Chuckanut Reader - 2011 Holiday Edition

The

Chuckanut Reader

WINTER 2011-2012

A Village Books Publication Vol. 18 Issue 4

A Magazine for the Northwest’s Most Avid Readers

OOKOSpened Again & Again!

B Gifts that are Holiday Catalog Don’t miss the fantastic giving suggestions in our Holiday Catalog inserted in this Reader!

VB STAFF

GIFT IDEBoAoksShelp

ge Let the staff of Villa e right gift! you pick out just th e ut this edition of th Sprinkled througho r giving Reader, you’ll find ou recommendations.

Book Orders Though we stock thousands and thousands of titles, we cannot carry everything. Our friendly, knowledgeable booksellers are happy to get any available book for you. You can submit your queries and orders: • in person 7 days a week - we’re open long hours • by phone at 360-671-2626 or 800-392-BOOK • or 24 hours a day at our website

www.villagebooks.com

Village Books Gift Cards

Good at Village Books and Paper Dreams Teachers, Friends, Employees, Grandparents, Bosses, Kids, Siblings, Parents, Spouses, Uncles, Aunts, Neighbors, Mail Carriers... we’ve got something for EVERYONE!

Sometimes, it’s nice to let THEM decide...

2

Winter 2011-2012

Building Community One Book at a Time

Dear Reader,

G

oing into the holiday season of our thirty-second year, at a time when the publishing and bookselling business is in chaos, it would be easy to complain. Instead, I think it's a good time to tell you what's going well. 1) We've never had a more adept, informed, or helpful staff, 2) you can buy eBooks from us for nearly any eReader, 3) you can conveniently buy books and gifts at the Village Books Holiday Store in Bellis Fair, 4) you can shop online 24/7 at VillageBooks.com, 5) you can attend author events nearly every day (we do about 250 a year), 6) you have access to several million books that we can print on our Espresso Book Machine, with many more to come soon, 7) you can publish your own book on the Espresso Book Machine, 8) you can eat some of the very best food in the whole region at the adjacent Book Fare Café and Colophon Café, 9) you can continue to support the community by supporting local businesses, 10) our customers are among the nicest and smartest people on Earth.

As always, this Reader is full of book previews and reviews, as well as the staff's holiday picks. There's information about upcoming events, including some signings at the Village Books Holiday Store in Bellis Fair and photos with the Grinch in the Readings Gallery from just after Thanksgiving through December 23. The inserted Holiday Catalog contains some of the best books available this holiday season. And don't miss Paul's article on eReaders, especially if you're considering getting one for yourself or buying one as a gift.

For more than thirty-one years we've been grateful to you, our readers. It's because of you we're here. You are our community.

Thank you, and have a great holiday season and a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.

–Chuck, Dee,

and the entire Village Books and Paper Dreams staff

In This Issue...

Let Us Help You Find All the Right Gifts!

2 Dear Reader 3 The Village Books Holiday Store is Abuzz 4 The Giving Tree Tradition 5 Activities in Fairhaven and Beyond 6-9 Fiction, Mystery, and Sci Fi (book highlights & reviews) 10-15 Gift Ideas 16-17 Crafts and Art (book highlights & reviews) 19-21 Lots of Cooking and Food 22-26 Travel—Rick Steves is Coming Back!

20-21 In the Kitchen with Charles––Cookbook Reviews 27 The Chuckanut Radio Hour Line-up 28 Music and Poetry (book highlights & reviews) 29-31 Books about Books (book highlights) 33 Spirituality, Science, & Nature (highlights & reviews) 35-37 Business, Politics, Culture, Travel, Knowledge 38-41 Northwest (book highlights & recommendations) 43 VB Reads... VB Book Discussion Groups 44-45 Hisotry, Memoirs, & Biographies (non-fiction books) 46-49 Buy Local Week 50 Paul Explains.... Not all eReaders are Created Equal!

51 Books & More for Kids (highlights & reviews) 52-57 WWU Children's Literature Conference 58 Literature Live! Author Events at VB 59-62

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

VILLAGE BOOKS

The Chuckanut Reader Winter 2011-2012

Publishers: Chuck and Dee Robinson Production Design: Kelly Carbert

Contributors: Cami Adams, Carol Blaney, Kelly Carbert, DeeDee Chapman, Charles Claassen, Christina Claassen, Brendan Clark, Stephanie Douglas, Mel Ericson, Kyle Fuller, Isaac Gray, Robert Gruen, Carol Hamilton, Rachel Hanley, Paul Hanson, Alex Hatch, Sarah Hutton, Sam Kaas, Dave Lippiatt, Donna Marcantonio, Claire McElroy-Chesson, Lindsey McGuirk, Leanne Nott, Shannon Paglia, Laura Picco, Kacie Rahm, Andrew Rankin, Tiffany Riesenberg, Chuck Robinson, Dee Robinson, Rem Ryals, Erika Smith, Jim Speidel, Joan Terselich, Jonica Todd, Kelly Walters, Emma Watson, Terri Weiner, & Cindi Williamson Cover: Handmade blank books and bookmarks! See page 30 for information. Photo by Kelly Carbert. content except art & book covers ©Village Books 2011 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

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Winter 2011-2012

3

Holiday

Store

VILLAGE BOOKS October – January

Abuzz

The Village Books Holiday Store at Bellis Fair Mall has now been open for nearly two months, and we've had a warm reception. Regular VB customers have expressed surprise and delight to find us there with a great selection of books and gifts, and we've met lots of folks who don't know the main store—or Fairhaven for that matter.

If you haven't had a chance to see the store, we invite you to stop by. In addition to lots of books for holiday gifts (or your own enjoyment), the store also has a large selection of toys, calendars, and other gifts.

The Holiday Store is open these times through New Years:

Regular Mall Hours Holiday Hours

Monday-Saturday: 10am-9pm Sunday: 11am-6pm

Closed Thanksgiving Black Friday, November 25: 6am-9pm Saturday, November 26: 9am-9pm Monday, December 12-Friday, December 16: 9am-10pm Sunday, December 18: 10am-7pm Monday, December 19-Friday, December 23: 8am-10pm Christmas Eve: 8am-6pm Closed Christmas Day Boxing Day, Monday, December 26: 8am-9pm New Year's Eve: 10am-6pm New Year's Day: 11am-6pm

AUTOGRAPHED BOOKS make GREAT GIFTS!

Signings SATURDAY at the

MALL

Noon–1:30pm* Join us at the Village Books Holiday Store at Bellis Fair Mall for our Saturday Signings. Each Saturday, noon-1:30 pm, from Nov. 5th through Dec. 17th, we'll have a variety of local authors at our store signing copies of their books.

Make a gift a little more special by having it autographed and inscribed by the authors.

We'll have plenty of copies of their books on hand for you to purchase. Come support our local authors!

November 19th Clyde Ford Brenda Miller Janet Oakley

December 3rd

Wendy Kunst-Massey Clare Meeker Duane Lawrence *Lorraine McConaghy (11am)

December 10th Kent Holsather Wes Gannaway Mark Turner John Miles Laura Kalpakian

December 17th Nina Laden Nadia Krilanovich Dana Rozier

Check out the VillageBooks.com calendar to read all about these amazing local authors and their books!

4

Winter 2011-2012

Regular Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

Village Books' 17th Annual

Giving Tree Books for Local Kids & Families in Need

Can you imagine not receiving a book for the holidays? Some kids don't have to use their imaginations. For 16 years we've provided books for thousands of kids who would not otherwise have received them. Last year, because of your generosity, we gave books to more than 2000 kids through a dozen local organizations! And in case you hadn't noticed, it doesn't seem that things have gotten much better for a lot of folks.

So, pick an ornament-tag from the GIVING TREE on the store's main floor and match it with a book of your choice. The books you purchase for giving tree recipients will be offered at a 20% discount, and will be distributed to kids—through community organizations—the week before Christmas.

The 2nd Annual

WUTCRAKER! written/directed by Drue Robinson

“Don’t knock it ‘til ya try it!”

Info at: 360.734.9999 BellinghamChildrensTheatre.com

Sugar Plum Fairies? Ha! Try Booger Flung Scaries!

Snow Queen? Move over for Ice— the coolest gang leader in the forest!

And Clara’s Prince? Ya’ mean:

Prince, formerly known as ‘The Artist Formerly Known as Prince’? Yeah, he’s in hiding!

And...Who will comfort The Lonely Cheese?

Rumor has it...this year’s secret celebrities include local politicians, educators, and even law enforcement agents!

Dec. 15, 16, 17 - 7:00 pm Dec. 18 - 2:00 pm WWU Performing Arts Center $12 tickets on sale now, $15 tickets at the door http://tickets.wwu.edu 360.650.6146 Bellingham Children’s Theatre “A stage kids grow through”

Local Original Theatre since 1994.

Sponsors: Saturna Capital, BP Cherry Point, Community Food Co-Op, Bellingham Parks & Rec., KAFE 104.1, Village Books, Fireside Martini & Wine Bar, Copies Now, Taecan/FBCT.

Tickets for the Wutcraker are also available at Village Books & The Community Food Co-op!

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Winter 2011-2012

5

Extended Hours for the Holidays!

Beginning Friday, November 25 and continuing through Friday, December 23, Village Books and Paper dreams will be open LATER! Monday–Saturday: 10am until 9pm & Sundays: 10am until 7pm See all special hours for the Holiday Store in Bellis Fair on page 4.

Join us for the

l a v ti s e F y a d li o H n e v Fairha November 25th–December 24th New for 2011, the Fairhaven Historic District in Bellingham has expanded its festivities to create the Fairhaven Holiday Festival, Nov. 25–Dec. 24. Each weekend, the Fairhaven Holiday Festival will feature late shopping hours on Fridays, carolers throughout the district on Fridays and Saturdays, horse-drawn wagon rides and Santa at the Fairhaven Village Inn on Saturdays from noon to 3pm, as well as photos with the Grinch at Village Books on Saturdays and Sundays to benefit Blue Skies for Children.

The activities kick-off with the

FAIRHAVEN HOLIDAY ART WALK Friday, November 25th & Saturday, November 26th, 5-9 pm Start your holidays in the historic district during the Thanksgiving weekend! Friday, Nov. 25, turns into a glittering Friday night as the businesses of Fairhaven are officially lit up at 5pm, while carolers stroll the sidewalks. On both Friday and Saturday, the evening continues from 5 to 9pm with special exhibits and unique events at more than 20 Fairhaven shops.

Paper Dreams will be hosting Jeff Davis, local Nooksack drum maker, during the Holiday Gallery Walk. Stop by, see his beautiful work, and say hello!

Fairhaven HORSE-DRAWN WAGON RIDES Board at Fairhaven Village Inn Noon to 3pm Saturdays: November 26th, December 3rd, December 10th, December 17th, December 24th

Carolers in Fairhaven Fridays and Saturdays, November 25th through December 24th, various times.

Photos with the Grinch at Village Books See page 9 for information!

For more information about the Fairhaven Holiday Festival, visit www.fairhaven.com.

6

Winter 2011-2012

Shop 24 hours a day at www.VillageBooks.com

N S O I T U L O RE S January 7th 11am-4pm: a Free Event at Village Books! no tickets or reservations needed

Are you ready to start the New Year fresh?

Have you made any New Year’s resolutions yet?

Looking for some ideas and inspiration?

Join us Saturday, January 7th at Village Books for “Resolutions,” an inspirational day devoted to starting the year off right! From 11am–4pm, on the hour, we'll feature local experts presenting various mini-workshops, from Qigong, to natural healthcare, to clearing the clutter. Come for one workshop or several. Bring your questions and ideas, and maybe a snack. You’ll take away information and inspiration that will help you get started right. You’ll also get 10% off recommended Resolutions-related books, that day only.

For more information, visit our website at www.villagebooks.com. No tickets or reservations needed.

the premier guide to arts and entertainment happenings in the region

visit www.ennw.info for distribution sites and advertising info

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Winter 2011-2012

7

ThE

SponSorS

SEASon

Holiday Carriage rides!

Cramer Carriages

Fairhaven village inn 1 2 0 0 1 0 t h S t re e t B e l l i n g h a m , WA I-5 Exit 250 fa i r h ave nv i l l a ge i n n .co m 360-733-1311

Santa appearances

SaturdayS Nov. 26, Dec. 3, 10, 17

& Christmas Eve Dec. 24 from Noon - 3pm from the front door of the Fairhaven Village Inn

8

Winter 2011-2012

Building Community One Book at a Time

Grinch Returns the

to Village Books Photos Support Blue Skies for Children Everyone has a photo with Santa, but do you have a holiday photo with the Grinch?

During the holiday season of 2007, Tim Chandonnet began taking folks' photos with Dr. Seuss' grouchy Grinch—you know, the one who stole Christmas. But in spite of the Grinch's stingy disposition, the photos were a charitable undertaking, raising dollars for Blue Skies for Children. That all began in the Readings Gallery of Village Books, but for the past three years Tim has staged those photos in another location. Now the Grinch is returning to the VB Readings Gallery. Beginning the Friday after Thanksgiving, you can have photos of you, your children, and even your pets taken with the Grinch. For $10 Tim will snap your picture and provide you with a CD, from which you can print copies for all your relatives, decorate your walls, or post on Facebook. Once again, Blue Skies for Children will benefit.

The Grinch will be in residence during all of the following times:

Friday & Saturday, November 25 & 26: 10am–8pm Sunday, November 27: 11am–6pm Saturdays, December 3, 10, & 17: 10am–6pm Sundays, December 4, 11, & 18: 11am–6pm Friday, December 23: 10am–6pm

A Great Gift...

The Everyman's Library edition of A Christmas Carol & Other Christmas Books

by Charles Dickens

In times of uncertainty and hardship, we return to things of quality, things which retain value and stand up to the test of time. When it comes to books, there is one set of hardcover editions ideally suited for a long-lived, multi-generational library. Those books are the surprisingly inexpensive Everyman's Library hardcover editions, distributed by Random House publishing. Almost everything a book lover might want is published in these fine editions, with real cloth covers, high-quality paper, and a durable feel that makes them not just collectible, but READABLE. Consider ordering in Everyman's Library editions for your holiday gifts. –Andrew

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Winter 2011-2012

9

FICTION The Marriage Plot

by Jeffrey Eugenides

available now, hardcover, Simon & Schuster

This tight, immaculately self-contained tale set upon pillars of academia and the emotions of the youngest of twentysomethings, is delivered in sincere and genuine prose, tracing the end of the students' college days and continuing into those first, tentative steps toward true adulthood. This is a thoughtful and at times disarming novel about life, love, and discovery, set during a time when so much of life seems filled with deep portent.

