Spring Booknotes from our Staff – Fiction

By Blood
by Ellen Ullman (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)

In 1970s San Francisco, a neurotic middle-aged professor rents a small office as he awaits investigation for improper behavior. Discovering he can hear conversations from the psychiatrist’s office next door, he becomes obsessed with one particular patient, a young lesbian, adopted, and anguished about finding her real mother. He decides to become involved researching her possible history, falsifying papers, perpetuating the belief that she was born a Jew and relinquished at the end of the war by a woman now living in Israel. Intense and compelling, this psychological drama, haunted by stories of the Holocaust, is as atmospheric as the foggy, eccentric city in which it is set. –Erica

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Drifting House
by Krys Lee (Viking)

Postwar era Koreans and Korean Americans, living in the old country and the new, reinvent themselves in surprising ways in the face of loss, catastrophe, love, and changing families in Krys Lee’s debut short story collection, Drifting House. Alternately spooky, touching, realistic, and fantastical, Lee’s work invites readers to re-examine preconceptions of home, affection, return, and belonging, reflecting on the reach of mothers and motherland as family members move on, die, and are reborn. –Karen

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The Loss Library and Other Unfinished Stories
by Ivan Vladislavic
illus. by Sunandini Banerjee (Seagull Books)

From its base in Calcutta, India, Seagull Books has been winning increased notice for its beautiful books and commitment to literary excellence. The publication of South African writer Ivan Vladislavic’s new book stands out for reasons above and beyond; these linked pieces ruminate on stories and books, primarily on pieces not written–abandoned, set aside, let go. How the loss of these unwritten worlds is to be comprehended is made manifest in exquisite form here, with both Vladislavic’s elegiac writing and brilliant collages by designer Sunandini Banerjee. A book for those who love books–real, physical books–and where they take us. –Rick

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The Mirage
by Matt Ruff (HarperCollins)

Imagine that the United States is not a superpower but an antagonistic rogue state. Seattle author Matt Ruff takes you on an intense and brilliantly plotted journey into this new reality, a fun-house mirror world in which the United Arab States wield the political and military might, and the US is an occupied terror state responsible for the destruction of the Tigris and Euphrates World Trade Towers on 11/9/2001. A war on terror rages, and Christianity, not Islam is the religion shrouded in suspicion. Ruff has forged a mind-bending portrait of a world gripped by fear where nothing is as it seems. –Casey S.

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Booknotes, the newsletter of The Elliott Bay Book Company, is written entirely by bookstore staff. It represents a sampling of recently published books that we have enjoyed reading. We appreciate every opportunity to assist in finding books to meet your interests.

Holiday Recommendations from Our Staff – Cooking & Spirits

At the Elliott Bay Book Company we believe that there is no better gift than a book, and we have the perfect one for everyone on your holiday list this season. We look forward to serving you and wish you Happy Holidays!

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Home Made

By Yvette van Boven, Oof Verschuren

From a Dutch chef, living part-time in Paris, comes this most beautifully designed cookbook, with recipes ranging from tea to cocktails to cheeses, to roasting, smoking and preserving, from morning recipes to late night treats, and from birthday party suggestions to what one might cook for a funeral! The clear instructions and cheerful enthusiasm will probably inspire even the armchair cookbook reader (like me) to savor the descriptions, and then start cooking. —Erica

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The Family Meal: Home Cooking with Ferran Adria

By Ferran Adrià

Before the service begins at el Bulli restaurant, the entire staff sits down to the “family meal”—casual, relaxing and satisfying. This is a meal that needs to sustain the wait staff throughout the long night, as the restaurant business demands. It is also a meal that brings the staff together as a team. The meals are simple and well thought out, much as your own family meal is. These recipes are for real people, real families with real ingredients, yet they make you feel elevated above the usual. Look inside as see the clear and precise photographs, the simple daily menus and the easy to follow recipes—your mouth will begin watering. —Tracy

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Odd Bits: How to Cook the Rest of the Animal

By Jennifer Mclagan, Leigh Beisch

Fergus Henderson said, “Once you knock an animal on the head it is only polite to eat the whole animal.” Jennifer McLagan shows the cook how to do exactly that. She is an advocate for sustainable farming and ethical animal husbandry. It is only right that we show respect for the animal whose life we take to live by eating it “nose to tail.” This is a perfect finish to McLagan’s two previous books Bones and Fat. —Greg

