December is the month of “best-of” reading lists designed to celebrate literary excellence and guide readers toward meaningful reads, serving both as a reflection on the year in books and an invitation to discover new favorites for the year ahead. What books did Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) library staff love most this year? Several of … Read more
Ian’s Ride: A Long-distance Journey to Joy by Karen Polinsky On a beautiful, early summer Santa Cruz evening, Ian Mackay was poised on his bike at the top of the Great Meadow bike path, looking down at shimmering Monterey Bay. Tonight was the night, he decided, that he would break his record, rocketing down the … Read more
Enough: Climbing Toward a True Self on Mount Everest by Melissa Arnot Reid World-renowned climber Melissa Arnot Reid shares her story of becoming the first woman to summit Mount Everest without the use of supplemental oxygen in her new memoir, “Enough: Climbing Toward a True Self on Mount Everest.” In response to a traumatic childhood, … Read more
So Far Gone by Jess Walter If the news cycle has ever given you the urge to throw your phone out the window of a moving car, you will find a kindred spirit in Rhys Kinnick, the protagonist of Spokane author Jess Walter’s recently published eighth novel, “So Far Gone.” Rhys, an environmental reporter forced … Read more
Wild in Seattle: Stories at the Crossroads of People and Nature by David B. Williams Summer is a perfect time to slow down and look deeply at the habitat around us, and “Wild in Seattle: Stories at the Crossroads of People and Nature” by David B. Williams is a brilliant invitation to do so. While … Read more
On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer by Rick Steves Most folks in Whatcom County are familiar with Edmonds native and travel advocate, Rick Steves, whether from using his popular travel guides, watching his travel show “Rick Steves’ Europe,” hearing him speak at events (including Cascadia Daily News’ October … Read more
Cabin: Off-the-grid Adventures with a Clueless Craftsman by Patrick Hutchison Warmer weather and longer days are an invitation to take up home renovation projects, and weekend warrior homeowners often lean into YouTube videos and DIY books checked out from the library for guidance. If you’ve experienced home renovations that go sideways or take much more … Read more
The Pacific Northwest Disaster Guide by Henry Latourette Miller (illustrated by Jeff Parker) In the past few years, Pacific Northwest communities have experienced catastrophic flooding, landslides, wildfires and damage from severe wind. As close as it is to Whatcom County communities, a Mount Baker eruption would be cataclysmic. And there is the hulking threat of The … Read more
Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey In early March 2020, just before the pandemic shut down travel, Alaskan author Eowyn Ivey visited Bellingham to share her book “To the Bright Edge of the World” as that year’s Whatcom Reads featured author. Now, five years later, fans of Ivey’s work have a new Alaskan novel … Read more
Genuine Skagit Cooking: Over 45 Recipes from the Heart of Skagit Valley by Blake Van Roekel and Stefanie LeJeunesseForage. Gather. Feast. 100+ Recipes from West Coast Forests, Shores & Urban Spaces by Maria FinnThe MeatEater Outdoor Cookbook: Wild Game Recipes for the Grill, Smoker, Campstove, and Campfire by Steve Rinella The Pacific Northwest is blessed … Read more