You could say, Henning Mankell writes police procedural novels set in Sweden. That may be like saying Leo Kottke plays guitar. Henning Mankell builds a world around detective Kurt Wallander and lets us experience it through Wallander's sense and sensibilty. Most recently I have read The Fifth Woman, originally published in 1996 in Swedish and in this translation in the US in 2000. A shiny new mass market edition was published in the US in 2010, one copy on the shelves now at Anchor.
As you read this tightly plotted, up tempo crime fiction novel, you are immersed in the day to day activities of the sleep deprived, grieving detective but a part of your consciousness is reminded of literature teachers of the dim past. There is a reason writers write, there is an idea, a kernel. Enjoy the wrapping but be aware of the essential matter.
The story is good, the characters mostly sympathetic, some simply pathetic. It is crime fiction after all. The Austin American-Statesman announced on the the cover, "YOU CAN'T PUT IT DOWN." I believed them and did not put it down often. A side benefit of this not putting down is sharing sleep deprivation with Wallander. But Mankell gives us more than the long suffering policeman. The first I heard of Wallander was a reference from a friend. When he spoke of this fictional character I thought he was talking of another friend. There is size and shape to this man and you are included in his life for the duration. Wallander worries about his team, advances his case, learns about his family, looks after his child, and, emerges to resolution. In his reminiscences of his mentor an essence emerges, don't miss it.
Possibly heartening glimpses of commonality in modern society around the world also shine through the conversations and tribulations of the characters. Perhaps we are more alike than not, more in common than indifferent or in differences. One jarring note was the world weariness of Wallander in his forties. We should all have that problem. Another smaller speed bump is the idea of a Swede driving a Peugeot, perhaps an homage to Inspector Columbo.
Henning Mankel novels can be found in the mystery ranks at Anchor Books and Coffee. Don't delay, there are other readers out and about who come around searching out Mankell. We have several in stock now but that is not always the case.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Cloud Atlas Musings
Last week I saw an item on one of the online news services about the balloons sent aloft by Japan in the latter stages of World War Two. These balloons were of paper made from the bark of Mulberry trees, the same trees that silkworms eat. The balloons were inflated with lighter than air gas and sent aloft to be carried by prevailing upper air winds from Japan to the north American continent. The balloons carried incendiary/explosive bombs and a system for dropping ballast to keep them aloft on their journey. The article included video of American planes' gun cameras as they shot a balloon down and aerial pictures of a balloon flaccid and spent in a fallow crop field in the interior of the country. These balloons were responsible for the only civilian casualties on United States soil in World War II. Five children and the new pastor's wife on a CMA church picnic near Bly in southern Oregon found and inadvertently triggered the explosives. The War Department had known of the balloons but did not want to panic the population with the news that Japanese warfare was reaching America.
Liam Callanan's novel, The Cloud Atlas, weaves a mystical fabric on the structure of the history of the balloons. It is voiced by an Alaskan priest holding vigil for Yup'ik shaman who has been his adversary, teacher, friend and sharer of personal history. Stories unfold, move separately and together through the years from the war to the present like the winds carrying the balloons and the clouds. While I was reading the Cloud Atlas I was impatient for the stories, to resolve, to have a more familiar structure. but now a few days past I see the people and the stories in the moving air, sometimes solid, sometimes spirit, and I am very satisfied.
I only wonder from where and why that story online came and why it appeared now, just as I read this book.
The Cloud Atlas, Liam Callanan, is on the shelves in contemporary fiction at Anchor Books and Coffee. When you are seeking refuge from the gray-black solid, water bearing clouds of November, we have a warm dry place from which to travel on the written word.
Liam Callanan's novel, The Cloud Atlas, weaves a mystical fabric on the structure of the history of the balloons. It is voiced by an Alaskan priest holding vigil for Yup'ik shaman who has been his adversary, teacher, friend and sharer of personal history. Stories unfold, move separately and together through the years from the war to the present like the winds carrying the balloons and the clouds. While I was reading the Cloud Atlas I was impatient for the stories, to resolve, to have a more familiar structure. but now a few days past I see the people and the stories in the moving air, sometimes solid, sometimes spirit, and I am very satisfied.
I only wonder from where and why that story online came and why it appeared now, just as I read this book.
The Cloud Atlas, Liam Callanan, is on the shelves in contemporary fiction at Anchor Books and Coffee. When you are seeking refuge from the gray-black solid, water bearing clouds of November, we have a warm dry place from which to travel on the written word.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Welcome to August
It's been a whirlwind summer here at the store. The Glorious Fourth, summer has been sighted for a few minutes, and now it's August and the back to school ads have begun already.
Teresa, Lauren, Sarah, Trish and I have been honing our alphabetizing skills, pulling more and more shots of espresso and generally getting a handle on this bookstore/coffeeshop and coffeeshop/bookstore thing.
Since the new and improved visitor center signage went up just before the Fourth of July weekend we have also been dispensing free visitor information to the masses. it is so true about getting what you pay for. There are lots of good questions and even more good answers, we just need to connect them. Fortunately Katy Shaner and her crew are helping us connect the correct answers to the questions. It is fun to see the wide range of people visiting Whidbey, our fair isle. We have welcomed visitors from China, Brazil, France, British Columbia, California, Wisconsin and friends of Dorothy's from Kansas. We welcomed a couple from Wichita Falls Texas who drove here just to escape the heat. We were the rendezvous point for an extended family who gathered from Cincinnati, Washington DC, and San Jose before going on to Langley to surprise their daughter and sister for a milestone birthday.
