Chuckanut Reader - Winter 2014/2015

The

Winter 2014 -2015 Summer 2014

r e d a e R t u n a k c u h C

on oks Publicati A Village Bo e4 Vol. 21 Issu

December 31st & January 1st

20% OFF STOREWIDE

New Years

SALE Reading Recommendations

GIFT IDEAS

Author Events and much more!

A Magazine for the Northwest’s Most Avid Readers

2 Winter 2014-2015

Building Community One Book at a Time

Dear Reader, It's hard to comprehend that we're entering our 35th holiday season.

Time really does fly when you're having a good time. It's been an eventful year at Village Books/Paper Dreams. The Leadership Team—Paul, Sarah, and Kelly E.—have stepped much further into their roles in steering the store. They've taken on so much that Dee was able to retire at the end of August. She's now increased her reading time exponentially. But don't worry, she'll still be involved. She just won't be working on a daily basis in the store.

Though much has been taken off Chuck's plate as well, he's sticking around.

He's just having too much fun to quit.

There's a lot happening this holiday season, as you can see in the pages of this edition of the Reader. Fairhaven Gives Back is in its second year with hopes that the neighborhood can more than double last year's contribution to local non-profits (see story on page 6). You'll find lots of author events listed for November and early December, including our annual program with our friend Rick Steves (pages 19-20). And, there's big news about Small Business Saturday and Indies First (see page 7).

As usual there are previews of upcoming books and a number of staff book reviews. You'll also see each staff member's top pick for the holidays—some books and some gift items. We're very excited that Chuckanut Editions—our own publishing imprint—will launch three books during this season (see page 27). So, as you can see, there's plenty to do and plenty to add to your reading list.

This is a time of year that all of us reflect on those things for which we are thankful, and there are many that come to mind for us. But, at the top of the list is the fact that we're so thankful for you, Dear Reader. You are, in fact, our reason for being here. Thank you, and have a joyous holiday season and a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.

–Chuck, Dee,

and Everyone at Village Books & Paper Dreams

VILLAGE BOOKS

In This Issue...

Dear Reader Seasonal Fun in Fairhaven & Beyond The Chuckanut Radio Hour Upcoming Shows Fiction, Mystery, Sci Fi (highlights & reviews) Rick Steves—An Interview and Vist to Bellingham Outdoor, Travel, & Sports (book highlights) Getting Fit - book recommendations Resolutions!

Three New Books from Chuckanut Editions Food & Drink (book reviews and highlights) Art & Crafts, Science & Philosophy (book highlights) Join Our First Editions Club Buy Local for the Holidays Humor, Bios, History, Current Events - books!

Chuckanut Writers - writing classes!

Graham Kerr, Religion, and Inspiration Whatcom Reads! and Whatcom Writes!

WWU Children's Literacy Conference Great Books and Awesome Activities for Kids Literature Live! Author Events at VB

visit us 24/7 at villagebooks.com 360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com

3 4-9 10 11-17 19-20 21-22 23-24 25 27 28-33 36-40 41 42-43 44-49 50 51 52 53 54-64 65-70

The Chuckanut Reader Winter 2014

Publishers: Chuck and Dee Robinson Production Design: Kelly Carbert

Contributors: Cathy Belben, Jenny Blenk, Hana Boxberger, Rebecca Brown, Kayleigh Butenschoen, Kelly Carbert, Charles Claassen, Christina Claassen, Brendan Clark, Stephanie Douglas, Mel Ericson, Kelly Evert, Taegan Foster, Robert Gruen, Anna Halleen, Carol Hamilton, Asya Hampton, Paul Hanson, Alex Hatch, Cameron Hatcher, Sarah Hutton, Sam Kaas, Donna Marcantonio, Rachel McCausland, Claire McElroy-Chesson, Lindsey McGuirk, Laura Ogg, Laura Picco, Andrew Rankin, Chuck Robinson, Dee Robinson, Rem Ryals, Nadia Saenz, Chris Sanders, Erika Smith, Lauren Sommer, Joan Terselich, Jonica Todd, Terri Weiner, Cindi Williamson, Hayden Winn Cover: Stop by Village Books for all your Holiday Needs Content except art & book covers ©Village Books 2014 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

Winter 2014-2015 3

s k o o B e g Villa olidays for the H

Ho

Village Books & Paper Dreams are open Monday­­-Saturday: 10am-10pm Sundays: 10am-8pm

u rs

H

H o urs y a d o li

Exte n d e d

Open:

• Christmas Eve 9am-6pm • New Year’s Eve 9am-6pm AND • New Year’s Day 10am-8pm Closed: • Thanksgiving & Christmas Days

Open for shopping and browsing 24/7 at villagebooks.com

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:

Holiday Catalog

• 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

Don’t miss the fantastic giving suggestions in our Holiday Catalog!

www.villagebooks.com

A Great Gift...

VB STAFF

EASs GIFTaff IofD Village Book

Let the st lp you pick out & Paper Dreams he just the right gift!

You’ll find our giving rinkled throughout recommendations sp ader. this edition of the Re 4 Winter 2014-2015

BOOKOSpened

Gifts that are Again & Again!

Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm

Join us at Village Books & Paper Dreams for a Day of Celebration and Fun

Pre-holiday Open House

Gather up your friends and come to Paper Dreams for games, product demonstrations, candy samples, to sign up for our exclusive Devoted Dreamer program, and much more.

Sunday, November 9, 10am - 8pm All

Day!

Games Candy Samples Demonstrations

We'll have various stations around the store where you can get a passport stamped. Complete a passport, turn it in, and we'll let you spin the Wheel-of-Dreams for a chance to win one of many prizes!

Book Walks Prizes

Spin the Wheel-of-Dreams

Head to Village Books where the party will continue. Throughout the day, we'll have "Book Walks" where you'll have the chance to win even MORE prizes! Bring your friends, bring your family, and get lots of great ideas for your early holiday shopping. We can't wait to see you there!

Village Books' 19th Annual

Giving Tree Books for Local Kids and Families in Need Can you imagine not receiving a book for the holidays? Some kids don't have to use their imaginations. For 18 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 over 1100 kids through a dozen local organizations!

Come by the store and pick a 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 children, through community organizations, in the week before Christmas.

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

Winter 2014-2015 5

So Much Going On!

Fairhaven Gives Back

Thursday, November 13th Mark your calendars for Thursday, November 13!

Businesses throughout the Fairhaven Historic District will be donating 10% of their sales that day to non-profits in the community. Look for the Fairhaven Gives Back sign in the windows and doors of participating merchants. When you make a purchase, you’ll be handed a checklist with Whatcom County non-profits from which to pick your favorite, and 10% of your purchase will be donated to the non-profit you select.

This will be a great chance to accomplish two things at the same time—get a jump on your holiday shopping (stores will be well-stocked with gifts for everyone on your list), and help deserving non-profit organizations in the community.

Please stop in Village Books and Paper Dreams to participate in the second annual Fairhaven Gives Back.

6 Winter 2014-2015

Shop 24 hours a day at villagebooks.com

November 29th is

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY A Day Dedicated to Supporting Small Businesses Across the Country Small Business Saturday serves as a reminder to keep local businesses in mind when preparing for the holidays. What better day to kick off a special promotion than this to say thank you to you, our customers, for shopping independently?

Register your American Express card at shopsmall.com and receive up to three $10 account credits for purchases here and at other eligible small businesses.

Thanks for Shopping Indie!

CARD MEMBERS CAN GET

$10 BACK, UP TO 3X.

Saturday, November 29th, 11am & 4pm

indies FIRST

Local Author Holiday Book Recommendations Indies First is a year-round campaign in support of independent bookstores by authors and publishers. Sherman Alexie came up with the idea for writers to support their local indie by volunteering to work at a store on Small Business Saturday in 2013. Alexie called the appeal “Indies First.” Now, bestselling author Neil Gaiman and musician-author Amanda Palmer are leading the call for their fellow authors to get behind Indies First for the 2014 holiday season. Join us at Village Books as we host two book chats featuring various local authors who will recommend some of their favorite books, just in time for holiday gift season!

Community Connections Beginning in January Village Books, in partnership with the Whatcom Community Foundation, will launch a new monthly Brown Bag series called Community Connections. The programs, which will be held in the Village Books Readings Gallery during a weekday lunchtime, will focus on community nonprofits, and how folks can both access their services and become more involved with them as volunteers and supporters.

Watch our weekly email updates for information about days and times.

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

Winter 2014-2015

7

Mount Baker Theatre AG

ift a L to las t ifet ime

TICKETS

Season Sponsor

ladysmith black mambazo

NEW!

JAN

JAN

9

Sponsors:

FEB

16

Sponsors:

11

MAR Sponsor:

5

U.S. BANK FOUNDATION A Great Nation Deserves Great Art

A Great Nation Deserves Great Art

Call 360.734.6080 or visit Mount Baker Theatre.com for ALL upcoming events!

The premier guide to arts & entertainment happenings in the region!

Click on the cover of the magazine at ennw.info to download or read online.

Pick up a copy at one of nearly 200 locations in Whatcom & Skagit Counties.

Visit ennw.info for reviews, updates and advertising info.

8 Winter 2014-2015

Building Community One Book at a Time

ity for your giving weekend activ Looking for a Thanks strict! ad to the Fairhaven Di family and guests? He

l a v ti s e F y a d li o H n e v a Fairh The activities kick-off at 3pm on Friday, November 28th with Santa and Mrs. Claus greeting visitors in a Victorian-era gazebo at the corner of Harris Avenue and 10th Street.

It continues on the Village Green at 5pm with the Lighting of the Trees and District. The Bellingham High School “Showstoppers”will perform, then continue singing in different spots throughout the core of the business district.

Continue the fun with the...

FAIRHAVEN HOLIDAY FESTIVAL

Fairhaven HORSE-DRAWN WAGON RIDES and Visits with SANTA

Friday, November 28th & Saturday, November 29th

At the Fairhaven Village Inn Noon to 3pm Saturdays: November29th, December 6th, December 13th, December 20th

ART WALK

From 5 to 8pm both evenings, you'll find special exhibits to enjoy at shops, galleries, and restaurants throughout the district.

Village Books will feature Yaqui Native Flutist, PETER ALI, in celebration of National American Indian Heritage Month. Ali will be performing his native flute under the glass sculpture on the main level of our store on Friday, Nov. 28th from 5-6pm and on Saturday, Nov. 29 from 5-6:30pm.

Paper Dreams will feature a variety of locally made and sourced gift items.

FREE!

Small Business Saturday is November 29th

What better place to show your support of independently-owned stores than Fairhaven?

See page 7 to read more!

Enjoy the festive mood and lights throughout the district nightly.

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

Shop & Dine in Fairhaven then stroll down to the

Holiday Port Festival

Friday, December 5th - Sunday, December 7th The Holiday Port Festival is a free, family-friendly event held annually at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal.

This is the Port’s signature event for the community and includes: • performances by local choirs, bands, and dancers • gingerbread house display • free cookies & hot apple cider • visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus • fire truck rides • art activities, and more!

There will also be a food drive to benefit the Bellingham Food Bank, so bring non-perishable food items to help fight hunger. For a schedule of events, see portofbellingham.com/141/Holiday-Port.

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

Winter 2014-2015

9

Chuckanut Radio Hour

The

The Chuckanut Radio Hour, a recipient of Bellingham’s prestigious Mayor’s Arts Award, is a radio variety show recorded live and played on KMRE 102.3FM. Each Radio Hour features guest authors and musicians, performance poetry, comedy skits and some groaner jokes. It's a lot of fun so check out our upcoming line-up and join us!

The following shows take place in the Heiner Theater at Whatcom Community College.

Thursday, November 6, 6:30pm

William Dietrich, Christian Martin, & Craig Romano –The North Cascades: Finding Beauty & Renewal in the Wild Nearby William Dietrich, Christian Martin, and Craig Romano will join us with their new book about the North Cascades.

They will be interviewed by North Cascades Institute's Executive Director, Saul Weisberg. Musical guests for this show are the Prozac Mountain Boys. Co-sponsored by North Cascades Institute.

Thursday, January 22nd, 6:30pm

Eighth Anniversary Show

Tickets $5.00

This month the Chuckanut Radio Hour will celebrate its eighth anniversary with highlights and clips from some of the best of 2014, a new essay by Alan Rhodes, a brand new episode of the “Bellingham Bean,” and live music by The Walrus.

Wednesday, February 4th, 6:30pm

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

Alexandra Fuller –Leaving Before the Rains Come

From the critically acclaimed author of Don’t Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood, and Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness, Alexandra Fuller joins us for her new book, Leaving Before the Rains Come. Looking to rebuild after a painful divorce, Alexandra Fuller turns to her African past for clues to living a life fully and without fear.

Receive one FREE ticket w/each pre-event, in-store purchase of Leaving Before the Rains Come.

A HUGE thanks to our amazing sponsors!

KMRE FM 102.3

The Chuckanut Radio Hour airs every Saturday evening at 6pm, and Sunday at 9pm on KMRE 102.3FM. 10 Winter 2014-2015

Building Community One Book at a Time

FICTION hardcover FICTION All My Puny Sorrows

by Miriam Toews

available in November, hardcover, McSweeney's

A family fights to keep their daughter/ sister/wife/aunt from killing herself, despite her many attempts. It sounds like an emotional beat down, but this book manages to stay afloat. What stayed with me when I finished, and will continue to stay with me, is the absolute love of family and what we’ll do for the people who mean the world to us. —Lindsey

Family Furnishings:

Selected Stories, 1995-2014

by Alice Munro

hardcover FICTION

The Hilltop

by Assaf Gavron available now, hardcover, Simon & Schuster

"Assaf Gavron allows us to understand the political situation in the Middle East in careful, profound and nuanced terms.

Gavron's work is engaging in the way that all good literature entertains—it is, in fact, very funny—but it also has lasting purpose. He is one of the most agile and necessary voices of contemporary Israeli literature." –Colum McCann

A Great Gift...

Jackaby

available in November, hardcover, Knopf

by William Ritter

Sublty honed with the author’s hallmark precision, grace, and compassion, these stories illuminate the ordinary but quite extraordinary particularity in the lives of men, women, and children as they discover sex, fall in love, part, quarrel, head out into the unknown, suffer defeat, and find a way to be in the world.

"For anyone in your life who loves Dr. Who or Sherlock Holmes… or loves a good story. –Paul

Skylight

Henna House

by José Saramago, translated by Maragaret Jull Costa

available now, hardcover, Scribner

available in December, hardcover, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

by Nomi Eve

Although a fictional tale, this beautifully written novel follows the saga of a Jewish family in Yemen from before the first World War to the formation of Israel. With the family's youngest daughter Adela as the narrator, readers are treated to a touching, insightful, and sometimes harsh look at a rich hidden culture. When Adela discovers the tradition of henna body art, it opens up a whole new world of possibility for her that will both comfort and betray her. –Jenny

Published for the very first time, an early novel by José Saramago that tells the intertwined stories of the residents of a faded Lisbon apartment building in the late 1940s. Skylight bears all the hallmarks of his later work: humor, engaging dialogue, crisp psychological insight, and stunning descriptions of time and place.

The Wonder of All Things

by Jason Mott

available now, hardcover, Mira

Nora Webster

by Colm Tóibín

available now, hardcover, Simon & Schuster

"Fascinating... Revelator y... More thoughtful than Emma Bovary and less self-destructive, in the end far and away a better parent than the doomed Anna Karenina for all the latter's dramatic posturing, Nora Webster is easily as memorable as either—and far more believable. To say more would spoil a masterful and unforgettable novel." –Betsy Burton, NPR

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

If you like Ivan Doig, consider reading Jason Mott next. Nothing disastrous ever happens in the small town of Stone Temple, which is why the plane crash in itself is shocking. But when in the wreckage of the disaster Ava Campbell heals her best friend, their isolated world explodes. Written from a variety of perspectives, this novel is a great combination of family, moral, and ethical dilemmas. Even with miracles there's always a price to be paid, and questions of obligation versus what's right for an individual are sure to spark conversation. –Jenny

Winter 2014-2015 11

FICTION

brand new hardcover Let Me Be Frank With You:

A Great Gift...

A Frank Bascombe Book

by Richard Ford

The Bone Clocks

available in November, hardcover, HarperCollins

by David Mitchell

Ford reinvents Bascombe in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. In four richly luminous narratives, Bascombe attempts to reconcile, interpret and console a world undone by calamity. It is a moving and wondrous and extremely funny odyssey through the America we live in at this moment. Ford is at the absolute height of his powers.

Chuck is a big fan of this book!

"I read a lot of excellent books this year, but this was by far the best, most deep, and wide-ranging. I loved that I had to go slow in some places, to think about all the author was saying.

Sometimes I really disliked a particular character, but the story and the twisty, complicated ethics kept me coming back for more. If you love a dense, thoughtful look at life, you'll love this book!" –Jonica

A Free Event - Open to All!

JIM HEYNEN

A Brief History of Seven Killings

Monday, November 17th, 7pm

by Marlon James

At Village Books

available now, hardcover, Riverhead

On December 3rd, 1976, a group of unidentified assailants stormed Bob Marley's house in Kingston, spraying the area with bullets and wounding Marley, his wife and his manager.

Marlon James' incredible third novel spreads out from this event into a web of politics, poverty, violence, desperation and redemption which spans three decades, stretches from Kingston to Brooklyn, and becomes a sort of underground road map of modern Jamaica—a chaotic, brilliant snapshot of a country and a people as it teetered at the edge of the twentieth century. Told through the eyes of crime bosses, CIA operatives and a journalist trying to separate the fact from the fiction, A Brief History of Seven Killings is an absolute masterpiece. –Sam

Ordinary Sins: After Theophrastus

by Jim Heynen

available in November, hardcover, Milkweed Editions

In Heynen’s collection of short stories, he writes vignettes about different characters: The Chapstick Guy, The Love Addicts, The Poor Rich Young Man. With each story, I was taken to a small scene, describing clearly the character and his or her idiosyncrasies. I was always intrigued by each story. Inspired by the Greek philosopher Theophrastus, this is a modern-version of character sketches.

—Christina

A Great Gift...

Village Books/Paper Dreams Gift Card "I was stumped on what I wanted for my holiday pick. And that's when I decided that a Village Books gift card was the perfect recommendation. THEY get to make the decision!" –Lindsey

Village Books & Paper Dreams

Gift Cards

Teachers, Friends, Employees, Grandparents, Bosses, Kids, Siblings, Parents, Spouses, Uncles, Aunts, Neighbors, Mail Carriers...

We’ve got something for EVERYONE!

