Last Sunday, October 4, 2020, many pets were ‘blessed’ in churches around the world on what is known as the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis is the patron saint of animals (as well as ecology and merchants), and he died on October 4, 1230, in Assisi, Italy. Buried in the crypt with St. Francis is a little-known woman named Giacoma dei Settesoli.
Remember when Sandy Springs had its Town Turtles? Maybe not, if you aren’t familiar with all things Atlanta. Many cities around the globe have decorated cows. A town in Kansas decorates outdoor squirrel statues. Hendersonville, NC had a ‘bearfoot artwalk’ this year to reveal new decorated bears in the downtown area. So, it should come as no surprise that we now have park benches in
Today’s best-seller list has Jodi Picoult’s newest book The Book of Two Ways at #1. People must like this author, right? Well, not everyone. Picoult doesn’t write feel-good books. She probably will not win a Pulitzer prize for literature. Her books, however, make the reader think because she often presents complicated family situations and deep ethical issues. The Sandcastle Book Club read Small Great Things
Announcement from Debby Perelmuter I attended, virtually, this year’s Aspen Ideas Festival and one of the conversations discussed The Splendid and the Vile extensively, with the author, Erik Larsen. Please pass along this video as you see fit. https://youtu.be/kEwfrqXWf-U Another chance to hear Erik Larsen will be during the Southern Festival of Books which is going on right now in Nashville, TN. Erik Larsen will
Since we probably won’t be able to actually travel to Washington, D. C. to visit the National Portrait Gallery, the next best thing might be to read about the exhibit and to know about the authors featured. The following article appeared in the Smithsonian Magazine on September 23, 2020. BY MEILAN SOLLYNovelist and essayist Marilynne Robinson is one of 24 authors featured in “Her Story: A
Simon & Schuster announces a discussion of Alice Hoffman’s new book The World That We Knew. Log into their Facebook page at 1:00, on Setembert 22, to take part in their virtual book club. The following is taken from the Simon and Schuster e-mail announcing the event: The World That We Knew By Alice Hoffman For fans of The Dovekeepers and The Golem and the Jinni On the brink
On Monday, September 7, almost thirty members of the Sandcastle Book Club met to discuss Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens. Stephanie Auge kindly reported on the author and the book and wrote the following synopsis of the discussion: Following biographical information about the author, the following points were discussed: abandonment and betrayal of the main character Kya, her ability as a young child
Hamnet, by Maggie O’Farrell: Beautifully written, with clear and fluid prose, this book drew me in immediately to the story of Shakespeare’s family, particularly that of his son, Hamnet (an interchangeable name with Hamlet), and of his wife, Agnes (or Anne). Too many historical novelists provide a heavy dose of research without insight or creativity. That’s not the case with O’Farrell, a superb writer, who
In the UK, the Women’s Prize is given annually for the best work of fiction written in English by a woman of any nationality. This year’s Women’s Prize, worth $39,000, went to Irish born Maggie O’Farrell (pictured befow) for her book Hamnet. Hamnet is about the life and death of William Shakespeare’s son Hamnet. And yes, Hamlet and Hamnet have something in common. The book
Sue Monk KiddOctober 8, 2020 – A VIRTUAL EVENTLongings, Largeness, and Thunder in The Book of LongingsWe are excited to present this FREE eventJoin author, Sue Monk Kidd, as she discusses her new novel and instant New York Times bestseller, The Book of Longings. The conversation will be moderated by Sophia Institute founder and Director, Carolyn Rivers.Learn More