Just last week we were fortunate to host a remarkable reunion. Fifty years ago Billye and Bobby graduated from Richland High in Richland, Washington. Life took them here and there and then here. Without knowing it they were both living on South Whidbey. Checking in to Richland Fiftieth Reunion activities online, they realized that they were practically neighbors. Billye had been here a couple times with friends and invited Bobby to meet her here. The rest is now part of our history. New friends or old, this is the place.
One reason I have been so delinquent in getting this blog current is the vigorous pre-reading program we have instituted. We have gotten almost 3,800 books in trade since we opened April 30th. Some of these have not been read very much and some of them have not been read by our staff. I have been doing my part. I can recommend the Guido Brunetti Mysteries by Donna Leon. They are set in Venice and explore the modern culture and family life through the eye of Commissario Brunetti. I think she may be trying to warn us. Ian Rankin's primary character is Detective Sergeant, John Rebus, world worn and street wise. John leads us through the streets of Edinburgh. When you are finished you feel you know the city. I looked up one afternoon to a friendly request for a double tall Americano and I had to ask for a minute to return to Clinton. I had been miles and years away in the dust and rubble of Berlin in the days of the Potsdam Conference at the close of World War II. Joseph Karon's novel The Good German, had immersed me in the mist and miasma of the vortex that was Berlin in those days, friend, foe, ally, victor and vanquished all in flux. In between these was the story of the loss in Scorpion Down, the American submarine victim of the cold war and the bigger story of competing undersea military forces in Blind Man's Bluff. These are both on the shelf in the growing history area. I need help, you can come buy some books and reduce my workload!
It's not too late to pick up some great light reading for the beach. We just got a fabulous French/English Scientific Dictionary. I recommend it for giving your scientific observations a definite continental air. We have a new wish list form posted backstage, if you have an author or a title you would like us to watch for, let us know and we will keep a sharp eye out.
Last week we had a media blitz going out. Toni Groves' article in the Whidbey Examiner was in the Thursday Edition; http://www.whidbeyexaminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=6&SubSectionID=6&ArticleID=6366.
On Saturday Patricia Duff's Article, "New gathering spot is becoming the place where everybody knows your name" made Sarah famous! http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/swr/business/126523783.html
Trish continues to amaze and delight with her baking skills, gluten free peanut butter cookies, raspberry walnut bars, cinnamon pull-aparts and more and more cookies! Don't be late.
Teresa, Lauren, Sarah, Trish and I have been honing our alphabetizing skills, pulling more and more shots of espresso and generally getting a handle on this bookstore/coffeeshop and coffeeshop/bookstore thing.
Since the new and improved visitor center signage went up just before the Fourth of July weekend we have also been dispensing free visitor information to the masses. it is so true about getting what you pay for. There are lots of good questions and even more good answers, we just need to connect them. Fortunately Katy Shaner and her crew are helping us connect the correct answers to the questions. It is fun to see the wide range of people visiting Whidbey, our fair isle. We have welcomed visitors from China, Brazil, France, British Columbia, California, Wisconsin and friends of Dorothy's from Kansas. We welcomed a couple from Wichita Falls Texas who drove here just to escape the heat. We were the rendezvous point for an extended family who gathered from Cincinnati, Washington DC, and San Jose before going on to Langley to surprise their daughter and sister for a milestone birthday.
Just last week we were fortunate to host a remarkable reunion. Fifty years ago Billye and Bobby graduated from Richland High in Richland, Washington. Life took them here and there and then here. Without knowing it they were both living on South Whidbey. Checking in to Richland Fiftieth Reunion activities online, they realized that they were practically neighbors. Billye had been here a couple times with friends and invited Bobby to meet her here. The rest is now part of our history. New friends or old, this is the place.
One reason I have been so delinquent in getting this blog current is the vigorous pre-reading program we have instituted. We have gotten almost 3,800 books in trade since we opened April 30th. Some of these have not been read very much and some of them have not been read by our staff. I have been doing my part. I can recommend the Guido Brunetti Mysteries by Donna Leon. They are set in Venice and explore the modern culture and family life through the eye of Commissario Brunetti. I think she may be trying to warn us. Ian Rankin's primary character is Detective Sergeant, John Rebus, world worn and street wise. John leads us through the streets of Edinburgh. When you are finished you feel you know the city. I looked up one afternoon to a friendly request for a double tall Americano and I had to ask for a minute to return to Clinton. I had been miles and years away in the dust and rubble of Berlin in the days of the Potsdam Conference at the close of World War II. Joseph Karon's novel The Good German, had immersed me in the mist and miasma of the vortex that was Berlin in those days, friend, foe, ally, victor and vanquished all in flux. In between these was the story of the loss in Scorpion Down, the American submarine victim of the cold war and the bigger story of competing undersea military forces in Blind Man's Bluff. These are both on the shelf in the growing history area. I need help, you can come buy some books and reduce my workload!
It's not too late to pick up some great light reading for the beach. We just got a fabulous French/English Scientific Dictionary. I recommend it for giving your scientific observations a definite continental air. We have a new wish list form posted backstage, if you have an author or a title you would like us to watch for, let us know and we will keep a sharp eye out.
Last week we had a media blitz going out. Toni Groves' article in the Whidbey Examiner was in the Thursday Edition; http://www.whidbeyexaminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=6&SubSectionID=6&ArticleID=6366.
