Longer Holiday Hours

Square Books wishes you and your family Happy Holidays.

We're extending our holiday hours to make it more convenient for you to come by.

We will now be open the following times:

Monday - Friday 10-7

Saturday 10-5:30 

Sunday 11-5

 We hope to see you in the store soon. 

Looking to find a book in Tanzania...

First, a thanks to everyone who joined us in celebrating our birthday and 21 years of serving the readers of West Seattle. I'm sorry I couldn't be there to help Gretchen and her team celebrate.

Right now, I'm on the hunt for a copy of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz, while I'm here in Tanzania - I sure miss having a good book store nearby ;).  I hope to get a copy so that I can lead the discussion on Thursday, Dec. 4.

I hope to be fully recovered from jet lag and readjusting to life back in the States by that date. 

In the interim, I thought I'd share with you this photo of Bismark Rock that I took at sunset in Mwanza, in the NW of Tanzania. 

See you all soon.

Anniversary sale - 21% OFF!

Happy Birthday to US!

November will begin our 21st year serving the readers of West Seattle.
To celebrate we are having our anniversary sale on November 13, 14 and 15.

On those days, our customers will receive 21 percent off everything in the store.

Thank you again for your support. We look forward to celebrating with you at the sale!

More info on new Harry Potter books!!!!

More info is emerging on the new Harry Potter book due out December 4. Remember to pre-order your copy with us today!

From Scholastic:

The stories are accompanied by delightful pen-and-ink illustrations by Ms. Rowling herself, featuring a still-life frontispiece for each one. Professor Dumbledore’s commentary—apparently written some eighteen months before his death—reveals not just his vast knowledge of Wizarding lore, but also more of his personal qualities: his sense of humor, his courage, his pride in his abilities, and his hard-won wisdom. Names familiar from the Harry Potter novels sprinkle the pages, including Aberforth Dumbledore, Lucius Malfoy and his forebears, and Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington (or “Nearly Headless Nick”), as well as other professors at Hogwarts and the past owners of the Elder Wand. Dumbledore tells us of incidents unique to the Wizarding world, like hilariously troubled theatrical productions at Hogwarts or the dangers of having a “hairy heart.” But he also reveals aspects of the Wizarding world that his Muggle readers might find all too familiar, like censorship, intolerance, and questions about the deepest mysteries in life. Altogether, this is an essential addition to our store of knowledge about the world and the magic that J. K. Rowling has created, and a book every true Harry Potter fan will want to have for their shelves. This purchase also represents another very important form of giving: From every sale of this book, Scholastic will give its net proceeds to the CHILDREN'S HIGH LEVEL GROUP, a charity cofounded in 2005 by J.K. Rowling and Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, MEP. CHLG campaigns to protect and promote children's rights and make life better for vulnerable young people. www.chlg.org

Things that go bump in the night.

Take a look at the photos and coverage from the most recent Movies on the Wall on the West Seattle Blog: http://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=9816

We were happy to co-sponsor the showing of Ghostbusters with Curious Kidstuff. Garlic Jim's also provided free pizza to the crowd and everyone had a great time. Jasper drew the lucky raffle winners' tickets.

Special thanks to Lora at Hotwire for her help organizing the movies.

Brisingr coming soon!

Just a quick reminder that the finale of the Eragon Trilogy by Christopher Paolini, Brisingr will be released on September 21st. We are taking preorders now - be sure to reserve your copy today!

A new book in the Harry Potter universe!!!???

Thought the Harry Potter saga was over with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows?

So did many, but it was recently announced that on DECEMBER 4, J.K. Rowling will release The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a new addition to the Harry Potter Universe!

We are taking pre-orders for this book now. Reserve your copy today!

From Scholastic:


The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a Wizarding classic, first came to Muggle readers’ attention in the book known as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Now, thanks to Hermione Granger’s new translation from the ancient runes, we present this stunning edition with an introduction, notes, and illustrations by J. K. Rowling, and extensive commentary by Albus Dumbledore. Never before have Muggles been privy to these richly imaginative tales: “The Wizard and the Hopping Pot,” “The Fountain of Fair Fortune,” “The Warlock’s Hairy Heart,” “Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump,” and of course, “The Tale of the Three Brothers.” But not only are they the equal of fairy tales we now know and love, reading them gives new insight into the world of Harry Potter.

A Dear John, from John Moe

Some of you may know that West Seattle author, radio host, humorist and all around man about town is now an ex-West Seattle author, radio host and all around man NO WHERE TO BE FOUND.

Actually he's moved to St. Paul and wrote our fair city a farewell in this weekend's Seattle Times: Sorry, Seattle - I've found somewhere else.

Actually, I've been following his journey at his blog: Monkey Disaster.

You can also continue to hear him on "Weekend America," heard locally from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday on KUOW.

Good luck to you, John.*






*Oh, and... I'm on to you , little plastic tape holding bread bags closed.

Reading What is the What...?

If you are reading our current book club book, What is the What by Dave Eggers, and would like to learn more about the Lost Boys of Sudan, below we have put together some additional resources (courtesy of Wikipedia) to aid you in your discovery.

Lost Boys of Sudan, official IRC website.
Lost Boys from the Red Cross.
Photojournalist's Account - Images of Sudan's displaced
God Grew Tired of Us - Excerpts from a documentary about the Lost Boys
Lost Boys Program Fresh Ministries'
Sudan Emancipation & Preservation Network (SEPNet)
Alliance For The Lost Boys
Sudanese Lost Boys Association of Australia
"Do Not Forget The Lost Girls of Sudan", Refugees International, February 11, 2002.
Gabriel's Dream A charity dedicated to securing education and dental care for the lost boys.
They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky Official book site

Brisingr -The Inheritance Trilogy

You've enjoyed Eragon and Eldest... now prepare for the final book of the sensational Inheritance Trilogy, BRISINGR!

The final book by Christopher Paolini will be released on Saturday, September 20, 2008.

We are currently taking pre-orders. Come and reserve your copy now, and stay tuned for more details.

Congratulations, PNBA Award winners!

From the Seattle Times:

Northwest booksellers name PNBA winners

The Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA) has announced the winners of the 2008 Pacific Northwest Book Awards. The honorees are:

Sherman Alexie, of Seattle, for "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," his young-adult novel which also won the National Book Award.

Jim Harrison, for his novel "Returning to Earth" (Harrison lives part-time in Montana).
Denis Johnson, of Idaho, for his novel "Tree of Smoke," which also won the National Book Award.

Lauren Kessler, of Oregon, for her nonfiction book "Dancing with Rose: Finding Life in the Land of Alzheimer's."

Aryn Kyle, of Montana, for her debut novel, "The God of Animals."

Matt Ruff, of Seattle, for his novel "Bad Monkeys."

The six books were chosen from nearly 200 nominees by a committee of independent booksellers from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. The winners will be feted at a reception for PNBA members in Portland on March 29.