Face Out

The Three Graces of Pearl Street by Elizabeth Wellington Rollins

A stunning story of three generations of Italian women, all named after the Roman Myth of the The Three Graces, who come to find themselves living under one roof in New York. Each has their own secrets, and they will collide in the most beautiful and inspiring of ways. This will land in my top 5 books of the year! –Angela, The Next Chapter, Hermiston, OR Discover books you’ll love at The Next Chapter and other independent bookstores. Booksellers, share …

Sep 15, 2026

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Sep

14

2026

Face Out

Turning to Birds: The Power and Beauty of Noticing by Lili Taylor

Actor Lili Taylor writes and reads these thoughtful, beautifully crafted essays about her relationship with birds and the natural world, connecting birdwatching to the work of noticing and paying attention. I can’t wait to go on several longer walks this weekend and finish this collection. –Andrea, Browsers Bookshop, Olympia, WA Whether you listen to a …

Sep

11

2026

Face Out

Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea: Journeys Through Ancient Literature by Emily Wilson

Wilson spent the summer in the headlines for her takedown of Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey script — a film whose director had cited her translation as an influence. This is the better use of her attention: an orientation for anyone who finishes the Epic and wonders where to go next, a case for returning to the …

Sep

10

2026

Thursday Themes

Bestseller Spotlight: “Wild”

Every Wednesday, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association publishes the regional bestseller list. On Thursdays, we celebrate Thursday Themes to shine a spotlight on some of the books from the list and give our brains a different way of thinking about books. We have some wilderness on the list this week. Books gone wild! More books on the bestseller …

Sep

9

2026

Face Out

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

1930s Kentucky: Cussy Mary Carter is a packhorse librarian who brings books to the people of Troublesome Creek. She is also part of a family who has a unique shade of blue skin– a trait that causes suspicion and distrust within her own community. This historical fiction novel is as fascinating as it is educational …

Sep

8

2026

Borrowed Copy

Island Books Loves “If the Moon”

One of the things I get to do at Island Books, a thing which frequently receives less attention in our Book Notes, is choosing some of the picture books for our kid’s section. Initially I wasn’t sure how to decide what would be a good fit. But over the years and with the hundreds of …

Sep

7

2026

The Storefront

Happy Labor Day!

Many of your favorite booksellers labor on Labor Day, but some stores are closed for the holiday. Please be sure to check your bookstore’s hours for Labor Day and every holiday. Remember that if your bookstore gives booksellers the day off, you can place a web order 24/7 if the store has a website, and …

Sep

4

2026

Trash!: A Garbageman’s Story by Simon Paré-Poupart, translated by Pablo Strauss

Like the authors of some of my favorite recent memoirs—Hilary Peach’s Thick Skin, Finn Murphy’s The Long Haul, Charlotte Gill’s Eating Dirt—Paré-Poupart had access to the class-elevating levers of education but found himself in a blue-collar trade and chose to stay for decades. In his case, that’s hauling garbage in Montreal, hurling bags of trash into the …

Sep

3

2026

Thursday Themes

Bestseller Spotlight: Try a little tenderness

On Wednesdays, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Bestseller List is published. Every week, we love to see what books have been most popular in independent bookstores around our region. As we peruse the list, we look for something special to showcase. Then we present this weekly feature: Thursday Themes. This week features many stories that highlight the strength …

Sep

2

2026

Face Out

Who Knows the Way to Mr. Grimly’s Classroom? Written by Chris Priestly,
Illustrated by Mariachiara Di Giorgio

This is a superbly brilliant picture book for school-aged kids. Grace is new to her school, but when her teacher asks someone to return a book to Mr. Grimly’s classroom, she can’t help but raise her hand. What follows is a strange, spooky, and hilarious journey through what turns out to be the weirdest school …

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