On Saturday Patricia Duff's Article, "New gathering spot is becoming the place where everybody knows your name" made Sarah famous! http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/swr/business/126523783.html
Trish continues to amaze and delight with her baking skills, gluten free peanut butter cookies, raspberry walnut bars, cinnamon pull-aparts and more and more cookies! Don't be late.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Sunday morning coming down.....
It's old home week here at Anchor as we move into our ninth week of existence.
Joy Kosola brought by a new Whidbey Island birding poster that she and Craig are producing. It's a beautiful poster/map of Whidbey identifying some of the prime birding locations on the island and surrounded with Craig's images of the birds here in paradise. Joy was at the shop to bring us more copies of their book, Rufous, the Amazing Hummingbird Story. Much like Rufous this book continues to fly. We also have Craig and Joy's new book, Our Pacific Northwest Birds and Habitat, it's a fine one
Mona Newbauer is circling the world of chocolate with her travels to Ecuador and now beautiful Pittsburgh. Fortunately Tony has the keys to the shop and could come replenish our stock of sea salt caramels, they seem to emulate Rufous and fly out of here.
Chris Dennis of Island Framery here in Clinton, brought some coupons for framing services. Now when you purchase your Perry Woodfin, or Craig Johnson print you get a coupon good for $20 off custom framing at Chris and Joy's shop.
We now have are the place to get Frances Woods' work all day every day. When that craving for a blank journal and a cup of coffee comes on you suddenly, you can fill your needs with Frances' beautifully done blank journal, spiral bound, heavy weight paper interior and covers with beautiful pen and water color drawings of Great Blue Heron. The drawings and captions are from Frances' book Brushed By Feathers, A Year of Birdwatching in the West. We also have blank note cards with ink and watercolor prints by Frances and her book, Down to Camp: A History of Summer Folk on Whidbey Island.
This week we have dramatically expanded the L'Amour collection, that's Louis. We now have almost one hundred volumes of western stories by the dean of the genre. While we were collecting our opening stock we searched diligently for books for this section and finally had a decent number to get started but we now have some for all the fans who have been inquiring after the tales of the black hats in the wild west. They are here now.
Also in this week is a beautiful book of photographs, Japanese Courtyard Gardens. This little book has a nice collection of plates of gardens intimate and public, minute and grand.
Trish has been experimenting some more in the kitchen and her Cinnamon Pull Apart rolls now have walnuts, they were good before, now they are even nuttier. the Wall of Fame is filling up. Particular drinks for Particular People, come see who drinks what.
We have new outside seating. Today you can sit and watch the ferry line and not even need your Helly or fleece. The music is playing, the pie is apple and the coffee is hot.
Joy Kosola brought by a new Whidbey Island birding poster that she and Craig are producing. It's a beautiful poster/map of Whidbey identifying some of the prime birding locations on the island and surrounded with Craig's images of the birds here in paradise. Joy was at the shop to bring us more copies of their book, Rufous, the Amazing Hummingbird Story. Much like Rufous this book continues to fly. We also have Craig and Joy's new book, Our Pacific Northwest Birds and Habitat, it's a fine one
Mona Newbauer is circling the world of chocolate with her travels to Ecuador and now beautiful Pittsburgh. Fortunately Tony has the keys to the shop and could come replenish our stock of sea salt caramels, they seem to emulate Rufous and fly out of here.
Chris Dennis of Island Framery here in Clinton, brought some coupons for framing services. Now when you purchase your Perry Woodfin, or Craig Johnson print you get a coupon good for $20 off custom framing at Chris and Joy's shop.
We now have are the place to get Frances Woods' work all day every day. When that craving for a blank journal and a cup of coffee comes on you suddenly, you can fill your needs with Frances' beautifully done blank journal, spiral bound, heavy weight paper interior and covers with beautiful pen and water color drawings of Great Blue Heron. The drawings and captions are from Frances' book Brushed By Feathers, A Year of Birdwatching in the West. We also have blank note cards with ink and watercolor prints by Frances and her book, Down to Camp: A History of Summer Folk on Whidbey Island.
This week we have dramatically expanded the L'Amour collection, that's Louis. We now have almost one hundred volumes of western stories by the dean of the genre. While we were collecting our opening stock we searched diligently for books for this section and finally had a decent number to get started but we now have some for all the fans who have been inquiring after the tales of the black hats in the wild west. They are here now.
Also in this week is a beautiful book of photographs, Japanese Courtyard Gardens. This little book has a nice collection of plates of gardens intimate and public, minute and grand.
Trish has been experimenting some more in the kitchen and her Cinnamon Pull Apart rolls now have walnuts, they were good before, now they are even nuttier. the Wall of Fame is filling up. Particular drinks for Particular People, come see who drinks what.
We have new outside seating. Today you can sit and watch the ferry line and not even need your Helly or fleece. The music is playing, the pie is apple and the coffee is hot.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Good beginning and better endings!
Daily through June 2011
Morning Specials! Opening-7:00am to 11:00am
One of Trish's Bacon and Cheddar Muffin, a Kiichli's bagel or a Cinnamon Pullapart and a 12 ounce Drip coffee for $3.00, may not be combined with other specials or coupons.
Afternoons Specials! 3:00 pm to Closing-7:00 pm
One slice of the Whidbey Pie of the day and a 12 ounce drip coffee for $4.00, may not be combined with other specials or coupons.
Come on down, we'll leave the lights on!
Morning Specials! Opening-7:00am to 11:00am
One of Trish's Bacon and Cheddar Muffin, a Kiichli's bagel or a Cinnamon Pullapart and a 12 ounce Drip coffee for $3.00, may not be combined with other specials or coupons.
