book Group eNewsletter
This monthly newsletter is packed with book reviews, discussion questions, genre focuses, staff interviews, and event highlights. Sign up for the newsletter by updating your email profile at VillageBooks.com or by emailing Hana@villagebooks.com.
REGISTER YOUR BOOK GROUP AT VILLAGE BOOKS & Receive 15% OFF your monthly selections!
Additional Book Group News In July, we kicked off our new Speculative Fiction Book Group enthusiastically led by VB's own Rachel M. "The turnout was great. Everyone was eager to participate in the discussion, trade contact info and book recommendations, and enjoy a good solid hour of science fiction nerdery with all its relevancy to robots, identity politics and other fun topics. It was a beautiful thing to behold!" Join them on Monday, September 15th as they read The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon. Our Natural Concerns Book Group (formerly known as the Environmental Conservation group) took a summer break but will be back on Monday, October 13th to begin a new season of insightful and inspiring reads beginning with A Sandy County Almanac by Aldo Leopold. Our Middle Reader book group (for kids 8-12) is also back from its summer hiatus. Cover to Cover Adventure will meet Tuesday, September 9th to discuss Kate DiCamillo's The Tale of Despereaux. (Read more on page 59). See a full list of VB Reads Book Groups on page 23 and find their monthly picks at villagebooks.com. 24 Fall 2014
Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm
VB Reads...
NEW Business
NEW!
Book Group
Sharpen Your Saw
A Business Book Discussion Group
Facilitated by Mike Cook
Stephen Covey called it “Sharpening the Saw” when he wrote about it in his highly successful debut book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People back in 1990. The practice of renewal goes by many names but always makes the list of recommendations when the question about the habits of successful business owners and leaders comes up. No matter what business or profession you have chosen, the most important asset you have to preserve and develop is your mind. Staying sharp is a continuous and intentional process. It takes conscious effort to maintain a practice of renewal. One way to do it is sign up for a workshop, get on a plane, travel to another part of the country, stay in a hotel and spend at least a couple thousand dollars in the process. This is never really a bad investment but unfortunately it isn’t always practical, and usually it is a solo process. You return home to colleagues that have awaited your return not to tap into what you’ve learned but to handle or resolve what came up while you were away. Pretty soon it’s like you never left…again. Village Books, in partnership with the Bellingham Chamber of Commerce and Sustainable Connections, would like to offer you an alternative approach to keeping your saw sharp and being part of a continuous learning community in the process. And…it won’t cost you a bunch of money or time. Join us beginning in September at Village Books for a once monthly, two-hour listening and learning experience where we engage with the most up-to-date thinkers in the business world today. In a fast paced dialogue facilitated by Mike Cook, local business coach and faculty member at WWU, we promise you your time will be well spent and we’ll all want to know what you have learned.
The group will meet from 11am until 1pm on the third Tuesday of each month in the Readings Gallery at Village Books. September 16th: Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success by Adam Grant October 21st: Brick by Brick: How LEGO Rewrote the Rules of Innovation and Conquered the Global Toy Industry by David Robertson & Bill Breen November 18th: Humble Inquiry: The Gentle Art of Asking Instead of Telling by Edgar H. Schein Mike Cook helps leaders and their teams develop and implement cultural change and enhance overall performance in their organizations. He has more than twenty-five years experience working as a designer, facilitator, coach, and project team lead on major cultural changes in many industries. He is the author of the book Thrive: Standing on Your Own Two Feet in a Borderless World, writes a blog at heartofengagement.com, and has a regular column in the Bellingham Business Journal.
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
ORDER LUNCH! Book Fare Café on the mezzanine level of Village Books will be offering brown-box lunches for pre-order to anyone interested in having a lunch at the book discussion. Lunches will be available for ordering through the Village Books and Book Fare Café websites: villagebooks.com/village-books-store-book-groups and bookfarecafe.com.
Fall 2014 25
ART
Art Rules! (And How to Break Them)
Bateman: New Works
How to Think like a Modern Artist
by Robert Bateman
by Mel Gooding
available now, paperback, Greystone Books
Robert Bateman is one of the world's greatest wildlife artists and most committed naturalists. This exquisite collection of recent works, all reproduced for the first time in book form, features 75 full-color reproductions of paintings depicting both North American and international wildlife scenes. Now in paperback!
Mary Iverson:
Containment and Dissaray
available in October, hardcover, Shambhala Redstone Editions
It is one of the great liberating ideas of modern art that everyone is a creative being capable of making art. But all too often a mechanical education stifles the creative impulse, induces anxiety, and represses the imagination. Making art is a form of play with techniques, rules, and strategiesand everyone can play!
The Language of Houses
by Mary Iverson
Architecture
by Alison Lurie
available in November, hardcover, Gingko Press
available now, hardcover, HarperCollins
Northwest painter (faculty member of Skagit Valley College) and public artist, Mary Iverson creates surreal tableaux with her work, portraying the collision of the natural world and human exploitive and commercial endeavors. Container ships collide with national parks in an almost mythical and post-apocalyptic scenario, raising questions about the ultimate destination for all this growth.
"Alison Lurie, in her lucid, jargon-free way, allows us to read what architecture is saying. Anyone who is building or decorating a house or office will benefit from her helpful analysis. She has culled the best ideas from a vast secondary literature and passed it all through the sieve of her brilliant mind." —Edmund White, novelist
SEPT 28 4-6:30 @BAAY – JENNIFER SCOTT QUARTET Jennifer Scott, piano & vocals with Ed Dunsavage, guitar; Rene Worst, bass; Jud Sherwood, drums | Sponsor: GOODMAN FAMILY TRUST
OCT 26 4-6:30 @MBT ENCORE ROOM – CHRISTOPHER WOITACH TRIO Christopher Woitach, guitar; Julian MacDonough, drums; Dan Schulte, bass Sponsor: PHILLIPS56 & BP FABRIC OF AMERICA
NOV 26 4-6:30 @MBT ENCORE ROOM – ´ENTRE MUNDOS’ VOCALIST ADRIANA GIORDANO FROM SAO PAULO BRAZIL – with Eric Verlinde, piano; Dean Schmidt, bass; Jeff Busch, drums | Sponsor: JOYCE & TERRY BUSCH
Good things happen when craft meets art.
Illustration by Christopher Woitach
The series is underwritten, by the the City of Bellingham Tourism Lodging fund. • For more information on Jazz Project programs: (360) 650-1066 • The Jazz Project is a 501(c)3 Non-profit Organization • All concerts produced by Jud Sherwood, Jazz Project Director.
26 Fall 2014
www.whatcommuseum.org
Building Community One Book at a Time
WTF, Evolution?!
Time for a Good Laugh
A Theory of Unintelligible Design by Mara Grunbaum
available in October, paperback, Workman Publishing
We all have our off days. Why should evolution be any different? Grunbaum is a very smart, very funny science writer who celebrates the best—or, really, the worst—of evolution's blunders. Here are more than 100 outlandish mammals, reptiles, insects, fish, birds, and other creatures whose very existence leaves us shaking our heads and muttering WTF?!
Daily Dishonesty: The Beautiful Little Lies We Tell Ourselves Every Day
by Lauren Hom
available in September, hardcover, Abrams
We've all had one of those days: you sleep through the three alarms you've set, you put your shirt on inside out, you burn your mouth on your coffee, and it's only 9 a.m.! Daily Dishonesty pays homage to the little lies we tell ourselves just to make it through the day.
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
Yes Please
by Amy Poehler available in October, hardcover, HarperCollins
Amy has been writing her own comedy since she began her career in the 90s. She's a natural on the page—her writing is sharp, insightful, and smart. Couple the great storytelling with photos, lists, visual gags, and handwritten elements, and Amy Poehler's book will be hailed for being as unique as it is entertaining.
Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan
available in October, hardcover, Crown Archetype
Bacon. McDonald's. Cinnabon. Hot Pockets. Kale. Stand-up comedian and New York Times bestselling author Jim Gaffigan has made his career rhapsodizing over the most treasured dishes of the American diet ("choking on bacon is like getting murdered by your lover") and decrying its worst offenders ("kale is the early morning of foods").
Fall 2014
27
P I C K U P Y O U R E AT L O C A L M O N T H PA S S P O R T
BREAD
VE
IE
S
DA
IR
Y
N
IT ALL ALL IT
SE AF
FR UI T
HE
RB
S
N
UT
AR ED PR EP
D
GR AI
ADDS UP!
OO
Celebrate September
GG
S
MEAT
e
Lively Events
a
Culinary Adventures
b
Passport to Prizes
n Whatcom County’s own Farm Tour:
LOCAL MONTH Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Eat Local Month Launch Party & Reel Food Media Film Showing Pickford Film Center, 5pm. Eat snacks, pick up your passport and guide, mingle with friends. Brewers Cruise w/ Boundary Bay, 6:30-8pm
Reynola Pakusich Vegetable Quilts Art Showcase, Ciao Thyme
Sept 7
Saturday
Friday
Taste
YOUR
PLACE!
Local = Food grown, raised or produced in Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan & Island Counties
Saturday Sept 13
Sept 10
Bow Edison Food Trail Trek, 10am-4pm Bow Hill Blueberries Pop-Up Dinner, 6pm
Chuckanut Century/ Post-Ride Celebration, Boundary Bay Brewery, 7am-5pm Bite of Bellingham, 12-4pm
Thursday
Sept 3
Sept 1-30
Sept 14
Wednesday
Saturday, Sept 13th
Whatcom County Farm Tour, 10am-5pm
Brewers Cruise w/ Boundary Bay, 6:30-8pm
Good To Go Meat Pies Open house Chuckanut Brewery Tour, 12pm BBQ @ Ferndale Public Market 10-3pm 10am to 5pm
Sept 16
Café Favorites: Eat Local Class, Ciao Thyme, 6:30pm
Sept 17
Sept 18
Sept 24
Sept 25
Brewers Cruise w/ Boundary Bay, 6:30-8pm
Harvest of the Month, Bellingham Public Schools Brewers Cruise w/ Boundary Bay, 6:30-8pm
Community Food Co-op Eat Local Dinner Theatre, 6-8:30pm
Eat Local Incognito Dinner, Ciao Thyme, 6pm
Sept 19 Bellingham Oktoberfest, 6:30pm
Sept 20
Trial Vineyards Open House, Cloud Mountain Farm Center, 12pm Writers in the Limelight: “Eating Animals”, 12pm Community Shopping Day for Common Threads, Food Co-op
Sept 27
Co-op Farm Fund Hootenanny Benefit, 6-9:30pm Mount Vernon Farmers Market Chef-Off, 11:30-1pm
Pick up your Eat Local Month & Farm Tour Guide at theOct Community 1 Food Co-op, Bellingham Farmers Market, Haggen, Whatcom Farmers Co-op, or at any Bellingham or Whatcom County library or visitor center. Details at EatLocalFirst.org. Taste Washington Day
Choose local businesses taking action for a healthy community.
Pick up your Eat Local Month & Farm Tour guide at the Community Food Co-op, Bellingham Farmers Market, Haggen,
Extended Storecenter. Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm Farmers Co-op, or at any Bellingham or Whatcom County library or visitor 28 Whatcom Fall 2014
Find all the tasty details at
EatLocalFirst.org
Will It Waffle?: 53 Irresistible by Daniel Shumski
available now, paperback, Workman Publishing
How many great ideas begin with a nagging thought in the middle of the night that should disappear by morning, but doesn't? For Daniel Shumski, it was: Will it waffle? Hundreds of hours, countless messes, and 53 perfected recipes later, that answer is a resounding: Yes, it will! Steak? Yes! Pizza? Yes! Apple pie? Emphatically yes.
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and Unexpected Recipes to Make in a Waffle Iron
FOOD k
The Slanted Door: Modern Vietnamese Food by Charles Phan
available in October, hardcover, Ten Speed Press
Plenty More: Vibrant Vegetable Cooking from London’s Ottolenghi
by Yotam Ottolenghi
available in October, hardcover, Ten Speed Press
Plenty More continues in the spirit of Plenty, with 120 dazzling produce-focused dishes, prepared raw, grilled, baked, simmered, cracked, or braised. Featuring recipes for main dishes, sides, salads, and sweets including Membrillo and Stilton Quiche, Buttermilk-Crusted Okra, Candy Beetroot with Lentils, Roasted Rhubarb with Sweet Labneh, and Quince Poached in Pomegranate Juice, this is the follow-up cookbook everyone has been waiting for. Plenty is a VB staff favorite!
Mastering My Mistakes in the Kitchen: Learning to Cook with 65 Great Chefs and Over 100 Delicious Recipes by Dana Cowin
available in October, hardcover, HarperCollins
An uproarious, inspiring cookbook from the longtime editor-in-chief of Food & Wine magazine, in which the first lady of food spills the secret of her culinary ineptitude, while learning—finally— to cook, side-by-side with some of the greatest chefs working today, from David Chang to Alice Waters to Thomas Keller.
Award-winning chef and restaurateur Charles Phan opened The Slanted Door in San Francisco's Mission District in 1995, inspired by the food of his native Vietnam. Since then, The Slanted Door has moved across town to the historic Ferry Building, and has grown into a world-class dining destination. Its accessible, modern take on classic Vietnamese dishes is beloved by diners, chefs, and critics alike.
Eat: The Little Book of Fast Food by Nigel Slater
available in September, hardcover, Ten Speed Press
Eat is devoted to simple food done well. Whether it's a humble fig and ricotta toast or sizzling chorizo with shallots and potatoes, Nigel Slater provides endless ideas for fast food that can be prepared in under an hour and that busy parents, novice cooks, and discerning food aficionados will savor. With delightful photography throughout, this lovely volume is sure to be the new go-to tome for wholly enjoyable, everyday meals.
A Taste of Washington: Favorite Recipes from the Evergreen State by Michele Morris
available now, hardcover, Farcounty Press
A Boat, A Whale & A Walrus: Menus and Stories
by Renee Erickson and Jess Thomson, photos by Jim Henkens available in September, hardcover, Sasquatch Books
This luscious cookbook is perfect for anyone who loves the fresh seasonal food of the Pacific Northwest. Defined by the bounty of the Puget Sound region, as well as by French cuisine, this cookbook is filled with seasonal, personal menus like Renee's Fourth of July Crab Feast, Wild Foods Dinner, and a fall pickling party.
