Categories
staff favorites

Staff Favorites of 2024 (That Came Out in 2024)

by Public Service Associate Juliana

I learned something while compiling this year’s list of favorites — I found that most of us here on staff at the library don’t read the most popular new titles. For example, we didn’t read James (except for Jen), The Martyr, The Women, or All Fours. I, for example, didn’t even read Intermezzo yet, and I am a (big) Sally Rooney fan. These titles will likely be on our TBR 2025 lists for when some of the hype falls away and we can get these items in our hands. What you will find below are some of 2024’s titles that we enjoyed and were able to snag off the new shelf in good time.

Hannah:

  • Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett – If you’re looking for whimsy and adventure, pick up Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett—and don’t forget its prequel! Emily Wilde, a genius scholar of faerie folklore (I love her passion for footnotes), is forever embarking on journeys filled with danger, intrigue, and enchanting creatures. This series is the perfect mix of rich folklore, quirky characters, and academic wit— aka a series you’ll hope never ends.
  • Funny Story by Emily Henry – Emily Henry has a unique way of approaching romance that feels fresh and engaging, even as she works within familiar genre tropes. She seamlessly blends heartfelt emotion with humor, wit, and a touch of self-discovery, creating stories that are as deep as they are fun. In Funny Story, we meet Daphne, a librarian who was dumped by her fiancé in favor of his best friend. Then there’s Miles, her polar opposite in nearly every way—except that he was also recently dumped by his girlfriend, who left him for none other than Daphne’s fiancé. Yep!
  • Close Knit by Jenny Colgan – I stumbled into the Mure series out of order, but Colgan’s trademark charm shines through, making it impossible not to fall for the quirky characters and their town in the northernmost reaches of Scotland. So of course, I popped in to see what everyone was up to when Close Knit came out. Full of the magic and unique pains of small-town life, the love, friendship, and second chances weave together like the cozy sweaters the characters knit. Don’t roll your eyes! Colgan’s touch keeps things contemporary, witty, and genuine. 
  • Upworthy Good People: Stories from the Best of Humanity ed. by Lucia Knell and Gabriel Reilich – The title speaks for itself.

Mary:

  • Habits for a Sacred Home by Jennifer Pepito – I’m a sucker for any book about creating good habits, but this year I have been drawn specifically to those practical habits which will improve my spiritual life. This book is a winner!

Juliana:

  • Whale Fall by Elizabeth O’Connor – This historical fiction novel is deep and literary but written in short chapters with lots of white space and clocks in at only 200ish pages. It’s fascinating to me that a quick read can also feel so unhurried. I loved it.
  • Love Lies Bleeding dir. by Rose Glass – I watch anything/everything with Kristin Stewart. Also, I love and trust in A24, and this romantic thriller scores a 94% with Rotten Tomatoes. It’s definitely an A in my book.
  • Instructions for Traveling West by Joy Sullivan – If you think you don’t enjoy poetry, this book might change your mind.

Josh:

  • Cowboy Carter by Beyonce – The Queen B! Forget about all the noise around this album being country or not. Just put it on and enjoy her amazing covers of The Beatles’ Blackbird and Dolly Parton’s Jolene. Obviously, the original songs are great, too. 
  • Miracle-Level by Deerhoof – Deerhoof is a true indie band. Their songs are brash, out of tune, and filled with tons of surprises. Not for the faint of heart, this music has tons of attitude! 
  • Cunningham Bird by Madison Cunningham and Andrew Bird – Madison Cunningham and Andrew Bird each have amazing back catalogs worth digging into, but this collaboration is folky, light, with a tinge of 70s sensibility.  It is a track-by-track cover of the album Buckingham Nicks (1973) by Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. 

Kelly:

🐱
  • Cat + Gamer: Volume 6 by Wataru Nadatami – Every day Riko works hard at her job, so she can rush home to … play video games?! But when she comes across a stray cat on her way home, Riko adds a new joy to her life and finds that raising a cat is a lot like fighting a battle in a video game. This slice of life manga is a breath of fresh air full of laughs and a concoction of cuteness overload.
  • No Cats in the Library by Lauren Emmons – When a street cat discovers a wonderful building called the library, she is determined to get inside. Even though the librarian has told her multiple times “No Cats in the Library!” she is determined to explore this brand-new place and ends up finding a new friend and accidentally becoming the library’s read-aloud cat. What a lovely, sweet story about the joys of reading, especially when you have a cuddly friend to read to.