Afternoons Specials! 3:00 pm to Closing-7:00 pm
One slice of the Whidbey Pie of the day and a 12 ounce drip coffee for $4.00, may not be combined with other specials or coupons.
Come on down, we'll leave the lights on!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
The weather is here we wish we were beautiful,
There is a strange light in the east, it has heat. I'm going to google it as soon as I finish this and find out what it is.
Emmy Lou is singing in the back room, the cookies are out. Trish's Bacon-Cheddar muffins are ready to heat and the first triple shot Americano is out the door. Trucks pulling boats are headed to the launches. We had a great day yesterday lots of new faces and friends saying hi to each other. The drink of the day yesterday was the five shot venti breve, bet you can't drink just one.
There is black raspberry pie for Saturday brunch, just the thing to fuel a morning of yard sale investigations or even yard work. Yesterday evening someone stopped by to stock up with George's Hatch Chile Truffle and Mona's Sea Salt Caramel as rewards after lawn mowing, not a bad motivational tool.
My book report on the "Girl Who...." trilogy is available in person. I can report that I was up til 1:30 am one night/morning, not that there is anything wrong with that but I do need to be here at o'dark thirty to unfurl flags, place cookies and stamp coffee cups.
If you have not tried one yet consider the personal portable French press X-Press Smartcup. It's a press brewing system in a 16 or 20 ounce paper cup. We grind your coffee immediately before we pour the brew water over the ground coffee, you have the filter and plunger and can brew to your desired strength. You take the whole thing with you. An island exclusive here at Anchor Books and Coffee, your hometown coffee shop in Clinton, Washington.
Enjoy the sun!
Emmy Lou is singing in the back room, the cookies are out. Trish's Bacon-Cheddar muffins are ready to heat and the first triple shot Americano is out the door. Trucks pulling boats are headed to the launches. We had a great day yesterday lots of new faces and friends saying hi to each other. The drink of the day yesterday was the five shot venti breve, bet you can't drink just one.
There is black raspberry pie for Saturday brunch, just the thing to fuel a morning of yard sale investigations or even yard work. Yesterday evening someone stopped by to stock up with George's Hatch Chile Truffle and Mona's Sea Salt Caramel as rewards after lawn mowing, not a bad motivational tool.
My book report on the "Girl Who...." trilogy is available in person. I can report that I was up til 1:30 am one night/morning, not that there is anything wrong with that but I do need to be here at o'dark thirty to unfurl flags, place cookies and stamp coffee cups.
If you have not tried one yet consider the personal portable French press X-Press Smartcup. It's a press brewing system in a 16 or 20 ounce paper cup. We grind your coffee immediately before we pour the brew water over the ground coffee, you have the filter and plunger and can brew to your desired strength. You take the whole thing with you. An island exclusive here at Anchor Books and Coffee, your hometown coffee shop in Clinton, Washington.
Enjoy the sun!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
A whole Week?
It's been a busy week at Cafe Woebegone. I'm thinking that has to be true since it's been an entire week since I took time to do this. Oh, I did borrow a book and read it, finally, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. That's where the extra minutes went. I first borrowed Trish's copy at home, was in withdrawal at the store before the revelation. This is a book store!, and there is another copy on the shelves! and there you go, this week's literal staff pick. I have only a couple words about the book, get it, read it. We have one each hard or paper back for your choosing.
This morning we have a simple selection of Kiichli's bagels. I go there, all the way to Ken's Korner in outer Clinton, to Kiichli's Bagel bakery and I am completely overwhelmed. My simple input system can't process that many varieties of bagel. We do the hard part, narrowing the field. we have Cheddar-jalapeno, multigrain, pumpernickel, cinnamon raisin, and plain for your simplified bagel life, cream cheese of course.
Trish has found another most excellent recipe and already we have people driving all the way from Freeland for more. Her Bacon-cheddar muffin is worth the trip. Heated up they are a real treat and make one key leg of your daily food tripod. Caffeine and sugar are in close supply and you are ready to do what needs to be done.
I'd be remiss if i did not mention pie, after all it is what's for breakfast. One or two lucky people get the last two pieces of cherry and Boysenberry waits in the wings.
And there are books, see you soon!
This morning we have a simple selection of Kiichli's bagels. I go there, all the way to Ken's Korner in outer Clinton, to Kiichli's Bagel bakery and I am completely overwhelmed. My simple input system can't process that many varieties of bagel. We do the hard part, narrowing the field. we have Cheddar-jalapeno, multigrain, pumpernickel, cinnamon raisin, and plain for your simplified bagel life, cream cheese of course.
Trish has found another most excellent recipe and already we have people driving all the way from Freeland for more. Her Bacon-cheddar muffin is worth the trip. Heated up they are a real treat and make one key leg of your daily food tripod. Caffeine and sugar are in close supply and you are ready to do what needs to be done.
I'd be remiss if i did not mention pie, after all it is what's for breakfast. One or two lucky people get the last two pieces of cherry and Boysenberry waits in the wings.
And there are books, see you soon!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Put the Sun in Sunday
It's the 22nd of May, 2011. We are here on Whidbey Island today to give you a place to enjoy this moist gray morning. I think it was Galileo who said that "wine is sunshine in a bottle", we like to think that Marionberry pie is sunshine under a glass dome.
