Here is Oliva Matthews’s Against the Currant, a Spice Island Bakery Mystery. It’s got a West Indian bakery, an earnest baker who has everything she’s ever wanted, and a disgruntled rival who seems likely end up in some sort of romantic entanglement—except he turns up dead before any smooching can happen. Well, that’s awkward. We …
Justina Ireland caught my attention with a duology set in an alternate history where the Civil War ended early… due to the dead rising from their graves after Gettysburg. It shouldn’t have worked. Hell, I’ve been tired of zombies (and their myriad knockoffs) for years and I went in with a jaundiced eye. But Ireland …
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. This week, we’re featuring Black authors as a reminder that supporting Black authors is another …
Powell’s bookseller and writer Katherine D. Morgan (@blktinabelcher) shared her Black History Month display on twitter earlier this month: My Black History Month display is up @Powells A classic with a new favorite based on themes and subject matter? Sign me up! Authors featured include Denise Williams (The Fastest Way to Fall), Jessica Pryde (Black …
A world record holder and gold medalist at the 1963 Olympics, Smith and a teammate took to the awards podium and made history with their protest. Her is a long-overdue look at this moment. –Holly, Elliott Bay Book Company, Seattle, WA Take long-overdue looks with books from Elliott Bay Book Company and other independent bookstores. …
Black Leopard, Red Wolf (Book 1) One of my favorite books in the last decade. This book is like nothing I’ve read before. Set in an Africa-like fantasy world, Tracker is called on to find a missing child. Unforgettable characters and richly imagined worlds and customs move this book into a category of its own. …
Stunning! Each essay includes the history of an American monument and its meaning today. Monuments include Monticello Plantation and the Angola Prison. A strong readable style supports these heavily researched essays. Excellent! –Trina, Brick & Mortar Books, Redmond, WA Whether they’re for book group or your individual reading, books from independent bookstores are important ways …
Fascinating story about Major Taylor, the first Black person to become a world champion in sports. Biking was then the most popular sport in America. The extraordinary Taylor was a heroic athlete who broke racial barriers, battling Jim Crow laws and attitudes, even those of his colleagues. Inspiring and riveting. –Krijn, Queen Anne Book Company, …
February is Black History Month. Celebrate Black-Owned Bookstores in the Pacific Northwest this month and all year long. Here are some Black-owned bookstores in our region to visit and support: Third Eye Books 2518 SE 33rd Ave, Portland, OR 97202 www.thirdeyebag.com Loving Room 1400 20th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122 https://www.lovingroombooks.community Parable 3502 McKinley Ave Suite …
This is from OR author Jane Kirkpatrick‘s Story Sparks newsletter February 15, 2022: …I have news about Letitia Carson, one of the first African American women to cross the Oregon Trail and later file two lawsuits that she won which was highly unusual in Territorial Oregon where Black persons were excluded by law. A Light in the …
