Bookstores scene of reflection, news
Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, September 11, 2001
By Diane Wright
Herald Writer
Earthquakes and elections: Most bookstores traditionally spin off news events like these, creating displays directed toward the topic readers are trying to comprehend.
The tragedy on the East Coast is something that may not prompt displays in bookstores, but already reaction is intense.
The Snow Goose Bookstore in downtown Stanwood is a community center, and reaction wasn’t long in coming.
Chris Satterlund, who co-owns the store with Kristine Kaufman, said they were worried "because all of our sales reps and all the publishing world is in New York, and we have many friends there."
Early Tuesday morning, she said she asked one of the store’s delivery drivers, who is from the Middle East, if he had any family in New York.
"He said no, but ‘it’s too much, it’s just too much,’ " she said. "One of the other delivery drivers from FedEx said it’s worse than Pearl Harbor."
Both Satterlund’s children are in high school.
"My son is in global studies, and my daughter is in social studies, and both my kids said, ‘Does this mean war?’ "
Kim Ricketts, a spokesman for University Book Store, is already feeling the effects.
"Most of my work is done with publishers back East," she said. "That’s silent.
"I’m working on an event with Jon Krakauer (author of "Into Thin Air") in November, a fundraiser for the Central Asia Institute, and I got a call from Jon this morning about the backlash against Muslim people."
Shock is understandable. People have compared their sense of disbelief at watching the airplane hit the World Trade Center towers and erupt into huge balls of flame to watching a movie by Jerry Bruckheimer such as "Armageddon," "Pearl Harbor" or "Independence Day," or reading a novel by Tom Clancy.
Barnes &Noble in Woodinville removed a display of "Nine Minutes Twenty Seconds: The Tragedy and Triumph of ASA Flight 529," a disaster book about a commuter plane by Gary Pomerantz.
"It is a nonfiction book about the survivors of an airplane crash," said Lee McDonald, community relations manager at the bookstore.
"I don’t know how customers would react to seeing another tragedy. It was very difficult. As a store, we’re trying to be very sensitive to our customers as well as our staff."
You can call Herald Writer Diane Wright at 425-339-3443
or send e-mail to wright@heraldnet.com.
Books help you understand
By Diane Wright
Herald Writer
In the face of inexplicable acts of terrorism, bookstores often can supply background information and titles to help people understand the history of terrorism and the culture of fear, as well as suggestions of titles dealing with trauma, mourning and anger.
"A History of Terrorism," by Walter LaQueur. Updated version of a pioneering study of world terrorism.
"The Greatest Threat: Iraq, Weapons of Mass Destruction, and the Growing Crisis of Global Security," by Richard Butler. The former U.N. ambassador gives a close-up look at what we have not done and should do to contain violence around the world.
"The New Jackals," by Simon Reeve. A close look at Ramzi Yousef, the terrorist who masterminded the World Trade Center bombing in 1993, and what we learned from that about the new terrorism.
"The Terrorism Reader," edited by David Whittaker. Essays on the meaning of terrorism around the world from Algeria to Ireland.
"Terrorism in America," by Philip Heymann. New book that talks about how democracies can fight terrorism while preserving individual liberty.
"From Beirut to Jerusalem," by Thomas Friedman. Talks about the mindset of the Middle Eastern conflict and terrorism.
"One Palestine, Complete," by Thomas Segev. Talks about the historical mandates in the Middle East over the past 50 years.
"The Coming Anarchy," by Robert D. Kaplan. Talks about the different factions in post-Cold War.
"The End of the Peace Process," by Edward W. Said. After the Oslo Peace Accord, Said predicted it would not lead to peace because of personalities and alliances in the Middle East.
"A History of the Middle East," by Peter Mansfield. A concise, thorough political overview from the Ottoman Empire to the present.
"The Iron Wall," by Avi Shlaim. Focuses on Israel’s 50-year history.
"Humanity: A Moral History of the 20th Century," by Jonathan Glover. Looks at the politics and human nature of the most brutal century in world history, and how to create an environment to prevent further atrocities.
"In the Name of Identity: Violence and the Need to Belong," by Amin Maalouf. Why people commit crimes in the name of identity across the world.
"Awaking the Tiger: Healing the Trauma," by Peter Levine. Puts the symptoms of trauma in a biological context, and give exercises to deal with symptoms.
"Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence, from Domestic Abuse to Political Terror," by Judith Herman. Dealing with steps to help someone who has been traumatized.
"In the Midst of Winter: Great Writers Express the Inexpressible," edited by Mary Jane Moffat. Selections from the literature of mourning.
"Sorrow’s Company: Writers on Loss and Grief," edited by DeWitt Henry. Contemporary writers deal with violence and tragedy.
"When Bad Things Happen to Good People," by Harold S. Kushner. A rabbi who lost his son talks about tragedy that challenges your faith in a book that is still relevant years after first publication.
"On Death and Dying," by Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. A nonfiction classic that explains the stages of mourning and grief and acceptance.
"How to Go on Living When Someone You Love Dies," by Therese A. Rando. Provides insight on loss and survival; some chapters on emotion will be relevant.
"The Angry Book," by Dr. Robert I. Rubin. This talks about one of the most human of emotion and how to understand and release anger to release emotional wellness. A book to help people deal with anger; how to dissipate it, how to use it constructively.
"Stop the Anger Now," by Ron Potter-Efron. A workbook for the prevention, containment and resolution of anger.
"When Anger Hurts: Fighting the Storm Within," by Matthew McKay. Talks about the physiological costs of anger. Skill-building to control and understand anger and overcome it.
"How Can I Help?" by June Kolf. How to support someone who is grieving. A supportive book that takes the mystery out of grief and offers options on how to help each other.
SOURCE: University Book Store and Barnes &Noble Booksellers in Woodinville
