PeoriaStory

New novel by Peoria writer

PEORIA, IL -- A new novel titled, The Old Guard,  by Tom McKay will be featured at a book signing on Saturday, Feb. 8,  from 2-4 p.m. at the bookstore I Know You Like A Book in Peoria Heights on Prospect Road.

The Midwest Writing Center published it, and has information on its website. 

McKay writes, "The Old Guard is a funny novel about a young woman who writes a sports blog and suddenly needs help with the blog from her new neighbor, a man who knows nothing about sports.

"The story is full of mix-ups and twists and commentary on some of the absurdities of modern life. 

"Mary Davidsaver, author of Clouds Over Bishop Hill, wrote a nice blurb: 'Tom McKay exhibits a deft hand at humor as he crafts a story that uses his lively wit to present serious messages about the need for equal representation for women in sports and the folly of preconceived stereotypes in day-to-day life.  The Old Guard is a delightful read.' " -30-

 

 

Laura Ingles Wilder

PEORIA, IL -- From a news release:

Author and Exhibit Explore Life of Laura Ingalls Wilder

               Peoria Public Library North Branch will welcome Laura Ingalls Wilder historian Caroline Fraser for a program about her new book Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder on Thursday, February 22 at 6:00 p.m.

        The North Branch of the library is off Allen Road behind Menards.

Fraser’s book uses historical records to fill in the gaps in Wilder’s biography to reveal the truth behind the woman who wrote the famous autobiographical novels.  The talk will explore the relationship between Laura and her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane.  An author herself, Rose encouraged and influenced her mother’s writing, while her own works were of a wildly different nature.  Rose’s most famous work was probably Let the Hurricane Roar, but she is also known for writing controversial and fraudulent biographies of famous people. 

Copies of Prairie Fires will be available for sale and signing, with proceeds benefiting the Friends of Peoria Public Library.

The North Branch will also host a display from the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum in Mansfield, Missouri from February 5 to 28.  This panel display contains photographs and information relating to Mrs. Wilder, her famous “Little House” books and America’s westward expansion. 

The beloved author of the Little House on the Prairie series was born in Pepin, Wisconsin on February 7, 1867, and became famous for the fictionalized account of her family’s role in settling the West.

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Kiese Laymon at WIU

MACOMB, IL -- African-American writer Kiese Laymon spoke at Western Illinois University on Nov. 29, and read from his forthcoming memoir Heavy.

Laymon is the author of a novel, Long Division, which has won many awards, and of a collection of essays, How to Slowly Kill Yourself. His work has appeared in many publications including Esquire, The Guardian, and The Los Angeles Times.

His memoir Heavy and a novel, And So On will be published by Scribner this year and in 2018.

The chapter Laymon read from Heavy presents the perspective of a young black teenager who first encountered whites in an integrated school, and the many differences between black and white cultures. He said he had only known white people from popular culture, especially TV. "None matched the real white folks we met," he said.

Here is a recording of his talk:

Download WIU Nov 29

- Elaine Hopkins

 

Peoria Library book sale

PEORIA, IL -- From a news release:

Friends of Peoria Public Library Hold Giant Annual Book Sale

 

                The Friends of Peoria Public Library, who operate The Friendly Finds Bookstore in the Main Library LL2 at 107 N.E. Monroe, will hold a half-price sale on the thousands of used books in the store on Saturday, November 15, and Monday, November 24-26 from noon to 4:00 p.m.

                The sale features all hard bound and paperback books as well as audio visual items.  Paperbacks will be 10 cents, children’s books and large print books are 25 cents each or five for $1.

                The used books are donations from the library and community members and the funds raised go to support the Peoria Public Library including paying for the Summer Reading Program, children’s activities, author talks and much more. For more information about the Friends or the Friendly Finds Bookstore call 309- 497-2145 or visit http://www.peoriapubliclibrary.org/

Summer reading? Here's a way

PEORIA -- From a news release:

June Book Clubs at Peoria Public Library

 

The following book clubs will meet in June and are open to new members. Discover the joy of discussing a great book with others this month!