12 Winter 2014-2015

Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm

FICTION

brand new hardcover Wolf in White Van

by John Darnielle

available now, hardcover, Farrar Straus & Giroux

John Darnielle (singer-songwriter of indie band The Mountain Goats) certainly earns his reputation as a lyricist with this intricately crafted maze of a novel. Disfigured years ago by a horrific accident, Darnielle's narrator spends his solitary days designing and facilitating a mail-in choose-your-ownadventure survival strategy game. When one of the game's most obsessed participants ends up dead, the novel's plot travels backwards in time to unravel the series of events connecting both tragedies. If you're in the mood for a mesmerizing journey through the blurred corridors of imaginative reality, I couldn't recommend Wolf in White Van more highly. –Brendan

Vanessa and Her Sister

by Priya Parmar

available in December, hardcover, Ballantine Books

In 1905, Virginia and Vanessa Stephens and their brothers Thoby and Adrian moved to unfashionable, bohemian Bloomsbur y. All in their twenties, orphaned and unmarried, they began holding Thursday night gatherings in their unchaperoned, unconventional drawing room. Most of the young guests in that room would become famous, breaking the old rules and blazing their own new paths.

Blood-Drenched Beard

by Daniel Galera

available in January, hardcover, Penguin

After his father's sudden death, a young man drops everything and moves to the beachside town in southern Brazil where his enigmatic grandfather lived and supposedly died decades before. Nothing, of course, is what it seems in Garopaba, which is at once an idyllic resort town and a land of silent, suspicious characters. As history begins to repeat and unfold upon itself in bizarre and mysterious ways, he begins to wonder if his fate is not ultimately determined for him.

You'll wonder, too, if you can stop reading this slow-burning, sultry novel long enough to contemplate the question. –Sam

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

Get in Trouble: Stories

by Kelly Link

available in February, hardcover, Random House

The first new collection in almost a decade from a bewitchingly original writer hailed

by Michael Chabon as “the most darkly playful voice in American fiction.” Kelly Link creates brilliantly detailed, layered fictional worlds pulsing with their own energy and life. The situations are at first glance fantastical, but the emotional insights are piercing and the characters vividly real.

The Jaguar's Children

by John Vaillant

available in January, hardcover, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Hector figured a few hours sealed in the tank of an old water truck would be a safer way to cross the border into America than a few days in the desert.

Then the truck broke down, the Coyotes took off, and people began succumbing to thirst and the realities of confinement.

Now, trapped in the tank with his gravely injured friend, Hector sends a series of texts and voice messages on a borrowed phone. In the process, he begins to reveal truths about Mexico and America, about people and nature, and about spirituality and materialism. Vaillant, the author of The Golden Spruce and The Tiger, delivers a compelling, haunting debut novel. –Sam

The Marauders

by Tom Cooper

available in February, hardcover, Crown

When the BP oil spill devastates the Gulf Coast, those who made a living by shrimping find themselves in dire straits. For the oddballs who inhabit the working-class bayou town of Jeannette, these desperate circumstances serve as the catalyst that pushes them to enact whatever risky schemes they can dream up to reverse their fortunes. Enter Gus Lindquist: a pill-addicted, one-armed treasure hunter obsessed with finding the lost treasure of pirate Jean Lafitte.

We sell ebooks!

Winter 2014-2015 13

Paperback FICTION The Ballad of a Small Player

by Lawrence Osborne

available in January, paperback, Hogarth

A corrupt English lawyer who has escaped prosecution by fleeing to Macau, Doyle spends his nights drinking and gambling and his days sleeping off his excesses, continually haunted by his past. Taking refuge in a series of louche and dimly lit hotels, he watches his fortune rise and fall as the cards decide his fate.

A Great Gift...

BlueQ Socks

in Paper Dreams "Who says socks can't be funny?

The patterns and short phrases on them are hilarious and are sure to make your friends and family laugh! A percentage of the sales also go to support Doctors Without Borders, so it's two gifts in one!" –Lauren

The Widow Tree

Forty Days Without Shadow: An Arctic Thriller

by Olivier Truc

available in November, paperback, Hachette

The international award -winning, bestselling phenomenon, now available in English for the first time. "Against the backdrop of the polar night, ancient religious traditions, and the fierce rivalries of reindeer-herders, Olivier Truc's remarkable, triumphant thriller is far more than a colorful stroll through an exotic culture."

-Tèlèrama Magazine, "Best Crime Novels of 2012"

Offcomer

by Jo Baker

available in December, paperback, Vintage

Against the backdrop of The Troubles in Northern Ireland, recent Oxford graduate Claire endures a disastrous relationship with a young academic, the emergence of secrets from her mother’s past, and a disturbing addiction to self-harm as she gradually comes to accept herself and to discover her sense of self-esteem and self-worth. From the acclaimed author of Longbourn.

by Nicole Lundrigan

available in December, paperback, D & M Publishers

Set in 1950s post-war Yugoslavia, this is a compelling, richly layered story of fatal plans and silent betrayals in a tightly knit village, where the post-war air is simultaneously flush with hope and weighted with suspicion. Three childhood friends find what appears to be Roman coins, and arguments over what to do with the new-found wealth starts to unravel family bonds, past mistakes, and closely guarded secrets.

Duck Season Death

The Honey Thief

by Robert Hillman and Najaf Mazari available in December, paperback, Penguin

This is a series of tender and lyrical tales sprung from the rich history and mythology of Afghanistan. With lyrical wit and profound simplicity, The Honey Thief reveals an Afghanistan of greater richness and humanity than is conveyed in newspaper headlines; an Afghanistan not of failure and despair, but of resilience and fulfillment.

by June Wright

The Apartment

available in December, paperback, Verse Chorus Press

by Greg Baxter

available in November, paperback, Hachette

Set in rural Australia, this is a delightful romp, poking fun at the conventions of the mystery genre. When someone takes advantage of a duck hunt to murder publisher Athol Sefton at a remote hunting inn, it soon turns out that virtually everyone, guests and staff alike, had a good reason for shooting him. Written by the author of Murder in the Telephone Exchange in the 1950s, and never before published.

"A sort of subversion, along with the author's shimmering prose, makes The Apartment such a surprisingly compelling read; it captures the mood of the current moment and what seems to be a new "lost generation," one formed not so much by exposure to violence, as immunity to and alienation from it."

–Adam Langer, The New York Times

14 Winter 2014-2015

Shop 24 hours a day at villagebooks.com

FICTION paperback

FICTION

A Great Gift...

Dark Places

by Gillian Flynn

"From the author of the bestselling Gone Girl, Dark Places is every bit a dark and twisty masterpiece as its successor. It would make the perfect gift for any mystery/suspense lover, especially ones who like to try and solve the crime using subtle clues from the writing!" –Cameron

paperback

GB84

by David Peace available in November, paperback, Melville House

In taut prose that often feels like the relentless text of a surveillance report, GB84 tells the story of the British coal miners' strike of 1984. Called by its author "fiction based on fact," the book depicts a real-life 1984 more violently dystopian than even Orwell imagined.

Slowly starving strikers find themselves pitted against Margaret Thatcher and a police force willing to use infiltration and violence to achieve her will.

Khirbet Khizeh

9

available in December, paperback, Macmillan

Ruby

by Cynthia Bond available in February, paperback, Hogarth

When a telegram from her cousin forces her to return home to Texas from New York, Ruby Bell finds herself reliving the devastating violence of her girlhood. With the terrifying realization that she might not be strong enough to fight her way back out again, Ruby struggles to survive her memories of the town’s dark past.

RISK FREE READS

GU

ck

y Money B Da a 0-

by S. Yizhar, Nicholas de Lange, and Yaacob Dweck It's 1948 and the Arab villagers of Khirbet Khizeh are about to be violently expelled from their homes. A young Israeli soldier finds himself battling on two fronts: with the villagers and with his own conscience.

Published just months after the founding of the state of Israel, the various debates it has prompted would themselves make it worth reading, but it is also a great work of art.

FICTION

A R A N TEE

Prayers for the Stolen

by Jennifer Clement

available in November, paperback, Hogarth

Guerrero, Mexico: women must fend for themselves, as their men have left to seek opportunities elsewhere. They live in the shadows of the drug war, where bodies turn up on the village outskirts, school is only held sporadically and mothers disguise their daughters as sons to protect them. When that fails, they "make them ugly"—cropping their hair, blackening their teeth— anything to protect them from the grasp of the cartels.

The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry

by Gabrielle Zevin

available in December, paperback, Algonquin

A Great Gift...

Samish Bay Soaps in Paper Dreams "Samish Bay soaps are practical and perfect for several reasons 1. They're locally handmade 2. They come in a ton of great scents 3. They smell amazing!" –Stephanie

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

The book I have not been able to stop talking about is finally coming out in paperback! This story of a cynical bookseller whose life is turned upside down when a baby girl is left in his shop is gorgeously, gorgeously written. So much so that it will both warm and break your heart at the same time, and in all the best possible ways. With literary references galore and an insider look into the bookselling world, I have been saying that Zevin’s masterpiece is a book for book people. But honestly? It is simply and truly a book for people. –Hana

Winter 2014-2015

15

FICTION paperback

FICTION

FICTION

Just Call Me Superhero

The Shock of the Fall

by Nathan Filer

by Alina Bronsky

available in January, paperback, St. Martin's Griffin

It's no wonder this first novel from Nathan Filer won the Costa book award! Matt, nineteen years old, is struggling to deal with his own guilt at his younger brother's death as well as navigate the mental health system through the haze of an unnamed disease. The fact that the reader isn't told what condition Matt has until maybe half way through the book let me appreciate the story and the hardships Matt faced without the associated stigmas that can arise from specifying a disease. Seeing Matt's story unfold, from his perspective, is truly something amazing. –Jenny

VB Reads...

paperback

available in October, paperback, Europa

An irreverent and edgy tale from a distinctive voice with a fine sense of humor. This is an atmospheric evocation of modern Berlin, a vivid portrait of youth under pressure, and a moving story about learning to love oneself and others, which is destined to consolidate Bronsky's reputation as one of Europe's most wryly entertaining and stylish authors.

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

Village Books Book Groups Sharpen Your Saw

Business Book Group Meet with Mike Cook the 3rd Tuesday of every month from 11am-1pm to discuss an alternative approach to keeping your mind sharp and life balanced while being part of a continuous learning community.

Pacific Northwest Book Group Meet with Maren the 4th Monday of every month at 7pm to discuss books set in the Northwest, books about the Northwest, and books from local authors. Meetings take place in the Writers' Corner on the mezzanine level of Village Books.

Engaged Citizens Book Group

Speculative Fiction 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 Meet with Rachel the 3rd Monday of every month at 7pm to creation of a civilly engaged community. discuss thought-provoking speculative fiction in a group that welcomes diversity. Meetings take place in the Writers' Corner General Lit on the mezzanine level of Village Books.

Discuss books from a variety of genres with Cindi at 7pm the 1st Monday of each month. This group is open to anyone and Afternoon Book Chat everyone who enjoys reading and discussing books.

Come discuss contemporary literature with Sittrea the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 1pm AND/OR the Sunday Natural Concerns Book Group following that meeting at 1:30pm. Yep, we meet twice a Join us the 2nd Monday of each month from 5-6pm as we dismonth! Join us for one or both chats —open to all! cuss contemporary and classic writings that explore the issues, insights, and inspirations of our relationship with the natural world.

Motherhood by the Book Meet with Claire the 2nd Sunday of every month at 2pm for an hour of spirited discussion of books that celebrate the trials, tribulations, and rewards of motherhood. Meetings take place in the Writers' Corner on the mezzanine level of Village Books.

Cover to Cover Adventure For ages 8-12. Enjoy a book chat & activities with Hana at 4pm the 2nd Tuesday of each month.

Go to villagebooks.com to see the monthly book selections for these groups!

16 Winter 2014-2015

Building Community One Book at a Time

Mystery

Sweet Sunday

by John Lawton

Moriarty

by Anthony Horowitz available in December, hardcover, HarperCollins

Days after the encounter at the Swiss waterfall, Pinkerton detective agent Frederick Chase arrives in Europe from New York. Moriarty's death has left an immediate vacuum in the criminal underworld, and there is no shortage of candidates to take his place. Horowitz is the only writer to earn the seal of approval from Conan Doyle's estate.

Horrorstör

by Grady Hendrix

available in November, hardcover, Grove/Atlantic, Inc.

Turner Raines is not a typical private eye. He is a broken Civil Rights worker, a second-rate lawyer, and a tenth-rate journalist from Texas who finds a home in New York City. During the summer of 1969 he finds himself involved in a murder most personal, embroiled in all the hot issues of the '60s: the Vietnam war, a man on the moon, draft dodgers, hippies, and the scene at Woodstock.

Undead

available now, paperback, Quirk Books

Something strange is happening at the Orsk furniture superstore in Cleveland, Ohio. Every morning, employees arrive to find broken Kjerring wardrobes, shattered Brooka glassware, and vandalized Liripip sofa beds—clearly, someone or something is up to no good. To unravel the mystery, five young employees volunteer for a long dusk-till-dawn shift—and they encounter horrors that defy imagination.

Christmas!

Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas: Being a Jane Austen Mystery

by Stephanie Barron

available now, hardcover, Soho Crime

When a Yuletide reveler dies in a tragic accident, Jane immediately views the incident with suspicion. If the accident was in fact murder, the killer is one of Jane’s fellow snow-bound guests. With clues scattered amidst cleverly crafted charades and dark secrets coming to light during parlor games, whom can Jane trust to help her discover the truth and stop the killer from striking again?

Nora Bonesteel's Christmas Past: A Ballad Novella

by Sharyn McCrumb

available now, hardcover, Abingdon Press

When someone buys the old Honeycutt house, Nora Bonesteel is glad to see some life brought back to the old mansion, even if it is by summer people. But when they decide to stay through Christmas, they find more than old memories in the walls. In a story of spirits, memories, and angels unaware, Sharyn McCrumb revisits her most loved characters who know there is more to this world than the eye can see, especially at Christmastime.

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

Winter 2014-2015

17

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

360-354-4444 Mitze & Mary Jo

advertising@lyndentribune.com

18 Winter 2014-2015

Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm

An Interview with

RICK STEVES

by Chuck Robinson

Guidebook author and travel TV host Rick Steves is America's most respected authority on European travel.

In 1976, he started Europe Through the Back Door, a business which has grown from a one-man operation to a company with a staff of 80 full-time, well-traveled employees. He produces more than 50 guidebooks on European travel, the most popular travel series in America on public television, a weekly hour-long national public radio show, and a weekly column syndicated by the Chicago Tribune. Anticipating his return to Bellingham on November 19th, Village Books owner Chuck Robinson recently asked Rick some questions: Q: You've been traveling in Europe for more than thirty years. What are you most excited about seeing each time you go back?

A: I spend four months a year in Europe with a pretty scattered itinerary, ranging from the deep south to the far north. My goal: to update books, scout TV scripts (a happy byproduct of guidebook research), and produce our TV shows (about 7 a year, 6 days per show). I’m most excited each year to enjoy — to personally experience — new Continent-wide trends. This year, I enjoyed walking the harborfronts of former industrial wastelands that are now people-friendly parks, and grazing through Industrial Age glass-and-steel market halls that are now trendy food courts.

Q: There have been amazing changes, both social and technological, all over the world, including in some remote parts of Europe. What have you found that has not changed, or has changed the least?

A: When you’ve traveled annually to the same place for 40 years as I have, you can’t help but think back and marvel at how things have changed. What strikes me most about what has not changed is the cultural diversity within Europe. As borders have fallen, fast food and hotel chains have proliferated and permeated everything, and everyone is looking at the same little screens. And yet, somehow, the unique cultural passions survive. Basque men still gather in their gastronomic cooking clubs to chop their mushrooms in a place where wives are not permitted. A new generation of Greeks are clicking their worry beads. The French still consider lunch a sacred break in their work day. And Finns still prefer an office with a sauna on the rooftop. (continued)

Rick Steves at Bellingham High School Wednesday, November 19, 6-9pm Admission: $5 — Tickets available at Village Books & brownpapertickets.com. Proceeds to benefit Bellingham High School's PTSA 360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com

Winter 2014-2015 19

(continued) Q: We know it's a little bit like asking which of your two children you love best, but is there a place in Europe that consistently tugs you back?

A: I’ve been working on my guidebooks all over Europe since the first edition of my first book (Europe Through the Back Door) in 1980. And over that time, for some reason, I have many, many more friends in Italy. I can research my guidebook (which has been out and selling great for 20 years) to Denmark or Spain or Vienna, and it’s all pretty businesslike. But when I go to Italy, it’s like old home week — I’ve got friends everywhere I turn. Part of that, I’m sure, is Italy’s expertise in cronyism (I bring them a lot of business). But I love the social scene in Italy, where it’s routine to hang out with the chef long after the dessert plates are swapped out for the firewater beakers. That’s one of many reasons why Italy is my favorite corner of Europe.

Q: What do you think is the biggest mistake most people make in planning a trip to Europe?

A: People focus on saving money while forgetting that their time is an equally valuable and limited resource. If ever time was money, it’s when you're trying to get the most out of traveling abroad. Hop in a taxi — even if it costs you and your travel partner $5 more than two bus tickets. You’ll save 20 minutes. That’s a great budget tip. But the most important tip — if I may plug the notion of buying a guidebook — is that people try to save money by economizing on informa-

tion. Guidebooks are $20 tools for $4,000 experiences. A guidebook justifies its expense (assuming it’s any good and you use it) on the ride into your first hotel from the airport.

Q: Is there a place in the world, where you've never been, that you really long to see?

A: I long to see the South Pacific in a dreamy, idyllic way.

I’d also like to motorcycle across the Sahara, ride the TransSiberian Railway, go to “the new Thailands” of Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Burma), and relive the dreamy afternoons I enjoyed at “Pie and Chai” in Katmandu.

Oh...and bodysurfing in Sri Lanka. But I can only get away for four months a year. And I spend that doing the work I love—in Europe.

Q: Ask yourself a question you've never been asked, but wish you had (and answer it, please).

A: Your name is a brand now, but it’s not a very good name for a travel writer. Why? My dad wanted to name me “Robert Louis Steves,” but my mom nixed that. My dad was originally Romstad, but his birth father was a pretty rough, heavy-drinking, Norwegian ski jumper whom my grandmother eventually divorced. She changed my dad’s name to his step-father’s name — Steves.

Consequently, I’m a Norwegian travel writer who would have liked to be named Rick Romstad, but who is forever Rick Steves. I’ll live with it. •

RICK STEVES

Wednesday, November 19, 6-9pm in the Bellingham High School Auditorium

6 - 7:30pm European Travel Skills—Includes Slideshow!

8 - 9pm The Holy Land: A Talk about Israel and Palestine Tickets: $5 - available at Village Books or online at brownpapertickets.com (non-refundable).

Your ticket admits you to one or both of the presentations. Doors open at 5:30pm.

European Travel Skills : Join Rick Steves as he shares all the latest in smart European travel.

He’ll explain the practical, money-saving ins and outs of independent travel. His 90-minute seminar is packed with tips on getting the most out of every mile, minute, and dollar on your next trip.

Proceeds will benefit Bellingham High School’s PTSA 20 Winter 2014-2015

The Holy Land: Rick has returned from yet another exploration into the world—this time, his focus was Israel and Palestine. With the help of vivid photographs, he’ll share the beauty of this conflict-ravaged area, and offer a glimpse at the challenges facing its ordinary citizens today, including disputed settlements, the security wall, and refugee camps. The next best thing to traveling there yourself is hearing, and seeing, Rick's report on his travels to the Holy Land.

Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm

Get Out There Travels with Epicurus: A Journey to a Greek Island in Search of a Fulfilled Life

by Daniel Klein

available in November, paperback, Penguin

After being advised by his dentist to get tooth implants, Daniel Klein decides to stick with his dentures and use the money to make a trip to the Greek island Hydra.

Klein uncovers the simple pleasures that are available late in life, as well as the refined pleasures that only a mature mind can fully appreciate.

Pocket Atlas of Remote Islands: Fifty Islands I Have Not Visited and Never Will

by Judith Schalansky and Christine Lo available in November, hardcover, Penguin

Gorgeously illustrated, the atlas shows all fifty islands on the same scale, in order of the oceans in which they are found. Schalansky lures us to fifty remote destinations, from Christmas Island to Easter Island, and proves that the most adventurous journeys still take place in the mind, with one finger pointing at a map.

Advertise in

ADVENTURES NW >>>

Walking the Woods and the Water: In Patrick Leigh Fermor's

Footsteps from the Hook of Holland to the Golden Horn

by Nick Hunt

available now, paperback, Nicholas Brealey Publishing

In 2013 Nick Hunt set out to recreate the legendary journey that 18-year-old Patrick Leigh Fermor made on foot across Europe in 1933. Fermor charmed his way "like a tramp, a pilgrim, or a wandering scholar," and Hunt has written a classic worthy of Fermor's original. Robert Macfarlane calls it "a book about gifts, modernity, endurance and landscape... a fine addition to the literature of the leg."

A Great Gift...

Walking Distance: Extraordinary Walks for Ordinary People

by Robert and Martha Manning

"The authors have walked 30 long distance paths on six continents.

In this book they share their travel experiences, beautiful photos, and love of walking. I enjoyed every page!" –Chris

An Innocent Abroad: Life-Changing Trips from 35 Great Writers by multiple authors

available in December, paperback, Lonely Planet

· 60,000 Readers · Affordable Rates that Deliver ROI · Beautiful, World-Class Content · A Perfect Fit for Our Community

A misunderstanding in Morocco. A Cuban con. A family reunion in Italy. An epiphany in the Czech Republic. Richard Ford, Sloane Crosley, Simon Winchester, and Mary Karr are just a few of the beloved writers who share travel experiences that changed their lives and made them the people they are today.

A Great Gift...

Really Important Stuff My Dog Has Taught Me

by Cynthia L. Copeland

"A gift book every dog lover will appreciate." –Carol

Contact Sue @ 360.303.3777 or sue@adventuresnw.com 360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com

Winter 2014-2015 21

A Great Gift...

North Cascades: Finding Beauty and Renewal in the Wild Nearby

by William Dietrich with Christian Martin and Craig Romano

"This is not only a beautiful photographic book, but includes insightful essays, interviews with significant figures of the North Cascades, as well as guidance on experiencing and enjoying our incredible "backyard." –Chuck

Join us for The Chuckanut Radio Hour featuring

WILLIAM DIETRICH, CHRISTIAN MARTIN, and CRAIG ROMANO Thursday, November 6th, 7pm in the Heiner Theater at Whatcom Community College Tickets $5 - available at Village Books and brownpapertickets.com.

Sports SPORTS You Can't Make This Up: Miracles, Memories, and the Perfect Marriage of Sports and Television

by Al Michaels and L. Jon Wertheim available in November, hardcover, HarperCollins

Michaels shares never-before-told stories from his early years and his rise to the top. Forthright and down-to-earth, Michaels tells the truth as he sees it, giving readers unique insight into the high drama, the colorful players, and the heroes and occasional villains of an industry that has become a vital part of modern culture.

The Fall Line: How American Ski Racers Conquered a Sport on the Edge

by Nathaniel Vinton

available in February, hardcover, W.W. Norton & Co.

A behind-the-scenes look at the beautiful, demanding, and dangerous sport of Alpine skiing featuring Bode Miller, Lindsey Vonn, and an array of colorful characters. This book follows the American Ski team through the 2009-10 season, ending at the Vancouver Olympics. The Fall Line will launch at the 2015 World Championships at Beaver Creek in Vail, Colorado.

We have a “homerun” of a gift for the Bells fan in your life!

Thank You, Whatcom County Tickets for all ofSeason your support in 2014!

10-Game Flex Packs Merchandise & Stocking Stuffers

A Great Gift...

Biking Puget Sound: 60 Rides from Olympia to the San Juans

by Bill Thorness

"I’m excited about this updated version, with 10 more rides, connector routes between rides, and plans for multi-day journeys. This should provide plenty of winter planning for the biker in your life." –Rem

22 Winter 2014-2015

Building Community One Book at a Time

INSPIRATION for the New

Year

by Cathy Belben

T

he beginning of a new year is, traditionally, a begin-again time for many of us: we indulge over the holidays, and resolve to adopt healthier behaviors when the calendar changes. It’s also a perfect opportunity to read about—and be inspired by—athletes and their achievements, to catch up on new psychological findings, and to discover new sources of personal empowerment.

The First Twenty Minutes: Surprising Science Reveals How We Can Exercise Better, Train Smart, Live Longer

by Gretchen Reynolds (paperback, Penguin) Reynolds’ book is an absolute must-read for anyone interested in increasing their activity, but confused about how and what to do to improve their fitness. Reynolds distills an enormous amount of contemporary research about fitness and nutrition into a highly accessible, energizing report that will reassure and motivate you. Without being intimidating, she emphasizes just how imperative exercise is and offers some simple solutions for those who are sedentary and don’t know how to begin.

Mind Gym: An Athlete’s Guide to Inner Excellence

by Gary Mack and David Casstevens (paperback, McGraw-Hill) For months, I carried this small book in my gym bag and read it between sets while I lifted, and occasionally as I churned away on the elliptical machine. Perfect for small bursts of inspiration, Mind Gym contains short chapters offering insight and inspiration to experienced and amateur athletes, and is a perfect quick-read for those mornings when a trip to the gym is as appealing as a trip to the landfill.

The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance

by David Epstein (paperback, Current Trade) Anyone familiar with Malcolm Gladwell’s work has encountered the “10,000 hour rule” of athletic prowess and extraordinary achievement in other activities—the hypothesis that what separates the experts from the amateurs is the number of hours they devote to perfecting their disciple. Epstein challenges this idea in The Sports Gene, citing copious research and providing dozens of examples of how genetics factors in to the likelihood that an individual will excel athletically. While not a motivational book per se, Epstein’s account offers fascinating insight into how physical talents are identified and developed, and what our growing understanding of human genetics means for the future of sport.

Second Wind: One Woman’s Midlife Quest to Run Seven Marathons on Seven Continents

by Cami Ostman (paperback, Avalon Publishing) If you are one of the folks who mistakenly thinks it’s too late to be an athlete, Ostman’s book will convince you otherwise. At age 40, she sets forth on an ambitious adventure: to run a marathon on every continent. Despite not having pursued a life of athleticism, Ostman resolves to turn her casual, low-mileage jogging into an opportunity to heal from difficulty and resurrect herself as more than a middle-aged-divorcee. Her story is inspiring, informative, and often very, very funny. (continued on next page) 360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com

Winter 2014-2015 23

(continued from previous page)

Top Dog: The Science of

The Impact! Body Plan: Build

Winning and Losing

by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman (paperback, Avalon Publishing Group) Bronson and Merryman endeavor to explain the science of competition in this highly readable, entertaining book that incorporates psychology, science, and history while debunking numerous myths about competition and ultimately reaffirms its value. Fans of Malcolm Gladwell’s work and the Freakonomics books will appreciate this lively validation of sports, games, and the rewards, both physical and mental, that result from engagement. It will encourage even reluctant and retired athletes to rethink their hesitation and try again.

New Muscle, Flatten Your Belly, and Get Your Mind Right!

by Todd Durkin (paperback, Rodale Books) Durkin’s guide is a bible for those looking for a plan that accommodates various levels of fitness, containing motivation for nutrition and fitness. A ten-day workout plan includes step-by-step instructions to every exercise, and full-color photos that show exactly how to perform each one. Durkin includes chapters on mindset, nutrition, pain elimination, and the importance of rest and sleep. Exercises illustrated include a powerful mix of flexibility, weightlifting, cardio, and body-weight maneuvers to strengthen your entire body.

Regardless of your current level of fitness, the new year is an excellent time to think about regeneration, and this collection of reads can offer you the inspiration and ideas you need to be your best self.

Cathy Belben is an English teacher, competitive powerlifter, reader, writer, fitness aficionado, and lifelong Bellinghamster.

Want exercise that is FUN and good for your mind, body, and soul?

Try Tennis!

Call us today!

Call now for a FREE Consultation.

360-733-5050 Memberships Available.

800 McKenzie Ave. Bellingham, WA 98225 360.733.5050

www.bellinghamtennis.com

24 Winter 2014-2015

Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm

R

N S O I T U L ESO

Saturday, January 3rd 11am-4pm:

Need a boost to your New Year?

Ready to make 2015 your best year ever?

Free Events at Village Books!

Join us Sat., Jan. 3 from 11am-4pm in the Readings Gallery of Village Books for our annual "Resolutions" day of mini-workshops, devoted to starting the year right.

From 11am-4pm, on the hour, we'll feature local experts who will present on a variety of topics, from clutter, to fitness, to self-improvement. Come to one presentation, or all, and bring your questions, ideas, and snacks. No tickets or reservations needed.

Participants will receive 10% off recommended books, today only. Keep an eye on VillageBooks.com for an event schedule. We hope to see you there!

Then join us for the hugely popular...

Writers Resolutions Do you need motivation for your writing project?

Are you interested in making 2015 a writerly year?

Village Books will once again offer "Writers Resolutions" in the Readings Gallery, to help you start the year off "write!" From noon-5pm, on the hour, we'll feature local writing experts who will present mini-workshops, from writing techniques, to how to organize a writing group, and we'll give a preview to some of our upcoming "Chuckanut Writers" classes offered in the new year. Come for one workshop, or all, and bring questions, ideas and snacks. Participants will receive 10% off recommended books, today only. Keep an eye on VillageBooks.com for an event schedule.

Sunday, January 4th noon-5pm:

no tickets or reservations needed A Great Gift...

Tiny Beautiful Things

by Cheryl Strayed "This collection of advice columns is perfect for anyone who needs a bit of inspiration, a moment of reflection, or a kick in the pants." –Sarah

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

A Great Gift...

Spa Comfort Products! in Paper Dreams

"Relieve the tension of the holidays with Spa Comfort products. The combination of microwavable/freezable comfort and soothing aroma are sure to relax even the most frantic pre-holiday spouse or the grumpiest in-laws.

Heck, buy one for yourself while you're at it! You deserve it, after all." –Taegan

Winter 2014-2015 25

MeMbership GET READY TO

a great gift!

DECK THE Hmakes P OLD CITY HALL

Shop, sing, enjoy dozens of decorated trees and enter to win a special, “decked out” tree for your home, and complete give a family membership with gift cards from your favorite local we’ll add 3 months of benefits. retailers.

www.whatcommuseum.org that’s 15 months of museum love

26 Winter 2014-2015

for the price of 12!

Building Community One Book at a Time

New Releases From

Chuckanut Editions The Village Books Publishing Imprint Looking for Pacific Northwest themed gift ideas?

Check out the latest titles published and locally printed under our Village Books imprint, Chuckanut Editions!

A free event at Village Books

Murder in the Fourth Corner: True Stories of Whatcom County's Earliest Homicides by Todd A, Warger (available now)

TODD A. WARGER Friday, Nov. 21, 7pm

Even in its infancy as a hub of the shipping and mining industries, Whatcom County saw its fair share of homicide cases. In this compelling and thoroughly researched collection of narratives, local historian Todd Warger (The Mountain Runners, Mount Baker: Images of America) delves into the colorful details of these slayings and the investigations that ensued in their aftermath. At times haunting, at times downright bizarre, Murder in the Fourth Corner offers an enlightening perspective on the darker side of our community's history.

Geology of the San Juan Islands

by Ned Brown (available in November) Nestled in the heart of the Salish Sea lie the picturesque San Juan Islands, an archipelago molded by eons of tectonic and glacial activity. Over the course of his nearly five-decade career, WWU geology professor Ned Brown has led countless research teams to decode this complex terrestrial heritage. In Geology of the San Juan Islands, Brown provides detailed, approachable, full color photos and diagrams to illuminate the complexities of these iconic islands.

Eating Well: A Guide to Foods of the Pacific Northwest

by John Doerper (available in November) Thirty years ago, renowned food critic John Doerper released a landmark guide to the most expertly crafted delicacies and beverages the Pacific Northwest had to offer. Investigating the unique culinary climate of our region and packed with recipes drawn from its most inventive local chefs, Eating Well —one of the first locavore books—has been an essential Northwest gourmet guide for decades. Now, Doerper and Chuckanut Editions have teamed up to bring the thirtieth anniversary edition of this tasty Northwest classic, complete with an updated introduction and appendix, to a new generation of food lovers.

If you have any questions about our Chuckanut Editions imprint or our independent publishing program, please contact Brendan Clark, (360-671-2626, brendan@villagebooks.com). More information available at villagebooks. com (Writers' Corner --> Self-Publishing) 360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com

Winter 2014-2015

27

FIND

Great Gifts AT THE BUREAU OF HISTORICAL INVESTIGATION Visit the Bureau of Historical Investigation in downtown Bellingham for a truly unique Bellingham experience. It is a gift and souvenir shop, as well as a home-base for Good Time Tours and special events. They take pride in offering handpicked, handcrafted goods from all over the country—with special emphasis on local finds. While you're there, check out a variety of hand-selected books for sale through a partnership with Village Books. Founders Marissa and Sara have great recommended reads. Below are just a few of their favorite finds!

Aphrodisiacs with a Twist by Mark Sexauer "Seattle bartender Mark Sexauer was not messing around when he published this beautiful collection of his cocktail recipes. As a theme, Sexauer incorporated ingredients from around the world traditionally believed to heighten specific sensory experiences.

The results are undoubtedly delicious, unique, and certainly sexy looking. Even without the science to support the aphrodisiac qualities of ingredients like cardamom, fennel, fig, honey and ginger, surely Aphrodite would approve." —Marissa Some decidedly less sexy but still very giftable cocktail recipe books available at The Bureau…

Old Man Drinks: Recipes, Advice, and Barstool Wisdom

by Robert Schnakenberg Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist

by Tim Federle The PDT Cocktail Book: The Complete Bartender’s Guide from the Celebrated Speakeasy

by Jim Meehan

217 W. Holly, Downtown Bellingham • 360.305.3172 • thebureaubellingham.com

k

Drinks

Liquid Intelligence:

The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail

by Dave Arnold

available in November, hardcover, W.W. Norton & Co.

k

Practical tips for preparing drinks by the pitcher, making homemade sodas, and building a specialized bar in your own home are exactly what drink enthusiasts need to know. For devotees seeking the cutting edge, chapters feature liquid nitrogen, chitosan gellan washing, and the applications of a centrifuge, expanding the boundaries of traditional cocktail craft. Whether you're in search of astounding drinks or a one-of-a-kind journey into the next generation of cocktail making, Liquid Intelligence is the ultimate standard—one that no bartender or drink enthusiast should be without.

28 Winter 2014-2015

Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm

Sheet Pan Suppers:

by Molly Gilbert

available in December, paperback, Workman

Move over, one-pot meals! Now you can make more than 120 easy, impressive complete meals—including breakfasts, snacks, and desserts—on one of the most versatile, inexpensive, and widely available pieces of kitchen equipment: the sheet pan. Best of all, food tastes better when cooked on a sheet pan. It's the one-pot meal reinvented.

A Great Gift...

Sweet Sicily

by Alessandra Dammone "Full of delicious Italian sweets, gorgeous photographs of Sicilian landmarks, and short stories (in both Italian and English!), this cookbook is perfect for those with a sweet tooth and a love for all things Italy." –Asya

The Pollan Family Table: The Best Recipes and Kitchen Wisdom for Delicious, Healthy Family Meals

by Corky Pollan, Lori Pollan, Dana Pollan, Tracy Pollan

available now, hardcover, Simon & Schuster

"This wonderful book shows how good food, simply and seasonally prepared, has the power to bring the family back to the table—and keep them there! Fast food culture has disconnected us from something so basic to human nature, but when we encounter real and tasty food again, it's like coming home." –Alice Waters

k

120 Recipes for Simple, Surprising, Hands-Off Meals Straight from the Oven

Cooking k

Bar Tartine: Techniques and Recipes

by Jan Newberry, Chad Balla, Chad Robertson, Courtney Burns and Jan Newberry available in November, hardcover, Chronicle Books

Here's a cookbook destined to be talked about this season, rich in techniques and recipes epitomizing the way we cook and eat. Bar Tartine (co-founded by Tartine Bakery's Chad Robertson and Elisabeth Prueitt) is frequented by locals, chefs and critics. Focusing on time-honored processes (such as fermentation, curing and pickling), the core of the book runs through cuisines of Central Europe, Scandanavia and Japan, and delivers a wide range of dishes from soups, salads, shared plates and sweets.

A Great Gift...

A Taste of Washington: Favorite Recipes from the Evergreen State

by Michele Morris

"This gorgeous book celebrates the 'amazing breadth and depth' of Washington's culinary resources with intriguing recipes from all over the state--and they all look fantastic!" –Joan

The Portlandia Cookbook:

Cook Like a Local

The Soup Club Cookbook: Feed Your Friends, Feed Your Family, Feed Yourself

by Courtney Allison, Tina Carr, Caroline Laskow, Julie Peacock available in January, paperback, Clarkson Potter

The authors, who are neighbors on New York’s Lower East Side, make this soup book extra delicious by explaining how to start the same kind of soup club that they did: each person makes soup once a month and delivers it to the other women with garnishes and instructions for serving. That’s at least three meals a month you don’t have to cook or order. And a good excuse to see your friends.

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

by Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel available now, hardcover, Clarkson Potter

Food plays a very special role in Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein’s awardwinning satire Portlandia—and the way Portland’s residents enjoy and talk about food are a huge part of the show’s personality. Fred, Carrie, and director Jonathan Krisel take you to the dishes that define the show, from cult-raised chicken to Stu’s stews, from pickled veggies to foraged green salads.

Find the Cookbooks along with fun food and cooking items in Paper Dreams!

Winter 2014-2015 29

Enjoy Great Meals at These Fairhaven Restaurants!

book fare café in village books

now catering

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

EVERYDAY 8 AM – 2 PM 1101 HARRIS AVENUE IN FAIRHAVEN

www.bookfarecafe.com 360.734.3434

CLASSIC FAVORITES

Breakfast and Lunch Served Daily Homemade Soups and Pastries Wheat Free Pastries Available BEST MIMOSAS IN TOWN

AW Asian Bistro A.W. Asian Bistro

SUSHI BAR ASIAN GRILL

Fairhaven Garden 1138 Finnegan Way Bellingham, WA 360.715.3028 Fax 360.715.1803

PLAN, HOST, AND CATER YOUR PRIVATE PARTIES OR COMPANY GATHERINGS AT HARRIS AVENUE CAFÉ!

