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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 ... (mere)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.

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 ... (mere)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 ... (mere)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.

"No matter what you do, at age forty ... The Wheels Come Off!" writes humorist Sandra Tsing Loh, who is here and making a welcome return for her newest, Mother on Fire: A True Motherf%#$@ Story About Parenting! (Crown), originally a hit, one-woman comedy performance. A familiar voice from National Public ... (mere)Radio (once fired for accidentally using the F word while on the air) and from her articles in Atlantic Monthly and The Washington Post, Sandra Loh's take on finding a school for her kindergartner and transforming herself into a community activist is both smart and hilarious.

Autumn is not quite officially with us on the calendar, but the season is off to a proverbial bang this evening, with Slovenian cultural critic and philosopher Slavoj Zizek making this much-anticipated Town Hall visit. The author of numerous works—this year's In Defense of Lost Causes, The Sublime ... (mere)Object of Ideology, The Ticklish Subject, and almost thirty more—he is here with Violence: Six Sideways Reflections, one of the first volumes in an intriguing new "BIG IDEAS / small books" series (Picador). This telling volume serves at least two purposes—a scintillating, wide-ranging, provocative exploration of the subject, and an intimate-sized introduction to the ways of Slavoj Zizek's thinking. He is presently senior researcher at the Institute of Sociology, University of Ljubljana, and has taught at Princeton, Columbia, and The New School, among other institutions. He has made a film (The Pervert's Guide to the Cinema) and been the object of one (Zizek).

Seattle is a good part of the setting and action for Juneau author Stuart Archer Cohen's intense, politically-charged new novel, The Army of the Republic (St. Martin's). Said Army of the Republic is a guerilla-based coalition working to save the U.S. from a corporate oligarchy manifesting itself as a ... (mere)police state. It's not unlike what's happened in countries to the south. Now, it's 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 ... (mere)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!

One of this country's most celebrated attorneys and authors, Vincent Bugliosi makes this welcome visit for his compelling and timely new book, The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder (Vanguard). This venerable prosecutor, first and most widely known for bringing the case against Charles Manson to ... (mere)court—written of in his acclaimed Helter Skelter—here holds George W. Bush to criminal account for the murder of 4,000 U.S. soldiers in Iraq, to say nothing of the innocent Iraqi women, men, and children murdered, estimated to be at least 100,000. This is a riveting, non-partisan, no-election-axe-to-grind case, put forth plainly and in depth. It should make for a most engaging evening. Vincent Bugliosi's other books include And the Sea Will Tell, Outrage, and Reclaiming History (recently released as a shorter version paperback as Four Days in November).

For the fifth year running, The Seattle Public Library presents the September Project, a series of events exploring issues of freedom and democracy. This year's programs include civic discussions, author readings, drama and film at three Library locations, beginning with this conversation between former ... (mere)President Clinton speechwriter Eric Liu and Nick Hanauer of Second Avenue Partners, co-authors of The True Patriot (Sasquatch)

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 ... (mere)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.

We are delighted to present this evening with renowned storyteller, teacher, and scholar of mythology Michael Meade. From his Vashon Island home, and from Seattle-based non-profit organization Mosaic, he has long worked a rarely-worked line, that of working with the intimate and immediate (as simple ... (mere)as a room with a few people and a story), and, at the same time, with mythological or cosmological material that would seem to transcend time and place, at least in measure we are used to reckoning in the day-to-day. With his evenings of stories and workshops—often with particular groups such as at-risk youth, veterans, the incarcerated—he has long done this orally. (Mosaic has a great assortment of cd recordings.) Earlier this year saw the publication of a long-awaited second book, The World Behind the World: Living at the Ends of Time (GreenFire). Coming fifteen years after The Water of Life (recently revised, re-titled, reissued), this is original work in the truest sense—new and harkening to origins at the same time. Stories and myths: language, imagination, presence, attention. Kernels of awakening are in this remarkable book. "Michael Meade is a master-storyteller and story-teacher of the soul's unfolding. He addresses the mess we're in and helps us each discover the unique threads, the poetic DNA we must live out.