Autumn:

Debbie:

Beth:

  • Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music by Rob Sheffield – Full of thoughtful and interesting analysis, but less a standard biography and more of a love letter to Taylor, by a Swiftie, for Swifties. And “New Romantics” (the song that the book title references) was included in the acoustic set on the last stop of Swift’s Eras Tour – Sheffield is a mastermind! 
  • The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali – A compelling, thought-provoking and powerful story, with fully realized characters. The social-political themes (feminism, political freedom/oppression, personal loyalties) make the book timely and relatable. 

Jen:

Categories
Online Resources

Holiday Films to Stream

by Public Service Associate Juliana

If you’re looking for heartwarming films this holiday season, start your search on Kanopy! This digital resource is available to you for free with your library card! Kanopy features thousands of movies, from classic cinema and indie film to international films and top documentaries and also plenty of holiday-themed films to celebrate the season.

The following list narrows the assortment down to seven films to help you in your search. It’s heavy on the classics and has something for just about every mood.

The Man Who Invented Christmas (2018) DVD | Kanopy

This is the story of the magical journey that led to the creation of Ebenezer Scrooge (Christopher Plummer), Tiny Tim and other classic characters from A Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens (Dan Stevens) mixed real life inspirations with his vivid imagination to conjure up unforgettable characters and a timeless tale, forever changing the holiday season into the celebration we know today.

Nominated for Achievement in Visual Effects, Best Adapted Screenplay and Achievement in Make-Up at the Canadian Screen Awards. — From Kanopy

“A surprisingly fresh movie about a story we all know very well.”

– Peter Howell, Toronto Star

The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945) DVD | Kanopy

In this heartwarming drama, Bing Crosby stars as the charming Father O’Malley, who is assigned to a struggling parochial school run by the spirited Sister Mary Benedict (Ingrid Bergman). As they clash over how best to save the school, the Christmas season brings challenges and unexpected joys, including a miraculous gift that could secure the school’s future. With humor, compassion, and a touch of holiday magic, their journey reveals the power of faith and community. — From Kanopy

The Holly & the Ivy (1952) Blu | Kanopy

It is Christmas Eve in the little country town of Wyndenham. Inside the rectory all is bustling as Jenny Gregory, the vicar’s elder daughter, begins putting up the decorations. But before this particular Christmas is over, the various members of her family will have to come to terms with a number of difficult subjects, only then they can truly claim to have goodwill to all in their hearts. –From Kanopy

The Bishop’s Wife (1947) DVD | Kanopy

In this charming fantasy romance, Cary Grant stars as an angel named Dudley, sent to help a struggling bishop (David Niven) who has lost sight of his family while trying to build a grand cathedral. Dudley’s arrival brings unexpected miracles and a renewed sense of joy, especially to the bishop’s neglected wife (Loretta Young). As Christmas approaches, the angel’s presence brings both warmth and confusion, leaving the bishop to confront his own priorities. But Dudley’s growing affection for the bishop’s wife adds an unexpected complication to his divine mission. — From Kanopy

Santa’s Wild Home (2021) DVD | Kanopy

Green lights dance across a star-filled sky, and snowflakes sparkle on the trees. It is little wonder Lapland is famous as a realm of elves and flying reindeer, the magical home of Santa Claus. This northernmost region of mainland Europe, however, is a real place, with real animals such as reindeer, Great Gray owls, wolverines, eagles, wolves, musk oxen, and Brown bears who live out their lives in the tundra and forest. –From the publisher

Festive Fireplace (2022) Kanopy

Set the scene this holiday season with Kanopy’s Festive Fireplace. Play this crackling fire as atmosphere during any of your Christmas and holiday events and sit back and enjoy the warmth and glow of this virtual winter experience. — From Kanopy

A Christmas Tale (French) (2008) Blu | Kanopy

When steely French matriarch Junon (Catherine Deneuve) learns she has leukemia, she asks her children and grandchildren at the family Christmas gathering to see if they are eligible to become bone marrow donors. This causes deep friction in the family, especially between Junon’s daughter Elizabeth (Anne Consigny) and son Henri (Mathieu Amalric), who already have a tumultuous relationship. Their mother’s sickness also recalls the traumatic loss of their brother Joseph when they were children. — From Kanopy

