Spirit Lake Poetry Series - Beth Ann Fennelly

Beth Ann Fennelly will be reading on Saturday, 11/22, 7:30pm at Somers Lounge at the College of St.Scholastica as part of the Spirit Lake Poetry Series.

I was lucky enough to have seen Fennelly read a few years back shortly after the release of her book, Tender Hooks. Her poetry is playful and dramatic as it explores relationships, interactions, emotions and perceptions that don't always receive the depth of attention they deserve.

an example from Tender Hooks

Gong

From the kitchen, fixing her bottle, I hear it:
two milk teeth against my beer can.

Her new collection, Unmentionables is backed with quotes from Robert Hass, the Harvard Review, Nick Hornby and Tim Rauschenberger (apparently to disrupt the letter H). Admiring students, considering footed pajamas, remembering life in Illinois while living in Mississippi - Fennelly is able to "veer into unexpected depths" with an awareness and passion. She also gives us a Dream Song cycle and considers impressionism. Smart and endearing verse.

Peace Bell Event Report

Last night was a great evening for telling a moving story about peacemaking through a new children's book and the screening of a new documentary. On Wednesday, November 12th, our shop collaborated with the Arrowhead Reading Council to host Margi Preus for a reading of her newest children's book The Peace Bell. Also part the event was a screening of filmmaker Paul Creager's movie Resonance. Both of these projects tell us the story of Duluth's Peace Bell, located at Enger Park. How did a bell from a temple in Japan get to Duluth after WWII?
The story of the Peace Bell is amazing and profound. Margi's inspiration as well as Paul's passion for doing the research and collecting archival photos and film footage informed the audience of a long forgotten piece of history.
I highly recommend you take a moment to watch the youtube clip. If you are a teacher check out Margi and Paul's websites for more background material. This material is for students K-12 as well as community members.
I haven't been moved by a story and the passion of the story tellers since I read Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson.
Peace, Love, Books,
Anita Zager

Election Day

Hey all you Joe/Jane the Bibliophiles and Joe/Jane Sixpacks (of books) make sure to head out and vote! Find your polling center here!

Two Spiritual Books

Acedia is a state of mind in which one becomes incapable of sharing, appreciating or receiving God's love. Often overlooked or miscategorized as apathy or depression, Kathleen Norris explicates through memoir and meditation this all-too-familiar "noonday demon" and how to surpass its influence. Listen to her discuss her book in an interview with America Magazine

Also via America Magazine, is an interview with Donna Freitas, author of Becoming a Goddess of Inner Poise and co-author of Killing the Impostor God: Philip Pullman's Spiritual Imagination in His Dark Materials discusses her newest book, Possibilities of Sainthood, the story of Antonia Lucia Labella who very much wants to become a saint, while still alive. She carries on regular (one-sided) correspondence with the Pope, proposing new patron saints and nominating herself for the posts! Examines family, religion, growing up, and highlights strong women with dynamic faiths.

Poetry Events this Weekend!

Just noticed this off the wire from Lake Superior Writers:
November 1st, 2008, Saturday, 2 to 4 pm., The Green Room at
the Duluth Public Library, 520 West Superior Street, Duluth,
Minnesota.

Please join us for a panel discussion on "The Future of
Poetry" led by 2008-10 Duluth Poet Laureate Jim Johnson,
with Ryan Vine, Chris Godsay, Jennifer Derrick, Paul
Lundgren, and Cecilia Lieder. There will be discussion and
demonstration of different formats for presenting poetry:
via the internet, rap music, poetry slams, blogging, and
print publication of poetry chapbooks and books.

Sponsored by Lake Superior Writers and community
organizations. Free and open to the public, with
refreshments provided by The Friends of the Duluth Public
Library.

For additional information, contact Lake Superior Writers,
writers@lakesuperiorwriters.org, 218-722-3094.

AND

Sunday, November 2nd, Poet Al Hunter will be reading 3-5 to release his new book of poetry at Amazing Grace Cafe in Canal Park. We'll have his books available at the event!

Wolf / Moose Study of Isle Royale Celebration

"Duluth will be celebrating the 50 years of wolf moose research in a way that honors special wild places." Documentary screening on Thursday at the Marshall Performing Arts Center and presentations at the Library rotunda (afternoon) and the Marshall Performing Arts Center (evening).