HAPPY HOUR Gluten-free options!

–No MSG–



DAILY from 3-5pm

E-MAIL KELLY FOR MORE INFORMATION KB.PALADINRESTINC@GMAIL.COM

awasianbistro.com

open daily for Lunch & Dinner 12th & Mill in Historic Fairhaven • 715.3028 The

WWW.HARRISAVECAFE.COM Winter 2014 Summer 2014

Chuckanut Reader Publication A Village Books 4 Vol. 21 Issue

Go to VillageBooks.com to see this issue, as well as past issues, of The Chuckanut Reader online!

December 31st & January 1st

20% OFF STOREWIDE

New Years

Please Support all of our Amazing Advertisers!

SALE Reading Recommendations

GIFT IDEAS

Author Events and much more!

A Magazine for the Northwest’s Most Avid Readers

30 Winter 2014-2015

Building Community One Book at a Time

A Great Gift...

COOKBOOKS!

FOOD

found in Paper Dreams

Vegetarian Dinner Parties: 150 Meatless Meals

k

"I'm a maniac when it comes to cookbooks! I enjoy finding something new to cook for my family and friends."

–Erika

k

A Great Gift...

Good Enough to Serve to Company

Canning for a New Generation

by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough

by Liana Krissof

available now, hardcover, Rodale Books

The gorgeous pasta cooked in Chianti got me hooked but the attitude—"What's the worst that could happen? You ruin a dish, make scrambled eggs and crack open another bottle of red wine," made these two lapsed vegetarians my go-to guys for all things dinner party. And the emphasis is definitely on PARTY! –Joan

"Canning is enjoying a renaissance, and this book takes it all to a new level. In addition to recipes for canning, there are fabulous ideas for using preserved foods in meals."

–Donna

In Her Kitchen: Stories

A Great Gift...

and Recipes from Grandmas Around the World

Viancin Silicone Lids "Silicone lids that work like plastic wrap, but better!

Pick your size and design— lilypad, hibiscus, or sunflower—and use them in the microwave, on the stovetop, even in the oven! No more struggling to find the right tupperware lid!"

–Rachel

by Gabriele Galimberti

available in November, hardcover, Clarkson Potter

As Gabriele Galimberti was preparing to set off on a trip around the world, his Italian grandmother was more concerned about how well he would eat than any risks or mishaps he might face on his travels. He promised her that he would eat good food wherever he went, and while on his trip, persuaded grandmothers in 60 countries to cook a meal for him.

Food Literature Blessing the Hands That Feed Us: Lessons from a 10-Mile Diet

by Vicki Robin

available in January, paperback, Penguin

Robin pledged for one month to eat only food sourced within a ten-mile radius of her home on Whidbey Island. Her challenge for a sustainable diet not only brings to light society's unhealthy dependence on mass-produced, prepackaged foods but also helps her reconnect with her body, her community, and her environment.

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

Experimental Eating edited by Tom Howells

available in December, paperback, Black Dog Publishing

Profiling a range of culinary pioneers working across the fields of art, science, theater, catering, and design, this book demonstrates how new creative collaborations are pushing the boundaries of how we experience and relate to food. This is a truly radical vision of food as feast for all the senses, not just taste.

Winter 2014-2015

31

A Great Gift...

Squirrel Tea Infusers in Paper Dreams

Pie School: Lessons in Fruit, Flour, and Butter

by Kate Lebo

available now, paperback, Sasquatch Books

"Perfect for the tea connoisseur in your life, the squirrel tea infuser is a wonderful blend of cute and functional. This would make an excellent stocking stuffer!" –Kayleigh

Native Gardening Real Gardens Grow Natives: Design, Plant and Enjoy a Healthy Northwest Garden

by Eileen M. Stark

available now, paperback, Mountaineers

This is a stunningly photographed guide that helps readers plan and sustain a garden with native plants that naturally thrive in the Northwest. The perfect gift for beginning and veteran gardeners alike, it includes detailed profiles of 100 native plants, methods to restore habitat and increase biodiversity, and ways to integrate natives and edibles into existing gardens.

Unlock the secret to baking the perfect crust, and everything else is easy as pie.

Seattle literary and culinary darling Kate Lebo shares her recipes for fifty perfect pies. When you have mastered the art, science and magic of creating the perfect pie in Pie School, everyone will want to be your friend.

KATE LEBO Thursday, December 18th, 7pm At the Book Fare Café on the mezzanine level of Village Books Join us for a special event at Book Fare Café on the mezzanine level of Village Books as we welcome author and baker Kate Lebo for her new book, Pie School. Kate will discuss her techniques for creating delicious fruit-based pies, while also demonstrating how to make a pie at the café. A hot beverage will be served with a delicious pie sample.

TICKETS $5 available now at Village Books and brownpapertickets.com.

YEAR-ROUND BOUNTY!

DOWNTOWN

SATURDAY, 10AM TO 3PM, APRIL - DECEMBER DEPOT MARKET SQUARE, 1100 RAILROAD AVE, BELLINGHAM, WA

FAIRHAVEN

WEDNESDAY, 12 TO 5PM, JUNE - SEPTEMBER FAIRHAVEN VILLAGE GREEN, 1207 10TH STREET, FAIRHAVEN

32 Winter 2014-2015

Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm

n e h c t i K E H T IN

k

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

W

inter's short days keep us indoors mostly, and like most people, when I'm cooped up inside I start looking for something to eat. Here are four books that will keep you endlessly engaged with warming, healthy, thoughtful dishes. Another trend I've been noticing in the cookbook publishing business is that the tactile surfaces of the books themselves are sensual, and these are all beautifully photographed books that feel very nice in the hands. Time to get cooking!

Flavor Flours: A New Way to Bake with Teff, Buckwheat, Sorghum, Other Whole & Ancient Grains, Nuts & Non-Wheat Flours

by Alice Medrich available now, hardcover, Artisan Books Alice Medrich takes her straightforward way with baking in a new vein in this book featuring non-wheat flours. Definitely not just for the gluten-free person, these inspiring recipes will have you eating more healthfully from breakfast through dessert!

Shroom: Mind-bendingly Good Recipes for Cultivated and Wild Mushrooms

by Becky Selengut available now, hardcover, Andrews McMeel Publishing One of the benefits of our mild, wet winters is the bounty of edible fungi that can be foraged (or bought). Becky Selengut has put together a very informative book with identification tips as well as amazing recipes to keep you shrooming all winter long.

Heritage

by Sean Brock

available now, hardcover, Artisan

Sean Brock as celebrity chef has taken the unglamorous-seeming cuisine of the South and turned it into sexy, satisfying food. This glorious book is a celebration of the philosophy of food, personal connection with ingredients and where they come from, and putting together simple dishes that inspire. The first line of his manifesto: "Cook with soul—but first get to know your soul."



Bitter: A Taste of the World's Most Dangerous Flavor, with Recipes

by Jennifer McLagan

available now, hardcover, Ten Speed Press

Sometimes it's good to explore the heavier side of a balanced palate. Most of the time that tends to be a heavy sweetness, or perhaps something satisfyingly salty. This great book takes the under-appreciated sense of bitterness and brings it front and center. Drinks, main courses, even "sweets," you'll find lots of great reading and recipes to explore.

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.

book fare café

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

Winter 2014-2015 33

MUSIC Makes a Great Gift!

We have a great variety of PUTUMAYO, LOCAL, HOLIDAY, & NPR music!

In Fairhaven!

1050 Larrabee Ave, Suite 102 360-752-2956

Weekdays by appointment: 8am - 5pm Weekend walk in clinic: 9:30am - 4:30pm

Mitchell Kahn, MD

Sarah Heggie ARNP

Julie Kahnamoui, ARNP

Comprehensive Primary Care - Adolescents to Seniors

VB Writes...

Village Books hosts multiple writing groups. Choose which group most reflects your writing genre then come and share your work in a supportive environment. Groups are free and open to everyone. They meet on the mezzanine level of Village Books in our Writers' Corner.

SpecFic/SciFi Writing Group

This group meets 2nd & 4th Tuesdays from 6-8pm.

Read more about each group at villagebooks.com.

Poetry Writing Group

This group meets the 1st & 3rd Thursdays of each month from 5:30 to 7pm.

34 Winter 2014-2015

Fiction Writing Group

This group meets 2nd & 4th Thursdays from 6-8pm.

NonFiction/Memoir Writing Group

This group meets the 1st & 3rd Sundays of each month from 3:15-5:15pm.

Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm

Gift Ideas More

Village Books and Paper Dreams are overflowing with holiday décor and gifts this season!

Stop in and find calendars, journals, stationery, toys, games, and delicious candy including hand-made fudge and the always popular Seattle Theo chocolate holiday flavors. Our kitchen accessories are always a hit.

We offer jewelry for any taste and a huge variety of fun socks and handbags. Peruse our stylish hats and scarves, discover new soaps and lotions and unique home décor.

You'll discover an amazing array of ornaments, boxed holiday cards, wrapping, gift bags, and more. Enjoy!

A Great Gift...

Shiraleah Bags are Awesome!

"These bags are made out of vegan leather in beautiful colors, with a plethora of zippered pouches just the right size for a wallet, phone, and a favorite book—all of life's necessities." –Kelly E.

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

Winter 2014-2015 35

Create

A Great Gift...

Knit Your Own Dog Kits:

Novel Living:

Beagle, Dachshund, Golden Retriever

by Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne

Collecting, Decorating, and Crafting with Books

by Lisa Occhipinti

available in November, hardcover, Abrams

In this digital age, many of us have woken up to the fact of books as pieces of art in and of themselves. Here artist Occhipinti celebrates her bibliophilia with display, preservation, and craft ideas. Amazingly, most of the projects—ranging from a headboard constructed of book spines to napkins composed of scans of favorite text passages from books—require no special skills or supplies.

"These are the cutest kits for the knitter in your life. Each box includes an instruction booklet, yarn, knitting needles and other supplies to complete these little pooches. My favorite one is the beagle. Woof, woof!" –Christina

The World Needs More Love Letters: Fold and Mail Stationery

by Hannah Brencher

A Great Gift...

available in December, stationery, Potter Style

A fold-and-mail stationery pad for writing letters to a lover, friend, parent, child, or other important recipient, from the TED speaker and creator of The World Needs More Love Letters website. After moving to New York and finding herself in the grip of depression, Hannah began to write letters to leave in coffee shops, on the subway, and in other public places, aimed at offering some kind words to those in need.

One Zentangle A Day: A 6-Week Course In Creative Drawing for Relaxation, Inspiration and Fun

by Beckah Krahula

"The subtitle of this book says it all.

Holiday stress? Doodle for meditation or relaxation." –Cindi

Terrapin:

A Great Gift...

POETRY

by Wendell Berry, illustrations by Tom Pohrt

Buddha Board Mini

available in November, hardcover, Counterpoint Press

"Just the right size for a great gift or stocking stuffer. Perfect for venting, doodling, and the best part is you save trees. Add water to start the fun." –Nadia

in Paper Dreams

Tom Pohrt spent years gathering poems of Wendell Berry's he imagined children might read and appreciate, making sketches to accompany his selections.

Over the past several years a dialogue evolved between Tom, Wendell Berry, and Dave Bullen, Wendell's book designer, resulting in this volume of 21 poems, including dozens of Tom's sketches, drawings and watercolors.

This is for lovers of all things of the natural world, illustrations, poetry, and beautiful books.

35th Annual Allied Arts

November 14th – December 24th, 2014 The 35th Annual Holiday Festival of the Arts is a five-week long festival featuring the work of over 100 local artisans and craftspeople. The locally handmade products include jewelry, paintings, wearable art, specialty foods, and repurposed art. On the weekends, enjoy live local music, artist demos, and fun art projects for kids. See alliedarts.org for additional information.

Open Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 6pm.

4145 Meridian Street, Bellingham (next door to the new Burlington store)

36 Winter 2014-2015

Building Community One Book at a Time

Arts A Great Gift...

Susan Point: Works on Paper

by Dale Croes

"The first book devoted exclusively to Susan Point's beautiful Coast Salish work on paper. Enrapture your eyeballs!"

–Laura P.

Wonderment: The Lisbeth Zwerger Collection

by Lisbeth Zwerger, introduction by Peter Sis available in November, hardcover, North-South Books, Inc.

This marvelous anthology offers a selection of some of the most outstanding children's literature with accompanying illustrations by Lisbeth Zwerger: Little Hobbin; The Nutcracker; The Gift of the Magi; How the Camel Got His Hump; and more. Internationally renowned as one of the finest contemporary illustrators of children's literature, Zwerger has been awarded the highest international award for lifetime achievement--the Hans Christian Andersen Medal.

The Art of Deception: Illusions to Challenge the Eye and Mind

by Brad Honeycutt

available now, hardcover, Imagine

This collection includes famous paintings, stunning photographs, and computer enhanced visual eye treats that will make your mind’s eye blink twice…and then smile. Every image was handpicked to feature a specific segment of the illusory spectrum that has one sole purpose—to illustrate the best artistic presentation possible. With commentary by the artists about their vision and techniques, this is an extraordinary book on the art and science of the illusion.

A Great Gift...

Paddy Wax Candles "I love our paddy wax candles because thy are soy based and each box has a different author and quote. They make a great, simple, ready-to-go gift!" –Anna

A Shared Legacy: Folk Art in America

Gordon Smith: Don't Look Back

edited by Andy Sylvester available in November, hardcover, Black Dog Publishing

Something of a West-coast icon, Gordon Smith, now 93 years of age, rises at 5:00 am daily to paint for three hours. Most famed for his painted works of figurative abstraction, this major new monograph presents all of Gordon's styles along with contemporary and historical texts on the works of this legendary Canadian painter, sculptor, and printmaker.

Contemporary Art in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (ARTWORLD series)

by Richard Miller, Avis Berman, Cynthia G. Falk, Lisa Minardi, Ralph Sessions available now, hardcover, Skira Rizzoli

A handsome and insightful survey of American folk art, this book includes paintings, sculptures, furniture, and household objects made by untrained— or minimally trained—folk artists in New England, the Midwest, and the South between 1800 and the 1920s. This richly illustrated volume includes rare and very fine portraits, radiant still lifes and landscapes.

A Great Gift...

Green Tree Jewelry

by Phoebe Adler

in Paper Dreams

available in December, paperback, Black Dog Publishing

"These awesome earrings are not only made in the USA but made from recycled material. They are incredibly light weight, but still intricate and beautifully designed." –Rebecca

This is a unique exploration into the contemporary art from these three countries, focusing on the cutting edge of the region's artistic output, its history, and its international relevance through a select number of artist profiles, specially commissioned essays, and reprints.

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

Winter 2014-2015

37

A Holiday Tradition

a lot of FLOWERS

Your online local information source

Garden & Gifts & Floral

Sharing the stories that remind us why we love to live, work and play in Whatcom County

Unique Gifts, Wreaths & Greens, Stocking Stuffers & More!

1011 Harris Ave in Historic Fairhaven 360.647.0728 • alotofflowersfairhaven.com

New Books

50% OFF or MORE!

Look for YELLOW DOTS & LABELS throughout the store to find BARGAIN BOOKS

BARGAIN BOOKS

offer a wide variety of literature and information at very affordable prices.

Every section has a selection of bargain books at a fraction of the original price.

Quantities are limited so be sure to buy these deals when you see them!

These books are great additions to your personal library and also make great gifts.

Dale Chihuly: A Celebration Tiny Confessions

by Christopher Rozzi

Dogs and cats confess it all in this charming and funny little book. A great stocking stuffer for any animal lover!

cover price: $14.00 bargain price: $6.99

38 Winter 2014-2015

by Michele Lalande This book is a good example of the many high quality art books we carry at bargain prices. Be still my art-loving heart!

cover price: $19.95 bargain price: $9.99

War Dances

by Sherman Alexie Bestselling, Northwest author at a great price!

Who doesn’t love Sherman Alexie?

cover price: $23 bargain price: $6.99

Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm

Science Lives in Ruins: Archaeologists and the Seductive Lure of Human Rubble

by Marilyn Johnson

available in November, hardcover, Harper

Lives in Ruins is an absorbing and enter taining look at the lives of contemporary archaeologists as they search for clues to our past. Johnson's subjects share stories we rarely read in history books, about slaves and Ice Age hunters, ordinary soldiers of the American Revolution, children of the first century, Chinese woman warriors, sunken fleets, and mummies.

Cosmigraphics: Picturing Space Through Time

by Michael Benson

available now, hardcover, Abrams

Selecting profound illustrations and maps, many virtually unknown today, Michael Benson chronicles more than 1,000 years of humanity’s everexpanding understanding of space.

It's perhaps our greatest imaginative achievement as a species: the unveiling of a vast universe that is largely invisible to our senses. This book is a revelation for science historians, art lovers, and space-struck Earthlings.

A Great Gift...

Waking Up

by Sam Harris "Waking Up resonates with revolutionary truths. Sam Harris presents meditative action points that could change the world." –Robert

The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History

by Elizabeth Kolbert

available in January, paperback, Picador

Kolbert's report on the ongoing sixth great extinction, caused by a fastgrowing "weed species" otherwise known as us, is a fascinating read.

What struck me was how our heedless behavior has been present right from the beginning, when we migrated north and started taking out animals like the mastodon and the auk. This "madness gene" of exploration has led us across the oceans and now to the moon, but it's also led to countless extinctions. If there's a silver lining it's that knowledge has sometimes been enough to change our ways (think Silent Spring), and in that sense this is an enlightening book. –Rem

A Great Gift...

This Changes Everything

by Naomi Klein "We are on the precipice looking over the edge, but Naomi Klein believes we can still draw back.

The people who brought us to this place will not provide the solution to climate change. It is up to us, and we need to do more than ride our bikes to work. This is good science, thoughtful and hopeful. Perhaps This Changes Everything will. Read this as a gift to your grandchildren and to their grandchildren." –Terri

Deep Space:

Survival of the Nicest: How Altruism Made Us Human and Why It Pays to Get Along

Beyond the Solar System to the End of the Universe and the Beginning of Time

available now, paperback, The Experiment

available in November, hardcover, Workman

The phrase "survival of the fittest" conjures an image of the most cutthroat individuals rising to the top. But this acclaimed science writer makes the assertion that the key to achieving lasting personal and societal success lies in helping others. In fact, Klein argues, altruism is our defining characteristic: Natural selection favored those early humans who cooperated.

Join this acclaimed astronomy journalist and writer on a journey across the universe that will ignite the imagination. The trip begins inside our own solar system with a brief tour of the sun, the planets and their moons, asteroids, comets, and dwarf planets. We then accelerate into deep space, traveling from our interstellar neighborhood, through our own galaxy, the Milky Way, to the far reaches of the cosmos.

by Stefan Klein

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

by Govert Schilling

Winter 2014-2015 39

A Great Gift...

