Northwest shines in summer reads

I came across an article from the Seattle Times that focuses on mysteries and thrillers with a Northwest bent, and I thought I would share it on this blog.  Books with a regional setting - especially ours - are perennially popular with library patrons.  We own all but one of the titles mentioned in the article, and that one will soon be on order.  Here is a link to the Seattle Times piece, and if you're so inclined to try one of the titles, click on it below and place a hold from the convenience of your couch...lawn chair...tub...wherever you may happen to be.

Bodily Harm - Robert Dugoni
Disturbed - Kevin O'Brien (not yet on order, but coming soon!)
House Justice - Mike Lawson
Killing Rocks - D.D. Barant
The King's Mistress - Emma Campion
Sheer Folly - Carola Dunn
Still Missing - Chevy Stevens

One of my favorite authors - Diane Ackerman

Imagine not being able to ask for something as simple as a glass of water; or knowing that the object you're looking at is a chair, but all you can say is "mem" - "mem, mem, mem" for everything.  That's what happened to Paul West, author, language maven, and husband of Diane Ackerman.  Diane's husband had been in the hospital fighting a kidney infection ,when in one cruel instant, a massive stroke ripped away all that Paul and Diane cherished as authors and lovers of language.  Much like a lightning bolt striking a transformer, the stroke essentially "fried" the wiring in Paul's brain, leaving him physically disabled (right hand partially curled and unresponsive, impaired vision, unsteady gait), but perhaps most frustrating of all, communicatively frozen.  I know that reading about a tragic event such as a stroke can be difficult, but trust me when I say that this is one of the most beautifully written biographies I have ever read.  You may recognize Diane Ackerman as the celebrated author of such books as The Zookeeper's Wife, An Alchemy of Mind, and A Natural History of the Senses among others.  Fans of Ms. Ackerman already know how magically she weaves a story, and she does not disappoint in this latest memoir.  Set aside some time to read about how Paul and Diane work together to "rewire" his brain, discovering along the way that there really are One Hundred Names for Love.

Dust off your suitcase

The term "staycation" has become very popular over the last couple of years.  After all, traveling can be expensive, and a downturn in the economy usually means a downturn in extracurricular activities...unless they're cheap.  Well, if you've been doing the staycation thing and find that the "hipness" of it is wearing a bit thin, don't despair.  National Geographic has just published The 100 Best Affordable Vacations, and it really does offer some unique ideas for budget-minded travelers.  Perhaps this is the summer to see how many waterfalls you can visit, or trek on down to Elko, Nevada to listen to cowboys wax poetic at a cowboy poetry festival.  A fan of county fairs?  Why not jazz up that corn dog craving by attending county fairs in other states!  The official start of summer is right around the corner, so don't delay those travel plans.  Check out this book, pack your bags, and get ready to start singing "On the road again!"