Book and Dagger: How Scholars and Librarians Became the Unlikely Spies of World War II, Elyse Graham Elyse Graham is a professor and historian at Stony Brook University, which is part of the State University of New York system. In an interview with Tobias Carroll in October of 2024, she explained that she was researching the CIA and discovered the hidden role librarians and academics
Let me ask you this– Where were you and what were you doing 25 years ago this time of year? That would have been the year 2000. It was the year that Malcolm Gladwell published his well-known book The Tipping Point. This book made quite a splash and catapulted Gladwell to fame as a writer. The phrase ‘the tipping point’ became part of our everyday
And ‘no’, I don’t mean that they are being presented to society. They have published their first book! That is very special for them and for us because the books listed below have been reviewed by many readers who overwhelmingly enjoyed them. Here they are: Welcome to the Hynam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum This book has caused a real sensation in Korea. It has already
Marty Drake, a long time blog reader from Chattanooga, suggested The Plaza: The Secret Life of America’s Most Famous Hotel by Julie Satow. Any time my husband and I went to Manhatten, he would point out the hotel because his father always relished staying there while in the city for business. That was during the Mad Men days and generous expense accounts. The Plaza Hotel
Very often in history, there are women whose role is either forgotten or entirely erased. In the past few years, however, we have seen a spate of books written by authors whose purpose is bring to life some of these women. The following books do just that and are worth your consideration. Enjoy! A Pair of Wings by Carole Hopson is a book that will
I came across the following article that appeared in a recent copy of The Guardian. Ardent readers will appreciate!! A would-be burglar in Rome was caught after stopping to read a book on Greek mythology in the middle of a theft, Italian media reports. The 38-year-old reportedly gained access to a flat in the Italian capital’s Prati district via the balcony but became distracted after
It’s amazing what one can find by being a member of Facebook–lost friends, recipes, and sometimes a worthy bit of info. The information below is based entirely on an article that appeared on my Facebook feed from a group entitled English Literature. But first, take a look at the picture below to guess what the article is about…. So, what did you think? A girl
Below are well-known “Last Lines of Novels.” See if you can identify the novel. This is embarrassingly easy, by the way. 2. “I got to light out for the Territory ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally she’s going to adopt me and sivilize me, and I can’t stand it. I been there before.” 3. “But I don’t think us feel old at all. And
This post will discuss two books. The Briar Club, by Kate Quinn, is getting a lot of attention partly because critics and readers like Kate Quinn and the other books she has written. The other new book is entitled The House Keepers, by Alex Hay. They both have a cast of interesting and capable women. The Briar Club is set in the McCarthy era in
The following books focus on mothers, not JUST as their role as mothers, but the motherhood role figures prominently in the stories. These books promise to be entertaining–good August reads! Same as It Ever Was, by Claire Lombardo, is about a mother who feels like she’s reached a plateau in her life–things are pretty good for her at age 57. Guess what? Right. Her kids
Almost everyone has heard of Harriett Tubman. Unable to read and only five feet tall, Tubman escaped from slavery and founded the Underground Railroad. She paved the way for hundreds of enslaved Africans to escape to the North. She was undoubtely a true American hero, and her picture is proposed to appear on the $20 bill. Right now, Andrew Jackson is on the twenty. (I
Venus Williams has had an incredible career in tennis, and she has garnered amazing support for the sport. Success, however, did not come easy for Williams, particularly after she was diagnosed with an incurable autoimmune disorder. In order to navigate her new reality, she developed both holistic and scientific approaches to manage her health and her performance. The new book shares eight principles she uses
So many of our favorite authors have new books that have just come out. This post will merely list the books so you will know about them and include a very short description. So many books/so little time!! Kate Atkinson, Death at the Sign of the Rook–Atlkinson returns with another story of Jackson Brodie. Matt Haig, The Life Impossible–Author of The Midnight Library writes about
Many of you know that I grew up in East Tennessee, very close to Dayton, the site of The Scopes Trial, nicknamed the ‘Monkey Trial’. I must admit, however, that I still know very little about the issues around the trial except that it involved teaching evolution. I went inside the courthouse once. I have never seen any of the many movies based on the
Today, Sunday, August 11, Post and Courier writer Adam Parker wrote a column in which he had book reviewers for the paper name their most outstanding book (so far) of 2024. Several of the books named are familiar ones, such as Salmon Rushdie’s Knife and Percival Everett’s James. Two reviewers, however, talked about ones less familiar, ones that I had not read about or considered
This from a good friend from Altanta– Here is our club book list for 2024-25. We don’t have a name but we referto ourselves as “Bookies.” James, Percival Everett Read in conjunction with Huckleberry Finn. The Heaven and Earth Grocery Story, James McBride The North Woods: a Novel, Daniel Mason The Bee Sting, Paul Murray Land of Milk and Honey, C. Pam Zhang The Prophet
I just finished watching the new documentary about Adolf Hitler entitled Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial. World War II seems to be of great interest to people my age for some reason. I never tire of seeing clips of those brave guys wading onto the beaches in France. Luckily, we got to visit Normandy about 15 years ago. It truly felt like hallowed
If you watch The PBS Newhour, you may have noticed that they have added a feature entitled CANVAS in which they look into current cultural matters. On June 6 of this year, they featured new books for summer. I enjoyed hearing what Ann Patchett had to say. The man on the segment, however, was a little far out for me!! Hope you enjoy watching. ww.pbs.org ›
If you wrote a book, would you give the title a subtitle? According to mental floss, June 24, 2024, publishers would sometimes give a book a subtitle if they thought the title alone would not entice a reader to read the book. The subtitle gave a little more information or made the book sound more exciting. This quiz is to text several things on your
Husbands, by Holly Gramazio, is really a fantasy. I mean, how can someone open their attic door and always find a new husband up there each time? Think “Bewitched” with lots of Darrens. And why would somone read this book? Well, Washington Post reviewer Elizabeth Hand, April 5, 2024, writes “There’s something delightfully addictive about Holly Granmazio’s fiction debut…a bottomless champagne flute of a novel
Politics aside, I was touched by something Nikki Haley is quoted as saying about her father, among other heartfelt tributes to him. “My parents were more American than anyone I knew.” So, what does it mean to be American? Who IS an American? Real Americans is the title of a new book by Rachel Khong. Her story is one of Chinese Americans, three generations of
We have recently read a lot about James, the alternative narrative of the enslaved character in Huckleberry Finn. That novel and many others are set, in part, on the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River is certainly, in many ways, a defining natural feature of the United States. It either borders or runs through ten states. Remember trying to learn how to spell Mississippi. I still
This summer, instead of reading ‘beach books’, you might want to get ready to meet and listen to some of the already-announced authors who will be at the Charleston Literary Festival. The festival announced a few of the ‘stars’ today, and I am including the ones whose books I want to read. Some of these books have already been mentioned on the blog. I’ve got
Before I introduce you to the new book that Craig Foster wrote, I want to talk about a video he made. “My Octopus Teacher”, documentary film Oscar winner of 2021, is an incredible story that takes place in the depths of the ocean off the coast of South Africa. It is here that Foster meets an octopus one day while diving. He keeps company with
American Daughters, by Piper Huguley, is based on the real life friendship of Portia Washington and Alice Roosevelt. Alice Roosevelt, of course, was the daughter of Teddy Roosevelt. Booker T. Washington was Portia’s father. While the two women were different in their aspirations and social status, they shared a desire to support their famous fathers. Through their letters to one another, the author reveals both
Gilbert Cruz is the editor of The New York Times Book Review. He has suggested three books that his team thinks are the best books of 2024 so far. Two are surprises, and one certainly is not. That book is James, by Percival Everett. I don’t think I can overemphasize the power of this book judging from the critical reviews. A wonderful opportunity awaits those
The Librarian of Burned Books author, Brianna Labuskes, has written a new book entitled The Lost Book of Bonn. The new book is also about a librarian. The story begins when the Library of Congress sends Emmy Clarke to Germany to rescue literature that the Nazis had practically destroyed during World War II. Once in Germany and while going through discarded books, Clarke discovers a
The Sandcastle Book Club has published its reading list for 2024-25. It appears below. If your book club has a new list, please send it to me, and I will put it on the blog. Sandcastle Book Club book list for 2024-2025 September 9, 2024 The Frozen River, Ariel Lawhon—The fictionalized story of real life midwife and general practitioner Martha Ballard, who lived in colonial