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
Featuring 120 recipes from 68 of the Evergreen State's best restaurants, bistros, cafes, lodges, and bed-andbreakfasts, A Taste of Washington includes classic Northwest fare as well as flavor fusions of global cuisines. "Those of us lucky enough to call Washington home have access to an astonishing array of local products that make cooking and dining here an extraordinary treat. This book does a wonderful job of capturing the flavor and personality of the state, taking readers throught the regions and seasons in delicious style." —Cynthia Nims, culinary consultant
Find the Cookbooks along with fun food and cooking items in Paper Dreams! Fall 2014 29
Enjoy Great Meals at These Fairhaven Restaurants!
book fare café in village books
now catering
seasonal local organic allergy-friendly come see what’s new on the mezzanine level upstairs in village books
EVERYDAY 8 AM – 2 PM 1101 HARRIS AVENUE IN FAIRHAVEN
www.bookfarecafe.com 360.734.3434
CLASSIC FAVORITES
AW Asian Bistro A.W. Asian Bistro
SUSHI BAR ASIAN GRILL
Fairhaven Garden 1138 Finnegan Way Bellingham, WA 360.715.3028 Fax 360.715.1803
HAPPY HOUR Gluten-free options! –No MSG–
DAILY from 3-5pm
awasianbistro.com
open daily for Lunch & Dinner 12th & Mill in Historic Fairhaven • 715.3028
Go to VillageBooks.com to see this issue, as well as past issues, of The Chuckanut Reader online!
30 Fall 2014
Breakfast and Lunch Served Daily Homemade Soups and Pastries Wheat Free Pastries Available BEST MIMOSAS IN TOWN PLAN, HOST, AND CATER YOUR PRIVATE PARTIES OR COMPANY GATHERINGS AT HARRIS AVENUE CAFÉ!
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Building Community One Book at a Time
k Cooking
Make it Ahead: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten
available in October, hardcover, Clarkson Potter
Grow It Yourself
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Whether you're hosting guests for dinner or just want to spruce up your weeknight repertoire, Ina shares recipes perfect for making ahead, so meals are stress free yet still flavorful. Wild Mushroom and Farro Soup can be made on the weekend and reheated during the workweek. Freeze Leek and Ham Empanadas and bake when needed. Season chicken a day ahead, pop in the fridge, and get ready for the juiciest meat you've ever tasted.
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Herbs for the Gourmet Gardener: A Practical Resource from the Garden to the Table by Caroline Holmes
available in September, hardcover, University of Chicago Press
The rise of the slow food movement and the return to home gardens mean cooks are donning gardening gloves as often as oven mitts. Modern cooking is heading back to its roots, with home cooks embracing local ingredients and down-to-earth recipes. With more and more of us discovering the delight of preparing and eating freshly harvested food, Herbs for the Gourmet Gardener is the indispensable guide to what to grow, cook, and eat.
Food Literature All or Nothing: One Chef's Appetite for the Extreme by Jesse Schenker
available in September, hardcover, HarperCollins
Schenker's book is a candid exploration of the manic culture of some of the world's most celebrated kitchens. This drug-fueled, anxiety-ridden epic reads like a rollicking rock and roll memoir— with sublime food. For the first time, the acclaimed chef speaks out about his addictions and the mania that drives his culinary art.
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
Cultured Foods for Your Kitchen: 100 Recipes Featuring the Bold Flavors of Fermentation by Leda Scheintaub
available in September, hardcover, Rizzoli
This cookbook draws on the traditions of fermenting from around the world, offering inspiring ways to incorporate nutritional cultures into everyday cooking. Fermentation is a traditional means of preserving the harvest, and today it is also prized for the range of flavors it creates: the spicy kick of kimchi, the cooling tang of yogurt, the refreshing effervescence of kombucha, and the umami depth of miso.
Vegetables for the Gourmet Gardener: A Practical Resource from the Garden to the Table by Simon Akeroyd
available in September, hardcover, University of Chicago Press
A feast for the eyes and the table, this user-friendly resource traverses the realms of both the garden and the kitchen, addressing the cultivation, storage, and preparation of nearly seventy useful vegetables. Practical growing tips, fascinating histories, nutritional information, and classic recipes appear alongside botanical illustrations drawn from the Royal Horticultural Society's cherished collection. With both familiar varieties and novel options, Vegetables for the Gourmet Gardener will inspire you to create a world of new shapes, colors, and tastes.
The Language of Food: A Linguist Reads the Menu
by Dan Jurafsky
available in September, hardcover, Norton
In The Language of Food, Stanford University professor and MacArthur Fellow Dan Jurafsky peels away the mysteries from the foods we think we know. Thirteen chapters evoke the joy and discovery of reading a menu dotted with the sharp-eyed annotations of a linguist. Why do we eat toast for breakfast, and then toast to good health at dinner? What does the turkey we eat on Thanksgiving have to do with the country on the eastern Mediterranean? Freakonomics meets Larousse Gastronomique.
Fall 2014
31
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2014
Locally-Sourced Menu Draft Beer & Wine Beautiful Views of Mt. Baker Live Music & Events
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Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm
n e h c t i K E H T IN
k
Book recommendations from one of our favorite chefs. Bon Appétit!
I
s it already time for the leaves to begin turning? As we move from the long, hot days of summer into the crisp golden evenings of harvest, I find myself craving something warm and cozy. These three books should help you find some bittersweet satisfaction in saying farewell to summer and hello to autumn.
Della Fattoria Bread: 63 Foolproof Recipes for Yeasted, Enriched, & Naturally Leavened Breads by Kathleen Weber
available in October, hardcover, Artisan Books
Let's face it: baking bread can be intimidating. There's so much mystery and alchemy, and well, time, involved that baking artisan loaves at home can seem like it's not worth the effort. But Kathleen Weber takes her decades of passionate experience baking in a home kitchen before opening Della Fattoria Bread and shares her wisdom, along with some amazing recipes. Fill the house with the smell of fresh bread this fall!
Fermented Vegetables: Creative Recipes for Fermenting 80 Vegetables & Herbs in Krauts, Kimchis, Brined Pickles, Chutneys, Relishes & Pastes by Kirsten & Christopher Shockey
available in October, paperback, Storey Books
During the fall is when I usually put up the most pickles, especially ferments. The temperatures are stable and moderate, and produce is available aplenty. Here's a book that not only provides interesting, delicious combinations and recipes, but goes into the science and microbiology of fermentation, so you can really understand what is happening when you preserve food through fermentation.
Mallmann On Fire: The Romance of the Grill by Francis Mallman
available in September, hardcover, Artisan
Although we have to say goodbye to summer, we don't have to let go of grilling! Argentine Francis Mallman will inspire you with incredibly fresh, thoughtful takes on traditional methods of cooking with fire. It's as great an armchair read as it is a cookbook!
Monday - Friday 8-10pm
HAPPY HOUR
$1 OFF Beer & wine
$2 off small Plates Menu
Contact the Book Fare Café for your catering needs!
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.
book fare café
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
Fall 2014 33
Now in Fairhaven! 1050 Larrabee Ave, Suite 102 360-752-2956
Weekdays by appointment: 8am - 5pm Weekend walk in clinic: 9:30am - 4:30pm
Mitchell Kahn, MD
Julie Kahnamou, ARNP
Comprehensive Primary Care - Adolescents to Seniors
We’re MUCH more than a Newspaper at the
We’re a Full Service Print comPany!
Want a sample of our work?
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Thank You, Whatcom County for all of your support in 2014! Guarantee yourself a spot in the stadium.. Place a 2015 Season Ticket Deposit Today!
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360-354-4444 Mitze & Mary Jo
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34 Fall 2014
Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm
Taking Care The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of
Me, Myself, and Us: The Science of Personality and the Art of Well-Being
Decluttering and Organizing
by Brian R. Little
available in October, hardcover, Ten Speed Press
In the past few decades, personality psychology has made considerable progress in raising new questions and revising old answers, and new scientific research has transformed old ideas about personality. Brian Little, one of the psychologists who helped re-shape this field, provides the first in-depth exploration of the new personality science and its provocative findings for general readers. Includes questionnaires and interactive assessments throughout the book to facilitate self-exploration.
by Marie Kondo
Clutter problem? To declutter one’s home or work space is to clean one’s mind of nagging worries, idle distractions and malaise. Less “is” best if what remains is only what's beautiful, inspiring and useful in your environment. Minimizing one’s stuff opens a mental door for clear thought and creativity. This book even changed the way I fold my socks. —Cindi
available in October, hardcover, PublicAffairs
One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way by Robert Maurer
available now, paperback, Workman Publishing
Let’s say you want to finish a big project you’ve been struggling with for months, or start a new habit, meditate regularly, or clean up your disorganized files… but the task is so daunting that you postpone it. Try this simple Japanese technique to restart your engine. Kaizen is being employed by industries, large organizations and individuals to accomplish and implement, in incremental steps, a plan of constant selfimprovement. Slowly, over time, large results are achieved. —Cindi
Women in Clothes
by Sheila Heti, Heidi Julavits, Leanne Shapton and 639 Others available in September, paperback, Penguin
Clothing can give us confidence, remind us of childhood, change our mood, act as armor or disguise, or become the tool by which we reinvent ourselves. Women in Clothes is a rich exploration of the power of women's stylistic choices, lending humor and depth to the attention we pay to clothes.
How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are: Love, Style, and Bad Habits
by Anne Berest, Audrey Diwan, Caroline De Maigret, Sophie Mas available in September, hardcover, Doubleday
These women are talented bohemian iconoclasts with careers in the worlds of music, film, fashion and publishing. They are frank and outspoken as they debunk the myths about what it means to be a French woman today. Letting you in on their secrets and flaws, they also make fun of their complicated, often contradictory feelings and behavior.
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
The Art of Death Shifting
the way we look at death
Art and End of Life Choices Exhibition
October 3-11 Over a week of events to support a broader awareness and discussion of death and dying practices. Music Concerts
Poetry Workshops
Dance performances Film Festival Workshops Presentations
Author Reads Book Exchange Art Show
Please visit www.theartofdeathbellingham.wordpress.com For a complete schedule of events
Fall 2014 35
G
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Building Community One Book at a Time
Get Out There Fifty Places to Paddle Before You Die: Kayaking and Rafting Experts Share the World’s Greatest Destinations by Chris Santella
available in September, hardcover, Stewart, Tabori & Chang
The newest addition to the Fifty Places series, Chris Santella explores the best destinations for paddling, featuring the world's top spots for kayaking, rafting, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding. Destinations include the Grand Canyon, Alaska's Kenai Peninsula, Baja California, Indonesia's Komodo Islands, and the Antarctic Peninsula. Travelogues are complemented by beautiful and vibrant photographs of the locations with travel tips.
FREE Tennis & Fitness Events!
America’s Great Hiking Trails… Appalachian, Pacific Crest, Continental Divide, North Country, Ice Age, Potomac Heritage, Florida, Natchez Trace, Arizona, Pacific Northwest, New England
by Karen Berger, photos by Bart Smith, foreword by Bill McKibben available in September, hardcover, Rizzoli
A hiker's dream bucket list is embodied in this lavishly illustrated celebration of more than 50,000 miles of America's most iconic trails. Celebrating the forty most important trails in America, this volume takes the reader through forty-nine states and eight national parks. The stunning photographs take the reader on a visual adventure conducted by Bart Smith, the first person to hike all eleven National Scenic Trails from end to end.
Thank you for your continued support. We wouldn't be here without you!
SUPER SATURDAY! September 6 from 9am - 3pm
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360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
Contact Sue @ 360.303.3777 or sue@adventuresnw.com
Fall 2014
37
10th Anniversary
Fairhaven Runners
Waterfront 15K
Saturday, September 13, 8:30am Calling all runners, walkers and racers! The Fairhaven Runners Waterfront 15K—the distance and the course are quite special. A 15K (9.3 miles) event is longer than your typical 5 or 10K fun run, but not as long as the somewhat daunting half marathon distance. It's the perfect length to show off your accumulated summer fitness or a great tune up for a half or full marathon in the fall. And rarely can you experience a scenic course on road, trail and boardwalk with views of Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands, Mt. Baker and the Olympic Mountains.
Whether running or walking along this 9.3 mile course, you get a great opportunity to traverse Bellingham Bay’s beautiful waterfront. Tour the Taylor Street Dock, Boulevard Park, downtown and the marina.
Add in commemorative technical race shirts, chip timing and spirited water/ cheer stations and you're set for an invigorating, fun and inspiring event, whether you are walking or running. Top it off with post-race celebration including great refreshments, live music, tons of prizes and complimentary massage and chiropractic and you've got yourself a memorable and healthy farewell to the summer of 2014!
The Waterfront 15K, coordinated by event partners Fairhaven Runners & Walkers and Bellingham Parks and Recreation, is a not-for-profit event that helps support Bellingham Parks and Recreation programming and their mission of making this a healthy community. They consistently provide high quality parks and recreation services, while coordinating hundreds of community and athletic events each year.
Register on-line at cob.org/services/recreation/races/fairhaven-15k.aspx. More information available at fairhavenrunners.com/waterfront-15k-2014. Registration is capped at 1,000 participants—sign up today!
Village Books is a proud sponsor of this event! The Fairhaven Runners Waterfront 15K Race is possible because of the generous support from these major sponsors: Village Books, Asics, Peoples Bank, Back in Motion Chiropractic and Wellness Center, Fairhaven Pizza, Colophon Cafe, The Chrysalis, Fairhaven Village Inn, Adventures NW Magazine, Fairhaven.com, The Port of Bellingham, Great Harvest Bread, and Archer Ale House. 38 Fall 2014
Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm
Science Molecules: The Elements and
Martian Summer: My Ninety Days with Interplanetary Pioneers, Temperamental Robots, and NASA's Phoenix Mars Mission
the Architecture of Everything
by Theodore Gray, photos by Nick Mann
available in October, hardcover, Black Dog & Leventhal
by Andrew Kessler
Everything physical is made up of the elements and the infinite variety of molecules they form when they combine with each other. In Molecules, Theodore Gray takes the next step in the grand story that began with the periodic table in his best-selling book, The Elements, by exploring the millions of chemical structures that make up every material in the world.
available now, paperback, Open Road Media
Get up close and personal with science as Andrew Kessler narrates his hilarious journey inside NASA's Phoenix Mars mission—a historic enterprise manned by a motley crew of rocket scientists. During the summer of 2008, the luckiest fanboy in fandom had the best vacation ever spending time in NASA's mission control with 130 of the world's best planetary scientists and engineers as they carried out this ambitious operation.
We Have.... Rite in the Rain Notebooks!
These outdoor writing products are for outdoor writing people. The all-weather paper enables you to write anywhere regardless of the conditions, and ensures that your notes, your thoughts, and your sketches survive the rigors of the field, the trail, and the shower.
