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Easter at the Bookstore
Your baskets will be brimming!
It's Spring Fever at the bookstore! We're overflowing with Easter fun - toys, books, puzzles, and chicks & bunnies galore - you'll find them here! Let us help you fill your baskets with unique gifts for all ages, and find the perfect cards for everyone.
Coming Soon: Pre-order Now!
This week on Bainbridge Island!
Tom Stockley Cookbook Event
We are happy to partner with Greg Atkinson of Restaurant Marche' to celebrate the words, works, and recipes of former Seattle Times wine critic Tom Stockley. The wine scene in Seattle and Washington state grew with the weekly wine column he began in 1973, when there were just a handful of wineries in the state. His columns helped educate the public just as wine growers were beginning to take off here. Tragically he and his wife lost their lives in a plane crash in 2000. Now his daughters have shared his personal notes in book form: A Collection of My Favorite Things to Cook: Plus Notes and Comments on Culinary Travels Everywhere. Watch Marche's website for information on a special menu of his recipes coming soon, and pick up the book at our shop. 
May We Recommend...
The Barbizon: The Hotel That Set Women Free,
ο»Ώby Paulina Bren
A delightful expose' of the famous Barbizon Hotel for Women in NY City, the place where ambitious young women could live safely and in style while beginning their careers. Famous residents included the Unsinkable Molly Brown, Grace Kelly, Joan Didion, Sylvia Plath, Barbara Chase-Riboud, and many others. The women arrived with high hopes and great excitement. Some succeeded wildly, others not, but they all left changed by their time at the Barbizon. The 20th century history of NY is told through the tales of these women, and the hotel itself feels like one of the characters. It is all a perfect package; a distinctly enjoyable read. ~ Jane
The Hare, by Melanie Finn
With a full scholarship to a prestigious art college in NY, Rosie escapes a bleak childhood for bright future. Filled with insecurities, but brimming with talent she is poised to succeed. What happens when a vulnerable young woman meets a dashing older con man who offers her the world? What will it take to finally break free? Can you ever really escape your past? This is a fully absorbing and taut novel that you will not soon forget. The writing is exquisite and the characters are fascinating. Book groups, there is much to discuss here. ~ Jane
Big Girl Small Town, by Michelle Gallen
I loved Gallen’s masterfully striking debut novel, in which we meet Majella, a complex and engaging protagonist who works at a fish and chips shop in Northern Ireland. Through Majella’s eyes we follow a host of quirky, small-town regulars, and witness her ongoing efforts to manage her alcoholic mother. The story’s dark background involves the tension between Catholics and Protestants, Majella’s missing father, and the recent murder of her grandmother. Filled with humor and hard-won insights, Majella is an oddly triumphant and memorable heroine. I feel lucky to have found this gem of a book. ~ John
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teaching of Plants, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
If you've spent time in indie bookstores during the past few years, you have likely seen Braiding Sweetgrass root itself firmly onto the bestseller table for months on end. Kimmerer accurately describes her book as β€œan intertwining of science, spirit, and story.” I felt as if I was curled by a fire every time I read another chapter, listening to the bounty of Kimmerer's ecological wisdom, in a space with no fleeting urgency, only an earnest invitation to join her in gestures of knowledge, reciprocity, and gratitude toward our shared planet. My copy is thoroughly marked up. I hope Braiding Sweetgrass will echo across the earth for ages to come. ~ Carrie
Love Does, by Bob Goff
This is a book I’d heard about for a long time, strongly recommended by friends. Well, I finally read it, and wow, it was fun! Bob Goff is a natural storyteller, and a deep believer in the power of love to move people to go out and do things. Written from a Christian perspective, this book is perfect for fans of C.S. Lewis, Mark Batterson and Anne Lamott. And while I may not become the Ugandan consul (read the book, it'll make sense), it definitely inspires me to love deeper. ~ Megan
Infinite Country, by Patricia Engel