Guitarist Brian Welch, a founding member of the rock band Korn, struggled for years with meth addiction until, with the help of his embrace of a higher power, he was able to start living a clean and sober life. He's here today to talk about his story, told in the bestselling memoir, Save Me from Myself: ... (mere)How I Found God, Kicked Drugs, Quit Korn, and Lived to Tell My Story (newly in paper, HarperOne), and to meet his fans. He'll also be celebrating the release of a new CD.

A New York Times reporter discovers a diary hidden away in an old steamer trunk in a dumpster and, with the help of a private investigator, finds its owner, ninety-year-old Florence Wolfson, in Lily Koppel's captivating book, The Red Leather Diary: Reclaiming a Life Through the Pages of a Lost Journal ... (mere)(HarperCollins). Based on interviews and on diary entries, which span the years 1929 - 1934, The Red Leather Diary brings to light a delightful, nearly forgotten world.

U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, one of Congress' most vocal opponents to the Iraq War and a longstanding proponent for social justice, makes several appearances in Seattle this weekend, including this free public talk and booksigning to celebrate the publication of her book, Renegade for Peace & Justice: Congresswoman ... (mere)Barbara Lee Speaks for Me (Rowman & Littlefield). First elected to represent California's ninth congressional district in 1998, Rep. Lee was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005, along with women from 150 countries as part of the international project, 1000 Women for Peace.

Up from Eugene where he teaches at the University of Oregon and edits Northwest Review is poet John Witte. He'll be reading from Second Nature (University of Washington Press), the newest (eighth) volume in the Pacific Northwest Poetry Series (selected by Linda Bierds). John Witte's third book, Second ... (mere)Nature is a book of lyric richness, much of it meditations, narratives, or monologues based on such people as Janis Joplin, and Ovid. Flora and fauna also have a central place. Our lives do, too. John Witte's poems have appeared in The American Poetry Review, Paris Review, The New Yorker, other major publications, and numerous anthologies.

A New York Times journalist and author of several major books on the internet and emergent computer issues (Cyberpunk, The Well), Katie Hafner is also an abiding music lover. In Romance on Three Legs: Glenn Gould's Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Piano (Bloomsbury), she tells the story of a particular, ... (mere)rare unique piano, the nearly blind man who tuned it (for twenty years), and the particular, rare, unique man who played it, the one and only Glenn Gould.

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 ... (mere)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.

We are thoroughly delighted to welcome back one of this country's geniuses of language, and the central place of stories and the occasional joke in everyday life, Garrison Keillor. In addition to hosting A Prairie Home Companion on an almost-weekly basis for thirty years and more now, and writing seventeen ... (mere)books, Garrison Keillor is also among the foremost author bookstore owners we have amongst us—joining Louise Erdrich and Larry McMurtry, to name a few others. Owning a bookstore (St. Paul's Common Good Books) is not the reason for this evening's visit; Garrison Keillor's new Lake Wobegon novel, Liberty (Viking) is the reason to be on hand for another entertaining evening, which may even have a moment of ribald humor and/or hinted-at political jesting in store for those attending. This tale has something to do with the Fourth of July parade, Lake Wobegon's famous 'Living Flag,' Clint Bunsen, and Miss Liberty. Last year's evening for Pontoon is a wonder; this evening should be no less.

EAGLE HARBOR MYSTERY BOOK GROUP: "SOME DANGER INVOLVED" Our legions of mystery readers now have a monthly forum to air views and share titles in this diverse and complex genre. Widely-read mystery expert Susan Braun, who is also an experienced book group leader and participant, practicing librarian and ... (mere)longtime reviewer for "Library Journal" will conduct conversations for the group, which meets on third Tuesdays at 7pm here at the bookstore. As with the Eagle Harbor Readers Circle, newcomers and drop-ins are always welcome. At the inaugural meeting on September 16th, the book group will discuss Some Danger Involved by Will Thomas. In honor of this first book, we've also decided this would be a fitting name for the group. So this book group will henceforth be known as the Some Danger Involved Mystery Book Group. SOME DANGER INVOLVED BY WILL THOMAS Cyrus Barker—an enigmatic Holmesian private investigator—and his new assistant, Thomas Llewelyn, prowl Victorian London in search of the killer of a young Jewish scholar...Complex plotting and brilliant description make this tour of the alleyways and foreign enclaves of London a great story for discussion. ~Susan

A second consecutive evening of authors working with smart humor, and some occasional satire, is in-store—this time at Seattle Central Library—as Christopher Buckley makes this welcome appearance for his newest novel, Supreme Courtship (Twelve). A president and Congress at odds with Supreme Court ... (mere)nominations: sound familiar? Wait to see what happens here ... (Yes, this is a novel, but ...)

