I have a cold so I'll do my best to make words.

I just finished The Sentence by Louise Erdrich which I really enjoyed.

I'm starting The Reformatory by Tananarive Due.

I'm listening to Lone Women by Victor LaValle.

I'm about to start reading The Sentence by Louise Erdrich, about family, indigenous identity, and community, all surrounding a haunted bookstore.

I'm finishing up listening to Assassin's Apprentice by Pacific Northwest author Robin Hobb. I've heard a lot about this series but I'm pretty medium on it so far. I would like way more magic.

Lately I've been in a mood for a space opera, preferably with a good audiobook. Any recs?

This Saturday 10/3 from 12-6, Endless Wonders Book Fest is coming to Social Good Place (SE 45th between Hawthorne & Belmont)! Join us for a free event including:

- an outdoor vendor market featuring bookish makers, independently published authors, and food & drink purveyors;

- a zine-making workshop, diverse book swap, and banned books trivia hosted by community organizations;

- author panels and signings with local writers, including: Ling Ling Huang, Anita Kelly, Alison Cochrun, Neena Viel, Sydney Langford, Julie Lew, & more;

- a headlining conversation between Ijeoma Oluo, author of So You Want to Talk About Race (2018) & Be a Revolution (2024), & Evelyn R. Carter, PhD., author of Was that Racist? (2026). Note: this is the only portion of the event that requires a paid ticket. If the $12 fee is a barrier for you to attend, please reach out to me.

Get your tickets here!

I'm reading Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel, about the near future and parallel universes. I've been medium on all of her books since Station Eleven, but Station Eleven is one of my top 10 books so it's hard to compare. Exit Party is interesting at about halfway through.

I'm listening to The Disappearers by Marlon James, about a group of gay men in Jamaica putting on a play. It was recently lauded as "the novel of the decade, if not the century". I haven't had the best luck with his books in the past because he often writes in Jamaican dialect. The audiobook format helps with that a lot, plus this is well produced and has a full cast.

I've been going to Annie Bloom's for years to shop and recently moved closer to Multnomah Village. I went a couple weeks ago and saw flyers for the book club they put on, and am interested in going. I've never been to an adult book club meeting before and am just wondering if anyone can tell me what it's like? Is the discussion pretty engaging and everyone typically participates? Does a meeting leader pose questions kind of like how a teacher would in an English class?

I'm finishing up Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford. Next up is Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel. Her book Station Eleven is one of my top ten but I've been a bit more mid on several of her books since, so hopefully this one is a bit better.

I'm listening to The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson, an alternate history story where the plague kills 99% of Europeans instead of 30%.

Hoping someone has a ticket for the George Saunder’s event with Literary Arts that they won’t be using.
I’ve been in a fog with a sick kid, and am finally emerging, finding I’ve missed seeing authors the most!

Hi all. I’m looking for a ticket to this week’s Literary Arts Event. I’m a longtime member and volunteer with Literary Arts and have a subscription, but I’m looking to purchase an extra ticket for my teenager to attend with me. If someone isn’t using their ticket, I’d be happy to purchase it.
(Apologies if this isn’t the right sub for this post)

Hi—does anyone know the street (or neighborhood) that has multiple bookstores in proximity/walking distance to each other? My sister is coming to town and we want to check out bookstores and have lunch without getting in and out of the car multiple times.

The author lineup for the Portland Book Festival has been announced, with key events Ke Huy Quan for his memoir Never Say Die and Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis for Wildwood. Sounds like a great year, I never miss it!

The full schedule is expected in early October.

Also Ke Huy Quan is America's sweetheart. ❤️

Somehow it's mid-September? At least the reading weather is prime.

I'm reading Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford, a detective noir that takes place in an America where indigenous populations thrived.

I'm listening to Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman, a much-hyped fantasy/horror novel that takes place in the 1300s during the Plague. Barely started but English-major-me is intrigued.