Exercises for the Feynman Lectures on Physics
The Innovators:
available now, paperback, Basic Books
by Walter Isaacson
Combined into one volume for the first time, this updated collection provides comprehensive, hands-on practice in all the most important areas of physics-from Newtonian mechanics through the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. A perfect complement to The Feynman Lectures on Physics, these exercises have all been assigned in Caltech's mandatory two-year introductory physics course, either when Richard Feynman was teaching it, or during the nearly two decades that followed.
available in October, hardcover, Simon & Schuster
by Richard P. Feynman, Robert B. Leighton, Matthew Sands
How a Group of Inventors, Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution
Everybody knows the computer and the internet are the important innovations of our era, but few know who invented them, or how, where and why. This is the story of how their minds worked, what made them so inventive, and how their ability to collaborate and master the art of teamwork made them even more creative.
Professor Stewart's Casebook of Mathematical Mysteries
Brave Genius: A Scientist, a Philosopher, and Their Daring Adventures from the French Resistance to the Nobel Prize
available in October, paperback, Basic Books
available in September, paperback, Broadway Books
Acclaimed mathematician Ian Stewart presents an enticing collection of mathematical curios and conundrums to both teach and delight. Readers will delve into almost two hundred mathematical problems, puzzles, and facts. Tackling subjects from mathematical dates (such as Pi Day), what we don't know about primes, and why the Earth is round, this clever, mind-expanding book demonstrates the power and fun inherent in mathematics.
The aspiring writer Albert Camus and budding scientist Jacques Monod were quietly pursuing ordinary, separate lives in Paris. After the German invasion, each joined the Resistance and developed a deep friendship before emerging as leading voices of modern literature and biology. Passionate advocates of human rights, they found in each other a shared determination to pursue the meaning of existence on every level, from the molecular to the philosophical.
by Ian Stewart
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
by Sean B. Carroll
Fall 2014 39
RESOURCES 2014
FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
MARTHA BRAY
Skagit County land conservationist
FRED FELLEMAN Salish Sea advocate
AIMEE FRAZIER
Naturalist and youth educator
MITCH FRIEDMAN Conservationist and Reconveyance champion
DUANE JAGER
Waste stream innovator RE-SOURCES.ORG
PROTECT. ACTIVATE. INNOVATE. THRIVE.
Special thanks to our cornerstone sponsor Sanitary Services Company
40 Fall 2014
Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm
Nature Vanishing Act:
Endangered Animals and Disappearing Environments by Art Wolfe
available in October, paperback, Cameron + Company
Legendary wildlife photographer Art Wolfe turns to one of nature's most fundamental survival techniques: the vanishing act. His portraits show animals and insects disappearing into their surroundings, using deceptions, disguises, lures, and decoys to confuse the eyes of both predator and prey. At the same time, many species are performing permanent vanishing acts due to habitat loss and human encroachment. This is Art Wolfe at his very best!
A Letter to My Cat: Notes to Our Best Friends by Lisa Erspamer
available in October, hardcover, Crown Archetype
Alluring, elusive, mysterious—the cats in our lives are not always easy to get to know. But, as with all pets, they have unique personalities and stories to tell. Alongside beautiful photos of their cats, A Letter to My Cat collects personal letters from celebrity and civilian cat-lovers offering love and gratitude for all that their cats bring to their lives.
The Emergent Agriculture:
Spineless: Portraits of Marine Invertebrates, the Backbone of Life by Susan Middleton
available in October, hardcover, Abrams
Acclaimed photographer Susan Middleton explores the mysterious and surprising world of marine invertebrates, which represent more than 98 percent of the known animal species in the ocean. They are also astonishingly diverse in their shapes, patterns, textures, and colors. This collection of more than 250 remarkable images is the result of seven years of painstaking fieldwork across the Pacific Ocean.
Bee Time: Lessons from the Hive by Mark L. Winston
available now, hardcover, Harvard Universtiy Press
A wonderfully orchestrated book full of dialogue, bee lore, observation, philosophy, science, environmental awareness as Winston reflects on bees and humans. Winston gives us bee society, bee communication, and bees' spiritual, metaphorical and symbolic place in human culture. Winston is a foremost bee wrangler who has been studying bees for four decades.
Green Living
Farming, Sustainability and the Return of the Local Economy by Gary Kleppel
available now, paperback, New Society Publishers
A revolution in food production is underway. Written from the vantage point of an ecologist who is also a farmer, these essays argue that industrial food production is incompatible with the realities of nature and ethics. Grounded in stewardship of the land, and on attaching value to the craft involved in producing food, this lyrical narrative makes a compelling case for a locally based food system.
VB Reads...
Natural Concerns Book Group Join us the second Monday of each month from 5-6pm in the VB Readings Gallery for the Natural Concerns book group. We discuss contemporary and classic writings that explore the issues, insights and inspirations of our relationship with the natural world. With a focus that spans from our Pacific Northwest to earth-wide, you can expect beautiful and challenging non-fiction, fiction, poetry, and more. We are always reading something interesting! Authors do not attend. Open to everyone.
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
Join us Mon., October 13, 5pm A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold
Fall 2014 41
Current Events The Glass Cage: Automation and Us by Nicholas Carr
available in September, hardcover, Norton
The author of The Shallows takes us on a panoramic journey through the evolution of machines. Always there has been a tension between machines that enhance our creativity and knowledge, and those that take over the work and increase profit. Guess which side is winning? From airplanes to doctors' offices to autocorrect, machines are cutting out the slow, messy human brain as the weakest link. There is high comedy here for sure. A Google Maps engineer tells us that "No human has to feel lost again." Or Mark Zuckerberg pronounces that having more than one identity is "a lack of integrity". Behind these Alicein-Wonderland-type statements is a pretty sterile worldview, however, and Carr makes an eloquent argument for DIY in all its forms. As Robert Frost sums up, "The fact is the sweetest truth that labor knows." —Rem
Dataclysm: Who We Are (When We Think No One's Looking) by Christian Rudder
available in September, hardcover, Crown Publishing
Big Data is used to spy on us, hire and fire us, and sell us things we don't need. Christian Rudder puts this flood of information to an entirely different use: understanding human nature. Drawing on terabytes of data from Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, OkCupid, and many other sites, Rudder explores the terrain of human experience. Dataclysm is a portrait of our essential selves—and a first look at a revolution in the making.
Underdogs: The Making of the Modern Marine Corps by Aaron B. O’Connell
available in September, hardcover, Harvard University Press
The Marine Corps has always considered itself a breed apart. Since 1775, America's smallest armed service has been suspicious of outsiders and deeply loyal to its traditions. Marines believe in nothing more strongly than the Corps' uniqueness and superiority, and this undying faith in its own exceptionalism is what has made the Marines one of the sharpest, swiftest tools of American military power.
42 Fall 2014
The End of Absence: Reclaiming What We've Lost in a World of Constant Connection by Michael Harris
available now, hardcover, Penguin
"Everybody over sixty should read this book. The rest of the population will need no urging, unless they are too far gone to read anything longer than a blurb. The first part reads like a horror story, a shocking mind-thriller. In the second half the author, despite real foreboding, demonstrates...that all is far from lost." —Margaret Visser, writer & broadcaster
A Deadly Wandering: A Tale of Tragedy and Redemption in the Age of Attention by Matt Richtel
available in September, hardcover, HarperCollins
Richtel's bank of information and expertise on the issue of "distracted driving" is virtually unparalleled. Combining the weighty, journalistic punch of his New York Times columns with his skill writing fictional thrillers, he turns a difficult, complex topic into compulsively readable nonfiction that is poised to be the authoritative statement on the subject.
The Future Declassified: Megatrends That Will Undo the World Unless We Take Action by Mathew Burrows
available now, hardcover, Macmillan
"Mathew Burrows reflects on past, present and future mega-trends. He does not [predict] the future. Instead he provides an analytic look into the realities of today's world and the potential we have for dealing with the likely challenges we will face. Burrows' approach, and his analytic treatment, make him the best futurist of our time." —General J.E. Cartwright
Building Community One Book at a Time
Blackballed: The Black Vote CONTEMPORARY
CULTURAL CRITICISM
Off the Sidelines: Raise Your Voice, Change the World by Kirsten Gillibrand
and US Democracy
by Darryl Pinckney
available in September, hardcover, New York Review Books
Blackballed is Darr yl Pinckney's meditation on a century and a half of black participation in US electoral politics. In this combination of memoir, historical narrative, and contemporary political and social analysis, he investigates the struggle for black voting rights from Reconstruction through the civil rights movement, leading up to the election of Barack Obama as president.
available in September, hardcover, Ballantine Books
Appointed to fill Hillary Clinton's Senate seat when Clinton became secretary of state, Gillibrand was elected to her first sixyear Senate term in 2012 with 72 percent of the vote. Part of her activist stance in politics has been the founding of the PAC Off the Sidelines, which urges women to become more involved politically. Senator Gillibrand has established herself as a passionate, fearless, and laser-focused presence in Congress.
Wingnuts: Extremism in the Age of Obama
Culture Worrier: Selected Columns 1984 – 2014: Reflections on Race, Politics and Social Change
by Clarence Page
available in September, paperback, Agate Bolden
Pulitzer Prize winner Clarence Page is one of the most nationally recognized and highly re garded syndicated columnists in the country. His newest book commemorates the 30th anniversary of his column's first appearance in the Chicago Tribune. This is a long overdue archive of his best work covering a wide range of topics.
by John Avlon
available now, paperback, Beast Books
Wingnuts live on the extreme edges of the political spectrum. They're the professional polarizers and the unhinged activists, the hardcore haters and the paranoid conspiracy theorists, people who always try to divide us instead of unite us. Avlon asserts that the time has come for the moderate majority of Americans to straighten their civic backbone and hold the extremes accountable, restoring a sense of perspective to our politics.
This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate by Naomi Klein
available in September, hardcover, Simon & Schuster
Klein argues that the changes to our relationship with nature and one another that are required to respond to the climate crisis humanely should not be viewed as grim penance, but rather as a kind of gift—a catalyst to transform broken economic and cultural priorities and to heal long-festering historical wounds.
A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity
by Nicholas Kristof & Sheryl WuDunn available in September, hardcover, Knopf Doubleday
With scrupulous research, the authors examine the art and science of giving— determining the current most successful local and global aid initiatives, evaluating the efficiency and impact of specific approaches and charities, as well as fund-raising. Most compellingly, perhaps, they show us how particular people have made a difference, and offer practical advice on how best each of us can give and what we can personally derive from doing so.
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
Seeds of Reprisal: Monsanto vs. Michael White by J. Somerville Park
available in November, paperback, Provident House
Michael White, a fourth generation farmer, had a good life. But it disintegrated into a nightmare when he was sued by Monsanto for patent infringement. Monsanto's spies, using tactics that would embarrass the KGB, decided to teach him a lesson he would never forget. A classic David vs.Goliath saga and a testament to one man's courage, this is also a cautionary tale about the future of our food supply.
Fall 2014
43
Current Events City of Lies: Love, Sex, Death, and the Search for Truth in Tehran by Ramita Navai
available in September, hardcover, PublicAffairs
The Underground Girls of Kabul: In Search of a Hidden Resistance in Afghanistan
by Jenny Nordberg
available in September, hardcover, Crown Publishing
Drawn from conversations whispered across tables in the cafes that line Tehran's central thoroughfare, Ramita Navai gives voice to the unforgettable lives of ordinary people forced to live by extraordinary measures in modern Tehran: the porn star, the aging socialite, the assassin who ends up working for the Republic, the religious militiaman who undergoes a sex change, the housewife who files for divorce. Far removed from the Tehran we glimpse in news stories, we are shown another, hidden city.
In Afghanistan, the birth of a son is cause for celebration but the arrival of a daughter is often mourned as misfortune. A bacha posh (literally translated to "dressed up like a boy" in Dari) is a third kind of child—a girl raised as a boy and presented as such to the outside world. Jenny Nordberg constructs a powerful account of those secretly living on the other side of a deeply segregated society.
Just Mercy
The American Way of Poverty: How the
by Bryan Stevenson available in October, hardcover, Spiegel & Grau
This is an exquisitely rendered account of a heroic advocate's fight on behalf of the most powerless people in our society, an inspiring story of unbreakable humanity in the most desperate circumstances, and a powerful indictment of our broken justice system and the twisted values that allow it to continue.
The News Sorority: Diane Sawyer, Katie Couric, Christiane Amanpour, and the (Ongoing, Imperfect, Complicated) Triumph of Women in TV News
by Sheila Weller
available in September, hardcover, Penguin
Weller takes us behind the scenes as never before to track Sawyer's, Couric's, and Amanpour's ascendance to the highest ranks of the media elite, showing that the compelling desire to report the news—a drive born of curiosity, empathy, and humanity—must be matched by guts, awesome competitive fervor, and rare strategic savvy.
Visit us on Facebook! You’ll find our events listed there, and there are discussions of books and other book-related topics as well. Go to Facebook.com/VillageBooks.
44 Fall 2014
Other Half Still Lives
by Sasha Abramsky
available now, paperback, Nation Books
Fifty years after Michael Harrington published his groundbreaking book The Other America, chronicling the lives of people excluded from the mainstream, Sasha Abramsky re-examines poverty in America. Bringing the effects of economic inequality out of the shadows and suggesting ways for moving toward a fairer and more equitable society, Sasha Abramsky explores everything from housing policy to wage protections and affordable higher education.
Geek Sublime: The Beauty of Code, the Code of Beauty
by Vikram Chandra
available now, paperback, Macmillan
Exploring such varied topics as logic gates and literary modernism, the machismo of tech geeks, the omnipresence of an "Indian Mafia" in Silicon Valley, and the writings of the eleventh-century Kashmiri thinker Abhinavagupta, Geek Sublime is both an idiosyncratic history of coding and a fascinating meditation on the writer's art.
You can follow Village Books on Twitter. Each day we tweet about book events, new books, and book-related topics. We are @VillageBksBham.
Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm
Tennessee Williams:
Mad Pilgrimage of the Flesh
by John Lahr
available in September, hardcover, Norton
John Lahr has produced a theater biography like no other. It gives intimate access to the mind of one of the most brilliant dramatists of his century, whose plays reshaped the American theater and the nation's sense of itself. This astute, deeply researched biography sheds a light on Tennessee Williams's warring family, his guilt, his creative triumphs and failures, his sexuality and numerous affairs, his misreported death, even the shenanigans surrounding his estate.