Helene Cooper and her family, descendents of two Liberian dynasties originating with freed slaves who left New York in 1820 to found Monrovia), fled Liberia during the violence that came in the wake of the 1980 coup d'État Her marvelous book, The House at Sugar Beach: In Search of a Lost African Childhood ... (mere)(Simon & Schuster), is her family story, as well as her country's. Both stories intersect particularly as the author tries to find out what has happened to her foster sister, left behind during the conflict.

A scientist mesmerized by his erotic dancer mistress learns that she can lead him to the discoverer of a nanotechnology breakthrough in Marc Lecard's comic mystery, Tiny Little Troubles (St. Martin's/Minotaur).

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 ... (mere)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.

One of our most distinguished and acclaimed writers—here in the U.S. and throughout the world—Paul Auster makes this most welcome Seattle return for his arresting, brilliant, haunting new novel, Man in the Dark (Frances Coady/Henry Holt).

From Austin, Texas, Sarah Bird pays a visit with her sharp-witted, wry new novel, How Perfect Is That (Knopf).

One of the remarkable women in the world, Somaly Mam, makes this special Seattle visit. A native of Cambodia who now divides her time between there and France, she writes of the horrific years of her early life, story which leaves one wondering at how it was survived, much less transcended and turned ... (mere)around for the vital, life-saving work she does today. In The Road of Lost Innocence: The True Story of a Cambodian Heroine (Spiegel & Grau), a book that's been a critically-acclaimed bestseller wherever in the world it's been published, she tells of an early life of sexual slavery—a life countless girls and young women in southeast Asia have been forced into. The book tells riveting stories—and itself is part of the work that Somaly Mam has put herself to, as cofounder and president of AFESIP (Acting for Women in Distressing Circumstances) in Cambodia, and the Somaly Mam Foundation here in the U.S.

BRISINGR The party will start on Friday, September 19th at 9:30pm in the bookshop's east covered parking lot with a showing of Eragon the movie (bring your own seats, natural or otherwise), with a pizza stand provided by Westside Pizza, free popcorn, trivia contest and door prizes. At 9:30pm, we'll ... (mere)also start handing out tickets for the line to be admitted into the bookshop when we open the doors at 11:55pm with first admittance to Pre-Paids, next to Reserved Copies, and lastly to General Sales. You have until 7pm, on Friday, September 19th to Reserve or PrePay for your copy of Brisingr. In addition to early admittance, you'll get... * Double Stamps on your Eagle Dozen Discount Card; * Entry into the store drawing for a fabulous prize (held the night of the Release Party); * Eligible for door prizes awarded when you pick up your ticket.

For over twenty-five years, Seattle resident and merchant (of high technology) Harry Rutstein, has studied and written about, and literally followed in the footsteps of the 13th-century traveler Marco Polo. He is here today with his sumptuous new book, The Marco Polo Odyssey: In the Footsteps of a Merchant ... (mere)Who Changed the World (Marco Polo Foundation/Bennett & Hastings). Rich with maps, illustrations, and DVD, this book is perhaps the fullest yet in retracing the amazing journey undertaken by Marco Polo almost 800 years ago—and making it pertinent, vivid, and relevant for people today.

A missing manuscript holds the key to the mysterious murder of an atheist professor but it's going to take a Jewish defense attorney and a born-again Christian detective to find it and exonerate the falsely-accused Muslim scholarship student in Larry Beinhart's politically-enlivened thriller, Salvation ... (mere)Boulevard (Nation Books). A regular Huffington Post contributor and novelist, Larry Beinhart reads from his latest foray into fiction, which has been praised by everyone from Vincent Bugliosi to Michael Lerner.

A popular author of books on pop culture whose books and regular appearances in recent years have been lively ones, Chuck Klosterman makes this welcome return with his first novel, Downtown Owl (Scribner).