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An African American journalist wit roots both in Minnesota and the Black Panthers, Frank Wilderson III was also one of only two black American members of the African National Congress. He helped the ANC coordinate propaganda and launch psychological warfare, while also teaching in South African universities. ... (more)He talks this evening about his book, Incognegro: A Memoir of Exile and Apartheid (South End).

JUST BREATHE We invite you to the grand launch of the new novel by Bainbridge author Susan Wiggs. Susan's events are always loaded with fun, and this is no exception. In addition to a reading, book signing and refreshments, there will be several drawings, including one for a lavish Just Breathe spa gift ... (more)basket complete with an oxygen facial. As for the author herself and her work, we have this from none other than Jodi Picoult: "Susan Wiggs paints the details of human relationships with the finesse of a master." And our own Mary G. adds, "This is a great vacation read."

The Central Library will be closed for Labor Day today, so there will be no Thrilling Tales program.

EAGLE HARBOR READERS CIRCLE Our store-sponsored book group meets in the bookstore on the first Tuesday of each month at 7pm to discuss the best in fiction and nonfiction, with the occasional classic thrown in for fun. Newcomers and drop-ins are always welcome! SEPTEMBER 2ndDREAMS FROM MY FATHER by Barack ... (more)Obama In this lyrical, unsentimental, and compelling memoir, the son of a black African father and a white American mother searches for a workable meaning to his life as a black American. It begins in New York, where Barack Obama learns that his father—a figure he knows more as a myth than as a man—has been killed in a car accident. This sudden death inspires an emotional odyssey—first to a small town in Kansas, from which he retraces the migration of his mother’s family to Hawaii, and then to Kenya, where he meets the African side of his family, confronts the bitter truth of his father’s life, and at last reconciles his divided inheritance.

Join us for cookies and conversation with Queen Anne's very own Mary Daheim! We'll be celebrating the release of Mary's latest B&B mystery, Vi Agra Falls. When Joe Flynn's ex-wife moves back to the neighborhood (Vivian, or Vi), we all know trouble's brewing! Cousins Judy and Renie keeps the clues and ... (more)the laughs flowing through this fantastic Seattle mystery. Mary Daheim will provide the fun, we'll provide the food, and you'll fill up the audience-- it should be a great evening!

TURKISH WEDDING: ONCE THERE WAS, ONCE THERE WASN'T We welcome back Bainbridge author Judith Reynolds Brown (Faranji: A Venture into Ethiopa, Glove on My Heart). She introduces her new novel, which portrays the difficulties and rewards of an intercultural marriage involving an American woman who meets ... (more)and falls in love with a Turkish man while he is studying in the United States. Brown, who has lived in Turkey for six years, writes with authority in her portrait of her protagonists' evolving relationship after they go to that country to meet his family.

MARK BAVARO is widely considered one of the toughest, most idiosyncratic athletes ever to play in the NFL and one of the best tight ends of all time. He played college football at Notre Dame, graduated in 1985, and was drafted by the Giants where he stayed through the 1990 season and played for Bill ... (more)Parcells and alongside Phil Simms and Lawrence Taylor. He also played with the Cleveland Browns and the Philadelphia Eagles. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1986 and 1987 and was a pivotal member of the New York Giants during their Super Bowl XXI and XXV wins. He lives in Massachusetts.

IN DEFENSE OF OUR NEIGHBORS: THE MILLY & WALT WOODWARD STORYJoin us in proudly welcoming Bainbridge native Mary Woodward, here to give a multimedia presentation on her new book, a dual profile in courage of her parents, Milly and Walt, whose Bainbridge Review opposed the internment of 120,000 Japanese ... (more)Americans after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. In praise of Mary's book, our own Mary G. has this to say: "This book is as important, lovely and informative as it is a challenge to categorize. It unfolds the drama of the relocation order, the evacuation by ferry to Seattle and the train ride to the camps, and camp life. It is an important book for students of journalism as well as of history. It captures a defining moment in a seemingly ordinary small town, providing essential lessons in citizenship and democracy, and as such, it is important for all of us in today's political climate."

