The Literary Duck

The Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA) has announced the winners of the 2014 Pacific Northwest Book Awards!

The PNBA is a non-profit trade association that has been supporting independent booksellers, literacy and free speech in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington since 1965. how to invest in amazon from south africa In other words, we love them! If you would like to know more about our regions’ authors and independent bookstores, check out their blog, NW Book Lovers.

The annual Pacific Northwest Book Awards celebrate exceptional books written by Northwest authors. This year, a volunteer committee of independent booksellers chose the winners from more that 250 titles that were published in 2013. (You can see the list of finalists here.) Without further ado, here are the best of the best. continue reading >>

It’s a new year, and I’m supposed to be a new me. I’ve done a pretty good job of starting off as a new me. I’ve left all of my old crushes behind in 2014, and I have had nary a romantic fantasy. I popped all of my zits on New Year’s Eve, so I began 2014 free of 2013’s sebum. I’ve even been eating a vegetable every day so far in 2014, and I haven’t had a single BBQ chip.

Yet, no matter what, I can’t completely start over with a new me. A lot of the old me is coming with me into the new year: continue reading >>

I’m lousy at New Year’s resolutions. The only things I can manage are small, concrete goals—anything too big, and my stay-with-it-ness dries up quickly. how to buy amazon shares in south africa My most successful resolution to date has been the year I vowed to make my bed every morning. In light of the bazillion possibilities that are out there when it comes to personal betterment, I recognize that making my bed isn’t particularly impressive, which explains why I’m sheepish to admit that I’ve made a New Year’s resolution for 2014, and it’s a doozy. continue reading >>

We’re starting the year out with some great books… both new releases and old favorites. Enjoy! continue reading >>

We’re so excited for 2014, and when you see all the amazing books that are coming out, you will be, too! Scroll down to see the titles that we’re especially looking forward to.

We hope this year brings all of you peace and joy… and as many good books as you can possibly read. Happy New Year! continue reading >>

It will be a new year when you are reading this, but it is the old year when I am writing it. The old year is a time for “best of lists,” which is just another way to grab content and fill space without doing any real work. I am nothing if not efficiently lazy, so here are my favorite books I’ve ever recommended. The best of the Mandi best. The crème de la Mandi crème. continue reading >>

It’s time for all the “best books of the year” lists to appear. Publishers Weekly, NPR, Washington Post, New York Times Book Review, Oprah Magazine, Shelf Awareness, Good Reads: everyone has an opinion and a wealth of good information to back it up.

I love this time of year because it gives me the opportunity to do two things. buying amazon shares in south africa First and foremost, it reminds me to get some of those didn’t-quite-get-around-to-them titles onto my don’t-forget-to-read-this list before they disappear permanently into the ether of my memory. (Here’s a confession: I’m pushing hard at fifty years old and to-do lists are integral to my remembering anything these days. Other women of a similar age know exactly what I’m talking about.) continue reading >>

One thing about independent bookstores, or really any local business, is you can walk in and feel a little local flavor. March into the book section of a big box store (that is, if they have a book section) and you’ll see the same old authors, selling the same old bestsellers—whether you’re in Eugene, Oregon or Lubbock, Texas. Not that there’s anything wrong with the John Grisham’s of the world, but here at the Literary Duck we try to represent at least some of the literary talent at the University of Oregon, in Eugene and all over the Northwest. Here’s a sampling of what sold well for this in 2013, along with a few of the year’s bestsellers. Enjoy! continue reading >>

It is the most wonderful time of year, and, as Jo March once said, “Christmas just won’t be Christmas without any presents.” I would hate to be the person who ruined Christmas for you, so here is a little present from me to you. This present comes in the form of a tale—a tale of one of the weirdest things anyone has ever said to me. continue reading >>

Contrary to what the title of this post may suggest I am not, in fact, a lush.  However, during the holiday season, one is expected to mingle and attend parties with family and friends.  For a naturally introverted person like me, this can cause a bit of social anxiety.  Thus, my alcohol consumption and my social interaction usually show an exponential positive correlation during the period from November 28- January 6^th.  As I assume this is the case with most people I know, we at the Literary Duck have put together a list of cold-weather cocktails to inspire your own holiday drinking. Note: please drink responsibly! continue reading >>