Rebel Souls: Walt Whitman and America's First Bohemians by Justin Martin
REAL PEOPLE TRUE TALES Joan of Arc: A Life Transfigured by Kathryn Harrison
available in October, hardcover, Doubleday
Every era must retell and reimagine the Maid of Orleans's extraordinary story in its own way. Deftly weaving historical fact, myth, folklore, artistic representations, and centuries of scholarly and critical interpretation into a compelling narrative, Kathryn Harrison restores Joan of Arc to her rightful position as one of the greatest heroines in all of human history.
available in September, hardcover, Da Capo Press
In the shadow of the Civil War, a circle of radicals in a rowdy saloon changed American society and helped set Walt Whitman on the path to immortality. The circle included actor Edwin Booth; trailblazing stand-up comic Artemus Ward; psychedelic drug pioneer Fitz Hugh Ludlow; and performer Adah Menken, famous for her Naked Lady routine. This vibrant tale offers the pleasures of a group biography, showing how this first bohemian culture nurtured an American tradition of rebel art that thrives to this day.
The Last Great Walk: The True Story of a 1909 Walk from New York to San Francisco, and Why it Matters Today by Wayne Curtis
available in September, hardcover, Macmillan
In 1909, Edward Payson Weston walked from New York to San Francisco, covering around 40 miles a day and greeted by wildly cheering audiences in every city. He was 70 years old. Using the framework of Weston's fascinating and surprising story, journalist Wayne Curtis investigates exactly what we lost when we turned away from foot travel.
VB Reads...
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. 360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
Men We Reaped: A Memoir by Jesmyn Ward
available in September, paperback, Macmillan
"By a writer with exceptional narrative gifts... Men We Reaped is a stunning look at racism, the people it marginalizes and how we are all implicated. It is moving, honest, compassionate and rigorous. It is loving and raw, full of grief and anger, personal and objective, shocking and inevitable." —Shelf Awareness
Even This I Get to Experience by Norman Lear
available in October, hardcover, Penguin
Creator of iconic television programs All in the Family, Sanford and Son, Maude, Good Times, The Jeffersons, and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Lear remade our television culture while leading a life of unparalleled political, civic, and social involvement. His memoir is is nothing less than a profound gift, endlessly readable and characteristically unforgettable.
Join us Wednesday, September 17, noon Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis by Timothy Egan
Fall 2014 45
Books on Booze Sar
AT THE BUREAU OF HISTORICAL INVESTIGATION Visit the Bureau of Historical Investigation in downtown Bellingham for a truly unique Bellingham experience. It is a gift and souvenir shop, as well as a home-base for Good Time Tours and special events. They take pride in offering handpicked, handcrafted goods from all over the country—with special emphasis on local finds. While you're there, check out a variety of hand-selected books for sale through a partnership with Village Books. Founders Marissa and Sara have great recommended reads. Below are just a few of their favorite finds! "Developing guided walking tours at The Bureau has taught us how much delving into the past can reveal about the present. Christine Sismondo’s America Walks into a Bar: A Spirited History of Taverns and Saloons, Speakeasies and Grog Shops illuminates the strength of the American saloon—as well as our weakness for its wares—by exploring how they relate to our social and cultural history in this engaging read." —Marissa If you love books that demystify your favorite libations, you may also consider picking up: Drink: A Cultural History of Alcohol by Iain Gately Bitters: A Spirited History of a Classic Cure-All, with Cocktails, Recipes, and Formulas by Brad Thomas Parsons The Drunken Botanist: The Plants That Create the World's Great Drinks by Amy Stewart
217 W. Holly, Downtown Bellingham • 360.305-3172 • thebureaubellingham.com The third annual Bellingham Beer Week will take place Friday, September 12 through Sunday, September 21. The mission of Bellingham Beer Week is to celebrate and promote craft beer in Bellingham and beyond, and to recognize our local craft beer producers, retailers, distributors, and consumers who positively impact this community in so many ways. YAY Beer! YAY Beer Books!
The Home Brewer's Lab Book: My Life in Beer
Home Brewer's Labels
by Chronicle Books
by Chronicle Books
available now, hardcover, Chronicle Books
Every new batch of home-brewed beer is an adventure in trial and error, and this guided journal is an invitation to experiment. Two pages are devoted to each brew, with checkboxes, fill-inthe-blanks, and free space to detail every factor that plays into the final brew, from temperature and ingredients to information about specific gravity, storing, aging, and tasting notes. For novice to expert home brewers, this lab book creates a space to capture weekly brewing lessons and successes.
46 Fall 2014
available now, Chronicle Books
Beer lovers will toast the arrival of these perfectly sized home brewer's labels. With innovative designs, these labels are an essential finishing touch to any batch of tasty brews.
Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm
History Fields of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence by Karen Armstrong
available in October, hardcover, Knopf
Religious self-identification is on the decline. Some have cited a perception that began to grow after 9/11—that faith is a source of aggression, intolerance, and divisiveness. But how accurate is that view? In these troubled times, we risk basing decisions of real and dangerous consequence on mistaken understandings of the faiths around us. And so, with her sympathetic understanding, Karen Armstrong examines the impulse toward violence in each of the world's religions.
Rebel Yell: The Violence, Passion, and Redemption of Stonewall Jackson by S.C. Gwynne
available in September, hardcover, Simon & Schuster
Rebel Yell is written with the swiftly vivid narrative that is Gwynne's hallmark and "breathes contemporary insight and fresh energy into the life of an authentic American legend. Gwynne gives us the bold tactics, the eccentric thinking, and the wicked genius of one of history's most brilliant—and unconventional—military minds." —Hampton Sides, historian & journalist VB Bookseller Alex highly recommends this book!
The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery
and the Making of American Capitalism by Edward E. Baptist
available in September, hardcover, Basic Books
I thought I knew about America in the 19th century: the westward expansion, our ugly and unique hereditary slavery, the repeated economic bubbles and crashes… But Dr. Baptist, a Cornell University professor, connected the dots between economics, history, and personal stories in way which changed my focus. The book is packed with “ah ha!” moments I shared with anyone willing to listen—how banks from all over the world financed and profited from slavery, how cotton picked by enslaved people stoked the machinery of the industrial revolution, just how much of our nation’s development and wealth was derived from torture and forced labor. And what is the relationship between the revolution in Haiti and the Louisiana Purchase? There is too much enlightenment in this book to pack into a paragraph—it just has to be read. —Terri
Tales of Transportation Including Models!! Cars: A Complete History by Simon Heptinstall
available now, paperback, Thunder Bay Press
Planes: A Complete History
Fifty press-out models of the world's most distinguished vehicles, along with an informative and entertaining account of each car's role in automobile history. Photos and illustrations of cars, both classic and modern, accompany the celebrities who brought some of them their fame, including Al Capone and the Duesenberg Model J and Sean Connery's James Bond in the Aston Martin DB5.
by R.G. Grant
Planes: A Complete History offers an exciting look at the most exemplary representations of innovation in aviation history in a fun and interactive two-part book. With 50 press-out models of historic and contemporary aircraft and a detachable history book that outlines the planes that represented exciting “firsts” in the field—those that best represent the technology of their era and those that pushed the boundaries of what was possible—this book both instructs and entertains. Most importantly, it leaves the airplane enthusiast with a virtual hangar of model planes.
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
Trains: A Complete History by Philip Steele
An icon of the Industrial Revolution, railroads were essential to the progress of the 19th and 20th centuries. Trains: A Complete History provides an excellent overview of the train models that were groundbreaking in their respective eras. Complete with a detachable collection of press-out model train pieces, this is the two-in-one book that will have train enthusiasts tooting their horns and hollering, "All aboard!"
Fall 2014 47
Enjoy
April in Paris with Chuck & Dee
Village Books owners Chuck and Dee Robinson have been fortunate to be able to spend several months in Paris over the past couple of decades. And, for the past three years, they've led group trips to Europe, each of which ended with several days in Paris. They now invite you to join them from April 26th through May 2nd, 2015 for April in Paris (OK, so it slips into May a bit). You'll visit some of their favorite museums, take informative walks with local professional guides, enjoy a concert in one of the most beautiful venues in the city, and soak up the sights and atmosphere of the magnificent City of Light. The tour will include lodging in a comfortable and convenient hotel in the center of Paris, a welcome reception, breakfast every morning, all transportation within the city, entrance to several museums, and guided tours. The trip is designed for independent travelers who enjoy spending time with other travelers and having some planned events, but who also want to enjoy some time on their own. Because many folks like to use frequent flyer miles, have preferred airlines, or want to spend time in Europe before or after the tour, airfare is not included. The total price of the seven-day tour is $2195. Full details of the trip will be available by November 1st, but you can guarantee your spot on the tour with a deposit of $100 per person, which will be fully refundable before December 1st, after you've had a chance to review the details of the trip.
POETRY Splitting an Order by Ted Kooser
available in October, hardcover, Copper Canyon Press
Poet Ted Kooser calls attention to the intimacies of life through commonplace objects and occurrences: an elderly couple sharing a sandwich is a study in transcendent love, while a tattered packet of spinach seeds calls forth innate human potential. This long-awaited collection from the former U.S. Poet Laureate— ten years in the making—is rich with quiet and profound magnificence.
La Vita Nuova
by Dante Alighieri, translated by David R. Slavitt available in September, paperback, Harvard University Press
In a sequence of thirty-one poems, the author recounts his love of Beatrice from his first sight of her (when he was nine and she eight), through unrequited love and chance encounters. Dante's verses are commentaries on the individual poems— their form and meanings. Through these commentaries the poet comes to see romantic love as the first step in a spiritual journey that leads to salvation and the capacity for divine love. He aims to reside with Beatrice among the stars.
We have some great poets lined up to read at Village Books in the upcoming months. See our LitLive! schedule on pages 65-70 and mark your calendar so you don't miss out!
48 Fall 2014
Building Community One Book at a Time
Mark Your Calendar!
February 24th–26th, 2015
Daniel James Brown 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.
Daniel James Brown's The Boys in the Boat has been selected as the featured book for 2015. The Boys in the Boat celebrates the 1936 U.S. men’s Olympic eight-oar rowing team—nine working class boys who stormed the rowing world, transformed the sport, and galvanized the attention of millions of Americans. It is a #1 New York Times bestseller and winner of the American Booksellers Association Indie Choice Nonfiction book of the year for 2014. Enjoy the book again or discover it for the first time, then join us in welcoming author Daniel James Brown to Bellingham in February. Keep an eye on WhatcomReads.org for details. Purchase The Boys in the Boat before February 24th at Village Books and we will donate 10% of the proceeds to Whatcom READS!
Whatcom WRITES! 6th Annual Writing Contest
Theme = Competition Have you ever entered a competition where winning wasn't the point? Have you won and found it wasn't what you expected? Or perhaps competition was an interior journey for you. How did it transform you? Who helped you along the way? What did you learn about yourself or the world? Enter the Whatcom WRITES! contest addressing this topic. In up to 800 words, submit your poem, fiction, or non-fiction work on the theme of competition by midnight December 1, 2014. Winners will be published in a printed anthology and invited to read their work at Village Books. For all the rules and details of where and how to submit, go to whatcomreads.org.
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
Fall 2014
49
One Book Pledgers by Chuck Robinson
T
he last name of this issue's featured One Book Pledgers—Little—does not begin to describe what they've done in their lives. Both Dick and Cherie, who arrived on the Bellingham scene around the time that Village Books was born, have long histories of public service. Both worked in Washington D.C. for a number of years. Among other positions, Cherie worked for Ohio Senator Howard Metzenbaum, and Dick was Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Commerce Department in the Carter administration. With the Republican takeover of D.C. in 1980 Cherie and Dick, who were not a couple at the time, each packed their bags and headed west. Cherie first went to San Francisco to work for a time, and Dick came to Bellingham, where he began a private law practice. The following year Cherie came north, reunited with Dick, and the two were later married. Living in the Northwest didn't end their involvement in public service. Cherie worked for a time as a church administrator before doing case work in Congressman Rick Larsen's Bellingham office for nine years. Dick, after practicing law for a few years, joined the City Attorney's office, where he worked for a dozen years before becoming the City's lobbyist in Olympia and Washington, D.C., a position he held for fourteen years, until his retirement. The couple's engagement with books began as kids. Dick remembers reading the Oz books, Jack London's adventure books, and a series of classics for young readers. Cherie, like many young girls, was devoted to books about animals, especially dogs and horses. As a second grader she read Gaudenzia: Pride of the Palio by Marguerite Henry, a book written for much older readers.
"Independent bookstores let us explore as much as possible."
Their avid involvement with books continues to this day. When asked what they like to read the two smile and hand over four pages of book titles. Cherie, primarily a fiction reader (though an avid Bill Bryson fan) loves mysteries and thrillers from authors as wide-ranging as Lisa Scottoline and Michael Connelly, to J.A. Jance and Robert B. Parker. She also lists mainstream writers Richard Russo and Jim Lynch as favorites.
Dick is an eclectic reader whose list includes many classics, including English, American, and Russian authors, as well as contemporary writers from Tom Robbins to Wallace Stegner to Ivan Doig. He also reads history, including "anything by David McCullough," and books about religion. Elmore Leonard is a favorite of both Dick and Cherie. When asked why they think independent bookstores are important they both seem stunned by the question. "I take them as a given," says Dick. "They're about community," he continues, "for both readers and writers." Dick writes prolifically and says he values the writing community that has built up around Village Books. Cherie, who was at a 1979 Senate hearing on the fate of independent bookstores, recalls that she was terrified when at twelve or thirteen years old she read Fahrenheit 451. She couldn't imagine a world without ready access to books. "I want many books around," she says. "Independent bookstores let us explore as much as possible." We expect we'll see a lot of Cherie and Dick over the years. Their lists of books they want to read far exceeds that of those they've read, and their dedication to Village Books and independent bookstores is unwavering.
You can learn more about the One Book Pledge at VillageBooks.com/one-book-pledge.