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The Meatball Shop Cookbook

By Daniel Holzman, Michael Chernow, Lauren Deen

Who does not love meatballs? These authors/cooks make 4,000 meatballs a day at their Manhattan restaurant. These recipes are simple and delicious, from their kitchen to your kitchen. Mangia! —Carl

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Momofuku Milk Bar

By Christina Tosi, David Chang

When David Chang’s Momofuku cookbook came out two years ago, I eagerly flipped to the index to find the recipes for the baked delights that have garnered a tremendous cult following in New York and have elevated Chang to near godlike status among stoners with the munchies. Alas, there were no Compost Cookies, no Candybar Pie, no Birthday Cake recipes in that volume. Now, at last Momofuku Milk Bar pasty chef Tosi makes with the goods and allows the rest of us to play Willy Wonka in our kitchens at home. —Jamil

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All about Roasting: A New Approach to a Classic Art

By Molly Stevens

A roast conjures images of holidays and special celebrations. So yes, this cookbook is perfect for the season at hand. But to relegate it to the shelves only to pull it out for those momentous occasions would be a shame. Along with lavish dishes like Sear-Roasted Chateaubriand with Béarnaise Sauce are impressive yet simple ones like Roasted Asparagus Bundles Wrapped in Bacon. The well organized recipes include method, roasting time, plan ahead time, and a wine pairing. Her exhaustive notes on the why and how of roasting, shopping tips and necessary equipment make this an indispensable volume for the novice and expert alike. —Pamela

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Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual

By Michael Pollan, Maira Kalman

If Maira Kalman decided to illustrate a roll of toilet paper I’d find a way to get my hands on it. But lucky for us her latest project is to bring Pollan’s best selling manifesto on the importance of eating wisely to quirky, colorful life. Pollan boils down the essentials and Kalman adds a dash of whimsy to these bite-sized instructions for pleasurable, healthy eating. Bon appetit! —Laurie

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The Seasonal Cocktail Companion: Recipes and Projects for Four Seasons of Drinking

By Maggie Savarino

Seattle mixologist Savarino gives us exciting concoctions that are geared towards the individual seasons. Warm and cozy drinks for winter, refreshing and light drinks for summer. Ingredient lists are seasonal. You will be inspired to throw cocktail parties all year with this guide! —Hilary

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On Booze

By F. Scott Fitzgerald

It’s not the holidays until the wine is spiced, the toddy is hot, the coffee is Irish, the cake is rummed and the egg is sufficiently nogged. If you’re not sloshed by Solstice, you might consider going shot-for-shot with F. Scott Fitzgerald, American literature’s favorite lush. (Oh, and folks, please drink responsibly.) —Dave

Fall Booknotes from Our Staff – Young Adult

The Chronicles of Harris Burdick
by Chris Van Allsburg (Houghton Mifflin)

Nobody who’s ever perused the pages of The Mysteries of Harris Burdick could ever forget them. So when I heard there was a compilation of stories based on these puzzling images, I was delighted. Within these pages we meet a boy on a quest to understand and manipulate time, witness a pair of nasty twins receive a most imaginative comeuppance, and double-take as a baby girl with an oatmeal-smeared chin floats into the air. But instead of explaining away one mystery, these amazing stories take the reader further down a spiraling rabbit-hole of possibility. Which was exactly what Harris Burdick had in mind. –Leighanne

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The Apothecary
by Maile Meloy
illus. by Ian Schoenherr (Putnam)

In 1952 America, Cold War politics are prevalent, and fourteen-year-old Janie reluctantly moves to London with her blacklisted parents. Her new life soon becomes interesting when her schoolmate’s father, the local apothecary (or pharmacist, as we’d call him), is kidnapped and Soviet spies seem to be coveting his sacred book of medicines, The Pharmacopoeia. With her fearless friend Benjamin, they conspire to save the book and his father, and prevent an impending Russian nuclear experiment! An enthralling mix of history, fantasy, alchemy, and adventure, a dash of teen romance, and a splash of political intrigue, this to-be-continued story grabs you the minute you meet its plucky young heroine. –Erica

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Legend
by Marie Lu (Putnam)

In a distant future, the United States has collapsed into two separate lands: the Republic, a country of order and class, and the Colonies, a land in perpetual war with its neighbor. Day and June both live in the Republic but lead very different lives. June is a prodigy brought up to take her place among the nation’s elite. Day, a child of slums, was destined to die before his wits and cunning led him to the top of the Republic’s most-wanted criminal list. When an act of murder throws their worlds together, Day and June both discover that the Republic may not be all that it seems. Fans of The Hunger Games will love the first book of this trilogy. –Casey S.

