Greetings!
Black History Month is here again and we invite you to celebrate with us. By choosing new books by diverse authors, we’ve discovered a richer world, and hope to share that richness with you.
For many of us, the alarming events of 2020 created a long overdue desire to better understand the causes of systemic racism and to learn to act proactively against it. Most of us would not self-identify as racist, but is that enough? How do we become antiracist, for that is the new goal? As with many things, we believe that one of the best places to start is with a book.
There are countless books that detail the Black experience, help us better understand and navigate racism, or help us learn the best way to show an anti-racist allyship. We began this list last Summer and have continued to add to it. Not every book is a call to action - many are simply great stories. We hope you find your next great read here.
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Booklovers' Night Out (In!) |
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Bainbridge Public Library Presents:
A Virtual Authors' Extravaganza
February 18, 2021
Join us for this very special event that is not only entertaining, but supports one of the island's great cultural institutions, The Bainbridge Public Library. Pull up a comfy chair, pour yourself your favorite libation and be prepared to be enchanted by beloved local authors. Our 2021 panel, moderated by "Gorgeous" George Shannon, will feature Wendy Hinman, who lived her swashbuckling tale Sea Trials: Around the World with Duct Tape and Bailing Wire; Nancy Horan, famed historical fiction author of Loving Frank and Under the Wide and Starry Sky; Kevin O’Brien, best-selling author whose gripping suspense novels like The Night She Disappeared will haunt you; and Susan Wiggs, beloved author whose latest book, The Lost and Found Bookshop answers the question, “If you had to start over, what would you do and who would you be?” This group of delightfully talented writers promises to bring you an evening of interesting conversation, lots of laughter, the inspiration to read more, perhaps to write more and a plea to support your local library! Register here!
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Coming Soon: Pre-order Now! |
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The Four Winds, by Kristin Hannah |
Our American mythology is that this is a land of unlimited opportunity, and that hard work, resourcefulness, and perhaps a bit of luck, will bring unlimited rewards. And then we meet Elsa, the indomitable heroine of this truly American story and we are completely disavowed of this quaint notion. As if the Great Depression were not enough, this extraordinary novel also depicts the Dust Bowl of the great plains, and then the migration to California that brought unrelenting hardship to those who dared the trip. Elsa, a pitiable figure at the opening of this novel, goes through many transformations, and against all odds creates a loving family and a hopeful future. What we come away with is that no matter the odds, it is hope and love that endure. This is another brilliant historical fiction from Hannah and I devoured every word. One warning – have a hanky at hand. ~ Jane
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Eat the Buddha: Life and Death in a Tibetan Town, by Barbara Demick
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This incisive look into China’s oppression of Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism, illustrated through the experiences of monks and citizens in one town, really opened my eyes. A series of self-immolations by monks underlines the tragedy of this seemingly hopeless confrontation. Demick provides a concise, masterful background in history, as well as taking significant risks herself in documenting the situation from the ground level. I came away with a unique understanding of the struggle, as well as great admiration for the resistance in Tibet. ~ John
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Postcolonial Love Poem, by Natalie Diaz
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“You cannot drink poetry,” Diaz writes. In this second collection of her poems, she celebrates and longs for the physical body of a lover as well as the body of the earth—its water in particular. These are ecological, culturally rich, incredibly human poems, binding us to our planet with raw and intricate lyricism. ~ Carrie
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Changing Planes, by Ursula K. Le Guin |
Even as a diehard Le Guin fan, I was stunned by how much I loved this work of speculative fiction. As the main character visits fifteen alternate universes in order to entertain herself during an airport layover, Le Guin’s ability to breeze through an alternate “plane” or universe provides the magic of Changing Planes. The reader is left with more than enough to be satisfied by the story, but in awe of the ease with which Le Guin constructs an entire society in so few pages, just to move on. While Le Guin never shies away from the disturbing or difficult, on the whole this book is on the lighter side, investigating humanity with her characteristic deep thought, warmth, and subtle humor. ~ Cappy