Ed King

by David Guterson

Out of Oz: The Final Volume

available now, hardcover, Knopf

in the Wicked Years

A funny and darkly written novel, Ed King is a present day story of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex. Set in Seattle, Guterson creates a web of characters that deal with pride, destruction, and their own mortality. If you're familiar with the story, the plot will be clear­–but it's still a great ride. –Kelly W.

by Gregory Maguire

available now, hardcover, Harper

The Emerald City is mounting an invasion of Munchkinland, Glinda is under house arrest, and the Cowardly Lion is on the run from the law. And who's knocking at the door? Yes. Dorothy. The stirring conclusion to the extraordinary series begun with Wicked, Out of Oz is a magical journey rife with revelations and reversals, reprisals and surprises—the hallmarks of the brilliant and unique imagination of Gregory Maguire.

Nightwoods

by Charles Frazier available now, hardcover, Random House

The bestselling author of Cold Mountain and Thirteen Moons returns with a dazzling new novel of suspense and love set in small-town North Carolina in the early 1960s. With his brilliant portrait of Luce, a young woman who inherits her murdered sister’s troubled twins, Charles Frazier has created his most memorable heroine yet.

The Dovekeepers

by Alice Hoffman

available now, hardcover, Scribner

Here are beautifully interwoven stories of four women at Masada.

Hoffman fills the narrative with insightful, well-researched details about first century life in Israel, especially women’s lives. And even though I knew how it had to end (it is Masada, after all) I couldn’t stop turning the pages to find out what happened to the protagonists. –Terri

10

Winter 2011-2012

Queen of America

by Luis Alberto Urrea

December, hardcover, Hachette

After the bloody Tomochic rebellion, Teresita Urrea, beloved healer and "Saint of Cabora," flees with her father to Arizona. But their plans are derailed when she once again is claimed as the spiritual leader of the Mexican Revolution. And as she decides what her own role in this modern future will be, she must ask herself: can a saint fall in love? At turns heartbreaking, uplifting, and riotously funny.

Building Community One Book at a Time

FICTION Jack Holmes and His Friend: A Novel

by Edmund White

January, hardcover, Bloomsbury

Jack Holmes and Will Wright arrive in New York in the calm before the storm of the 1960s. Coworkers at a cultural journal, they soon become good friends. Jack even introduces Will to the woman he will marry.

But their friendship is complicated: Jack is also in love with Will. Moving among beautifully delineated characters in a variety of social milieus, Edmund White brings daring narrative and an exquisite sense of life's submerged drama to this masterful exploration of friendship, sexuality, and sensibility during a watershed moment in history.

Believing the Lie

by Elizabeth George January, hardcover, Penguin

Inspector Lynley is mystified when he's sent undercover to investigate the death of Ian Cresswell at the request of the man's uncle, the wealthy and influential Bernard Fairclough. The death has been ruled an accidental drowning, and nothing on the surface indicates otherwise. But when Lynley enlists the help of his friends Simon and Deborah St. James, the trio's digging soon reveals that the Fairclough clan is awash in secrets, lies, and motives.

Author Event!

Elizabeth George Friday, January 20th, 6:30pm Join us in welcoming New York Times best-selling author Elizabeth George to Bellingham as she presents her latest mystery, Believing the Lie. Held at the Leopold Crystal Ballroom, this event is free and open to the public. Co-sponsored by the Leopold Retirement Residence.

Elizabeth George is the 2012 Whatcom READS! author. See page 12 to read about that program and her return visit to Bellingham in February!

reat gifts g e k a m il “Books can unve y e h t e s becau crets.” hidden se Brown –Dan

The Death of King Arthur: The Immortal Legend

by Sir Thomas Malory, retold by Peter Ackroyd

The Invisible Ones

by Stef Penney

January, hardcover, Penguin

Set among the Romany people of northern England in the 1980s, this page turner features a half Gypsy private investigator hired to find a woman who disappeared after marrying into a prominent Gypsy family. Was the family touched by tragedy, or hiding a terrible secret? The editor promises "a thrill ride with this wildly atmospheric and stunning novel."

November, hardcover, Penguin

The inimitable Peter Ackroyd transforms Malory's fiftheenth-century work into a dramatic modern story. The golden age of Camelot, the perilous search for the Holy Grail, the love of Guinevere and Lancelot, and the treachery of Arthur's son Mordred are all rendered into contemporary prose with Ackroyd's characteristic charm and panache.

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Winter 2011-2012

11

Whatcom READS! February 21st–23rd, 2012

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.

Elizabeth George is the 2011/2012 author for the program.

The critically acclaimed and wildly popular Elizabeth George will come to Bellingham in early 2012 for three days of special programming with school and public appearances. George is the author of numerous books including the Inspector Lynley mystery series—adapted for television by the BBC. The Whatcom READS! book selection is In the Presence of the Enemy—an insightful novel about ideals corrupted by self-interest, about the sins of parents visited upon children, and about the masks that hide people from each other and from themselves.

Purchase In the Presence of the Enemy before February 23rd at Village Books and we will donate 10% of the proceeds to Whatcom Reads!

Whatcom WRITES!

October - January

What do you think of when you hear the word 'enemies?' Grade school spats? Family feuds?

Global wars? Conspiracies? Are enemies part of human nature? Did Sherlock Holmes need Professor Moriarty? Are we our own worst enemy?

Enter the Whatcom WRITES! contest addressing this topic in 800 words. Submit your poem, fiction, or non-fiction work on the theme of enemies by December 1, 2011.

For all the rules and details of where and how to submit, go to www.whatcomreads.org.

12

Winter 2011-2012

Regular Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

FICTION Paperback The Bungalow: A Novel

by Sarah Jio

December, paperback, Penguin

In the summer of 1942, twenty-one-yearold Anne Calloway, newly engaged, leaves her Seattle home to serve in the Army Nurse Corps on the Pacific island of Bora Bora. "A novel that reminds us how the past comes back to haunt us, and packs a few great surprises for the reader along the way." –Jodi Picoult, author of Sing You Home

A Visit From the Goon Squad

by Jennifer Egan

available now, paperback, Random

This novel follows a group of connected characters in the music industry and chronicles, in startling fashion, all the myriad ways that youthful idealism can go south.

Emphasizing this is a fascinating structure of interwoven flashbacks and flashforwards that show how brutal the passage of time can be.

But the wheel spins back around too: there's a sneaky undercurrent of redemption and hope. This is a smart book that kept me surprised until the last page. –Rem

Island of Wings: A Novel

A Great Gift...

by Karin Altenberg

December, paperback, Penguin

John Dies at the End

Exquisitely written and profoundly moving, this is a richly imagined novel of love and loss, faith and atonement, about two people struggling to keep their love, and their family, alive in a place of extreme hardship and unearthly beauty on an untamed nineteenth-century Socttish island.

by David Wong

"This book would make a great gift for anyone with a dark sense of humor. The story is full of creepy suspense, told through the fluid and funny voice of David Wong (writer from Cracked.com), and the movie comes out next year! A great gift for lovers of darker literature."

–DeeDee

The Weird Sisters

by Eleanor Brown

February, paperback, Penguin

When three sisters return to their childhood home, ostensibly to care for their ailing mother, but really to lick their wounds and bury their secrets, they are horrified to find the others there. But the sisters soon discover that everything they've been running from—one another, their small hometown, and themselves—might offer more than they ever expected.

Daniel O'Thunder

by Ian Weir

Come in and browse the tables of staff paperback favorites– great gifts ideas for the holidays!

A Great Gift...

"This elegant, tongue-in-cheek novel manages to be witty, sinister, and inspiring all at the same time. An awesome gift for dedicated evangelists, hardened skeptics, and especially anyone in between." –Brendan

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Winter 2011-2012

13

THINK LOCAL FIRST! Celebrate Whatcom County’s Buy Local Week! November 25th - December 4th

Celebrate by picking up your copy of Where the Locals Go! Coupon Book at Village Books.

Save on products, services, food and fun from your favorite local businesses!

With over 250 coupons for the BEST local and independently owned businesses in Whatcom County and at a cost of only $12 this book will pay for itself over and over again!

This book also makes a perfect holiday gift. Give the gift of Local!

For more details about the book or Buy Local Week specials, participating businesses and local gift ideas visit www.SustainableConnections.org ONLY

$12 BUCKS

Choose local businesses taking action for a healthy community.

14

Winter 2011-2012

Shop 24 hours a day at www.VillageBooks.com

I Am Half-Sick of Shadows:

MYSTERY

A Flavia de Luce Novel

by Alan Bradley

November, hardcover, Delacorte Press

A Drop of the Hard Stuff

by Lawrence Block

February, paperback, Hachette

AA meetings take the place of seedy bars as backdrops for this gritty and entertaining mystery. Exploring themes of loss, nostalgia, and redemption, Lawrence Block circles back to how it all began, reestablishing why the Matthew Scudder series is widely regarded as one of the pinnacles of American detective fiction.

Flavia de Luce is distracted from her Christmas schemes when a film crew arrives at the de Luce's decaying estate to shoot a movie starring the famed Phyllis Wyvern. Amid a raging blizzard, the entire village gathers to watch Wyvern perform, yet nobody is prepared for the evening's shocking conclusion: a body found, strangled to death with a length of film.

SCIENCE FICTION Snuff: A Novel of Discworld

by Terry Pratchett

available now, hardcover, Harper

Spec*Fic (speck-fick), n. 1. The fantastic in a fictional setting. 2. An umbrella term encompassing the more fantastical fiction genres.

Check out our new Spec*Fic page on Village Books’ website for everything science fiction, fantasy, fantastical, and mind-bending, including events, new & notable books, interesting websites, and reading lists.

GRAPHIC NOVELS A Great Gift...

Hark, A Vagrant

by Kate Beaton

"Any history or literature buff will appreciate Kate Beaton's offbeat, humorous approach to everything from Marie Curie (Is it love or toxic radiation?), to medieval peasant romance (I've, like, never brushed my teeth.") –Leanne

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

For more than three decades, Terry Pratchett has been enthralling millions of fans worldwide with his irreverent, wonderfully funny satires set in the fabulously imaginative Discworld, a universe remarkably similar to our own.

Pratchett has skewered sacred cows with both laughter and deep wisdom, and exposed our warts, foibles, and eccentricites in a unique, entertaining, and ultimately serious way.

Habibi

by Craig Thompson available now, hardcover, Pantheon Books

Not since Maus and Persepolis have I been this excited about and intrigued by a graphic novel. This book succeeds on so many levels: The art is both astounding and intriguing as Thompson incorporates language into the panels that imbues new meaning. (Go to Habibi.com to see his process.) This heartbreaking and inspiring story draws upon Arabian Nights as inspiration and illustrates the power of storytelling.

Exploring our relationship with nature, it dazzles in both its simplicity and its intricacy. What a delicacy.

–Paul

Winter 2011-2012

15

A Great Gift...

A Great Gift...

The Watermark Bindery Blank Books "I received a Watermark Bindery journal years ago as a Christmas present, and I love it to this day. Each is beautifully made and hand sewn to lay open easily when writing. And, they're a local product from Port Townsend, WA. The perfect gift for that hard-to-shop-for friend, and you can write a meaningful note or poem inside for that someone special." –Stephanie

Spa Socks by Spa Comforts

"Every night I heat up these yummy smelling socks in the microwave and slip them on and oh it feels so good; perfect after a day on my feet." –Kelly W.

A Great Gift...

A Great Gift...

Vera Bradley

Scarves "Scarves are a wonderful accessory—they look great, keep you warm, and EVERYBODY can use one."

–Erika

PAPER

DREAMS A Great Gift...

Talking Plush "It's been so much fun buying things for Paper Dreams that I hope you'll enjoy, it's hard to pick a favorite. But I think the talking plush from Cuddle Barn will put a smile on anyone's lips, whether it's Storytime Teddie reading the entire Night Before Christmas, or Hunny singing "Sugar Sugar," or many others, all singin' and movin'. Check them out and smile or sing along!"

–Dee

"If you're shopping for your wife, daughter, mother, sister, friend, girlfriend, or any girl for that matter, make sure to check out the Vera Bradley collection. There is an assortment of styles, sizes, and types of merchandise within our selection. From tote bags and purses to wallets and make-up bags, you'll find something cute and timeless for any kind of woman." –Cami

A Great Gift...

Paperblank Journal "These journals make great gifts because they look and feel like real books. Writing in them makes you more aware of the importance and value of your own words." –Shannon

A Great Gift...

Local Cards Since Bellingham is so totally awesome, I have always loved sending my friends local cards that show the beauty that is around every corner. They can just wish they were living here.

Like I always say, "and I LIVE HERE!" –Carol B.

GIFT IDEAS 16

Winter 2011-2012

Building Community One Book at a Time

GIFT IDEAS This year more than ever, between Village Books and our sister store, Paper Dreams, we have your gift giving covered! y or friend, consider our If you need a book accessory for your book-lovin' famil find a lovely BOOKMARK or a ever-popular BOOKSEAT. Of course you'll also ion. handy BOOKLIGHT to accompany your book select gh the new year? Choose Who doesn't need a CALENDAR or two to get throu ement calendars, including from hundreds of wall calendars, page-a-day or engag to...you name it! subjects from art to our animal friends to outhouses DS to select from! There Paper Dreams has a huge array of HOLIDAY CAR ons to nature to religion. There are boxes with themes as diverse as New Yorker carto dly to the environment. are many that are totally green, so you can be frien s, while snuggling up in Some CANDLES will brighten the long winter night bubble bath. microwaveable SLIPPERS or wrap after a luxurious AMENT would be just the Need a hostess gift? Maybe a special TREE ORN taining. Or perhaps a box of thing! Or some beverage NAPKINS for holiday enter DREAM FUDGE made in-house! selections for Grandpa, Whether it's a gift of SWEETS from our chocolate R STEIN for Dad, a VERA a SCARF or JEWELRY for Mom, a funny BEE or one of hundreds of TOYS, BRADLEY or BAGGALLINI bag for Grandma, S for the kids—we've got you GAMES, PUZZLES or STOCKING STUFFER boxes to complete the package! covered! And we've got the gift wrap and gift on your list!

Let us help you find the perfect gift for everyone

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Winter 2011-2012

17

FREE gift with any gift certificate purchase over $15!

under $50

(dyed in Bellingham)

Handcrafted Tape Measurers

under $10

Unique Beautiful Yarns

Holiday & Fig Itsy Bitsy Totes

Denise Interchangeable Knitting & Crochet Kit Airline Safe!

(dyed in Vancouver)

Handcrafted Holiday Wine Toppers

We’re your friendly, well-stocked knitting and crochet shop!

Barkley Village next to Starbucks | 360.756.9992 | appleyarns.com



Over 100 booths filled with unique, hand-crafted items , live performances and kids activities!