Legend will be published Tuesday, November 29th. Pre-order your copy today. 

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Booknotes, the newsletter of The Elliott Bay Book Company, is written entirely by bookstore staff. It represents a sampling of recently published books that we have enjoyed reading. We appreciate every opportunity to assist in finding books to meet your interests.

Fall Booknotes from Our Staff – Biography

Blue Nights
by Joan Didion (Knopf)

Six years after the publication of her stunning memoir, The Year of Magical Thinking, Didion brings us a deeply moving account of the loss of her thirty-nine-year-old daughter, Quintana. Didion begins with what would be the seven-year anniversary of Quintana’s wedding, and moves back and forth through time to reflect on her daughter’s life and her own role as a parent. The deaths of her husband and daughter forced Didion to face her own mortality, and to acknowledge the majesty of what she once considered ordinary blessings. Didion once again gives us an unflinching chronicle written in her signature succinct prose. –Laurie

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Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness
by Alexandra Fuller (Penguin)

With the fortuitous combination of Alexandra Fuller’s adventurous and charismatic family, and her terrific storytelling skills, this memoir (following Don’t Let’s Go To the Dogs Tonight) presents the story of her mother’s remarkable life. Born in Scotland and raised in Kenya, Nicola Fuller’s passion, bravery, and uniquely wry sense of humor are evident throughout, from settling onto four different farms in southern Africa, to the heart-breaking personal and political challenges that threaten her mental stability. This tribute to an exceptional woman, who, with a bit of wine, her beloved animals nearby, and an occasional song to fit the moment, agreed to be the subject of another (revealing) “awful book,” returns us to the fabulous Fullers with renewed curiosity and pleasure. –Erica

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Feynman
by Jim Ottaviani
illus. by Leland Myrick (First Second)

One difference between the genius mind and the average mind is the ability to view the world from unexpected angles. According to this biographical graphic novel, that ability paired with a great sense of humor are physicist Richard Feynman’s gifts. They undoubtedly helped the scientist with his contribution to the Nobel Prize winning work on the theory of quantum electrodynamics. However, the author also makes a point of showing that they helped Feynman improve the teaching of physics. His desire to make physics more accessible spurred a series of popular lectures. In the end, this achievement vies with those scientific feats as his single greatest work. –Pamela

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And So It Goes: Kurt Vonnegut: A Life
by Charles J. Shields (Henry Holt)

Acclaimed biographer Charles Shields shines an unprecedented light onto Kurt Vonnegut Jr.—that smirking master of American letters. Working directly with the author before his death, Shields seamlessly weaves together a wealth of personal letters and first-hand anecdotes, interviews, and photographs. From Vonnegut’s early days of anonymity as a struggling short-story writer and his grappling with success and life as a family man to a horrific recreation of the bombings in Dresden and tracing how those events gave rise to Slaughterhouse-Five. Intimate and heartfelt without pulling punches, And So it Goes is a fittingly scribbly sketch of this off beat literary icon, both on and off the page. –Matthew

And So It Goes will be published on Tuesday, November 8th.

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Booknotes, the newsletter of The Elliott Bay Book Company, is written entirely by bookstore staff. It represents a sampling of recently published books that we have enjoyed reading. We appreciate every opportunity to assist in finding books to meet your interests.

Summer Booknotes from Our Staff

Tiny Sunbirds, Far Away by Christie Watson (Other Press)

Twelve-year-old Blessing’s story quickly transports us to vibrant Lagos, Nigeria, where life with her parents and beloved brother seems full of joy and promise. But Father’s abrupt departure necessitates moving to their grandparents’ village home in the Niger Delta. With a child’s uninhibited curiosity and candid emotion, Blessing tells of adjusting to rural traditions, to the extended family’s colorful characters, and to the sometimes violent, oil-drenched politics of village life. Her apprenticeship as a midwife reveals the cultural challenges women face, but also their resilience, eventually giving this novel’s wonderfully authentic narrator a maturity that yields love, purpose, and compassion. –Erica

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Oil on Water by Helon Habila (Norton)

A poignant and timely story about the human consequences of oil dependency, Habila’s new novel takes place in the Nigerian Delta, and follows a brief, but critical interlude in the lives of two Nigerian reporters as they attempt to gain access to the front lines of their divided world in search of the kidnapped wife of a British oil executive. As they negotiate the complex moral terrain of ruthless rebels and military men, every clear preconception is blurred, except one: when people are the sacrifice, there is no gain. –Candra

