Hilary has happily been part of the Seattle bookselling world for seven years. She reads mostly fiction but occasionally makes forays into food writing, biographies, travel essays and other 'creative nonfiction.' She doesn't cook but hopes to some day, since she loves browsing through cookbooks and has a pretty fine collection of them. She has edited Booknotes , the bookstore's quarterly flier of reviews that is produced and written entirely by staff, and she has taken care of the Crafts, Sex, and Law sections. Before Hilary moved to Seattle in 2003, she spent ten years in advertising, and has enjoyed her time selling books for Elliott Bay. If you ever need a book recommendation, don't hesitate to ask her!
Hilary's Recommends
$14.99
ISBN-13: 9780061466571
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Ecco, 9/2011
This is a deliciously thrilling and thought-provoking tale of guilt, faith, passion and redemption. Within the first few chapters there is an incident—is the main character a hero or villain? Should we condemn him or support him? Oh, it’s brilliant! And the writing is excellent—Spencer is great at getting inside his characters. This is a must-read.
$14.95
ISBN-13: 9781590171998
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: NYRB Classics, 6/2006
Readers of all types will delight in this wonderful book. It tells the story of William Stoner, a man born into a life of farming but drawn into a life of literature and academics. What sounds simple is actually a riveting story, and Stoner's character is at once frustrating, compelling and sympathetic. The writing is lovely—Williams says so much with so few words. It's an unforgettable book, and you will want to read more by this author.
$14.95
ISBN-13: 9781400078431
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Vintage, 2/2007
Poignant, heartbreaking, and fiercely honest, Joan Didion's memoir of the year she lost her husband to sudden cardiac arrest may change the way you think about life and death. Her spare writing conveys so much depth with so few words. The skill with which she describes these intense personal moments and thoughts makes this an indispensable read for just about anyone. I look forward to reading her new memoir, Blue Nights .
$25.99
ISBN-13: 9780060755805
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Harper, 5/2011
In her riveting new novel, Haigh explores the emotional fallout from a Catholic priest's sexual abuse scandal in Boston. But in this originally imagined story, Haigh goes not into the details of the actual scandal but into the reactions of the priest's friends and family—how they each treat the accused. It's fascinating, poignant and paced like a detective thriller.
$14.95
ISBN-13: 9781565129849
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 1/2011
This is the feel-good book of the year. It's a delightful hearwarming story about a dedicated basketball coach who pulls together a team of scrappy boys who play with nothing but guts, heart and good humor. You will love these quirky characters and the story will keep you on the edge of your seat with a smile on your face.
$24.99
ISBN-13: 9780061466557
Availability: Temporarily out. Orders usually back in stock in 1-5 days
Published: Ecco, 9/2010
This is a wonderfully suspenseful page turner! Spencer draws us in to a deliciously thrilling and provocative tale of guilt, faith, passion and redemption. And the writing is excellent. I think this will be a very good book club selection—there is much to talk about. You'll see...
$14.00
ISBN-13: 9780143117551
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Penguin (Non-Classics), 5/2010
This is a great seasonal read. Our wayward protagonist, Mack, and his soon to be ex, Vonnie, are on their last annual backpacking trip in the Wyoming wilderness. Ostensibly, they are making this trip to say goodbye to each other but...it turns out Mack has an ulterior motive—he's on a mission to find something on the mountain for some bad people. And then, well, Mack and Vonnie run into some trouble ... It's fast-paced suspenseful, and it has good character development. You'll have trouble putting this one down.
$14.95
ISBN-13: 9780307474711
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Vintage, 6/2010
One Day
$15.00
ISBN-13: 9780307389015
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Vintage, 4/2010
I loved this book! It’s about two young sisters in Kerala, India whose lives take very different paths when one accepts a scholarship for study in New York. Lovely writing, great character development, and a touching story. This first-time novelist will go places!
$17.00
ISBN-13: 9781400030651
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Vintage, 11/2001
This is the ultimate India novel—you will be fully drawn in to the gritty vibrant landscape of 1970s India. The story follows several characters whose lives intersect as they struggle to get by amid the country's corruption and poverty. I read this book over ten years ago and the story is still as vivid in my mind as the day I finished it. One of my favorite books of all time!
$14.99
ISBN-13: 9780061430268
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Harper Perennial, 2/2009
The Reserve
$16.00
ISBN-13: 9781594485015
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Riverhead Trade, 3/2011
I've always wanted to use the phrase "sweeping epic" in a book review, and now is my chance: The Surrendered
$13.99
ISBN-13: 9780316034005
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Reagan Arthur / Back Bay Books, 9/2010
While this wasn't exactly a joyful read, it was without a doubt unforgettable, well-crafted, and one of the most original storylines I've come across. Tim Farnsworth suffers from an unnamed, heretofore undiscovered disease that compels him to walk, without warning or direction, and sometimes great distances. The beauty of this book lies in how Ferris illuminates the loneliness, confusion, and frustration of living with a rare disease.
$14.99
ISBN-13: 9780060855024
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Harper Perennial, 5/2006
River Town