Categories
Programs

A Reflection on Y2K Twenty-Five Years Later

by Technology Librarian Josh

I remember the lead up to January 1st, 2000: a dull anxiety slowly getting louder and louder until all thoughts are fogged by the worst-case scenarios. News story after news story explaining the Y2K problem, people’s reaction, and what the fallout was going to look like. This was a magic threshold we were going to cross that no one could stop and there was nowhere else to kick the can. We had to solve this problem to maintain our current way of life.

“A problem is a chance for you to do your best.”

– Duke Ellington

The original sin that evolved into the Y2K bug started innocently enough. It was a cost saving method in the early days of computing. Memory was expensive and limited, so programmers decided to use a two-digit year format like 55 instead of 1955 for the year. Of course, this becomes a problem when the year 2000 can be confused for 1900 later on. “How many problems could this shorthand create?” you might ask. Well, some of the worst-case scenarios include air traffic failures, collapse of emergency services, banking failures, and nuclear catastrophes… Nothing to sneeze at. 

“History Doesn’t Repeat Itself, but It Often Rhymes.”

– Mark Twain

Some readers might not be old enough to remember the Y2K problem, but you’ve definitely experienced something similar within the last five years. To give you an idea of what Y2K felt like let me compare a couple of global events that came to mind while researching this topic: Covid-19 pandemic and CrowdStrike shutdown. 

Obviously, Covid-19 shutdown was so different from the Y2K experience, but it made me think of the general cloud of anxiety hovering over everyone. It also felt like every problem from getting toilet paper to supply chain disruptions stemmed from this horrible domino effect of covid. It highlighted our dependence on technology with everything moving online: remote work, remote learning, doomscrolling, facetime, etc. Tech is such a powerful tool, but if it’s your only way to work, learn, and socialize then we have some problems.

A cleaner comparison would be the CrowdStrike outage. The cybersecurity company CrowdStrike distributed a faulty update in July of this year which caused 8.5 million systems to crash globally. This grounded flights, stopped subways, 911 operators couldn’t dispatch help, stores shut down, and hospitals canceled surgeries. This is what we thought was going to happen in January of 2000. CrowdStrike was able to fix it within a few days, but it’s definitely a stark reminder that we are so reliant on the technology around us and without it a lot of our lives can’t function in the same way.

“I don’t need time. I need a deadline.”

– Duke Ellington

Technologists and government leaders globally took note in the mid to late 90s and made an enormous investment of $300 billion to upgrade computers and software to be Y2K-compliant. (Isn’t it ironic a cost saving measure in the 50s would cost so much later on?) This sprawling problem had to be tackled in a way to identify systems most vulnerable, manually fix software and hardware issues, test equipment to see how it would behave after the ball dropped, and open up modes of communication for global cooperation, which IT professionals at the time were not in the practice of doing. It all paid off because when the calendar flipped the worst-case scenarios we were all fearful of never materialized. Banks, airports, nuclear power plants, and Tamagotchi pets all survived the jump to the new millennium. 

Looking back 25 years later, I’m filled with a deep sense of optimism. This slow motion tragedy was nothing to shake a stick at and it was avoided by a group of people all pulling in the same direction. As we look at global issues we’ll be facing in the future I think it would behoove us to remember Y2K as a blueprint for addressing these large-scale, sprawling problems. I can feel my email filling with constructive feedback disrupting my vibe. I know this reads as if I’m living in a fantasy land. There are caveats: we need good leaders with foresight, we need time, and we need cooperation. The good news is we have all of those, we just need to give good leaders power, trust each other, and get to work.

If you’re interested in more on this topic, check out a screening of the HBO Documentary Time Bomb Y2K on January 8th at 7pm or the interview I’m conducting with the directors on December 4th on our YouTube page.