"It helped us make a great life even better."

–Chuck & Dee Robinson



Nov. 18 - Dec. 24 Wed. - Sun. 10am - 6pm* Art Walk: Fri., Dec. 2, 6-9pm

3548 Meridian St. Bellingham South of Bellis Fair Mall www.alliedarts.org, 360.676.8548 * Also open 10-6 Dec 19 & 20, Closing 3pm Dec. 24th

18

Winter 2011-2012

Regular Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

CRAFTS Fabric-by-Fabric One-Yard Wonders: 101 Sewing Projects Using Cottons, Knits, Voiles, Corduroy, Fleece, Flannel, Home Dec, Oilcloth, Wool, and Beyond

By Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins November, hardcover, Storey

The best-selling authors of One-Yard Wonders are back with another collection of 101 amazing sewing projects, this time featuring the many different fabrics listed above. Wool caps, corduroy market totes, knit jersey dresses, a pink fleece piglet toy set—the perfect blend of fabric and function is evident throughout this wide ranging collection. Illustrations, cutting layouts, and pattern pieces are all included!

Sweet Stitches from the Heart: More Than 70 Project Ideas and 900 Stitch Motifs for Angels, Teddies, Fairies, Hearts, and Alphabets, plus Essential Embroidery and Cross-Stitch Techniques

by Anne Sohier-Fournel, Agnes Delage-Calvet and Isabelle Leloup available now, paperback, Random House

From the authors of A Rainbow of Stitches comes a new book full of even more fabulous and beautiful hand embroidery projects. It's hard for me to imagine that these stitchers could come up with so many more sweet and stylish patterns to cross-stitch and embroider. The book is full of patterns and projects that incorporate the designs, which include flowers, fairies, and teddy bears.

All you'll need is more time to sit quietly and stitch. –Christina

Craft Activism: People, Ideas, and Projects from the New Community of Handmade and How You Can Join In

by Joan Tapper & Gale Zucker, forward by Faythe Levine available now, paperback, Potter Craft

Devotees of this grassroots phenomenon share their advice on living and promoting a more meaningful DIY lifestyle. Learn to craft for your cause, organize a fair, host an online exchange, and more. The book includes 17 projects from designers who challenge you to reimagine how your craft skills can be used to make a difference.

Sewing Basics: All You Need to Know About Machine and Hand Sewing

by Sandra Bardwell

available now, paperback, Abrams

Maybe you remember your grandma's Singer book on how to sew, or you've seen various dusty and yellowed versions on her book shelf. Well, it's time to update the library and get a book of your own with "Sewing Basics." This comprehensive book covers everything you need to know about both machine sewing, as well as hand sewing. It has clear photographs, helpful charts, and obvious categories for finding what you need help with. This book will come in handy when you are stumped with a sewing project, or as a guide before embarking on that new dress pattern. –Christina

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Winter 2011-2012

19

ART & PICTORIAL Pilgrimage

by Annie Leibovitz

A Great Gift...

The Conductor

by Laetitia Devernay "This quirky and charming art book persuades the trees to soar and your heart to sing!" –Laura

November, hardcover, Random House

Pilgrimage took Leibovitz to places that she could explore with no agenda or assignment. The first place was Emily Dickinson's house in Amherst, Massachusetts, which Leibovitz visited with a small digital camera. Later, she went with her three young children to Niagara Falls. "That's when I started making lists," she says.

Jonica Recommends...

Pacific Standard Time: Los Angeles Art, 1945-1980

edited by Rebecca Peabody, Andrew Perchuk, Glenn Philips, Rani Singh, & Lucy Bradnock available now, hardcover, Getty Research Institute

If you look at art magazines long enough, you'll notice that West Coast trends seem very different than East Coast style (I know, it's self-evident!). I sometimes wonder if we're even in the same country. This book is a fantastic visual history of the artists who flocked to the laid-back artists' utopia of Southern California after WWII to create a new kind of art, evolving into a unique West Coast aesthetic. More than 60 art institutes from Southern California contributed information and pictures to this collection. All I can say is "WOW." If you're interested in art or cultural history, you will need to own this book. –Jonica

Menus for Chez Panisse: The Art & Letterpress of Patricia Curtan

by Patricia Curtan

available now, hardcover, Princeton Architectural Press

I was simply astounded when I opened the cover of this book and saw the stunning prints. I am crazy over block printing, from the Asian to the European masters, and these are fantastic.

Patricia Curtan has created menus for Chez Panisse that incorporate the very best of modern influences into the most elegant, spare, and whimsical works of art. As a bonus, she's included pictures of the actual blocks so you can suss out how she created the prints. If you're like me, you'll salivate over the menus and the art. –Jonica

20

Winter 2011-2012

Miraculous Bouquets:

Flower & Fruit Paintings by Jan Van Huysum

by Anne Woollett

November, paperback, Getty Publications

I know that it's popular to dismiss 17-century still-life paintings of fruit and flowers as something only old ladies might admire, but I think the Dutch painters were absolute geniuses and their work never fails to fascinate. If you look closely at Jan van Huysum's work you'll see details that could only have been included by extremely careful observation and painstaking (as in, obsessive) efforts. Add to that color and texture that make you drool. This is just a beautiful book and one that lifts my spirits every time I look at it. –Jonica

Regular Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

The Cult of LEGO

A Great Gift...

Little People in the City: The Street Art of Slinkachu

by Slinkachu

"Looking at the pictures in this book never gets old. Plus, it makes me want to create tiny scenes around town for people to stumble upon." –Lindsey

by John Baichtal & Joe Meno November, hardcover, No Starch Press

Artists, film makers, engineers— AFOLS (adult fans of LEGO) come in all shapes and sizes.

This thrilling book showcases their lives and fantastic creations. You'll marvel at a life-size stegosaurus, a microscale Yankee Stadium, a MINDSTORMS-powered monster chess set—to name but a few. Conventions, prototyping, and serious uses in therapy are also examined. It's a complete survey of the LEGO lifestyle in all its wonder.

The Complete Record Cover Collection

by R. Crumb

available now, hardcover, Norton

A landmark work that pays splendid homage to a forgotten era of seminal American music. Robert Crumb first began drawing record covers in 1968 when Janis Joplin, a fellow Haight Ashbury denizen, asked him to provide a cover for her album Cheap Thrills. This early collaboration proved so successful that Crumb went on to draw hundreds of record covers for both new artists and largely forgotten masters.

A Great Gift...

Unlikely Friendships

by Jennifer Holland

"This little gem is really an ideal gift, especially for anyone who loves animals.

The extraordinary stories featured within are truly inspirational and good reminders that friendship is possible between ALL creatures."

–Claire

A Great Gift...

Dogs Make Us Human

by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson and Art Wolfe "Full of stunning photos, this book belongs on the coffee table of dog lovers everywhere." –Carol H.

It Chooses You

by Miranda July

November, hardcover, McSweeney’s

A Great Gift...

Hippie

by Barry Miles "This book is an awesome gift for your father who grew up in the sixties, your new-age aunt, or your peace-signobsessed cousin. The photos, quotes, and stories are brilliantly laid out and the history of the hippie movement comes alive in this beautiful book." –Kacie

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

In the summer of 2009, Miranda July distracted herself by studying PennySaver, the iconic classifieds booklet that still thrives in the netherworld where computers haven’t reached. Accompanied by photographer Brigitte Sire she crisscrossed Los Angeles to discover thirteen surprisingly moving realities. Elegantly blending her trademark wit with narrative and photographs, this is a story of procrastination, inspiration, and grabbing hold of the invisible world.

Winter 2011-2012

21

Is the Willows Inn All That? See for Yourself!

fresh

LOCAL organic

Food for Thought us, o i c i el ny d tions! a m So y op h t l a he

One of ten restaurants worth a plane ride –NY Times

One of 5 “restaurants that are careening into that stratospheric position held by the globe’s top dining destinations.”

–Katy MClaughlin, Wall Street Journal

I’ve seen the future on a little island in the Pacific Northwest.

–Joe Ray, Boston Globe

To connect the food to its place, the chef uses textures, scents and flavours found near the main ingredient. –Alexander Gill, Globe and Mail …the burning-hottest restaurant on the West Coast—if not in the entire country… –Bethany Jean Clement, the Stranger

360-758-2620 | 888-294-2620 www.willows-inn.com

Dinners are served Thursday-Sunday, Cocktails 4:00pm, Dinner 6:30pm Taproot Cafe Hours: 11-7 Fri-Sun, 11-9 Mon & Tues, closed Wed & Thur Call: 360-758-2930

Downtown—1220 N. Forest St. Cordata—315 Westerly Rd. Open 7 am–10 pm

Open 7 am–9 pm

www.communityfood.coop

book fare café in village books

seasonal local organic allergy-friendly come see what’s new on the mezzanine level upstairs in village books www.bookfarecafe.com 360.734.3434

22

Winter 2011-2012

Building Community One Book at a Time

n e h c t i K E H T IN

with Charles

Book recommendations from one of our favorite chefs. Bon Appétit!

Home Made:

The Ultimate DIY Cookbook, Featuring Over 200 From-Scratch Recipes

by Yvette van Boven

available now, hardcover, Stewart, Tabori, & Chang

In this stylish cookbook, Yvette van Boven shares a collection of simple, elegant dishes with a Euro-Scandinavian twist. From simple vinaigrettes and sauces to flavorful pickles to warming main dishes, the recipes are accurate and easy to follow. An excellent autumn and winter cookbook to share with friends and family.

At the Kitchen Table: The Craft of Cooking at Home

by Greg Atkinson

available now, paperback, Sasquatch Books

Greg Atkinson has long been one of my favorite culinary writers. This volume focuses more on the literary aspect of his cooking and food experiences, and the results are poignant, humorous, and ultimately as satisfying as a collection of well-prepared meals.

Included are recipes inspired by the essays, and the people we encounter in them, that will encourage you to spend time in your own kitchen.

Mourad: New Moroccan

by Mourad Lahlou

available now, hardcover, Artisan Publishers

What’s a locavore chef doing pushing an exotic international cookbook? Simply put, Mourad Lahlou epitomizes the idea of place-focused food. Integrating the connections of community, culture, and family with the creative and explorative spirit of an innovative chef, Lahlou shares deeply personal motivations for his preparations. His classic north African preparations utilizing ingredients used as currency of trade for centuries are seasoned with a savory blend of storytelling, common sense, and a delicious sense of place.

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.

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Winter 2011-2012

23

COOKING Rustica: A Return to Spanish Home Cooking

by Frank Camorra and Richard Cornish available now, hardcover, Chronicle Books

Spanish food truly has something for everyone. In Rustica, an award-winning chef travels through his native land to deliver more than 120 savory and sweet recipes tailored to the home kitchen. With an eye-catching, modern design, sumptuous photography, clear techniques, and a Spanish glossary, this book is as glorious as the cuisine it celebrates.

Kitchen on Fire!:

A Great Gift...

Mastering the Art of Cooking in 12 Weeks (or Less)

by Olivier Said and MikeC.

November, hardcover, Da Capo Lifelong

The wildly popular basics course at Berkeley's Kitchen on Fire! culinary school teaches students ultimate confidence in the kitchen. The authors present all the basic techniques necessary to create great food—complete with step-by-step photos throughout. Blending the precision of a professional culinary textbook with the authors' irreverent attitudes, this book will give you the skills to put that cookbook away and create your own recipes.

The Intolerant Gourmet: Glorious Food Without Gluten and Lactose

by Barbara Kafka

November, hardcover, Artisan

Legendary food maven Barbara Kafka tackles the challenge of a "restricted" diet with these 300 yummy recipes. Chicken with Chervil Sauce, Asian Noodle Salad, Cannellini and Mushroom Soup—she achieves richness and texture without resorting to breads or dairy. Each delicious recipe will satisfy everyone at the dinner table.

A Great Gift...

101 Things I Learned in Culinary School

by Louis Eguaras with Matthew Frederick "This little gem of a book has simple, concrete tips to make your time in the kitchen extraordinary!" –Sarah

24

Winter 2011-2012

Ruhlman's Twenty: 20 Techniques 100 Recipes A Cook's Manifesto

by Michael Ruhlman

"The clear, vibrant, and straightforward illustrations will transport you into the kitchen.

The Butter-Poached Shrimp w/ Grits will take you out of the kitchen and directly to heaven."

–Robert

Bean by Bean: A Cookbook: More Than 200 Recipes for Fresh Beans, Dried Beans, Cool Beans, Hot Beans, Savory Beans...

Even Sweet Beans!

by Crescent Dragonwagon January, paperback, Workman

Down-home, soul-satisfyingly hearty, versatile, deeply delectable, and inexpensive to boot—there’s nothing a bean can’t do. From Lebanese Lentil Soup, to Maya’s Magic Black Beans with Eggplant and Royal Rice, to Newly Minted Puree of Fresh Favas, Crescent Dragonwagon does it all. This 200-plus recipe cornucopia includes bean lore, anecdotes, and even desserts!

A Great Gift...

Cookiepedia

by Stacy Adimando "If you have a baker on your gift list, this is a fun new book all about cookies. It has easy recipes, space for notes, a wide variety of recipes, and a cute design." –Christina

Regular Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

Plenty: Vibrant Vegetable

A Great Gift...

Recipes from London's Ottolenghi

by Yotam Ottolenghi

Plenty

available now, hardcover, Chronicle Books

Here is a supremely delightful cookbook for vegetarians, for those who love Indian or Mediterranean food, and for those who appreciate humble vegetables served creatively.

Take ratatouille and kick it up a notch! Do not settle for a boring salad when you can dine on fresh cuisine such as Sweet Winter Slaw or Asparagus Mimosa.

How about these main dishes? Sweet potato cakes. Eggplant with buttermilk sauce and pomegranate seeds. Written for the NEW vegetarian with a taste for culinary diversity. Bon Appétit! –Cindi

by Ottolenghi Yotam "I'm not a vegetarian, but I cook for one. These recipes appeal to the omnivore in me like I never imagined a vegetarian cookbook would (or could). Simple recipes with readily available ingredients--and not too many--make these recipes even more ideal for a busy household. They delectably blend sweet and savory into succulent taste explosions with every bite. I can't wait to cook every... single... recipe... in this beautiful book. Definitely gift-worthy." –Paul

A Great Gift...

Simply Classic: A New Collection of Recipes to Celebrate the Northwest by the Junior League of Seattle

"I'm not a cook, but when I do have to stir up a meal this is my go-to cookbook.

Great, local, simple recipes!" –Kelly W.

“Books make great gifts because they expand your horizons and keep you cooking.”

–Emeril Lagasse

For every little catering need.