Add yourself to the growing list of people who recognize the importance of independent bookstores to the health and culture of communities by buying one more book from us, and one less from chain stores, other online sellers or other retailer s. 50
Fall 2014
Building Community One Book at a Time
Celebrate Your Freedom to (e)Read! by Sam Kaas, VB Bookseller & VB eTeam Leader
B
ookstores sell books. We also sell t-shirts and cards and homemade fudge and inflatable unicorn heads. But we're a bookstore, and books are a big part of our trade. That doesn't just mean hardback and paperback, new and used. Here at Village Books, we're committed to delivering your favorite titles to you in whatever format you prefer to read them. That's why we proudly offer e-books. In September, the option of reading an e-book from your local, independent bookstore is about more than convenience—it's about the freedom to read what you want, when and where you want. September is Banned Books Month, and the week of September 21-27 is National Banned Books Week. (read more on page 4 ) Here at Village Books, we have long stood up for freedom of expression. We hold this truth to be self-evident: that censorship in any form is unacceptable, and that no society where ideas are stifled can be truly free. We're celebrating our right to read banned and challenged books in any format in September with our friends at Open Road Media. Each week, I'll be sending out an email offering a discounted e-edition of a banned book, which you'll be able to read on whatever device you prefer. If you want to receive these emails, or if you're interested in other e-book specials, please contact me at sam@villagebooks.com. As we approach the back-to-school season, I'm reminded of the versatility of an ebook library. Whether you're a student or an instructor, consider checking out our line of Kobo e-readers—you can carry a backpack worth of books in your pocket. And speaking of versatility, why not buy a physical book with an e-book download included? Right now, you can! We have selected titles from HarperCollins (including favorites like The Orchardist and Beautiful Ruins) available as ebook/paper "bundles." Contact eteam@villagebooks.com, or just visit the store to learn more. E-books are about convenience and flexibility, but they're also all about the freedom to read. If you'd like to join us in exercising that freedom, the Village Books E-Team would be happy to help you out.
We carry loads of fun accessories for your electronics! Stop by and take a look. 360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
Fall 2014 51
x BOOKS BAY by the
Book Festival Sunday SepteMBer 21sT 1-6 pm
a Free and family friendly event
---------------------------@Hotel Bellwether
Bby Baeau lt i f ull Bre l l ion g hoa m Bmay
Door Prizes • Free Parking Beer, Wine & Food Available sponosored by
Chanticleer Book Reviews Village Books Whatcom Writers & Publishers
Author signings E x h i b i t o r s Events•author ReadingS
books for sale
Chuckanut Writers
Conferences, Classes, and Retreats for Your Writing Life Village Books and WCC Community & Continuing Education have created a new writing instruction collaboration called Chuckanut Writers. Writing classes, seminars, and conferences will inspire and encourage writers at all stages of their writing journey. To choose writing classes and register online visit whatcomcommunityed.com.
---------------------------M o r e i n f o : w w w. C h a n t i R e v i e w s .c o m
x
Megabite Design Upstart CrowS Writers Assoc. • PNWA • Skagit Valley Writers League
2014 Conference a Success by Paul Hanson, Village Books General Manager
W
ith the amazing experience of the 4th annual Chuckanut Writers Conference behind me, the fire of creativity it lit has not diminished. Seeing and talking with writers at the top of their game continues to inspire me to honing my craft. So as I sat down to write the other day, I found myself drawing upon some of what I learned at the latest conference. I’ve implemented variations in narrative time to create tension as taught by Peter Mountford, focused on the details per Thor Hanson, and left enough space in my story for the reader to become emotionally invested as advised by William Kenower. As ever, the conference teaches, motivates, and connects me with other writers. But don’t just take my word for it, here’s what others say… “Not only did I have the opportunity to teach but I was able to take part in classes lead by a few of my favorite writers/ humans. I really needed this. I got out of the city, was reminded why I love to write and why I am a writer. I learned new techniques and strategies to approach writing I’ve been to a lot of conferences but this one was a highlight of the craft and the people who love it. There was opportunity to share and a real sense of community.” —2014 CWC presenter, Rose McAleese, poet and author of Strong.Female.Character “I got a lot out of this conference. I got some very useful tips, some points to ponder, some ideas to follow-up on. I spent some serious time thinking about what was said around me, chatted with some interesting people and came to grips with all the questions that have been mucking up my work. I got myself centered if that makes any sense. I figured out what I am supposed to be doing and, just as important, what I am supposed to be writing.” —2014 CWC attendee, Colleen Mondor, from her blog, www.chasingray.com
If the Chuckanut Writers Conference has inspired you, too, let us know! 52 Fall 2014
Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm
Chuckanut Writers
Conferences, classes, and retreats for your writing life
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Chuckanut Writers
A collaboration between Village Books and WCC Community & Continuing Education. You'll find writing classes, seminars, and conferences that will inspire and encourage writers at all stages of their writing journey. See descriptions for details.
The Craft of Writing Building ‘Good Writing’ Muscle This four-week class is designed to improve your writing skill on many levels! In a weekly journal, we’ll practice place, metaphor, simile, repetition, and alliteration. At the sentence level, we’ll replace weak verbs, clichés, generalizations, and telling. We’ll also problemsolve writing schedules, creative blocks, and story sources. This lively class is filled with examples of “good writing” and energizing class discussion. Bring a journal and fast writing pen. Nancy Canyon, MFA in Creative Writing, is widely published. F8081 / 4 sessions $95 6:30-8:30 PM TUE: 9/23 - 10/14 Canyon WCC - Kulshan 226
Short Stories: Creating the Dominant Impression NEW!
This course examines the idea of writing new short stories toward creating what Poe calls “the dominant impression” or unifying principle. Part guided generative and part critical, we’ll also examine some of the contemporary masters of the form. Beginners and advanced writers can expect to come away with two new drafts of stories plus ideas of where to submit. Bender presented at the 2013 Chuckanut Writers Conference and is the recent winner of an Artist Trust grant and Richard Hugo House’s New Works Competition. His most recent story is in The Iowa Review. F8537 / 3 sessions 6:30-9:00 PM Bender
$89 MON: 10/6 - 10/20 WCC - Kulshan 226
You Can Find Us On the Web! Choose Writing classes and register online at: www.whatcomcommunityed.com
Putting Your Story on the Stage
NEW!
Writing for the stage takes special skills and an openness to collaboration. Learn how to develop your “theatre” reflexes, and join the ranks of playwrights from Shakespeare to Neil Simon. You’ll begin writing scenes in the first class; by listening to your dialogue, reading the works of dramatists, and revising your creations, you’ll hone your technique right before your eyes! Roby Blecker’s plays have been produced in three states. She trained in the Playwrights Unit of the Actors Studio West and at the Chamber Playhouse, both in Los Angeles. F8498 / 5 sessions $149 6:00-8:30 PM MON: 10/6 - 11/3 Blecker WCC - Syre 103A
Flash Fiction: The Art of Brevity
NEW!
The short-short story, microfiction, palm of the hand, and flash fiction are all names for stories that clock in at less than 1000 words. We’ll explore the rise of flash fiction through different cultures, read contemporary examples, and take the basic elements of fiction writing (plot, character, setting, description, dialogue, twist) to craft, shape, and revise our own flash fiction. We’ll also discuss different approaches to building a manuscript out of flash fiction pieces. Instructor Elizabeth Colen—author of four books, including a collection of linked flash fiction stories— welcomes writers at all levels! F8225 / 5 sessions 6:30-8:30 PM Colen
$119 THU: 10/9 - 11/6 WCC - Kulshan 226
Fiction Writing: An Introduction If you’ve always wanted to explore fiction writing, this is your opportunity! In-class exercises and readings will help you begin working with the essential writing elements of character-building, story and plot, setting, action, and dialogue. You’ll watch your story ideas come to life on the page and begin to develop the allimportant judgment of what’s working and what needs revision. Roby Blecker’s published works (pen name Roby James) include mainstream, fantasy, romance, science fiction novels, and a number of shorter works. F8213 / 6 sessions 6:00-9:00 PM Blecker
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
$179 WED: 10/15 - 11/19 WCC - Kulshan 226
Fall Writing Marathon Push through procrastination and writer’s block in a fall writing marathon! This exciting 12-hour event, guided by author Dawn Groves, will use a combination of structure and freedom to build energy and amass quick results. Dawn will provide encouragement and coaching throughout the day as you write in timed segments at various Fairhaven locations. We’ll join together in groups to write, read, socialize, and write again—the results will be magical! Class size is limited, so register early. Dress comfortably and for the weather. We’ll meet at the Book Fare Café (inside Village Books—2nd floor) for instructions and kickoff. F8210 / 1 session 8:00 AM-8:00 PM Groves
Writing the Sacred Journey
$69 SAT: 10/18 Book Fare Café NEW!
Join Nancy Canyon in writing the spiritual story. You’ll write about your life-changing experiences, insights, and transformations that have led to personal change. Through reading of selected stories and “discovery” writing, we’ll share our own events. Exercises from Writing the Sacred Journey by Elizabeth Andrew will offer a baseline for types of story. Nationally published Nancy Canyon, MFA, is the author of Saltwater and Dark Forest; she invites you to explore writing deeper into your experiences and all that transpires along the way. F8723 / 4 sessions 6:30-8:30 PM Canyon
$95 TUE: 10/21 - 11/18 WCC - Kulshan 226
Write Naked: Breaking Through NEW! Self-Censorship When you write about the “forbidden,” it frees you in all aspects of your writing. In this provocative two-day workshop, we’ll drill into sensory details when depicting characters eating, bathing, working, loving, fighting. Without a vivid way to access these details, scenes fall short of their full potential. We’ll also explore what else we lose when we censor our work. Sarah Martinez is the author of Sex and Death in the American Novel and has presented for Taos Writers Conference and PNWA. F8714 / 2 sessions $89 6:00-9:00 PM M/TU: 10/27 & 10/28 Martinez Fairhaven Village Inn - Conference Room
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Memoir: Jumpstart Your Writing! Spend a fun Saturday creating a road map for your memoir! In this inspiring workshop for both beginning and experienced writers, you’ll receive imaginative new tools to fuel your passion for your life story. Exploring your past, present, and future, you’ll discover fresh ways to express yourself on the page and develop the clarity and vision to finish your memoir! Bring pen and paper or laptop. Instructor Susan Colleen Browne is the author of a memoir, Little Farm in the Foothills, and her latest novel, Mother Love. Bring a snack or sack lunch. F8393 / 1 session 9:00 AM-1:30 PM Browne
$59 SAT: 11/8 WCC - Foundation 201B
The Profession of Writing Writing and Publishing Nonfiction: An Insider’s Guide Explore writing and selling nonfiction works in this fascinating, real-world course. Class covers topics such as the marketplace and how to crack it, components of a successful nonfiction book, online resources, ePublishing versus traditional publishing, and more. Leave class inspired with a wealth of information and ready to write! Dawn Groves is the author of several published nonfiction books and articles. F8720 / 2 sessions 6:00-9:00 PM Groves
$75 WED: 10/1 & 10/8 WCC - Foundation 201C
Selling the Excerpt
$195 THU: 10/2 - 11/6 WCC - Heiner 103
Enroll with a Friend for Twice the Fun! 360.383.3200 54
Fall 2014
NEW!
Your Book—What’s Next?
NEW!
Once known as “self-publishing,” independent publishing is now a viable and often lucrative path to a satisfying writing career! In this empowering class, author Susan Colleen Browne covers the essentials of print publishing: marketing strategies, pricing your book, selling your book in stores and online, and real-world sales figures and profits. We’ll also explore the basics of eBook independent publishing: creating your eBook, eBook pricing, selling, royalties, and more. Browne is the author of six independently published books. Her latest is a novel, Mother Love.
No matter how your book will be published, your active involvement in the marketing is essential. The how and the when must be decided while balancing the time, energy, and money that publishing demands...all without neglecting your writing. In class, we’ll create a realistic timeline, marketing plan, and “sell sheet.” Acheson’s publicity work has produced many New York Times bestsellers and a Literary Market Place Award for Advertising, Promotion, and Publicity. Instructions for a pre-class assignment (writing a “sell sheet”) will be provided upon registration. One-hour lunch break provided from 1-2 PM.
F8636 / 2 sessions $69 6:00-8:30 PM WED: 10/22 & 10/29 Browne Village Books - Readings Gallery
F8732 / 1 session 10:00 AM-5:00 PM Acheson
The Greatest Marketing Tool
NEW!
Authors! Be prepared to “present” yourself and your project(s) in the most compelling manner. The listener might be an agent, publisher, bookseller, future reader — or related to one! Alice Acheson, award-winning marketing and publishing consultant, shares what works, what doesn’t, and why. Don’t miss this evening rich in content and professional advice! Register early; class space is limited. Instructions for pre-class assignment (write a 30-second pitch) provided upon registration. F8624 / 1 session $65 6:00-9:00 PM FRI: 10/24 Acheson Fairhaven Village Inn - Conference Room
$89 SAT: 10/25 WCC - Heiner 103
Building Community
Creation, Care & Feeding of Creative Groups
NEW!
No matter your passion—reading great literature, writing poetry, performing improv, or gourmet cooking—this workshop is about learning to bring together like-minds sharing a common passion. The results can be exciting, fun, and revealing. Dissecting the dynamics of group mentality from a Freudian point of view, personality traits, and how to build trust will provide the valuable tools you’ve been looking for to start a group or enhance the one you are in! Shannon P. Laws is a 2013 Mayor’s Arts Award recipient, the host of Village Books Poetry Group, and radio producer. F8123 / 1 session $45 12:30-4:30 PM SUN: 10/26 Laws Village Books - Readings Gallery
NEW!
Publishing an excerpt of a longer piece can enhance a writer’s resume and help create an audience for your project. Writers of both fiction and nonfiction will gain techniques for crafting a compelling excerpt to showcase one’s work, including developing targeted submissions, translating material to short and alternate formats, and preserving the key message and narrative impact of the original concept. Laurel Leigh is an independent writer/editor whose writing has appeared in The Bloomsbury Review, The Sun, and Bellingham’s own Clover: A Literary Rag. F8531 / 6 sessions 6:30-9:30 PM Leigh
The World of Independent Publishing
SAVE THE DATES!
Returns to WCC next summer! Friday and Saturday June 26 & 27, 2015 WCC and Village Books would like to thank all attendees and our valued sponsors for making this year's conference a success. Please join us next year. www.chuckanutwritersconference.com Shop 24 hours a day at villagebooks.com
Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World
The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person's Guide to Writing in the 21st Century by Steven Pinker
by Ella Frances Sanders
available in September, hardcover, Penguin
available in September, hardcover, Ten Speed Press
Did you know that there's a Swedish word to describe the reflection of the moon across the water? The nuanced beauty of language is even more interesting and relevant in our highly communicative, globalized modern world. Lost in Translation brings this wonder to life with 50 ink illustrations featuring the foreign word, the language of origin, and a pithy definition.
In this short, cheerful, and eminently practical book, Pinker shows how writing depends on imagination, empathy, coherence, grammatical know-how, and an ability to savor and reverse engineer the good prose of others. He replaces dogma about usage with reason and evidence, allowing writers and editors to apply the guidelines judiciously, rather than robotically, being mindful of what they are designed to accomplish.
