The Elliott Bay Book Company

Catherine Gherig's life is in a state of turmoil. Her married lover of 13 years and work colleague at the Swinburne Museum has died and left her to grieve in silence. She finds support in a most unlikely source — her boss, who assigns her the task of restoring a 19th century automaton. Unpacking the many chests the device has been stored in, Catherine comes upon a series of notebooks by Henry Brandling, the man who commissioned its construction. As his story unfolds, Catherine begins to empathize with Henry, and by intertwining his despair with her own she begins a slow process of healing.

The Clown is a story of a breakdown. Set in post-WWII Germany, the story begins with the loss of a love. This leads to heavy drinking, which in turn leads to further introspection, rage, poverty, contempt for your fellow man, and dry bitter humor. It confronts man's attempt at living an authentic life, while being squeezed by society's pressure to conform.

Each story is vivid and dreamlike and like all good dreams will bubble up from your subconscious, sometimes at the most inappropriate times...One minute you're taking a leisurely stroll in your neighborhood only to be transformed into a gigantic, moist, undulating tongue. Or, you'll be eating a piece of toast for breakfast, not really thinking of much, when suddenly you'll be convinced that a flea is living in the deep recesses of your ear. Sound uncomfortable? It is! But you'll thank me for it later. Hope you enjoy this collection of short stories as much as I did.

Yum yum! Hop over to the farmer's market and try these recipes.

This book will make your heart spill over. Let it enrich your hour, day or week. Once you finish, you'll likely flip it back over and start it once again.

This book is full of useful practices, recipes, and formulas for a lifetime of health.
It includes: healing herbs, homeopathic medicine, mediation, aromatherapy, stress reduction, acupressure, Chinese medicine, yoga ayurvedic healing, massage, raw foods, herbal first aid, reflexology, macrobiotics, naturopathic medicine, chakric healing, fasting, floral acupuncture, juicing, self-hypnosis, color zone therapy, gemstones and crystals, Bach flower essences and natural supplements.
If you are looking for a well rounded book on natural medicine, this book is an excellent choice.

Perfect choice for anyone looking for a great crime novel that is full of action and a taste of WWII history. Quick paced and intelligently written, don't let this one pass you by.

If you are looking for a fantasy novel packed with thieves, sharks, murderers, gamblers, and other ne'er-do-wells, then I highly recommend The Lies of Locke Lamora. I laughed out loud a few times, and have never rooted for a team of downright dirty bastards as much as for those found within the pages of this book.

The best ABC book I've seen in a long time. But don't listen to me, check it out!

Shortlisted for the 2006 Man Booker Prize, Hisham Matar's debut novel takes place in Libya, ten years after Qaddafi's revolution in 1969. It tells the story of nine-year-old Suleiman, as he struggles to comprehend the world around him. It is a place where men who speak out are hauled from their homes and denounced as traitors and counterrevolutionaries. Public executions are broadcast live as crowds cheer wildly for more. This is a gracefully written book that deals with relationships between people in intimate, realistic, and often tenderhearted ways as their emotions are pulled taut by repression, fear, and hatred.

Abandoned by his mother, despised by the wet nurses who tended to him, Jean-Babtiste Genouille was brought up at the Cloister of Saint-Merri with no posession other than an exraordinary sense of smell. Years pass, when one day, while out for a walk he catches hint of the most exquisite scent...following it leads him down a path to murder...

Martin Dressler is a man of vision.
The story begins with him as a young boy working alongside his father in his family owned cigar shop at the tail-end of the 19th Century. As the years pass, he moves on to build grand hotels—one more exquisite than the last— experiencing along the way many hardships, loves, successes and failure. This book draws you into one man's personal dream.
A sheer delight.