Blog Post
Pedal Power
by Stewart
Hey Commuter Challenge enthusiasts! Check out the book Pedal Power: The Quiet Rise of the Bicycle in American Public Life. DePaul University Professor J. Harry Wray takes a look at how the simple act of riding a bike may impact perceptions of the world. Professor Wray says, "Because the world is experienced in a different way on a bike than it is in a car, the rider inevitably thinks of that world differently than does the driver." (page 18). The author had the idea for the "Biking and Politics" class in which he and his students ride 35 miles through the South and West side of Chicago.
Blog Post
Sam Spade will never die.
by Maxine
Today, May 27 is the birthday of two great mystery novelists, Tony Hillerman who was born in 1925 and Dashiell Hammett who was born in 1894. Hillerman, a former journalist and past president of Mystery Writers of America is best known for his mysteries about the Navajo in which Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn chase down culprits in the often brutal sun of the Southwest.
Hammett was best known for his hard-boiled detective novels that featured cynical, fast talking characters who got things done. Hammett based some of his stories on work he had done with the Pinkerton Detective Agency. The movie, The Maltese Falcon was based on his book and starred Hunphrey Bogart as Sam Spade.
Blog Post
Older Michiganians Unite!
by annevm
If I was headed to the Washtenaw County Older Michiganians Rally, I might want to at least scan the new book Meet the Next President: What you don’t know about the candidates. But that’s just me. Others may want to simply show up, as the flyer says, to learn about and respond to issues affecting seniors, find out what you can do, and maybe talk to some elected officials and local leaders. The rally is June 2, 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the St. Joseph Senior Health Building, Lower Level, 5631 McCauley Drive. It’s intended for seniors, advocates for older adults, state and local elected officials, and “anyone interested in making Michigan a great place to live!” Wait, isn’t that everyone? Presenters of the rally are Area Agency on Aging 1B, Blueprint for Aging and Senior Advocates of Washtenaw.
Blog Post
The Tears of Artamon
by RiponGood
Set in the snowy wastelands of Azhkendir, Sarah Ash has created a stunning trilogy called The Tears of Artamon. In book 1, The Tears of Artamon, our hero Gavril is kidnapped from his carefree life on an island and taken to Azhkendir. There he learns that he is heir to the kingdom, becoming both a captive and its ruler. The world in which Gavril lives is a mix of technology and magic, where armies fight with muskets, cannons, and magic. You can follow Gavril's story in book 2, The Prisoner of the Iron Tower, and book 3, The Children of the Serpent Gate.
Blog Post
Jhumpa Lahiri is simply elegant
by darla
I finally managed to get my hands on a copy of Jhumpa Lahiri's latest book Unaccustomed Earth and, once again, was spellbound by her gorgeous prose. Hopefully you are familiar with her previous works Interpreter of Maladies (she won a Pulitzer Prize for this one in 2000!) and The Namesake. This latest work, a collection of short stories, follows Lahiri's previous path of exploring life through the eyes of Indian immigrants and their children raised in America. Not only does she make everyday life seem extraordinary, she also dives deep into intimate, haunting story-telling of love, identity, grief, tradition, and attachment. While her writing nods to tales of immigration, it ultimately finds a place in any culture where characters confront the secrets of the human heart. Her rich, emotional stories will unsettle you, get under your skin and leave you wanting more.
Blog Post
Twelve Rounds to Glory (the story of Muhammad Ali) by Charles R. Smith
by Tahira
Charles R. Smith chronicles the life of Muhammad Ali in this Coretta Scott King Honor Book. Smith's use of poetic verse splashed with Ali's own words give readers an inside look at one of America's most famous people. As a long time admirer of Muhammad Ali, I think this book is a knockout.
Blog Post
Recently Discovered Networking Website Gets Kudos From Oldster!
by cecile
I hope I’m the last to know about the coolest website I found last night!
Shelfari is like facebook for the literary crowd. You create a bookshelf of the books you’ve read, want to read, love, hate, etc. The graphics of your books are beautiful and easy to read. Shelfari’s networking capability allows joining discussion groups, creating groups and inviting your friends to share their libraries. You can look at the books they have read, read reviews, write reviews and get great ideas for what to read next. I’m old now and have eccentric tastes but I found a group that was interested in Flashman by George McDonald Fraser and
The Great Swim by Gavin Mortimer!!
Blog Post
My car curbed itself in May
by annevm
Amazing how those handy 12-A and 12-B AATA buses always show up right when you need them, and how the drivers are so friendly when you show them your GoPass. Yes, embarrassing, but my car had been driving downtown a little too much in April, dragging me with it. When it landed in the shop in early May, well, I found myself suddenly, magically, and completely aligned with Curb Your Car Month! Good news: My bus rides downtown are generating more green ideas, including a plan to read the new book Climate Solutions: a citizen’s guide by Peter Barnes with a foreword by Bill McKibben. At 93 pages, this book looks like good bus reading. I'm also planning to go to The Mayor's Green Fair on Main Street June 13. Maybe in my car, probably not.
Blog Post
Sailing Through Difficulty
by anonymous
John Otterbacher will visit the Downtown Library Wednesday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m. Otterbacher, a resident of Michigan, a former Michigan Congressmen and Senator, and psychotherapist, will discuss his book, Sailing Grace, in which he chronicles his experiences battling heart disease, not wanting to give up, and moving past it. Integral and interwoven into his story are details about learning how to sail, honesty and a bit of self-deprecating humor on mishaps along the way, and eventually making voyages across the Atlantic. Sailing Grace is a 2008 Michigan Notable Book. Michigan Notable Books are a yearly list of books “reflective of Michigan's diverse ethnic, historical, literary, and cultural experience.” Copies will be available for purchase, and there will be an opportunity for books to be signed. Please join us!
Blog Post
"Off with her head!"
by Maxine
Today, May 19, is the anniversary of the execution of Anne Boleyn who was beheaded by sword at the Tower of London in 1536. When Boleyn demanded that Henry VIII make her his wife, not his mistress, years of religious turmoil in the Catholic Church ensued because of their prohibition against divorce. Henry did have his marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled and wed Boleyn in 1533. But because she couldn't produce any male heirs, she was accused of adultery and executed. (Sometimes you just can't win).
There's a treasure trove of books on Anne and now, even her sister, Mary, whose story was told in the recently released film, The Other Boleyn Girl based on the book by Philippa Gregory.