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Staff Picks
There is strength to be found in introversion. This book reminds kids (and adults) that it's okay to be quiet.
Dead Collections is a whirlwind romance between an archivist vampire and a widow on a journey of self-discovery. Not only is Sol navigating "life" as a vampire, but as a trans man whose transition slowed after his death. This book is sharp, funny, sexy, and full of so much heart. And, you do not need to like vampire stories generally to fall in love with this book, as I did! [Adrienne]
Structured as a series of interview excerpts with employees - some human, some humanoid - on a doomed spaceship. Eerie, foreboding, and darkly comedic, this slim novel tackles big questions on the nature of work and being human. One of the most thought-provoking pieces of fiction I've read in a long time. [Adrienne]
Have you ever been paralyzed in front of the sink full of dirty dishes? Forget to finish one task because you got distracted by a new one? Then this book may help. This is a productivity guide that totally understands the unproductivity that can be influenced by mental health & other psychological conditions. I sure needed her compassionate words, and she writes with the neurodivergent in mind. [Blanca]
Before she was a pillar of existential feminism, Simone de Beauvoir was a young girl growing up in France. At her side was her unforgettable friend, Zaza. In this autobiographical novel, only recently published, de Beauvoir captures the most important moments of her friendship through the fictionalized characters of Sylvie and Andree living in early 20th Century France. [Blanca]
I loved these wonderfully weird and creative stories from PNW author, Kim Fu. Among the best short speculative fiction I've read! [Adrienne]
Three founding members of the Crunk Feminist Collective combine feminist theory with hip-hop culture to give advice to girls: from affirmations to activism, romance to friendship, colorism to code switching. [sweet pea]
Tracy K Smith once again brings a moving collection of poems. Few people use words as well as she does. This collection is her first collection that spans her career. See why she is the one of the best poets today. [Karen]
Know your local history! This short, accessible, and super educational book examines the unique experiences of Mexican guest workers, migrants, and immigrants in the PNW and their enduring impacts on environmentalism, labor rights, immigrant rights, and the ag industry in our region. I learned so much! [Adrienne]
My favorite Murakami novel of all the ones I've read. In his straightforward lyrical style, he explores characteristic themes: identity, yearning, and liminal moments; but this one also has a character who encounters a doppelganger - and the impact is memorable. I still think about it, most often when I'm driving. [Blanca]