Why?

Exercises for the Feynman Lectures on Physics

by Richard Feynman

"Feel like you are in the classroom being taught by one of the most brilliant minds in all of science." –Alex

The Meaning of Human Existence

by Edward O. Wilson

available now, hardcover, W.W. Norton & Co.

What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions

by Randall Munroe

available now, hardcover, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

At last, a book that tells you everything you've never known you always wanted to know! Randall Munroe (writer/illustrator of beloved online comic XKCD) applies the laws of physics and chemistry to a bevy of absurd topics; my personal favorites include what the Earth would look like if the oceans were drained, the approximate energy output of Yoda's force powers, and how to cook a steak by dropping it from space. Munroe's dry sarcasm and infectious enthusiasm for science soar on every page. –Brendan

In The Meaning of Human Existence, his most philosophical work to date, Edward O. Wilson grapples with existential questions, examining what makes human beings supremely different from all other species. Searching for meaning in what Nietzsche once called "the rainbow colors" around the outer edges of knowledge and imagination, Wilson takes his readers on a journey, in the process bridging science and philosophy to create a twenty-first-century treatise on human existence, from our earliest inception to a provocative look at what the future of mankind portends.

Since 1993, stimulating presentations about topics of importance 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 3240 Northwest Avenue, Bellingham

For more information, information, visit visit

www.bellinghamcityclub.org

We Look Forward to Seeing You 40 Winter 2014-2015

Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm

A Great Gift!

VILLAGE BOOKS’ our Signed First JoinEditions Club!

Signed FIRST EDITIONS CLUB

As a member, you’ll receive a newly published signed first edition fiction book six times a year. Our qualified buyers work together to select books based on literary quality and potential collectability. In fact, two of the five National Book Award finalists were selections this year.

What does it cost to join? - Nothing! You pay for the books, but not for the membership. The list prices of the books vary around an average $25-$35 range, but members only pay a flat $25 for each book. Each selection also comes with a protective dust jacket cover. $150 covers full membership for a year including shipping.

Can I give a membership as a gift? - Absolutely! This would be an ideal gift for the bibliophiles in your life, especially the book collecting kind, and maybe even for someone who isn’t obsessed with books…yet. Memberships last for a year and you, as the gift giver, will be charged $150 for that year. After that, the gift receiver can decide whether or not to continue the membership on his or her own... or you can renew the membership.

How do I sign up? - You can register by phone, in-store, or online at villagebooks.com/signed-first-editions-club.

Happy Reading!

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

3.325” x 4.5”

Winter 2014-2015 41

CHO O STHIS E T H IS CHOOSE ! s s ! e s n s i e s n u i s B u t B n e t n d e n e d n p e p e d d n I In CHOICE

SER GIFT

VICE

GIFT

S

S

S

SER

S

CHOICE

VICE

S

S JOB

FRI

END

S

FR

COMM DS IEN

UNITY

FOOD

TH

AL HE

HE

UNITY COMM NEIG HBO R

OD FO ENV IRO A LT

NME

ENV

NT

JOB

S

S

NEIG

IRO

S

HBO

NME

RS

NT

H

K EEP OUR COMMUNI T Y U N I Q U E K E EECON P O U RO M COMMUNITY AND OUR Y ST R O N G ! UNIQUE A N D OUR ECONOMY STRONG!

Choose local businesses taking action for a healthy community.

Choose local businesses taking action for a healthy community.

LEAD SPONSORS:

LEAD SPONSORS:

Choose local businesses taking action for a healthy community.

CO-SPONSORS:

42 Winter 2014-2015

CO-SPONSORS:

Building Community One Book at a Time

SUPPORTING SPONSORS: Boundary Bay Brewery, The Chrysalis Inn and Spa, Custom RX Shoppe, Fairhaven Runners & Walkers, Griggs Office Supplies, Kulshan

Think Local First! this Holiday Season

S

ustainable Connections’ Think Local First! campaign is reminding folks about what it means to be local here in Whatcom County and the steps we can all take to continue to support our local businesses, our local economy, and our friends and neighbors. Take these steps for a happy and prosperous holiday season: • Shop local supporting local retailers and service providers. – The more money spent with local, independently owned businesses, the more money stays right here, recirculating in our community.

• Make at least a 10% shift in your purchases from non-local to locally owned businesses. – Increased local spending results in retaining and creating more local jobs.

• Eat Local Food –It’s delicious and supports local farmers. Our mild climate ensures a wide variety of delicious local treats for holiday meals and parties.

• Use Cash – Using cash can help you stick to a budget and saves local businesses thousands of dollars in processing fees keeping even more money local.

• Give and Volunteer - Local non-profits contribute significantly to the quality of life in our community and can use all the support they can get in order to keep helping others.

• Relax and Have Fun! – We live in one of the most beautiful places in the world surrounded by the best people.

Take time to enjoy it. You deserve it!

Think Local, Buy Local, Give the Gift of Local!

Online Auction Nov 21 – Dec 1

Bid on one-of-a-kind local experiences and items from Whatcom County’s uniquely local businesses. Just in time for your holiday shopping.

Get a sneak peak as auction items roll in by visiting www.biddingforgood.com/sconnect.

Bo Bu

yt

he

e ok Bo

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

REadCYCLE

th

We buy between 12pm & 7pm every day, but you can drop your books off any time.

ad

Bring in your once-read books and we'll give you up to 30% of the list price in store credit (15% for cash). You can use that to buy more books or other holiday gifts in both Village Books or Paper Dreams.

Re

USED BOOKS

ok

Don't Forget, We Buy

Sell the Book

Get on the Read-cycle train!

Winter 2014-2015

43

Performing Arts Jerry Lee Lewis: His Own Story

by Rick Bragg

SUB POP U.S.A.: The Subterraneanan Pop Music Anthology, 1980-1988

available now, hardcover, HarperCollins

by Bruce Pavitt

Jerry Lee is 79 years old and that alone is a miracle. The "Killer" is often viewed as rock & roll's first great wild man, overly fond of drugs, sex, guns, and fast cars. He has also always been a Fundamentalist Christian and is naturally pretty concerned about his destiny in eternal life. Rick Bragg did a lot of research, but got much of his information from the "Killer" himself while keeping a wary eye on Jerry Lee's loaded 457 magnum and his Chihuahua who likes to bite everyone but his owner.

Great book about the founding years of rock & roll! –Mel

available in November, paperback, Bazillion Points

In 1979, Bruce Pavitt moved to Olympia, Washington, and began programming Subterranean Pop, broadcasting on an independent local community radio station and creating a fanzine focusing on music with a punk, new wave, and experimental bent. In 1986, Pavitt put his love of independent music into practice, launching Sub Pop Records with Soundgarden's first release. The historical groundwork and creative wellspring that put Sub Pop on the musical map is assembled here for the first time.

On the Road with Janis Joplin

by John Byrne Cooke

available in October, hardcover, Penguin

As a road manager and filmmaker, John Byrne Cooke helped run the Janis Joplin show and record it for posterity. Now he reveals the never-before-told story of his years with the young woman from Port Arthur who would become the first female rock and roll superstar—and depart the stage too soon.

Normally This Would be Cause for Concern: Tales of Calamity and Unrelenting Awkwardness

by Danielle Fishel

available now, hardcover, Gallery Books

I grew up watching Boy Meets World, and so I was excited for Danielle Fishel’s (Topanga) memoir to come out. It begins with her interest in acting and her honesty is refreshing. Danielle’s bubbly personality and touch for humor make for a great read that you don’t want to put down. —Anna

Hugs and Misses: 30 Postcards of Awkward Romance

by Wilhelm Staehle

available in December, postcards, Quirk Books

Here are 30 exquisite postcards from Seattle-based Wilhelm Staehle's Silhouette Masterpiece Theater. Each panel features a painstakingly detailed etching carved from a beautiful painting; the results are gorgeous and very funny. Hugs and Misses is a terrific Valentine's Day gift, full of lovelorn ladies, roguish gentlemen, renegade Cupids, and indecent proposals.

44 Winter 2014-2015

Postcards The World of PostSecret

by Frank Warren

available in November, hardcover, HarperCollins

Warren handed out postcards to strangers and left them in public places, asking people to share a secret they had never told anyone and mail them back to him anonymously. By turns funny, heartbreaking, thoughtful, and moving, this compendium of graphic haiku offers an intimate glimpse into both individual private lives and into our shared humanity.

Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm

Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography

by Neil Patrick Harris

available now, hardcover, Crown Archetype

Do you remember Choose Your Own Adventure books? You would be reading along, and then come to a fork in the story. You would have to decide, do I swim across the raging river, or see if I can find a bridge downstream? Each choice affected what happened next in the story. Now, who on earth would think to transfer this idea to an autobiography? Why, Neil Patrick Harris would! And it’s just as brilliant and humorous as it sounds. Sit down, read, and enjoy. Again and again and again. —Hana

Yes Please

by Amy Poehler available in October, hardcover, HarperCollins

Amy has been writing her own comedy since she began her career in the 90s.

She's a natural on the page—her writing is sharp, insightful, and smart. Couple the great storytelling with photos, lists, visual gags, and handwritten elements, and Amy Poehler's book will be hailed for being as unique as it is entertaining.

#Newsfail: Climate Change,

Humor & TRUE TALES So, Anyway…

by John Cleese

available in November, hardcover, Crown Archetype

In this rollicking memoir, So Anyway…, Cleese takes readers on a Grand Tour of his ascent in the entertainment world, from his humble beginnings in a sleepy English town and his early comedic days at Cambridge University (with future Python partner Graham Chapman), to the career in television and film that would propel him to worldwide renown.

A Great Gift...

Monty Python's Flying Circus: Complete and Annotated

by Luke Dempsey

"You know someone who needs this book like a Lumberjack needs high heels." –Andrew

I'll Have What She's Having:

Feminism, Gun Control, and Other Fun Stuff We Talk About Because Nobody Else Will

My Adventures in Celebrity Dieting

available now, hardcover, Simon & Schuster

Rebecca Harrington risks kitchen fires and mysterious face rashes, all in the name of diet journalism. Taking cues from noted beauty icons like Posh Spice (alkaline!), Dolly Parton (Velveeta!), Sophia Loren (pasta!) and Cameron Diaz (savory oatmeal!), I’ll Have What She’s Having is completely surprising, occasionally unappetizing, and always outrageously funny.

by Jamie Kilstein and Allison Kilkenny "Jamie Kilstein and Allison Kilkenny are a modern day social justice, non-violent, vegan, punk, anti-war, feminist Bonnie and Clyde. Their weapons are simple: the pen, the airwaves, and a searing sense of humor. Their targets are the rich, the powerful, corporate media barons and basically any major league assholes." –Jeremy Scahill

by Rebecca Harrington available in January, paperback, Vintage

A Great Gift...

F in Exams by Richard Benson "This is the perfect gift for the student in your life. Containing hilarious and cringe worthy exam answers they'll be glad they never wrote, it's a great gift for any student to recuperate with after a busy quarter." –Hayden

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

Winter 2014-2015 45

Biography The Wild Truth

by Carine McCandless available now, hardcover, HarperCollins

The story of Chris McCandless, who hitchhiked to Alaska, walked into the wilderness, and starved to death in 1992, fascinated the nation. Krakauer's book and a Sean Penn film skyrocketed Chris McCandless to fame. Now his sister reveals the real story of his life and the deeper reality about life in the McCandless family.

Pinkerton's Great Detective: The Rough-and-Tumble Career of James McParland, America's Sherlock Holmes

by Beau Riffenburgh

available in November, paperback, Penguin

Riffenburgh digs deep into the recently released Pinkerton archives to present the first ever biography of McParland along with an eye-opening account of the agency's infamous cloak-and-dagger methods. Filled with action-packed stories involving the murderous Molly Maguires, Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch, Pinkerton's Great Detective is a gripping read from start to finish.

Cinderland: A Memoir

by Amy Jo Burns

available now, hardcover, Beacon Press

Amy Jo Burns’s entire life changed from a single lie, but she doesn’t spend her entire memoir talking about the event.

Instead, she focuses on the effects, on those around her and herself. It’s not until the conclusion that she speaks with any clarity about the actual event. Her memoir is beautiful, the prose reading more like poetry, they fit so well on the page. –Anna

The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle

by Joanne Huist Smith

Havel: A Life

by Michael Zantovsky available in November, hardcover, Grove Press

This is the most complete biography of Václav Havel, the last president of Czechoslovakia and the first president of the Czech Republic; iconoclast and intellectual, artist turned political leader under Soviet rule and later, an independent divided nation, as well as an international human rights activist. Written by one of Havel's closest friends and political ally, Michael Zantovsky, who was a rare witness to this extraordinary life.

Leaving Before the Rains Come

by Alexandra Fuller

available in January, hardcover, Penguin

Looking to rebuild after a painful divorce, Alexandra Fuller turns to her African past for clues to living a life fully and without fear.

Don't miss

ALEXANDRA FULLER at the Chuckanut Radio Hour Whatcom Community College

Wednesday, February 4, 6:30pm tickets $5 - available now

Spare Parts: Four Undocumented Teenagers, One Ugly Robot, and the Battle for the American Dream

by Joshua Davis

available in December, hardcover, Macmillan

They were going up against some of the best collegiate engineers in the country, including a team from MIT backed by a $10,000 grant from ExxonMobil. The teenagers from Phoenix had scraped together less than $1,000 and built their robot out of scavenged parts. This was never a level competition. They won.

CHRISTMAS

available now, hardcover, Harmony

After the unexpected death of her husband, Joanne had no idea how she would keep herself together and be strong for her children—especially with the holiday season approaching. But 12 days before Christmas, presents begin appearing on her doorstep with notes from “True Friends.” As the Smiths came together to solve the mystery of who the gifts were from, they began to thaw out from their grief and come together again as a family.

46 Winter 2014-2015

Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm

History Captive Paradise: A History of Hawaii

by James L. Haley

available in November, hardcover, Macmillan

"Haley is a brilliant storyteller and he has never had a better story to tell. His remarkable characters struggle for the wealth, soul, and future of a tropical paradise and its people. This is narrative history at its best." –H. W. Brands, author of The Man Who Saved the Union

A Great Gift...

The Good War: Why We Couldn't Win the War or the Peace in Afghanistan

by Jack Fairweather

"Afghanistan is still in the warlord/ clan stage of political and social development and not nearly ready for American style nation building and democracy. Fairweather examines our righteous intentions, blindness to reality, and NATO disharmony in one of the longest and costliest wars in U.S. history." –Mel

A History of War in 100 Battles

by Richard Overy

available in November, hardcover, Oxford University Press

A distinguished military historian offers a dazzling coup d'oeil of combat history through the ages. Like spears?

Like longbows? Like guns 'n' stuff? New weapons and tactics can have a sudden impact on the outcome of a battle—but so too can leadership, or the effects of a clever deception, or raw courage. Overy offers a deft and visually captivating look at the engagements that have shaped the course of human history, and changed the face of warfare.

Visit us on Facebook! 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.

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

Thirteen Days in September: Carter, Begin, and Sadat at Camp David

by Lawrence Wright

available now, hardcover, Knopf

In September 1978, Jimmy Carter invited Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat to Camp David to forge an agreement between Israel and Egypt.

It was supposed to be a long weekend, but the talks that followed took nearly two weeks. Wright examines each of the thirteen days of the Camp David negotiations in minute detail, paying special attention to the three intelligent but troubled leaders at their center—three men driven by fear, faith, and, to a great extent, an almost quixotic idealism. The result is a fascinating study of a daunting diplomatic task and the people who took it on. –Sam

Shakespeare's Restless World: Portrait of an Era

by Neil MacGregor

available in October, paperback, Penguin

MacGregor brings us twenty objects that capture the essence of Shakespeare's time.

This was when modern man and woman, questioning, self-conscious, committed to their beliefs but curious to discover the world, came into being. This magnificent book, illustrated with color photographs throughout, invites readers to touch, smell, and feel what life was like when humankind leaped into the modern world.

Black Diamonds: The Downfall of an Aristocratic Dynasty and the Fifty Years That Changed England

by Catherine Bailey

available in January, paperback, Penguin

Fans of Downton Abbey now have a go-to resource for fascinating, real-life stories of the spectacular lives led by England's aristocrats. With novelistic flair and knack for historical detail, Black Diamonds provides a page-turning chronicle of the Fitzwilliam coal-mining dynasty and their breathtaking Wentworth estate, the largest private home in England.

You can follow Village Books on Twitter. Each day we tweet about book events, new books, and book-related topics.

We are @VillageBksBham.

Winter 2014-2015 47

History

A Well-Kept Home: Household Traditions and Simple Secrets from a French Grandmother

Promised Land: Thirteen Books That Changed America

by Laura Fronty, photos by Yves Duronsoy

by Jay Parini

available in February, hardcover, Universe

available in January, paperback, Simon & Schuster

The frantic quality of modern life and our reliance on technology and on manufactured goods has lessened our awareness of the seasonal patterns of effective domestic household management. A Well-Kept Home revives the more natural methods used by our forebears to run their homes, reflecting on the traditional way that earlier generations cooked, cleaned, decorated, groomed, and gardened.

Moving nimbly between the great watersheds in American letters—including Walden, Huckleberry Finn, The Souls of Black Folk, and On the Road—Parini demonstrates how these books entered American life and altered how we think and act in the world. An immensely readable and vibrant work of cultural history sure to appeal to all book lovers and students of the American character.

Trains!

Great American Railroad Stories: 75 Years of

Train: Riding the Rails That Created the Modern World— from the Trans-Siberian to the Southwest Chief

Trains Magazine

by the Editors of Trains Magazine available in November, paperback, Kalmbach Publishing Company

by Tom Zoellner

The editors of Trains magazine have culled 75 years of publishing railroad history to present rare, first-hand accounts of riding passenger trains, working on the railroad, and growing up in the era of steam trains. Readers will be drawn in by the historical photos and many American railroading stories from those who actually lived it.

"Train is such a pleasure to read; elegant, deeply informed and smart, full of knowledge-bearing sentences, and prose so companionable and rich in insight that it is as if its author were at your shoulder, taking you along with him. What an enjoyable journey...and oh, my! Can he write!" – Richard Bausch, author of Peace

Can't decide?

available in November, paperback, Penguin

Give a

Gift Card

Good at Village Books and Paper Dreams

Technology If You Give a Mouse an iPhone: A Cautionary Tail

HUMOR

by Ann Droyd

available in November, hardcover, Penguin

If you give a bored little mouse your iPhone in order to quiet him down, he's probably going to become hopelessly hypnotized by that mesmerizing little screen, and he won't even realize you are taking him on a special trip, and he's probably going to get into a little bit of trouble.

48 Winter 2014-2015

Pogue's Basics: Essential Tips and Shortcuts (That No One Bothers to Tell You) for Simplifying the Technology in Your Life

by David Pogue

available in December, hardcover, Macmillan

A book of 200 tips that will change your relationship to your phone, computer, tablet, camera—all of the technology in your life. At last, you can lose the nagging, insecure feeling that you're not the master of your own gadgets; these tech tips are all you need to get by.