There is a place for quiet reflection in our lives, to sit and watch the mist gather itself into drops and travel down a vine, a leaf or a gutter. We seem to all be here this morning but in a sense the alarms about yesterday are not far off the mark. This earth will most likely continue as it has but we are all here an instant and gone. Our personal 'last day' is not known or too distant. Every day we have opportunity to interweave with our companions on this trip. Every day we have an opportunity to accomplish something.
Of course, in order to accomplish you need plans, direction, fuel and something to unleash latent energy. We have you covered for almost any foray, the Sunday paper, informative and inspirational reading materials, bagels, cream cheese, chocolate and caffeine. The pillars of Sunday morning civilization are here, see you soon.
There is a place for quiet reflection in our lives, to sit and watch the mist gather itself into drops and travel down a vine, a leaf or a gutter. We seem to all be here this morning but in a sense the alarms about yesterday are not far off the mark. This earth will most likely continue as it has but we are all here an instant and gone. Our personal 'last day' is not known or too distant. Every day we have opportunity to interweave with our companions on this trip. Every day we have an opportunity to accomplish something.
Of course, in order to accomplish you need plans, direction, fuel and something to unleash latent energy. We have you covered for almost any foray, the Sunday paper, informative and inspirational reading materials, bagels, cream cheese, chocolate and caffeine. The pillars of Sunday morning civilization are here, see you soon.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Friday at the Anchor
We have gotten in some great books this week. I keep hoping for a thesaurus so I can find a couple new words to describe the quality and scope of the the material that our new friends and book exchange patrons are bringing to the store. Our "Art and Architecture" section was a few lonely volumes on a top shelf on Monday and now we have quite a collection, books on how to draw, the Zen of Seeing, collections of color plates of the great masters, some gems among them. There is a volume on natural paints and another on small house plans and yet another on lime plaster, all at out regular prices of 50% of paperback list or 30% of hardback list prices. Come, discover your gem, perhaps Zuni Fetishes will be your connection to the pre-Columbian world of North America.
Today we will be reworking the main entrance in preparation for a new front door. We are definitely open during construction! What we refer to as the "Thriller" door will be our primary egress today. Come see the door that Michael Jackson used when, no, that can't be right; Come and use the door that opens directly into the Clancy-Crichton-Cussler-Grisham-Kellerman-Koontz-Ludlum-Sandford stacks.
Today we are open 7:00am to 7:00 pm! Summer hours every day, seven days a week. Bring a friend and watch the concrete cure. Enjoy some Granola with Fruit Yogurt in the sun with a steaming cup of coffee or tea, as you read the paper or enjoy the Treasures of the Rijksmuseum.
Today we will be reworking the main entrance in preparation for a new front door. We are definitely open during construction! What we refer to as the "Thriller" door will be our primary egress today. Come see the door that Michael Jackson used when, no, that can't be right; Come and use the door that opens directly into the Clancy-Crichton-Cussler-Grisham-Kellerman-Koontz-Ludlum-Sandford stacks.
Today we are open 7:00am to 7:00 pm! Summer hours every day, seven days a week. Bring a friend and watch the concrete cure. Enjoy some Granola with Fruit Yogurt in the sun with a steaming cup of coffee or tea, as you read the paper or enjoy the Treasures of the Rijksmuseum.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Outside/Inside
I was happy to see the lights of Everett this morning, without them I could not tell where the gray of cloud became the gray of sound. As I took the Anchor sign out to the side of the road I looked up the highway to where it turned in the undergrowth and cloud, I took the other as just as fair and having a warm stove, Sunday paper, fresh coffee and pie.....It's not frosty, just cool and wet and gray.outside and warm bright and dry inside.
We have received some fine books in trade and they are going on the shelf as soon as they are in our database, sometimes within hours of coming in the store. Veronica Von Allworden brought by some new cards from her Sky and Sea series, aerial pictures of Whidbey and underwater pictures of amazing beauty from local waters.
There is one piece of black raspberry for an early arriver and the new boysenberry pie is cool enough to cut now. Kiichli's bagels, with cream cheese or butter, you make that call. Trish is baking muffins as soon as she gets here this morning. We will see you soon.
We have received some fine books in trade and they are going on the shelf as soon as they are in our database, sometimes within hours of coming in the store. Veronica Von Allworden brought by some new cards from her Sky and Sea series, aerial pictures of Whidbey and underwater pictures of amazing beauty from local waters.
There is one piece of black raspberry for an early arriver and the new boysenberry pie is cool enough to cut now. Kiichli's bagels, with cream cheese or butter, you make that call. Trish is baking muffins as soon as she gets here this morning. We will see you soon.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
News from Sarah
We are half way through our second week! To those of you who have visited us multiple times already, THANKS! It’s always fun getting to know everyone, hearing your stories, thoughts, and tangents of the moment.
We have those special customers who like their espresso drinks just so. In honor of their finely tuned tastes, we have a few new special drinks. We have the “Sherryl,” the “Wanda,” the "Lance" and the “Lance B.” A few specialty ideas have popped up as well the Snickers Mocha and the Hot and Spicy? A hint on the Hot and Spicy; it contains cayenne pepper!
Many, many books are finding their way into our inventory and onto the shelves each day. We are tracking all of our books, so if there is one that you are just itching to read, we are capable of looking it up. If we don’t have it, we are willing to hunt it down and order it. Aside from The Guide to Beers of the Northwest, the latest one to catch my eye was the Pirate Dictionary! Perhaps I can twist someone’s arm and offer a free espresso drink to anyone who can string together a full, fluent and coherent drink order in fluent Pirate jargon.
