A bookseller by heart and a dancer by soul, our Laura Kay is committed to the Arts. With an MFA in Ballet, a Higher Education Teaching Specialist certification from the University of Utah, Laura Kay continues her passion for dance as a teacher of ballet to students in the greater Seattle region, when she is not recommending your next great read. She brings a unique perspective to the bookstore, along with an abundance of great cheer.
Picks:
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
Schuster synthesizes all of her life experiences and shares with you what helped her to grow mentally, physically, and emotionally, and why. Her suggestions are insightful, filled with humor to inspire tackling your own difficulties, and most importantly, profoundly useful. If you need a little reassurance in your life, do yourself a huge favor—buy yourself these lilies!
ushdie aimed for the intersection of pastiche and satire… and nailed it! This hilariously rollicking, modern Americanized version of Don Quixote is beautifully crafted. While a delightful read for literary critics well versed in classics, Quichotte does not intimidate everyday readers. Let's take a trip to see the windmills, shall we? ~ Laura Kay
Adorable characters bring life lessons alive - simultaneously warming your heart and stirring your soul. I recommend this to all my ballerina students! Wink wink! ~ Laura Kay
In this novel, the adventure trip of a lifetime unravels into moral and ethical dilemmas. Heller expertly shapes characters and setting to evoke sensations that put you right in the same canoe. I recommend reading this in conjunction with friends, family, colleagues, or a book group because you will definitely want to discuss all the nuances! ~ Laura Kay
Zadie Smith's most recent short story collection starts out on risqué notes, then meanders into Smith's true form - simply playing with her audience, with her characters, and with socio-politically fraught concepts. Most of her short stories are intriguing and fun, while others punch you in the gut. If you're a Zadie Smith fan, this book is certainly worth checking out. ~ Laura Kay
2018 National Book Award Longlist for Fiction
There There offers a character study of an indigenous community where the lives of all the characters converge at a Pow Wow outside of Oakland, CA. A chilling debut novel by Orange that shares the "realities of our [indigenous peoples] histories and current state as a people." I was riveted to the pages by the emotions locked within the dialogue and left with many questions about moving forward in our nation.
Gottlieb's honesty abates any reservations about ready a "self-help" book so you should definitely take the time to read this one! The therapy sessions discussed here remind us that we are not alone. You can find me picking this book up to read again soon.
Although I selected this title from the perspective of an educator, I highly recommend this pragmatic guide for raising successful humans. The case studies outlined within these pages validates my own dedication and experience with helping students build autonomy, including seizing opportunities to engage with analytical problem-solving and promoting curiosity in which to effectively navigate their world. If you only have time to read one book on parenting and education, this is the one - it is essential.
Eggers takes craft coffee to the next level! Follow the exploration of the original coffee trade in Yemen and its resurgence in San Francisco. Brew a fresh cup and buckle up for a riveting ride!
Ghost story enthusiast and history lovers unite! If you’ve ever wondered why ghost stories resemble the place and era they originated from, Colin Dickey packs a punch by illuminating America’s dark past confronting why we tell the stories we tell. This is not a book of ghost stories nor a book about the truth or falsity of such claims. Instead, Dickey “focuses on questions of the living: how do we deal with stories about the dead and their ghosts, and how do we inhabit and move through spaces that have been deemed haunted?” You will be surprised, have many aha! moments, and feel bewitched by Dickey’s conclusions. There are many quotable passages to share, but you’ll just have to read the whole book to find them for yourself!
Although lengthy, this sci-fi novel is a fascinating read - fun, devastating, yet an engaging book that leads you to question your own responses to each new turn of its events and what matters most to you in life. ~ Laura Kay
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Imaginative, mystical, and ethereal, this is a tale I simply couldn't put down. Morgenstern creates an alluring world of illusions, like a dream of a Baz Luhrman film, and provides captivating ideas that will spark your own desire to be innovative, or to run off to join the circus. ~ Laura Kay