Book Buzz: Teaching in the Rain: The Story of North Cascades Institute

Teaching in the Rain: The Story of North Cascades Institute by John C. Miles The North Cascades inspire dreamers. Count among them a group of five friends who, beginning in the early 1980s, turned a shared vision into the North Cascades Institute.  The nationally respected environmental education nonprofit organization marked its 35th anniversary in 2021. … Read more

Book Buzz: The Art Thief

Cover image of "The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession" by Michael Finkel

The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel Stéphane Breitwieser’s crimes seem almost unfathomable. In the span of 6 years, from 1995 to 2001, the French thief and his girlfriend stole more than 200 paintings, sculptures, and priceless objects from museums across Europe. They committed their crimes … Read more

Book Buzz: Edison’s Ghosts

Cover Image of "Edison's Ghosts: The Untold Weirdness of History's Greatest Geniuses" by Katie Spalding

Edison’s Ghosts: The Untold Weirdness of History’s Greatest Geniuses by Katie Spalding You know their names. You might even know their famous accomplishments. But do you know how truly, well, weird they were? Probably not – which is exactly where mathematician and author Katie Spalding shines. Pulling back the layers of reverence that surround well-known … Read more

Book Buzz: Phoebe’s Diary

Phoebe’s Diary by Phoebe Wahl Welcome to Bellingham. The year is 2006. Teenagers smoke weed, play pool at Kendrick’s and rent movies from Trek Video. Flirting happens via flip phone and Myspace. Irony and ballet flats are in.  Phoebe is a sophomore who wears DIY skinny jeans, listens to the best indie bands and attends … Read more

Book Buzz: Yellowface

Cover image of "Yellowface" by R.F. Kuang

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang “Bad Art Friend” meets psychological thriller in this pacy, satirical page-turner.   June Hayward is a struggling author whose debut novel flopped. Her college friend, Athena Liu, is a bestselling author who just landed a Netflix deal. When Athena dies in an accident, June finds herself in possession of the secret manuscript … Read more

Book Buzz: American Mermaid

Cover image of "Amerian Mermaid" by Julia Langbein

American Mermaid by Julia Langbein  This splashy debut novel is part Hollywood satire, part girl-power eco-thriller. High school English teacher Penny moves to LA for the summer to adapt her bestselling novel into a movie. In Penny’s book, also called American Mermaid, protagonist Sylvia is an asexual engineer who discovers that her disability—she has chronic … Read more

Book Buzz: No Two Persons

No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister Some people mark summer by road trips and barbecues. Book lovers track the season by the pages we’ve read. Like Jenga pieces, we pull hardbacks from our teetering “to be read” piles, scan media for trending titles, and turn to library and bookstore staff for the next great book … Read more