Explore and Discover

Romantic reads in the Pacific Northwest

Posted on September 29, 2016 at 6:00 am

By Stefani Miller Readers tend to have favorites: a specific author, series, or genre that they come back to over and over. For me, it’s romance. When I have time to read, I like to snuggle up with a steamy novel. And when I’m not reading them, I’m usually feeding my addiction by hunting them […]

Young Adult novels with adult reader appeal

Posted on September 27, 2016 at 6:00 am

By Rachel Edmondson In recent years, Young Adult (YA) literature has become increasingly popular, and studies have shown that a surprising number of YA readers are adults. According to a 2012 study, 55% of buyers purchasing YA literature are 18 or older. Also, 78% of these buyers indicate that they are purchasing the books for […]

Tags: adults, booklists, books, teens, tweens, YA, young adult

Irena’s Children: Q&A with Mary Cronk Farrell

Posted on September 22, 2016 at 6:00 am

By Sheri Boggs Local author Mary Cronk Farrell writes about the kinds of people whose stories aren’t widely told, but ought to be. In Pure Grit: How American World War II Nurses Survived Battle and Prison Camp in the Pacific, she tells the story of nearly 100 army and navy nurses who struggled to not […]

James Frye: synesthete artist’s work at Airway Heights Library

Posted on September 16, 2016 at 6:00 am

By Erin Dodge When walking into the Airway Heights Library, colorful art welcomes you from the display case. You’ll see record albums, clocks, people, keyboards, and cats in a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors. Inside the library, you’ll see even more artwork along the wall in the children’s section—each tableau intricately detailed and evokin […]

Building and planting next year’s garden

Posted on September 13, 2016 at 6:00 am

By David Wyatt Earlier this summer when it was still scorching, I fenced off a portion of our yard to keep our new raised-bed garden out of reach of our two mutts. The dogs were not pleased to have lost some of their lawn. Too exhausted from the heat to do any more, I took […]

The Whole30: for heart health, for life

Posted on September 8, 2016 at 6:00 am

By Jane Baker The cardiologist gave me a choice: lose weight, lower your blood pressure, and get more cardio exercise or begin taking a prescription. After we talked it through, I made the decision to forgo the medication, and return in six months for a follow-up on how things were going. “Stay away from carbohydrates, […]

Celebrating Grandparents

Posted on September 1, 2016 at 6:00 am

By Gwendolyn Haley Both my husband and I grew up living hours away from our grandparents, and consequently only saw them once or twice a year at most. When we started our family, we lived five hours away from our own parents, so our children were also on track to only see their grandparents a […]

Fall hikes: sorting favorites

Posted on August 30, 2016 at 6:00 am

By Rich Landers Being a trail guidebook author who’s explored Inland Northwest trails for more than three decades, I’m regularly asked a question this time of year: “What’s your favorite fall hike?” The answer is as difficult as naming your favorite child. And as all parents know, even our children are a little more appealing […]

Dynamic audiobook performers

Posted on August 25, 2016 at 6:00 am

By Melanie Boerner I understand that, as a librarian, I am expected to have piles upon piles of books throughout my house and be well versed in all types of literature. With that said, I have a confession to make: I have piles of half-read books around my house. As a full-time working mom of […]

Ultimate Gilmore Girls fandom

Posted on August 23, 2016 at 6:00 am

By Rachel Edmondson With two young kids in the house, I don’t end up watching a lot of TV. By the time the kids are asleep and I’ve gotten a few things done around the house, I rarely choose television over my bed (what can I say, I’m a woman who likes her sleep!). But […]