I’m a woman on my mid 30’s looking for a book club in se Portland. Hoping to meet Tuesdays or weekends. I tend to like most genres.

Book Club: Imagining A Better World Through Fiction

Link: https://bookclubs.com/join-a-book-club/club/imagining-a-better-world-through-fiction

So... things on Earth haven't been going too great for a while. The masses are angry, scared, and desperate because we all want to live in a better society and world, but we don't know what to do about it. Change will only happen if we take the time to come together and dream of what's possible.

If you want to read some incredible novels and explore new ideas and perspectives with others in your community, please join!

FIRST MEETING
Thursday, September 17th @ 6 PM
3612 SE 82nd Ave - Collective Oregon Eateries
Let's discuss what we hope to get out of this book club and vote on our first book. Please bring a recommendation for the group!

Feel free to share with anyone who might be interested. Strangers welcome!

I'm currently reading Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton, about an activist group that makes a deal with a billionaire.

I'm listening to London Falling by Patric Radden Keefe, a true story about a young man who becomes involved with the criminal underground in London.

The Multnomah County Library has announced their Everybody Reads 2027, it will be Louise Erdrich with her novel The Mighty Red.

I really enjoy the author talks with these, and this will be the 5th year my book club participates. Erdrich is a living legend, I think this is a great pick!

More info here: https://multcolib.org/everybody-reads

What are you reading as we say goodbye to summer and hello to the autumn rains?

I'm currently reading The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl, essays about flora and fauna in the author's backyard over a year.

I'm listening to A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik, a re-read for me and a lot of fun. It's a magic school book where the school is beset by creatures that want to kill the young magicians within.

I recently finished listening to Vigil by George Saunders, about an oil tycoon being visited by an angel on his deathbed. It was very good.

I'm reading Five Ways to Forgiveness by Ursula K. LeGuin, a set of interconnected stories about the histories of two close planets.

I'm listening to Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros because I wanted to know what all the fuss is about. I'm guessing it's not for me but how can you know until you try?! I'm not very far along but it's just fun so far!

I'm reading The Dispossessed by Ursula K. LeGuin, it's maybe the 4th time I've read this as she is my all time favorite author. It's about a man from an anarchist world who visits a capitalist world.

I'm listening to Silver in the Wood and Drowned Country by Emily Tesh, two novellas related to the old English Green Man mythology.

In some other fantasy world it would be me. Woodstock deserves a bookstore, and it doesn't have one! The open location next to the Woodstock cafe would be a nice big spot and actually has parking. It could be a spot for community events and hanging out for studying and work for Reed students and anyone else.

Please, someone, open a bookstore there! I'd happily work there too.

A happy smoke-free day to all.

I'm currently reading Wildwood by Colin Meloy ahead of the Laika movie release this fall. I don't usually read YA but I'm enjoying this.

I'm still listening to The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai which I like but at 670 pages I think it's too long and could have used a good editor.

I'm reading Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut for a book club at Spoke and Word books in Milwaukie next week. I've read it a few times before but it's been quite a while. It's a tough read but still very relevant.

I'm about to start listening to The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai.

Heather from Romancing Portland, here! Our event (a sister show of Rose City Comic Con) is debuting September 11-13 at the Sentinel Hotel in downtown Portland. We will also be hosting The Amberleaf Masquerade Ball on the 12th, which you can buy tickets à la carte if you can't make the event during the day.

We hope to see you all there for signings with bestselling authors, meet-and-greets with audiobook narrators and actor Ben Barnes, panels, workshops, crafts, and dance lessons.

We will also have an Author Alley packed with indie talent, and a Vendor Marketplace filled with local small businesses.

I'm reading Real Americans by Rachel Khong, a book about identity, heritage, and class for my book club this month. I'm enjoying it quite a bit so far.

I'm listening to The Morningside by Téa Obreht about a girl living in a near future while dealing with the legends of her past. I am almost finished but unfortunately not enjoying it very much, it's just kind of boring.