For most of his life, Fred Moody's outlook paralleled that of his hometown (as he describes it): low-stress, low-ambition, make enough to get by while leaving time to enjoy the beautiful outdoors, don't cause hassles for other people, be proud about how you're not like people in other parts of the country. Over time, however, as his city gets caught up in an economic boom spurred by the very non-Seattle ambitions of people and corporations like Microsoft, Starbucks, and even Dale Chihuly, Fred finds himself increasingly dissatisfied with his life at the "Seattle Weekly." He gives in to his demons too, and dives into the dot-com world.
Along the way, Moody gives us some fascinating and insightful portraits of people and episodes in Seattle's history -- not just the examples mentioned above, but also Seattle icon Ivar Haglund, Sub Pop Records and the "grunge" movement, and the life and (essential) death of the "Weekly" itself. Perhaps most memorable and moving is his portrayal of Seattle sculptor James Acord, whose magnum opus, "Monstrance for a Grey Horse," is now permanently installed in Moody's own front yard.
These character sketches are a fascinating part of Moody's book. Ultimately most memorable, though, is his portrait of Seattle itself ... its past and its present, what it used to be and what, he argues, it has become today. In the receding tide of the dot-com wave, Moody sees the re-emergence of some of the essential characteristics of what he calls Invisible Seattle. It's a hopeful sign -- if you share the author's essential outlook -- that what really makes Seattle "Seattle" hasn't been entirely lost. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves this city, or who just wants to understand it a little better. It made a big difference to me.
I'm a Californian who fled the bay area in 1998 to come to Seattle to work for Microsoft at the height of the dotcom boom. I met and married my husband a third generation Seattleite having met him in front of Doc Maynard's night club (a famous Seattlin that Fred also profiles). I started at Microsoft in time to attend a bunch of retirement parties and was amazed to see "kids" fleeing this place for places like HomeGrocer.com because they weren't going to get rich enough fast enough. I thought they were nuts and then the party crashed.
This is a great town and a wonderful region. Thank you Fred for capturing my adopted home so accurately. You also helped me understand my husband's character a bit better.