Don't miss a fabulous opportunity to meet Dinaw Mengestu as our Sunday Edition featured speaker on March 11, 2-3:30 p.m. at the Downtown Library.

A nuanced slice of immigrant life, The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears* is a beautifully observed debut from Ethiopian émigré Dinaw Mengestu . (Fabulous Fiction Firsts #54).

Sepha Stephanos, fled the Ethiopian Revolution as a teenager, now he owns a neighborhood grocery store in a section of Washington, D.C going through gentrification. Evenings are spent with other African immigrants until he befriends his new neighbors - Judith, a white academic and her 11 year-old biracial daughter, Naomi.

Racial politics, changing demographics in this formerly poor African American neighborhood threatens his barely profitable shop, as well as his tentative romantic aspirations with Judith. This poignant story makes for a “heart-rending and indelible” first novel.

* = Starred Reviews in Kirkus and Publishers Weekly.

The media is definitely interested in this fiction rising star - just check out Jennifer Reese's article in the current issue of Entertainment Weekly and Bob Thompson's piece in the March 1st edition of the Washington Post

What's it like for a doctor to cope with a life-threatening disease?
Dr. Janet Gilsdorf, Director of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at U-M's Mott Children's Hospital will speak on her book Inside/Outside: A Physician's Journey with Breast Cancer at the library's 'Sunday Edition' program on Sunday, February 11 at the Malletts Creek branch. Dr. Gilsdorf's book, which grew from an essay originally published in a medical journal, describes the experience of coping with a grave medical condition from the vantage point of a physician. It is a deeply personal account of her struggles with the medical, emotional and physical issues associated with her course of treatment, ending with a hopeful outlook. The program is free and open to all. It begins at 3:00 p.m.
Copies of the book will be for sale and a book signing will follow the presentation.

In honor of Martin Luther King Day, local authors Carol Gibson and Lola Jones will be presenting an introduction to the history of the African American community in Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County at the Sunday, January 14 session of 'Sunday Edition' at the Downtown Library at 2:00 pm. Their presentation will be based on their new book Another Ann Arbor, a photographic survey of the history and contributions of African Americans. The program will include a selection of the images from the book. Additional information about the local African American community can be found at the Another Ann Arbor web site. The 'Sunday Edition Program' is free and open to all.

Grace Shackman, well-known Ann Arbor historian and author, will discuss her latest book Ann Arbor Observed at the library's 'Sunday Edition' program on Sunday, December 10 at 2:00 p.m. at the Pittsfield Branch. Ms. Shackman's book consists of a selection of articles she has contributed over the years to the 'Ann Arbor Observer's' 'Then and Now' feature. She will read from the book, speak about her research methods and local history sources and resources. The book, which makes a fine holiday gift, will be for sale at the event and a book signing will follow. It's a great opportunity to meet a delightful local author and learn about some intriguing chapters in Ann Arbor's history.

Michigan Stadium is one of Ann Arbor's significant landmarks and much in the news these days. But what's the story behind how it was originally built? Find out on Sunday, November 12 at 2:00 p.m. at the Malletts Creek Branch library when Robert Soderstrom talks about his fascinating book The Big House: Fielding H. Yost and the building of Michigan Stadium. A U-M graduate and lifelong fan of the Wolverines, the author will talk about the early history of the stadium and present early photographs illustrating its development. The program is part of the library's 'Sunday Edition' monthly book talk series.

If you are interested in feminism, motherhood and the ways that the popular media are portraying and shaping the image of mothers be sure to watch Susan J. Douglas speak on her book The Mommy Myth: The Idealization of Motherhood and How It Has Undermined Women on Ann Arbor's Community Television Cable Channel 17. Douglas, Professor of Communications at the University of Michigan, examines how the mass media have promoted a conception of motherhood which result in unrealistic demands on women. Based on extensive scholarly research, the book is an accessible (and occasionally humorous) look at popular magazines, radio and television and their portrayals of the 'ideal' mother. The program, part of the Library's Sunday Edition author lecture series can be viewed on Tuesday, May 23 at 3:30 p.m.; Thursday, May 25 at 1:30 p.m.; and Friday, May 26 at 5:00 p.m. Video recordings of the program are also available to be borrowed from the library in both VHS and DVD format.

Local psychotherapist and writer Ann Pearlman will discuss her experiences in co-writing Inside the Crips: Life Inside L.A.'s Most Notorious Gang, the autobiogaphy of Colton Simpson, a former gang member and convicted felon, at the library's 'Sunday Edition' program on Sunday, May 7 at the Mallet's Creek branch library. Pearlman, also the author of Infidelity: A Memoir undertook the project, after initially turning it down, to help raise awareness of the dangers of gangs and the effect of gang culture on teens and young people.