Language & Writing Words in Time and Place by David Crystal
available in September, hardcover, Oxford University Press
Did you know that the English language has over 150 words for the adjective 'drunk' developed over 1,000 years? Be prepared to learn words you have never heard before, find out fascinating facts behind everyday words, and be surprised at how lively and varied the English language can be. This fascinating book will appeal to anyone with an interest in words and in the development of the English language.
VB Writes... Village Books hosts multiple writing groups. Choose which group most reflects your writing genre then come and share your work in a supportive environment. Groups are free and open to everyone. They meet on the mezzanine level of Village Books in our Writers' Corner.
SpecFic/SciFi Writing Group
This group meets 2nd & 4th Tuesdays from 6-8pm.
Read more about each group at villagebooks.com.
Poetry Writing Group
This group meets the 1st & 3rd Thursdays of each month from 5:30 to 7pm.
An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments
Fiction Writing Group
This group meets 2nd & 4th Thursdays from 6-8pm.
NonFiction/Memoir Writing Group
This group meets the 1st & 3rd Sundays of each month from 3:15-5:15pm.
LOGIC
by Ali Almossawi, Illustrated by Alejandro Giraldo available now, hardcover, The Experiment
Have you read (or stumbled into) one too many irrational online debates? This handy guide is here to bring the internet age a much-needed dose of old-school logic (really old-school, a la Aristotle). This charmingly illustrated guide to the lost art of logic is a must-have in the age of the internet. Silly rabbit! Your argument is ill-founded.
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
Fall 2014
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Back to School
Don’t miss our
L A E! S
20% OFF
Children’s Books & Toys Melissa & Doug
SEPTEMBER 15-30
United Way of Whatcom County UnitedWayWhatcom.org
INCREASING CAPS & GOWNS
Our focus on Education helped to increase literacy for Whatcom kindergartners by 4% last year, a sure sign of future grads. United Way is about more than short-term charity for a few; we’re about building opportunity for everyone.
United Way of Whatcom County
56 Fall 2014
UnitedWayWhatcom.org
Building Community One Book at a Time
YOUNG READERS Their Families & Educators
PICTURE BOOKS 100 Things That Make Me Happy by Amy Schwartz
available in October, hardcover, Abrams
A celebration of the small things in life that can make a young child smile. Dinosaurs, red socks, goldfish, fuzzy sweaters, comfy chairs—all of the awesome things that can make a day better! Also, it subtly highlights the concept of “100” that is a focus in preschool and elementary school.
The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade
written by Justin Roberts, illustrated by Christian Robinson available in September, hardcover, Putnam
Sally was the smallest girl in the smallest grade. But Sally notices everything—from the twenty-seven keys on the janitor's ring to the bullying happening on the playground. One day, Sally has had enough and decides to make herself heard. And when she takes a chance and stands up to the bullies, she finds that one small girl can make a big difference.
Once Upon an Alphabet: Short Stories for All the Letters
by Oliver Jeffers
available in October, hardcover, Philomel
A Bed for Kitty by Yasmine Surovec
available in September, hardcover, Roaring Brook
Cat lovers will sympathize with Chloe, the owner of a cat who loves to take naps, but, of course, she won’t sleep anywhere normal. She sleeps on the computer, the TV, the shopping bags, but not her beautiful new cat bed. How will Chloe convince Kitty that the new bed is the place to be?
Naptime
written by Iris de Moüy, illustrated by Shelley Tanaka available in October, hardcover, Groundwood
Naptime in the jungle! The crocodile and hippo insist that naps are for babies, the ostrich hides its head in the sand, and the hyena simply laughs at the suggestion. But the cranky expressions on the animals' faces give them away—these beasts are all in need of a nap! Fortunately for these sleepy creatures, a little girl appears who knows the secret to a good snooze.
Join us for
Story Time with Claire 360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
Forget “A is for Apple” and “B is for Bear,” Jeffers gives us a whole story for each letter! These interconnected tales are full of creative characters, great vocabulary words, and are accompanied by his beautiful and free-flowing illustrations. His style is so distinctive and this book highlights it perfectly. —Sarah
The Cat, the Dog, Little Red, the Exploding Eggs, the Wolf, and Grandma written by Diane Fox, illustrated by Christyan Fox
available in August, hardcover, Scholastic
When Cat tries to read the story of “Little Red Riding Hood,” Dog has all sorts of weird questions like, “What is Red’s superpower?” or “Wouldn’t you notice if a wolf was wearing clothes?” A silly, funny retelling for fans of Jon Scieszka and those who like a little “meta” with their kids books.
First Saturdays of the month from 10:30-11am in the Kids’ Section Fall 2014
57
FALL FU N for K I DS Saturday, Sept. 6, 10:30am Story Time with Claire featuring
—Caterina & the Lemonade Stand Join Village Books bookseller Claire for our story time in the kids' section. We will read stories featuring Caterina, the little brown bird who loves to make lists. We'll play a few games for a lively half-hour of fun. Author NOT attending.
Author Event!
Tuesday, Sept. 23, 11am
Mike Curato —Little Elliot, Big City Join us as we welcome children's picture book author and illustrator Mike Curato as he reads his new book and demonstrates his drawing technique in the Readings Gallery.
Author Event! Saturday, Oct. 11, 11am
—Warren:
Sunday, Sept. 7th, 2-3pm Tea with Grandma! In celebration of Grandparents Day, we will be hosting a tea in Book Fare Café on the mezzanine level of the bookstore. Bring your grandchildren and enjoy some tasty treats, a few stories, and good company. Tickets are $5 per person and can be purchased at Village Books or by calling 360-671-2626. Seating is limited so reserve your space today!
Tuesday, Sept. 30, 4pm —The Day the Crayons (officially) Quit! Join us in solidarity with the crayons in their right to dissent! We will celebrate all they do for us, play games, and read other great books by Oliver Jeffers. Author NOT attending.
Amazing Events! Saturday, Oct. 4, 10:30am
Story Time with Claire featuring
—Ladybug Girl and the Dress Up Dilemma Join Claire for a Ladybug Girl story time, which will feature a dress-up trunk of costumes for kids to play with, and a special visit from Ladybug Girl, highlighting the latest book of the series. Bring your camera! Author NOT attending.
The True Story of How a Herding Dog Became a Hearing Dog
Hello Kitty Reading Day!
Come meet local canine celebrity and service dog, Warren, and author Claydene Johnson as they introduce a new edition of their book. Warren will be available for autographs and pats on the head.
Hello Kitty is turning 40 this year so join us for a morning of stories, activities, and games. She may even put in a surprise appearance, but don't tell anyone we told you!
HALLOWEEN STORIES
with the Bellingham
Storytellers Guild
Friday, Oct. 31, 4-6pm
W hile you’re trick-or-treating in the Fairhaven district this year, stop by the Readings Gallery and stay for our annual Halloween story time, featuring ghoulish tales from the Bellingham Storytellers Guild. 58 Fall 2014
Saturday, Oct. 25, 11am
Saturday, Nov. 1, 10:30am Story Time with Claire featuring
—Bedtime at the Nut House From the co-author of Pete the Cat, comes a brand new story about a family of nuts and their kids who just won't go to bed! Join us for this and other stories by Eric Litwin. Author NOT attending. Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm
FAMILY
VB Reads...
Grow: Journals for Baby & Child by Nikki McClure
available in September, paperback, Sasquatch Books
Capture the precious moments of childhood with The First 1000 Days and The Next 1000 Days. These beautiful journals accompany parents through the first six years of their child's life, with room to record important firsts, new discoveries, and day-to-day adventures. Filled with Nikki McClure's lovingly crafted paper cut art, each journal evokes both a child's sense of wonder and the tenderness of parenthood in this beautiful two-volume box set.
Motherhood by the book
Meet with Claire the 2nd Sunday of every month at 2pm for an hour of spirited discussion of books that celebrate the trials, tribulations, and rewards of motherhood. Meetings take place in the Writers' Corner on the mezzanine level of Village Books.
–My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor Join us Sun., September 14, 2pm
Middle Readers Cover to Cover
ADVENTURE Youth Book Group
Join us Tue., September 9, 4pm The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
VB Reads... I am thrilled that our Middle Reader book group (for kids 8-12) is making a comeback after its summer hiatus. Cover to Cover Adventure will be back Tuesday, September 9th! This group is such a blast. The kids meet with me in the Readings Gallery of Village Books and talk about the month's book selection, which they have all read ahead of time. We have juice and snacks and usually finish off with a craft and/or game related to our book. We meet the second Tuesday of the month from 4-5 pm. Join us September 9th to kick off the school year with a meeting about Kate DiCamillo's The Tale of Despereaux!
Sparkers
by Eleanor Glewwe available in September, hardcover, Viking Press
Young Marah’s city is plagued by a mysterious illness. The eyes go dark of those afflicted, and they don’t last long before perishing. When her best friend gets the dark eyes, Marah is determined to find a cure. She and an unlikely friend search for the cause of the disease, and by doing so uncover some very dark, very dangerous secrets about their city. So, so good! —Hana
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
—Hana, Village Books Book Group Coordinator
The Secret Hum of a Daisy by Tracy Holczer
available now, hardcover, Putnam
Grace has been moved around and uprooted by her artistic, free-spirited mother. When her mom suddenly dies, Grace is sent to live with her grandma, the one who kicked out Grace’s then-pregnant mother. Grace tries to be as impossible as she can but, with time and determination, learns to accept, and even love, her new life. Definitely for the higher range of middle readers, this story of grief and family is beautiful. —Sarah
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Middle Readers
The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher by Dana Alison Levy
available now, hardcover, Delacorte
Oh, this book is such a delight! A family filled with love, and of course some friction and mishaps, comprised of two fathers, four adopted boys, and a menagerie of animals. They face changing friendships and trying to define themselves in the world but in a way that feels completely realistic. I rooted for the Fletchers and smiled with them and enjoyed every moment. —Sarah
The Zoo at the Edge of the World by Eric Kahn Gale
available now, hardcover, Balzer + Bray
The jungle is alluring. The jungle is dangerous. The jungle can be tamed. These are the words Ronan Rackham, world famous explorer, lives by. And this is what he strives to impart to those who travel across the globe to visit his Zoo at the Edge of the World. But everything changes when Ronan brings a dangerous and mysterious jaguar into his zoo. A jaguar that is powerful and deadly, but may just set Marlin (Ronan’s son and our hero) free. —Hana
Bad Magic
by Pseudonymous Bosch available in September, hardcover, Little, Brown
Magic is bad—as in fake and cheesy. At least, that's what Clay, who has seen one magic show too many, thinks. When words from his journal appear mysteriously on his school wall as graffiti, he never imagines that magic might be to blame. And when the same graffiti lands him at Earth Ranch, a camp for "troubled" kids on a remote volcanic island, magic is the last thing he expects to find there.
Greenglass House by Kate Milford
available now, hardcover, Clarion Books
I just love a mystery involving orphans, snowstorms, old houses on mountaintops, ghosts, stained glass, and smugglers, don't you? Well, if you do, this story has all of these things and more. Milo thinks he's settling in for a nice, relaxing holiday with his adoptive parents at their inn when his plans are disrupted by a host of very strange people who converge on Greenglass House for mysterious reasons. Curl up with a cup of tea and this book when the weather starts to turn cool. Lovely. —Claire
The Witch's Boy by Kelly Barnhill
available in September, hardcover, Algonquin Books
The best word I can come up with for Kelly Barnhill’s wonderful new book is “enchanting.” The language used to tell the story of Ned, the clever but stuttering son of the local witch, is simple and so sweetly written, it is almost lyrical. Beautiful. —Hana
TWO FREE EVENTS at Village Books Sat., Sept. 27, 7pm
CLETE BARRETT SMITH
Magic Delivery
by Clete Barrett Smith available now, hardcover, Disney-Hyperion
Village Books is pleased to welcome beloved local children’s author Clete Barrett Smith as he introduces his newest book. Chock-full of outlandish situations, Magic Delivery is ideal for fans of middle-grade fantasy looking for a fast-paced comedy with lots of thrills and chills.
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Sat., Oct. 18, 4pm
KIRBY LARSON
Dash by Kirby Larson
available now, hardcover, Scholastic
Newbery Honor author Kirby Larson presents the moving story of a Japanese American girl who is separated from her dog upon being sent to an incarceration camp during WWII. Proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial.
Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm
Young Adult Save the Date!
GARTH NIX will be in Bellingham
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22nd Garth Nix is the best-selling author of the acclaimed novels Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen, as well as the Seventh Tower series. We're excited to host his visit to Bellingham and are busy working out the details of the event. Mark your calendar then read our weekly VB eNewsletter or keep an eye on villagebooks.com for the time and location of his presentation.
The Jewel
by Amy Ewing available in September, hardcover, HarperCollins
The Selection meets The Handmaid's Tale in this darkly riveting debut. The Jewel means wealth, the Jewel means beauty— but for Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Born and raised in the Marsh, Violet finds herself living in the Jewel as a servant at the estate of the Duchess of the Lake. Addressed only by her number—#197— Violet is quickly thrown into the royal way of life. But behind its opulent and glittering facade, the Jewel hides its cruel and brutal truth, filled with violence, manipulation, and death.
I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
Clariel: The Lost Abhorsen by Garth Nix
available in October, hardcover, HarperCollins
This awesome prequel to the Aborsen trilogy is finally here! Clariel and her family have just moved to the capital city Belisaere and she is having a very difficult time adjusting to big city life. Her parents want her to study Charter Magic and socialize with the royal family, but all Clariel want to do is be a ranger in the forests where she grew up. What will the future have in store for her? —Laura P.
Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future by A.S. King
available in October, hardcover, Little,Brown
A.S. King is the best writer that you’re not reading. She takes characters that are imperfect but full of potential for awesome and puts them in scenarios that are just a bit unreal but still fundamentally human. Take this and mix it with writing that is breathtaking, sentence by sentence, and you have got one heck of a writer. In this book, Glory is a photographer just about to graduate and, via a poor decision made with her sorta-best friend, begins to see the past and the future of everyone she looks in the eye. She is also dealing with her mom’s suicide, trying to get her Dad to live his life again, and maybe figure out the remnants of her mom’s life. Such a good read! —Sarah
available in September, hardcover, Dial Books
It has been a long time since a book has captured my imagination, swept me away, and made me truly sad that I had turned the last page. I’ll Give You the Sun is the story of Noah and Jude, twin artist siblings who are dealing with loss and love and navigating their way through life. Told in alternating perspectives, this story broke me open in the best possible way. —Sarah
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
Jackaby
by William Ritter available in September, hardcover, Algonquin Books
New England in the late 1890's seemed like a great destination if, like Miss Abigail Rook, you'd just absconded from Europe with your college tuition money looking for adventure. Fortunately for her Mr. R. F. Jackaby, paranormal investigator, was looking for an assistant and Abigail fits the bill nicely. This is a straight-up paranormal murder mystery, very character-centered, and will appeal to fans of Dr. Who and the Dresden Files. —Jenny
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62 Fall 2014
Building Community One Book at a Time
Young Adult Book Release Party
ROYCE SCOTT BUCKINGHAM Join us!