All the Whitney women can read the future in a piece of lace. But Towner Whitney has vowed never to use her gift––and never to return to Salem––after a terrible tragedy involving her twin sister, Lyndley, nearly left her mad. But her resolve is tested when her beloved Great Aunt Eva, Salem’s ... (more)original Lace Reader, disappears and Towner must return to the place that has been her family’s home for generations, the only place where she can find the truth about her aunt’s disappearance and her own disquieting past. But as one mystery is solved, another begins as a troubled and abused young woman named Angela disappears from Salem, a disappearance that could possibly be linked to a born-again preacher with deep ties to the Whitney clan and a cult-like following frighteningly reminiscent of a far earlier time. With the infamous and history-laden town of Salem, Massachusetts as a backdrop, this remarkable first-time author has created a modern community of fascinating characters whose ties to each other and the past are also inextricably bound to what a time and place have come to represent culturally as part of our national identity. The Lace Reader is a mesmerizing tale which spirals into a world of secrets as difficult to read as the lace itself. It is also an important story about the love of family, the bond between women, the mystery of twins, and the ever-present danger of the past repeating itself. The Lace Reader has been chosen as a Dual Main Selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club. The book's own website is here.

Join us for cookies and conversation with Queen Anne's very own Mary Daheim! We'll be celebrating the release of Mary's latest B&B mystery, Vi Agra Falls. When Joe Flynn's ex-wife moves back to the neighborhood (Vivian, or Vi), we all know trouble's brewing! Cousins Judy and Renie keeps the clues and ... (more)the laughs flowing through this fantastic Seattle mystery. Mary Daheim will provide the fun, we'll provide the food, and you'll fill up the audience-- it should be a great evening!

ZERO DAY THREAT: THE SHOCKING TRUTH OF HOW BANKS & CREDIT CARD BUREAUS HELP CYBER CROOKS STEAL YOUR MONEY & IDENTITY Kingston-based investigative reporter Byron Acohido presents an identity theft workshop based on a new book he co-authored. Acohido will discuss how cyber crime has evolved into a thriving ... (more)global industry worth over a hundred billion dollars. He will also point out ways we can reduce our digital footprints and start demanding more oversight on how banks, credit bureaus, merchants and tech companies are allowed to handle our sensitive data.

Today's tale is "Decision," by Helen Nielsen. The papers called her a “stony faced tigress” and an “iceberg killer,” but underneath it all she was just like you and me. Love a good story? Sit back, relax, and escape from the everyday as we bring you gripping short stories expertly read, and ... (more)well-calculated to keep you in suspense! Admission is free, and brown bag lunches are welcome. The Thrilling Tales for the rest of 2008 are: Oct. 6 "The Crowd," by Ray Bradbury. The car wreck was terrible, but afterwards it was the ones who came running that he couldn’t forget, and couldn’t escape. Oct. 20 "One Foot in the Grave," by Davis Grubb. When you lose a foot, you still feel the phantom limb. But what does the foot feel? Creepy fun. Also "The Damned Thing," by Ambrose Bierce. What is the color of terror? Nov. 3 "November Story," by Barbara Callahan. On the eve of the election, a presidential candidate’s wife searches for a way out of limbo. Also "Going Down?" by Jack Ritchie. A curious approach to suicide prevention. Nov. 17 "The Cost of Kent Castwell," by Avram Davidson. They say good fences make good neighbors, but sometimes a fence just isn’t high enough. Also "Crazy Old Lady," by Avram Davidson. “What is the world coming to?” she asked. Then she found the answer in her own handbag! Dec. 1 "Evening Primrose," by John Collier. At night, when the shoppers all leave, the department store takes on a bizarre life of its own, in this curiously horrifying tale. Dec. 15 "A Merry Merry Christmas," by Ed McBain. Holiday cheer meets homicidal rage. Also "The Twelve Terrors of Xmas," by John Updike, & "Nackles," by Donald Westlake. You’ve heard of Santa Claus? Now meet the anti-Claus.

