Summer is the time of sitting back with a wonderfully icy margarita and a good book in hand, letting our minds wander off to far off places, meet new characters or learn something new. Or maybe with the weather we've been having, we can just stick with our quintessential Seattle mug of coffee. Here's a round up of the diverse books our staff have been reading this summer. From memoirs to thrillers to cookbooks and everything in between... maybe it'll inspire you to add something to your reading list?
Mike's Pick
Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design by Charles Montgomery
Christopher's Pick
Midnight at the Pera Palace by Charles King
Mira's Pick
3 Fois par Jour by Marilou
"Happy City covers a lot of livability issues around not only urban design and resiliency, but goes beyond a typical architectural scope and into supportive social networks and community"
"My suggested read out of the 8 books I'm currently reading: Midnight at the Pera Palace is a book about the history of modern Istanbul."
"A beautifully photographed book of recipes that take a fresh look on Quebec (my home!)'s local cuisine. I follow her food blog and all her recipes are oh-so tasty"
Terri's Pick
Dry Bones: A Longmire Mystery by Craig Johnson
Brian's Pick
Designing Design by Kenya Hara
Erik's Pick
Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxa
"The landscape of the West and modern Native-American culture are included as important aspects of each story. I started reading the books after getting hooked on the show Longmire now on Netflix. The writing has kept me reading the books."
"Been slowly working my way through this one. Kenya Hara is the art director for MUJI. I like it so far because it’s not just a monograph with nice photos of his work, but includes a lot of writing that gives more insight into his design thinking."
"Just getting into this, but it’s a biography on a German citizen, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler."
Margaret K's Pick
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
Joann's Pick
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
Abigail's Pick
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: The Official Script Book of the Original West End Production by J.K. Rowling
"A Virginia Woolf classic about a day in the life of a woman living in post-WWI England. I’m only a few pages in but am curious to see how I end up liking it – so far it hasn’t been the easiest read!"
"The story traces the journey of a Hebrew manuscript, called the Sarajevo Haggadah, through time. Through a series of short stories, the reader gets glimpses into the lives of the people who helped create, transform and protect the important manuscript. I enjoyed learning about historical events and periods through these stories."
"It's currently doing its premier run at London's West End, but the script will be available on July 31 (Harry's Birthday) for those of us unable to make it across the pond for a live performance. I reread the HP series almost every summer and am so pleased to have some new material to supplement that journey!"
Guy's Pick
The Fateful Lightning by Jeff Shaara
Sarah's Pick
Black Flags: The Rise of Isis by Joby Warrick
"It’s the author’s fourth book in his Civil War series, and describes William Tecumseh Sherman’s March to the Sea. It details Sherman’s decisions, the battles as his troops cut through the heart of the South, and explains the important role this march played in bringing an end to the war. An excellent read for history buffs."
"A bit of "light" reading about the growth of Islamic fundamentalism, the rise of Al-Qaeda and ISIS, and terrorism in recent times."
"Ella was reading a kid-friendly version of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves in her Cricket magazine and I was compelled to revisit the rest of these tales of far-off places."
Will's Pick
Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words by Randall Munroe
Margaret T's Pick
Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman by Lindy West
Andrew's Pick
Raising a Modern-Day Knight: A Father's Role in Guiding His Son To Authentic Manhood by Robert Lewis
What books are you looking forward to reading this summer? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
Cheers!
-The Froggers