Seattle Mystery Bookshop

Some of my fondest memories growing up as a young adult centered around reading. I remember summer being my favorite time because my best friend and I used to go to the local small bookshop, Cheshire Books, and trade in our plastic bags full of used books every few weeks. We always made a full afternoon out of it. The bookshop was in downtown Yakima, so getting there wasn't a challenge. One can walk the length of Yakima in a very short time, so we'd meet and begin an afternoons' journey into the great world of literature.

I was taken back in time within those asymmetrical walls of books. All genres enticing me to join in the great fun. The resident Cheshire cat would mosey around and lounge on whatever took its fancy at the time; swishing that bushy tail in that cat way. There was one room in particular that I loved the most. The smell is something I can still remember. Smells do that. I can link most of my memories to scents from hair shampoo, perfume, to laundry detergent. This particular room smelled of old books. Books of long ago where the binding nearly crumbles through your fingers. The pages membrane-thin as my fingers would turn each page and the soft swish of my skin against it would move to the next. I'd hold each book up to my nose, take a deep breath and despite the dust, take it in like I could ingest all the history it had weathered.

There are truly fewer and fewer bookshops like that anymore. I'm happy to say that my childhood shop still exists, although without a website and I'm kind of glad about that too. I've been on a subconscious search for another bookshop that would spark my desires again. I know that as a teenager, there is really nothing that can replace what I experienced at Cheshire Books, but there is one shop that has recently come close, and it deserves a few accolades.

The Seattle Mystery Bookshop in Pioneer Square. If you walk too fast, you'll miss it. It's nestled neatly among three other little shops off Cherry Street (117 Cherry Street). Through a dim entrance opens up a wall-to-wall plethora of books where mystery reigns. It opened its doors in the summer of 1990. Unfortunately, I didn't find it until recently, but better late than never. I've always loved a good Whodunit. I love getting my hands a little dirty to find out what I expected wasn't at all what I expected.

I have a routine when I enter bookstores. I let the books call to me. I walk around, touch a few spines, read a few reviews or back page summaries. I get a feel for the shop and my surroundings. I have to get a vibe from a bookshop. The Seattle Mystery Bookshop definitely has a vibe. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly and from one mystery lover to another, they got it in the bag.

My first excursion in, I wanted something a little twisted. I'm a nice girl. I'm generally happy. So what movies and books do I generally gravitate to? Twisted weirdness that can't be explained. It's my outlet; what can I say? I take my stroll through the isles, admire the poster of Dexter on the wall, with blood spatter on his face, and proceed to the latest and greatest. I pick up Drood, by Dan Simmons. I walk around the table again. I pick it up again. I hold it. What is it telling me? Why is it telling me? I'm stalking the book. It knows. The owner obviously knows what I'm up to and I ask the obvious question of whether the book is good or not. Of course, he says and proceeds to languish all sorts of good things on me about the book. I bought it. Read it in record time and have done nothing but recommend it to others. That is a good book experience. It took me away to the life of Charles Dickens. I didn't have to explain anything. The book does it for me. I love literature. I love bookstores like these where I can be transported and put back all nice and neat again...or so I think.

I like that it isn't your run-of-the-mill corporate shop. It's personable. It's not a Kindle. It's not whatever other technology is trying to take us away from the physical pleasure of page-turning. It's a real bookshop with real people and real pages that get ripped, torn, worn and touched. It's exactly what I'd like to maintain.

Pioneer Square
Monday - Saturday 10 - 5 pm
Sunday 12 -5 pm
staff@seattlemystery.com

Go. Visit. Read. Go again.

The Seattle Freeze????

Recently, my sister had a friend from out of town come and visit. He stayed for just a short while and noticed one thing; Seattle isn't all that friendly.
In fact he called it "The Seattle Freeze."

I've lived in Seattle for about 11 years, most of that time, as a single person, with a short four and a half years of being married. I have to say, dating presents its challenges. Needless to say, dating itself is a challenge and trying to pull it off in a city that slaps you in the face every time you turn around doesn't make it easier.

The Seattle environment is gorgeous. We are surrounded by some of the smartest, most educated people in the nation and some of the more adventurous in nature. We have divine hiking trails, gorgeous mountains and water all around us. I've begun to notice that most of what I thought were dating prospects expect a certain amount of athletic ability and a laundry list of perfection that no one could possibly live up to.

I've tried Match.com, I'm currently on OKCupid. Two dating sites that have proven well for some people I know. I even dated a man last year for about nine months from OKCupid and he was wonderful. Lately my odds aren't so good. I'm 0 for 4: Four dates in about 6 months and not one single connection. I even had a date recently who flatly said he hated dogs, knowing I had a dog and proceeded to counter everything I said from there on out. At least I got a good beer out of it!

All I'm saying is that it's hard to meet people here. I'm surrounded by friends and family that have a significant other in their lives and my single status is getting a bit tired. I'm perfectly content being single. I'm a single mom who goes to film, theatre, concerts and even out to dinner, by my self. It's no big deal. But I believe we weren't put on this earth to go it alone. I want to share my life with someone and would like to do it before I'm old and gray. I'm not saying that it's greener on the other side; relationships are tough and you have to work at it constantly in order to keep it alive and well. But in many ways, that's what I'm looking forward to - Working on something together and coming out the other side a better person for it.

It's a stretch just to get someone to smile at me on the bus or as I'm walking downtown. I think we all need to stop for a bit and realize what we're doing to each other. I'm not the girl on the cover of Kayak magazine and I'm not a bungee jumper in red high heels with long blonde hair and a tan. I'm just me. Shouldn't that be enough? Apparently the list of the perfect date just keeps getting more idealistic and it's come down to ridiculous details that mean nothing in the big picture. It's about a connection and chemistry. That smile and lingering stare that says something's going to happen and it's going to be good. It's not about weather she likes sushi and he doesn't and who the hell cares anyway?! I guess I'm just a bit old fashioned and want something substantial and real. It's tough being single in Seattle. Maybe I should take the advice of my mother: "Stop looking and that's when he will come along." Maybe she's right.