Queen Anne Books takes part in the Queen Anne Art Walk (the third Thursday of every month from 6-8). For September, enjoy the talents of the team behind the lovely children's picture book Ocho Loved Flowers: author Anne Fontaine, illustrator Obadinah, and designer Shannon. Obadinah's illustrations ... (more)will be up all month as our art exhibit, and the team will be on hand to sign books and answer questions during our opening reception during the Art Walk.

Imagine sitting at home, the phone rings offering you a dream job. You have 48 hours to fly to Miami to board a 70,000 ton cruise ship heading for the Caribbean. Come hear Micha Berman talk about his cruise memoir Permanent Passenger: My Life On A Cruise Ship. Micha will share his adventure serving as ... (more)an Assistant Cruise Director on one of the largest cruise ships in the world. Witnessing rescues at sea, stowaways, and passionate romances are just some of the day-to-day events revealed in this humorous book. Tonight’s presentation will include give-aways and lots of giggles. All aboard – this is one adventure you don’t want to miss!

Come discuss the modern classic, Catch-22 by Joseph Heller with our Saturday night drop-in book club.We meet every other month, usually the last Saturday at 8:00pm. Our book choices are usually a little edgier than the traditional book club fare, and our discussions are focused yet fun. After about ... (more)an hour talking about the book, most of us head to a bar or coffee shop to socialize. This helps us spend our book club time talking openly and in-depth about the book, then gives us a great opportunity to bond with fellow readers afterwards. Everyone is welcome to take part in the discussion, and all are encouraged to join us for social time after, too. Remember, they're Saturday nights starting at 8:00.

Stuart Wood's new thriller, Hot Mahogany is the latest in the Stone Barrington series. This is an exciting opportunity to meet this master novelist. He has now had twenty-three straight bestsellers on the New York Times hardcover list.

True stories of hardship and survival can be some of the most captivating reading. Join us for a special event with author Richard Farr to celebrate his riveting new book, Emperors of the Ice: A True Story of Disaster and Survival in the Antarctic. This event is part of Seattle's celebration of National ... (more)Reading Group Month. I think Farr's riveting account of an expedition gone wrong would make a wonderful intergenerational book club book (as the author's website states, the book "was written to appeal to readers aged approximately 12 to 112") or a perfect non-fiction choice for adult book clubs that usually discuss fiction.

Looking for an insightful book discussion? Our store-sponsored book group meets in the bookstore on the first Tuesday of each month at 7pm to discuss the best in fiction and nonfiction. Newcomers and drop-ins are welcome and we always have room for more! October 7th: WHISTLING SEASON by Ivan Doig "Can't ... (more)cook but doesn't bite." So begins the ad offering the services of an "A-1 housekeeper" that draws the attention of widower Oliver Milliron in the fall of 1909. And so also begins the unforgettable season that deposits the noncooking, nonbiting, ever-whistling Rose Llewellyn and her font-of-knowledge brother, Morris Morgan, in Marias Coulee, Montana. When the schoolmarm runs off with an itinerant preacher, Morris is pressed into service, setting the stage for the "several kinds of education"-none of them of the textbook variety-Morris and Rose will bring to Oliver, his three sons, and the rambunctious students in the region's one-room schoolhouse. A paean to a vanished way of life and the eccentric individuals and idiosyncratic institutions that made it fertile, The Whistling Season is Ivan Doig at his evocative best.

Meet the author Amy Bloom at this event for her book-club-perfect novel, Away. now available in paperback. Amy Bloom's collection of short stories, Come to Me, was a finalist for the National Book Award and the Los Angeles Times Fiction Award. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, Story, Antaeus, ... (more)River City, American Fiction, and other fiction magazines, and has been anthologized in the 1991 and 1992 Best American Short Stories collections and in the 1994 O. Henry Prize Story Collection.

