Book Discussion Groups Abound

Fri, 09/22/2006 - 5:56pm by Eartoground

A book discussion group called McSweeney’s Book Klatch will meet at 4 p.m. Sunday at Shaman Drum Bookshop, to talk about the book "Icelander," by Dustin Long. This group meets monthly to talk about a new title from McSweeney’s, the publishing house founded by Dave Eggers. Authors of the books being discussed weigh in by phone, and members of the klatch get free pizza and book discounts. Other Ann Arbor bookstores - plus schools, churches, and individual readers – organize and host a huge variety of reading groups around our city. Stay tuned. If you haven't read "Icelander," here's what Publishers Weekly had to say: "Nabokov meets Lemony Snicket in this manic Chinese box version of a mystery."

New Fiction Titles on the New York Times Best Sellers List (9/24/06)

Fri, 09/22/2006 - 4:37pm by Mazie

Did you know Brad Meltzer was a graduate of the University of Michigan? He graduated in 1992 with a degree in history. His political thrillers have been selling well but this week he enters the List at #1.

At #1 is The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer: "The apparent murder of a presidential aide reveals Masonic secrets in Washington and a 200-year-old code invented by Thomas Jefferson."

At #3 is Dark Celebration by Christine Feehan: "Carpathians from around the world join together to oppose their enemies' plot to kill all Carpathian women."

At #10 is The Guy Not Taken by Jennifer Weiner: "Stories about women and relationships from the author of ''In Her Shoes.''"

At #13 is All Aunt Hagar's Children by Edward P. Jones: "Short stories mostly set in Washington, by the author of "The Known World."

The Play Ground

Fri, 09/22/2006 - 11:38am by Albert

The Performance Network is celebrating the beginning of its 25th Anniversary Season by featuring The Retreat from Moscow by William Nicholson. This 2004 Tony-award nominated
play deftly navigates comedy, drama and the complexities of a modern marriage. How well do we know the people we marry? Is it wrong to decide it’s time to be honest? This is a powerful story of a husband who decides to be truthful in his marriage, and of the wife and son whose lives will never be the same again. September 14 - October 29, 2006. Ticket info: 663-0681.

Retrieved in Translation

Fri, 09/22/2006 - 10:47am by Maxine

Plum Wine by Angela Davis-Gardner explores the human repercussions of the
bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end World War II. Barbara Jefferson is a teacher of English in Japan in 1966. There she becomes close with fellow teacher, Michiko Nakamoto, a Hiroshima survivor. The book opens after Michi's death. She has bequeathed Barbara her treasured tansu chest, filled with bottles of plum wine, each wrapped in rice paper on which are written journal entries Barbara wants to have translated. She meets Seiji, a potter, who knew Michi-San and translates some of the text. Barbara learns of Michi-San's and Seiji's tragic past and engages in a complex love affair with Seiji. Set during the time of the Vietnam war, Davis-Gardner raises questions about the "justice" of war. Thought provoking and suspenseful, Plum Wine is to be savored.

STS-115 Lands!

Thu, 09/21/2006 - 4:48pm by anned

NASA’s shuttle Atlantis landed safely this morning at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The six-member crew, made up of five Americans and one Canadian, successfully completed three spacewalks during their twelve-day journey. This mission added a second set of solar arrays to the International Space Station, which will double the station’s ability to generate power from sunlight and added 17.5 tons to its mass. Space Shuttle Discovery is scheduled to launch in December of this year and will continue work on the ISS.

Biblical Stories Retold by David Maine

Thu, 09/21/2006 - 10:05am by Van

I just read the Fallen, have checked out The Preservationist, and have placed a hold on The Book of Samson.

The Fallen is the story of Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel. The book starts with the last chapter with Cain waiting to die and moves backward to the first chapter where God leaves Adam and Eve after expelling them from the Garden of Eden.

Cain is a rebellious, questioning, often sullen child, his shrugs riling both his parents but especially Adam. Abel is an earnest, often platitudinous and oblivious, child, trying to reconcile his brother and his father after Adam banishes Cain from the family home. Adam and Eve learn to fish, hunt, grow crops, tame animals, use fire, make bricks. Eve learns how to give birth. God expels Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, God delivers judgments on Cain and Abel’s offerings, Cain murders Abel, God brands Cain, Cain wanders. And there are the other children and the other people.

Detail and incident fill the story and reveal the personalities of Adam, Eve, Cain, and Abel.

The Preservationist is the story of Noah, his family, the building and stocking of the Ark.

Due out in November is The Book of Samson.

Ramadan and Rosh Hashanah

Wed, 09/20/2006 - 1:18pm by Tahira

Ramadan, Islam’s month of fasting, prayer and reflection and Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year will begin this weekend. Click the above links to see some great books on both of these religious celebrations or visit the links below to learn more.
http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday2.htm
http://www.holidays.net/ramadan

A dirigible revisited

Wed, 09/20/2006 - 11:01am by emilyas

According to NPR, researchers will be exploring the remains of the dirigible USS Macon this week. The Macon was 785 feet long and flew from 1933 until 1935, when it crashed off the coast of California during a violent storm. To read more about these amazing blimps, check out our books on the Hindenburg or airships in general.

International Day of Peace

Tue, 09/19/2006 - 8:07pm by Maxine

On September 21, 2002, the United Nations declared that day International Day of Peace, a time "devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples." This day would be observed by all nations committing to a global ceasefire and non-violence. Vigils, speeches, music and other activities mark the day in cities throughout the world.

There are many peace groups working on a national and local level. Families for Peaceful Tomorrows is a group of people who all lost a family member in the 9/11 tragedy. They have come together to work for peaceful solutions to terrorism.

On the local level, Michigan Peaceworks is a grassroots organization that was organized in response to 9/11 and has grown into a significant activist group working for changes in national policy.

The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom is an international organization connecting people working for peace and justice.

To further explore this topic, check out a new dvd in our collection, Peace One Day a documentary by Jeremy Gilley which portrays one man's attempts to persuade the world to declare a day of non-violence. Anthony C. Zinni has written a persuasive book, The Battle for Peace, encouraging a more in-depth look at causes of international conflict.

Race to the Wire or Don't Stumble Now

Tue, 09/19/2006 - 2:35pm by Robb

In July the Major League Central Division Championship was thought to be won with the Tigers comfortably ahead by 10 & 1/2 games. Instead we've got a real cliffhanger. Will the Tigers hold on and win the division or will they even get the wild card position to get in the playoffs? Given everything bad happening in the Motor City car industry wouldn't it be nice to see our hometown heroes go all the way. Can the Tigers match the 2005 White Sox see the Mike Bauman article who also had a large division lead shrink then come roaring back and win it all in the World Series? It's time for the Tigers to be in the World Series again. Every twenty years isn't too much to ask. The Tigers were in the World Series in 1984, 1968 & 1945.