From Becki McSwain–And in follow-up to Reading Around’s post on Jimmy Fallon’s bookclub, Annie Bot is a great read for those who wonder how we’ll be integrating robots with humans. It’s multi-layered and ethically thought-provoking. Word of caution: it’s very sexual. So if you find that offensive and you don’t want to skip over those parts, you might want to pass on this book. On
Book Clubs are not a recent phenomenon. They go back as far as the 17th Century. But this post is not about the history of book clubs in general. Instead, I am featuring Celebrity Book Clubs! The undisputed ‘queen’ of celebrity book clubs is Oprah Winfrey. Now we have Reading with Jenna and Reese’s Book Club. In fact, a recent article in the NYT about
(Taken from a Mental Floss quiz, May 13, 2024) Sometimes authors begin writing a book without knowing exactly what the title will be once they finish. They may give the book a ‘working title.’ Other times, the author’s editor will suggest that the title be changed in order to better describe the subject or sell the book. This quiz is a shortened version of one
People often use the word ‘awe’ is ways that don’t do it justice. For example, we may say to someone, “That was just awesome!” when what we witnessed was that person doing something exemplary but not necessarily really ‘awesome’. Young people seem to use the term quite a bit. Another expression we may say is, “I am just in awe of the way you make
FICTION WINNER Night Watch, by Jayne Anne Phillips–A story about a mother and a daughter surviving war and its aftermath. HISTORY WINNER No Right to an Honest Living by Jacqueline Jones–An examination of the American West and its transition during the mid 19th Century. BIOGRAPHY WINNER King: A Life, by Jonathan Eig–A biography of a well known man based on newly released materials. MEMOIR OR
The first book a friend recommended is Absolution by Alice McDermott. I enjoyed the book but kept wondering what the “absolution” was, who the absolution was for. The book is set in Viet Nam in 1963. The main characters are American women whose husbands work in the country. My friend liked it because, “the writing style is lovely, the story takes place in my young
Julia and James are both family names that show up frequently on our family tree. Don’t worry. I don’t plan to bore you with the details. These names are also the titles of two separate books that have recently been published. We can start with the one that has been getting the most attention. James, by Percival Everett, is a reimagining of Huckelberry Finn but
This photo was taken at the Morgan Library in New York City. Amazing amount of books, right? I didn’t get a picture of J. P. Morgan’s office, but I did go into the room and imagined Belle da Costa Greene standing in front of his desk. It must have been daunting for her at first. If you haven’t already, read The Personal Librarian, written by
I am aware that the books I often feature are Women’s Literary Fiction or Historical Fiction. I am not apologizing at all. I realize, however, that I could broaden the scope of the blog. This entry, therefore, will cite four new non-fictions that you probably only want to read if you want to know more about: The Bible, Baseball, Ballet or the Civil War. Actually,
Does anyone still stay up late enough to watch The Tonight Show? Do we remember who the host is now? While researching a new book by Sierra Greer entitled Annie Bot, I ran across this news flash (at least for me) that Jimmy Fallon, host of The Tonight Show, has a book club and apparently has had one for some while. He is ‘reviving’ it
Two recent books take a look at something we usually don’t notice or even think about. For example, if you have taken a cruise through the Panama Canal, you were certainly in awe of the engineering feat that made this artificial waterway and its series of locks possible. After all, the canal is one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. BUT, did you
This just in from the Charleston Literary Festival–a chance to see and hear authors from past festivals talk about their books. If you click ‘view this email in your browser’, you will see the posting from the festival. Then click on the author’s name to watch the video. These talks are very interesting and entertaining. View this email in your browser In honor of International
These following two books are very different from one another and will probably appeal to different readers. It’s always good to have a choice, isn’t it? The Beverly Hills Spy: The Double-Agent War Hero Who Helped Japan Attack Pearl Harbor, is a book by Ronald Drabkin about real life double agent Frederick Rutland. Rutland was a “James Bond-type” figure who had been a highly decorated
In this post, I feature two new books of fiction, one contemporary and one historical, one about a forest fire and the other about an icy dead body! They are both very compelling. The Book of Fire by Christy Lefteri takes place on a tiny Greek island and is about a family whose lives are traumatized by a deliberately set fire. After the wildfires in
Three books of interest that will be adapted to TV in the future. Trust, Hernan Diaz I haven’t read this book, but it won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction. Kate Winslet will star in the tale of a financier couple, told in four parts, and their immersion into wealth and power. The movie will air on HBO Max–release date TBA. A Gentleman in Moscow,
Have you ever had to write a ‘Dear John’ letter? It’s a cop-out of sorts because a face-to-face break up is probably better, BUT many people take the easy route. I ran across a very interesting article in the ‘mental floss’ section of the January 24, 2024 edition of Shelf Awareness, written by Ellen Gutoskey. I took a few of the excepts from the Dear
Kristen Hannah’s The Women has been verified by people, whose judgement in books I trust, as a book worth reading! Yes, so now I plan to read it and possibly suggest it as a book for my book club next month. Above is a picture of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial on The National Mall in Washington, D. C. It is the only memorial dedicated to
A few days ago, J. D. Biersdorfer published a quiz in the NYT to test our knowledge about sequels to best selling books. I have streamlined the quiz and eliminated the multiple choice aspect. You must come up with the name of the sequel on your own in order to win! Please, no cheating. No Internet searches, OK? After you take the quiz, please let
The February 11, 2024, edition of the Post and Courier featured three new books, all of which sounded worth reading—– Redwood Court A featured article written by Maura Hogan talks about a poet turned fiction writer. The writer is DeLana R. A. Dameron who grew up in Columbia, South Carolina. She starts her story by telling us about her childhood life on Redwood Court in
So many good books are out there just waiting for you to read them. Don’t have time? I get it; but, if you do find the time, look into these two: Mercury, by Amy Jo Burns New York Times reviewer Mary Beth Keane wrote in the December 30, 2023 issue of the newspaper about a book set in a fictional town in near Pittsburgh. The
In the past few days, I’ve had two readers suggest books to me. One of the books is Sisters Under The Rising Sun, by Heather Morris. Not just another World War II book, this story is set on a remote island in the Pacific inside an infamous Japanese POW camp. Immediately, I asked my daughter, who told me about the book, if it was hard
Am I the only one who thinks that The Nightingale was Kristin Hannah’s only good book? OK, before you sign off from the blog, let me just say that it was, in my opinion, her best book by which all the others are judged and found to fall short. So, for those of us like me, we will have to decide whether or not to
In this next ‘installment’ of Winter Reads I feature two memoirs and one biography. These are all very differnt books, and each one has something to offer. Two of them will not be published until February so keep an eye out or preorder. Whiskey Tender: A Memoir, by Deborah Jackson Taffa will be available on February 27. Taffa was raised in Navajo territory in New
David Schaeffer, a retired attorney who moved here from Atlanta, is a Kiawah Island resident with a hit book! Schaeffer has written several books, actually, about hiking and mountain climbing. The new book, Letters from Sweeden, is a different kind of book with a very interesting background. Remember when people used to write letters? I do. My mother saved letters that I wrote to her
Now that January is here, we can focus more on reading! But what will we read? In the next few weeks, I will be featuring books that have come out at the very end of 2023 or early in 2024. Read some of these books now so that you will be able to offer suggestions for you book clubs when they choose new books in
The blog entry about our natural world was published BEFORE the turtle book showed up! We know turtles can move slowly, but they should have been worth my waiting for. Oh well, here it is–Of Time and Turtles Need I say more? Probably not because many of the blog readers are already crazy about turtles. Sy Montgomery is a well-known naturalist and a gifted writer
HarperCollinsPublishers recommends several books for self-improvement in the new year. After reading about these books, I have picked three that you might want to consder. njuta: The Swedish Art of Savoring the Moment by Niki Brantmark is a book that celebrates Swedish culture. The word ‘njuta’ means ‘enjoy’ or ‘delight in.’ This principal, as explained in the book, is a way to find happiness in
Those of us who live on Kiawah and in other scenic parts of the world know how much joy we derive from communing with nature. In my case, it’s the wildlife I love the most. This time of year, I look out onto the golf course and see, every morning, about 8 white ibis congregating on the bank of the pond and then pecking their
There were many books published in 2023 that are certainly worth reading but that we didn’t have time for. Of course we don’t have time to read all the good books. My friend Rebecca Peace has an Instagram spot called beckyonbooks. She lives in Saint Simons Island, Georgia. In her most recent post she says “If you have not read these books, don’t delay. Each
