My ultimate comfort read is a memoir of sorts, but totally focused on the writer’s relationship with books and reading. I can’t get enough, especially when the author is from the UK. Lucy Mangan is the television critic for The Guardian and this is her second reading memoir, after Bookworm, which focused on her childhood …
Legs Hearts Minds by Chris Jones is a powerful pick for readers who love sports, underdogs, or deeply moving memoirs, offering a honest account of heartbreak and how the author’s devotion to his sons and an English soccer team (Burnley F.C.) becomes a path toward rebuilding his life and rediscovering the redemptive power of sports …
Like sitting down to have several long chats with Liza with a Z. The chronological retelling of her life, full of her silliness, amazing performances, and intense struggle with substances. I really got to know her, how fast and hard she worked and how intensely she loved everybody and every minute of it! Accept the …
Well, let’s start with Isabel Klee’s Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I’ve Cried About: A Memoir. Klee is @SimonSits on the socials, where she regularly tells stories about rescuing dogs. Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I’ve Cried About takes us through the last decade or so of her life in New York City, dealing with—wait for it—rescue dogs, heartbreaking …
Oh, Lindy. This is SO good! Laugh out loud funny, but also touching and insightful. Feminist and vulnerable, badass and brave. What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. –Carrie K., Powell’s on Hawthorne, Portland, OR Explore different lives with books from Powell’s on Hawthorne and other independent bookstores.
Susan Orlean has a lifetime of stories to tell. Her writing credentials include The New Yorker (22 years as staff writer), Vogue, Rolling Stone, Esquire and numerous nonfiction books. Shaped by a relentless curiosity and uncanny ability to dive deeply into any topic, Orlean now brings her immense writing talents to her own memoir, Joyride: …
An absolutely gorgeous memoir about one woman’s journey in caring for feral cats. It is in turns funny and heartbreaking, showing a depth of understanding of not just cats, but humanity. It’s about cats, but it’s also about capitalism; about TikTok virality, but also community care. The story is fascinating on its own, but Gustafson’s …
Surrounded by towering Douglas firs and a nearby forest to visit anytime, I enjoy sharing my days with backyard bird visitors—especially hummingbirds. Gentle, calming, and grounding, life in north Seattle truly feels like home to me. For as long as I can remember, nature and animals have always brought comfort and solace to my anxious …
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 ponder patterns. Then we present this weekly feature: Thursday Themes. Studies have shown that reading emotionally-transporting fiction can increase empathy in the reader. …
The River You Touch by Chris Dombrowski is a beautiful meditation on fatherhood, Montana, and a life dedicated to communing with nature. Dombrowski uses his beautiful poet’s touch to describe the wonder of Montana that we know and love. A book you’ll want to share with anyone and everyone! –Frances, Country Bookshelf, Bozeman, MT This …