A free event at Village Books
Friday, Oct. 17th, 7pm
Lark Rising
by Sandra Waugh available in September, hardcover, Random House Lark is gifted with the Sight, a skill which makes her incredibly sensitive to the energies and emotions of others. As a result, she keeps to herself, only venturing into her village when necessary, lest she be overwhelmed by the hordes of other villagers’ emotions swirling around her. But Lark is much more powerful than she seems, and she is about to discover a great destiny waiting for her. —Hana
Heap House: The Iremonger Trilogy Book One
by Edward Carey
available in October, hardcover, Overlook Press
Clod Iremonger is a proud member of a family that has ruled over the vast dumps, or heaps, outside London for a hundred years. But something is strange. He can hear objects talking, objects like door handles and noodle strainers, saying their names. In the meantime we meet Lucy Pennant, a plucky orphan girl whose parents succumbed to a mysterious disease. They were frozen in place, objectified. As Clod and Lucy find each other and become allies against the scary adults, the central plot unfolds like a childhood dream I once had: which is more alive, the objects or the people? —Rem
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
The Terminals
by Royce Scott Buckingham available in October, hardcover, St. Martin's Press
Imagine you are a healthy, athletic teenager and you have been told you have an inoperable brain condition that will decrease your life expectancy to one year. Then imagine a stranger comes into your hospital room and tells you that you could spend that final year on top-secret missions ensuring that you would die a hero's death instead of wasting away in a hospital. What would you do? This latest book by Bellingham's own Royce Scott Buckingham, is clever, suspenseful, and action-packed, but also so sophisticated and emotionally engaging that it stayed with me long after I turned the last page. —Claire
Winterspell
by Claire Legrand available in September, hardcover, Simon & Schuster
The first thing that drew me to Winterspell was the cover. Seriously, look at that cover. Stunning. Then by looking into what story was waiting behind that beautiful cover, I discovered that Legrand had written a a retelling of “The Nutcracker,” and… Oh. My. Goodness. The words do not come for this gorgeous, gorgeous book. The language is intricate and vivid, and Clara’s story feels extremely real while still retaining that wonderful, magical feeling only an enchanting fairy tale can possess. Read, read, READ. —Hana
Trial by Fire
by Josephine Angelini available in September, hardcover, Feiwel & Friends
In our world Lily is allergic to just about everything. But just as she's resigned to the idea of living her life in a plastic bubble, she's swept away to an alternate universe in which she has incredibly powerful magical abilities. This is a well-rounded fantasy story set in a world where science, not witchcraft, is persecuted as it was in Salem. —Jenny
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Village Books and the Pickford Film Center present
MEMOIRS that MATTER
WRITERS IN THE
SERIES
On-screen Author Talks & Interviews
Don't miss the final two shows in our "Writers in the Limelight" MEMOIRS THAT MATTER SERIES! Village Books will host a discussion after each film for those interested in staying. Tickets for each show are $6—available through the Pickford Film Center. Check out Pickfordcinema.org for more information! Please note: authors do NOT attend. Saturday, September 20, noon: Jonathan Safran Foer –Eating Animals Saturday, October 18, noon: Joan Didion –Blue Nights
KMRE 102.3 FM A non-commercial, community-based radio station licensed to and operated by the Spark Museum of Electrical Invention since 2005. KMRE is a powerful and entertaining extension of the Spark Museum’s world-class media collection.
Since 1993, stimulating presentations about topics of importance to our community.
Real people.
Real issues.
Underwriting a show here at KMRE supports independent local radio and connects your business, group or event to one of Bellingham’s best independent media outlets.
thousands of local listeners. Listen and learn more online at:
KMRE.ORG
Meetings are from 12 to 1:30 p.m. on the 4th Wednesday of each month at Northwood Hall 3240 Northwest Avenue, Bellingham
For more information, information, visit visit
www.bellinghamcityclub.org
We Look Forward to Seeing You
Village Books offers
99¢ Shipping 64 Fall 2014
USPS Media Mail –books & dvds– domestic shipping only
available for online AND in-store purchases
Building Community One Book at a Time
Literature LIVE!
EVENTS
Sat., Sept. 6, 10:30-11am KIDS! Story Time with Claire, featuring Caterina & the Lemonade Stand
VB’s Literary Events Program
Additions & changes to this schedule will occur so check out
www.VillageBooks.com
to stay updated–or even better, let us come to you! Register online for the Village Books eNewsletter!
SEPTEMBER Wed., Sept. 3, 5:30-6:30pm Prose Writing At Its Best WWU Info Session Join us for an info session about this three-term certificated course for writers of fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir and essays. Three, seven-week classes focus not on genre, but on the skills crucial to all writers. Participants can take one class, or all three. Certificates are awarded for participants who successfully progress through all three courses.
Thurs., Sept. 4, 5:30-6:30pm Professional Editing for Print & Online WWU Info Session Come to an info-session to learn more about WWU’s Extended Education nine-month editing program, offered for community members, and aimed at those who find they need editing skills in order to produce newsletters, content for Web sites, marketing materials, formal reports and similar publications for their field or business.
Thurs., Sept. 4, 7pm ELISSA WASHUTA –My Body Is a Book of Rules Elissa Washuta, a member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, corrals the synaptic gymnastics of her teeming bipolar brain, interweaving pop culture with neurobiology and memories of sexual trauma to tell the story of her fight to calm her aching mind and slip beyond the tormenting cycles of memory.
Fri., Sept. 5, 7pm Fiction CHARLES VAN PELT –Bloodlyn: Lazarus Through the Years Join us as we welcome back local author Charles van Pelt for his new thriller, Bloodlyn.
Events take place in the Readings Gallery of Village Books and are FREE unless otherwise noted.
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
Join Village Books bookseller Claire for our story time in the kids' section. We will read stories featuring Caterina, the little brown bird who loves to make lists. We will play a few games for a lively half-hour of fun. Story time titles will be offered at a 20% discount to participants, today only. Author not attending.
Sat., Sept. 6, 4pm SHANNON LAWS, —Odd Little Things, with CARLA SHAFER & ERICA REED
Poetry
Join us for a reading from three of Bellingham's locally hosted poetry groups: Village Books' Poetry Group, Chuckanut Sandstone Writers Theater, and Kitchen Sessions. Shannon P. Laws is a 2013 Mayor’s Arts Award recipient and will read from her new book, Odd Little Things. Carla Shafer founded Chuckanut Sandstone Writer’s Theater and is also a founding member of World Peace Poets Bellingham. She will read from her latest chapbook, Remembering the Path. Erica Reed is a 2014 Sue C. Boynton Walk Award winner and host for the popular "in-home" open mic "Kitchen Sessions." She will read from her new chapbook, Trigger Family.
Sat., Sept. 6, 7pm Fiction CHRISTINA NICHOL –Waiting for the Electricity Christina Nichol’s debut novel provides a tongue-in-cheek view of Georgian life, from its problems with globalization, to its power outages, to the highly romantic “Robin Hood complex” many inhabitants adopt. But it goes beyond this, offering an extremely insightful view of capitalism, corruption, modernization, and the dimensionality of community.
Sun., Sept. 7, 11am
Free Event
At the Congregation Beth Israel, 2200 Broadway, Bellingham
STUART ROJSTACZER —The Mathematician’s Shiva Spanning decades and continents, from a crowded living room in Madison, Wisconsin, to the windswept beach on the Barents Sea where a young woman has her first mathematical breakthrough, The Mathematician’s Shiva is an unexpectedly moving and uproariously funny novel that captures humanity’s drive not just to survive, but to achieve the impossible.
Sun., Sept. 7, 2-3pm Ticketed Event! TEA WITH GRANDMA!
KIDS!
In celebration of Grandparent's Day, we will be hosting teatime in Book Fare Café on the mezzanine level of the bookstore. Bring your grandchildren and enjoy some tasty treats, a few stories, and good company. Tickets are $5 per person and can be purchased at the main counter at Village Books, or by calling 360-6712626. Related titles will be offered at a 20% discount to participants, today only. Join us for a fun celebration!
More events on the next five pages!
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Sat., Sept. 13, 4pm JACKIE KLOOSTERBOER –My Earthquake Preparedness Guide: Simple Steps to Get You, Your Family,
Tues., Sept. 9, 7pm Mystery CHRISTINA DODD —Virtue Falls New York Times bestselling author Christina Dodd builds worlds filled with suspense, romance and adventure and creates the most distinctive characters in fiction today. Join her as she presents her latest book.
and Your Pets Prepared
Jackie Kloosterboer has been leading the way in emergency preparedness for more than 15 years as Coordinator of the City of Vancouver’s Public Education Program. Join her as she discusses earthquake preparedness, as outlined in her new book.
Wed., Sept. 10, 7pm FRANKLIN VEAUX & EVE RICKERT –More Than Two: A Practical Guide to Ethical Polyamory
From partners, authors, and practicing polyamorists Franklin Veaux and Eve Rickert comes the long-awaited, wide-ranging resource exploring the often-complex world of living polyamorously. The authors share not only their hard-won philosophies about polyamory, but also their hurts and embarrassments.
Thurs., Sept. 11, 5:30-6:30pm Professional Editing for Print & Online WWU Info Session Come to an info-session to learn more about WWU’s Extended Education nine-month editing program, offered for community members, and aimed at those who find they need editing skills in order to produce newsletters, content for Web sites, marketing materials, formal reports and similar publications for their field or business.
Sat., Sept. 13, 7pm Mystery PETER MAY –The Lewis Man: The Lewis Trilogy Peter May is the multi award-winning author of the internationally best-selling Lewis Trilogy set in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. One of Scotland's most prolific television dramatists, he garnered more than a thousand credits in fifteen years as scriptwriter and script editor on prime-time British television drama.
Sun., Sept. 14, 4pm KAC YOUNG –21 Days to the Love of Your Life
Thurs., Sept. 11, doors 6:30pm, show 7pm
Kac Young was raised in Bellingham and went off to Southern California to become a successful television producer and director. Along the way, she found the secret to finding and keeping "The Love of Your Life." She's back in Bellingham to share her book, full of many success stories, numerous marriages, and the belief that there is someone out there for everyone who really wants to find a mate.
THE CHUCKANUT RADIO HOUR with STEVEN GALLOWAY, –The Confabulist
Tues., Sept. 16, 5:30-6:30pm Prose Writing At Its Best WWU Info Session
in the Heiner Theater at Whatcom Community College
Our special guest this month is Steven Galloway, author of The Cellist of Sarajevo, discussing his book, The Confabulist, a new novel that uses the life and sudden death of Harry Houdini to weave a tale of magic, intrigue, and illusion. Tickets for the Chuckanut Radio Hour are $5 and are available at Village Books and BrownPaperTickets.com. Receive one FREE ticket w/ each pre-event, in-store purchase of The Confabulist. Doors open at 6:30pm, and you must be seated by 6:45pm as the show begins promptly at 7pm.
Long-time Bellingham dentist Dr. Jeffrey Prager's guiding message has always been: "What's best for my patient?" As such he has taken all of his experience and 36 years of clinical practice and crafted a book that gives an "outside the box" (mouth?) perspective on what modern dentistry can do to increase your confidence, enhance the quality of your life and to significantly improve your health.
Join poets Koon Woon and Keith Holyoak as they share pieces from their latest collections. Woon is a Chinese-American award-winning poet and Holyoak’s poems are contemporary takes on classic Chinese literature.
Read more about these and other LitLive events at VillageBooks.com! 66 Fall 2014
Tues., Sept. 16, 7pm MARGARET MEPS SCHULTE –Strangers Have the Best Candy: How Talking to Strangers Leads to a Life of Crazy Adventure and Lasting Friendship
Thurs., Sept. 11, 7pm JEFFREY PRAGER –Confessions of a Renegade Dentist
Fri., Sept. 12, 7pm Poetry KOON WOON, –Water Chasing Water & KEITH HOLYOAK, –Foreigner
Join us for an info-session about this three-term certificated course for writers of fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir and essays. Three, seven-week classes focus not on genre, but on the skills crucial to all writers. Participants can take one class, or all three. Certificates are awarded for participants who successfully progress through all three courses.
In a humor-filled, interactive format, author Margaret Meps Schulte shares tips about talking to strangers and making new friends from chance encounters.
Thurs., Sept. 18, 7pm JULIANA BIRNBAUM –Sustainable [R]evolution: Permaculture in Ecovillages, Urban Farms and Communities Worldwide
This new book features the work of a worldwide network of visionaries, including journalists, activists, indigenous leaders and permaculturists. It includes a collection of profiles, interviews, and essays featuring 60 innovative community-based projects in diverse climates across the planet.
Fri., Sept. 19, 7pm STEVE HENDRICKS & SHARON REED-HENDRICKS –One Man’s Dream, One Woman’s Reality Part adventure, part travel, part love story, this book inspires readers to live their dreams, even if limited by time and budget, and challenged by unexpected obstacles. The book tells of how one couple survived a fierce storm that nearly ended their six-year sailing voyage, how they escaped harm during a harrowing encounter with Caribbean pirates, and the most powerful lessons they learned that they now want to share with others.
Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm
Literature LIVE!
EVENTS Sat., Sept. 20, noon-1pm Movie showing & discussion at the Pickford Film Center’s Limelight Cinema On-screen author talk & interview with Jonathan Safran Foer, –Eating Animals Watch Jonathan Safran Foer discuss his book, Eating Animals, in this special movie showing at the Pickford Film Center’s Limelight Cinema. (Author is not attending this event). Tickets are $6 and are available through the Pickford Film Center. Village Books will host a discussion after the showing and will provide books for sale at the event.
Sat., Sept. 20, 4pm HILARY JAMRON –Surrealistic Trials: Surviving My Life After Death
Hilary ‘died’ of a drug overdose at age 18, leaving her in a comatose, paralyzed body with little hope for recovery. This story tells of her travels to the so-called Other Side and how part of her soul chose not to return.
Sun., Sept. 21-Sat., Sept. 27 Banned Book Weeks Behold the power of the forbidden word by celebrating Banned Books Week. Check out our in-store display of featured banned books or visit bannedbooksweek.org for more ideas on “freedom to read.”