It has been years since I have looked through a copy of Parade Magazine. I used to read it every time I visited the beauty salon in Atlanta. I haven’t lived in Atlanta for fifteen years, so I guess I haven’t looked at a Parade Magazine since then. The magazine, while focusing mostly on sensational Hollywood stories, had some great ideas for books to give
This just in from Goodreads, books which were voted on by readers: Best Fiction Yellowface, R. F. Kuang Best Historical Fiction Weyward, Emily Hart The author tells the story of three women across five centuries. In the Southern Review of Books, May 17, 2023, Nicole Yurcaba writes that the book is one that “hums with endurance and carfully places a magnifying glass over the complexities
Susan Zurenda contacted me several months ago about her new book The Girl From the Red Rose Motel. I recently had a chance to read indepth reviews about the book, and I think it is one followers may want to buy or order, especially since so many of you have worked with students. Amber Wheeler Bacon, in the Southern Review of Books, September 8, 2023,
This one from Shelf Awareness FictionAmerica Fantastica by Tim O’Brien (Mariner)Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Ajdei-Brenyah (Pantheon)Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Ruiz (Little, Brown)In Memoriam by Alice Winn (Knopf)The Laughter by Sonora Jha (HarperVia)Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward (Scribner)Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes (Avid Reader Press)Prophet by Helen Macdonald & Sin Blaché (Grove Press)Shark Heart by Emily Habeck (Marysue Rucci Books)Whalefall by Daniel Kraus (MTV Books) NonfictionBetter
FICTION WINNER Blackouts, Justin Torres NONFICTION WINNER The Rediscovery of America, Ned Blackhawk Books of interest that were finalists in the selection process: Chain-Gang All-Stars, Nana Kwane Adjei-Brenyah (mentioned in an earlier blog post, this book is a type of “hunger games” meets the private prison system.) The End of Drum-Time, Hanna Pylvainen This author sets her fictional story in 1851 Scandinavia and tells,with exquisite
Yes, and I don’t mean Christmas lists. I mean the ones that reflect on the best books of 2023. The New York Times has already come out with its list, so take a look: The Bee Sting, Paul Murray An Irish family pulls together to overcome the 2008 financial cirisis as well as their own individual demons in a book that is full of hopefulness
Two blog readers responded with some recommendations for short books. Thank you to Beverly and Bette. Beverly Biersdorf–“Yes, I was going to mention “Animal Farm.” Also, from back in the day, I would mention “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway (96 pp) and “Jonathan Living Seagull” by Richard Bach (144 pp). More current short reads are “Tuesdays with Morrie” by Mitch Albom
Remember these books–The Space Between Us by Thridy Umriger, Tuesdays with Morey by Mitch Albom and West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge? I have read two of these books for a book club, West with Giraffes just recently. The good news is that these were three very good and popular books. The better news is that each of the three authors has written a new
After the many responses from the Long Books blog entry, a reader suggested that I ask folks about short books they have read and would recommend. Even if you absolutely LOVE long books, there could be a time when you really don’t have time!! The Goodreads newsletter for October 25, 2023, featured 68 short books to read–some classics and some fairly new. I list a
Thanks to several blog readers who responded to the question about long books. Since it is difficult to see responses on a particular blog entry, I have copied all of the replies. I hope you enjoy reading them and get some new ideas for long books that are worth the time. Length is not an issue, just love a great book. Two of my favorite
If you attended the Our World presentation on Kiawah Island on November 3, which I did, you now know who Alice Marble is. Before, I had never heard of her, who she was, what she did and why someone would write a book about her. Robert Weintraub set the record straight in his lecture about his new book The Divine Miss Marble: A Life of
Another friend and blog reader Peg Michel told me yesterday that she is reading AND enjoying the newest biography about Senator Mitt Romney. While always thinking of Romney as a ‘good’ man, I can’t shake the image of him and his large family traveling to California in a station wagon with their German shepherd riding in a doggie crate on top of the car! At
A blog reader and friend Madeleine Kaye suggested that I ask readers a different question each month in order to solicit participation in the blog. She even supplied the questions!! I concur that the idea is a good one. So please take the time, when you finish reading this entry, to reply to November’s question (submitted by Madeleine). Your answer will be featured for other
Remember Amanda Gorman? She was the youngest presidential inaugural poet! Her inspiring rendition of “The Hill We Climb” charmed every single person that watched President Biden’s inauguration. Gorman has now written her second children’s book entitled Something, Someday. Caldecott Honor artist Christian Robinson illustrates the book, making it bright and cheery and full of hope. You might have a child on your Christmas list or
Right now, in Nashville, Tennessee, 150 authors are gathering for the 35th Annual Southern Festival of Books. I keep thinking I will go one of these years. As you know, I am a loyal fan of Southern Literature. Someone always asks ‘What is Southern Literature?’ Is it anything written by an author from the South about the South? What’s the big deal? Sarah Beth West,
Nita Prose, author of The Maid, took on a new role when she wrote her debut novel. Her first job was, and still is, at Simon and Schuster in Canada as Editorial Director. Prose admits that being an editor gives her an advantage becasue she knows what publishers need to make a book a success. And quite a success The Maid was, winning many awards
Readers of this blog may think that I am obsessed with St. Jerome. Well, I am not, BUT I keep running into him on my limited travels. As you may recall, he is the patron saint of libraries; and, therefore, he treasures books and the knowledge they hold. So, I saw his statue in Washington, D.C. Now, perusing the National Gallery in London, which has
Actually Lee Smith is not in a league of her own, but she is among a handful of female literary authors that have won the respect of critics all over the country. Many times she is referred to as a premiere Southern Author, and that is true. A reviewer for the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner wrote, “Lee Smith seems to have taken the torch flung from
On a recent trip to Washington, D. C., I ran into this statue of someone obviously reading. It made me think about the Sandcastle Book Club and the blog. Upon further investigation, I realized this person is Saint Jerome the Priest. This particular statue was sculpted in 1954 by Ivan Mestrovic and sits in front of the Croatian Embassy on Massachusetts Avenue. Mestrovic was born
When I published the post featuring books about strong women, I added a quiz. One blog reader answered all questions correctly! Congrats, Cathy Hill. Several readers sent in their favorite ‘strong woman’ character. Someone named the main character in Lessons in Chemistry. Fortunately, strong women are characters in many of the novels we read now–quite a change from fifty years ago. I have come across
Many of you enjoy looking at reading lists from other book clubs. I have copied and pasted them ‘as is’ so please excuse formating problems. If you have additional book club lists, don’t forget to send them to me. Thank you. 2023 – 2024 Coasters Book Schedule Mondays at 2:00 p.m.The 1st Monday of the month except September and January Date Book
I have always marvelled at how so many people learn to read and write in Braille. On the surface, the system for visually impaired people looks very complicated. It seems astounding to me that “a blind person can read braille faster than a sighted person can read print.” This fact is taken from an article written by Kelli Finger and published in July 31, 2023,
Although I haven’t had a chance to read any of these books yet, they are featured in every promotional publication I see. While the title of this entry is “Try one of these new books”, the fact is that they aren’t so new anymore. In fact, several of them have shown up on book club reading lists already. The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, James
There is no prettier place on earth than the Southern Appalachian Mountains. They have been glazed by a magic wand. Frances Boyd, August 15, 2023 For several years after I read Hillbilly Elegy, written by J. D. Vance, I felt an urgent need to defend the place my ancestors settled long long ago. Somehow the book just seemed to portray everyone from Appalachia as being
In this multiple choice quiz, you will be asked to identify the book that features a strong female protaganist. Good luck. And yes, I have read all of the correct answers. That could be a hint for some!! Submit your answers by September 1, 2023 a. Great Circle b. The Forest of Vanishing Stars c. Barkskins d. Forest Dark 2. This novel addresses generational trauma
George VI and Elizabeth: The Marriage That Saved the Monarchy, by Sally Bedell Smith IF you aren’t tired of reading about ‘the royals’ in Great Britain, then you might enjoy George VI and Elizabeth. We all know the story. We’ve all seen The King’s Speech. We all know that Queen Elizabeth and her mother lived very long and eventful lives. BUT, do we know the
Sometimes blog readers comment on posts, but their comments aren’t easily viewed due to the construction of the blog. For this reason, I am sharing their comments with you here– From Kathy Abrams–Two books I would recommend (although I’m not Bill Gates) The Measure by Nikki Erlick and Someone Else’s Shoes by Jo Jo Moyes Both books would make great discussion books for book clubs.