Building Community One Book at a Time

Current Events Bureaucracy

The Republic of Imagination:

by David Graeber

America in Three Books

available in February, hardcover, Melville House

by Azar Nafisi

Blending memoir and polemic with close readings of her favorite American novels—The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Babbitt, and The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter—Nafisi invites us to join her as citizens of a country where the villains are conformity and orthodoxy and the only passport to entry is a free mind and a willingness to dream.

Where does the desire for endless rules, regulations, and bureaucracy come from?

How did we come to spend so much of our time filling out forms? To answer these questions, anthropologist David Graeber—one of the most prominent and provocative thinkers working today—takes a journey through ancient and modern history to trace the peculiar and fascinating evolution of bureaucracy over the ages.

New Slow City: Living Simply

The Lonely War:

available in November, hardcover, Penguin

in the World's Fastest City

One Woman's Account of the Struggle for Modern Iran

by William Powers

available in November, paperback, New World Library

by Nazila Fathi

Burnt out after years of doing conservation work around the world, William Powers spent a season in a tiny cabin off the grid. To find out if he could live a similarly minimalist way in New York City, Powers and his wife jettisoned 80 percent of their stuff and moved into a micro apartment in Greenwich Village.

Here, Powers offers practical inspiration to anyone trying to make urban life more people—and planet—friendly.

Business

available in December, hardcover, Basic Books

As a nine-year-old Tehrani schoolgirl during the Iranian Revolution, Nazila Fathi watched her country change before her eyes. The revolutionaries—poor, uneducated, and radicalized—seized jobs, housing, and positions of power, transforming Iranian society practically overnight. But this socioeconomic revolution had an unintended effect, as the forces unleashed in 1979 inadvertently created a robust Iranian middle class, one that today hungers for more personal freedoms and a renewed relationship with the outside world.

A Great Gift...

The Change Book:

The Curmudgeon's Guide to Getting Ahead

How Things Happen

by Mikael Krogerus and Roman Tschäppeler

by Charles Murray

available in January, hardcover, W.W. Norton & Co.

Collecting theories and ideas from scientists, leaders, and thinkers of all stripes, the authors of the best-selling The Decision Book offer shrewd and satisfying explanations of change, some profound, others light-spirited in business, technology, education, relationships, and more. A great book for business and or personal change…a fabulous way to start the New Year!

Sharpen Your Saw

Business Book Group

"A tiny primer on the virtues of good grammar and bad bosses, how to treat email like a digital letter (instead of a half-baked text), ways to avoid becoming a suck-up and the power of cursing. This book belongs in the stocking of every recent graduate, old soul, or unironic fedora enthusiast on your list."

–Sam

Meet with Mike Cook the 3rd Tuesday of every month from 11am-1pm to discuss an alternative approach to keeping your mind sharp and life balanced while being part of a continuous learning community.

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

Winter 2014-2015

49

COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Chuckanut Writers Conferences, classes, and retreats for your writing life

This winter, Village Books and WCC Community & Continuing Education will offer a variety of classes and seminars as part of our collaborative writing program, Chuckanut Writers. These programs are designed to inspire and encourage writers at all stages of their writing journey.

Here's a sneak peek at the 2015 classes: • The Mindful Writer: Bring Focus, Passion and Energy to your Writing Life with Susan Colleen Browne • The Quest Memoir: How to Write About Travel and Other Assorted Journeys with Cami Ostman • Selling the Excerpt with Laurel Leigh • Creating and Sustaining a Writing Practice with Joel Gillman • Writing to Clear Clutter with Carolyn Koehnline • Right Brain Writing: Connecting to Your Creative Genius with Monica McDowell • The Writer’s Toolbox Series with Roby Blecker • Writing Eco-Poetry—Crafting Poems that Respond to Nature with Elizabeth Colen • Writing and Publishing Nonfiction: An Insider’s Guide with Dawn Groves We hope to see you at some of these great classes in the New Year!

Registration opens December 4th. Visit www.whatcomcommunityed.com for the complete listing of winter Chuckanut Writers classes.

Writing classes make great gifts! Simply call to register a friend or family member in one or more classes, and we’ll provide a festive certificate for easy gift giving. Call 360-383-3200 today.

Returns to WCC next summer!

Friday and Saturday June 26 & 27, 2015

SAVE THE DATES!

WCC and Village Books would like to thank all attendees and our valued sponsors for making this year's conference a success. Please join us next year. www.chuckanutwritersconference.com

50 Winter 2014-2015

Building Community One Book at a Time

Join us for a special evening with

GRAHAM KERR

Thursday, December 11, 6:30pm at the Leopold

The Galloping Gourmet

Join Village Books as we welcome renowned chef and television personality Graham Kerr for a new literary project.

Flash of Silver In an innovative and engaging style, Graham and wife Treena Kerr will debut his Flash of Silver e-serial book, a 64-week journey that is part memoir, part ecological and spiritual narrative. The story follows the life cycles of a pair of wild Pacific Chinook salmon amongst a salmon “run” and aligns them with the Kerrs' whole life experience.

•

Crystal Ballroom

As a participant you will receive • a signed limited edition preview booklet a discount toward the 64-chapter digital series • an opportunity to join the "Reflective Readers Club" online, • and a gift copy of The Gathering Place, Kerr's home entertaining book.

The evening includes live music by local singer & songwriter Dana Lyons, as well as light food and beverage including Graham's amazing punch!

Graham is widely known as the chef in the "Galloping Gourmet TV Series," which Treena produced, and he is an award-winning author.

Tickets $18 - at Village Books & brownpapertickets.com

Religion

A Great Gift...

Zealot

by Reza Aslan

The Joy of the Gospel

by Pope Francis

available now, hardcover, Image

In this thought-provoking teaching to the faithful, Pope Francis explores a number of themes that are important for Catholics around the world. He looks at the many obstacles to faith and what can be done to overcome those hurdles. How can believers foster more faithful and effective communication with God? How does Jesus answer the yearnings many feel in their hearts and souls?

Inspiration The Power of the Heart: Finding Your True Purpose in Life

by Baptist de Pape

available now, hardcover, Simon & Schuster

With its unprecedented convocation of eighteen of the world's greatest spiritual thinkers, writers, and scientists, including Maya Angelou, Deepak Chopra, Paulo Coelho, and Eckhart Tolle, this beautifully designed full-color spiritual guide—which ties into a film of the same name—reveals how you can overcome limitations and fulfill your highest potential.

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

"Aslan's speculative vision of 1st century Judea depicts the historical Jesus as more of a political revolutionary than a religious leader. A uniquely compelling gift for anyone willing to think outside our scripted interpretations of history." –Brendan

Don't Give Up, Don't Give In: Lessons from an Extraordinary Life

by Louis Zamperini and David Rensin available in November, hardcover, HarperCollins

Faced with one misfortune after another—a plane crash, the shark-filled waters of the Pacific, a brutal Japanese prisoner of war camp—Zamperini, the subject of Hillenbrand's bestseller, Unbroken, could have given up a thousand times. Instead, he chose to see every hardship as a challenge that he was determined to overcome.

Winter 2014-2015 51

Join us!

February 24th–26th, 2015

Daniel James Brown 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.

Daniel James Brown's The Boys in the Boat is the featured book for 2015.

The Boys in the Boat celebrates the 1936 U.S. men’s Olympic eight-oar rowing team—nine working class boys who stormed the rowing world, transformed the sport, and galvanized the attention of millions of Americans. Enjoy the book again or discover it for the first time, then join us in welcoming author Daniel James Brown to these free public events in Whatcom County in February.

Tuesday, February 24, 7:30pm Author Talk at Jansen Art Center, 321 Front St, Lynden

Wednesday, February 25, 2pm Book Discussion with the Author at Fairhaven Library

Wednesday, February 25, 7pm Author Keynote Event at Mt Baker Theater

Purchase The Boys in the Boat before February 24th at Village Books and we will donate 10% of the proceeds to Whatcom READS!

Whatcom WRITES! 6th Annual Writing Contest

Theme = Competition Have you ever entered a competition where winning wasn't the point? Have you won and found it wasn't what you expected? Or perhaps competition was an interior journey for you. How did it transform you? Who helped you along the way? What did you learn about yourself or the world?

Enter the Whatcom WRITES! contest addressing this topic. In up to 800 words, submit your poem, fiction, or non-fiction work on the theme of competition by midnight December 1, 2014. Winners will be published in a printed anthology and invited to read their work at Village Books, Sunday, February 8th at 4pm.

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

52 Winter 2014-2015

Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm

2015 WWU

children’s literature conference Continuing the Tradition and Excitement!

The Western Washington University Children’s Literature Conference has become an annual tradition for many, where teachers, 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.

The 2015 Speakers will be:

Saturday, February 28th • Location: Western Washington University Performing Arts Center-Concert Hall • Time- 8am: doors open for book sales, autographing, and registration 9am-4pm: Conference • Registration: Early bird registration (before Jan. 15th): $95–after that, $125 Discounts available for full-time college students, para-educators, retired teachers and WWU employees Reduced rates for groups of three or more who register together by Jan 1st!

Clock Hours: 5 clock hours available.

Registration available at the conference.

For more information, contact Nancy Johnson (Nancy.Johnson@wwu.edu)

Matt de la Peña—The Living (Pura Belpré Honor), Mexican Whiteboy (ALA/YALSA Best Books for YA), We Were Here (ALA/YALSA Best Books for YA), The Nation’s Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Lewis.

Kate DiCamillo Flora & Ulysses (Newbery Medal), Because of Winn-Dixie (Newbery Honor), Tale of Despereaux (Newbery Medal), Mercy Watson series, Blink & Gollie series. She is also the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature.

Yuyi Morales Niño Wrestles the World (Pura Belpré Illustrator Medal), My Abuelita (Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor), Just In Case (Pura Belpré Narrative Medal and Illustrator Honor).

Joyce Sidman Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night (Newbery Honor), Ubiquitous: Celebrating Nature’s Survivors (NCTE Notable Book), What the Heart Knows: Chants, Charms & Blessings. Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors (Caldecott Honor book & Claudia Lewis Poetry Award) Complete conference information and a link to register is available online on the Children’s Literature Conference website (wwuclc.com). Register today and pass along this information to all authors, illustrators, teachers, and librarians that you know.

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

Winter 2014-2015 53

FUN for KIDS

Thursday, December 4, 4pm

Story Time and Visit with the Grinch

Friday, November 14, 10:30am

Story Time featuring Uni the Unicorn Join us for an hour of stories, activities, and a craft as we celebrate all things unicorn! Kids will get to make their very own unicorn horn, and parents can enjoy a 15% discount on this wonderful story which is destined to be a classic.

Join us in the Readings Gallery for a story time from Dr. Seuss’s holiday classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

There will be a special guest appearance by the Grinch himself.

Bring your cameras for fun photo opportunities!

Friday, December 12, 10:30am

A Great Gift...

Polar Express Party

Unipak Plush Doghouse

from World of Good Fair Trade "All handmade using Fair Trade practices. Non-allergenic, nontoxic, and so cute!" –Laura O.

Come get cozy with Claire as we read The Polar Express, play some games, do some crafting, and get in the spirit of Christmas. This story is a great gift and will be specially discounted for participants, so don't miss out!

FAMILY FUN! SANTA

is Coming to

Bellingham, and He’ll Sign Your Book!

Saturdays,

December 13 & 20, 11am - noon

54 Winter 2014-2015

Of course we all know that Santa comes to Bellingham every year. But this year there's a book just about his visits to Bellingham. Santa has loaded up his sleigh and, with the help of one red-nosed reindeer, will soar over rooftops in Bellingham neighborhoods, including Birchwood, York, Silver Beach, Happy Valley and, of course, Fairhaven.

Join us at Village Books on Saturdays, December 13th and 20th from 11am-12pm for a special visit with Santa on the main floor of Village Books by the glass sculpture. He'll sign the book, Santa is Coming to Bellingham, and will be handing out a treat to those who visit. For kids of all ages, we hope you’ll stop by our store to get this fun keepsake book signed by Santa himself.

Shop 24 hours a day at villagebooks.com

YOUNG READERS Their Families & Educators

PICTURE BOOKS While You Were Napping written by Jenny Offill illustrated by Barry Blitt

available now, hardcover, Schwartz & Wade

A kid’s worst nightmare come true!!

While little brother is off to bed for a little nap, all of the coolest things ever happen in the neighborhood— skywriting, French fry sandwiches, fire trucks, pirates, everything! Too bad little brother misses it all, ha-ha. From the author of staff favorite Sparky! –Sarah

Before After

by Matthias Aregui and Anne-Margot Ramstein available now, hardcover, Candlewick

Everyone knows that a tiny acorn grows into a mighty oak and a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. But in this clever, visually enchanting volume, it’s also true that a cow can result in both a bottle of milk and a painting of a cow, and an ape in a jungle may become an urban King Kong. With simple, graphic illustrations sure to appeal to even the youngest of children, this beautiful rumination on the passage of time will please the most discerning adult readers, too.

Pig and Small

by Alex Latimer

available now, hardcover, Peachtree

Pig and Bug want to be friends, but their size difference is proving to be a BIG problem. Pig wants to play games, but Bug is too small. Bug wants to make things for his friend, but Pig is too big!

Just as they've given up all hope, Pig has an idea.

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole

by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen available now, hardcover, Candlewick

Sam and Dave are on a mission. A mission to find something spectacular. So they dig a hole. And they keep digging.

And they find…nothing. Yet the day turns out to be pretty spectacular after all. Attentive readers will be rewarded with a rare treasure in this witty story of looking for the extraordinary — and finding it in a manner you’d never expect.

Hansel and Gretel

by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Lorenzo Mattotti available now, hardcover, Toon Books

Gaiman and Mattotti join forces to create a stunning book that's at once as familiar as a dream and as evocative as a nightmare. Mattotti's sweeping ink illustrations capture the terror and longing found in the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Gaiman crafts an original text filled with his signature wit that is sure to become a favorite.

My Grandfather’s Coat

written by Jim Aylesworth illustrated

by Barbara McClintock available now, hardcover, Scholastic

What a fun retelling of this classic talea coat becomes a jacket becomes a vest, etc. as, over the years, the coat frays and snags and Grandfather recycles what remains into a brand new garment. This is a great story of reuse and valuing what you have while the illustrations show how the family develops over the years and would make a great selection for grandparent/grandchild reading time. –Sarah

Thank you for your continued support.

We wouldn't be here without you!

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

Winter 2014-2015

55

Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day

Saturday, December 6th, 2014

Visit Village Books today with your children, grandchildren, or special kids in your life for the 5th annual Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day. Founded in 2010, this day-long event has grown to include more than 700 bookstores around the world. Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day is about instilling a love of bookstores in children so that they will value and support this most precious of resources as they go on to enter and create communities of their own.

Bring the kids to our morning or afternoon story times for additional fun!

Read • Dream • Grow

10:30am Story Time featuring

The Snowy Day We are celebrating the snow with a reading of Ezra Jack Keats' classic story, along with other snow-themed tales. Participants will enjoy discounts on select titles, as well as activities for the kids to take home.

Back by Popular Demand The Neighborhood Playhouse presents

A Year with

FaroG nd

a O T D A Musical!

at the

Bellingham Theatre Guild 1600 H St.

2pm - Moomin Story Time & Activities This year Finland is celebrating the centenary of the birth of Tove Jansson, creator of the Moomins, and one of the most successful children's writers ever. Join Village Books and the Finlandia Foundation as we read Moomin stories and take part in some fun activities. Fun for all ages!

Arnold Lobel's well-loved characters hop from the page to the stage in Robert and Willie Reale's musical!

Saturday, Jan. 3rd: 2pm, 5pm Sunday, Jan. 4th: 2pm Friday, Jan. 9th: 7pm P.J.Night - wear your jammies!

Saturday, January 10th: 2pm Matinee 5pm ASL Interpreted Performance

Sunday, January 11th: 2pm closing performance From the theatre that brought you Go, Dog. Go! and Charlotte’s Web comes A Year with Frog and Toad—another delightful family musical featuring charming characters, professional performers, and a wonderful mix of musical songs and dances. Bring the whole family!

It's the perfect way to wrap up the holiday season.

January 3 - 11, 2015

Tickets: $10 for18 and under • $15 Adults On sale November 15 at VILLAGE BOOKS & brownpapertickets.com

For more information, visit theneighborhoodplayhouse.net

Consider giving tickets as gifts this holiday season!

Include a Frog & Toad book—perfect!

56 Winter 2014-2015

Building Community One Book at a Time

Holiday Books Books are gifts that are opened again and again. Find a huge variety of these and other fun holiday books in our kids section!

The Animals' Santa

by Jan Brett

available now, Penguin

Is there really an animals' Santa?

Find out in this beautifully illustrated picture book by the amazing Jan Brett.

Here Comes Santa Cat

by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Claudia Rueda Dial Press

Christmas is coming, and Cat has a hunch he's not on Santa's "nice" list.

Delight in this holiday treat!

A Treasury of Christmas Classics: Includes The Night Before Christmas, The Twelve Days of Christmas, and The Nutcracker illustrated by Christian Birmingham and Don Daily

Celebrate Christmas with this magical treasury filled with love, warmth, and yuletide cheer.

TOYS

Little Blue Truck’s Christmas

by Alice Schertle, illustrated by Jill McElmurry Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Little Blue Truck is spreading cheer by delivering Christmas trees to his animal friends.

TOYS

TOYS

and GAMES!

at Village Books & Paper Dreams for the young and young-at-heart

A Great Gift...

Take-Along Show-Horse Stable Toy

by Melissa & Doug

"A portable wooden stable FULL of toy horses! My daughter begged for this at Christmas last year and it's still a favorite—at home, at Grandma's, on car trips... a tried and true great gift." –Kelly C.

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

Winter 2014-2015

57

FAMILY

Brave Girls: Raising Young Women with Passion and Purpose to Become Powerful Leaders

Mama Gone Geek: Calling on My Inner Science Nerd to Help Navigate the Ups and Downs of Parenthood

by Stacey Radin with Leslie Goldman,

by Lynn Brunelle

available now, paperback, Roost Books

Bainbridge Island author Lynn Brunelle shares a collection of personal stories as a mom using everyday life experiences to teach her young sons. She is witty and honest, and writes about challenging topics parents discuss with their kids, such as fire safety, illness, and anatomy. At the end of every chapter Lynn includes science experiments for families, inspired by her own parenting conundrums. Great for parents with toddlers through the elementary years. —Christina at Village Books

LYNN BRUNELLE Wednesday, December 10th, 7pm

available in January, hardcover, Atria Books

I n S t a c e y R a d i n ’s forthcoming book, she compiles years of research, as well as experiences from an organization called Unleashed, to talk about how parents and adults can help empower young women. Her organization works with middle-school aged girls through a dog rescue program, helping girls learn everything from social-emotional intelligence, to fearless communication, to building tools for thriving. Some chapters include “power boost” activities you can use to work with the girls in your life. —Christina

A Great Gift...