Our Kitchen will prepare your catered fare using the freshest seasonal & local artisan meats, cheeses, breads, salads and sweets.

the

market AT

L A K E WAY

(360) 714-7709

Visit The Markets at • Fairhaven • Birch Bay • Anacortes 360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Winter 2011-2012

25

Food Rules: An Eater's Manual

A Great Gift...

by Michael Pollan and Maira Kalman available now, hardcover, Penguin

Michael Pollan's definitive compendium, Food Rules, is here brought to colorful life with the addition of Maira Kalman's beloved illustrations. This brilliant pairing is rooted in Pollan's and Kalman's shared appreciation for eating's pleasures, and their understanding that eating doesn't have to be so complicated. Written with the clarity, concision, and wit that is Michael Pollan's trademark, this indispensable handbook lays out a set of straightforward, memorable rules for eating wisely. Kalman's paintings remind us that there is delight in learning to eat well.

Grow Your Own Food for Free (Well, Almost): Great Money-Saving Ideas for Your Garden

by Dave Hamilton

"Packed with light-hearted, up-to-date advice and charming illustrations, this book offers lots of ways to create a sustainable kitchen garden using recycled materials and a minimal outlay of cash.

A great gift for aspiring as well as experienced gardeners." –Donna

FOOD

BarnHeart: The Incurable Longing For a Farm of One's Own

by Jenna Woginrich

December, paperback, Storey

In BarnHeart, the popular author of Made From Scratch lands at a small rented farm in Vermont, where she explores her new surroundings with a friendly openness (and a ready fiddle) and learns all the skills of traditional farming. Caring for her animals Woginrich tries to satisfy her "barnheart"—the desire for a farm of her own—and records her adventures with honesty and humor. Find this book in our gardening section!

What makes our Haggen Pumpkin Pie so legendary?

We’d like to think it’s the homemade touch of our bakers, who start with a scratch-made flaky crust, then add the freshest ingredients like richly spiced pumpkin, real eggs… and no preservatives. Adding a little bit of love and a dash of extra care along the way creates the perfect pumpkin pie!

Our pumpkin pie is perfect anytime and so delicious that you’ll be back for a second slice, maybe even a third. Enjoy!

{of the season:} FLAVOR

Pumpkin

www.haggen.com 26

Winter 2011-2012

111013-01

Regular Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

RICK STEVES

Includes Slide Show!

MONDAY, JANUARY 30th, 7pm at Bellingham High School

Through the Back Door Celebrating European Travel on a Budget Join travel expert Rick Steves—acclaimed for his bestselling guidebook series and public TV and radio shows—as he shares the latest in smart European travel. Freshly back from lots of travels, Rick Steves explains the practical, money-saving ins and outs of independent travel. Hear Rick’s tips on getting the most out of every mile, minute, and euro on your next trip. For 30 years, Rick and his guides have been researching the best destinations––emphasizing authentic experience and value for your money. Rick won the 2010 Lowell Thomas Travel Book Award (by the Society of American Travel Writers) for his book Travel as a Political Act. He packs the house every year so grab your tickets now and prepare to have a great time!

Admission: $5 — Tickets available at Village Books or online at brownpapertickets.com Proceeds to benefit Bellingham High School's PTSA

TRAVEL

A Great Gift...

1000 Ultimate Sights

by Lonely Planet

Paris versus New York: A Tally of Two Cities

by Vahram Muratyan January, hardcover, Penguin

From food to fashion, architecture to cafe/coffee culture, Paris vs. New York is a chic and humorous visual homage to two iconic cities. In his illustrations, Muratyan blends humor and his own brand of slogan-like graphics to produce paired investigations of the minutiae and monuments that characterize each city.

You can follow Village Books on Twitter. Each day we “tweet” about book events, new books, and book-related topics. We are @VillageBksBham.

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Divided into 100 diverse and intriguing categories such as, "Most Bizarre Monuments," "Greatest Wildlife Spectacles," "Kitchiest Sights," and even, "Greatest Bookshops," this new travel guide will help you plan your greatest adventure yet. This book would make a great gift for the curious dreamer in all of us. –Kelly C.

If you haven’t visited our Facebook page and become a fan, please do. 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.

Winter 2011-2012

27

Tuesday, January 10th

The

Chuckanut Radio Hour

Fifth Anniversary Show in the Crystal Ballroom of the Leopold

On Tuesday, January 10, the Chuckanut Radio Hour will celebrate its 5th anniversary and its 51st show with highlights from past shows, a new (and no doubt rib-tickling) essay by Alan Rhodes, a brand new episode of the "Bellingham Bean," passionate swing music by the popular band Stirred Not Shaken, and a few corny jokes.

The Chuckanut Radio Hour is a radio variety show that began in January 2007. Each Chuckanut Radio Hour features a guest author and includes guest musicians, performance poet Kevin Murphy, Cascadia Weekly columnist Alan Rhodes, an episode of "The Bellingham Bean" serial radio comedy, and some groaner jokes by hosts Chuck & Dee Robinson and announcer Rich Donelly. The Chuckanut Radio Hour's first guest was Erik Larson and has since included William Dietrich, Elizabeth George, J.A. Jance, Sherman Alexie, Tom Robbins, and Garrison Keillor, among many others. The Radio Hour airs every Saturday evening at 6pm, and Sunday at 9pm on KMRE 102.3FM. Tickets for the Chuckanut Radio Hour are $5 and are available at Village Books and on BrownPaperTickets.com. Doors open at 6:30pm, and you must be seated by 6:45pm as the show begins promptly at 7pm.

Tuesday, February 7th, 6:30pm

Tickets $5.00

Paula Becker and Alan J. Stein

Tickets for all shows are available at Village Books & BrownPaperTickets.com

A HUGE thanks to our amazing sponsors!

28

Winter 2011-2012

in the Crystal Ballroom of the Leopold 1224 Cornwall Ave., Downtown Bellingham

–The Future Remembered: The 1962 Seattle World’s Fair and Its Legacy Astronauts, Elvis, sky rides, royalty, the Kennedys, religion, topless showgirls, the Canadian tattoo, the Cold War, and futurist speculation—the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair had it all. The era and its people come to life in The Future Remembered: The 1962 Seattle World’s Fair and Its Legacy, a new, coffee-table-style book filled with fascinating history, stories and pictures to celebrate the fair’s upcoming 50th anniversary.

KMRE FM 102.3 Building Community One Book at a Time

A Great Gift...

MUSIC

Everybody Loves Our Town: An Oral History of Grunge

by Mark Yarm

"This is the true story of Grunge, told by those who made it happen, and it’s more or less impossible to put down. A musthave for any music fan." –Sam

George Harrison: Living in the Material World

by Olivia Harrison

available now, hardcover, Abrams

Drawing on Harrison’s personal archives in a way no other book has, wife Olivia reveals the arc of his life from the astonishment of the Beatles years to his days as a movie producer and bohemian squire. Filled with stories from his many friends and previously unpublished photographs by Harrison himself, this is a rich tribute to a man who touched the lives of millions.

Bob Dylan in America

by Sean Wilentz

This is a Call: The Life and Times of Dave Grohl

by Paul Brannigan

November, hardcover, Da Capo Press

This is the first definitive biography of Dave Grohl, drummer for Nirvana and singer/songwriter for the Foo Fighters. He speaks candidly and honestly about his long career in music: about Kurt Cobain, the arguments that almost tore Nirvana apart, the feuds that threatened to derail the Foo Fighters's global success, and the dark days that almost caused him to quit music for good.

available now, paperback, Anchor

Beginning with his explosion onto the scene in 1961, this book follows Dylan as he continues to develop a body of musical and literary work unique in our cultural history. Wilentz’s approach places Dylan’s music in the context of its time and offers a larger critical appreciation of Dylan as both a songwriter and performer.

A Great Gift...

A Great Gift...

The Daily Ukulele: 365 Songs for Better Living

by Liz and Jim Beloff "This is a great eclectic collection for your favorite ukulele lady. Each song has those cute chord diagrams, in case you forget how to make a G# or a Dm7. And there is an introduction to uke lessons in the beginning, to get started on this increasingly popular little instrument.

Ready, set, strum!" –Terri

Rumba, Mambo, Cha Cha Cha Putumayo Music CD

Acoustic Cafe

Putumayo Music CD

&

"These are great collections of some of the best rumba and acoustic singer-songwriters from around the world.

Lovely music to accompany any creative task." –Jonica

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

We have a great selection of world music, holiday favorites, and local musicians. check it out!

Winter 2011-2012

29

PEACE, LOVE, and Beautiful, Handmade Blank

BOOKS

As supporters of independent booksellers and the IndieBound program, Graeham Owens paper products has created a line of gorgeous Indie-oriented blank books and bookmarks which we are excited to carry.

The handmade paper in the books is made in rural, mountainous villages in Nepal, utilizing neither electricity nor petroleum in the process. The paper travels for five days on the backs of donkeys through mountain passes and over bamboo bridges before it reaches the nearest passable road. It then continues its journey to Kathmandu where the finished product is handmade. The paper is completely made from renewable resources. It is tree-free, acid-free, and totally "green."

Use it as a journal, a sketchbook, or simply admire the beauty of these handmade books. These would make fantastic and affordable gifts for yourself or almost anyone on your holiday shopping list.

Book Fare Café

One Year Anniversary

Thursday, December 1st, 10am-8:30pm

Celebrate chef/owner Charles Claassen’s one year anniversary of owning the Book Fare Café. Come in any time throughout the day for some delicious specials, coupons, free cake with every purchase, a raffle for a $20 gift certificate, and more. There will be live music as well. Come celebrate as Book Fare Café thanks the community for supporting local, organic food.

Your LOCAL Bellingham Real Estate Resource!

FREE moving truck for clients and non profits Over 60 years experience in Whatcom County Real Estate

(360) 303 303--2734 510 Lakeway Drive, Bellingham WA 98225

Are YOU Receiving VB Email Updates?

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!

www.JohnsonTeamRealEstate.com 30

Winter 2011-2012

Regular Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

Poetry A Great Gift...

The Conference of the Birds

by Peter Sis

available now, harcover, Penguin

Celebrated children's book author and illustrator Peter Sis creates his first book for adults, a beautiful and uplifting adaptation of the classic twelfth-century Sufi epic poem, The Conference of the Birds. In this lyrical and richly illustrated story of love, faith, and the meaning of it all, Peter Sis shows the pain, and beauty, of the human journey.

The Conference of the Birds

by Peter Sis

"Peter Sis gorgeously interprets this classic Sufi poem. Spiritual and artistic, this is a book everyone can enjoy" –Joan

Rumi: The Big Red Book: The Great Masterpiece Celebrating Mystical Love and Friendship translated by Coleman Barks

November, hardcover and paperback, Harper

Considered one of the greatest works of Persian literature, The Big Red Book is one of the masterpieces of Rumi, the medieval Sufi mystic who also happens to be the most popular poet in America. Coleman Barks is famous for his renderings of Rumi's poetry and his work on these particular poems has never been published anywhere.

Till I End My Song: A Gathering of Last Poems edited by Harold Bloom

hardcover available now, paperback available in December, Harper

From W.H. Auden to Walt Whitman and beyond, this is a collection of last poems by great poets, with extensive commentary by Harold Bloom. "By definition, all living poets are excluded from this book. Myself seventy-nine years of age, I grieve still for many of these poets who were my friends. But knowledge, not pathos, is my purpose in gathering this anthology. Lastness is a part of knowing." –Harold Bloom

“Books make great gifts because they’re everybody’s favorite things.” –Julie Andrews

re o t S y a d i l Ho at BELLIS FAIR

Check out the

VILLAGE BOOKS

October – January 360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Winter 2011-2012

31

of

readership

grew

alternative weeklies

to

14.1% of 18-24-years-old readers

&

42.6%

of readers 45 and older

Save the Date!

Wednesday, April 25, 2012 The Art of Racing in the Rain at Book-It Theatre Twenty Years of Novel Theatre

Join us on Wednesday, April 25, for a trip to Seattle to see Book-It Theatre's rendition of Garth Stein's bestselling novel, The Art of Racing in the Rain.

Included will be round-trip transportation, theatre tickets, and a reception with author Garth Stein.

Watch for details in our e-Newsletter soon.

Other magazines and newspapers are reporting shrinking readership

Who do you want to advertise with?

The Media Audit conducted by International Demographics of Houston.

Audit Bureau of Circulation

Freight-Free @ Forty

Order $40 worth of books on-line and pay no freight in the lower 48.

Yep, you read that right...

FREE SHIPPING

for orders* made on VillageBooks.com over $40!

(before tax)

*shipped to a single address

cascadiaweekly.com \ 360.647.8200 \ marketing@cascadiaweekly.com

32

Winter 2011-2012

Regular Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

All About BOOKS Books: A Living History

by Martyn Lyons

available now, hardcover, Getty Publications

This history of the book provides a look at one of the versatile and enduring technologies ever developed. The author traces the evolution of the book from ancient and medieval times, through the revolutionary impact of the invention of the printing press, to the rise of a publishing culture and impact of new technologies on this culture.

Unpacking My Library: Writers and Their Books edited by Leah Price

November, hardcover, Yale

As words and stories are increasingly disseminated through digital means, the significance of the book as object—whether pristine collectible or battered relic—is growing as well. This book spotlights the personal libraries of thirteen favorite novelists who share their collections with readers. This book is a solid stocking stuffer for all bibliophiles.

"Books make great gifts because they're easy to wrap!" –Amy Sedaris

“These were two of the best days of my life.”

Skylar Shinn, Florida

2011 Conference Attendee

Chuckanut Writers Conference

Inspiration into Action Friday and Saturday June 22 and 23, 2012 Whatcom Community College Bellingham, Washington For faculty listing and more information, visit

www.chuckanutwritersconference.com presented by

Follow us on Facebook

Left: Original serigraph titled “Along Chuckanut Drive” by Nancy McDonnell Spaulding, commissioned by Chuckanut Bay Gallery, www.chuckanutbaygallery.com

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Winter 2011-2012

33

Exte n d e d

H o u rs

November 25th-December 23rd Village Books & Paper Dreams will be open Monday­­-Saturday: 10am-9pm Sundays: 10am-7pm

Open:

ur

s

H

ay o lid

Ho

Late Night Shopping

• Christmas Eve 9am-6pm • New Year’s Eve 9am-6pm AND • New Year’s Day 11am-7pm Closed: • Thanksgiving & Christmas Days

At Village Books & Paper Dreams!

Sunday, December 18th, 7pm ‘til 9pm Come enjoy cookies, hot chocolate, and cider, and let us help you select those last-minute gifts!

WE SHIP BOOKS! Put your feet up, have an eggnog, and let us do the work.

And for a limited time...