Join Clare Langley-Hawthorne at Diesel Bookstore as she presents the second book in her fantastic new historical mystery series! Featuring the strong, outspoken, intelligent and sassy Ursula Marlow, THE SERPENT AND THE SCORPION is a thrilling story of scandal and betrayal that's richly detailed and ... (more)action-packed. ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Clare Langley-Hawthorne was raised in England and Australia. She practiced law in Melbourne until 1995 when she emigrated moved to the United States and began work as a health economist. Clare has since put her pursuit of a PhD on hold to focus on her career as a writer. She lives in the San Francisco bay area with her husband and twin sons. This is her second novel. For more information, visit her web site at www.clarelangleyhawthorne.com

Please join June Cotner with Dr. Sharon Clegg and her guide dogs explaining the roll of volunteers with guide dogs. We look forward to seeing you at this free event

EAGLE HARBOR READERS CIRCLE Our store-sponsored book group meets in the bookstore on the first Tuesday of each month at 7pm to discuss the best in fiction and nonfiction, with the occasional classic thrown in for fun. Newcomers and drop-ins are always welcome! November 4th: THE THIN PLACE by Kathryn ... (more)Davis"Utterly original. . . . It is difficult not to be exhilarated by Kathryn Davis's soaring ambitions." —Irina Reyn, San Francisco Chronicle "Funny and exquisitely lovely. Now hold on to those two qualities and add these to the mix: fiercely intelligent, spiritual, and thought-provoking." —Mary Guterson, Believer "A fearless book-brazenly original and magnificently odd. . . . Kathryn Davis is one of the most inventive novelists at work today." —Beth Kephart, Chicago Tribune

A self-described eco-nerd Thor Hanson, scientist and writer, brought the nascent gorilla tourist program in Bwindi National Park, located within Africa's Impenetrable Forest, to life. With grace and good humor Hanson navigates the local customs, mores and bureaucracy governing everything from love to ... (more)superstition to build infrastructure, hire and train staff, fend off millions of ants among many other creatures while studying and acclimating the mountain gorillas to humans in their midst. Hanson is a writer and naturalist from the Pacific Northwest. He served as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in Uganda and has also lived and studied in Kenya and Tanzania. He studied ecology and writing at the University of Redlands, and received his Masters degree from the University of Vermont's Field Naturalist Program.

Paul Bannick The Owl and the Woodpecker

Discuss the fascinating history, Sin in the Second City by Karen Abbott with our Saturday night drop-in book club.We meet every other month, usually the last Saturday at 8:00pm, but we're doing one week earlier in November due to Thanksgiving. Our book choices are usually a little edgier than the traditional ... (more)book club fare, and our discussions are focused yet fun. After about an hour talking about the book, most of us head to a bar or coffee shop to socialize. This helps us spend our book club time talking openly and in-depth about the book, then gives us a great opportunity to bond with fellow readers afterwards. Everyone is welcome to take part in the discussion, and all are encouraged to join us for social time after, too. Remember, they're Saturday nights starting at 8:00.

Discuss the fascinating history, Sin in the Second City by Karen Abbott with our Saturday night drop-in book club.We meet every other month, usually the last Saturday at 8:00pm. Our book choices are usually a little edgier than the traditional book club fare, and our discussions are focused yet fun. ... (more) After about an hour talking about the book, most of us head to a bar or coffee shop to socialize. This helps us spend our book club time talking openly and in-depth about the book, then gives us a great opportunity to bond with fellow readers afterwards. Everyone is welcome to take part in the discussion, and all are encouraged to join us for social time after, too. Remember, they're Saturday nights starting at 8:00.

Discuss the novel, Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips with our Saturday night drop-in book club.We meet every other month, usually the last Saturday at 8:00pm. Our book choices are usually a little edgier than the traditional book club fare, and our discussions are focused yet fun. After about an ... (more)hour talking about the book, most of us head to a bar or coffee shop to socialize. This helps us spend our book club time talking openly and in-depth about the book, then gives us a great opportunity to bond with fellow readers afterwards. Everyone is welcome to take part in the discussion, and all are encouraged to join us for social time after, too. Remember, they're Saturday nights starting at 8:00.