Bel Canto, or Things to Do in Leavenworth
I found a great indy bookstore last week called A Book for All Seasons nestled in the Cascade Range east of Seattle. The store is in Leavenworth, Washington, a tiny village that years ago decided to go Bavarian in an effort to survive. All the homes and businesses are designed to resemble an Alpine village. Even Das Starbucks resembles a konditorei, until you’re inside the store which closely resembles Starbucks. Caution: no bathroom!
Anyway I bought Bel Canto in trade paper format. I read the opening very quickly before setting it aside to be savored rather than devoured. I’d finished William Lashner’s Past Due for review at Collected Miscellany and was reading Margaret Atwood and Denise Mina’s Garnethill in a vain attempt to avoid Polka with Ernst. Yes, they have both kinds of music at the local bierstube, Bavarian and Olde Wisconsin, but after enough beer and bratwurst you’ll want an accordion of your very own. By the way if you come to town on a Harley, it’s okay to pee in the bushes. Alpine plants are hearty.