Touted by many as a modern classic, this spare novel is a paean to the immigrant experience and the tragedy of the Colombian diaspora. Talia, a fifteen-year-old escapee from a Colombian girls’ detention facility, is desperate to get a flight to the US to reunite with her mother and siblings. Though born in the US, she has lived her life as a refugee, ever fearful of capture and incarceration because of her father’s unfortunate choices. In a time of both pandemic and merciless immigration issues, Engel’s book speaks to us about family, forgiveness, love, resilience, and strength in the face of tragedy. ~ Susan
The House in the Cerulean Sea, by TJ Klune
A customer told me this book was β€œlike a warm hug,” and I discovered it was exactly that! Klune’s quirky characters and descriptions are reminiscent of a mix of JK Rowling, Lemony Snicket and Terry Pratchett’s imaginative writing styles. With a knack for absurdly funny dialogue (my favorite character was by far the one who may or may not be the anti-Christ), Klune creates a cast of misfits who charm the reader from the beginning. An advocate for positive LGBT representation, the author gently invites us to see that love can exist in many places, and that a home can be found even where you least expect it. ~ Megan
Rabid: A Cultural History of the World's Most Diabolical Virus, by Bill Wasik and Monica Murphy
Some of the greatest fictional horror stories are rooted in fact; in things that terrify us. Rabies has the highest morality rate of any disease on earth - 99.9%. With symptoms like aggression, hyperactivity, and hallucinations, it is no surprise that this disease has haunted and frightened humans for over four millennia. Wasik and Murphy do a great job of weaving together fact and fiction, history and myth to explain not just the scientific impact and historical cases, but this disease’s influence on popular culture around the world, even to this day. You will never look at a zombie movie the same way again. ~ Caitlin
Let Me Tell You What I Mean, by Joan Didion
I enjoyed the eclectic feel of this new Didion collection. From Gamblers Anonymous to contemplations on the decisions of Hemingway’s fourth wife, to the crushing but ultimately important lesson of rejection from your first choice in colleges, this collection again proves Didion’s writing is timeless. To me the stand-out essay was β€œEverywoman.com” and Didion’s defense of Martha Stewart as a feminist icon. The last lines gave me goosebumps. ~ Cappy 
The Narrowboat Summer, by Anne Youngson
Eve has just left a corporate career; Sally has just walked away from an unfulfilling marriage and Anastasia must move from her narrowboat on Britain’s famed canal system for medical treatment. They meet by chance, rushing to rescue Noah, Anastasia’s dog. Their personalities could not be more different, but the life challenges each is facing are very similar. To all three their decision makes perfect sense. Sally and Eve will spend six weeks moving the narrowboat through the canals for a haul-out and servicing and Anastasia will recuperate in Eve’s flat. Their experiences are instructive, heartwarming, and transformative. Following Youngson’s hugely popular Meet Me At the Museum, this is a charming, well-crafted, feel-good story perfectly suited for either beach chair or cozy fireside. ~ Susan
You Deserve Each Other, by Sarah Hogle
The classic enemies-to-lovers tale gets turned on its head with Hogles’s witty and charming novel, as our warring couple are already engaged! Naomi, our quirky β€œheroine”, has a bit of a problem, and it is her perfect fiancΓ©, Nicholas. The small catch: whoever breaks the engagement has to pay wedding costs. Let the battle begin. This novel is a great escape-from-reality read. Even playing into the common trope, Hogle keeps it engaging, with hijinks, humor and great chemistry between our battling couple. The dialogue is witty and snarky. Be prepared to laugh out loud. ~ Caitlin
Obedience to Authority, by Stanley Milgram
In a series of brilliant experiments in the 1960s-70s, Yale psychologist Milgram recruited participants for experiments purported to study whether punishing wrong answers on tests of memory led to improved learning. But Milgram was actually studying whether his subjects would be willing to inflict electric shocks on helpless victims. The shocks weren’t real, and the β€œvictim” was an actor, but Milgram's studies proved that most people are willing to harm others at the direction of authority figures and with encouragement from peers. Although Milgram found virtually no evidence of sadism, he was shocked to discover how easily our senses of compassion and fairness can be overridden. But he hoped that when we’re mindful of such tendencies, we'll be less likely to succumb to them. ~ David
Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire, by Kurt Andersen
Kurt Andersen found himself, like many of us, trying to understand how we ended up, as a nation, in a time of post-truth, alternative-facts political reality. The more he dug, the more he found that, hey, we’ve always been this way. Tracing American history back to the Protestant Reformation and through until today (or at least last year) he carries us through story after fascinating story of our American ability to believe whatever takes our fancy, even when we’ve made it up our very own selves. Stimulating, hilarious and frightening, but always illuminating, this one is well worth your time. ~ McNevin
Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?, by Roz Chast
Cartoonist Roz Chast, in this nakedly uncomfortable confessional memoir, takes us through the process of caring for her aging, ailing parents. Perhaps you know Roz Chast from her New Yorker cartoons. If so, you will not be surprised by the laugh-out-loud humor in her story, though you might also be moved by how deeply touching it is. For all her parent’s idiosyncrasies, as well as her own, this is a universal story of something many of us have lived through, or will. As an added bonus, if you were to tell me you do not connect with graphic novels, this is the one I would tell you to read. ~ McNevin
Root Magic by Eden Royce
Written by a Gullah-Geechee (descendant of enslaved Africans along the coast of South Carolina and Georgia) author, this middle reader novel is a beautiful family adventure that blends the challenges for Black South Carolinians in the 1960s with the magic found in folklore. Ten-year-old old Jezebel has an intense love for her family and respect for all living creatures, which leads to new light being shed on elements that are traditionally cast as villainous. This book deals with the strife between Black Americans and the police in an age appropriate, and ultimately empowering and redemptive way. There are also some very fun spooky moments. A lovely coming of age story that I recommend to adults as well as children. Ages 8-12 ~ Cappy
The Sea in Winter, by Christine Day
Emotions are difficult to filter, especially for young dancers who may feel like their entire life (and career!) hinges on the recovery from an injury. Local author Day shares the intimate journey of a Makah/Piscataway ballerina’s inner struggle with the overwhelming experience of losing access to living out your passion and finding new creative projects as a way forward. We all need reminders about how we are not alone in our fear, hurt, and anger. In fact, we heal by sharing our stories. Day has created a book that my ballet students can see themselves in, along with imparting life lessons in a beautiful, sweet format. Locals will especially enjoy the richness of Day's depictions of a ferry ride and hiking in the PNW. Ages 8-12 ~ Laura Kay
New In Fiction
New In Nonfiction
New In Paperback Fiction
New In Paperback Nonfiction
New Books For Kids
The Little Library
by Margaret McNamara
ο»Ώand Brian Karas
What the Road Said
by Cleo Wade
Something's Wrong
by Jory John
Wilderlore:
The Accidental Apprentice
by Amanda Foody
Doggo and Pupper
by Katherine Applegate
Dogman: Mothering Heights
by Dav Pilkey
The 130-Story Treehouse
by Andy Griffiths
The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst
by Jaclyn Moriarty
Kitty and the Great
Lantern Race #5
by Paula Harrison
New Books For Young Adults
When We Were Infinite
by Kelly Loy Gilbert
Rule of Wolves
by Leigh Bardugo
Fire Keeper's Daughter
by Angelina Boulley
The Secret Recipe for Moving On
by Karen Bischer
Lost in the Never Woods
by Aiden Thomas
Bones of a Saint
by Grant Farley
Eagle Harbor Book Groups
Drop in - You are Welcome!
All Store Book Group titles are discounted 15% up until the date of discussion

Reader's Circle Book Group
April 6, 7:00 pm
by Abraham Verghese

Speculative Fiction Book Group
April 6, 7:00 pm
by S.A. Chakraborty

ο»ΏMystery Book Group
April 27, 7:00 pm
by Ann Cleeves

Our popular in-store book groups are now meeting virtually by G Suite!
Contact us for the meeting links.
Thank You For Supporting The Island's Independent Bookstore
157 Winslow Way E
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
206.842.533