By Elaine Mattson

February seems to be beginning nice and calmly – made all the sweeter by our surviving the exciting week of snow and ice in January. Amongst all the excitement, how go the New Year’s resolutions? If you are in need of one that would be easy (and fun!) to accomplish, how about this? Resolve to expand your reading horizons… we love to recommend something new for you to read.

If you never read fiction, let us know what kind of non-fiction you enjoy, and we can suggest a novel that you will thoroughly enjoy. Never read a mystery? Boy, have we got some fun, fascinating, fantastically written treats in store for you! You get the idea – tell us what you usually read, we will find something to broaden your horizons… probably the most painless resolution that you will ever get to cross off of your list!

One great place to start for ideas about your next book is lists of award winners, and the 2012 awards have already started…

The Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA) has announced six winners of the 2012 Pacific Northwest Book Awards:

• “The Sisters Brothers” by Patrick deWitt.
• “West of Here” by Jonathan Evison.
• “Feathers” by Thor Hanson.
• “Shards” by Ismet Prcic.
• “Habibi” by Craig Thompson.
• “The Chronology of Water” by Lidia Yuknavitch.

For all the details about this award, visit the PNBA website.

The Newberry and Caldecott awards have also been announced:

John Newberry Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature:

“Dead End in Norvelt,” by Jack Gantos.

Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children:

“A Ball for Daisy,” illustrated and written by Chris Raschka.

February Events at the Edmonds Bookshop.
Our Book Club book for Feb. 2 & 15. “The Big Burn” by Timothy Egan.

Third Thursday Art Walk. Feb. 16. Our Third Thursday artist is the Edmonds-Woodway High School Art Club! Join us for light snacks and beverages, and a sneak peek at the local artists of tomorrow! Can’t wait to see what the kids have chosen to show us!

Recent releases of note:

“Petal & Twig: Seasonal Bouquets with Blossoms, Branches, and Grasses from Your Garden”

by Valerie Easton. Cute new little book from one of our favorite local garden writers. Fun excerpt in The Pacific Northwest Magazine. [https://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/pacificnw/2017262879_pacificpnwl29.html]

“Home Front” by Kristin Hannah. This Bainbridge Island author’s new novel tells the story of a troubled Army helicopter pilot whose family life gets even more complicated when she’s deployed to Iraq. Review in The Seattle Times.

“The Flight of Gemma Hardy” by Margot Livesey a Scotland, mid-20th century-set homage to “Jane Eyre.” Lovely review in The Seattle Times. Also chosen for IndieBound.

“Defending Jacob” by William Landay is a mystery about a district attorney who must defend his own son on a murder charge. Great review in The Seattle Times.

“The Mirage” by Matt Ruff.  Seattle author Matt Ruff’s new novel, turns the tables on the 9/11 scenario — extremists from the U.S. are the attackers; Middle East Muslims are the victims. Great review in The Seattle Times.

“West of Here” by Jonathan Evison. Newly announced winner of the 2012 PNBA Book Award!

Now in paperback! Highly recommended in the shop and chosen for IndieBound.

“Blood, Bones & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef” by Gabrielle Hamilton. Now in paper! Staff favorite at the Bookshop and chosen for IndieBound.

“Bossypants” by Tina Fey. In paperback. Tina Fey reveals all, and proves what we’ve all suspected: you’re no one until someone calls you bossy.

“A Discovery of Witches” by Deborah Harkness. Now in paperback. Chosen for IndieBound. The second in the series is coming in July: “Shadow of Night.”

And coming later in February:

“Ali in Wonderland: And Other Tall Tales” by Ali Wentworth. Feb. 6

“Contents May Have Shifted: A Novel” by Pam Houston. Chosen for IndieBound. Feb. 6

“The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (Revised, Updated, 9th edition)” by Kathleen Norris Brenzel. Feb. 7

“Kill Shot : A Mitch Rapp Novel” by Vince Flynn. Flynn is back with another nail-biting political thriller that follows the young Mitch Rapp on a deadly mission to hunt down the men responsible for the Pan Am Lockerbie terrorist attack. Feb. 7

“Wild Thing” by Josh Bazell. The new novel from the author of one of our staff favorites “Beat the Reaper”. Feb. 7

“Vaclav & Lena” by Haley Tanner. Chosen for IndieBound. Now in paperback. Feb. 7

“Left for Dead” by J.A. Jance. Bestseller Jance’s engaging seventh Ali Reynolds novel. Feb. 7

“The Year We Left Home” by Jean Thompson. Chosen for IndieBound. Now in paperback. Feb. 7

“Before I Go to Sleep” by S. J. Watson. In paperback. Recommended tag in the shop and chosen for IndieBound Feb. 7

“What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank: Stories” by Nathan Englander. Feb. 7

“Sticks and Stones: A Cat Deluca Mystery” by KJ Larsen. The newest from the local authors. Feb. 7

“A Good American” by Alex George. Feb. 7

“The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest” by Steig Larrson. In the concluding volume of the Millennium trilogy, Lisbeth Salander lies in critical condition in a Swedish hospital, a bullet in her head…. Finally coming in paperback! Feb. 21!

“Reverend America” by Kris Saknussemm. The fourth book from this local author! He will be at the Bookshop to chat and sign copies of his newest book on Sunday, Feb. 26. (Book coming Feb. 21)

“Lone Wolf: A Novel” by Jodi Picoult. This new novel explores the notion of family, and the love, protection and strength it’s meant to offer. But what if the hope that should sustain it, is the very thing that pulls it apart? Feb. 28

As always, check our website for all the latest in book news!

Happy reading!

Edmonds native Elaine Mattson has worked at The Edmonds Bookshop off and on since she was 12 years old, and has also worked at a book wholesaler, a book publisher, and for the book publishing division of a large local software company (yes, that one). “I was raised a book lover [thanks, Mom!],” Mattson says. “We got book lights by our beds as soon as we were old enough to read. And then I probably got in trouble for reading too late the very next night. And I still read too late!”