A pescatarian is a person who does not eat meat but eats fish. A pescatarian may or may not eat animal products such as eggs or cheese. So, why do I mention this on a blog about books? BECAUSE, I have a personal interest in the topic! I am a pescatarian and I just read about a new book that explains the entire reason I
For the past several years in his Gates Notes, Bill Gates has recommended books for summer reading. This year he only recommended two books. The first is certainly one that would appeal to Bill Gates. It’s about two friends who come together while in college to design a video game. No wonder he liked it, right? Gabrielle Zevin worte Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. It
This post focuses on two books, both non-fiction. While several authors have recently taken it upon themselves to research and write about previously uncelebrated women, most of these books are fictionalized accounts. Marie Benedict is one such author who has contributed much to our knowledge about important women. Her books are enousmously interesting and entertaining. The two books highlighted below, however, are not fiction. They
Some people like to read ‘beach books’ in the summer. Others would rather use extra leisure time to tackle longer and more serious books. If you fall into the latter category, you might be interested in the following two books. They are both fiction, but they are far from ‘flights of fancy’, so to say. Take a look– The Covenant of Water, Abraham Verghese Remember
You can read these books in the summer or ANYTIME. They are quaranteed to be fun! The Guest, Emma Cline — The author of The Girls continues to exhibit her literary skills in a story about a 22 year old girl who gets herself evicted from an older man’s home in the Hamptons and roams around–where? Read something the Washington Post calls “smoldering.” Pineapple Street,
National Humanities Medals are awarded each year to individuals or groups whose work has promoted individuals’ engagement with literature, history, languages, philosophy and other humanities subjects. Among the recipeints of the 2021 awards, presented by President Biden on May 5, 2023, are authors we know well. Ann Patchett Walter Isaacson Amy Tan Tara Westover Colin Whitehead Pulitzer Prize Winners for 2023 Demon Copperhead, Barbara Kingsolver–fiction–A
Remember hearing about Corrie ten Boom? She and her father were watchmakers in Holland. During WWII, she saved countless Jews from the Gestapo and was put in a concentration camp once discovered. She lived to tell about it all in her book The Hiding Place. Larry Loftis has written the first biography of ten Boom entitled The Watchmaker’s Daughter. The Wall Street Journal calls it
HarperCollins Publishers recently offered a list of books that would be ideal for summer reading. I have gone through this list and featured three totally differnt types of books. Hopefully at least one will appeal to you. Happy reading…… Pete and Alice in Maine, Caitlin Shetterly Very few people have fond memories of the pandemic days, however, this novel will interest readers because it is
Several people have asked me what the Sandcastle Book Club is going to read for ’23-’24. The list is below: Books for 2023-24 Sandcastle Book Club September 18 Hang the Moon, Jeannette Walls Ficiton October 2 Black Cake , Charmaine Wilkerson Fiction November 13 West with Giraffes, Lynda Rutledge Historical Fiction December 11 The Librarian of Burned Books, Brianna Labuskes Historical Fiction
Below are six literary quotes about mothers. Identify the book each comes from, as well as the author, and you will win a prize–one of the featured books of your choice! Please have your answers into me by May 19 to be eligible for the prize. AND no fair using Chatbot!! 2. “Perhaps it takes courage to raise children.” 3. “He didn’t realize that love
We see it on a daily basis. We worry about it. We realize the damage it does to families and society at large. We try to help. What is IT? POVERTY. Headlines of the Washington Post , reviews in the NYT and features on NPR showcase a new book by Matthew Desmond entitled Poverty, by America. While this blog is never meant to be political,
Everyone includes Oprah Winfrey and Rebecca Peace, to name a few. Listen to a clip of Oprah discussing the 100th book she has chosen for her book club. You will need to click once on the photo of Oprah and then sit through an Ad, but then you will hear her speak about the book. http://oprahdaily.com Rebecca Peace, whose has an Instagram Blog, also loves
Jeannette Walls, Hang the Moon Remember The Glass Castle? It is hardly a book one can forget. It’s actually Jeannette Walls’ memoir of growing up with two of the most disfunctional parents one can imagine!! Walls went on to write several novels. Her latest one, Hang the Moon, will be released March 28. Sat in Virginia during Prohibition, the book tells the story of Sallie
I was reminded just now that Nora Ephron’s book Heartburn turns 40 this year. I don’t think I ever read it! An article by Tobias Mutter in Shelf Awareness reminded me that the ‘novel’ is a thinly veiled version of Ephron’s own life and her husband’s (THE Carl Bernstein of All the President’s Men) affair. A movie version of the book was released in 1986
I haven’t thought about Judy Blume for a long time. That is, until today when a friend who recently returned from Key West told me a great story about her. Little did I know that Blume owned a book store in Key West. It’s called Books and Books. While in Key West, my friend visited the book story and asked a nice woman if Judy
Ron Charles, Book critic for the Washington Post, asked his Book Club members to describe to him what most annoy them in books. I list a few of them below: –Dreams (Worked for Dickens and Shakespeare, but apparently many readers don’t like dream sequences.) –Typos and grammatical errors –Overused and pretentious words (lugubrious, lubricious and preternatural to name a few) –Excessive length (Of books, paragraphs,
3. In which American novel is Daisy married to Tom but loved by Jay? 4. If Eponin loves Marius but Marius loves Cosette—which French novel are you reading? 5. Which Shakespeare character finally declares his love with the words, “I do love nothing in the world so well as you: is not that strange?” 6. Who thinks she loves Ashley, marries Charles (who dies) and
“Truth is stranger than ficiton” is a worn out statement, but it can be remarkably true. Such is the case in the following two books. These books are NOT historical fiction. The first book was written by Ilyon Woo, a writer whose research for the book was funded by National Endowment for the Humanities. Woo received a PhD in English from Columbia University. Master Slave
In the December 21, 2022, edition of BookBub, Hannah Reynolds writes that she read 82 books in 2022. Wow. That’s a lot of reading. She reports that she reads ALL the time–on the subway, when she wakes up in the morning, when she goes to sleep at night. Out of the 82 books she read, she lists her five favorites so I thought I would
Wylie and her husbad purchased a home on Kiawah Island in 2020. I recently met Wylie Small, a part time Kiawah resident who also happens to be an author! Her specialty is English history. Wylie sent me the following background information: My love of English history developed when I began to work on my family’s genealogy, about fifteen years ago. Both of my parents had
The House in the Pines, Ana Reyes Ana Reyes has just realized a writer’s dream. After her first novel was published, it was chosen as the Reese Witherspoon book for January! Amazing, right? Now, of course, it’s on the NYT best seller list. Who is Ana Reyes and what is her book about? Ana Reyes received an MFA from LSU in 2015, at which time
The House of Eve, by Sadeqa Joahnson, tells the story of two American women during the 1950’s. One lives in Philadelphia and the other in Washington, D.C. Their lives intersect as they struggle to find their place in a world where the odds seem stacked against them. Johnson takes episodes from her own life and weaves in historical characters for a very engaging novel. River
This book was written by Jens Andersen, a writer of biographies who was born in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1955. He had rare access to the inner workings of the global Lego company and interviewed members of the Danish family that founded it. The book contains rare photos that date back to the early days of the company when Legos were made in a small carpentry
Although it’s a little late to be talking about some of the best books of 2022, here we go anyway– “Book of the Month” best of the best for the year Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Gabriell Zevin National Book Awards Fiction–The Rabbit Hutch, Tess Gunty Non-fiction–South to America, Imari Perry Book Browse Award Winners best fiction–Horse, Geraldine Brooks best non-fiction–In Love, Amy Bloom best
Author Virginia Beach spoke at the River Course Clubhouse on Kiawah Island on January 11 at the annual joint meeting and luncheon of the Sandcastle Book Club and the Kiawah Island Club Book Club. Beach’s recent book American Landmark tells the story of Charles Duell and the rebirth of Middleton Place. Accompanying Beach and speaking with her is Brandon Stone, the Middleton Place Manager of
Winner wins a book (of her/his choice) mentioned in the quiz. 1.Which of these books is most closely associated with Highclere Castle? a. Below Stairs by Margaret Powell b. The House of Gucci: A sensational Story of Mrder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed by Sara G. Forden c. In the Valley of the Kings: Howard Carter and Mystery of King Tutankhamun’s Tomb by Daniel Meyerson d.