Categories
Staff Reviews

An Atmospheric Film for Thanksgiving

by Public Service Associate Juliana

Based on the Tony-award winning play, The Humans is heavy on dialogue and works to build complex, authentically flawed characters. It’s a dimly lit family drama that takes place on Thanksgiving night at the daughter’s lower Manhattan apartment. The synopsis reveals that “as darkness falls outside and eerie things start to go bump in the night, the group’s deepest fears are laid bare.” This leads you to think it’s a horror movie. 

While The Humans is not without haunted house aspects – creaky floorboards, strange noises, light bulbs that suddenly burn out – there’s nothing gorey or hard to look at except for water damaged walls and a pretty awful bathroom.

The true horror that materializes is that which is inherent to family gatherings. All the insecurities and baggage. Drinking paired with underlying issues. The chaos of cooking. Stress and pressure of expectations. For the entirety of the film, the viewer is waiting for something terrible to happen, for the tensions to implode.

Certain scenes stayed with me long after the film ended, including the brightest part of the film which is what I want to leave you with. The pig smash.

After the dinner plates are cleared the family places a peppermint pig into a red velvet bag and sends it around the table with a small hammer. Each person shares something they are thankful for and takes a whack at it. Afterward, the broken pig pieces are shared in hopes of good fortune to come.

The film is dark and evocative overall, but it’s not without twinkles of optimism.

Categories
Booklists

Bookish Beverages: A Cozy Combination

by Public Service Associate & Content Coordinator Hannah

As the air cools, leaves turn, and the light changes, there’s nothing better than curling up with a good book and a warm beverage. Whether you’re a devoted tea connoisseur or a coffee aficionado, grab your favorite mug—we’re celebrating the bond between brews and books!

📚Coffee Lovers’ Corner☕️

Imagine this: you walk into a quaint shop, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air. You take a seat by the window, and as you sip your drink, the words transport you to another world. Or maybe you just picked up your usual at Kittie’s and popped into the library to browse, hot tumbler keeping you company in the stacks. I always appreciate when you stop by the desk to strike up a conversation about your latest read or ask for a suggestion. In fact, here are a few:

At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities by Heather Webber (book | Libby)
I love this one for its heartwarming exploration of everyday magic.

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (book | Libby)
In a cozy backstreet Tokyo cafe, a cup of coffee offers more than just a caffeine buzz.

Black Coffee: A Hercule Poirot Novel by Agatha Christie (book | Libby)
A classic mystery that will keep you guessing and asking for a top off.

On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle (book | Libby)
We can’t all own a quirky coffee house, but we can enjoy this blend of cozy mystery.

Fika: The Art of Swedish Coffee Breaks by Anna Brones and Johanna Kindvall (book)
Complete with sweet illustrations and even sweeter recipes, just flipping through this book is a delightful reminder to pause and smell the beans.

Black Coffee album by Peggy Lee (vinyl | hoopla)
Recorded in 1953, Black Coffee was Peggy Lee’s first album. Bitterness and insomnia may not seem like enjoyable material, but you’ll quickly find the moody melody enduring and the lyrics universally relatable.

🍵Teatime Treasures🫖

There’s something undeniably comforting about a steaming cup of Constant Comment with just a splash of milk. This delightful blend was how my grandma first introduced me to the world of tea. While my serving style has evolved over the years, my affection for my collection of whimsical Red Rose figurines remains.

Whether you prefer slowly sipping from a giant mug while curled up on the couch, or you find joy in the lively atmosphere of BPL’s beloved Tea at Three concerts, we can all agree the drink invites a unique nostalgia and warmth. May each page-turn and every sip bring you joy this season.

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See (book | Libby)
A poignant story steeped in culture and family.

Murder in the Tea Leaves by Laura Childs (book)
Fans of cozy mysteries will appreciate the intricate plot, relatable protagonist and the charming Charlston setting.

A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage (book | Libby)
Trace the story of six different drinks–beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and cola–to see their pervasive influence on world history.

A Literary Tea Party: Blends and Treats for Alice, Bilbo, Dorothy, Jo, and Book Lovers Everywhere by Alison Walsh (book)
Everything you need to plan a tea party inspired by great works of literature. I’ll RSVP “Yes!”

Mr. Putter & Tabby Pour the Tea by Cynthia Rylant (book)
With themes of friendship and enjoying the simple pleasures in life, Mr. Putter and Tabby should be pictured next to the word “endearing” in the dictionary. 

