The Glass Castle
Jeanette Walles' memoir about growing up in a family with two very unique parents. She shares her stories of spending most of their time traveling from one rundown, remote rental house to another in order to avoid bill collectors and other conspiracies. But surprisingly she seems to enjoy the memories of living out in the desert, her artistic mother, and slightly unstable, alcoholic father who always had great stories to tell. This author now lives in the Culpeper area and speak at high schools. I'm in the midst of reading it myself, but am really enjoying it and can understand why it comes highly reccommended.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
Susan McCorkindale
Article in the Freelance Star today on local (transplant) auther Susan McCorkindale. She will be having a book signing in Fredericksburg on Saturday, March 7 at the Griffin Bookshop & Coffeebar. Her book, "Confessions of a Counterfeit Farm Girl" was developed from her emails and blog about the 'farm life'.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tournament of Books
For the 5th year, The Morning News is hosting the Tournament of Books, which takes 16 of the most acclaimed novels of the year and pits them against each other, March Madness Style, in a bracketed, judged tournament to determine a winner (sort of tongue-in-cheek complete with their own T-Shirt {pictured here}). Past winners include:
Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
The Accidental - Ali Smith
The Road - Cormac McCarthy
The Brief Wondorous Life of Oscar Wao - Junot Diaz
A bracket sheet in pdf is available so you can 'track' your favorite book as it advances through the rounds.
In the Sweet 16 this year are:
2666 - Roberto Bolano
Steer Toward Rock - Fae Myenne Ng
Netherland - Joseph O'Neil
A Partisan's Daughter - Louis De Bernieres
The White Tiger - Aravind Adiga
Harry, Revised - Mark Sarvas
Unaccustomed Earth - Jhumpa Lahiri
City of Refuge - Tom Piazza
Shadow Country - Peter Matthiessen
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks - E Lockhart
The Northern Clemency - Philip Hensher
The Lazarus Project - Aleksandar Hemon
A Mercy - Toni Morrison
The Dart League King - Keith Lee Morris
Home - Marilynne Robinson
My Revolutions - Hari Kunzru
For more information visit either Omnivoracious or The Morning News.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Dr. Seuss
In honor of Read Across America - and Dr. Seuss' birthday (March 2), the Cetral Rappahannock Regional Library will be hosting some childrens activities at various branches on Saturday and Monday. You may visit thier website for more information (website).
Be sure to pick up and read one of your favorites of Dr. Seuss, Theo LeSig, or Rosetta Stone. You can also view some of his lesser known work - political cartoons at Dr. Seuss Went to War .
Be sure to pick up and read one of your favorites of Dr. Seuss, Theo LeSig, or Rosetta Stone. You can also view some of his lesser known work - political cartoons at Dr. Seuss Went to War .
Monday, February 23, 2009
At the Movies
Before they became movies - many of these top Hollywood hits were books. A short list, which I will try and update, follows:
Slumdog Millionaire - Q & A by Vikas Swarup (Author Website)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - F. Scott Fitzgerald
Twilight - Stephanie Myer (Author Website)
The Reader - Bernhard Schlink
Marley & Me - John Grogan (Author Website)
The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd (Author Website)
Frost/Nixon - David Frost
The Other Boleyn Girl - Philippa Gregory
Prince Caspian - C.S. Lewis
Nights in Rodanthe - Nicholas Sparks (Author Website)
The Ruins - Scott Smith (Author Website)
Slumdog Millionaire - Q & A by Vikas Swarup (Author Website)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - F. Scott Fitzgerald
Twilight - Stephanie Myer (Author Website)
The Reader - Bernhard Schlink
Marley & Me - John Grogan (Author Website)
The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd (Author Website)
Frost/Nixon - David Frost
The Other Boleyn Girl - Philippa Gregory
Prince Caspian - C.S. Lewis
Nights in Rodanthe - Nicholas Sparks (Author Website)
The Ruins - Scott Smith (Author Website)
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
2009 Coretta Scott King Awards
The Coretta Scott King Awards for 2009 were announced (Jan 26, 2009) on the ALA website and in the 17 Feb 2009 issue of the Freelance Star Family Section. The following is a list of winners:
We Are The Ship. The Story of Negro League Baseball - Kadir Nelson
Keeping the Night Watch - Hope Anita Smith
The Blacker the Berry - Joyce Carol Thomas
Becoming Billie Holiday - Carole Boston Weatherford
The Moon Over Star - Jerry Pinkney
Before John was a Jazz Giant - Sean Qualls
Bird - Shadra Strickland
We Are The Ship. The Story of Negro League Baseball - Kadir Nelson
Keeping the Night Watch - Hope Anita Smith
The Blacker the Berry - Joyce Carol Thomas
Becoming Billie Holiday - Carole Boston Weatherford
The Moon Over Star - Jerry Pinkney
Before John was a Jazz Giant - Sean Qualls
Bird - Shadra Strickland
2009 Alex Awards
The Alex Awards are given to 10 books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults as well. The 2009 Alex Awards are:
City of Thieves - David Denioff
The Dragons of Babel - Michael Swanwick
Finding Nouf - Zoe Farraris
The Good Thief - Hannah Tinti
Just After Sunset, Stories - Steven King
Mudbound - Hillary Jordan
Over and Under - Todd Tucker
The Oxford Project - Stephen G. Bloom
Sharp Teeth - Toby Barlow
Three Girls and Their Brothers - Theresa Rebeck
For more information - please visit the ALA Website
City of Thieves - David Denioff
The Dragons of Babel - Michael Swanwick
Finding Nouf - Zoe Farraris
The Good Thief - Hannah Tinti
Just After Sunset, Stories - Steven King
Mudbound - Hillary Jordan
Over and Under - Todd Tucker
The Oxford Project - Stephen G. Bloom
Sharp Teeth - Toby Barlow
Three Girls and Their Brothers - Theresa Rebeck
For more information - please visit the ALA Website
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