So many books, so little time. Here are a few suggestions from the many publishers I follow: Kate Morton is an author you probably know. This book will not be released until April 4, but keep it in mind if you like Kate Morton. Her books have a little bit of suspense, drama and satisfying endings. Homecoming From best-selling author Margareta Magnusson, we have The
Last night while watching the PBS News Hour, Peg Michel and I both viewed a bit from two respected book critics about the best books of 2022. Want to read works that the literary ‘experts’ loved? Well, here’s a few snipets of what they said: The Candy House by Jennifer Egan–not surprising, really. One either likes Jennifer Egan or not. I appreciate her writing skills
I hope you enjoyed seeing what blog followers are reading, have read and are going to read. After canvassing a few more friends, I began to see a trend. Many people have thoroughly enjoyed Lincoln Highway. No surprise there. Other very popular books are Horse and Demon Copperhead. I could be wrong here, but I think we ‘Southern girls’ may be more interested in Barbara
Today, November 4, 100 years ago, Howard Carter, British archaeologist, discovered King Tut’s tomb. The remarkable story of that discovery is told by Jo Merchant in a recent Smithsonian magazine. To read this story, click the link below. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-howard-carter-discovered-king-tuts-golden-tomb-180981052/ John and Colleen Darnell, a husband and wife Egyptology team, have authored a book about King Tut’s parents, Akhenaten and Nerfertiti. Sometimes overlooked, these two rulers’
Remember High School Biology? How much fun was it to draw and label cells. I especially liked the Golgi bodies. If you liked biology and learning how things in the body work, then you might enjoy a new book by Suddhartha Mukherjee. Dr. Mukherjee’s lab at CU/NYU Presbytarian Hospital focuses on discovering new cancer drugs. He has written a number of books about cancer and
Many of you will remember Sue Monk Kidd’s historical novel The Invention of Wings. in the book Kidd described the horrors of slavery that went on right here in Charleston!! Furthermore, she introduced many to the forgotten and/or buried legacies of two women who were members of the family portrayed in the novel. They were known as the Grimke sisters, and they left their privileged
People often like to read the book lists from book clubs. Knowing what other people are reading is interesting and informative. To get an idea of what blog followers are reading, I asked several of them to submit the titles of three different books. The last book you read The book you are reading now The book you plan to start next Barbara Patton–Kiawah resident
Love Halloween? Want to get a little bit scared? Have nerves of steel? Here are some books you might want to read to get into the ‘spirit’ of the holiday: The Haunting of Hill House, Shirley Jackson “The greatest haunted house story ever written.” Interview with the Vampire, Anne Rice Who doesn’t love a good Anne Rice book? (Me, for one) Dracula, Bram Stoker Published
Like most highly intelligent people, Ken Burns reads a lot! In an interview published in the Sunday edition of the New York Times, Burns admitted that he didn’t have enough time to read for pleasure and then went on to recite a very ecletic list of books that he is either currently reading or reading again. Of course he reads non-stop for his work, concentrating
For those of you in the Sandcastle Book Club, I’d like to give you an update on our year so far. In September, we discussed The Maid by Nita Prose. Even though the book wasn’t a literary masterpiece, members enjoyed the read. The protaganist Molly is neurodivergent. The author was somewhat uneven in developing Molly because, in some circumstanes, she acted too savvy to be
Nina Totenberg, Dinners With Ruth Ari Shapiro, Host of NPR’s All Things Considered–“The fact that Nina and Ruth are each legends in their own right makes this a must-read for anyone with an interest in history, politics, the law and media.” Fiona Davis, The Magnolia Palace Another historical fiction set in New York City by the author of The Chelsea Girls and The Lions of
Be sure to check out this year’s Literary Festival. The speakers are varied and impressive. A few authors that stood out to me (copied from the downloaded program guide): For specific dates, go to the webpage featured at the end of the entry. IMANI PERRY with Dr. Tamara ButlerSOUTH TO AMERICA 5 PM-6 PM FREE / Circular Congregational Church • Live Event(Online Reservation Required)Imani Perry’s
Perhaps you have learned a great deal about late Queen Elizabeth from the coverage of her funeral activities. If not, I have listed some books that might be worth looking at. She certainly lived a long and interesting life! Below are photos I found of the Queen reading. Everyone who ever worked with her reports on how aware she was of the topic of discussion
Look over this partial list of banned books featured by Harper Collins Publishers. How many have you read already? Well, don’t read any more. And for goodness sakes, don’t let your children or grandchildren read any of these!! To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood The Bluest Eyes, Toni Morrison A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving Brave New World, Aldous
Because of the change in the world order after World War II, political ‘hotspots’ sprang up all over our globe and left unresolved situations we deal with today–China/Taiwan, India/Pakistan and Israel/ Palestine. If you are interested in entering worlds where “the past is never dead. It’s not even past” (Faulkner), these books will interest you. Pick one or even all of them. The Daughters of
Well, to be fair, I’m sure not all of the authors listed below are your favorite authors. You do know who they are, however, and they have new books coming out. If one catches your eye, do some research to see if it is one you want to read!! Stephen King, Fairy Tale FANTASY Fredrik Backman, The Winners FICTION Elizabeth Strout, Lucy by the Sea
What is your favorite David McCullough book? Mine is Mornings on Horseback, although I greatly value the other books he has written which I have read. I think my husband read all of his books. After McCullough’s death this month, New York Times contributor Daniel Lewis wrote an enlightening article about him in which he highlights what made his books so compelling. Lewis writes, “Deep
Animal Joy: A Book Of Laughter and Resuscitation, by Nuar Alsadir. Jeevika Verma, with NPR Morning Edition, interviews the author about her new book on laughter. Alsadir tells us that there are two kinds of laughter. Social Laughter,the most common type, is situational. We laugh to ease tensions, promote comraderie or create a safe space. Spontaneous Laughter, on the other hand, is when we burst
The new memoir by Katy Tur is entitled Rough Draft. Katy Tur, in case you aren’t familiar with her, is an MSNBC anchor and the author of the bestselling book Unbelievable: My Front-Row Seat to the Craziest Campaign in American History (that would be former President Trump’s campaign) In Rough Draft, Tur not only offers very interesting insights to her childhood, her career and her
I have a good friend who was a media specialist for her entire career. She reads voraciously and somehow seems to pick books that many people haven’t heard of. Read about three books she recommends and see if any of them appeal to you. I’m going to read at least one of them. Enjoy!! Book Recommendations, 2022 Michelle Huneven, Search: A Novel. 393 pages, hardcover.
In the July 17, 2022, Post and Courier Sunday paper, Maura Hogan’s column focused on several books she plans to read this summer, all with connections to Charleston. I will briefly mention three of the books, but to read the article in its entirity you must have a subscription to the paper. I am unable to ‘cut and paste’ it. The first book Hogan talks
What a great response to the ‘favorite father’ contest. Nine blog readers responded. Each father got two votes except for Matthew Cuthbert, who got three!! I numbered the entries from 1 to 9 and then called my granddaughter. She chose the number 2, which is Cathy Hill. Congrats, Cathy. You will receive from me in the next few days a gift certificate for $15 for
The Liberty Bell What books come to mind as your think of the Fourth of July and the birth of our nation? Here are some that have inspired me. Please comment on your favorites. Blog reader Madeleine Kaye shared the following comment: In his lively and engaging narrative Founding Brothers, historian Joseph J. Ellis recounts the sometimes collaborative, sometimes archly antagonistic interactions between Washington, Hamilton,
You have three more days to get in your vote on your favorite literary fathers. The field is limited to four: Matthew Cuthbert from Anne of Green Gables Arthur Weasley from Harry Potter Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird Ta-Nehisi Coates from Between the World and Me (Coates is the author and the famous father) So far, four people have sent in their favorite
BookBub, an on-line literary publication, asked its readers to submit their favorite literary dads. In the June15, 2022, edition, Alyssa Hollingsworth reported on a few of the chosen fathers. Your task, should you accept it, is to choose YOUR favorite from a few of the dads mentioned. If you vote, your name will be entered into a drawing for a $15.00 gift certificate to Indigo
When thinking about genres of literature, one usually thinks things such as: “I don’t really like science fiction” or “All I really ever read is non-fiction” or “I love that mystery writer.” Book publishers have developed elaborate algorithms using artificial intelligence to chart who buys what type of book, how many pages the book should have and what subjects are most likable. Some books, however,
The Messy Lives of Book People, Phaedra Patrick Imagine that you are the maid for a successful author and that she dies in the middle of writing her next best-seller AND that, in her dying words, she asks YOU to finish her book! The Woman in the Library, Sulari Gentill What would you do if you were in a quiet library and suddenly heard a
Father’s Day is June 19, so it isn’t too early to consider a gift for your father or another man in your life! Choosing a book that a man would like is absolutely NOT being sexist. It is being considerate. (Of course, there are many books that both genders enjoy.) After noting in a few of the publications I recieve and asking other book bloggers,
It seems that all forms of media, from the NYT to NPR, are suggesting books for people to read this summer. Such books are often referred to as ‘beach reads.’ Of course, I do not have the time nor the interest to read everything that is recommended, so I have developed a scientific system of deciding which books to list. IF the book has the
Remember the vivid book covers? The hint of romance? The thrill of discovery? The GIRL protagonist? All of these features and more riveted girl readers to almost literally ‘absorb’ all of the Nancy Drew Books. In a recent blog post, I mentioned that Carolyn Keene, ‘author’ of the Nancy Drew series, did not really exist. The thing is, no one cares! Molly Young, book critic
Sandcastle Book Club Schedule for 2022-23 Book Club meets at 1:00 at the Sandcastle on the dates listed below– September 12, 2022 The Maid, Nita Prose October 10, 2022 Candy House, Jennifer Egan November 14, 2022 The Lincoln Highway, Amor Towles December 12, 2022 Daughters of Yalta, Catherine Grace Katz January 11, 2023—Sandcastle—12:00 noon Joint Luncheon with Kiawah Island Club book club Details to follow
From the New York Times, May 9, 2022 FICTION ‘The Netanyahus,’ by Joshua Cohen (New York Review Books) Cohen’s book imagines Benzion Netanyahu, academic and father of the Israeli prime minister, arriving to interview for a job at a fictional New York college (modeled on Cornell) in the late 1950s. The book is narrated by Ruben Blum, a faculty member asked to consider Netanyahu’s fitness for
If you are planning to do a bit of reading this summer and want to tackle some books that aren’t just ‘beach reads,’ I have a few to suggest…….. While I haven’t read this book yet, I plan to. Some have suggested that it is another glorious ode to trees, a novel that compares to Richard Power’s Overstory. The book has also been praised by
Charleston Friends of the Library (CFOL) is excited to host the fortieth annual “That Big Book Sale” on May 19 – 22, 2022 at Omar Shrine Auditorium, Patriot’s Point Road, Mount Pleasant.-Submitted by Charleston Friends of the Library
The following three books could easily fly under your radar UNLESS you pay close attention to this post! Ancestor Trouble: A Reckoning and a Reconciliation, by Maud Newton How many of you have sent your DNA to ancestry.com? For those of us who are very curious and do not have a genealogist in the family, we may have done so. I know that I did.