Freight-Free @ Forty oks on-line Order $40 worth of bo the lower 48! and pay no freight in

FREE SHIPPING

...

Yep, you read that right llageBooks.com for orders made on Vi Orders must for over $40! (before tax) address. sent to a single

www.VillageBooks.com 34

Winter 2011-2012

Building Community One Book at a Time

Love & Justice Surprised by Joy / The Four Loves

by C. S. Lewis

available now, hardcover, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

C. S. Lewis’s autobiographical Surprised by Joy has become a deeply important book for those concerned with the compatibility of the rational and the spiritual. In The Four Loves, he reflects on the four basic kinds of human love—affection, friendship, erotic love, and charity. This book brings together two of Lewis’s most compelling and meaningful books, for believers and nonbelievers alike.

The Ajax Dilemma: Justice, Fairness, and Rewards

by Paul Woodruff

available now, hardcover, Oxford

Officially, this book is about justice and fairness, but its real topic is leadership in all its forms­—in academia, the military, and in business. Woodruff puts the Greek legend of Ajax to wonderfully inventive use, deriving all sorts of practical lessons from it about how be a good leader, a good follower, a good loser, and a good winner.

The Prosperous Heart: Creating a Life of "Enough"

by Julia Cameron

Living Commitment: The Art of Living

by Piers Benn

available now, paperback, McGill-Queens

Much recent social commentary has argued that the modern Western world is suffering a crisis of commitment.

Arguing that commitment is an important ingredient of happiness and must be reached by the rigorous exercise of our moral and rational capacities, Benn shows that achieving such should provide a much more meaningful life.

January, hardcover, Penguin

You would think that Julia Cameron would be out of positive messages to write about, but she's at it again with a new book in the new year, The Prosperous Heart. Of course, this book flows much like The Artist's Way, with daily pages and a multi-week commitment to changing how you think about your life. But instead of focusing on creativity this time, Julia wants us to look at our relationship to prosperity, not just in a financial sense, but also spiritually. What does it mean to "have enough?" And can we find fulfillment with all that we already enjoy in our lives? With this workbook, Julia can help us explore the meaning of living a "prosperous" life. –Christina

Village Books Gift Cards

Sometimes, it’s good to let THEM decide...

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Winter 2011-2012

35

Providing Whatcom County with special Places for our future readers.

WLT protection project - Stimpson Family Nature Reserve

Join us in our work.

WHATCOM LAND TRUST

360-650-9470

www.whatcomlandtrust.org

Nick Mikula

M.Ed. Graduate Program

LIVE, LEARN AND TEACH IN THE NORTH CASCADES

Earn a Master of Education from WWU and a Certificate of Leadership and Nonprofit Administration from North Cascades Institute in a unique residency program www.ncascades.org/graduate

36

Winter 2011-2012

Regular Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

Science & Nature A Great Gift...

The Elements Jigsaw Puzzle

by Theodore Gray

"When I was 13, I carpeted my bedroom floor with jigsaw puzzles. This 1000 piece beauty, showing Theodore Gray's fascinating depiction of the periodic table, would have been the centerpiece." –Rem

Wonders of the Universe

by Brian Cox

available now, hardcover, Harper Design

The universe is still a mystery to many people. It is roughly 13 billion years old and has about 100 billion galaxies.

Professor Brian Cox takes readers on a journey through the cosmos and describes how the universe works.

Professor Cox discusses the Big Bang and just how important stars are in generating life. Cox also delves into the theory of Dark Matter. This book is filled with amazing photographs and information about our universe. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in science as well as people who want better understanding of our universe. –Alex

Survival of the Beautiful: Art, Science, and Evolution

by David Rothenberg

November, hardcover, Bloomsbury

The beauty of nature is not arbitrary. Survival of the Beautiful is a revolutionary new examination of the interplay of beauty, art, and culture in evolution. Taking inspiration from Darwin's observation that animals have a natural aesthetic sense, philosopher and musician David Rothenberg probes why animals, humans included, have innate appreciation for beauty—and why nature is, indeed, beautiful.

A Great Gift...

The Science Book: Everything You Need to Know About the World and How it Works

by National Geographic

"This book would make a splendid gift for anyone interested in the sciences or just gaining knowledge. It has blurbs and information on a wide variety of subjects, ranging from the solar system, to chemistry, to geology (and much more!). It would be perfect for anyone in high school and older. It really does contain everything you need to know about the world and how it works." –Tiffany

Four Elements:

Winter: Five Windows on the Season

Reflections on Nature

by Adam Gopnik

available now, hardcover, Harmony

Why do we love winter? What is it about a snowstorm, or a frozen pond, that we find so beautiful? This elegant collection of essays attempts to answer these questions. It also celebrates– simply, quietly, and brilliantly–what the season means to us. Gopnik explores the cultural, historical and literary relevance of the months between November and March, and the result is a book that is relatively slim but immensely powerful. This is perfect fireside reading. –Sam

by John O'Donohue

Because of his sudden death at age 52, O’Donohue’s powerfully wise and lyrical voice has been profoundly missed, but his many readers are given a special opportunity to revisit John in a new book based on a series of papers he wrote on the elements of water, stone, air, and fire.

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

available now, paperback, House of Anansi Press

Winter 2011-2012

37

Business

A Great Gift...

Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence (Revised and Updated)

by Vicki Robin & Joe Dominquez

Village Books is a proud co-sponsor of the

Hot100Business BizBook Group A monthly meeting/book group for business owners & managers to discuss ideas that help accelerate business growth. See villagebooks.com for information.

"This book changed my life; we downsized, eliminated all debt and started living for ourselves instead of the big mortgage." –Cindi

A Great Gift...

Stuff On My Cat: The Book

by Mario Garza "I love this book! I've looked at it over and over again. I just can't get enough of seeing cats humiliated by their owners." –Annie

38

Winter 2011-2012

Village Books is a Dog-Friendly Store!

Regular Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

Culture & Politics Distrust That Particular Flavor

At Home: A Short History of Private Life

by William Gibson

by Bill Bryson

January, hardcover, Penguin

available now, paperback, Anchor

Known primarily as a novelist, Gibson has also been sought out by widely varying publications such as Wired, Rolling Stone, and the New York Times Magazine for his insights into contemporary culture. This book offers readers a privileged view into the mind of a writer whose thinking has shaped not only a generation of writers but our entire culture.

Bryson lives in an English parsonage where nothing of great significance has happened since the Romans decamped. Yet one day, he began to consider how little he knew about the ordinary, homely things of life. To remedy this, he decided to journey from room to room to “write a history of the world without leaving home.”

Reading the 21st Century: Books of the Decade, 2000-2009

by Stan Persky

available now, hardcover, McGill-Queens

Reading the 21st Century investigates the urgent themes, major works, and crisis of reading in an era of instant communication. An illuminating and accessible work about the present age, Reading the 21st Century introduces new ways of thinking about the world's most significant cultural, political, moral, and global issues of our time.

A Great Gift...

The Price of Civilization

by Jefferey Sachs "This book will change the way you think about the concepts of wealth and social responsibility. Perfect for the history buff, political nerd, or armchair sociologist on your holiday shopping list." –Isaac

The Time of Our Lives:

A Conversation About America; Who We Are, Where We've Been, and Where We Need to Go Now, to Recapture the American Dream

by Tom Brokaw

available, hardcover, Random House

Drawing inspiration from his childhood in South Dakota, Brokaw weaves together inspiring stories of Americans who are making a difference and personal stories from his own family history, to engage us in a conversation about our country and offer ideas for how we can revitalize the promise of the American Dream.

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Vultures' Picnic:

In Pursuit of Petroleum Pigs, Power Pirates, and High Finance Carnivores

by Greg Palast

November, hardcover, Penguin

Investigative journalist Greg Palast has spent his career uncovering the connection between the world of energy (read: oil) and finance. He's built a team that reads like a casting call for a Hollywood thriller to reveal how environmental disasters are caused by corporate corruption, failed legislation, and, most interestingly, veiled connections between the financial industry and energy titans.

Winter 2011-2012

39

We’re MUCH more than a Newspaper at the

We’re a Full Service Print comPany!

Want a sample of our work?

You’re holding one!

Why go anywhere else? Call us for all your

commercial Printing

Advertising | MAiling serviCes | digitAl & Offset Printing • Postcards • Calendars • Labels • Binding & Finishing • • Letterhead • Business Cards • Magazines • Newsletters • • Brochures • Presentation Folders • Carbonless Forms • • And More! • “We’re proud to be a locally owned and operated business in Whatcom County Since 1914.”

Call today for a free quote

360.733.5050 | www.bellinghamtennis.com

360-354-4444 Mitze & Mary Jo

advertising@lyndentribune.com

“ The financial support Peoples Bank provides to local business is far greater than most know. A strong, local bank like Peoples is vital to the health of this community.”

– Dee & Chuck Robinson, Village Books

Call (360) 354-4044 or visit any of our 10 convenient offices in Whatcom County www.peoplesbank-wa.com

PEO 1238_Chuckanut Reader Ad.indd 1

40

Winter 2011-2012

10/14/11 9:44 AM

Building Community One Book at a Time

Knowledge!

The World's Most Difficult Quiz: The King William’s College General Knowledge Papers

by Pat Cullen

November, paperback, University of Chicago Press

This book lives every bit up to its superlative name, offering an addictive assortment for history hotshots, fountains of fact, and perennial powerhouses of pub trivia. Guaranteed to challenge even the most ardent trivia enthusiast, this exhaustive compilation is organized thematically and chronologically and includes a set of previously unpublished questions.

A Great Gift...

Listomania: A World of Fascinating Facts in Graphic Detail by the Listomaniacs

"Better than the Book of Lists, with topics that run the gamut from former jobs of celebrities (Sean Connery was a coffin polisher) to 43 famous people who were adopted (Mark Twain and Steve Jobs). This is a fun and quirky gift for all ages." –Chuck

www.villagefamilyhealth.com

Angela Belcaster ARNP

www.VillageBooks.com 360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Winter 2011-2012

41

Enjoy Great Meals at These FAIRHAVEN Restaurants!

COLD DAY? HOT SOUP! Happy Hour Everyday 3-6pm $3 Pints and House Wine $3 Appetizers EVERYDAY 8 AM – 2 PM 1101 HARRIS AVENUE IN FAIRHAVEN

CLASSIC FAVORITES

Breakfast and Lunch Served Daily Homemade Soups and Pastries Gluten Free Pastries Available BEST MIMOSAS IN TOWN PLAN, HOST, AND CATER YOUR PRIVATE PARTIES OR COMPANY GATHERINGS AT HARRIS AVENUE CAFÉ!

“The Heart of Fairhaven since 1985” Open Daily on Fairhaven Village Green www.colophoncafe.com 360-647-0092

Come Check Out Our NEW Digs!

E-MAIL ROBIN FOR MORE INFORMATION PALADINRESTINC@GMAIL.COM

AW Asian Bistro Enjoy the fine art of Asian Dining!

Bistro

FAIRHAVEN PIZZA

•Chinese • Vietnamese

den •Thai • Japanese Way HAPPY HO A Sun.-Thurs. 3: UR open daily for Lunch & Dinner 00-5:30pm Fax 360.715.1803 12th & Mill in Historic Fairhaven • 715-3028

42

Winter 2011-2012

1307 11th Street In the ♥ of Fairhaven • 756-7561 Building Community One Book at a Time

The Future Remembered: The Seattle World’s Fair and Its Legacy

Northwest

by Alan Stein & Paula Becker available now, hardcover, History Link/HistoryInk and Seattle Center Foundation

Thursday, February 7th, 6:30pm

The Future Remembered: The Seattle World’s Fair and Its Legacy, is a 300page image rich commemorative book that explores this important event in more depth than ever before. Written by local experts and commissioned for the 50th anniversary of the Fair, this is a book not to be missed!

A Great Gift...

Northwest Trees

ALAN STEIN & PAULA BECKER will be the featured guests at the

CHUCKANUT RADIO HOUR

in the Crystal Ballroom of the Leopold Tickets $5: available at BrownPaperTickets.com, Village Books, & the VB Holiday Store in Bellis Fair Mall.

Read more on page 28.

Pacific Crest Trailside Reader: Oregon and

by Stephen F. Arno & Ramona P. Hammerly

Washington: Adventure, History, and Legend

by Rees Hughes and Corey Lewis

"This beautiful book is far more than just a field guide. Full of detailed and interesting facts, beautiful line drawings of some of the northwest's most familiar icons and covering all of cascadia, Northwest Trees makes a wonderful gift for that outdoor lover or nature enthusiast on your gift list." –Jessica

LORRAINE McCONAGHY

in the Whatcom Museum Rotunda Room Friday, December 2nd, 6-8:30pm Join us in welcoming author Lorraine McConaghy for special reception and event at the Whatcom Museum. Light appetizers and drinks will be provided.

Tickets are $3 for museum members and $5 for nonmembers. Museum members must present their museum membership card at the door. Tickets are available at BrownPaperTickets.com and at Village Books.

Proceeds benefit the Whatcom Museum.

available now, paperback, Mountaineers

This marvelous book (or two books —California is separate) will delight the imagination of anyone who has hiked or dreamed of hiking the 2,600 wonder trail otherwise known as the Pacific Crest. Legends of all kinds (trail angels, lost lakes!) mix with historical events and actual hiking mishaps and adventures. Excerpts from regional writers like Barry Lopez and Ursula LeGuin round out this must-have book for northwest hikers.

A Great Gift...

New Land, North of the Columbia: Historic Documents that Tell the Story of Washington State from Territory to Today

by Lorraine McConaghy

Whether you're a natural-born Washingtonian or a transplant like I am (though almost half my life have I lived here!), McConaghy's book will feel like finding treasures in grandma's attic. Filled with hundreds of fascinating documents, there's something to enthrall everyone on your gift list! –Dee

Frommer's Seattle Day by Day, 2nd Edition

by Beth Taylor

November, paperback, Wiley

Packed with color photos, this best-selling guide offers dozens of itineraries that show you how to see the best of Seattle in a short time—with bulleted maps that lead the way from sight to sight. This is the only guide that helps travelers organize their time to get the most out of a trip.

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Winter 2011-2012

43

Join a VB Book Club!

Authors do not attend VB Reads

Building Community One Book at at Time

Groups meet in the VB Readings Gallery (unless otherwise noted)

Fantasy

Engaged Citizens

Book Group

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.

December 20th, 7pm –Daughter of the Blood: The Black Jewels Trilogy

December 21st, noon –My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey

by Anne Bishop

by Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D.

January 17th, 7pm –Blood and Iron: A Novel of the Promethean Age

January 18th, noon –Leadership and the New Science: Discovering Order in a Chaotic World

by Elizabeth Bear

by Margaret J. Wheatley

February 21st, 7pm –Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay

February 15th, noon –An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness

Young Adult

by Kay Redfield Jamison

General Lit

Book Group

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.