 

Club Read meets on Wednesday, June 27 at Lakeview Branch at 6:30 p.m. to discuss The Master Butchers Singing Club by Louise Edrich. What happens when a trained killer discovers that his true vocation is love? Having survived the killing fields of World War I, Fidelis Waldvogel returns home to his quiet German village and marries the pregnant widow of his best friend who was killed in action. With a suitcase full of sausages and a master butcher's precious set of knives, Fidelis sets out for America, getting as far as North Dakota, where he builds a business, a home for his family—which includes Eva and four sons—and a singing club consisting of the best voices in town. When the Old World meets the New—in the person of Delphine Watzka—the great adventure of Fidelis's life begins. Delphine meets Eva and is enchanted; she meets Fidelis, and the ground trembles. These momentous encounters will determine the course of Delphine's life.

 

 

Book ‘Em Mystery Book Club will meet at on Sunday, June 17 at 2:00 p.m. to discuss Thomas Perry’s Blood Money. Jane Whitefield, the fearless "guide" who helps people in trouble disappear, has just begun her quiet new life as Mrs. Carey McKinnon when she is called upon again, to face her toughest opponents yet. Jane must try to save a young girl fleeing a deadly mafioso. The deceptively simple task of hiding the girl propels Jane into the center of horrific events and pairs her with Bernie the Elephant, the Mafia's moneyman. Bernie has photographic memory, and in order to undo an evil that has been growing for half a century, he and Jane engineer the biggest theft of all time, stealing billions from hidden Mafia accounts, only to face the unprecedented problem of what to do with that much money.

 

The Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book Club meets on Monday, June 11 at Lakeview Branch at 6:00 p.m. to discuss Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Reves, and it is only open at night.
But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway, a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love, a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands. True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead. For more information call 309-497-2149.

 

 

A Little Romance Book Club is on summer break. In September they will begin meeting at Lakeview Branch.

 

 

The Evening Love to Read! Book Club will meet on Wednesday, June 13 at North Branch at 6:30 p.m. to discuss Fine Just the Way It Is by Annie Proulx. Proulx creates nine short stories about multiple generations of Americans struggling with life in the West.  Each character is a pioneer of a sort – some are billionaires, some are escapists, and some think the rest of the country has it all wrong. For more information, call Carol May at (309) 692-1020 or email [email protected]

 

The Read On Book Club will meet on Tuesday, June 26 at 5:30 p.m. at Lincoln Branch to discuss City Lights by George Sherman Hudson. Lies, deceit and murder ran rampant throughout the city of Atlanta. Real and his lady, Constance, were living in the lap of luxury, with fancy cars, expensive clothes and a million dollar home until someone close to them alerted the feds to their illegal activity. At the blink of an eye their perfect life was turned upside down. Just as Real was sorting things out on the home front, the head of Miami's most powerful Cartel gave him an ultimatum that would eventually force him back into the life he had swore off forever. Knowing this lifestyle would surely put Constance in danger, he made plans to send her away until the score was settled but things spiraled out of control. Now Real and Constance are in a fight for survival where friends become enemies and murder is essential. Atlanta's underworld to Miami's most affluent community no stone was left unturned as Real fought to keep Constance safe while attempting to regain control of the lifestyle he once would kill for. >From the city of Atlanta to the cell block of Georgia's most dangerous prison, life under the City Lights would never be the same.

 

 

The Biography and Non-Fiction Book Club will meet on Sunday, June 10 at 3:00 p.m. at North Branch to discuss Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand.This is the inspiring true story of a man who lived through a series of catastrophes almost too incredible to be believed. In evocative, immediate descriptions, author Hillenbrand unfurls the story of Louie Zamperini--a juvenile delinquent-turned-Olympic runner-turned-Army hero. During a routine search mission over the Pacific, Louie’s plane crashed into the ocean, and what happened to him over the next three years of his life is a story that will keep you glued to the pages, eagerly awaiting the next turn in the story and fearing it at the same time. You’ll cheer for the man who somehow maintained his selfhood and humanity despite the monumental degradations he suffered, and you’ll want to share this book with everyone you know.

 

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Peoria Reads! gets big $$$ -- $19,000 grant

PEORIA -- From a news release:

PEORIA READS! ONE OF 269 ORGANIZATIONS NATIONWIDE TO RECEIVE BIG READ GRANT FROM
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS

Peoria area to read and celebrate The Great Gatsby during Big Read Peoria Reads project in 2010.

Peoria Reads! today announced that it has received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to host The Big Read in Peoria.