Some of you may ask, “Who is Frank Bruni”? Frank Bruni is a contributing Opinion writer for the New York Times. He is also known for his best selling book Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be. This book was written for high school students and their parents in an attempt to deconstruct the college admissions process. It’s too bad some well-known celebrities didn’t
The person in the above picture is Reginald Dwayne Betts, and he is sitting in the National Building Museum in front of one of the specially designed book shelves he created through his Freedom Reads organization. Bookshelves like the one in the photo have been installed in two prisons, one in Massachusetts and one in Louisiana. By the end of 2023, Betts hopes to have
This year’s PEN/Faulkner Literary Champion is Oprah Winfrey. Board Vice President Mary Haft speaks of Winfrey in glowing words: “Oprah Winfrey is a literary force field. She has been like a lighthouse standing sentry and shining a beacon of light onto literature and into the lives of writers and readers.” The PEN/Faulkner Foundation is an independent non-profit arts organization dedicated to promoting writing. It supports
This post is a tribute to Thornton Wilder. April 17 was his birthday. He would have been 125 years old. Wilder was the only person to win a Pulitzer Prize for both literature and drama. He recieved the Pulitzer for his novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1927) and the plays Our Town (1938) and The Skin of Our Teeth (1942). Do you remember
Last Call at the Hotel Imperial: THE REPORTERS WHO TOOK ON A WORLD AT WAR by Deborah Cohen Cohen give readers an inside glimpse of the oft-times reckless reporters who covered the brewing crisis in Europe prior to and during WWII. Before we had 24/7 TV coverage, these American reporters were the sole source of news from the front. The Wall Street Journal says “(Ms.
This time of year, many book clubs decide which books they are going to read for the coming year. This is true if the club uses a ‘school’ calendar with the year ending with May and begining with September. Usually, when someone suggests a book for the entire club, that person has read the book herself. Sometimes that is even a requirement. There are, however,
Most of you are members of a book club; and you notice at the end of many books, the editor will include discussion questions for the book clubs. Frankly, I’ve never been impressed with most of the questions because they don’t seem to provoke critical thinking. Nevertheless, these questions often serve as a starting point that can lead to other questions. I happened upon an
Grandparents are certainly important family members. No scientific study is needed to verify that fact. When your grandparents are the President and the First Lady, however, it’s worth writing about. Agreed? That is exactly what Jenna Bush Hager has done with her new book Everything Beautiful in Its Time. The book is a collection of journal entries Hager began writing in 2018 when her grandmother
Do you remember when Linda Malcolm reviewed a book entitled The Windsor Knot? Linda enjoyed the light and clever mystery about Queen Elizabeth solving crimes while carrying out her officail duties. Intriguing, isn’t it? Now the book is out in paperback, for those of you who still read actual books, AND the author SJ Bennett has a sequel entitled All the Queen’s Men. There are
Three books are that are relevent to the crisis in Ukraine are worth mentioning for those of you who like to explore situations in depth. (See blog entry on The Gates of Europe.) Two of the books are non-fiction and the third is considered historical fiction. Lessons from the Edge was written by Marie Yovanovitch. Remember her? She was the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine until
I recently received an e-mail from Linda Malcolm telling me about a Mt. Pleasant author, Lindy Carter, whose new book The Rice Birds was published by Evening Post Books In Charleston. Below is a description of the book from the publisher: In 1849, twin sisters fleeing Ireland’s famine arrive at New York’s seaport. Only Nora is allowed to get on the boat to South Carolina
By Grant SniderMarch 18, 2022 Grant Snider is a cartoonist, author and illustrator. His next book, “The Art of Living: Reflections on Mindfulness and the Overexamined Life,” will be published in April.
Today at the Sandcastle Book Club meeting, Martha Zink led the discussion of The Rose Code, by Kate Quinn. The novel was based on real women who worked as code-breakers at Betchley Park during and after World War II. Martha printed photos of the ‘real’ people who were featured in the book. Several club members shared their experiences touring Bletchley Park. Quinn has a new
Did you ever really love a book and want to read every book by that same author? What about the Nancy Drew series? I can’t imagine how many young girls were turned on to reading because of Nancy Drew. Notice the author’s name is Carolyn Keene. Well, that was NOT the real author of the Nancy Drew Books. In fact, there was no Carolyn Keene.
This cover image released by Butterfly Records shows “Run Rose Run” by Dolly Parton. The iconic singer also has a book co-authored by James Patterson releasing this week with the same title. (Butterfly Records via AP)Stacie Huckeba/AP Yes, as unlikely as it may seem, Dolly Parton and James Patterson have co-authored a book!! An article in the Parade magazine, Sunday, March 6, 2022, focused on
The 90’s were probably the happiest decade of my life. One of my daughters got married and another one graduated college. My husband and I celebrated our first AND our second grandchild. I worked harder during the nineties than I had ever worked before. I don’t remember ever being idle or having a difficult time falling asleep. The Olympics came to Atlanta, GA and I
While we are watching the Ukranian people fight Russian soldiers and dodge Russian missles, a few of us may be confused about the country itself. World leaders have bantered around different narratives about the nation for the past decade. To get a broader scope on the current conflict and to understand the roots of the issue, one needs to go back in history to a
Today at the Sandcastle on Kiawah Island, Lahnice Hollister introduced a book called Resisting Jim Crow The book is actually an autobiography written by Hollister’s great-uncle Dr. John McFall. Dr. McFall was a Charleston pharmacist who worked for civil rights his entire life. His story is very important for several reasons: It gives a detailed account of the life of an extraordinary man who grew
SAVE THE DATE FOR THE CHARLESTON LITERARY FESTIVAL NOVEMBER 4 – 13, 2022 SOUTH CAROLINA, USAWATCH ALL RECORDED CHARLESTON LITERARY FESTIVAL 2021 SESSIONS 22 sessions from Charleston Literary Festival 2021 are now available to watch online and they are free to view! WATCH NOWWhat does it take to write a Booker-nominated novel? Watch three of the four US nominees for the 2021 Booker Prize – Maggie Shipstead, Patricia Lockwood and Nathan Harris – in
An article in The New Yorker, written by Anna Holmes and dated January 31, 2022, discussed Margaret Wise Brown, the author of a beloved children’s book Goodnight Moon. I read the article with great interest because, of course, I remember reading Goodnight Moon to my children and grandchildren. Many a child memorized the book and many a parent almost went to sleep themselves while reading
Late notice about an important event for those interested in Marie Benedict, author of The Personal Librarian . Benedict will discuss her new book Her Hidden Genius, which tells the story of Rosalind Franklin, the British scientist who discovered the double helix DNA structure. Guess what? Two men took credit for her work in order to win the Nobel Prize!! To listen to the podcast,
During the 2021 Charleston Literary Festival, Kameelah Martin, Dean of the Graduate School at College of Charleston, interviewed Tiya Miles, whose book All That She Carried : The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family’s Keepsake won the National Book Award for non-fiction in 2021. Yes, this book is non-fiction! Miles is a Professor of History at Harvard University, and she researched her own family
Several weeks ago, friends suggested that I try the word game ‘Wordle.’ While I resisted for a while, I found that solving the puzzle each day was great fun. After all, everyone is doing it!! Perhaps you will be interested in the following insights to the game: 1. The founder –Josh Wardle came to the United States from Wales to earn an MFA from the
I know you have heard the phrase ‘words matter.’ And yes, indeed, they do. Words can harm or charm, encourage or outrage, inspire or deflate. OK, enought of that!! Some words are simply overused, misused or useless, and the folks at Lake Superior State University have, since 1976, vented about the most tiresome examples of such. Each year they publish a list for The Banished
Peg Michel sent me the following NYT article about a little boy with a big imagination and a clever marketing scheme. Read the below excerpt and follow up by viewing the February 3rd 6:30 NBC Nightly News story about– An 8-Year-Old Wrote a Book and Hid It on a Library Shelf. It’s a Hit. Dillon Helbig, a second-grader from Idaho, wrote an 81-page book about
My Saint Simons friend Becky, who publishes an Instagram Blog entitled beckyonbooks, has a few new recommendations. The following are three books and her comments on why she liked them: The Maid, by Nita Prose A maid in a hotel discovers a body in a room she goes in to clean Becky says: There is an interesting cast of character and suspects; the writing is
The Paris Bookseller, Kerri Maher Historical fiction at its most authentic!! The Paris Bookseller is about real-life American Sylvia Beach, who opened a bookstore in Paris in 1919. The name of the bookstore was Shakespeare and Company, and it soon became a mecca for expatriate writers from America. (Readers will remember The Paris Wife, a story about Ernest Hemingway and his first wife Hadley, who
If you read a lot in bed, either print material or on a tablet, you may have touble with your neck. I do because the book isn’t lined up with your eyes at the right angle so you tend to strain your neck. One of the many newsletters I receive had a link to an Interesting advertisement. Take a look at a few of the
Click on the link below to hear (or read the script) as Imani Perry discusses her new book South to America. The book was featured in a recent blog post. (Click again once the article appears as an insert) Imani Perry on narrating her book, South to America.
