Supersonic by Thomas Kohnstamm A born-and-raised Seattleite, author Thomas Kohnstamm nails the Seattle ethos in his sprawling, funny and deeply human third novel, “Supersonic.” Shuttling between the late 1800s, the 1970s and 2014, “Supersonic” looks at the various inhabitants of a hillside community overlooking Seattle: the cynics, dreamers, schemers, strivers, bumblers, industrialists and idealists among them. … Read more
The Wives: A Memoir by Simone Gorrindo According to the U.S. Department of Defense, there are currently 2 million uniformed military personnel in the United States with 2.6 million family members. Journalist Simone Gorrindo shines a light on one subset of these military families: army wives. Her nonfiction account provides a portrait of the women … Read more
Big in Sweden by Sally Franson Paulie Johannson is a lovable hot mess. She’s 35, going through the motions at an unrewarding job as a college admissions coach in Minneapolis, wondering if her sweet but slightly dull computer programmer boyfriend Declan is “the one,” and nearly resigned to the fact that an exciting career as a … Read more
The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters We’re several months away from berry season here in Whatcom County but that shouldn’t deter you from reading Amanda Peters’ thoughtful debut novel “The Berry Pickers,” which won the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and topped many “best of the year” lists. The book opens during the summer of … Read more
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley “The Ministry of Time” is not like other romance novels. It’s more of a mashup: science fiction time travel meets spy novel lite with some history, romance and a dash of spice. The protagonist is an unnamed young woman eager to rise through the ranks of the UK … Read more
Horse by Geraldine Brooks For an Australian who lives in Massachusetts, author Geraldine Brooks has a remarkable ability to chronicle the American South, as she did with her Pulitzer Prize winning novel, “March.” “March” tells the story of “Little Women” from the point of view of the March girls’ father who joins the Union army … Read more
The Sweet Blue Distance by Sara Donati Bellingham author Rosina Lippi’s latest novel, published under her pen name Sara Donati, is her first since 2019. Faithful fans of her internationally bestselling multi-generational family sagas will recognize familiar names because “The Sweet Blue Distance” is a crossover book, bridging the gap between where the six “Wilderness” … Read more
The Library of Legends by Janie Chang Vancouver, British Columbia-based author Janie Chang is headlining Whatcom County Library System’s second Open Book: a Festival for Readers at the Ferndale Events Center on Nov. 3. Known for her rich historical fiction, Chang crafts family dramas, often weaving in Chinese culture. Her 2:30 p.m. talk at Open … Read more
Take by Jennifer Bradbury Skagit County author Jennifer Bradbury’s most recent novel for teens is a mystery/thriller set in the peaks of the North Cascades. Cara just graduated from high school and is working multiple part-time jobs to earn enough for her gap year, which she intends to spend climbing in Patagonia. She’s looking forward to … Read more
On Island: Life Among the Coast Dwellers by Pat Carney If you’ve ever dreamed of chucking it all and moving to a sleepy, small Pacific Northwest island (or if you already have) you may appreciate Pat Carney’s charming set of meandering, interconnected short stories set on an unnamed Gulf Island in British Columbia. Carney passed away … Read more