Actually I am more likely to pick up the biography of Peggy Guggenheim. Art Lover, A Biography of Peggy Guggenheim by Anton Gill is an intimate look into the art collectors personal life and career. Following the death of her father in the Titanic tragedy, Ms. Guggenheim inherited a small fortune. She took it abroad to Paris and London, meeting artists and amassing artworks from the great contemporary artists of the time. Although this book appeals to me personally, we have a number of biographies and autobiographies. So many that I had a difficult time choosing which to endorse.
Come on by and see what catches your eye. See you soon!
We have those special customers who like their espresso drinks just so. In honor of their finely tuned tastes, we have a few new special drinks. We have the “Sherryl,” the “Wanda,” the "Lance" and the “Lance B.” A few specialty ideas have popped up as well the Snickers Mocha and the Hot and Spicy? A hint on the Hot and Spicy; it contains cayenne pepper!
Many, many books are finding their way into our inventory and onto the shelves each day. We are tracking all of our books, so if there is one that you are just itching to read, we are capable of looking it up. If we don’t have it, we are willing to hunt it down and order it. Aside from The Guide to Beers of the Northwest, the latest one to catch my eye was the Pirate Dictionary! Perhaps I can twist someone’s arm and offer a free espresso drink to anyone who can string together a full, fluent and coherent drink order in fluent Pirate jargon.
Actually I am more likely to pick up the biography of Peggy Guggenheim. Art Lover, A Biography of Peggy Guggenheim by Anton Gill is an intimate look into the art collectors personal life and career. Following the death of her father in the Titanic tragedy, Ms. Guggenheim inherited a small fortune. She took it abroad to Paris and London, meeting artists and amassing artworks from the great contemporary artists of the time. Although this book appeals to me personally, we have a number of biographies and autobiographies. So many that I had a difficult time choosing which to endorse.
Come on by and see what catches your eye. See you soon!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Day Four Report
Every day, every way. It's great to see people enjoying the spaces. Our first meeting today in the Fireside room, first cribbage game at the sunny corner table, people are meeting friends, finding books to read and getting some work done in solitude. We have the space for all of these to happen at the same time. Hope you'll come on down now that we are open!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Upcoming Event-Grand Opening.
Saturday April 30 and Sunday May 1, 2011, Grand Opening Weekend!
We will be open from 7:00am to 7:00pm, all day, both days. Come celebrate the Coffee-Espresso/Bookstore in Clinton, take a walk around and come back to celebrate the new Bookstore/Coffee-Espresso place in Clinton.
Explore the books, meet the staff and put down your anchor for a bit. A delightful place to sit and visit with old friends and meet new ones. Discuss books and art, music or even the weather, enjoy a great hot or refreshingly cool drink. Check out Whidbey in print and online at the Clinton Chamber of Commerce Kiosk, maps and information for your island exploration.
It's the people of Whidbey who make our offerings special to all of us. Beth and Gary Smith of Mukilteo Roasters Coffee, Dori Hallberg from Island Tea Company, Ron and Florence Hecker of Whidbey Island Ice Cream, George Brunjes' Chocolates by George, Mona Newbauer aka Sweet Mona and all her sweetness!. Perry Woodfin's watercolor prints, Rick Lawler's Whidbey photos and Nora Harrell's painted whimsy. Craig and Joy Johnson's birds in print and book form are here not far from Dan Pedersen's stories of Whidbey's places and people. These folks and more will be dropping in throughout the weekend. Come see and taste their work and meet the artists of brush, sugar, camera and words.
We think you'll find the right spot for you at our new store, sit in the comfortable lounge warmed by the gas stove, engage in one on one conversation in the book chairs, find a lively group in the cafe seating or get your power point on with free wi-fi at the window counter. If you are a kid at heart or even better a real kid, check out the just right seating and lounging in the room that's made specially for you. Look for the sign-"Kids".
You can get here any way you like, we are a brisk walk up the hill from the ferry, an easy Island Transit ride from the whole island and right on your highway to Whidbey. We aren't particular about how you get to the door. We just know you'll be glad you did.
The coffee is on, the water is hot, the cookies, pie and ice cream are waiting. There are people to talk to and books to be read. Bring a friend, or meet one here.
We will be open from 7:00am to 7:00pm, all day, both days. Come celebrate the Coffee-Espresso/Bookstore in Clinton, take a walk around and come back to celebrate the new Bookstore/Coffee-Espresso place in Clinton.
Explore the books, meet the staff and put down your anchor for a bit. A delightful place to sit and visit with old friends and meet new ones. Discuss books and art, music or even the weather, enjoy a great hot or refreshingly cool drink. Check out Whidbey in print and online at the Clinton Chamber of Commerce Kiosk, maps and information for your island exploration.
It's the people of Whidbey who make our offerings special to all of us. Beth and Gary Smith of Mukilteo Roasters Coffee, Dori Hallberg from Island Tea Company, Ron and Florence Hecker of Whidbey Island Ice Cream, George Brunjes' Chocolates by George, Mona Newbauer aka Sweet Mona and all her sweetness!. Perry Woodfin's watercolor prints, Rick Lawler's Whidbey photos and Nora Harrell's painted whimsy. Craig and Joy Johnson's birds in print and book form are here not far from Dan Pedersen's stories of Whidbey's places and people. These folks and more will be dropping in throughout the weekend. Come see and taste their work and meet the artists of brush, sugar, camera and words.