Anxious People, by Fredrik Backman The movie is streaming now on Netflix It starts off a bit confusing but has a universal theme. Trust me on this! The Nightingale, by Kristen Hannah Release date? Who really knows? It seems that the movie has been made but not released. It stars Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning. The last information mentioned December of 2022. Honestly, I’m not
For a long while now, I have stopped trying to defend the South: the place of my birth, the place my ancesters settled shortly after the United States became a country and the place I have lived my entire life. Of course I knew that the South committed treason by seceding from the nation. I realized there was no legitimate ‘lost cause.’ I was not
Anyone who watches Lester Holt’s Nightly News knows there is usually a piece at the conclusion of the show that features some ‘good news.’ Last week he told the story of a teenage girl who is spreading hope and love with gifts of books. Hopefully you can see that clip by clicking below. Don’t forget to turn up your volume and enjoy! https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/maryland-teen-s-personal-tragedy-inspires-book-donation-drive-131477061690
Two new books especially for people who love books and book clubs and book reviews! Is that YOU? The first ‘find’ is a journal for any reader, really, but actually for those in a book club. How many times has someone in your book club asked, “Didn’t we read that?” or “Who led that one?” or even better, “I can’t remember if I read that
In December of 2021, the literary world lost two very important women–bell hooks and Joan Didion. It’s painful for me to admit that I only knew a bit about Joan Didion and had never heard of bell hooks. The first image of this post is that of bell hooks. In 2020, she was named one of ‘100 women of the year’ by Time Magazine. A
One of the first posts of this blog featured the effects of reading on emotional intelligence. The entry referenced Jessica Stillman’s article about how reading a variety of different authors and genres can make one more emphathetic. Stillman has once again reported on findings having to do with the positive benefits of reading. In a newsletter entitled “Inc.” (February 22, 2021), Stillman cites research done
So after the presents are opened and the dishes are in the dishwasher, how will you spend your days leading up to the New Year? For some, these days are reserved for projects or fun with the kids. Others will doubless try to catch up on some reading. Here are books recommended by friends and myself: These Precious Days, Ann Patchett Beautiful Country, Qian Julie
A Vintage Christmas–A collection of holiday stories and poems. This is a perfect book for someone who just loves Christmas. Miracle on 10th Street, Madeleine L’Engle This book includes excerpts from different works by L’Engle, including reflections on Advent and Epiphany. A Christmas Memory, Truman Capote Capote remembers his Chrismases while growing up in Alabama. The Mistletoe Murder, P.D. James The book is a real
Editors at The Times Book Review choose the best fiction and nonfiction titles this year. Nov. 30, 2021 FICTION How Beautiful We Were By Imbolo Mbue Following her 2016 debut, “Behold the Dreamers,” Mbue’s sweeping and quietly devastating second novel begins in 1980 in the fictional African village of Kosawa, where representatives from an American oil company have come to meet with the locals, whose
Consider giving at least some of the people on your list a recently published book for Christmas. Don’t know what he or she might like? My friend Becky Peace and I have concocted a list for your perusal, so take a look. Remember, you can always buy the book from Indigo Books in Freshfields. If they don’t have the specific book in stock, they can
Have you ever been to New York City during the Christmas Holidays? It’s quite a treat!! The decorated store windows, the carriages of Central Park, the skating rink at Bryant Park! And, in case you never noticed, the NYC Public Library is right there, behind or front of depending on where you are standing, Bryant Park. A recent article in the ‘untapped new york’ section
The following post is borrowed from the Seabrook Island Tidelines post of November 20, 2021–In 1950, the National Book Awards were established to celebrate the best writing in America. Since 1989, they have been overseen by the National Book Foundation (NBF), a nonprofit organization whose mission is “to celebrate the best literature in America, expand its audience, and ensure that books have a prominent place
From Madeleine Kaye– Frances: Your post inspired me to search reviews of “The Sentence”, and both the NY Times and the Washington Post gave it such raves that I’m suggesting it for our local book club. It also reminded me of one of the most intriguing “pandemic” books I’ve read in years: “The Dog Stars” by Peter Heller. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune gives this description: In
Several writers had popularized the phrase ‘dark and stormy night’ before this Dickens-era author used it to begin his popular novel. Your challenge is to name the author and the book that contains what many have described as the ‘worst sentence in the English language.’ It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents—except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by
There are several possible definitions for the term “pandemic novel.” First of all, such a novel could be a fictionalized story about a pandemic. I’m not sure who would read it. Secondly, the term could refer to a novel whose fame has spread like a pandemic. NO–stay clear of negative connotations when promoting a novel. So, then, a pandemic novel is a novel that is
Readers select books in a bookstore by the Xinglong lake in Chengdu, Southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Oct. 28, 2021. (Photo: China News Service/Wang Lei) Located in Tianfu New District, the “underwater bookstore” has a glass curtain wall that extends into the water on one side of the bookstore, allowing readers to see water plants and fish in the lake. (from Shelf Awareness, November 2, 2021/Issue
The question of whether or not something is fact or fiction sounds as if it would be an easy one to answer. Just so you know, the objective ‘the student will distinquish fact from fiction’ is in the language arts curriculum from kindergarten through twelth grade. It isn’t always easy, however, to tell what is a fact and what is made up. That conflict is
The two books I am highlighting in this post were both published in October of 2021. While they cover two different time periods–Renaissance Europe and Revolutionary America–the authors have painstakingly researched and intriguingly presented information that some of us may not have known. The first book is by a prize-winning author who is also a professor at the University of South Carolina. Woody Holton teaches
Today I was priviledged to hear a talk from Jonathan Haupt, director of the Pat Conroy Literary Center in Beaufort, South Carolina. Haupt was a speaker for the ongoing Our World series held on Kiawah Island. In addition to being a polished speaker, Haupt also had interesting information about Conroy and how he became a writer. I know that my next trip to Beaufort will
While living in Sandy Springs, a suburban area adjacent to Atlanta, GA, we experienced excitement throughout our neighborhood when Trader Joe’s moved into a space, right up the street, that had previously been occupied by Kiddie City. I don’t remember the exact year the store opened, but spreading neighborhood events via e-mail was not yet popular so we heard about the new store at garden
Beautiful Country, Qian Julie Wang This book is the memoir of an undocumented immigrant who grew up in New York City. Julie Wang went from a childhood of poverty and fear to graduate Yale Law School and Swarthmore College. She is currently a civil rights litigator. Critics praise her book for its poignancy and liveliness. Another memoir-type book is The Boys by the Howard brothers.
I’m just wondering how many of you enjoy listening to books rather than reading them? Some people don’t think that ‘listening’ to a book really counts as having ‘read’ the book. Critics of audiobooks feel as if listening to a book is somehow akin to cheating or perhaps reading the Cliff Notes. The publishing business surely doesn’t think that way. Along with Amazon, they have
Many public figures have written books about the lessons learned from the pandemic. Numerous ‘experts’ in the field of medicine, science and politics have taken a stab at looking at what went wrong in order to respond better to the next world-wide pandemic. Last night I was watching The PBS Newshour and heard Dr. Scott Gottlieb talk about his book Uncontrolled Spread. While some reviewers
Interest in iconic American millionaires and billionaires never seems to wane, whether they are currently wealthy or were people from the past. Cornelius Vanderbilt and his descendants have captured the limelight for years. In doing some preliminary research, I learned that Cornelius and his wife (also his first cousin) had thirteen children. Cornelius had little use for his ten daughters. When he died, most of
If you are intereseted in banned books as they pertain to the prison population, read the following eye-opening article contributed by blog member Marty Drake. https://themarysue.com/prisons-banned-book-week
We are coming to the end of “Banned Book Week.” This year’s theme is “Books unite us. Censorship Divides Us.” Libraries love this week, not because they are glad that books are banned but because they like to advertise the books that are banned. There is nothing like promoting a banned product. Why? — people (especially children) ask themselves. Then they read the book to
Indigo Books is seeking to hire a permanent part-time bookseller. The position is available immediately.The successful applicant would be a person who loves to read and talk about books, enjoys meeting people, and can work in a multi-tasking environment. If you would like to discuss possibilities, please send your resume to Linda Malcolm at Indigo Books, LMMALCOLM@aol.com, or drop it off at the bookstore.
