Greetings from Port Book and News!

It took only a single rainy day this past week to remind us how nice it is to be in a bookstore while it is raining outside. The right book is like a superpower: with it, you can turn any day into a great day. Especially a rainy one. Books are a useful technology for improving experiences ina lot of experiences better.

Judging by the number of copies of Killers of the Flower Moon we see customers snatching up, by the traffic snarl of browsers investigating the excellent biography of Robert Oppenheimer we put on the front shelf this week, or by an apparently unquenchable thirst for all things Dune, there is still a consensus that reading the book can enrich the experience of watching a movie. Plus, isn't it one of life's great pleasures to utter, truthfully, those four magic words... "the book was better"?

It has been said that "writing about music is like dancing about architecture," but our experience has been that good writing about music can change how we hear it and help us to explore it more deeply. Which is why we are happy about a new collaboration with the Music on the Strait festival to feature books by festival performers. Come by the store to pick up a new book from Takács Quartet violinist Edward Dusinberre and a recent memoir from pianist Jeremy Denk, newly out in paperback.

We always love helping people find books they are excited about. We hope to see you soon!

Port Book and News is very happy to be hosting Dave and Ilyssa Kyu for an in-person author event on Friday, August 18th at 7pm. They will read from and sign their new book Campfire Stories, Vol. II.

In form, function and features, the Campfire Stories books are a treasure. Poetry and stories, myth and natural history about our national parks, each piece is short enough to be read aloud around a campfire. The books include tips on storytelling: how to select a story, set the mood, and make the presentation. Each park and its stories is introduced by a concise yet comprehensive history, and each entry is followed by a brief background of the story and its author. Volume II features stories from five national parks including Olympic, as well as the Pacific Crest and Appalachian National Scenic Trails. The Olympic National Park section has selections by Tim McNulty, Rena Priest, Gary Miranda, Harvest Moon and others. Mountaineers Books has clearly given considerable thought to these books.

Campfire Stories, Vol. II is published by Mountaineers Books.

Narrative nonfiction is my favorite genre and this book by Pulitzer-Prize winner David Lipsky is among the best I have read in several years. What we have known about climate change, how long we have known it, how we continue to try and deny it.

"What's the use of having developed a science well enough to make predictions if in the end all we're willing to do is stand around and wait for them to come true?"

- Dr. Sherwood Rowland

Some recipes, like the Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake or Bacon Grease Cookies, seem very good. Others, like Asparagus Cake or Prune Whip, are decidedly not. In Baking Yesteryear Dylan shares his best recipe finds (and a few of the disastrously strange- for the adventurous soul) with the home baker. Join us on a delicious journey! -Helena

Zora lives in DC, devoted to her dear sweet granny and committed to making the community-focused D.C. bookstore she owns a community-centered environment empowering herself and others around her.

This hasn't left time for dating, but that changes after the handsome and talented Lawrence accepts the invitation to do a book signing at her store. As Zora gets to know Lawrence and begins to see how his personal views do not line up with his storyline views, she also comes to know better his rude and disgruntled friend Reid, a sweeter and more thoughtful person than he seemed at first.

Zora finds herself dating both men and finding that something seems off about the two friends. They are connected in friendship but may be hiding something. If they don't fess up, Zora will be forced to give up her "Happily Ever After" and that's not something she wants to throw away.

Zora Books Her Happy Ever After makes a reader want to dream up their own store. Full of love, laughter, sexiness and coziness. -Cassidy

Pre-Casso has a little pad attached to a little screen that shows you how to draw pictures, line by line. How did nobody think of this before? With 50 different images of varying difficulty (from 10-50 lines), this toy comes with paper, batteries and colored pencils, making it ready to use right out of the box. It's a great way to get kids drawing. This toy is intended for children ages 6 and up.

We are eagerly anticipating the publication of Salmon, Cedar, Rock and Rain by Braided River on October 1, and are thrilled to be hosting an in-person event with the book's author (and Port Book and News favorite) Tim McNulty on October 20 at 7pm. Stay tuned for more information about this exciting event.

Where do bad rainbows go?

To prism!

What kind of sentence do they get?

A light sentence. It gives them time to reflect.