We think you'll find the right spot for you at our new store, sit in the comfortable lounge warmed by the gas stove, engage in one on one conversation in the book chairs, find a lively group in the cafe seating or get your power point on with free wi-fi at the window counter. If you are a kid at heart or even better a real kid, check out the just right seating and lounging in the room that's made specially for you. Look for the sign-"Kids".
You can get here any way you like, we are a brisk walk up the hill from the ferry, an easy Island Transit ride from the whole island and right on your highway to Whidbey. We aren't particular about how you get to the door. We just know you'll be glad you did.
The coffee is on, the water is hot, the cookies, pie and ice cream are waiting. There are people to talk to and books to be read. Bring a friend, or meet one here.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Changes
Every day things are in different places and walls are different colors. Most of the books are at the store, and food service supplies ae piling up in the warehouse. There is a lot of energy emanating from the area. Where is Art Bell to explain this sort of thing when you need him?
The staff Pick of the Day, has been rescheduled to a date after store opening. The current pick of the day is the paint off my hands.
Look for the Open sign soon!
The staff Pick of the Day, has been rescheduled to a date after store opening. The current pick of the day is the paint off my hands.
Look for the Open sign soon!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Indoor Bookshelves
Most bookshelves on Whidbey Island are indoors. Anchor Books' bookshelves were briefly out door shelves on Saturday when they saw the light of day and the rains of April for the trip to the store.
Just in time bookshelf moving, we bring parts from all over Western Washington and assemble. Saturday we stocked drywall for the new walls. Sunday was a day of rest, and after breakfast we got busy with a few modification of the shelves. My friend Richard came up from Seattle and we cut and drilled and glued to make smaller shelves bigger. Trish fixed our traditional lunch at Cozy's and back for more chip and dust making till dusk, now I remember why I feel so rested. Virginia and Norm worked on the signs on the building and Trish worked steadily on the inventory. Our goal for this week is to have most of the house reclaimed and the books on the renewed shelves. The "Now Hiring" sign is out for the week, call or stop by and pick up an application. I enjoy working there and hopefully it will be less dusty!
The staff "Pick of the Day" is author Tracy Kidder. Known for his portraits of people in the world, school children and immigrants in America, poor people and doctors in Haiti. He first came to my attention for House, the story of a custom home built in New England. My friend and fellow carpenter on our day of rest, Richard, speaks like someone from New England, and we have both worked on many custom home projects. As we worked and told stories of our slightly off center clients and projects, Kidder's book came to mind. I recommend it to anyone who is planning to build, has built or lives in a house, forewarned is fore armed. We have several copies, step up, ask at the desk and our helpful and qualified staff can point you right to the correct sized shelf. While you are there find out where we are keeping Mountains Beyond Mountains, Kidder's account of the life and work of Dr. Paul Farmer and Partners in Health in Haiti and around the world. Tracy Kidder writes non fiction books about the world that inform, inspire and give perspective to our daily lives. Read his books.
Just in time bookshelf moving, we bring parts from all over Western Washington and assemble. Saturday we stocked drywall for the new walls. Sunday was a day of rest, and after breakfast we got busy with a few modification of the shelves. My friend Richard came up from Seattle and we cut and drilled and glued to make smaller shelves bigger. Trish fixed our traditional lunch at Cozy's and back for more chip and dust making till dusk, now I remember why I feel so rested. Virginia and Norm worked on the signs on the building and Trish worked steadily on the inventory. Our goal for this week is to have most of the house reclaimed and the books on the renewed shelves. The "Now Hiring" sign is out for the week, call or stop by and pick up an application. I enjoy working there and hopefully it will be less dusty!
The staff "Pick of the Day" is author Tracy Kidder. Known for his portraits of people in the world, school children and immigrants in America, poor people and doctors in Haiti. He first came to my attention for House, the story of a custom home built in New England. My friend and fellow carpenter on our day of rest, Richard, speaks like someone from New England, and we have both worked on many custom home projects. As we worked and told stories of our slightly off center clients and projects, Kidder's book came to mind. I recommend it to anyone who is planning to build, has built or lives in a house, forewarned is fore armed. We have several copies, step up, ask at the desk and our helpful and qualified staff can point you right to the correct sized shelf. While you are there find out where we are keeping Mountains Beyond Mountains, Kidder's account of the life and work of Dr. Paul Farmer and Partners in Health in Haiti and around the world. Tracy Kidder writes non fiction books about the world that inform, inspire and give perspective to our daily lives. Read his books.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Indoor Electricity
This is the quiet time. I've been through a lot of building, rebuilding and demolition projects. They have a rhythm, a rise and a fall, arsis and the thesis. This is the quiet time. The demolition opened with a flourish, cannons and bigger hammers, clouds of dust and the 1812 Overture as soundtrack, framing has more of a baroque feel, the ordering, the procession of vertical studs, holding up the roof and ceiling. J.S. Bach and well tempered framing material, the measures of cut, place, pop, pop, pop of the nail gun. One wall is 4/4, another a waltz in three quarter time and the dance of 6/8 on another.
Now is the time of development, weaving the fibers of pipes and wires through the skeleton, the circulation, the nervous system of the building. The pace seems to slow, contemplation, either figuring out exactly what the architect or engineer really meant or deciding with the owner how we need the building to work, to breathe, to think. I hear a Brahms fugue, theme, theme, theme and variation. Look at the pipes and wires, there they are, the same figures, repeated with variations, drain and waste, supply, drain, vent, supply, circuit here, outlet, switch, outlet, light, circuit there light, light, light, switch, syncopation in 12/2.