This comment is from a friend who has an Instagram blog entitled beckyonbooks. Check her out because she combines reading with phtography. It’s a nice combination of the finer things in life!! I think we all look for lighter books at times and still we want some substance. I have enjoyed several of Elizabeth Berg’s books which seem to fit the criteria and Fanny Flagg’s
After reading and discussing Of Women and Salt, several members of the Sandcastle Book Club remarked that they were ready to read some “happy” books. While I agree with them, I’m not sure what a happy book is. I recently read two books that are certainly light in nature and touted to be ‘feel good’–Anxious People by Fredrik Backman and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Next Monday, members of the Sandcastle Book Club will meet at the Sandcastle to discuss Of Women and Salt, a novel by Gabriela Garcia. The novel has received rave reviews from critics, much to the surprice of Garcia. She wrote it as the thesis for her MFA at Purdue. In interviews, Garcia claims the book is not so much an historical fiction as it is
The Johns Island Library has recently reopened after having been closed for renovations amid closures for Covid!! I went up there one day last week, and Lisa Williams, Circulation Manager, gave me a tour. Linda Stewart is the Branch Manager. The entire place has a new look–bright, modern, shiny and welcoming. Every good library has a special children’s section, and this one is HUGE. In
A brief history of bookstores in the United States While bookselling was certainly happening in the colonies as early as 1640, it was not until after the War of 1812 when American booksellers began to print and sell books in the United States. Interestingly, copyrights were not necessary, so the works of English literature were available for a time at little cost to a growing
An article in Palmetto Politics, a newsletter published by the Post and Courier and written by Thomas Novelly, notes that the year 2021 is the 150th anniversary of federal attempts to prosecute members of the Ku Klux Klan who were terrorizing freed Blacks in South Carolina. In April of 1871, President Grant sent federal troops to arrest those who sought to deprive former enslaved Africans
Cloud Cuckoo Land: noun Cloud Cuckoo Land is a state of absurdly, over-optimistic fantasy or an unrealistically idealistic state where everything is perfect. Anthony Doerr’s new novel (after the Pulitzer-winning All the Light We Cannot See) will be released on September 28th. As I was reading an advance copy of Cloud Cuckoo Land, I would often remark to my husband, “This is a weird book.” Now, if you
From Cindy Standen Billie Jean King’s new autobiography “All In” should definitely be on this list. The work she did for women’s sports is unsurpassed. It’s a great story that I highly recommend. From Marty Drake ‘ditto’
Did you know that August 26 is Women’s Equality Day? I just found out about it. It isn’t a Hallmark gimmick as perhaps Grandparents’ Day may be. One doesn’t need to send cards for this day. It could be a day, however, that you would like to find out more about women’s equality in the United States–the history and continuing struggles–by getting a special book
Six new books, from authors we all know, are awaiting release. I’ll list them below with the dates so you can be ready to purchase! Of course you many preorder from Indigo Books. August 24–William Kent Kruger, Lightning Strike We know this author from Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land. He has also written eighteen books in the Cork O’Conner series. If you haven’t read
I was happy to post yet another review of a book about a female scientist. For a review on The Code Breaker, go to Reader Recommendations on this blog and look for Book Review. I read Lab Girl about five years ago, before I read the book about Jennifer Doudna. What is similar between the two stories is that both women were time and again
Review of Lab Girl by Hope Jahren review written by Richard May Several years ago, I had the good fortune to read Lab Girl by Hope Jahren. It is a wonderfully engaging story of a complex young woman from Minnesota whose passion for plants and trees leads her to become a botanist.Through her experienced eyes, nature comes alive in ways that I could never
After I posted an entry about the history of ‘summer reading’, a friend suggested that I ask blog readers to share the names of some of the books they especially enjoyed this summer. All it took was an e-mail to Sandcastle Book Club members and my ‘You’ve Got Mail’ light lit up!! Thanks to all who shared. Below are their responses in their own words–
I have to say that the term ‘summer reading’ elicits mixed feelings for me. As a parent, I found myself, by August, exhausted in efforts to coax my girls to finish their summer reading assignments for school. Passive resistance was their strategy for making me crazy. As a former educator, I see the value of summer reading assignments but not if the only follow-up is
On Friends & Fiction–Interview with Christina Baker Kline, author of The Orphan Train Kline discusses her new book The Exiles Log in to Friends and Fiction to view interview– http://friendsandfiction.com
2021-2022 American Dirt Jeanine Cummins The Daughters of Yalta Catherine Katz Surviving Savannah Patti Callahan Secrets of Happiness Joan Silber The Night Portrait Laura Morelli The Long Petal of the Sea Isabel Allende When the Stars Go Dark Paula McClain Facing the Mountain Daniel James Brown The Fortunate Ones Ed Tarkington
The Code Breaker, Walter Isaacson—book review by Frances Boyd Do you remember what you were doing on March 13, 2020? It was a Friday!! I had a friend visiting from Atlanta, and we were trying to decide if it was safe enough for us to go to the Gaillard Auditorium to see Ranky Tanky. News was spreading fast about Covid-19 cases, particularly in the northwest.
If you like true stories involving animals and adventure, this book is for YOU!! West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. A cross-country road trip in 1938 was of itself an adventure. Add two West African giraffes, an eighteen year old from the Dust Bowl Panhandle, an Old Man who has a way with animals and a secretive past, and a young red-headed woman photographer yearning
On Tuesday, July 27, from 7:00 – 8:00, Marie Benedict, author of The Personal Librarian, will interview Kristin Harmel about her new book The Forest of Vanishing Stars. Remember the book about Jews who hid in forests from the Nazis the entire duration of WWII? Remember the blog entry on Kristin Harmel? If you were interested in this author or her new book, the program
Many of us will be watching the Olympics on television soon, and we will be hearing human interest stories about the athletes. If you can’t wait until then, there are some very good books about former Olympic stars. Some of the stars may be new names to you. Beautiful on the Outside, Adam Rippon In 2018, America met Adam Rippon, and we loved him. He
Today would have been Ernest Hemingway’s 122nd birthday. We are all familiar with this iconic author so I thought I would share a few quotes from different pieces of his literature. “You know what make a good loser? Practice.”–Papa: A Personal Memoir 2. “Never to go on trips with anyone you do not love.”–A Moveable Feast 3. “No, that is the great fallacy: the wisdom
Book Review Title: It’s Only One! Author: Tracey Corderoy Illustrator: Tony NeaTracey Corderoy pens a captivating picture book about the impact that small contributions — whether positive or negative — can have on communities. Sunnyville is a beautiful town, and its residents are happy and cheerful. When Rhino tosses one piece of litter on the ground, he justifies it by declaring, “It’s only one!” Unfortunately for Sunnyville, this one small action results in big
Two new books explore the subjects of evangelical religion in the South and revered preachers from Texas. Both books tell a story of the daughters of these preachers and how their faith in God is shaken when their faith in their fathers is destroyed. One family is white and the other is Black. Both books are debut novels for the authors. If you don’t know
You may be too young to remember when Jimmy Carter was President, or you may have just been too busy to have cared. I was pulling for him to do a good job because Georgia is my ‘adopted’ home state, and I was sick and tired of people making fun of him because he was from Plains, GA and had a Southern accent. Some very
Three things about Kristen Harmel– She is one of five bestselling authors that, at the beginning of the pandemic, founded Friends and Fiction, an online community and Facbook Live show for booklovers. FriendsandFiction.com 2. She writes stories about World War II, many of which are set in Paris. WHY? Harmel began writing at age 16 and was for many years a writer for People Magazine.
taken from the Pulitzer Prizes website (pulitzer.org) PRIZE WINNERSThe 2021 Pulitzer Prize Winner in FictionFor distinguished fiction published in book form during the year by an American author, preferably dealing with American life, Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000). The Night Watchman By Louise Erdrich NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER WASHINGTON POST, AMAZON, NPR, CBS SUNDAY MORNING, KIRKUS, CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND GOOD HOUSEKEEPING BEST BOOK OF 2020 Based on the extraordinary life
This blog entry is entitled “Books that are Popping Up” because I have noticed from all of my publishing sources that certain books are continuously ‘popping up’ — being promoted and reviewed. We know some of the authors and have enjoyed their prior books. Other authors are new, at least to me. So, take some time to look at the folloiwng–taken directly from the sites
Michel Hammes comments on Conservancy Book Review– I try to buy only sustainable clothing (made with consideration of the earth, long lasting and not made in sweatshops) and also buy from thrift stores. I also really think about what I buy- do I need it, can I upcycle or use it for something else? Can I fix it easily or will it break in a
Most of us saw and/or read Hidden Figures, a truly remarkable and endearing story of formerly overlooked female NASA scientists who played a vital role in the United States’ space program. Now, a book entitled My Remarkable Journey, Katherine Johnson’s memoir, reveals a more complete picture of Johnson, the main character in the book/movie. Johnson was a precocious child and always had a love of
Maggie Shipstead is an author I had not heard much about. It seems she has written two other noteworthy books: Seating Arrangements, a romantic comedy set in New England, and Astonish Me, a novel about the complex world of ballet. Her new book, Great Circle, has been getting a lot of attention and rave reviews. It’s heralded as the best book of this summer, and
