Book

The R.H. Stafford Branch Library's book club discusses "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 2. Pre-read the book to discuss at the meeting; no sign-up is necessary. For information about the book, link to the library catalog through the county's website...

Here's a trio of new autobiographies that cover lots of time and lots of ground. There aren't many literary figures who have had more stories written about them than the 18th century poet and lexicographer, Dr. Samuel Johnson, himself an accomplished biographer.

Powerful military nation decides its time to teach a lesson to small Moslem nation, certain that its people will welcome the enlightened country's victory over outmoded religious country whose time had come and gone centuries before. Strangely, the little Moslem nation didn't take...

The Pajama Program will be accepting donations of new pajamas and books at the Stonemill Farms Community Center, 11390 Waterview Way in Woodbury now through Saturday, Nov. 15 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Pajama Program is a national non-profit organization "that provides comfort and...

Gorham named business banker Marilyn Gorham recently joined Anchor Bank Woodbury as vice president and business banker. In this role, Gorham works with local businesses to develop banking relationships for the Woodbury office. With more than 20 years of experience with local...

"Red osier dogwood, the Indians called it kinnickinnic, took inside their lungs smoke from the bark mixed with bear root and tobacco leaves.

"Comic Book Artist," a romp through the land of comic book characters, will be presented at Woodbury Junior High School. The play tells the story of Wonder Comics, which has a new, high-tech way of creating comic book characters. The play is directed by Marcie Berglund. Performance...

There's an old saying that goes "The reason most academic debates are so prevalent and so acrimonious is that there is so little at stake." After spending 20 years in the groves of academe I've always subscribed to that saying, but now I'm not so certain. That's because I just...

I guess I'm showing my age. I got all excited when I received for review "Goodbye, Wisconsin," by Glenway Wescott (Borderland Books, $28). Borderland is an imprint of the University of Wisconsin Press, which for years has published a series of books by gay writers, most of whom...

Library book club Nov. 4 The R.H. Stafford Branch Library's book club will discuss "Slaughterhouse-five" by Kurt Vonnegut at the next club meeting. To attend, pre-read the book and join the discussion Tuesday, Nov. 4, 7 p.m. at the library, 8595 Central Park Place in Woodbury. No...

Every once in awhile, you read a book that makes you hopping mad. When I was in college, my grandfather gave me an old book by Upton Sinclair, entitled "The Jungle." "The Jungle" was a diatribe on the evils of capitalism set in the packing houses of Chicago, circa 1900. It told the...

There's something comforting about reading novels set in places where you're fairly well acquainted. I loved Thomas Gifford's "The Windchill Factor" years ago. That was the espionage novel that begins in Taylors Falls, Minn., when the little white frame library blows up. When...

One of the first novels ever written in English, in 1740, was a humdinger named "Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded," by a London businessman Samuel Richardson. Richardson was in the stationery business, selling fancy paper to rich women, who needed to send out thank you notes.

Two years ago, I watched the long PBS special on Mormonism. I was shocked to learn of the Mormons' massacre of 120 non-Mormon settlers who had moved into Utah in 1857. The reportage was just a small part of the PBS special and I longed to hear more. My wishes were recently fulfilled...

I keep getting bombarded with books that bring back memories of growing up in a small Wisconsin town. Last week it was Larry Tobin's novel about small town journalism. This week it's "In a Pickle: A Family Farm Story," by Jerry Apps (Terrace Books, $16.95). I've reviewed several...