Spotlight on John Irving

John Irving, perhaps best known for the quirky The World According to Garp, published his 12th novel this week.  Last Night in Twisted River is an adventure story that takes place from 1954 to 2005 and covers familiar Irving territory--a New England setting, complicated families, memorable characters.  You can listen to Irving discuss writing and read from his new novel here.


Los Angeles Times Review
New York Times Review
Amazon's John Irving Page

John Irving Bibliography:

Setting Free the Bears
The 158-Pound Marriage
The Hotel New Hampshire
The Cider House Rules
A Prayer for Owen Meany
A Son of the Circus
The Water-Method Man
A Widow for One Year
The Fourth Hand
A Sound Like Someone Trying Not to Make a Sound
Until I Find You
Last Night in Twisted River

November Releases

Place your holds now on these upcoming releases:

Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer
Kindred in Death by J.D. Robb
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
Rainwater by Sandra Brown
The Quilter's Holiday by Jennifer Chiaverini
No Less Than Victory by Jeff Shaara
The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan
Under the Dome by Stephen King
Broken Jewel by David Robbins
The Atlantis Code by Charles Brokaw
Ice by Linda Howard
The Wrecker by Clive Cussler
Too Much Happiness: Stories by Alice Munro
The Original of Laura: A Novel in Fragments by Vladimir Nabokov
The Imperial Cruise: A True Story of Empire and War by James Bradley
The Morning Show Murders by Al Roker

Book TV

Here are some of the highlights from this weekend's Book TV schedule:

What Else But Home: Seven Boys and an American Journey Between the Projects and the Penthouse by Michael Rosen

The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt by T.J. Stiles

Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America by Barbara Ehrenreich

Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture by Ellen Ruppel Shell

Howard Dean's Prescription for Real Health Care Reform: How We Can Achieve Affordable Medical Care for Every American and Make Our Jobs Safer by Howard Dean

Necronomicon '09

Florida's premier science fiction, fantasy, and horror convention will take place this weekend (October 23-25) in St. Petersburg.  Necronomicon, now in its 28th year, features authors, gaming, art, vendors, workshops, and more.  This year's guests of honor are writers Catherine Asaro, Patricia Briggs, and Richard Lee Byers. 

The convention will be held at the Hilton Bayfront St. Petersburg


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Read.gov

Explore new worlds with the Library of Congress!

The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress recently launched Read.gov--a website for "people of all ages to discover the fascinating people, places and events that await you whenever you read".  Read.gov has author webcasts, booklists, and information on local/community resources.  You can also read classic books that have been digitized.  Take a look at A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

In addition to the cool stuff  for kids, teens, and adults, Read.gov has teaching resources for parents and educators.

St. Petersburg Times Festival of Reading

The 17th annual St. Petersburg Times Festival of Reading will take place this Saturday, October 24 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.  Some of the featured authors presenting and signing their books include:  

• Taylor Branch (The Clinton Tapes: Wrestling History with the President)
• Tim Dorsey (Nuclear Jellyfish)
• Senator Bob Graham (America, The Owner's Manual)
• Richard Lederer (A Treasury for Dog Lovers,  A Treasury for Cat Lovers)
• Gary Mormino (Land of Sunshine, State of Dreams)
• James Swain (The Night Monster)
• Lisa Unger (Die for You)
• Jane Velez-Mitchell (iWant: My Journey from Addiction and Overconsumption to a Simpler, Honest Life)

For a full list of scheduled authors click here.  The festival will also feature a marketplace with more than 50 booksellers and exhibitors.  Admission to the festival is FREE.

Date:  Saturday, October 24
Time:  10 a.m. - 5 p.m.


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Parking information is available here.

Book TV

Here are some highlights from this weekend's Book TV schedule:

Descent Into Chaos: The United States and the Failure of Nation Building in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia by Ahmed Rashid

The Good Soldiers by David Finkel

Clara's War: One Girl's Story of Survival by Clara Kramer

In Defense of Thomas Jefferson: The Sally Hemmings Sex Scandal by William Hyland Jr.

The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell

The Clinton Tapes: Wrestling History with the President by Taylor Branch