Our staff Pick of the Day is The Swiss Family Robinson. It predates all the secret banking, neutrality questions. It's more the amazing story of the paterfamilias whose encyclopedic knowledge and execution carries his family through shipwreck and disaster to idyllic settlement of their own new world. This is who MacGyver wishes he could be. We have a nicely illustrated edition, hard back, priced at 30% of cover price, in the young adult section. Look for it in the store come May. Stop by for a cup of coffee, a slice of pie and a good read.
Now is the time of development, weaving the fibers of pipes and wires through the skeleton, the circulation, the nervous system of the building. The pace seems to slow, contemplation, either figuring out exactly what the architect or engineer really meant or deciding with the owner how we need the building to work, to breathe, to think. I hear a Brahms fugue, theme, theme, theme and variation. Look at the pipes and wires, there they are, the same figures, repeated with variations, drain and waste, supply, drain, vent, supply, circuit here, outlet, switch, outlet, light, circuit there light, light, light, switch, syncopation in 12/2.
Our staff Pick of the Day is The Swiss Family Robinson. It predates all the secret banking, neutrality questions. It's more the amazing story of the paterfamilias whose encyclopedic knowledge and execution carries his family through shipwreck and disaster to idyllic settlement of their own new world. This is who MacGyver wishes he could be. We have a nicely illustrated edition, hard back, priced at 30% of cover price, in the young adult section. Look for it in the store come May. Stop by for a cup of coffee, a slice of pie and a good read.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Indoor Plumbing
It's a good thing. Thursday the county said our new pipes in the ground were correct. Thanks Will, we agree. Since then Steve Kaiser has put lots more pipe in. I got to help a bit with the vent through the roof, crawling in pitch black through the attic, laying on my belly drilling through asphalt, paper, and old fir so we can let the air go up when the water goes down. Indoor plumbing, is a very good thing. It beats the blackberry bushes all to heck, and back.
I hope all the folks appreciate what happens, how the water gets in and the other stuff gets out. It makes for a more pleasant house and a more pleasant store.
Tomorrow the county looks us over again and on we will go to indoor electricity, it's a good thing.
I hope all the folks appreciate what happens, how the water gets in and the other stuff gets out. It makes for a more pleasant house and a more pleasant store.
Tomorrow the county looks us over again and on we will go to indoor electricity, it's a good thing.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Sunny Thursday Afternoon
Just in from the work in progress. Framing the new bathroom, hall and kitchen area. Passed our first county inspection today, 'plumbing groundwork', now the hole in the concrete slab is filled with sand bedded drain pipes and new concrete slab. We tend to think of all the recent advances in technology, Moore's law and Chuck Yeager's right stuff, but indoor plumbing deserves some love. I'll bet that the folks in Sendai and all along the Japanese coast would like to be appreciating the simple things in existence these days. If on one hand you could have functioning indoor plumbing and on the other a nuclear reactor, I wonder what the lasting choice will be?
Today's Staff Pick is a from Yale-Nota Bene, Yale University Press, published in 2004 in the Terry Lecture series, One World, the Ethics of Globalization, by Peter Singer. Singer asks a lot of questions about our modern life and the role of nations as citizens of the world. The questions need to be answered. The book is drawn from the lectures and it it retains in written form the organization and clarity that a good teacher delivers. This book is hard to put down. I wanted to push off the carpentry for a morning of coffee and political philosophy. When we open in May, you can find it in the Philosophy/Contemporary Culture section, Used, As New condition.
The news today is horrific and volatile. The weather here was spring like, blue skies and the sun on the beloved Cascades. Sometimes those are hard to reconcile. In the back of our minds the arrival time of our 'big one' looms.
Today's Staff Pick is a from Yale-Nota Bene, Yale University Press, published in 2004 in the Terry Lecture series, One World, the Ethics of Globalization, by Peter Singer. Singer asks a lot of questions about our modern life and the role of nations as citizens of the world. The questions need to be answered. The book is drawn from the lectures and it it retains in written form the organization and clarity that a good teacher delivers. This book is hard to put down. I wanted to push off the carpentry for a morning of coffee and political philosophy. When we open in May, you can find it in the Philosophy/Contemporary Culture section, Used, As New condition.
The news today is horrific and volatile. The weather here was spring like, blue skies and the sun on the beloved Cascades. Sometimes those are hard to reconcile. In the back of our minds the arrival time of our 'big one' looms.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Rainy Sunday afternoon
Almost back to square one. Friday was a big demo day, plenty of vintage sheetrock dust, a big trailer load and 1120 pounds in the old Dodge for delivery to Coupeville transfer station. Today was cleanup, vacuuming, capping water pipes and cutting first generation wires, we will be Gen 4, I think. The changes will make room for the new ADA restroom configuration, a new exit door, new front doors and a beautiful Vermont Casting blue enameled gas stove in the back room. I was imagining that while pulling the straggling sheetrock nails and vacuuming.
Back at the book processing center, we whittled away at the stacks. Sort, clean, inventory, catalog and stack more boxes. Two months ago we did not even have a clue what 6,000 books looks like, now we have a very good idea.
It feels as it the prep is almost done and we are set to move forward. And that's a very good thing.
Back at the book processing center, we whittled away at the stacks. Sort, clean, inventory, catalog and stack more boxes. Two months ago we did not even have a clue what 6,000 books looks like, now we have a very good idea.
It feels as it the prep is almost done and we are set to move forward. And that's a very good thing.
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