Peoria Reads! is an annual “One City, One Book” project lead by the Peoria Public Library and Common Place Family Learning Center designed to encourage members of our community to read and discuss one significant book.

Peoria Reads! is one of 269 programs--including arts, culture, and science organizations; libraries; and municipalities--to receive a grant to host a Big Read project between September 2009 and June 2010.

The Big Read gives communities the opportunity to come together to read, discuss, and celebrate one of 30 selections from U.S. and world literature. The Big Read in Peoria will focus on The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Activities will take place during Spring 2010.

The latest Big Read grantees represent 44 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Since the 2006 pilot program with ten participating organizations, the NEA has given more than 800 grants to support local Big Read projects.

This will be the ninth consecutive year the Peoria Public Library, in partnership with Common Place, has organized " Peoria Reads!" and the fourth consecutive year the program has received a grant from the national sponsor, the National Endowment for the Arts. In 2006, the library received a $13,350 grant for To Kill A Mockingbird, in 2007 received $19,000 for Fahrenheit 451, and last year received $18,000 for The Maltese Falcon. The grant for The Great Gatsby is for $19,000.

The coordinators for The Big Read: Peoria Reads! are excited about encouraging Peorians to sink their teeth into one of the most popular classics in modern American fiction

“Classic books are worth re-reading,” said Roberta Koscielski, grants coordinator at Peoria Public Library. “We get different meanings from them at various stages of our lives.”

Connie Voss, Executive Director of Common Place added, “The Great Gatsby gives us a timely opportunity to explore and discuss what the American Dream means today.”

“The Big Read highlights not only literature, but also what can be accomplished in partnership,” said NEA Acting Chairman Patrice Walker Powell. “I’m grateful to IMLS, Arts Midwest, and the many nonprofits, local governments, and media outlets around the country that have partnered with the NEA to present hundreds of Big Read projects nationwide. We welcome our new community partners to The Big Read family and look forward to continuing this transformative dialogue between neighbors and across borders.”

The selected organizations will receive Big Read grants ranging from $2,500 to $20,000 to promote and carry out community-based reading programs featuring activities such as read-a-thons, book discussions, lectures, movie screenings, and performing arts events. Participating communities also receive high-quality, free-of-charge educational materials to supplement each title, including Reader’s, Teacher’s, and Audio Guides.

“The Institute is pleased to support The Big Read, which brings communities together to enjoy literature in their public libraries,” said Anne-Imelda M. Radice, Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the NEA’s lead federal partner for The Big Read. “Libraries are community anchors that serve as centers of engagement, literacy, and lifelong learning. There is nothing better than to read a great book and share your delight and insights with others.”

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. Support for The Big Read is provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Transportation for The Big Read is provided by Ford.

For more information about The Big Read please visit www.neabigread.org.

The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts—both new and established—bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Arts Endowment is the nation’s largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases. For more information, please visit www.arts.gov.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. For more information, please visit www.imls.gov.

Arts Midwest connects people throughout the Midwest and the world to meaningful arts opportunities, sharing creativity, knowledge, and understanding across boundaries. Arts Midwest connects the arts to audiences throughout the nine-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. One of six non-profit regional arts organizations in the United States, Arts Midwest’s history spans more than 25 years. For more information, please visit www.artsmidwest.org.

Sara Paretsky Wows 'Em

PEORIA -- Sara Paretsky, the internationally-known, award-winning mystery author and creator of V.I. Warshawski, the female 'Sam Spade,' delighted a Peoria audience on March 14 as she wove the history of the American detective novel with her own feminist detective fiction and real life adventures.

Paretsky spoke as an admirer and champion of Dashiell Hammett, whose 1930 novel The Maltese Falcoln is the Peoria Reads selection this year in the program sponsored by the Peoria Public Library. Her talk, to an audience of more than 100, was riveting and brilliant.

The elegant yet tough Paretsky, 62, author of 14 novels and other works, speaks up for free speech, and praised the librarians who have taken stands against the Bush administration's attempt to penetrate reader privacy.

"They have taken a strong stand for free speech and the lst Amendment. In Connecticut, librarians have gone to prison to protect the privacy of readers," she said.

"We owe them an enormous debt of gratitude."

Paretsky said she has loved Hammett's Maltese Falcon since she first read it 40 years ago, in a college course on popular culture. Sam Spade was a "hard and shifty fellow able to get the best of anybody."