Sun., Sept. 21, 4pm Clover: A Literary Rag, Vol. 7 Group Reading Join us for a delightful afternoon of story telling and poetry with more than 15 authors. Among the local readers are James Bertolino and Anita K. Boyle, Laurel Leigh, Jennifer Bullis and Luther Allen. Seattle authors Paul Hunter and Larry Crist will also share their pieces.
Mon., Sept. 22, 7pm NIKKI VAN SCHYNDEL –Becoming Wild: Living the Primitive Life on a West Coast Island
Set in the Broughton Archipelago, a maze of isolated islands off Canada's west coast, Becoming Wild is a story of survival in the pristine wilderness. Sometimes predator and sometimes prey, twenty-nine-year-old Nikki van Schyndel fends off the harsh weather, hungry wildlife, threat of starvation and the endless perils of this rugged raincoast.
Events take place in the Readings Gallery of Village Books and are FREE unless otherwise noted.
Tues., Sept. 23, 11am MIKE CURATO –Little Elliot, Big City
KIDS!
Amid the hustle and bustle of the big city, the big crowds and bigger buildings, Little Elliot leads a quiet life. In spite of the challenges he faces, Elliot finds many wonderful things to enjoy, like cupcakes! And when his problems seem insurmountable, Elliot discovers something even sweeter, a friend. Join us as we welcome children's picture book author and illustrator, Mike Curato, as he reads his new book and demonstrates his drawing technique in the Readings Gallery.
Tues., Sept. 23, 7pm ROBBIE HOLZ –Secrets of Aboriginal Healing: A Physicist's Journey with a Remote Australian Tribe
In 1983, award-winning physicist Gary Holz was diagnosed with chronic progressive multiple sclerosis. By 1988 he was a quadriplegic. Then, in 1994, his doctors told him he had two years to live. Desperate and depressed, he followed a synchronistic suggestion and went to Australia to live with a remote Aboriginal tribe. His wife, Robbie, will share the teachings of her late husband, and the Aboriginal people, about healing.
Thurs., Sept. 25, 7pm JAMES BERTOLINO – Ravenous Bliss:
Poetry
and ANITA K. BOYLE –The Drenched
New & Selected Love Poems
Join us as we welcome local poets James Bertolino and Anita K. Boyle. Bertolino will share new and selected pieces from his twelfth full volume of poetry, and Boyle will read from a seven-part poem that develops a creation myth for the Pacific Northwest.
Sat., Sept. 27, 4pm CATE MONTANA –Unearthing Venus: My Search for the Woman Within
This is the story of one woman’s journey from blind indoctrination within the modern, masculine social status quo to a spiritual awakening of divinely feminine proportions. The book addresses the most important revolution happening within humanity today: the shift in focus from masculine to more feminine attitudes and values.
Sat., Sept. 27, 7pm For Middle Readers! CLETE BARRETT SMITH –Magic Delivery Village Books is pleased to welcome beloved local children’s author Clete Barrett Smith for his newest book. Chock-full of outlandish situations, including an unforgettable robot vs. gorilla battle, Magic Delivery is ideal for fans of middle-grade fantasy looking for a fast-paced comedy with lots of thrills and chills.
Sun., Sept. 28, 4pm The Bellingham Herald’s Echoes of War serial novel group reading Six local history writers and researchers read their chapters from Echoes of War: Mystery of a Missing Confederate Treasure in Whatcom County, the latest community serial story published in The Bellingham Herald. This year’s well-known contributors are: JANET OAKLEY, TROY LUGINBILL, WES GANNAWAY, JIM BERG, JOANN ROE and SARA HOLODNICK.
If you can’t make it to an event, just call us to arrange for autographed copies!
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Mon., Sept. 29, 7pm Open Mic with Laurel Leigh Village Books invites everyone to enjoy local talents as they share their own stories, poems and essays. Published and unpublished writers are encouraged to attend and enjoy a welcoming audience. Sign up at our main counter on the first floor or call (360) 671-2626. Laurel Leigh, local writer and teacher, will emcee.
KIDS! Tues., Sept. 30, 4pm –The Day the Crayons (officially) Quit! Join us in solidarity with the crayons in their right to dissent! We will celebrate all they do for us, play games, and read other great books by Oliver Jeffers. Oliver Jeffers books will be 20% off to participants, today only. Author WILL NOT attend.
Tues., Sept. 30, 7pm PETE FROMM –If Not For This Award-winning novelist, short story writer, and memoirist Pete Fromm returns to the untamed rivers of the West in If Not For This, a stunning novel of love and the wild places it takes us. He is the author of ten books, including the novel As Cool As I Am and the memoir Indian Creek Chronicles, and he is a four-time winner of the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Literary Award.
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OCTOBER
Saturday, Oct. 4 10:30am KIDS! Story Time with Claire featuring Ladybug Girl and the Dress Up Dilemma Join Claire for a Ladybug Girl story time, which will feature a dress-up trunk of costumes for kids to play with, and a special visit from Ladybug Girl, highlighting the latest book of the series. Bring your camera! Author not attending.
Sat., Oct. 4, 7pm PETER LAUFER –Organic: A Journalist's Quest to Discover the Truth Behind Food Labeling
Part food narrative, part investigation, part adventure story, Organic is an eye-opening look at the anything-goes world behind the organic label by author/veteran journalist Peter Laufer. It's also a wake-up call about the dubious origins of food labeled "organic."
Thurs., Oct. 9, 7pm DIANNE WHELAN –Base Camp: 40 Days on Everest Each spring, over eight hundred climbers attempt to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. Some make it to the top, but many have tragically lost their lives. Whelan, an award-winning filmmaker, photographer, author and multimedia artist interviews climbers, doctors and Sherpas on the mountain and shares gripping stories, revealing the devastating truth of the human impact on the mountain and the eerie and unforeseen effects of climate change.
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Fall 2014
Sat., Oct. 11, 11am-noon CLAYDENE JOHNSON with WARREN THE DOG! –Warren: The True Story of How a Herding Dog Became a Hearing Dog
Come meet local canine celebrity and service dog, Warren, and Claydene Johnson as they introduce a new edition of their book. Warren will be available for autographs and pats on the head. Warren lives in Bellingham with his Partner, Bert, and best friend, Claydene.
Thurs., Oct. 11, 7pm SEAN DAVIS –The Wax Bullet War: Chronicles of a Soldier and Artist
This is the story of a soldier's recovery after serving in the Iraq War shortly after 9/11 and surviving an ambush that left him critically wounded. Suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, and hitting rock bottom, Sean was able to recover from his trauma and restore purpose to his life through painting and art.
Mon., Oct. 13, 7pm MELISSA HART –Wild Within: How Rescuing Owls Inspired a Family
In this delightful memoir, a woman at loose ends finds true love while rescuing destitute birds and is inspired to adopt a child. Tender, witty, and rewarding, Wild Within is a story about overcoming fear (of beaks, talons, and parenthood!) and saving oneself through saving others.
Thurs., Oct. 16, 7pm NORA GALLAGHER –Moonlight Sonata at the Mayo Clinic Nora Gallagher's memoir explores her experience with a baffling affliction poised to take her sight. Her book is a map of illness, uncertainty, and faith that is both meditative and highly relatable for anyone who has experienced life-threatening illness or supported a loved one who has.
Fri., Oct. 17, 7pm Young Adult Book Release Party! ROYCE SCOTT BUCKINGHAM —The Terminals Join us for the release of local author Royce Buckingham's new young adult fantasy, The Terminals, the riveting story of a covert team of young, terminally-ill teens who spend their last year alive running dangerous missions as super-spies for an organization that may not be all it seems. Buckingham is also the author of Demonkeeper, The Dead Boys, and Goblins. He lives with his wife and their two sons in Bellingham, where he works at the Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
Sat., Oct. 18, noon-1pm Movie showing & discussion at the Pickford Film Center’s Limelight Cinema On-screen author talk & interview with Joan Didion, —Blue Nights Watch Joan Didion discuss her book, Blue Nights, in this special movie showing at the Pickford Film Center’s Limelight Cinema. (Author is not attending this event). Tickets are $6 and are available through the Pickford Film Center. Village Books will host a discussion after the showing and will provide books for sale at the event. This is the final showing of the series.
Literature
LIVE!
Sat., Oct. 18, 4pm KIRBY LARSON –Dash
Middle Readers!
Newbery Honor author Kirby Larson presents the moving story of a Japanese American girl who is separated from her dog upon being sent to an incarceration camp during WWII. Proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial.
Sat., Oct. 18, 7pm Poetry KASEY JUEDS, —Keeper with MARTHA SILANO, —Reckless Lovely The poems in Keeper explore, and long for, intimacy: with nature, with others, with the unknown. They delve into purely dark spaces and in-between places, pointing to the pervasive sensuality that connects all beings. Martha Silano's new collection begins with the Big Bang and ends with the unleashing of twelve million bees from a jack-knifed semi.
SAVE THE DATE! Young Adult Fantasy Wed., Oct. 22 Time & Location Coming Soon! GARTH NIX —Clariel This October, Garth Nix returns to the Old Kingdom for the first time in more than ten years with Clariel, the thrilling prequel to the internationally bestselling series set six hundred years before the birth of Sabriel. Join us with the Bellingham Public Library and Whatcom County Library System as we bring this Australian author to Bellingham. Check villagebooks.com for event updates.
Thurs., Oct. 23, 7pm BRENDA PETERSON –Your Life is a Book: How to Craft & Publish Your Memoir
Brenda Peterson will lead a panel of writers in dialogue about the writing process, pitfalls, and pleasures and take questions from the audience. Peterson is a writing teacher and author of eighteen books, including the novel Duck and Cover, chosen by the New York Times as a Notable Book of the Year.
Sat., Oct. 25, 11am HELLO KITTY READING DAY
KIDS!
Hello Kitty is turning 40 this year so join us for a morning of stories, activities, and games. She may even put in a surprise appearance, but don't tell anyone we told you!
Read more about these and other LitLive events at VillageBooks.com!
Sat., Oct. 25, 4pm ASHLEY KIMBERLEY, ABBIE SMITH, WENDY STALEY COLBERT, and BARBARA MULVEY LITTLE –Three Minus One: Stories of Parents' Love and Loss This book is a collection of intimate, soul-baring stories and artwork by parents who have lost a child to stillbirth, miscarriage, or neonatal death, inspired by the film Return to Zero. Join us in welcoming these contributing authors as they share their stories.
Sat., Oct. 25, 7pm Fantasy A. KA —Isaac the Fortunate: The Autumn A. Ka's fourth book of her series shares the exploits of Fernando, a Spanish peacekeeper, who finds his home city of Valencia ravaged by a plague of insanity, which follows in the wake of an ominous newcomer. Though A. Ka’s fantastical Renaissance world has gone mad, thoroughly awash in death and mayhem, there remains an element of wit and charm throughout.
Mon., Oct. 27, 7pm OPEN MIC WITH LAUREL LEIGH Village Books invites everyone to enjoy local talents as they share their own stories, poems and essays. Published and unpublished writers are encouraged to attend and enjoy a welcoming audience. Sign up at our main counter on the first floor or call (360) 671-2626. Laurel Leigh, local writer and teacher, will emcee.
Tues., Oct. 28, 7pm ANN HEDREEN –Her Beautiful Brain: A Memoir Ann Hedreen gives shattering insight into what it is to watch your mother—a woman you once thought of as invincible--begin to disappear. She tells the heartbreaking story of a daughter's love for a mother lost in the wilderness of an unpredictable and harrowing illness—Alzheimer’s.
Thurs., Oct. 30, doors 6:30pm, show 7pm in the Heiner Theater at Whatcom Community College
THE CHUCKANUT RADIO HOUR with GARTH STEIN, —A Sudden Light Our special guest this month is author Garth Stein, who wrote The Art of Racing in the Rain, discussing his book, A Sudden Light, a rich, atmospheric work that is at once a multigenerational family saga, a historical novel, a ghost story, and the story of a contemporary family’s struggle for forgiveness and redemption. Tickets for the Chuckanut Radio Hour are $5 and are available at Village Books and BrownPaperTickets.com. Receive one FREE ticket w/ each pre-event, in-store purchase of A Sudden Light. Doors open at 6:30pm, and you must be seated by 6:45pm as the show begins promptly at 7pm. Read two staff reviews of this book on page 11.
Fri., Oct. 31, 4-6pm All Ages HALLOWEEN STORIES with the Bellingham Storytellers Guild While you’re trick-or-treating in the Fairhaven district this year, stop by the Readings Gallery and stay for our annual Halloween story time, featuring ghoulish tales from the Bellingham Storytellers Guild.
If you can’t make it to an event, just call us to arrange for autographed copies!
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NOVEMBER
Sat., Nov. 1, 10:30 am STORY TIME WITH CLAIRE featuring Bedtime at the Nut House
KIDS!
From the co-author of Pete the Cat, comes a brand new story about a family of nuts and their kids who just won't go to bed! Join us for this and other stories by Eric Litwin. Selected titles will be 20% off to participants, today only. Author not attending.
Thurs., Nov. 6, doors 6:30pm, show 7pm in the Heiner Theater at Whatcom Community College
THE CHUCKANUT RADIO HOUR featuring WILLIAM DIETRICH with CHRISTIAN MARTIN & CRAIG ROMANO —The North Cascades: Finding Beauty & Renewal in the Wild Nearby
Pulitzer-winning essayist Dietrich presents the ecology, geology, and cultural history of the North Cascades. The book is illustrated with stunning photographs by more than twenty conservation photographers. Co-sponsored by North Cascades Institute.
Sat., Nov. 8, 4pm DEVRAH LAVAL —Leap to Freedom: Healing Quantum Guilt
Whether we are rich or poor, religious, agnostic, or atheist, we all suffer because of our unconscious belief in sin and guilt, both of which lie at the core of all out decisions and actions. This book offers a way out from this limited and debilitating belief, by exploring how and why sin and guilt are illusions.
Additions & changes to this schedule will occur so check out
VillageBooks.com
to stay updated—or even better, let us come to you! Register online for the Village Books eNewsletter.
Are YOU Receiving VB's E-Newsletter? Once a week, Village Books sends out an email newsletter packed full of store and book information including our latest LitLive! events, sale dates, and on occasion, store coupons! Twice each week, we provide Shelf Awareness for Readers book reviews. If you’re not currently receiving these updates and would like to, you may sign up in the store or, even easier, do it at VillageBooks.com today!
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Fall 2014
Building Community One Book at a Time
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com
Fall 2014
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