In case you missed local novelist and attorney Jonathan Rowe's talk at the library's 'Sunday Edition' program in January you can view his talk this week on local Community Access Cable Channel 17. Rowe discusses his Ann Arbor-based thriller A Question Of Identity, which recounts the tale of an overeducated, underachieving tabloid reporter on the trail of a fugitive 1960's radical. The program is also availabe from the library on DVD. The Cable TV broadcasts can be viewed on Tuesday, May 2 at 3:40 p.m.; Thursday, May 4 at 1:30 p.m.; Friday May 5 at 5:00 p.m.

ANN PEARLMAN, local psychotherapist and author, discussing her new book- INSIDE THE CRIPS: LIFE INSIDE L.A.'S MOST NOTORIOUS GANG

Sunday, May 7 from 2:00 - 3:00 pm at Malletts Creek Branch

Ms. Pearlman, who co-wrote this book with former gang member Colton Simpson, will talk about how she became involved with this fascinating project. Ms. Pearlman is also the author of a memoir, Infidelity, which was turned into a Lifetime TV movie.

You can view local business consultant and author John Baldoni discuss his book Great Communication Secrets of Great Leaders on local Community Televsion Cable Channel 17 on Tuesday, April 18 at 3:30 p.m.; Thursday, April 20 at 1:30 p.m.; Friday, April 21 at 5:00 p.m.; and Saturday, April 22 at 1:30 p.m. He presents an overview of communication styles, techniques and strategies useful for all who need to hone their communication skills. The books also uses illustrative material from notable leaders, both historical and contemporary.

Fred Adams, professor of astrophysics at the University of Michigan and a world-renowned theorist on star and planet foundation, talks about his book Origins of Existence: How Life Emerged in the Universe on Community Access Cable Televison Channel 17 on Tuesday, January 31 at 3:30 p.m.; Thursday, February 2 at 1:30 p.m.; Friday, February 3 at 5:00 p.m.; and Saturday, February 4 at 1:30 p.m. The program was originally recorded in April 2003 as part of the library's 'Booked for Lunch' series, now known as 'Sunday Edition'. Among Dr. Adams' many provocative ideas is that life began inside our planet, not on its surface -- and that the universe exists in a forest of universes in space-time. His talk is also available on VHS Video at the library.

Local author, historian and journalist Richard Bak can be seen on CTN Channel 17 during the week of December 6 through 10 speaking on his fascinating book A Distant Thunder: Michigan in the Civil War. The talk was recorded last December at Mr. Bak’s appearance in the Library’s Sunday Edition book talk series. The book is a comprehensive, well-illustrated chronicle of the contributions and sacrifices of the people of Michigan during the war between the states. Videos of the presentation are also available for home viewing. Mr. Bak is also the author of The Corner: A Century of Memories at Michigan and Trumbull, Detroit: Across Three Centuries and Henry and Edsel: The Creation of the Ford Empire.

Communications consultant and motivational speaker Carol Dunitz's most recent book, Louder Than Thunder: A Business Parable, focuses on the importance of listening for managers and leaders, but is also relevant to all kinds of interpersonal communication. The author will present her ideas on communication at the Library's next "Sunday Edition" program on Sunday, November 13 at the Downtown Library at 2:00 p.m. Dunitz, who has degrees in English, Speech and Theater, has been active in advertising, public relations and speech writing. Her presentations are lively entertainments complete with costumes and music. More information about the author and the book can be found at the following web site.

Ann Arbor’s own Davy Rothbart, writer and magazine publisher, can be seen on CTN Channel 17 this week, speaking on his collection Found:The Best Lost, Tossed, and Forgotten Items from Around the World. The program, part of the library’s 'Sunday Edition' series, was recorded in May. It can be viewed on October 4 at 3:30 p.m., October 6 at 1:30 p.m., October 7 at 5:00 p.m., and on October 8 at 1:30 p.m. Rothbart, a graduate of Community High and the University of Michigan, is the creator of Found magazine which publishes the text of the discarded bits of people’s lives: receipts, shopping lists, unsent letters, personal notes, etc. During the program he also reads one of the stories in his eagerly-awaited, just-released collection of stories The Lone Surfer of Montana, Kansas.

Thomas Lynch, the American Book Award winning author of The Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade has recently published a new work reflecting on his Irish-American ancestry and many visits to his ancestral home during the past three decades. Booking Passage: We Irish and Americans is a loving mixture of reminiscence, family history, travel writing, cultural and social commentary, and meditation on the complexities of ethnic heritage. A funeral director in Milford, Michigan, Lynch is also an acclaimed poet. He is scheduled to speak about and read from his new book at the Library’s 'Sunday Edition' program on Sunday, October 8 at 2:00 p.m. at the Downtown Library.