The Reading Post

My favorite "Adult Author Moment" at the Texas Book Festival: Meeting Scott Simon, host of NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday.

Scott Simon is the author of several books, the latest of which is the recently-published Windy City; A Novel of Politics.  He was a featured author at the Texas Book Festival this year, and his program and book signing was a very popular element of the Festival.

Probably the best part of meeting Scott Simon was to watch his interaction with his two small daughters as they tried to wrap their young minds around seein

As I mentioned a couple of days ago, I just returned from the Texas Book Festival, the Texas homage to books, authors and literacy held annually in Austin on the grounds of the State Capitol.

My favorite "Young Adult Author Moment" was meeting Rick Riordan. Mr. Riordan is a wonderful author of both adult and young adult fiction. He is also extremely engaging, very approachable, and great fun to talk with. As his roots are in San Antonio, many of his books have an authentic south Texas flavor and all are very readable.

His latest young adult novels, the Percy Jackson series are all available at the Victoria Public Library.

Above is a picture of Rick Riordan taken at the Texas Book Festival.

The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, 1918.

Now known as Veterans' Day, Armistice Day began as the celebration of "the war to end all wars" in 1918.

One of the most famous of all poems, and one written during The World War is titled, "In Flanders Fields" by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, M.D.

It is well worth another read.

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/flanders.htm

 

I'm just back from attending the Texas Book Festival last weekend.

My favorite "children's author moment" was meeting both Laurent de Brunhoff, author of the more recent Babar books, as well as "Babar" himself. Actually, as a Texas Book Festival Volunteer, I had the oppportunity to assist "Babar" as the popular elephant of the Babar books appeared with Mr. Brunhoff at a program and book signing. Laurent de Brunhoff is the son of Jean de Brunhoff, the original creator of the Babar series of books.  Laurent de Brunhoff chose to continue authorship of Babar books after World War II, and continues the legacy established in 1931 with the publication of the first Babar book.

Attached is a picture of Laurent de Brunhoff, and Babar, taken at the Texas Book Festival.

More TBF blog posts will follow. . .

Weren't the political debates interesting?

All the focus has been on the debaters, as it should be, but what about the moderators? All the moderators of the debates, televised and not, are accomplished authors.

Rick Warren, pastor of a California megachurch, moderated a non-network Q & A session early in the political season. He is, of course, well-known for his works The Purpose-driven Life and The Purpose-driven Church.

Jim Lehrer, anchor of the PBS "The News Hour with Jim Lehrer" is an accomplished author of many novels. His latest is Eureka.

Gwen Ifill, also a PBS broadcaster and newsperson, has a new book coming out in January or February, 2009. Her book is titled Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama.

Tom Brokaw of NBC's "Meet the Press" and his book The Greatest Generation shot to the top of the best-seller lists in 1998. His latest book is Boom!: Voices of the Sixties.

Bob Schieffer, native Texan and CBS host of "Face the Nation," moderated the last of the current series of political debates. He has recently written a book titled Bob Schieffer's America.

All of these books are now (or will be, in the case of Gwen Ifill's forthcoming book) at the Victoria Public Library. All of the authors were selected to moderate these debates, not just because they are prominent in their fields, but because they are literate, intelligent and very articulate. We can learn something and/or enjoy reading every day, and a good place to begin could be with any of their books.

What are you reading?

Well, here we are less than four weeks from election day.

I doubt that there is much out there that could influence the political process at this point, but there are a couple of really good new books recently written.

The War Within: A Secret White House History 2006-2008 is the fourth and final volume of Bob Woodward's historical series detailing the Bush Administration. Woodward is described as "clearly non-idealogical" by the New York Times Book Review, and this book completes his analysis of the Bush Presidency.

Thomas L. Friedman also has a new book entitled Hot, Flat, and Crowded. Friedman is calling for a "green revolution" as a means of energizing and renewing America.

Both speak to issues of the last eight years and look to the future to solve the ills of the world.

What are you reading?

 

For those of you who have already discovered Jeff Abbott, it should be no surprise that his latest novel, Collision, is one of his best. He has moved into an area of suspense and really keeps his plotlines moving. For those of us with Austin roots, it is also fun to see that he sets this one in the real Austin. This is a great read.

I'm a "Recovering School Librarian," so I still like to keep up with some Young Adult literature; and I like to chat with and listen in on School Librarian conversations. I was reading a post on a discussion list and discovered a book titled Sweethearts, by Sara Zarr. This is a really touching novel of memories and friendship. I'll be through with it in a day or so. You or your young adults in your home will like this one, also.

What are you reading?

I guess the Political Season is officially open, now, with the beginning of the first party primary of the election year today.
Whatever your political bent, Victoria Public Library has something to interest and inform.
Some examples: 

God's Politics by Jim Wallis

The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren (He just hosted the Q&A session last week between Obama and McCain.)