And Then.... Story Starters: 20 Imaginative Beginnings in Paper Dreams

"Each of these beautifully illustrated cards has the beginnings of a story that you and your child or grandchild can finish together. My daughter and I have spent many a bedtime curled up together telling each other stories based on these clever ideas and the memories that I have now thanks to them are priceless." –Claire

Whatcom READS!

Join students, families and schools around the county as we read one book together.

KIDS & TEENS

FREE Author Event and Book Signing

Monday, March 9th, 6:30pm

Sharing books by Newbery Honor-winning author

EUGENE YELCHIN

Whatcom Middle School Breaking Stalin's Nose Arcady's Goal

A prolific illustrator, designer, and filmmaker, Eugene Yelchin won a Newbery Honor in 2012 for his middle-grade novel, Breaking Stalin’s Nose, inspired by his childhood in communist Russia.

Arcady's Goal looks at the Red Army Soccer Club of 1945, of which his father was a member.

58 Winter 2014-2015

Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm

Middle Readers Rain Reign

Unstoppable Octobia May

available now, hardcover, Feiwel & Friends

available now, hardcover, Scholastic

Rose has Asperger’s, OCD, and a fierce love of homonyms. She and her dog, Rain (rein, reign), are inseparable. When Rain slips away one night in a fierce storm, Rose has to learn how to cope without her best friend. It is impossible to convey how moving this book is, how touched in the very best way I felt after finishing it. A three-sentence synopsis doesn’t even begin to explain how special this story is. –Sarah

Octobia May is a girl filled with questions.

Her heart condition makes her special-and, some folks would argue, gives this ten-year-old powers that make her a "wise soul." Thank goodness for Auntie, who convinces Octobia's parents to let her live in her boarding house that is filled with old folks. At a time when children, and especially girls, are "seen, not heard," Auntie allows Octobia the freedom to question her world, unfolding an adventure and a mystery that beg some troubling questions.

by Sharon Flake

by Ann M. Martin

You (ewe) have (halve) to read (reed) this book! –Hana

Beyond the Laughing Sky The Graham Cracker Plot

by Shelley Tougas

available now, hardcover, Roaring Brook

No one believes her, but Daisy Bauer knows her dad has been wrongfully imprisoned and that it's up to her to break him out of jail (aka Club Fed). She has a plan that she's calling the Graham Cracker Plot because it was all Graham's idea. She just needs a miniature horse, a getaway truck, and a penny from 1919.

The Wainscott Weasel

by Tor Seidler

by Michelle Cuevas

available now, hardcover, Dial Books

Nashville was hatched from an egg.

He has a bird’s beak and feathers for hair. But he is also a boy, with a mom, a dad, and a sister. He is starting fifth grade. You could say he is quite unique. This whimsical little book is an incredibly sweet look at being different, and within its pages Nashville learns just how special different can be. –Hana

Pennyroyal Academy

by M.A. Larson

available now, hardcover, Putnam

available in November, hardcover, Simon and Schuster

Bagley Brown is a weasel quite unlike any other. He doesn’t make trouble and he doesn’t go dancing.

What he does do is spend his time at the pond where Bridget, a fish who is also rather different, swims.

Bagley is mesmerized by Bridget, and when he finds that the fish is in danger he will go to any length to protect her.

This charming and whimsical story of an unlikely pair is coming back in print! –Hana

A girl from the forest arrives in a bustling kingdom with no name and no idea why she is there, only to find herself at the center of a world at war. She enlists at Pennyroyal Academy, where princesses and knights are trained to battle the two great menaces of the day: witches and dragons. There, she must endure a harsh training regimen under the steel glare of her Fairy Drillsergeant, while also navigating an entirely new world of friends and enemies.

For even more GREAT GIFT SUGGESTIONS... pick up your copy of the ABC Best Books for Children Catalog in the store this holiday season. It’s a full-color catalog featuring hundreds of bookseller favorites, award winners, and critically acclaimed titles.

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

Winter 2014-2015 59

Minecraft Combat Handbook: An Official Mojang Book

by Scholastic

available now, hardcover

Minecraft Construction Handbook: An Official Mojang Book

by Scholastic

available now, hardcover

Big Book of Minecraft: The Unofficial Guide to Minecraft & Other Building Games

by Triumph Books

available in November, hardcover, Triumph books

60 Winter 2014-2015

MANIA! Minecraft Hacks Master Builder: The Unofficial Guide to Tips and Tricks That Other Guides Won't Teach You

by Megan Miller

available now, hardcover, Skyhorse Publishing

Ultimate Unofficial Guide to Minecraft Strategies: Everything You Need to Know to Build, Explore, Attack, and Survive in the World of Minecraft

by Instructables.com, Nicole Smith (Editor)

available now, paperback, Skyhorse Publishing

Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm

Middle Readers A Great Gift...

Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods

by Rick Riordan

"Know somebody who loves Percy Jackson? This guide to the gods and goddesses of Greek mythology is the perfect gift! It is all told in Percy’s distinctive voice and the stories are accompanied by beautiful, beautiful illustrations. Know a kid who has yet to read Percy? Team the guide up with The Lightning Thief, the first in the series, for a great gift set!" –Hana

New Installments in Your

Favorite Series!

The Long Haul (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series #9)

by Jeff Kinney

available in November, hardcover, Abrams Books

A family road trip is supposed to be a lot of fun . . . unless, of course, you’re the Heffleys.

Timmy Failure: We Meet Again

by Stephan Pastis

available now, hardcover, Candlewick Press

A third adventure about the comically overconfident sleuth.

Tales from a Not-So-Happily Ever After (Dork Diaries Series #8) by Rachel Renée Russell available now, hardcover, Aladdin

Nikki Maxwell’s favorite fairy tales get dork-tastic twists in the eighth book of the #1 New York Times bestselling Dork Diaries series!

The Blood of Olympus (Heroes of Olympus Series #5)

by Rick Riordan available now. hardcover, Disney-Hyperion The final book in the series!

The Dark Secret (Wings of Fire Series #4)

by Tui T. Sutherland

available now, paperback, Scholastic, Inc.

The New York Times bestselling Wings Of Fire saga soars to the mysterious land of the NightWings, where Starflight must face a terrible choice—his tribe, or his friends?

Village Books offers

99¢ Shipping 360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • villagebooks.com

USPS Media Mail –books & dvds– domestic shipping only

available for online AND in-store purchases

Winter 2014-2015 61

Young Adult Playlist for the Dead

Afterworlds

by Michelle Falkoff

by Scott Westerfeld

available in January, hardcover, HarperTeen

Hayden and Sam are best friends.

The morning after a party, Sam finds Hayden dead. What he leaves Sam is a playlist with a note: For Sam – Listen and you’ll understand. So begins Sam’s struggle to both understand his friend’s suicide, and establish his own identity without him. What makes this book even more special is the genius merging of the senses. Falkoff heads each new chapter with a song title from Hayden’s playlist, each of which is connected to and reflects what is happening within the chapter. Listening to the songs as you go makes for an unforgettable and incredibly unique reading experience. –Hana

available now, hardcover, Simon Pulse

It’s rare that you get two books for the price of one but that’s what’s here in Afterworlds: 1) the story of Darcy, an 18-year-old who, amazingly, gets a writing contract for her first story and, 2) the story Darcy has written about a Hindu soul guide who falls in love with a mostly-human girl. Westerfeld not only tells a great tale, it’s mixed with a lot of insider info about the book business. –Sarah

Love is the Drug

by Alaya Dawn Johnson available now, hardcover, Arthur A. Levine

A Great Gift...

Winger

by Andrew Smith "What a great book for teenage guys!

Set in the Pacific Northwest, it's the perfect combination of girls, sports, school, friends, crazy adventures and dire consequences."

–Jenny

The Cure for Dreaming

by Cat Winters

available now, hardcover, Amulet Books

It's the turn of the century in Portland, Oregon, and women want the vote! But Olivia's father, desperate to keep her in line, hires a hypnotist to put her in her place. In doing so, he sends his daughter on a journey of struggle and self-discovery that might finally launch her into pursuing her dreams. This book is more about suffrage than hypnosis, with frequent references to Bram Stoker's "Dracula." It's a quick read great for anyone with an interest in the Pacific Northwest history of women's rights. –Jenny

62 Winter 2014-2015

Emily Bird was raised not to ask questions.

She has perfect hair, the perfect boyfriend, and a perfect Ivy-League future. But, a chance meeting with Roosevelt David, a homeland security agent, at a party for Washington DC's elite, leads to Bird waking up in a hospital days later with no memory of the end of the night. Meanwhile, a deadly flu virus is sweeping the nation, forcing quarantines, curfews, even martial law. And Roosevelt is certain that Bird knows something. Something about the virus—something about her parents' top secret scientific work—something she shouldn't know.

The Final Descent: Monstrumologist #4

by Rick Yancey

available in November, paperback, Viking

This series has both fascinated and haunted me.

From the beginning, the tension between Dr. Warthrop, hunter of monsters / misanthropic mentor, and Will Henry, his long-suffering orphaned apprentice, has paled next to the the horrors that they have faced. Each of these books is better than the last. From the sophisticated themes to the psychological delvings, from the fully-realized characters to the gripping stories, this entire series succeeds on all levels. –Paul

Building Community One Book at a Time

Village Books is excited to introduce

YA RC .

.

.

.

Young Adult Review Committee

by Claire McElroy-Chesson, Village Books Kids' Programming Director

S

ince I was appointed Kids' Programming Director for Village Books in the spring of this year, I have been having so much fun thinking about ways that we, as a store, can engage with kids and adolescents in our community. And one of the programs that I am most excited to announce is the creation of our Young Adult Review Committee, or Y.A.R.C.! Inspired by Jesica Dehart of Book People in Moscow, Idaho, to whom I owe a huge debt of gratitude, this program offers teens ages 13-17 the opportunity to read yet-to-be-published books, also known as ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies).

In exchange for this privilege, they write reviews for us to use in print and social media, as well as for recommendations to you, our customers. What better way to find out what teens are reading than to go straight to the source?

Sixteen local teens were approached by school librarians and homeschool associations that were likely candidates and they then applied for the opportunity to be a part of this special team of readers. What a great group they are proving to be! What this means for you, dear reader, is that when you come to the store, searching for the perfect book for say, your 16-year-old granddaughter and you could really use a suggestion, we will have a display of Y.A.R.C.-approved books for you to peruse.

Their reviews will also appear on the Village Books website.

Here is a collection of some of the first reviews that have been submitted. Stay tuned for more coming from this unique group of teen readers! For more information on this program and how one gets involved, please email me at claire@villagebooks.com.

Autumn Falls The Only Thing to Fear

by Caroline Tung Richmond available now, hardcover, Scholastic

What would the world be like if Hitler had won WWII? Caroline Tung Richmond’s novel The Only Thing to Fear answers this question with a story set in a grim, Nazi-ruled North America. The author of this novel has done an amazing job with research, even incorporating Germany’s secret genetic experiments into the plot. She creates a vivid world that the reader can easily see as an alternate reality. This thrilling, actionpacked novel will keep you turning every page, eager for more. –Christopher P.

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

by Bella Thorne

available in November, hardcvoer, Delacorte Press

In actress, and soon-to-be-author, Bella Thorne's book Autumn Falls we find a story very easy to relate to in our modern day. A sudden death in the family, a wish-granting journal, a new school, and a senile grandmother who knows more than it seems, this book is the perfect mix of reality and magic. There is a romance, a jealous antagonist, and, to one's chagrin, some poor language. Overall, Thorne does a wonderful job of bringing her take on everyday life to the table, and helping us to feel the roller-coaster of emotions along with her as we read this story based on some of her own personal experiences.

Besides the swearing, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a more light read that still has solid content. –Jackie J.

More Y.A.R.C. recommendations on the the next page!

Winter 2014-2015

63

YA RC .

.

.

.

The Door in the Mountain

by Caitlin Sweet

available in November, paperback, ChiZine Publications

The unique story and diverse characters found in The Door in the Mountain are both enchanting and treacherous. Every page brings a new perspective or idea to the plot, which is breathtakingly real despite the mythical creatures and gods involved in the story. Caitlin Sweet’s words invoke images of grand palaces, sharp words, and sudden discord in ancient times. –Lydia W.

Beware the Wild

by Natalie C. Parker

available now, hardcover, Harper Teen

The people of small town Sticks, Louisiana, have become experts at pretending there is nothing strange about the swamp. But teenage Sterling Saucier knows better.

The swamp is responsible for her older brother’s disappearance earlier that day.

When a strange girl comes out instead, suddenly the whole town believes that she is Sterling’s sister and can’t remember her ever having a brother in the first place. How will she save her brother if she can’t convince anyone he ever existed? Magic, secrets, action, romance… promising new author Natalie C. Parker’s first novel has it all. –Brynna K.

Survival Colony 9

by Joshua David Bellin

available now, hardcover, Margaret K. McElderry Books

Seduction

by Molly Cochran available in December, hardcover, Simon & Schuster

After a fight with her boyfriend Peter, Katy flees for Parisian culinary school.

But she's surprised to find Peter there, in an ancient mansion where the women are supernaturally beautiful and the parties last all night. The City of Light is about to get a taste of the Darkness as Katy discovers the secrets of the Abbey of Lost Souls. Sensual and mysterious, Molly Cochran blends past and present with ease making the third installment of the Legacy series truly enchanting. –Emma W.

On the Edge

by Allison Van Diepen available in November, hardcover, Harper Teen

On the Edge, by Allison Van Diepen, is the story of Maddie Diaz, ready to move on with her life by going to Florida State University leaving behind her small town life. Then one fateful night she becomes a witness to the murder of a homeless man near her home. The murderers?

Two thugs from a feared gang called the Reyes. Maddie becomes the target with her only protector being Lobo, the leader of a rival gang. On the Edge is full of action and mystery. It'll keep you guessing, with friendship, drama and romance mixed in. There is danger at every turn for Maddie. She chose the wrong night to take a shortcut, when all she wanted was to make it until Fall so she could leave her old life and start again. Now she wonders if she'll make it to Florida at all.This book is a page turner that you won't be able to put down. I couldn't. –Stephanie H.

Young Adults Recommend...

Great read. Querry's quest as to who, or what, was responsible for the mysterious disappearance of his memories was well thought out. The question of why nothing about the colony felt right to him, and the suspicion of why certain people have an attitude towards him when, as far as he remembers, he's done nothing wrong, pulls you into the mystery. Even when it seems like Querry has lost everything, the story line twists around in ways you never saw coming. –Maddie M.

The Walled City

Young Adult

by Ryan Graudin

available in November, hardcover, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Hoo boy, what an intense whirlwind of a book! In The Walled City, anything goes. If a girl is caught on her own, she is sent straight to the brothels. And so, Jin runs. She runs, because she is determined to find her sister Mei Yee, sold into the brothel two years before by their father. Together with Dai, a boy caught up in the drug trafficking underbelly of The Walled City, they try desperately to escape. Make sure you can sit comfortably for a while with this one! You won’t be taking many breaks. –Hana

64 Winter 2014-2015

Building Community One Book at a Time

Literature LIVE!

EVENTS

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 Village Books eNewsletter!

NOVEMBER Thurs., Nov. 6, doors & music 6:30pm, show 7pm Heiner Theater at Whatcom Community College The Chuckanut Radio Hour with WILLIAM DIETRICH, CHRISTIAN MARTIN & CRAIG ROMANO, –The North Cascades: Finding Beauty and Renewal in the Wild Nearby

Musical guests for this show are the Prozac Mountain Boys.

Read more on page 10.

Fri., Nov. 7, 7pm Poetry JAMES P. LENFESTEY –Seeking the Cave: A Pilgrimage to Cold Mountain

In this transformative new book, award-winning poet and essayist James Lenfestey makes an epic journey across the world to find the Cold Mountain Cave, a location long believed to exist only in myths, and the ancient home of his idol Han Shan, author of the Cold Mountain poems and a legend in the history of both Chinese and international poetic tradition.

Sat., Nov. 8, 4pm DEVRAH LAVAL –Leap to Freedom: Healing Quantum Guilt

Whether we are rich or poor, religious, agnostic or atheist, we all suffer because of our unconscious belief in sin and guilt, both of which lie at the core of all our decisions and actions. This book offers a way out from this limited and debilitating belief, by exploring how and why sin and guilt are illusions.

Sat., Nov. 8, 7pm JAMES LANE Book Discussion about How to Understand the Mind by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Join local New Kadampa Buddhist practitioner James Lane for a discussion of this book and its teachings. The author is NOT attending.

Sun., Nov. 9, 10am-8pm PAPER DREAMS & VILLAGE BOOKS PRE-HOLIDAY CELEBRATION! Join us at Paper Dreams and Village Books for a day of pre-holiday celebration and fun. Stop in for a variety of exciting activities, and prizes, including a passport card. Read more on page 5.

Sun., Nov. 9, 4pm BOB SIMMONS Reading from the late Greg Palmer’s book, Cheese Deluxe: A Memoir Cheese Deluxe is a collection of mostly true tales about a group of highschool seniors during their last summer together in 1965. They’re blessed with good fortune, brimming with bright prospects, and poised on the brink of the tremendous social and political change that is brewing out in the great world. The center of their world is the Samoa Drive-In, a classic teen hangout and purveyor of the Cheese Deluxe, the world’s best burger.

Tues., Nov. 11, 3-5pm in the Readings Gallery CHUCKANUT WRITERS $29 Writing Vignettes about Photographs with Frances McCue Please join us in a refreshing, inspiring writing course taught by acclaimed UW teacher and poet Frances McCue. In this two-hour course, Frances will show portraits and landscapes to encourage prose poems, small stories or vignettes. To register visit www.whatcomcommunityed.com or call 360-383-3200. Cost is $29.

Tues., Nov. 11, 7pm FRANCES MCCUE –Mary Randlett Portraits This book is a curated collection of ninety photographs taken by Mary Randlett of Northwest artists, writers, and cultural luminaries. It documents the region's artistic legacy through one woman's camera lens. The portraits are accompanied by biographical sketches written by award-winning NW poet Frances McCue, which blend life stories and reflections on the works with Randlett's own reminiscences, as well as an essay on Randlett's life and professional career.

Thurs., Nov. 13 FAIRHAVEN GIVES BACK Businesses throughout the Fairhaven Historic District will be donating 10% of their sales today to non-profits in the community during the second annual Fairhaven Gives Back celebration.

Thurs., Nov. 13, 7pm JACKIE KLOOSTERBOER –My Earthquake Preparedness Guide If you missed your chance to listen to Jackie talk about earthquake preparedness in the early fall, Village Books is welcoming her back for another presentation. She will discuss how to create an emergency plan outlining what needs to happen before, during, and after an earthquake.

KIDS! Fri., Nov. 14, 10:30-11am Story Time featuring Uni the Unicorn Join us for an hour of stories, activities, and a craft as we celebrate all things unicorn! Kids will get to make their very own unicorn horn.

