January 18, 2013
Randy Richardson is no stranger to Chicago’s literary scene. A journalist, essayist, and the president of the Chicago Writers Association, his debut novel Lost in the Ivy was named one of 2005’s notable Chicago books by Gapers Block. Now Richardson is back with his new novel Cheeseland, and the local lit world is buzzing again. […]
January 17, 2013
Advice columnist Pauline Phillips died in Minneapolis Wednesday at age 94. Her “Dear Abby” column began in 1956 and appeared in hundreds of newspapers around the world, covering a wide variety of personal topics. The column, still in print and with its own website, was taken over by Mrs. Phillips’s daughter Jeanne Phillips in 2000. […]
January 17, 2013
The other day at North Branch my colleague and I and a patron were having a lively mini-book discussion on good Nordic mystery authors. Jo Nesbø, creator of the brilliant but problematic detective Harry Hole, had been highly recommended by her friend. The problem, said the patron, was the conflicting advice on what title to read […]
January 15, 2013
If you’ve had an urge to toss the term “fiscal cliff” off the nearest precipice, you’re not alone. The words used to describe the financial problems of the US government topped the list of the most despised terms of 2012. “Words to be Banished from the Queen’s English for Misuse, […]
January 10, 2013
At the CES this week in Las Vegas Ion is showing a personal book scanner that will enable you to take a print book and turn it into an e-book. Voila! The company assumes since you already own the book there is no issue with “Fair Use.” Big plus–the Book Saver Book Scanner will work […]
January 9, 2013
So states Nicholas Carr, author of an essay in the WSJ on e-books and print materials. He claims that 90% of e-books users still like to read standard books. Further, he argues that 500 years of reading has stood the test of time. See this link for more on “Don’t Burn Your Books- Print is […]
January 9, 2013
Poet Richard Blanco has been chosen by President Obama to be the 2013 inaugural poet. He will compose an original poem for the swearing-in ceremony to be held on the Capitol steps January 21. The 44-year-old son of Cuban exiles said he felt a “spiritual connection” with Mr. Obama. Latino and gay, Mr. Blanco “said […]
December 29, 2012
This month for Poetry 365 we’re featuring D.A. Powell’s exhilarating new volume Useless Landscape, or A Guide for Boys. A staple on multiple 2012 Best Poetry Book lists, Powell’s fifth collection demonstrates his remarkable range of form as he examines his impoverished childhood, ecological disaster, gay sexual awakening, illness, and love. Sleek, witty, scathing, and […]
December 27, 2012
This fascinating story from NPR discusses the Icelandic tradition of giving books for Christmas. Iceland is a small country but it has a high per capita rate of book publishing. Sales increase during the fall months leading up to the holidays and, according to the head of the Icelandic Publishers Association, books are given the […]
December 23, 2012
NPR book reviewer Maggie Stiefvater recently noted that 55% of YA (Young Adult ) fiction is read by adults. She goes on to recommend five YA titles “you’ll never outgrow.” Her favorite among them, and ours, too, is Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. As Stiefvater writes, “[T]wo girls join the war effort in World […]
