Book events coming up

I'm very excited--Seattle's book fest died a few years ago, but the idea is being revived by a group in Columbia City. They've already lined up about 50 authors and 80 exhibitors for a new Seattle Book Festival. It'll be Oct. 24-25 at the Columbia City Events Center. It's going to be just a block from the new light rail stop in Columbia City--so here's a chance to try out the light rail, and get your fill of books. Save the date.

And--here's another event. You might have missed Paul Farmer's visit to Seattle earlier this summer. But Tracy Kidder, who wrote the book about Farmer, Mountains Beyond Mountains, is coming to Seattle this fall. He's going to talk about his newest book,
Strength in What Remains. He'll be here Oct. 12, 7:30 at Town Hall. Tickets are a very modest $5.

Helen's Picks

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese (The Tennis Partner)
I read this in March when it first came out. It's a big, beautiful epic of a book that spans 50 years in the lives of twins born in an Ethiopian hospital mission to a nun, who dies in childbirth. Everyone I have handed this book off to has loved it. The blurb on the back cover says it all “This book has everything: nuns, conjoined twins, civil war, and medicine.” (Conjoined twins that are separated at birth...so nothing at all like "The Girls").

Citizen Vince by Jess Walter (Every Knee Shall Bow)
I attended a "good summer reads" event earlier this summer and Nancy Pearl raved about this book. (An older book so maybe the group has already read) It's about a life time criminal who is put in the witness protection program and moved from NY to Spokane into a new life as a donut maker. The book begins as 'Vince' becomes aware of the 1980 election between Carter & Regan. Described as a comic, political, crime novel and was an Edgar winner. I told Nancy I was pitching this to my book club and was there anything else I needed to know? Her response:

Nancy Pearl

Just that it's one of the few mystery/thriller that really make for a good discussion - like why it's called Citizen Vince, how it ended, whether Vince is admirable or not - all that kind of thing. Also, there's an interview I did with him a few years ago - if you google seattle channel jess walter you could watch it. As I recall, he made some very interesting points. Let me know if they select it. Also - maybe he's one of the authors who will talk to book clubs? I don't know if that's the case or not. but wouldn't it be fun? He's great.


Two other books I would like to throw out for consideration:

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout (Amy & Isabelle)- linked short stories revolving around a retired Maine school teacher (Olive). Described as a novel set in stories. (won this year's Pulitzer)

The Help by Kathryn Stockett - set before the Civil Rights movement, it's the stories of the black ladies' maids that every white family had working for them in the south. Two friends have read and raved about it.