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You Are Free by Danzy Senna (Riverhead)

In her first short story collection, Senna continues to tackle complexities in previously unseen ways. Issues of ethnicity and class meet the routine concerns of love—that which informs all our fleeting or constant relationships. Senna seats her stories in a kind of airy darkness where nothing is certain and anxiety thrums below the surface. A mother struggles to overcome her own insecurities through her child’s schooling in “Admission.” Often times power plays out in unsettling ways, as in “The Land of Beulah.” Despite the discomfort, it is this uncertainty in the order of things that makes Senna’s ideas so sincere, important, and real. –Shannon

Booknotes, the newsletter of The Elliott Bay Book Company, is written entirely by bookstore staff. It represents a sampling of recently published books that we have enjoyed reading. We appreciate every opportunity to assist in finding books to meet your interests.

Holiday Recommendations from Our Staff

Science & Nature

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

Bryson’s book is an attempt to answer the question “How did we get here?” Bryson begins his survey from the biggest of bangs to the world of atoms and microbes. Throughout, the author makes accessible copious anecdotes and factoids through delightful prose. This newly released illustrated edition is further enhanced by superb pictures. An excellent gift for the inquisitive mind. –Alex

 

The Curious World of Bugs: The Bugman’s Guide to the Mysterious and Remarkable Lives of Things That Crawl by Daniel Marlos (2010 Holiday Gazette)

For ten years, the Daniel Marlos has been edifying people by identifying bugs through his website, whatsthatbug.com. Focusing on the most often-requested topics, his book describes many astounding facets of insect life, from scientific classifications to life cycles and remarkable habits, and from appealing, benign species to those that truly repel, or “bug,” us!

Delicate ink drawings enhance this encyclopedic but thoroughly engaging guide to the insect universe, which explores also the interactions we have, to our dismay or delight, with these strange, ubiquitous creatures. For those who find insects intriguing, this book is a fun, concise entomological treasure. –Erica

 

Bark: An Intimate Look at the World’s Trees by Cedric Pollet (2010 Holiday Gazette)

Mesmerizing: a word not usually associated with tree bark and, yet, one that sums up the entire compilation of photographs in this stunning book. Nature lovers, artists, and photographers will be inspired by Pollet’s passion. Ten years of globetrotting, research, and a love for the beauty of bark are contained within the pages of this book, and it is truly an homage to the tree. Find out why the scribbly gum got its name, or see what happens when the rainbow eucalyptus sheds its bark. Just open to any page in this gorgeous book and you will become an instant naturalist. –Tracy

 

Seeing Further: The Story of Science, Discovery, and the Genius of the Royal Society by Bill Bryson (2010 Holiday Gazette)

To commemorate the Royal Society’s 350th year, Bill Bryson (author of A Short History of Nearly Everything) has compiled twenty edifying essays by Richard Dawkins, Margaret Atwood, Neal Stephenson, and Martin Rees, among others. Seeing Further’s essays take the reader on a journey through the RS’s humble beginnings and its rise as the premier international society for scientific inquiry and discuss the purview of science and the scientist. Richly illustrated and very well written, Seeing Further is a perfect holiday gift for those interested in the history of science and its applications. –Alex

 

The Instant Physicist: An Illustrated Guide by Richard A. Muller, Joey Manfre (2010 Holiday Gazette)

Amaze your friends! Amuse your in-laws (even if you’re not old enough to have in-laws)! Be the hit of every party with your finite understanding of physics. Let University of California professor of physics Richard Muller teach you why a liquid hydrogen vehicle would be more efficient but would require a tank four times as large as a gas tank (not to mention the giant thermos). Discover how antimatter is used in medical diagnosis and why geothermal power will never run your appliances. Clever single-frame cartoons by Joey Manfre help illustrate (literally) the concepts behind the science. –Tracy

Staff Recommendations from Elliott Bay

Dawn Light: Dancing with Cranes and Other Ways to Start the Day by Diane Ackerman (W. W. Norton & Company)

Few writers are able to reveal the natural world’s intricacies with prose so ravishing, fanciful and evocative as Ms. Ackerman can. In her newest book she offers a feast of facts, images and ideas, in these seasonally arranged essays based on the theme of dawn. The behaviors of animals, birds, humans at daybreak, the inspiration experienced by painters such as Monet, and our many sunrise-centered myths and rituals are a few of the subjects explored. With joyful contemplation we should be able, as the author puts it, “to enchant ourselves by paying attention.” –Erica