“Come along inside… We’ll see if tea and buns can make the world a better place.”

~ The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. Illustration by Chris Dunn.
Categories
Recommendations Staff Book Reviews

Leah Recommends Award-Winning Young Adult Fiction

by Associate Librarian Leah Boyden

Earlier this year I took a course on engaging teens within libraries. As a lover and reader of young adult material and former middle school teacher, this task was right up my alley. A former student of mine encouraged me to write a blog post for the library and because of their encouragement I signed up!

The major assignment of the course was a reading project that involved reading, rating, and critiquing twenty-two young adult texts from various award-winning lists and differing criteria. Formats included physical books, audiobooks, graphic novels, and more. Our professor outlined certain criteria we had to meet, with some free choice aspects as well. The award-winning lists and criteria list from the assignment are listed at the end of this post.

While this assignment was lengthy and involved procrastination on my end, I loved it. It pushed me to read out of my comfort zone and explore new genres. I read my first ever graphic novel because of this assignment! It also gave me personal recommendations that I have suggested to teen patrons, teen volunteers, and some of my coworkers in the library. This project has sparked a lot of good (and fun) conversations. Instead of sharing my entire seventeen-page paper with you, I will share my top read from this assignment. This book ended up being one of my top favorite reads of 2024. 

The Silence that Binds Us by Joanna Ho, New York, Harper Teen, 2022, 448 pages | Book | Libby Audiobook

Personal rating: 5/5    

Recommended age range of teen reader: 14+

Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) Literature Awards Young Adult category

Summary

This novel is rich in content and discusses mental health, suicide, racism, family, cultural expectations, personal narratives, stereotypes, high school, and more. May (Maybelline) is a Chinese Taiwanese American high school student. She faces many challenges in her life, especially after her brother dies by suicide. This is a story of owning your narrative and speaking your truth. 

Critical Evaluation

This is one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read. I am still in awe of this writing and this story months after reading it. I have recommended this book to so many people and have looked for other works by this author as well. The way the author portrays the heartbreak and emotions in this story is so raw. I felt like I lost Danny. I felt like I was in high school again and could hear myself at the train tracks with May. This award is meant to highlight the experiences and cultures of Asian and Pacific Americans and this book is the rightful recipient. This book has so many strengths, as I have mentioned. I think this book would appeal to teens for many reasons – content, relatability, and more. This book could also fit under the May is National Mental Health Awareness Month book list. This was the best book I read from this assignment!

Cover Art

This book cover is simply stunning. Teens would definitely be drawn to choose this book solely because of the cover. The use of color, light, text, and pictures leave the viewer with so many questions that need answering. Teens will be drawn to the beauty and curiosity that this cover displays. 

Awards List

  • Michael L. Printz Award Winners
  • Margaret A. Edwards Award
  • YALSA’s Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults
  • Banned Books 
  • YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens
  • Indigenous Reads Rising 
  • YALSA Excellence in Non-fiction 
  • Manga 
  • Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production
  • Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) Literature Awards Young Adult category
  • May is National Mental Health Awareness Month  
  • Historical Fiction
  • Buckeye Children & Teen Book Award 
  • Classic Revisited 

If you’ve made it to this point, thank you for reading along! I encourage you to diversify your reading list by checking out some of the above lists and the titles within them. 

Categories
Recommendations

Haunted Novels for Fall

by Public Service Associate Juliana

Many Octobers I have steeped myself in scary movies, but this year I feel driven to read something scary. There’s no better place to start than with a classic from horror queen, Shirley Jackson. When I searched the fiction stacks I found The Haunting of Hill House. Orange and black cover, inky, black-edged pages and the title in gothic font, I was immediately obsessed.

It occurred to me to recruit my husband to read it as well. We could make a spookfest of the season, read late into the evenings while bats flap above the school across the street, chat about our progress each morning over dark roast coffee. If he reads it too, at least he will understand why I’ve started asking him to leave the lights on. 

Fear of the dark aside, I’ve begun to approach the horror genre with curiosity. While horror can often be gory and gratuitous, it’s rarely without some kind of overarching commentary. When it comes to horror, author Nat Cassidy says he’s made it his life’s work to defend it “specifically because of its unique ability to allow us to address larger issues under the cover of entertainment.” Horror can convey societal issues and anxieties in ways that create space for dialogue about difficult topics.

