Book Buzz

Episode 136 - Air date: Jan. 11, 2026

JESSICA:

Hi, this is Jessica Russell. I’m the assistant director of collection services at Sno-Isle Libraries. And welcome to Book Buzz.

Today's two reading recommendations are “Cinder House” by Freya Marske and “Wildfire Days” by Kelly Ramsey.

First, we’re going to hear from Kathy, librarian at the Snohomish Library, for a fairy tale you think you know. Over to you, Kathy.

KATHY:

In “Cinder House” by Freya Marske, Ella’s stepmother kills her father through poisoned tea, and as Ella reels from a smaller dose, she falls down the stairs and hits her head on the seventh step. But Ella’s death is merely the beginning of this spookily sweet reimagining of the story of Cinderella. For Ella becomes a ghost intimately tied to the house, who only her stepmother and stepsisters can see.

Can such a ghost experience pain and suffering? Of course, this being Cinderella, the living stepmother and stepsisters find ways to torment Ella and force her to keep the house clean and in repair. Can a ghost learn and grow? What are the limits and rules of her existence? The familiar fairy tale we know from childhood as popularized by Disney is filled with characters either wholly Good or wholly Bad, but this is an adult tale, where we know that there can be nuances and misconceptions, and nobody is fully Good or Bad.
You know that the story will contain a grand ball filled with dancing, a fairy bearing gifts, and a prince needing a bride, with a shoe and searching for its owner, but you will also be completely surprised at the twists and changes in this ultimately satisfying tale.

JESSICA:

Thanks, Kathy! Such a remarkably original retelling of an old tale.

Next, let’s hear about a scorching memoir, from programming service coordinator Anne. Take it away, Anne.

ANNE:
When wildfires burn, highly skilled hotshot crews are sent to battle the blazes, often in remote and difficult terrain. The work is exhausting and dangerous, yet hotshot positions are highly coveted. In 2020, Kelley Ramsey, author of “Wildfire Days: A Woman, a Hotshot Crew, and the Burning American West” decided to join the Rowdy River Hotshots.

Ramsey worked two seasons as a hotshot – the first woman on the crew in almost a decade. She details the grueling physical training required to prepare for fire season, including hiking steep mountain trails with loads of 70 pounds or more. She describes different phases and techniques of wildland firefighting, from digging line to back burns. Interspersed throughout the book is the story of her personal journey – struggles with a dysfunctional family, unsettled relationships, and finding her true self in the extreme challenges of the work.

I listened to the audiobook, read by the author herself, and enjoyed her honesty about her experience as a woman in a profession dominated by men. If you enjoy memoirs by women not afraid to step beyond traditional roles or are interested in wildland firefighting, then this is the book for you. You’ll learn what it’s like to work in one of the most demanding professions today and will gain an appreciation for the people who risk their lives to protect communities threatened by wildfires.

JESSICA:

Thanks, Anne! It can be so empowering for young women to hear the female perspective in a male dominated field.

Our recommendations this week are: “Cinder House” by Freya Marske and “Wildfire Days” by Kelly Ramsey.

Join us next time, when we’ll explore more great reading recommendations — interesting books you can find at your favorite local bookstore or at your local library.

Until then, I’m Jessica Russell from Sno-Isle Libraries.

Thanks for joining us for Book Buzz on KSER.