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The Monk of Mokha, by Dave Eggers |
Eggers takes craft coffee to the next level! Follow the exploration of the original coffee trade in Yemen and its resurgence in San Francisco. Brew a fresh cup and buckle up for a riveting ride! ~ Laura Kay
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City of Bones: The Mortal Instruments #1, by Cassandra Clare
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I adored this YA novel and the books following it in the series. Second only to the Harry Potter books in my love for fantasy, it has something for everyone, with romance, action, humor, monsters, a fierce female lead, and in my opinion some of the best quotable lines in YA literature. Prepare to laugh and cry as you get to know a few of the most memorable characters this genre has to offer. ~ Sarah
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Long Bright River, by Liz Moore |
Estranged sisters Mickey and Kacey were once very close but their lives took very divergent paths as teenagers. Mickey befriended a cop in her afterschool care program and went straight into her career as a cop as soon as she could. Kacey became a victim of Philadelphia’s opioid crisis, living on the streets and blaming her fate on their dead mother. When a string of murders coincides with Kacey’s disappearance from her favorite street corner, Mickey becomes obsessed with finding her. This propulsive police procedural is as thoughtful and complex as any I’ve read in a long time. Small wonder Barack Obama listed it as one of his favorite reads of 2020. It’s a must for anyone who likes Tana French, Ken Bruen, Dennis Lehane or Lisa Scottoline. |
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Just Babies: The Origins of Good and Evil, by Paul Bloom |
Bloom, a professor of psychology at Yale, has discovered through several fascinating experiments with little children that we seem to be born with basic intuitions about right and wrong, good and evil. Rudimentary intuitions, to be sure, and ones that have to be nurtured by family and friends in order for us to develop a robust conscience. But Bloom also draws on sobering evidence that we’re prone to developing biases against people who don’t look or talk like us. In other words, Bloom helps us understand the roots of bigotry, as well as our capacities for fairness and compassion that can transcend prejudice. ~ David
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The Portable Frederick Douglass, edited by John Stauffer and Henry Louis Gates, Jr. |
Frederick Douglass ranks as one of the most eloquent and powerful speakers and writers in American history. Born a slave, he basically taught himself to read and write, and became a key leader in the Abolitionist movement. This volume is a comprehensive but affordable collection of Douglass’s most significant works, spanning a crucial period in U.S. history from 1845 to 1891. Douglass’s condemnations of slavery and racism still resonate deeply with us today. ~ David
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New In Paperback Nonfiction |
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Meesha Makes Friends
by Tom Percival
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It Will Be OK
by Lisa Katzenberger
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Mell Fell
by Corey R. Tabor
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Dear Sweet Pea
by Julia Murphy
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Claudia and the New Girl:
Babysitters Club
Graphic Novel #9
by Ann M. Martin
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Bug Boys: Outside and Beyond
by Laura Knetzger
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Red, White, and Whole
by Rajanni LaRocca
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Gina: The Girl Who Broke the World: Hilo Book #7
by Judd Winick
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Amari and the Night Brothers
by B B Alston
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New Books For Young Adults |
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Concrete Rose
by Angie Thomas
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Winterkeep
by Kristin Cashore
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Tales From the Hinterland
by Melissa Albert
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The Gilded Ones
by Namina Forna
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The Electric Kingdom
by David Arnold
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Angel of Greenwood
by Randi Pink
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You are welcome!
All Store Book Group titles are discounted 15% up until the date of discussion
Reader's Circle Book Group
February 2, 7:00 pm
by John Boyne
Mystery Book Group
February 23, 7:00 pm
Our popular in-store book groups are now meeting virtually by zoom!
Contact us for the meeting links.
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Thank You For Supporting The Island's Independent Bookstore |
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157 Winslow Way E
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
206.842.533
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