December 5th, 7pm –Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand

by Helen Simonson

January 2nd, 7pm –A History of the World in 6 Glasses

Village Books' young adult book group, led by Rachel, looks at every kind of young adult book: award winners, what's popular, funny, tragic, some fantasy, history, and, most importantly, what WE want to read! Join us on the 2nd Tuesday of every month in the BOOK FARE CAFÉ on the mezzanine of VB at 7pm.

December 13th, 7pm –The Golden Compass

by Philip Pullman

January 10th, 7pm –Speak

by Tom Standage

by Laurie Halse Anderson

February 6th, 7pm –In the Presence of the Enemy

February 7th, 7pm Note: We’re meeting a week earlier this month, because the 2nd Tuesday falls on Valentine’s Day!

by Elizabeth George This is the 2012 Whatcom Reads Pick.

See WhatcomReads.org for information!

44

Join Rachel every 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7pm for a lively discussion of fantasy books. Meetings are in the BOOK FARE CAFÉ on the mezzanine level of Village Books.

Winter 2011-2012

–Inkheart

by Cornelia Funke

Regular Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

Open to everyone!

VB Reads...

Unless otherwise noted, authors do not attend VB Reads.

environmental conservation book group

Join us for the Village Books/Whatcom Land Trust co-sponsored Environmental Conservation Book Club that meets the 2nd Monday of each month from 5-6pm. We discuss contemporary and classic texts on conservation, agriculture, and environmental issues in the Pacific Northwest. Occasionally, we also include fictional literature that inspires a sense of place and attachment to our native landscape.

December 12th, 5pm – The Good Rain: Across Time & Terrain in the Pacific Northwest

by Timothy Egan

January 9th, 5pm –The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed

by John Vaillant

February 13th, 5pm –Natural Grace: The Charm, Wonder, and Lessons of Pacific Northwest Animals

by William Dietrich

Afternoon Book Chat Come discuss contemporary literature with Sittrea the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 1pm. Open to all!

December 14th, 1pm –The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

by Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows

January 11th, 1pm –Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand

by Helen Simonson

February 8th, 1pm –In the Presence of the Enemy

by Elizabeth George This is the 2012 Whatcom Reads Pick.

See WhatcomReads.org for information!

Motherhood by the Book Meet with Claire the 2nd Sunday of every month at 2pm in the readings gallery for an hour of spirited discussion of books that celebrate the trials, tribulations, and rewards of motherhood, and what it means to be a mother. This group is by no means exclusive to moms with kids still at home. Whether you're a mother or stepmother to an infant, toddler, tween, adolescent, or adult, this book group is just for us!

December 11th, 2pm –Best Kept Secret by Amy Hatvany The author, Amy Hatvany, will be joining us for this discussion!

Have you heard about our book group newsletter?

This monthly newsletter, presented by VB staff member Rachel, is packed with author and staff interviews, book reviews, genre focuses, and discussion questions.

Caution: may result in a book addiction.

Sign up by updating your email profile at VillageBooks.com or by emailing Rachel@villagebooks.com.

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

January 8th, 2pm –The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender February 12th, 2pm –Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

by Amy Chua

VB Reads...

Winter 2011-2012

45

HISTORY

The Battle of the Tanks: Kursk, 1943

by Lloyd Clark

November, hardcover, Atlantic Monthly Press

Lisbon: War in the Shadows of the City of Light, 1939-45

by Neill Lochery

November, hardcover, PublicAffairs

A favorite of our publisher rep Cindy Heidemann, she says it reads like a thriller because Lisbon was the “real Casablanca” in WWII. The only European city in which both the Allies and the Axis operated openly, it was temporary home to royalty, spies, and all manner of riffraff. As one operations officer put it, the daily scene at Lisbon’s airport was like “Casablanca” times twenty.

On July 5, 1943, the greatest land battle in history began when Nazi and Red Army forces clashed near the town of Kursk. Two million men supported by 6,000 tanks and 5,000 aircraft convened for the epic confrontation, the epitome of “total war.” When it was over, despite suffering seven times more casualties, the Soviets had won a decisive victory and changed the course of the war.

Shop 24/7 at VILLAGEBOOKS.com A Great Gift...

The Killing of Crazy Horse

by Thomas Powers

The Killing of Crazy Horse

available now, paperback, Vintage

by Thomas Powers

The death of Crazy Horse was a traumatic event not only in Sioux but also in American history. With the Great Sioux War as background and context, drawing on many new materials as well as documents in libraries and archives, Thomas Powers recounts the final months and days of Crazy Horse's life.

This is a great read for any history buff interested in the westward expansion of America following the Civil War. Powers explores the conflicts of cultures and the ultimately futile battles fought by the Sioux in the attempt to stem the tide of buffalo hunters, gold miners, and settlers flooding into the Great Plains. –Mel

The Lost Empire of Atlantis: A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story of Hope, Deception, and Survival at Jonestown

by Julia Scheeres

available now, hardcover, Simon & Schuster

A Thousand Lives is the story of Jonestown as it has never been told before. Scheeres drew from thousands of recently declassified FBI documents and audiotapes, as well as rare videos and interviews, to piece together an unprecedented and compelling history of the doomed camp, focusing on the people who lived there.

46

Winter 2011-2012

History's Greatest Mystery Revealed

by Gavin Menzies

available now, hardcover, Harper

Meticulously analyzing exciting new documentary and academic research, metallurgy, ancient shipbuilding and navigation techniques, archaeological artifacts, and cutting-edge DNA evidence, renowned historian Gavin Menzies made an astonishing discovery: not only did Atlantis exist; it was an advanced trading empire that spanned from the Mediterranean to the Great Lakes in North America to Kerala in India.

Shop 24 hours a day at www.VillageBooks.com

Lions of the West: Heroes and Villains of the Westward Expansion

by Robert Morgan available now, hardcover, Algonquin

This book contains ten short biographies of major players in the 18th and 19th century land grab which created the cross-continent nation in which we now live. Morgan draws from many sources, American, European, and Mexican, giving an expansive and intriguing view of the cultural and political climate as well as the personalities which shaped a destiny that may not have been so manifest after all. Fun and lively vignettes to entertain the history buff. –Terri

The River Sea: The Amazon in History, Myth, and Legend

By Marshall De Bruhl

November, paperback, Counterpoint

In this compelling history of the Amazon since its discovery by Europeans in 1500, De Bruhl paints the portraits of one amazing character after another: explorers like Alexander von Humboldt; madmen like Lope de Aguirre; and activists like Sister Dorothy Stang, who gave her life trying to save the rain forest. In the background is always the mighty river itself: intimidating, awe-inspiring, and ecologically fragile.

Race for the South Pole: The Expedition Diaries of Scott and Amundsen

by Roland Huntford

November, paperback, Continuum

For the first time, Scott’s unedited diaries run alongside those of both Amundsen and Olav Bjaaland, never before translated into English. Huntford weaves the narrative from the protagonists’ accounts of their own fate. What emerges is a whole new understanding of what really happened on the ice and the definitive account of the Race for the South Pole.

whatcom folk school ~ Take a Class - Teach a Class ~

Celebrating fifteen years of stimulating presentations about topics that are important to our community.

Real people.

Real issues.

Meetings are from 12 to 1:30 p.m. on the 4th Wednesday of each month at Northwood Hall.

For more information, visit

www.bellinghamcityclub.org

We Look Forward to Seeing You

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

www.WhatcomFolkSchool.org Winter 2012 Catalog Available Now 360.319.7495 Winter 2011-2012

47

BIOGRAPHIES Sarge: The Life and Times of Sargent Shriver

The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle

by Scott Stossel

and the End of America's Childhood

December, paperback, Other Press

As founder of the Peace Corps, Head Start, and the Special Olympics, Shriver was a key social and political figure whose influence continues to the present day. This authorized biography, exhaustively researched and finely rendered reads like an epic novel, with "Sarge" marching through the historical events of the last century.

by Jane Leavy

available now, paperback, Harper

Drawing on more than 500 interviews with friends and family, as well as teammates and opponents from every level of baseball, Jane Leavy delivers the definitive account of one of the biggest talents and most tragic figures to ever play the game. Leavy goes beyond the myth and the hyperbole to understand the person Mantle was and the paradoxical hold "The Mick" had on a generation of fans who revered him.

Hero: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia

by Michael Korda

available now, paperback, Harper

Michael Korda's Hero is the story of an epic life on a grand scale: a revealing, in-depth, and gripping biography of the extraordinary, mysterious, and dynamic Englishman whose daring exploits and romantic profile—including his blond, sun-burnished good looks and flowing white robes—made him an object of intense fascination, still famous the world over as "Lawrence of Arabia."

Servicing Most European & Japanese Models

360 671.2420

48

Winter 2011-2012

Building Community One Book at a Time

Ghost In The Wires: My Adventures as the World's Most Wanted Hacker

MEMOIRS

by Kevin Mitnick

available now, hardcover, Little, Brown and Company

Before groups like Anonymous were hacking into people's computers and sending viral threats on the Internet, there was Kevin Mitnick. Kevin Mitnick has always been fascinated with how technology worked and always wanted to know more. In this ground breaking memoir, Kevin Mitnick describes what it was like to be the world's most wanted hacker. Kevin talks about how he broke past security systems of major companies and how he was always ahead of the authorities.

After spending 5 years in prison, Kevin is now an ethical hacker, getting paid to break into computer systems in order to test out their security. This is one book I could not put down; it is fast paced and reads like a novel. It is an excellent book for anyone who is tech savvy or enjoys a great edge-of-your-seat thrill ride. –Alex

Here Comes Trouble: Stories from My Life

by Michael Moore

available now, hardcover, Hachette

One moment he's an eleven-year-old boy lost in the Senate and found by Bobby Kennedy; in the next, he's inside the Bitburg cemetery with a dazed and confused Ronald Reagan. Capturing the zeitgeist of the past fifty years, yet deeply personal and unflinchingly honest, this book takes readers on an unforgettable, take-no-prisoners ride through the life and times of Michael Moore.

A Great Gift...

With the Old Breed

by E.B. Sledge

"This is the memoir of Eugene Sledge of the 1st Marine Division, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. Sledge takes the reader to the battles of Peleliu and Okinawa and shows what it was like being a marine fighting in the Pacific Theater during World War II." –Alex

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

by Amy Chua

December, paperback, Penguin

Oh my, how do I describe this book?

It is by turns shocking, infuriating, revelatory, and heartwarming. Never have I known a mother so obsessed with every aspect of her daughters' lives. This book is truly a worthwhile read for two reasons: As as a parent, you might learn a thing or two from Chua about fiercely standing by your principles, or B) you may fall to your knees and give thanks that Chua is NOT your mother.

I couldn't put this one down. –Claire

Decision Points

by George W. Bush

now available, paperback, Broadway Books

Decision Points is the memoir of America's 43rd President George W. Bush. This gives the reader an in-depth account of the President's life during his 8 years in office. Bush talks about his alcoholism and his decision to quit drinking and adopting a much stronger Christian faith. He also discusses how he felt about Dick Cheney and his thoughts on the continuing War on Terror. This book is an excellent read for anybody who likes reading memoirs of past presidents and anybody who wants to get a better understanding of George W. Bush. –Alex

www.VillageBooks.com 360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Winter 2011-2012

49

BUY LOCAL WEEK And Online Auction Here's your chance to find that perfect gift/experience for a person on your list (or yourself ) in the 4th annual Buy Local First Auction. It begins November 21st and runs through December 4th, coinciding with the 9th Annual Buy Local Week, November 25th through December 4th.

Look over the expansive list of items at www.sconnect.org.

During Buy Local Week, Sustainable Connections is specifically asking the community to make a 10% shift in their holiday purchasing from chains to locally independently owned businesses in Whatcom County. Many studies have found that when money is spent with local, independently owned stores, more of that money stays local, re-circulating in our community, resulting in greater economic activity, and creating new jobs.

Village Books Gift Cards

Purchase or redeem at Village Books, Paper Dreams, and the Holiday Store in Bellis Fair

Check out Paper Dreams for

eBook & Smart Phone Covers/Protectors that will help you stand out from the crowd.

50

Winter 2011-2012

Regular Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

Not All

eReaders are

Created Equal

by Paul Hanson

Community Outreach Director, Village Books

S

ince starting here at VB last June as our resident "eBook Guru" (hard for me to claim since this is an ever-changing and expanding landscape that no one is EVER master of ), there have been MANY changes that anyone owning an eReader—or is considering purchasing—should know about: • More than 80% of all eBooks are PRICED THE SAME wherever you buy them. So, with all things being equal, why not shop locally and keep your dollars in your community?

• Publishers are offering sales on eBooks all the time. If you subscribe to our ePistle eNewsletter, we'll notify you when they happen! Subscribe at villagebooks.com or let one of our booksellers know, and we'll sign you up.

• There are more eReaders coming out all the time. So far, the iPad & the NOOK are still topping the list of recommended eReaders. Which eReader you should have depends upon how you plan to use it. We're happy to talk with you and help you decide which one would be best for you.

With all the changes, one thing remains the same. No matter how many times we shout this from the rooftops, this is the number one piece of news that continues to surprise and shock people. WE CAN SELL YOU EBOOKS FOR EVERY EREADER EXCEPT KINDLE. That's right, every other company has decided to play fair and offer readers the fREADom of choice except for Amazon. If you have a Kindle or a Kindle Fire, you MUST buy your ebooks from Amazon. IF YOU OWN A KINDLE, AMAZON OWNS YOU. This is especially important as we are heading into the holidays. I've spoken with dozens of loyal customers of independent bookstores, and of Village Books in particular, who have bemoaned that their friends and relatives, knowing of their passion for books, have given them Kindles as gifts––thus effectively converting them from happy Village Books patrons to a guilt-ridden Amazon customers. So, as you're making your wish list this holiday season, be sure to let your loved ones know, ANYTHING BUT A KINDLE. Remember, FRIENDS OF VILLAGE BOOKS DON'T LET FRIENDS BUY KINDLES. 360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Winter 2011-2012

51

We've Got

TOYS GALORE! Lots of great toys at great prices

Come in and pick up a Melissa & Doug holiday catalog while they last—VB coupon included!

GGESTIONS, pick up a

SU For even more GREAT GIFT

KIDS’ CATALOG Here at VBin the

t Books for Children Catalog Pick up your copy of the ABC Bes l-color catalog featuring over 200 store this holiday season. It’s a ful s, and critically acclaimed titles. bookseller favorites, award winner

52

Winter 2011-2012

Regular Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

KIDS & TEACHERS Parents Librarians Grandparents

PICTURE BOOKS Stuck

by Oliver Jeffers available now, hardcover, Philomel

When Floyd's kite gets stuck in a tree, he's determined to get it out. But how?