As a new fall tradition, invite someone to read with you and meet up for a pumpkin spice latte and bookish conversation. Here are a few novels to get you started: The Changeling by Victor LaVelle, Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, or Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury.

Categories
Booklists Recommendations

Fantastical Detectives in Magical Realms

by Public Service Associate Autumn

I love a good mystery novel, though I came to them much later than I should have. As a teen, when I had run out of my own books to read (for the week) and my family could not make it to the library, my grandfather gave me several Agatha Christie novels from his collection.1 But I didn’t read them that week. In fact, I didn’t read them until after I watched BBC’s wonderful adaptation, Poirot. But then, I was hooked: the twists and turns, the rooting out of each motive and link, fishing through all the red herrings, and perhaps most importantly, the satisfaction of knowing how all the pieces fit together in the end. It warms my order-loving soul.2 I immediately went back and read the Agatha Christie originals, then moved on to Arther Conan Doyle, Rex Stout, Stephen Spotswood and many more.

Sometimes though, I feel as though I have read every possible combination of who done it, why, how, with what, and how it affected the neighbors. For all the cleverness and brilliance of my favorite mystery writers, they are still bound by annoying practical restraints, like physics and the nature of the space time continuum. On occasion, I just need something a little out of the box. I still want the mystery, just a very non-traditional one. What better way than to find a mystery set in worlds not governed by our laws? If you’re like me and need an occasional fantasy kick to your mystery enjoyment, pursue these novels and be transported. I have read most of them, and several are completely off the wall.3 And if you’re only willing to try one, I highly recommend The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennet.

  • The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennet Book | eBook
  • Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovich Book | eBook
  • A Potion to Die For by Heather Blake Book | eBook
  • The Affair of the Mysterious Letter by Alexis Hall Book | eBook
  • Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty Book | eBook
  • The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Ann Older Book | eBook
  • Guards! Guards! By Terry Pratchett Book | eBook
  • The Undetectables by Courtney Smyth Book | eBook
  • Titanshade by Dan Stout Book | eBook

Footnotes

1The scarring of that day may be why I generally have thirty books checked out at a time.

 2Which I desperately need, as it’s getting colder out now.

3My comment about the space-time continuum? You’re looking for The Affair of the Mysterious Letter by Alexis Hall.

Categories
Recommendations

Lifelong Learning: A (Quick) Study of Oysters

by Public Service Associate Juliana

image from Taylor Shellfish

 “Unless you’re vegetarian or vegan, you can’t go to Seattle and skip a platter of freshly shucked Pacific Northwest Oysters.”

— Lonely Planet Washington, Oregon & the Pacific Northwest

At the start of every travel journal, after flight details and a packing list, I create a checklist of things to do. Most recently, while planning a trip to Seattle, the list included Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, Seattle Central Library, coffee, and oysters.

Seattle is an oyster mecca. Food writer Rowan Jacobsen says, “No city is as oyster-mad as Seattle.” A dozen oysters to share became a main priority on the trip’s to-do list. And this became a good reason to brush up on knowledge about bivalves.

Learning about oysters, like learning about wine, has always felt intimidating to me. Where does one start? With the scope narrowed to Washington State and the Seattle area it suddenly became approachable. I started with two books by Rowan Jacobsen, A Geography of Oysters and The Essential Oyster which were both easy texts to navigate based on specific appellations. I encouraged myself to go in with a beginner’s mindset, with the simple intention “to learn a little bit.”

It wasn’t about becoming an expert but rather deepening my experience. The thing is a dozen oysters are expensive and disappear quickly. By knowing just a little bit, I knew I could create space for more enjoyment, presence, engagement and authenticity. And maybe even be able to tell the difference of one oyster from another.

I selectively flipped through the books and familiarized myself with some of the local oyster varieties that thrive and are prolific in Seattle – varieties such as Hama Hama, Baywater Sweet, Kumamoto and Olympia are a few of the more common. These ones, the local ones, are what I wanted to try at an oyster bar.

On the pages that featured these varieties, I paid attention to individual shells in terms of size, shape and cup depth. Very basic details like big or small, deep or shallow. 