If you follow the wolf/moose study (I believe it's the longest single predator/prey study ever conducted), if you love the mystique of Isle Royale (mining, fishing, ships, lighthouses, backpacking, wildlife, the possibility of visiting the largest island on the largest lake on the largest island on the largest freshwater lake in the world), or if you are interested by the outdoors - include these events in your plans!

Also include a visit down to the bookstore November 8th, Saturday morning at 10am to meet Carolyn Peterson. Carolyn Peterson will be in the store (I think she'll have her husband Rolf Peterson with her...) signing copies of her book A View from the Wolf's Eye, a memoir detailing her life on Isle Royale, including raising a family in the back country and other impressions of life on the magnificent island.

Check the study's site for background information, photos, news, and even artistic impressions of the study

Is your pocket not fulfilling its full potential?

These Olive Editions from HarperCollins are a great concept - good size and durability and featuring recent classics (beating Penguin Classics to the punch?).

Next step: make books the new bling.

Read before the Election

Or before Thanksgiving (Canadian Thanksgiving's already passed), Or before the harsh winter. Actually I read it this summer and enjoyed it, so anytime in the spring would be good too...

The main thing is that you should read Sarah Vowell's new book, Wordy Shipmates. In it she examines the lives of the second-wave Puritans that have left their mark in so many ways through to today. She pays special attention to John Winthrop's "City on a Hill," beacon of Christian living idea. She shows how he came up with the idea, who liked it, when and why, at the time, and the ways in which he tried to carry it out. She also notes how it's carried through into current politics and mindsets.

Also addressed in the book: mean-spirited pamphlet wars; apologies out to the King of England; Puritans and their connections to the land, the natives, and the future site of Rhode Island; courtrooms and other forms of justice; and what we chose to remember -> the buckle hats, turkey and witch hunts.

Sarah Vowell shares her research and insights with dry humor and incredible wit, as always. Here's a link to several of her clips from This American Life, the pertinent one being "Turkey in Pilgrim's Clothing" examining modern pop culture's view of the puritans/pilgrims in situation comedies:"17th century New England is all situation. No Comedy."

Twin Cities Book Festival and National Book Award

Thanks, again, to M&Q for giving a heads up to Utne's vlog coverages of the Twin Cities Book Festival. It's a fantastic event put on by one of my favorite zines, Rain Taxi (available at the store for free!). We were lucky to come across many of these books and booksellers and publisher reps at MBA. Now you can experience it second hand and be aware of the event for next year.


The Milkweed and Coffeehouse books are on my to-read list, Once and Future Celt is on my table at home, and Graywolf's Refresh Refresh sounds right up my alley!

If none of these great books leap out at you, then check out these National Book Award nominees for 2008. We'll do our best to get them in/ keep them on stock at the store for you!

So behind on posting!

Ok. Last few weeks in review:
Midwest Booksellers Association meeting in Minneapolis. It was my first trip and I enjoyed it greatly. Click here to see the article. I'm going to claim to be one of the blurs in the picture until proven wrong. (many thanks to David @ M&Q for the link that he posted to their great blog in a very timely and adept fashion!)

Interesting takes on Nobel Literature Award at the Poetry Foundation and Banned Books Week from a Banner of Books Bookbuyer.


Duluth Poet Laureate Jim Johnson had his inaugural reading complete with music from the family! The Mayor popped in for a declaration full of "Whereas" statements to warm the heart!

Margi Preus brought in green tea for her book The Peace Bell. You can still see her in the store later on if you missed her, or check out her event at Harbor City.

Beatrice Ojakangas and her sister brought in a rosemary parmesan bread. It was very tasty and made the store smell wonderful. It's one of over 500 recipes for caseroles, which go by many names but can be just about anything baked and served in a single dish. (who says I don't pay attention?!)

Some ladies posed in a parking lot next to an old spring factory across the street. I guess too many people have the picture with the bridge in the background. Or the Lake. Or one of our more historic buildings. Or Rose Garden. Or public park.

And I'm way behind on my grading for school and blogging and store holiday cataloguing for the store.

We're on the tail end of our color peak, but it's still quite gorgeous out.

This weekend Duluth's own Cal Benson as he opens the twelfth season of the Spirit Lake Poetry Series with a reading on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 7:30 p.m., in Somers Lounge at the College of St. Scholastica

more soon as I continue to catch up. Nary a dull moment.