Blog Post
Author Birthdays: Benét, Robbins, Hinton
by marshd
July 22nd marks the birthday of authors Stephen Vincent Benét, Tom Robbins, and S. E. Hinton.
Stephen Vincent Benét was an American writer probably best known for his short story "The Devil and Daniel Webster." He also won the Pulitzer for his book-length poems John Brown's Body and Western Star.
Benét also wrote an adaptation of the Roman legend of the Rape of the Sabine Women, which he called "The Sobbin' Women." This short story went on to inspire the musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
Tom Robbins is an American author who has been called a "psychedelic son of Mark Twain" by Booklist. He is known for his novels Even Cowgirls Get The Blues and Villa Incognito.
Robbins also has a collection of short stories and essays called Wild Ducks Flying Backward. Many critics have praised his non-fiction essays in the work for their humor.
S. E. Hinton is an American writer of children's, young adult, and adult fiction. She is best known for her teen novel The Outsiders, about friendship, gangs, and families (featuring a character whose name is worth Summer Game points), which was published when she was only 16 years old.
Hinton's adult fiction includes the novel Hawkes Harbor, which is about an orphan raised by nuns, who later goes out into the world to seek adventure, eventually finding an evil monster in a place called Hawkes Harbor.
Blog Post
Nicola's Books Hosts Panel of Fantasy/Sci-Fi Authors
by karaelise
Are you a fan of fantasy or sci-fi? Maybe you're even a fan of both! If so, you will want to be at Nicola's Books on Tuesday, July 26th at 7:00 p.m., when the local book store will be hosting authors , Jim Hines, and Sarah Zettel. Jacqueline Carey is the author of the national bestselling series, Kushiel's Legacy, while Jim Hines is the author of the Goblin Trilogy and Princess Series, in which classic fairy tale princesses are given a new twist. Sarah Zettel is the author of the fantasy series Isavalta, and has also written five sci-fi novels that have garnered wide critical acclaim. These three authors will be discussing current trends for books in the fantasy and sci-fi genres at this free event.
Nicola's Books is located at the Westgate Shopping Center:
2513 Jackson Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Blog Post
July's Books to Film (and a nice way to get out of the heat)
by muffy
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is based on the novel by Lisa See.
China. Parallel stories, generations apart. Two young girls bound together by circumstances, history, and a secret language written on the folds of a white silk fan.
Sarah's Key is based on the novel by Tatiana de Rosnay.
Paris, July 1942: 10 yr.old Sarah locks her younger brother in a secret hiding place to save him from the Nazi round-up. Sixty-seven years later, Julia Jarmond, an American journalist stumbles onto a trail of secrets that link her to Sarah, and to questions about her own romantic future.
The film Cowboys & Aliens is adapted from Scott Mitchell Rosenberg's work of the same title.
1873. Arizona Territory. A stranger with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution, a town that lives in fear. But this stranger the town rejects might just be the only hope from the marauders from the sky.
Based on the real-life experience of Iraqi army lieutenant Latif Yahia as detailed in his book I was Saddam's Son, The Devil's Double recounts how he was ordered to become the body double to Saddam's son- the notorious "Black Prince" Uday Hussein, a reckless, sadistic party-boy with a rabid hunger for sex and brutality.
Good Neighbors is based on Chere Voisine by Chrystine Brouillet.
Neighbors Spencer and Louise have bonded over their fascination with a recent string of murders. When Victor moves in, they hit it off. But as they soon discover, each of them has their own dark secret. What they once thought of as a safe haven is as dangerous as any outside terrors they could imagine.
The First Avenger: Captain America is based on the Marvel Comics series by Ed Brubaker.
Steve Rogers volunteers to participate in an experimental program that turns him into the Super Soldier known as Captain America, joining forces with Bucky Barnes and Peggy Carter to wage war on the evil HYDRA organization, led by the villainous Red Skull.
Blog Post
Hyboria's Next Top Barbarian
by pkooger
Conan the Barbarian is turning 80 this year. He was born in the early ‘30s to Robert E. Howard, a writer for Weird Tales, and immediately became a hero to legions of fans. The beefy barbarian has spent eight decades adventuring throughout the ancient world of Hyboria, battling sorcerers, evil warlords, monsters, and more than a few femme fatales. Read about his adventures in the original series of novels, and continue the journey with the ongoing graphic novel series.
Conan is celebrating his octogenarianism by returning to the silver screen this August in Conan the Barbarian. Portrayed by Jason Momoa, (most recently of Game of Thrones fame) our favorite Cimmerian will continue doing what he does best, busting heads and going primordial on his enemies.
Blog Post
HP and the Deathly Hallows Part Two!
by evelyn
The time of the last Harry Potter movie is almost upon us! On Friday (or Thursday at midnight for those fans who are really dedicated), the second part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be released.
The release of this last movie gives Harry Potter lovers a whole new event to celebrate (and the last, at least until Pottermore is up and running).
Our copies of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, Part One are all checked out, but that doesn't mean you're out of Harry Potter options!
The library owns 66 copies of the book Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows and although excitement is at a fever pitch, as of this writing four of those copies are still available. We also have plenty of other Harry-related items: over 200 of them! So get to reading, watching or listening, and enjoy the last movie!