After that I focused on taste and challenged myself to learn a little of what differentiates one variety’s flavor from another. I studied words commonly used to describe oysters and thus tried to teach my tastebuds what to look for. They might be sweet, metallic, coppery, briny or nutty, or might have a honeydew or cucumber finish or celery salt flavor. I wasn’t trying to be able to pass a blind taste test, but I wanted vocabulary to say something other than, “They taste like the ocean.”

Samish Oyster Bar and Shellfish Market | Taylor Shellfish Farms, Seattle WA

On our trip, for the ultimate oyster experience, we drove out to Taylor Shellfish Farm’s Samish Bay location. Since 1890 they have supplied many restaurants in the city, and at this location they offer a true tide to table experience, a true meal-of-a-lifetime experience! 

We gathered stools around a wooden high-top table at their waterfront picnic area and shared a charcuterie board and a mixed dozen oysters. The freshly shucked Pacific Northwest oysters I’d been waiting for. Paired with good company, gorgeous views, and local pale ales. Squeezed lemon juice on our fingers, sitting together in the sunshine, it was a living dream. 

Pacific
Kumamoto
Fat Bastard
images from Taylor Shellfish

Of the three varieties on our tray, two were species I’d read about — Pacific and Kumamoto — both among the most popular of oysters. The third, called Fat Bastard, was new to me. Fat Bastards are big, approximately a 2.75 – 3.75-inch shell. I took a minute to observe and noticed aside from the larger shell size, they also have a notably deeper cup compared to the others.

The Kumamotos were much smaller, approximately a 1 – 2-inch shell. I remembered being surprised to learn that they grow very slowly, taking up to 4 years to cultivate vs 1 year for many larger oyster varieties. Because of this they are more expensive and also pack a lot of flavor.

The Pacifics on our tray had lovely, ruffled shells, approximately 2.5-inches. They are Taylor’s “#1 oyster, famous for its sweet-and-salty cucumber flavor.”

I tried each type and did so with only squeezed lemon, no cocktail sauce. This made it feel like maybe the first time I’d ever actually tasted an oyster rather than masking it beneath horseradish, ketchup and Tabasco. My taste buds were alive. Sweet and salty umami. Chewy, pudgy, weird and absolutely wonderful.

I won’t lie, that dozen oysters still vanished quickly, even after the studying I did. But this particular dozen has left a lasting, iridescent, shiny pearl of an impression on me, and I look forward to honing my tastes even more. Cheers to the next twelve!

Travel Guides

  • Lonely Planet Seattle | Book
  • Lonely Planet Washington, Oregon & the Pacific Northwest | Book
  • Pacific Coasting by Danielle Kroll | Book

Further Reading

  • Consider the Oyster by M.F.K. Fisher | Book
  • Still Life with Oysters and Lemon: On Objects and Intimacy by Mark Doty | Book
Categories
BPL News & Information

We See You: Defining Your Library Personality

by Public Service Associate & Content Coordinator Hannah

How would you describe your library persona? 

Are you a social butterfly? Popping by once a week (or more), you know staff members’ names, and we know what day/time it is based on your arrival. Perhaps you leisurely read the newspaper before catching up on book recommendations, or you relish receiving the latest program guide and eagerly register for events. I see you wearing a beloved Summer Community Read or brand new Centennial t-shirt telling everyone how much you love BPL. 

the library patron at leisure

Or are you an adventurous, free-roaming browser like me? Our only plan is to show up with a tote. After all, this lovely place has so many books, films, and board games to explore. We often take home a new genre alongside a work of art or ukulele. We may say things like, “This book found me when I needed it most.”

Perhaps you’re a make-a-list and stick-to-it kind of patron? You come in for what’s trending on #BookTok. You know exactly who and where your go-to authors are. Your curated monthly Personalized Pick bundle is waiting on the holds shelf. Sometimes, one of our displays manages to catch your eye or a waitlist is so long you need to grab something off the new shelf. But on most visits, you leave with what you researched and requested.

Or maybe you are the technologically frustrated type? You know our tech librarian by first name. You appreciate a home delivery. Once-in-a-blue-moon you come in to use the printers. 

These personas do not begin to describe everyone who calls BPL their library. No matter your style, we love having you here.