get lit
Curl up by the fire and dive into one of these books, all penned by PNW authors
Serious Face by Jon Mooallem
This collection of astounding essays features a famously unbecoming matador (and his resemblance to the
author), a remarkable hospice, an against-all-odds outdoor rescue, Neanderthals, California forest fires, Charlie
Kaufman and much more. In each case, the writing is so compelling that you will be left with a strong sense of
wonder about the people around us and their unusual situations. Mooallem finds what’s interesting in people and
brings that to us in these uniquely inviting pieces. / Jane Danielson, Eagle Harbor Book Company
Spirits of the Coast: Orcas in Science, Art and History
edited by Martha Black, Lorne Hammond and Gavin Hanke, with Nikki Sanchez
Using history, Indigenous tradition, artwork, poetry and science, this book explores everything
about this often misunderstood animal. While most books focus solely on orcas’ biology and history,
Spirits of the Coast also includes the myths and stories that continue to shape our views today.
It’s a book like no other, recommended for everyone. / Walker Ranson, Liberty Bay Books
Sugar and Salt by Susan Wiggs
A very apt title for a story that is often sweet, but can bring salty tears just as easily. Novelist and Bainbridge Island
resident Susan Wiggs dazzles again with a story of new beginnings and the past chasing after you. With lost and
renewed love, topics pulled straight from today’s headlines, sensitive situations, and some foodie recipes, there’s
a lot here to sink your teeth into. / Walker Ranson, Liberty Bay Books
The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford
Ford is a graceful, empathetic storyteller, and he is at his best here. This tale is loosely based on a real Chinese
woman who came to the US in the mid-1800s and was briefly popular on stage, where audiences cheered her on
as an exotic novelty. It was not a happy life. Across generations and genes, her descendants share her and each
other’s traumas, until one woman in our not-too-distant future has the opportunity to confront and reclaim their
stories. Using a creative blend of both historical and science fiction, Ford once again pulls us in and leaves us
cheering (and wiser) at the end. / Victoria Irwin, Eagle Harbor Book Company
Unleashed by Cai Emmons
What begins as a compelling family drama featuring an only daughter leaving for college and the void she leaves
behind, morphs into something altogether different. Set in the grandeur of California wine country amid a fierce
fire season and disturbing reports of missing persons, this is a taut story with intriguing characters. But nothing will
prepare you for the surreal turn the novel takes toward the end. It leaves you with the feeling of having entered a
delicious Twilight Zone episode. Magical realism at its finest. / Jane Danielson, Eagle Harbor Book Company