Well, by knocking it down with his shoe, of course. But strangely enough, it too gets stuck. And the only logical course of action . . . is to throw his other shoe.

Only now it's stuck! Surely there must be something he can use to get his kite unstuck. An orangutan? A boat? His front door? Yes, yes, and yes. And that's only the beginning.

I Want My Hat Back

By Jon Klassen

available now, hardcover, Candlewick Press

Poor bear. He just wants his hat back, but everyone's keeping mum. The hilarity in this book stems from the deadpan expressions of each of the characters. Kids will love finding bear's hat. You'll love looking at the artwork.

And everyone will be giggling. –Lindsey

Hugs from Pearl

by Paul Schmid

November, hardcover, HarperCollins

E-mergency

by Tom Lichtenheld available now, hardcover, Chronicle

The letters A through Z are going through their day when, whoops!, E has an accident and must rest. The other letters have to decide who will pick up all the jobs that busy little E has to do.

O is “oloctod” to chip in to “holp.” With witty illustrations and the resulting tongue-twisters, this is a fun read! –Sarah

Pearl loves to hug. However, Pearl is a porcupine. And hugs are a little unpleasant coming from a porcupine. Pearl’s big heart yearns to hug everyone but those quills are causing some big problems!

Eventually, she creates a perfect solution. With a soft color palette and charming illustrations, this one is a keeper!

A Great Gift...

Everyone Poops

by Taro Gomi

The Artist who Painted a Blue Horse

by Eric Carle

available now, hardcover, Philomel

Every child has an artist inside them, and this vibrant new picture book from Eric Carle will help let it out. The artist in this book paints the world as he sees it, just like a child. There's a red crocodile, an orange elephant, a purple fox and a polka-dotted donkey. More than anything, there's imagination. Filled with some of the most magnificently colorful animals of Eric Carle's career, this tribute to the creative life celebrates the power of art.

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Dogs. Bugs. Birds. People.

Everyone! As relevant today as when it was published, this little gem helps take the stigma out of one of my favorite pastimes! –Charlie

Winter 2011-2012

53

Middle Readers

May B.

by Caroline Starr Rose January, hardcover, Random House

One of the things that instantly drew me into the book May B. by Caroline Starr Rose, was the unique format of the novel. Written in verse, like a long poem, this story is surprisingly complete and descriptive. May B. is a young girl who is abandoned in a sod house on the Kansas Prairie after the couple she is supposed to be helping runs off. May B. keeps herself alive through the autumn months, rationing her food and keeping the fire burning, but she is lonely and fearful. She longs to go home. Author Caroline Starr Rose, inspired by the Little House stories of Laura Ingalls Wilder, writes beautifully, and underneath the story of survival is another story about a little girl who really just wants to learn, read, and be back home with her family. This is a great book for older elementary and junior high kids, but also for adults too. –Christina

Diary of a Wimpy Kid #6 Cabin Fever

by Jeff Kinney

November, hardcover, Abrams

Greg is having a hard time. Not only is he facing some questions about his involvement in a situation at school, a surprise blizzard comes and snows in the entire Heffley family. He’s worried about being punished at school, but is being trapped with his family punishment enough?

A Great Gift...

Every Thing On It

by Shel Silverstein "Are you kiddin' me?! A new Shel Silverstein?! Here's more rambunctious, previously unpublished poetry for the young at heart. Gather 'round and read them out loud." –Dave

Liesl and Po

by Lauren Oliver, illustrated by Kei Acedera

Tuesdays at the Castle

by Jessica Day George

available now, hardcover, Bloomsbury USA

Charming is a great word for this little story featuring Princess Celia, her siblings, and Castle Glower. Celia has a very special relationship with the castle, which moves and shifts its floor plan every Tuesday. I love how the castle is a character in itself as it aids Celia and her siblings in resisting the overthrowing of their parents' kingdom. –Claire

available now, hardcover, HarperCollins

Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom.

One night, a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone. That same night, an alchemist's apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something decidedly less remarkable. This mistake draws the three of them into a remarkable journey.

Oddfellow's Orphanage

by Emily Winfield Martin

January, hardcover, Random House

Emily Winfield Martin is one of my favorite artists and bloggers and now she is out with a sweet little chapter book––illustrated with her own unique paintings––about an orphanage of unusual children, including a little onion-headed boy and a hedgehog. The book is full of fairytale creatures, and clever characters, and the classes the children attend are just the type children would wish to take. I especially enjoyed how each chapter begins with a short "bio" of each main character. If you enjoyed her book, The Black Apple's Paperdolls, you'll have fun reading this book. –Christina

54

Winter 2011-2012

Building Community One Book at a Time

MORE

Middle Readers A Great Gift...

The Mysterious Benedict Society: Mr. Benedict’s Book of Perplexing Puzzles, Elusive Enigmas, and Curious Conundrums

by Trenton Lee Stewart, illustrated by Diana Sudyka available now, hardcover, Little,Brown

For all of you Mysterious Benedict Society fans! Here is a book of riddles for you to solve just as if you were a member of the society. It also includes some member biographies, rules of the society, and a personal message from Mr. Benedict himself. A great companion to a great series!

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

by Kate Dicamillo

"The cover and illustrations in this book were so intriguing, I took a copy home to see what it was about.

I wasn’t disappointed; the story more than matched its illustrations. Here’s a childrens book that has all the drama of an adult novel. Edward is a very haughty and spoiled toy rabbit whose circumstances change in ways he could never have imagined. In the end he learns how to love and be loved, and therein, for me at least, lies the meaning of Christmas." –Jim

Young Adult A Great Gift...

The Warrior Heir

by Cinda Williams Chima "For all of you still clutching onto your Harry Potter books, put them down. Finally there's a series that will fill your HP void—magical guilds, a war between wizards, dragons, this series has it all." –Kyle

A Great Gift...

Inkheart

by Cornelia Funke "As a bibliophile, I'm biased toward books about book lovers, but that doesn't diminish the fact that this is a beautifully crafted tale within a tale, no matter your age." –Rachel

His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass

by Philip Pullman, introduced by Lucy Hughes-Hallett December, hardcover, Everyman's Library

Pullman's heroine, Lyra, is a precocious girl living in a parallel universe, in which science, theology, and magic are entwined. The epic story that takes us through three novels is an audacious and profound reimagining of Milton's Paradise Lost that has already inspired a number of serious books of literary criticism.

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Winter 2011-2012

55

Young Adult Daughter of Smoke and Bone

By Laini Taylor

available now, hardcover, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

I read a lot and I enjoy most of what I read, but it's rare for me to adore a book and I adored this one. The pacing is incredible, the writing gorgeous, the characters likable, and many twists entirely unexpected. I can't wait for the next installment in this series! –Rachel

The First in the Series is Now in Paperback!

Matched: #1 in the Trilogy

Crossed: Matched Trilogy #2

by Ally Condie

available now, hardcover, Dutton

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky—taken by the Society to his certain death—only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake. Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border.

Inheritance

by Christopher Paolini available now, hardcover, Knopf

Not so very long ago, Eragon was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders.

Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chances.

Check out the VB READS Young Adult and Fantasy BOOK GROUPS!

56

Winter 2011-2012

See page 44 for information!

Legend

by Marie Lu November, hardcover, Putnam

Day and June seem to have nothing in common. One is a criminal, one is a prodigy. One is rich, one is poor. The murder of June’s brother brings them together when they realize that they both have been lied to and now need to discover the truth that no one wants them to know. A dystopian thriller that will have you turning pages late into the night!

The Scorch Trials: Maze Runner Trilogy #2

by James Dashner

available now, paperback, Ember

At last, book two of the Maze Runner trilogy is out in paperback! If you haven't read this series and love gripping, dystopian, young adult fiction, then what are you waiting for? The story of young Thomas, struggling through a series of brutal tests to potentially save humanity, is thrilling.

Thankfully, the third installment of the series, The Death Cure is finally on our shelves! I know what I'll be reading next.... –Claire

Regular Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm Building Community One Book at a Time

Family

Brain Rules for Baby: How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five

by John Medina

The Geek Dad Book for Aspiring Mad Scientists:

available now, paperback, Pear Press

The Coolest Experiments and Projects for Science Fairs and Family Fun

by Ken Denmead

Novmeber, paperback, Penguin

As Ken Denmead explains, most kids lack an understanding of science and an awareness of how it influences our everyday lives. This book will help scientists-inthe-making discover how our world works, with creative project ideas including how to: grow crystals to power your Stargate and set your room aglow; extract your own DNA and decode your genes; and build a MacGyver radio from nothing but cast-off electrical and office supplies.

EVERYONE has advice to give when it comes to raising a child. So how do you cut through the clutter? Do what I did and turn to science! This is, hands down, the best book I've read on early childhood development.

It explains through practical examples and stories how the brain develops/works and how we as caretakers can use that knowlege to guide our children. Praise effort窶馬ot I.Q. Teach empathy through example and you will profoundly effect who your child becomes later in life. This is a great read, not only for expectant and new parents, but for anyone interested in better understanding how we all become who we are. 窶適elly C.

Check out the VB Reads Motherhood by the Book Book Group!

See page 45 for information.

A LOT OF FLOWERS

A Holiday Tradition Unique Gifts, Wreaths & Greens Stocking Stuffers & More!

A Fairhaven Favorite for 26 Years

360-671-2626 窶｢ 800-392-BOOK 窶｢ www.villagebooks.com

Winter 2011-2012

57

2012 WWU

children’s literature conference Continuing the Tradition and Excitement!

WWU’s Children’s Literature Conference is an event where teachers and librarians, readers and writers gather to celebrate and learn about children’s literature. Conference participants are afforded a unique opportunity to listen to, meet, and interact with the featured speakers. Village Books will again be on hand with the authors’ books, which may be purchased for autographing. Each year the conference features gifted writers and this year is no exception.

WWU Saturday, February 25th • Location: Western Washington University Performing Arts Center-Concert Hall • Time- 8am: doors open for book sales, autographing, and registration 9am-3pm: Conference • Registration: Early bird registration (before Jan. 27th): $65–after that, $75 Discounts available for full-time students and retired educators

Clock Hours: 5 clock hours available.

Registration available at the conference.

For more information, contact Sylvia Tag (Sylvia.Tag@wwu.edu)

The 2012 Speakers will be: Gary Schmidt—Newbery Honor and Printz Honors for Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, Newbery Honor for The Wednesday Wars, and National Book Award Finalist for Okay for Now.

Patrick Carman—author of Land of Elyon, Skeleton Creek Series, The 39 Clues, and YALSA Reluctant Reader Pick Thirteen Days to Midnight.

Laura Mcgee Kvasnosky—author and illustrator of Zelda and Ivy: The Runaways (Geisel Medal), Really Truly Bingo, See You Later, Alligator! and many more fun books.

Complete conference information is available online on the Children’s Literature Conference website (www.wwuclc.com) and on Facebook. A link to the registration form (including online registration) will be available in early January. In the meantime, save the date and pass along this information to interested authors, illustrators, teachers, and librarians.

58

Winter 2011-2012

Regular Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8:30pm • Sun 11am–7pm

Literature LIVE!

EVENTS

So far in

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 VB e-vent newsletter!

NOVEMBER Fri., Nov. 18, 7pm PETER LAUFER –Calexico: True Lives of the Borderlands & –No Animals Were Harmed: The Controversial Line between Entertainment and Abuse Village Books presents an evening with award-winning, investigative journalist, Peter Laufer, as he discusses and signs his two newest books.

Sat., Nov. 19, 7pm JOEL BAKAN –Childhood Under Siege: How Big Business Targets Children Joel Bakan’s new book Childhood Under Siege, is equal parts parenting guide and hard-hitting social commentary. This is a groundbreaking sequel to Bakan’s hit book and film The Corporation.

Thur., Nov. 24 HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Village Books and Paper Dreams will be closed. Enjoy the holiday!

Mon., Nov. 28, 7pm OPEN MIC WITH LAUREL LEIGH Village Books invites everyone to enjoy local talents as they share their written words. Not published? No worries. Feel free to share some of your own writing! Sign up at our main counter on the first floor. Laurel Leigh, local writer and teacher, will host.

Tues., Nov. 29, 7pm TERRY THOMAS –Religion to Reality Religion to Reality follows Dr. Terry Thomas' spiritual journey around the world as he examines the ancient purposes of spiritual beliefs and why many no longer work in contemporary society. Dr. Thomas is based in the Pacific Northwest and offers workshops and presentations on life breakthroughs, coping with grief, and the use of meaningful, practical, common sense spirituality.

DECEMBER

Thurs., Dec. 1, 10am-8:30pm Book Fare Café One Year Anniversary Celebrate chef/owner Charles Claassen’s one year anniversary of owning the Book Fare Café. Come in any time throughout the day for some delicious specials, coupons, free cake with every purchase, a raffle for a $20 gift certificate, and more. There will be live music as well. Come celebrate as Book Fare Café thanks the community for supporting local, organic food.

Thurs., Dec., 1, 7pm LIZ ADAIR –Cold River

Fiction

Award-winning author Liz Adair makes worlds collide in her newest romantic suspense release, Cold River.

From Sedro-Woolley, Adair will bring some of her famous carrot cake to enjoy at her reading.

Fri., Dec. 2, 6-8:30pm At the Whatcom Museum Rotunda Room LORRAINE MCCONAGHY –New Land, North of the Columbia: Historic Documents That Tell the Story of Washington State from Territory to Today Village Books & the Whatcom Museum present an evening reception and author event with Lorraine McConaghy, for her new book New Land, North of the Columbia. Historian Lorraine McConaghy traversed the state to cull the 400-plus items that compose this visually rich documented history of Washington. The event will take place at the Whatcom Museum's Rotunda Room. Light appetizers and drinks will be provided. Tickets are $3 for museum members and $5 for non-members. Museum members must present their museum membership card at the door. Proceeds benefit the Whatcom Museum. Tickets are available at BrownPaperTickets.com and at Village Books.

Sat., Dec. 3, 10:30-11am Preschool Story time with Claire

KIDS!

Join Village Books employee Claire for our preschool story time. This month, story time will be in our kids section, on the comfy bean bag chairs. We'll read various stories and do some related crafts. For ages 3-5 years old.

Sat., Dec. 3, 7pm Poetry!

JOHN BURGESS –Graffito JOANNIE STANGELAND –Into the Rumored Spring & STEPHEN ROXBOROUGH –This Wonderful Perpetual Beautiful Come listen to three regional, renowned authors as they read, and perform from their latest books of poetry.

