Books

The Double Life of Eloisa James

Posted Sat, 03/20/2010 - 11:36am by Sandra Silvey

This week I am reading Eloisa James’s novels. I have a nice big stack to keep me happy and content over this rainy weekend!

What do you know about Eloisa James? She writes historical romance and is a New York Times bestselling author. Her books are addicting and she makes you fall in love with her characters.

The Lineup

Posted Thu, 03/18/2010 - 5:45pm by Clara Maynard

Otto Penzler and his wife

Editor and bookshop owner Otto Penzler (The Encyclopedia of Mystery and Detection) asked some of mystery’s well-known authors such as Faye Kellerman, John Connelly, Colin Dexter, and Laura Lippman to share the stories behind the creation of their popular characters. In some cases, the character is interviewed, in some the author writes about his or her inspiration for the character. This makes The Lineup a fun read for fans of these detectives. But even if you haven’t read that particular author’s novels, you’ll enjoy these stories, and you may be inspired to read more of these great authors! (Photo of Mr. Penzler and his wife courtesy of FLickr.)

Irish Poetry for Saint Patrick's Day

Posted Thu, 03/18/2010 - 2:10pm by David Cherry

Sorry I'm late--took a wrong turn at Sligo and ended up in Tipperary (a long, long way, indeed).
Ba-dum-tish.

Since so many Americans become Irish for the day on the Feast Day of Saint Patrick, I figure it is the least we can do to acquaint ourselves with some of the country's culture beyond our annual chats with Misters Jameson, Bushmill and Guiness, and the odd bowl of Lucky Charms®.

Keep Learning

Posted Thu, 03/18/2010 - 11:55am by Angel Hill

I’m a strong believer in continuing education. What’s nice about being out of school is that you can choose what you read and how you enrich your life. YOU decide what you learn. There’s a great series of books called The Intellectual Devotional by David S. Kidder and Noah D. Oppenheim. In the first book you get 365 different mini-lessons in things like history, literature, arts, science, music, philosophy, and religion. The other two books cover American history and health. Like the cover says, “Revive Your Mind, Complete Your Education, and Roam Confidently with the Cultured Class.”

Dealing with the Devil and Other Ill-Advised Undertakings

Posted Wed, 03/17/2010 - 9:23am by David Cherry

From the Department of No One Asked Me, But...
I was re-reading parts of Dante's Divine Comedy last week and remembered why I had always felt so uneasy about the experience my first time through. Here's the thing: Hell is...well, How should I put this?...a heck of a lot more fun (to read, at least) than Purgatory and Paradise. The Inferno is fairly brimming with pleasingly sadistic little set pieces

Get Your Geek On @ 3 Local Conventions

Posted Wed, 03/17/2010 - 2:40am by Darla Pruitt

One of the advantages of being a geek in a large city is the wonderful conventions in my own backyard. I admit it. I am a con addict. I have been going to fandom conventions since 1984 and will probably still be going when I have to incorporate my walker into my cosplay. During March and April, I have three opportunities to get my geek on with one comic/scifi/fantasy convention and two anime conventions in town.

This Is The Way The World Ends Not With A Bang But A Chuckle

Posted Tue, 03/16/2010 - 3:33pm by Bruce Farrar

Will it be Fire or Ice?
The End of the World is a serious subject. Poets, notably Misters Eliot and Frost, both misquoted above, have commented on it. However, I would like to call your attention to two science fiction novels, one recent and one a golden oldie, that have a somewhat humorous—well, darkly humorous—take on the subject.

Katy Branch - Who Dun It@ the Library?

Posted Tue, 03/16/2010 - 1:52pm by Debbie S.

Title to be discussed: The Girl in the Glass by Jeffrey Ford. Date of meeting: Saturday, April 3, 10:30am. During the Great Depression, shysters scam New York's grieving rich with elaborate, ingeniously staged seances -- until an impossible occurrence changes everything. Join the Katy Branch Mystery Group, which meets the first Saturday of every month.