He was straight from the tradition of the 'loner hero' in American fiction that began with Natty Bumpo in Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales, she said, and continues today in novels, film and television.

"All face their devils alone. They take justice into their own hands." Wives and children get in the way of heroism.

Hammett worked for a time as a detective before becoming a writer. He wrote The Maltese Falcon when he was 35 years old, became famous, served in both World War I and World War II then went to prison for six months rather than name names for the House UnAmerican Activities Committee. The FBI tried to ban his burial in Arlington National Cemetery, she said.

Paretsky's female detective heroine V.I. Warshawski "operates like Hammett in a world of passionate engagement," Paretsky said.

Like Sam Spade, she uses her understanding of human motivation to solve crimes.

She also stands in contrast to the typical female character in detective fiction, "the sexually alluring woman" who uses men to further her own aims then destroys them.

Or the other type of female, Hammett's Effie or 'Angel' Sam Spade's secretary who is described as "boyish" and not a "sexy or predatory female," and instead is naive, Paretsky said.

The character V.I. Warshawski came to her in 1978, Paretsky said, as she worked for a boss who bet other men in an insurance office that he could make a woman cry in a meeting.

She created V.I. Warshawski as a compete human being, she said, with a sex life who drinks whiskey, not white wine.

"She's a woman of action but her primary role is to speak. Her success is the willingness to put into words things most people want to remain unspoken," Paretsky said.

That takes courage, she said, as she learned when confronting audiences who didn't want to hear criticism of government.

Speaking to an Ohio audience who preferred noncontroversial fare from an author, "I thought of librarians who were on the front line of fighting for our civil liberties," Paretsky said. "It was a hard night."

-- Elaine Hopkins

Annotating The Hobbitt and Other Literary Adventures

PEORIA -- An evening devoted to The Hobbitt with Doug Anderson and Mike Foster as moderators, drew at least 125 people to Bradley Hall in Peoria on Tuesday, Feb. 17.

Here's Mike Foster's account:

One family drove from Galesburg - about 60 miles - despite the cold and rain. There was one fellow from Notre Dame, Joe Kraemer from Cincinnati, Jan and Jeff Long from Milwaukee, David Berberick from Madison, as well as Graham Stockdale, Derek Hoover, and Linda Lowery from my Bradley JRRT (Tolkien) class.

Doug and I discussed his books and Tolkien from 7:30 to 8:20 and the audience Q&A lasted till 9, bringing up discussion of other authors like E. A. Wyke-Smith, Robert Holdstock, C.S. Lewis, Ursula K. LeGuin, Peter S. Beagle et alia.

Doug then joined the Bradley bookstore guy outside Neumiller (Auditorium) and sold and signed books till almost 9:30, when we adjourned to the Peoria Pizza Works for an after-party of 16 with Far Westfarthing smial (a Tolkien/ fantasy book group now in its 12th year), the Longs, Kraemer, Berberick, all well-known Tolkien scholars, and Doug at the head of the horseshoe table. Bass Ale & thin-crust pizza was involved.

Can't remember the last time it was almost midnight when Jo & I got home from a date vs. almost 9.

Considering the downtown competition from BU vs. SMSU as well as Lord of the Dance, it was a good turnout.

The Longs and David Berberick stopped by Foster's Farm for a semi-unexpected party of strong coffee and almond biscotti then next morning. All in all, a fine time.

-- Mike Foster, Metamora, IL

Tolkien Scholar at Bradley U. Feb. 17

PEORIA -- J.R.R. Tolkien scholar Douglas A. Anderson will present "Annotating The Hobbit & Other Adventures" at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at Bradley University's Neumiller Chapel in Bradley Hall.

Bradley adjunct English professor Mike Foster will moderate the free lecture.

Anderson is the award-winning author and editor of The Annotated Hobbit, Tales Before Tolkien, Tales Before Narnia, Seekers of Dreams, and, with Verlyn Flieger, an expanded critical edition of Tolkien's On Fairy-stories. He is also an editor of the academic journal Tolkien Studies.

Foster has been the North American representative of the Tolkien Society since 1995. From 1974 until his retirement in 2005, he taught a literature course on Tolkien at Illinois Central College. In 2006 and 2008, he taught an upper-division version of that class at Bradley University.