Tues., Dec. 6, 7pm RENÉE D’AOUST –Body of a Dancer Renée E. D'Aoust's Body of a Dancer is a remarkably clear-eyed descent into New York's surreal world of modern dance, where piercing self-doubt and ambition give way to luminous instants of transcendence, and where the body is a site of pain and beauty and discipline and joy, a home you can never fully inhabit and never fully leave.

Events take place in the Readings Gallery of Village Books and are FREE unless otherwise noted.

If you can’t make it to an event, just call us to arrange for autographed copies!

Continued...

Winter 2011-2012

59

... events continued from the previous page

Literature

LIVE!

Wed., Dec. 7, 7pm Non-author event Natural Healthcare Series: Women’s Health Revised: A Holistic Perspective KIM SANDSTROM, ND, LMP, Bellingham Natural Family Medicine A lot has changed in women’s health since the first publication of Our Bodies, Ourselves 40 years ago! Dr. Kimberly Sandstrom will share highlights from this book and her experience as a naturopathic physician. This is the last of the season, and is co-sponsored by Bellingham Natural Family Medicine and the Community Food Co-op.

Thurs., Dec. 8, 7pm JEAN LAYTON –Gluten-Free Baking for Dummies Gluten-Free Baking for Dummies is for the millions of people who suffer from Celiac disease, their friends and family, and anyone looking for healthy and tasty wheat- and gluten-free baking recipes.

Includes Fri., Dec. 9, 7pm Slideshow JOE UPTON –Bering Sea Blues: A Crabber's Tale of Fear in the Icy North

The Bering Sea, with its notoriously bad weather and wild seas, is one of the most dangerous places on earth for commercial fishing. Joe Upton, author of the memoir Bering Sea Blues: A Crabber's Tale of Fear in the Icy North, discovered this first hand.

Fabien Maman, the founding father of vibrational sound healing, will present his revolutionary color slides documenting the profound impact acoustic sound has in balancing and harmonizing our subtle energy fields, chakras, and physical bodies.

Includes Slideshow

Follow the Dream is based on the life of Heidi Thomas' grandmother, who rode bucking stock in rodeos during the 1920s and 30s. She will include a slideshow presentation.

Tues., Dec. 13, noon-1pm WESTERN CONNECTIONS BROWN-BAG SERIES Presenter: BRAD JOHNSON Topic: Stop Calling It Global Warming!

The Principles of a Complex Problem Brad Johnson, Professor of Physics and Chair of the department of Physics and Astronomy at WWU will talk about the basic physical principles (once controversial!) governing the dynamics of Earth’s atmosphere. Co-sponsored by Western Washington University Libraries.

60

The Alpine Winter is another thrilling Pacific Northwest-set crime novel featuring the unforgettable Emma Lord, by renowned Seattle author Mary Daheim.

Wed., Dec. 14, 7pm MARTIN LIMÓN –Mr. Kill with CARA BLACK –Murder in Passy Seattle author Martin Limón will read from his latest crime fiction book, Mr. Kill. Cara Black will join to talk about her best-selling Aimée Leduc series.

Thurs., Dec. 15, 7pm GREG DOUD –Runtime Error Come listen to local author Greg Doud read from his new mystery novel, Runtime Error.

Fri., Dec. 16, 6pm Book Fare Café Champagne Tasting Join chef/owner Charles Claassen at the Book Fare Café for a holiday champagne tasting. We'll explore various regions of the world of bubbly, from rose brut to presecco. Tickets must be purchased in advance for $15 per person, either at the café or on BrownPaperTickets.com. Bottles will be available for purchase, and available to order in bulk for your holiday and New Year's celebrations!

Mon., Dec. 26, 7pm No open mic this month See you next month!

Holiday Hours

Sat., Dec. 10, 7pm FABIEN MAMAN with TERRES UNSOELD –The Tao of Sound

Mon., Dec. 12, 7pm HEIDI THOMAS –Follow the Dream

Tues., Dec. 13, 7pm MARY DAHEIM –The Alpine Winter

Winter 2011-2012

Sunday, December 18th Open 10am-9pm We’re staying open late to help you with your last-minute shopping needs!

Saturday, December 24th

Christmas Eve - We’re opening & closing early!

Open 9am-6pm

Sunday, December 25th

Merry Christmas!

Village Books and Paper Dreams are Closed Saturday, December 31st

New Year’s Eve

SALE!

Opening early at 9am, closing at 6pm.

Sunday, January 1st

Happy New Year!

SALE!

Open 11am-7pm

See page 4 to find the hours for the Village Books Holiday Store in Bellis Fair.

So far in

JANUARY

Wed., Jan. 4, noon-1pm Natural Healthcare Brown Bag Series Join us the first Wednesday of each month from noon-1pm for a natural healthcare brown bag series featuring a variety of local health care providers on topics ranging from chiropractic, homeopathy, nutrition, and more. Check our website for updates.

Includes Fri., Jan. 6, 7pm Slideshow CHRIS LINDER –Science on Ice: Four Polar Expeditions

Fri., Jan. 20, 6:30pm ELIZABETH GEORGE –Believing the Lie

Leopold Author Lecture Series A Free Event!

New York Times best-selling author Elizabeth George joins us in Bellingham for her latest mystery, Believing the Lie. Held at the Leopold Crystal Ballroom, this event is free and open to the public. Co-sponsored by the Leopold Retirement Residence.

See page 12 to read about her February Whatcom READS! events.

Sat., Jan. 21, 4pm NAOMI BENARON –Running the Rift

Oceanographer and award-winning photographer Chris Linder chronicles four polar science expeditions in this richly illustrated volume, from Adélie penguin colonies to the Greenland Ice Sheet. Each trip finds Linder teamed up with a prominent journalist, and together they reveal how science actually gets done at the poles.

Running the Rift follows Jean Patrick Nkuba, a gifted Rwandan boy, from the day he knows that running will be his life to the moment he must run to save his life, a ten-year span in which his country is undone by the Hutu-Tutsi tensions. Running the Rift is a Bellwether Prize winner awarded biennially by Barbara Kingsolver for an unpublished novel that addresses issues of social justice.

Sat., Jan. 7, 11am-4pm RESOLUTIONS

Mon., Jan. 23, 7pm Open mic with Laurel Leigh

Have you made any New Year’s resolutions yet? Looking for some inspiration to jump-start the season? Join us for our annual “Resolutions,” an inspirational day full of mini-workshops devoted to starting the year off right!

Sun., Jan. 8, 4pm The Reading Promise Award Ceremony If you signed up for The Reading Promise: 100 Nights of Reading pledge in September, come back for an award ceremony to celebrate your family’s commitment to reading. We’ll talk about our favorite books, enjoy some light refreshments, and earn certificates.

Tues., Jan. 10, 6:30pm CHUCKANUT RADIO HOUR 5TH ANNIVERSARY On Tuesday, January 10, the Chuckanut Radio Hour will celebrate its 5th anniversary and its 51st show with highlights from past shows, a new (and no doubt rib-tickling) essay by Alan Rhodes, a brand new episode of the “Bellingham Bean,” passionate swing music by the popular band Stirred Not Shaken, and a few corny jokes. The Radio Hour is a radio variety show that began in January 2007 and airs every Saturday evening at 6pm and Sunday at 9pm on KMRE 102.3FM. Tickets for the Chuckanut Radio Hour are $5 and will soon be available at Village Books and on BrownPaperTickets.com. Co-sponsored by the Leopold Residence, 12th Street Shoes, & Fairhaven Village Inn.

Fri., Jan. 13, 7pm Local Author Showcase

New Series!

Village Books is excited to debut a “Local Author Showcase” the second Friday of each month at 7pm. The events will bring two to four local authors to our store, offering a chance for the authors to talk about their books and promote their new work in the community. Come support our local writers!

Events take place in the Readings Gallery of Village Books and are FREE unless otherwise noted.

CHANGES & ADDITIONS TO THIS SCHEDULE WILL OCCUR, SO GO TO

www.VILLAGEBOOKS.com for the most up-to-date information!

Village Books invites everyone to enjoy local talents as they share their written words. Not published? No worries. Feel free to share some of your own writing! Sign up at our main counter on the first floor. Laurel Leigh, local writer and teacher, will host.

Tues., Jan. 24, 7pm NANCY WELCH –Medicine & Meditation Discover how mindful awareness and non-judgmental acceptance of one's illness can work in tandem with science and research to bring about relief and peace of mind with one's own reality. Noted experts in the fields of medicine, psychology, and Zen meditation speak to the problems of incurable pain and illness in this book.

Mon., Jan. 30, 7pm Includes Slideshow!

RICK STEVES –Europe Through the Back Door Join travel expert Rick Steves—acclaimed for his bestselling guidebook series, and public TV and radio shows—as he shares the latest in smart European travel.

Freshly back from lots of travels, Steves explains the practical, money-saving ins and outs of independent travel. Hear his tips on getting the most out of every mile, minute, and euro on your next trip.For 30 years, Rick and his guides have been researching the best destinations— emphasizing authentic experience and value for your money. Rick won the 2010 Lowell Thomas Travel Book Award (by the Society of American Travel Writers) for his book Travel as a Political Act. He packs the house every year, so grab your tickets now and prepare to have a great time!

Held at Bellingham High School’s auditorium; tickets are $5.00 and are available at Village Books, the Holiday Store in Bellis Fair, & online at www.BrownPaperTickets.com. Proceeds will benefit the school’s PTSA.

Tues., Jan. 31, 7pm GARY GEDDES –Drink the Bitter Root: A Writer’s Search for Justice and Redemption in Africa Gary Geddes has forged an international reputation as an engaged and articulate writer, first as a poet, critic, and anthologist, and more recently as a writer of bestselling non-fiction. Drink the Bitter Root is based on his trauma research in Rwanda, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Somaliland.

Continued...

If you can’t make it to an event, just call us to arrange for autographed copies!

Winter 2011-2012

61

... events continued from the previous page

So far in

FEBRUARY

Wed., Feb. 1, noon-1pm NATURAL HEALTHCARE BROWN BAG SERIES Join us the first Wednesday of each month from noon-1pm for a natural healthcare brown bag series featuring a variety of local health care providers on topics ranging from chiropractic, homeopathy, nutrition, and more.

Check our website for updates.

Tues., Feb. 7, 6:30pm The CHUCKANUT RADIO HOUR featuring PAULA BECKER AND ALAN STEIN –The Future Remembered: The 1962 Seattle World's Fair and Its Legacy in the Crystal Ballroom of the Leopold, Downtown Bellingham

Tickets: $5 Available at Village Books and on BrownPaperTickets.com.

The Chuckanut Radio Hour is a radio variety show that began in January 2007. Each show features a guest author and includes guest musicians, performance poet Kevin Murphy, Cascadia Weekly columnist Alan Rhodes, an episode of "The Bellingham Bean" serial radio comedy, and some groaner jokes by hosts Chuck & Dee Robinson and announcer Rich Donelly. This month's special guests are Paula Becker and Alan J. Stein, authors of The Future Remembered: The 1962 Seattle World’s Fair and Its Legacy. Read about this fascinating book on page 28.

Co-sponsored by the Leopold Residence, 12th Street Shoes, & Fairhaven Village Inn.

Fri., Feb. 10, 7pm LOCAL AUTHOR SHOWCASE Village Books is excited to debut a “Local Author Showcase” the second Friday of each month at 7pm. The events will bring two to four local authors to our store, offering a chance for the authors to talk about their books and promote their new work in the community. Come support our local writers!

the

L

Leopold

AUTHOR LECTURE SERIES The Leopold Author Lecture Series is a new free series co-sponsored by The Leopold Retirement Residence and Village Books.

The idea is to provide both the residents of the Leopold Residence, as well as the community, opportunities to see authors in a larger venue. The series will take place once a month, at 6:30pm in the Crystal Ballroom. We'll start the New Year with Elizabeth George for her new book Believing the Lie on Fri., Jan. 20th. Stay tuned at VillageBooks.com for upcoming authors.

62

Winter 2011-2012

Literature LIVE!

EVENTS Sat., Feb. 11, 7pm Poetry!

TESS GALLAGHER –Midnight Lantern: New and Selected Poems In Midnight Lantern: New and Selected Poems, Tess Gallagher collects her indispensable work from forty years of writing poetry, along with an ample new section written in the west of Ireland. Midnight Lantern is the essential book by a poet in the prime of her power.

Sat., Feb. 25, 7pm KRIS SAKNUSSEMM –Reverend America Kris Saknussemm reads from his new dark comedy, Reverend America, a story about an aging albino nicknamed Casper, who travels home to Joplin, Missouri seeking refuge, only to find himself rescuing a pregnant teenage prostitute and embarking on a journey to the deep South.

Mon., Feb. 27, 7pm Open mic with Laurel Leigh Village Books invites everyone to enjoy local talents as they share their written words. Not published? No worries. Feel free to share some of your own writing! Sign up at our main counter on the first floor. Laurel Leigh, local writer and teacher, will host.

Are YOU Receiving VB E-vent Mail Updates?

Once a week, Village Books sends out email newsletters 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.

Building Community One Book at a Time

NEW! Gift cards now available at PFC & online!

gift card

: or f s d ar c t if g C PF

Let’s go to the mo

vies!

k Hipster nephew Jac ter Our reliable cat -sit eacher t a g o y y m en re u a M t lis y st ir ha ar st k c ro My r Janet’s piano teache Secret -Santa Stocking sutffers!

nt you lable in any amou ai av e ar s rd ca ft gi rds this year. PFC for Skip the coffee ca d the perfect gift an ) s! ie ov m of th mon a matinee—or a lid choose (give ‘em pire and they’re va ex t n’ do ey Th e! your lif buy-for-people in yours up all of the hard-toelight Cinema. Pick m Li s C’ PF d an er ckford Film Cent enter.org. at both the new Pi ww.pickfordfilm.c w at e lin on or a, s Limelight Cinem today at PFC, PFC’ rnwall

t is at 1416 Co

PFC’s Limeligh You’ll find the

18 Bay

new PFC at 13

360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com

Winter 2011-2012

63

1200 11th St. Bellingham, WA 98225 360.671.2626 www.VillageBooks.com Whatcom County’s Favorite Bookstore since 1980 Building Community One Book at a Time

- Renting and leasing available.

- All Apple products on display.

- Training and installation.

- Warranty and non-warranty service.

- Trade-in your old Mac.

www.tdcurran.com

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 200 BELLINGHAM WA

!PPLE 3PECIALIST

1

1

Now at TD Curran!

The Verizon iPhone 4.

16GB

From $199

32GB

From $299

1. Requires new two-year wireless service contract, sold separately to qualified customers: credit check required: must be 18 or older.