You’re probably familiar with this famous image of the historic Northwest. It depicts the last elevated redoubts of Denny Hill, which overlooked Seattle’s downtown business core until it was flattened in the name of progress in the early 20th century. I’ve always thought there was something noble about these holdout property owners, Edith Macefields avant …
“More and more books for children are being published showing the wonderful combinations of non-traditional families. Families, Families, Families! uses delightful, silly and colorful animals to describe a myriad of possible family relationships. Children will love the animals and will indeed understand the message. As the book says, ‘…if you love each other, then you …
We're starting to wonder if Island Books might actually be a front for a writers colony. From the bossman, to a couple of regular NWBL contributors, on down to the teenager on the staff, this crew can compose. This lit crit piece revolving around Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore and Alif the Unseen is from Emma Page, the …
“The New England witch hunts endure as a fascinating piece of history, and before I graduated to The Crucible, The Witch of Blackbird Pond whet my appetite for fiction about the era. Set in the late 1800s, this coming-of-age story follows the orphan Kit from her home in Barbados to a Puritan community in Connecticut. The death of …
Island Books’ bookseller/columnist James Crossley posted a fall books preview on the store’s blog, Message in a Bottle today, showing off not just a super fall line-up but some great blurbing. He handsells a bunch of new releases, including Michael Chabon’s Telegraph Avenue, Zadie Smith’s NW and J.K. Rowling’s first adult novel, The Casual Vacancy …
We love to hear what James from Island Books is reading and how he talks about it. In this post from the store’s blog, Message in a Bottle, he reminds us of that perfect period of time before you start a book you’re excited about. You’ve read the reviews and the cover blurbs and it’s …
I memorized my first poem when I was ten and obsessed with horses. The poem was called The Untamed Spirit by an unknown author and appeared on my horse calendar. Here it is, directly from my memory: His stance is proud, his heart is pure, his loyalty unbound And when he runs, his hoof beats …