Blog Post
A Dance with Dragons is HERE!
by DaudiExperience
After six long years of anticipation George R.R. Martin continues his epic Song of Ice and Fire saga with the fifth book in the series titled A Dance with Dragons. Coming three weeks after the season one finale of the critically acclaimed HBO drama Game of Thrones which brought the authors first book in the series to television, George R.R. Martin keeps his ever growing fan base excited and hooked with this next installment to the epic series.
Only seventeen pages into the nine hundred plus page tome it is clear that the author has done it again providing his eager and impatient fans another epic to the series. We can only hope that now with the success of the HBO drama the author will take a greater effort to finish the series in a timely manner to keep the show alive and bring closure to this epic saga.
The first four books in George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire saga in order are Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swordsand A Feast for Crows.
Blog Post
Author Birthdays: Heinlein, Eddings, McCullough
by marshd
July 7th marks the birthday of authors Robert A. Heinlein, David Eddings, and David McCullough.
Robert A. Heinlein was an American author of science fiction and first winner of the Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement. He still holds the record for winning the most Hugo Awards for Best Novel, awarded for Double Star, Starship Troopers, Stranger in a Strange Land, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, and the Retro winner Farmer in the Sky.
Heinlein also had a few Hugo Best Novel short-listed books: Have Space Suit--Will Travel, Glory Road, Time Enough for Love: The Lives of Lazarus Long, Friday, and Job: A Comedy of Justice.
David Eddings was an American writer mostly known for his fantasy series. Many of these series, including The Dreamers, were co-written with his wife, Leigh.
Eddings also wrote some non-fantasy novels. Regina's Song, also written with his wife, is a fictional work about twins and their relationships. Booklist called it "a story of murder and revenge sporting supernatural overtones."
David McCullough is an American author and historian, and winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He has also won the Pulitzer twice for his biographies of Harry S. Truman and John Adams. The HBO television series John Adams and the film Truman were both based on his books.
McCullough has also written non-biographies. His The Path Between The Seas : The Creation Of The Panama Canal, 1870-1914 won four awards in 1978. Library Journal noted that in it "McCullough's careful research and genius for narrative come brilliantly through."
Blog Post
Pottermore Web Site launches on July 31
by Grace22
J.K. Rowling has created Pottermore, a free to use Web site taking readers right into Hogwarts, as a way of thanking her fans. To be launched on July 31, Harry Potter’s birthday, the site gives users access to roam in Harry's world, to uncover back stories and other additional material written by Rowling, including her notes from the time of first writing the stories as well as those written subsequently. “Find your house by answering random questions posed by the sorting hat” and “choose your own wand from Ollivander’s" are just two of the activities. Fans can join in by submitting comments, drawings and other content.
When the whole site goes live in October it will house a shop, the exclusive outlet for digital audiobooks and e-books, which can be accessed on any platform. This brings to an end the long standing speculation about the digital future of the original titles. “Ebooks are here to stay,” Rowling said. “I love books but downloading ebooks is miraculous especially for travel and especially if you have kids. I feel great about taking Harry into this new media.”
Blog Post
Fabulous Fiction Firsts #272
by muffy
I am just going to say it. This might not be for everyone.
Unclean Jobs for Women and Girls, the winner of the Sixth Starcherone Prize for Innovative Fiction and a finalist for the Eric Hoffer Award is also hard to define.
Alissa Nutting's fanciful debut collection of 18 short stories are anything but ordinary, and they will shock, intrigue, provoke and delight you. In "Dinner" a young woman wills herself to fall in love with a kettle-mate as she is being boiled and served. In "Porn Star", an adult reality show actress delivers herself as the prize on the moon to the winner of an all-you-can-eat contest (specialty spacesuit required). In "Ice Melter" a lonely artist who makes ice sculptures for gay pool parties has an unfortunate accident with one of her works. These and other stories in the collection are not-so subtle explorations of body politics and the need for intimacy and connection.
"Nutting's outrageous and excruciating writing makes my face split with laughter, often in public. She's glorious choas and utterly original - read her with joy" ~ Lydia Millet. I can't say it any better.
The author was born in rural Michigan. She is a graduate of the University of Florida and is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She is also the managing editor of Fairy Tale Review.
Blog Post
Author Birthdays: Awdry, Clampitt, Jacques
by marshd
June 15th marks the birthday of authors W. Awdry, Amy Clampitt, and Brian Jacques.
W. Awdry was an English children's author and Anglican reverend. His best known works are those in the Railway Series, from which you may know Thomas the Tank Engine.
Awdry created the stories about the railway in order to comfort his young son Christopher, who had the measles. He wrote a total of 26 books in the series; he also wrote other books, but unfortunately, there are no copies available at Michigan libraries.
Amy Clampitt was an American poet who was first published at the age of fifty-eight. Her first collection, The Kingfisher, made her a known and respected poet in 1983.
Clampitt's fifth and last collection was Silence Opens, which Booklist called "dramatic and wry and always in motion." The collection focuses on crossroads, and includes a poem about the legend of Pocahontas.
Brian Jacques was an English writer most known for his Redwall series; all of the characters in Redwall are animals Jacques passed away due to a heart attack in February, but the last Redwall novel, The Rogue Crew, was released early last month.
Jacques wrote other series, including Castaways of the Flying Dutchman, based on the legend of the Flying Dutchman ship and its survivors, cursed with immortality.