Keep turning for more events!

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

Winter 2014-2015

65

Clear the mobile clutter.

KMRE 102.3 FM A non-commercial, community-based radio station licensed to and operated by the Spark Museum of Electrical Invention since 2005. KMRE is a powerful and entertaining extension of the Spark Museum’s world-class media collection.

Underwriting a show here at KMRE supports independent local radio and connects your business, group or event to one of Bellingham’s best independent media outlets.

thousands of local listeners.

Our charging stations are designed and built from upcycled materials by our RE Vision Division.

Find these and more repurposed gifts this holiday season at The RE Store.

Listen and learn more online at:

KMRE.ORG

THE

RESTORE 2309 MERIDIAN ST | FOUNTAIN DISTRICT | 360.647.5921

66 Winter 2014-2015

Extended Store Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm

Literature LIVE!

EVENTS Sat., Nov. 15, 4pm Family Fun! ASIA CITRO –150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids Bring back playtime, all the time! Dive into a Bubbling Swamp World. Drum on an Outdoor Sound Wall. Explore the gooeyness of Glowing Slime. With the one-of-a-kind projects in this book, your family will rediscover the spirit of imaginative play.

Sun., Nov. 16, 4pm C.J. PRINCE –Mother, May I?

Poetry

Join local author C.J. Prince for a reading from her new collection of poetry. Her work has appeared in several anthologies, and she is the author of the novel, Canvas Angels.

Mon., Nov. 17, 7pm JIM HEYNEN –Ordinary Sins: Stories

Fiction

From a bar hosting its nightly Sad Hour to the moonlit sandbox of a retired army general, Jim Heynen’s new collection of short-short fiction, modeled after the work of Theophrastus’ Characters, Ordinary Sins, presents us with character sketches of strange yet fascinating men and women who resonate far beyond their brief moments in the spotlight.

Tues., Nov. 18, 9:30am-4:30pm at WCC Foundation Bldg $75 CHUCKANUT WRITERS Nature Writing Workshop with author Gary Ferguson Join Gary Ferguson for a nature-writing class designed to help participants strengthen their voice by more fully understanding how landscape has influenced their own lives. Participants begin with a mix of storytelling, contemplative writing exercises, and lecture, exploring commonly recurring themes within the nature myths of various cultures. Presented in part by North Cascades Institute, to register visit www.whatcomcommunityed. com or call 360-383-3200.

Tues., Nov. 18, 7pm GARY FERGUSON –The Carry Home: Lessons from the American Wilderness

A haunting meditation on wilderness, conservation, and grief by the critically-acclaimed nature writer in his most intimate and riveting book yet, The Carry Home is both a moving celebration of the outdoor life shared between Gary and his wife Jane, who died tragically in a canoeing accident in northern Ontario in 2005, and a chronicle of the mending, uplifting power of nature.

Read more about these and other LitLive events at VillageBooks.com!

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

Wed., Nov. 19, 6-9pm $5 ticketed event at the Bellingham High School Auditorium RICK STEVES 6 - 7:30 European Travel Skills 8 - 9pm The Holy Land: A talk about Israel and Palestine Join us for two presentations with Rick Steves at the Bellingham High School Auditorium. Your ticket admits you to one or both of the presentations.

Doors open at 5:30pm. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit the Bellingham High School PTSA. See pages 19-20 for more information.

Thurs., Nov. 20, 7pm ROXANNE DUNBAR-ORTIZ –An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States Acclaimed historian and activist Dunbar-Ortiz offers a history of the US told from the perspective of Indigenous peoples and reveals how Native Americans, for centuries, actively resisted expansion of the US empire. She adroitly challenges the founding myth of the United States and shows how policy against the Indigenous peoples was colonialist and designed to seize the territories of the original inhabitants, displacing or eliminating them.

Fri., Nov. 21, 7pm Local History TODD A. WARGER –Murder in the Fourth Corner: True Stories of Whatcom County's Earliest Homicides

Murder in the Fourth Corner is a new local non-fiction book published by Chuckanut Editions. Referring to the fourth corner of Washington State, this book is a series of true crime stories highlighting the more unsavory history of early Bellingham and Whatcom County, written by local author and Emmy Award nominee for the documentary film, The Mountain Runners.

Sat., Nov. 22, 4pm ERIC LIU –A Chinaman's Chance: One Family's Journey and the Chinese American Dream

In his latest book, Liu explores the complex dimensions of American identity through searching, personal essays in which he traces his family’s history, culture, and future. He considers the meaning of Confucius in modern life; the unseen role of Chinese Americans in shaping how we read the Constitution; his daughter’s aspects of her Chinese inheritance; and the all-too American idea of Tiger parenting. Liu was a speechwriter and deputy domestic policy adviser for Bill Clinton. He is currently a columnist for CNN.com.

Sat., Nov. 22, 7pm TED RALL –After We Kill You, We Will Welcome You Back As Honored Guests: Unembedded in Afghanistan Ted Rall’s new book is the result of his intrepid reporting: an unflinching account of America’s longest war by a truly groundbreaking graphic journalist. Rall spent months filing daily reports via satellite, and now his talents as a reporter and award-winning graphic novelist shine in this singular account of life in twenty-first-century Afghanistan.

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

Keep turning for more events!

Winter 2014-2015

67

Literature

LIVE!

so far in

DECEMBER

Thurs., Dec. 4, 4pm Story Time and visit with the Grinch

KIDS!

Join us for a story time with Dr. Seuss’s holiday classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. There will be a special guest appearance by the Grinch himself. Bring your cameras for fun photo opportunities!

Sun., Nov. 23, 4pm LAYTH MATTHEWS –The Four Noble Truths of Wealth: A Buddhist View of Economic Life

This is an introduction to Buddhism with application to the challenges and opportunities that money and livelihood present. The book includes comments on ethical business and sustainable economics from a Buddhist point of view. It presents the basis for making the journey from egocentric poverty mentality to a wealthy outlook, which is the ultimate wealth.

Sat., Dec. 6 Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day

KIDS!

Visit Village Books with your children, grandchildren, or special kids in your life for Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day —a day about instilling a love of bookstores in children so that they will value and support this most precious of resources as they go on to enter and create communities of their own. Bring the kids to a story time for additional fun:

10:30-11am - Story Time featuring The Snowy Day

Mon., Nov. 24, 7pm Open Mic with Laurel Leigh Open mic is held the last Monday of each month at 7pm in the Readings Gallery. Sign up at our main counter on the first floor or call (360) 671-2626. Laurel Leigh, local writer and teacher, will emcee.

Join us in the kids’ section of Village Books as we celebrate the snow with a reading of Ezra Jack Keats' classic story, along with other snow-themed tales. Participants will enjoy discounts on select titles, as well as activities for the kids to take home.

Tues., Nov. 25, 7pm RONALD LEE GEIGLE –The Woods

2pm - Moomin Story Time & Activities

Fiction

Washington DC political veteran Ronald Geigle, who was born and raised in Washington State, will discuss his new historical novel, The Woods. He will focus on what he calls “The Great Cathedral of the Northwest Woods,” using photos from Whatcom Museum’s Darius Kinsey collection, and highlights from the novel, which is set in the turbulent world of labor unrest and big-timber logging in the Pacific Northwest during the waning days of the Great Depression.

Thurs., Nov. 27 Village Books and Paper Dreams will be closed.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Fri., Nov. 28 & Sat., Nov. 29, 5-8pm Fairhaven Holiday Festival and Art Walk Start your holidays in the historic Fairhaven District with the annual Holiday Festival Opening Celebrations and Historic Holiday Art Walk. Village Books will feature Yaqui Native Flutist, Peter Ali. He will be performing his native flute under the glass sculpture on the main level of our store on Fri., Nov. 28th from 5-6pm and on Sat., Nov. 29 from 5-6:30pm. Paper Dreams will feature a variety of locally made and sourced gift items.

Sat., Nov. 29, 11am & 4pm “Indies First” Local Author Holiday Book Recommendations

68

Winter 2014-2015

Sat., Dec. 6, 7pm STEVEN GREENEBAUM –Practical Interfaith: How to Find Our

Common Humanity As We Celebrate Diversity

The interfaith movement is taking root. More and more of us are exploring it. At the same time interfaith finds itself at a crossroads. Where do we go now? Rev. Steven Greenebaum not only suggests Interfaith as a positive way forward but also offers a practical, down-to-earth approach to a more spiritually fulfilling life.

Mon., Dec. 8, 6:30-8:30pm Red Wheelbarrow Writers NaNoWriMo Group Reading Come join the Red Wheelbarrow Writers for a reading from their collective novel for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).

Wed., Dec. 10, 7pm LYNN BRUNELLE –Mama Gone Geek: Calling On My Inner Science Nerd to Help Navigate the Ups and Downs of Parenthood

Indies First is a year-round campaign in support of independent bookstores by authors and publishers. Join us at Village Books as we host two book chats featuring various local authors who will recommend some of their favorite books, just in time for the holiday gift season!

Receive VB's E-Newsletter

This year Finland is celebrating the centenary of the birth of Tove Jansson, creator of the Moomins, and one of the most successful children's writers ever. Join Village Books and the Finlandia Foundation as we read Moomin stories and take part in some fun activities.

How do you connect the artsy, science-nerd mom to the art and science of parenting? Lynn Brunelle shares her field trip through pregnancy and parenting, sprinkled with a sparkle of science, in this hilarious and awe-inspiring memoir. Read more on page 56.

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!

Holiday Hours

Thurs., Dec. 11, 6:30 pm at the Leopold Crystal Ballroom GRAHAM KERR "The Galloping Gourmet" –Flash of Silver

Wednesday, December 24th

Join Village Books for a special evening at the Leopold Crystal Ballroom as we welcome renowned chef and television personality Graham Kerr for a new literary project.

Kerr will debut his Flash of Silver e-serial book, part memoir, part ecological and spiritual narrative. Guests will receive a limited edition preview booklet at the event, which Kerr will sign. The evening includes live music by local musician Dana Lyons, as well as light food and beverage. Tickets $18 available at Village Books & brownpapertickets.com.

Fri., Dec. 12, 10:30-11am Polar Express Party for kids

Christmas Eve - We’re opening & closing early!

Open 9am-6pm

Thursday, December 25th Merry Christmas!

Village Books and Paper Dreams are Closed

Wednesday, December 31st

KIDS!

New Year’s Eve

Come get cozy with Claire as we read The Polar Express, play some games, do some crafting, and get in the spirit of Christmas.

Sat., Dec. 13, 11am-noon Santa Comes to Village Books

20% OFF STOREWIDE SALE

Both Village Books & Paper Dreams Opening early at 9am, closing at 6pm.

KIDS!

Thursday, January 1st

Join us for a special visit with Santa. He'll read from and sign copies of the book, Santa is Coming to Bellingham (available now), and will be handing out a treat to those who stop by.

Sat., Dec. 13, 7pm MATTHEW CAMPBELL –Spirit Summoner

Happy New Year!

20% OFF STOREWIDE SALE Both Village Books & Paper Dreams Open 10am-8pm

Fantasy

Local author Matthew Campbell's preservation and perseverance has paid off with his first full-length novel, Spirit Summoner. This is the first in the Chosen Light series of three books, telling the story of a young Spirit Summoner whose power might be destroying the world he's trying to save.

Mon., Dec. 29, 7pm NO Open Mic this month The next open mic will be Mon., Jan. 26, 7pm.

Wed., Dec. 17, 7pm KENT WOODYARD –Non-Essential Mnemonics:

so far in

An Unnecessary Journey into Senseless Knowledge

From creative reinterpretations of classic mnemonics to original creations of dubious usage, master humorist Kent Woodyard brings new life to the memory devices of a bygone era.

Fri., Jan. 2, 7pm Slideshow!

SUSAN MIDDLETON –Spineless: Portraits of Marine Invertebrates, the Backbone of Life

Thurs., Dec. 18, 7pm Ticketed Event at Book Fare Café KATE LEBO –Pie School:

A stunning new view of ocean life combining art and science by acclaimed photographer Susan Middleton. She specializes in the portraiture of rare and endangered animals, plants, sites, and cultures.

Lessons in Fruit, Flour and Butter

Join us for a special event at Book Fare Café on the mezzanine level of Village Books as we welcome author and baker Kate Lebo for her new book, Pie School. Kate will discuss her techniques for creating delicious fruit-based pies, while also demonstrating how to make a pie at the café. A hot beverage will be served with a delicious pie sample. Tickets $5 available at Village Books and brownpapertickets.com.

Sat., Dec. 20, 11am-noon Santa Comes to Village Books

JANUARY

KIDS!

Join us for a special visit with Santa. He'll read from and sign copies of the book, Santa is Coming to Bellingham and will be handing out a treat to those who stop by.

Sat., Jan. 3, 10:30-11am STORY TIME WITH CLAIRE

KIDS!

Join VB bookseller Claire for a fun story time in the kids' section of Village Books. We'll read various stories and do an activity. All ages are welcome.

Sat., Jan. 3, 11am-4pm RESOLUTIONS Have you made your New Year resolutions yet? If not, then join us in the Readings Gallery for our annual day of inspirational mini-workshops. We can help you start your year off right. See more info on page 25.

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

Keep turning for even more events!

Thank you for supporting Literature Live Events!

Winter 2014-2015

69

Sun., Jan. 4, noon-5pm WRITERS RESOLUTIONS

so far in

Do you need a jump-start on your writing life? Ready to commit to a new writing project? Join us for a day of inspirational mini-workshops that will help you meet your writing goals in 2015. See more info on page 25.

Sat., Jan. 17, 7pm William Stafford Tribute Event: An Evening of Poetry Join us for our annual poetry reading celebrating Oregon's late poet laureate, William Stafford. We invite the community to read their favorite Stafford poems at this event. One of the best-known and loved American poets, Stafford served as Poetry Consultant to the Library of Congress and received the National Book Award for Traveling Through the Dark. Bellingham poet, Jim Bertolino, will host.

Sun., Jan. 18, 4pm COLLEEN HAGGERTY –A Leg To Stand On: An Amputee’s Walk Into Motherhood

Local author Colleen Haggerty releases her touching memoir, which depicts her story of loss, anger, redemption, and forgiveness after losing her leg in a car accident during her senior year of high school. Haggerty takes us on her journey as she explores her physical world with vigor, testing the limits of her body, as well as her heart. Google her Tedx Bellingham talk!

Mon., Jan. 19, 10am-2pm Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Read-In

KIDS!

Local children are invited to gather in the Village Books Readings Gallery to hear stories in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, about the civil rights movement, tolerance, and diversity. Co-sponsored by WWU's Center for Service-Learning.

Thurs., Jan. 22, doors 6:30pm, show 7pm Heiner Theater at Whatcom Community College The Chuckanut Radio Hour 8th Anniversary Show with musical guest The Walrus Come celebrate the Chuckanut Radio Hour's 8th anniversary with highlights and clips from some of the best of 2014, a new essay by Alan Rhodes, and a brand new episode of the “Bellingham Bean.”

Tickets for The Chuckanut Radio Hour are $5 and are available at Village Books and BrownPaperTickets.com. Read more on page 10.

Sun., Jan. 25, 4pm STEPHEN R. PALUMBI & ANTHONY R. PALUMBI –The Extreme Life of the Sea Co-written by a father and son, one a leading marine scientist, the other a science writer, this book tells the unforgettable tales of some of the most marvelous life forms on Earth, and the challenges they overcome to survive. Modern science and a fluid narrative style give every reader a deep look at the lives of these species.

Mon., Jan. 26, 7pm Open mic with Laurel Leigh Open mic is held the last Monday of each month at 7pm in the Readings Gallery. Sign up at our main counter on the first floor or call (360) 671-2626. Laurel Leigh, local writer and teacher, will emcee.

FEBRUARY

Sun., Feb. 1, 4pm STEWART O'NAN –West of Sunset: A Novel Meticulously researched, West of Sunset is an acutely sensitive and moving portrayal of the last three years of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s life, from 1937-1940 when he resided in Los Angeles by himself—in poor health, a troubled alcoholic who was mostly on the wagon, with some grave financial, artistic and personal problems.

O’Nan offers a wonderful portrayal of one of the golden ages of Hollywood, both the glamour and the constant possibility of failure and disappointment.

Wed., Feb. 4, 6:30pm The Chuckanut Radio Hour featuring ALEXANDRA FULLER –Leaving Before the Rains Come

in the Heiner Theater at WCC From the critically acclaimed author of Don’t Lets Go to the Dogs Tonight and Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness, Alexandra Fuller joins us with her new book, Leaving Before the Rains Come.

Tickets $5 - available at Village Books & brownpapertickets.com. Receive one FREE TICKET with each pre-event in-store purchase of Leaving Before the Rains Come.

Thurs., Feb. 5, 7-8:30pm Western Reads Panel Discussion about The Boys in the Boat Join us for a panel discussion about Daniel James Brown's book, The Boys in the Boat: The History & Politics That Changed the World—this year's selection for both Western Reads and Whatcom Reads! Adolf Hitler sought to use the 1936 Olympic games in Berlin to convince the world's people of the superiority of his political ideology and of the "Aryan" race. The success of some U.S. athletes, most notably sprinter Jesse Owens and the University of Washington crew, "the boys in the boat," challenged Hitler's carefully crafted narrative. The panelists—History Professor Kevin Leonard, Journalism Professor Sheila Webb, and Modern & Classical Languages Professor Cornelius Partsch—will explore the relationships among politics, sports and popular culture in the U.S. and the Third Reich. For more information, visitwwu.edu/westernreads/.

Sun., Feb. 8, 4pm Whatcom Writes! Contest Winner Readings Come listen to the winners of the Whatcom Writes! contest read their entries.

The theme of the contest this year is "competition," inspired by Daniel James Brown's book, The Boys in the Boat, this year's Whatcom Reads! selection.

Whatcom Writes! is a part of the Whatcom Reads! annual county-wide reading program.

Sun., Feb. 15, 4pm ANN PANCAKE –Me and My Daddy Listen to Bob Marley: Novella & Stories In this collection of eleven astonishing novellas and short stories, Pancake features characters who are intensely connected to their land—sometimes through love, sometimes through hate—and who experience brokenness and loss, redemption and revelation, often through their relationships to places under siege.

Independent Stores for Independent Minds. Be Indie, Buy Indie.

70

Winter 2014-2015

Building Community One Book at a Time

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

Winter 2014-2015

71

th th 1200 St. 12001111 St. Bellingham, WA Bellingham, WA98225 98225 360.671.2626 360.671.2626 www.VillageBooks.com www.VillageBooks.com

Whatcom County’s Favorite Bookstore since 1980 Whatcom County’s Favorite Bookstore since 1980 Building Community at a Time Building Community OneOne BookBook at a Time

PRSRT STD PRSRT STD USUS POSTAGE PAIDPAID POSTAGE PERMIT NO.NO. 200 20 PERMIT BELLINGHAM LYNDEN,WA WA

FAT PIE