This Week is Mostly About Books

First, Paula Poundstone will be appearing at the Lyric Theatre in Stuart on Thursday, January 21st for two shows. One at 6 and the second at 8:30. You might know her from the NPR news quiz program "Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me". I'm not going to rewrite all her PR stuff here. You can "google" her or look her up on Facebook. But the Lyric Theatre in Stuart doesn't have a presence on Facebook. I wonder why? But I digress. Paula is also the national spokesperson for ALTAFF which means The Association of Library Trustees Advocates Friends & Foundations. Since I am NOW president of the Friends of the Blake Library in Stuart, INC., I am now also an ALTAFF member. (Our Friends group belongs.) Paula will be selling her book (There's nothing in this book I meant to say) and her CDs. Because she's an advocate and spokesperson, she's sharing the proceeds of book and CD sales with the Friends groups. So, I want you to come to the event and buy a book or a CD. Got it?

Then, Friday night I'll be at the Blake Library, yet again, but this time to enjoy a little Latin music, food and libation at the Foundation's annual party - this year the theme is Hot Havana Nights! before Bookmania on Saturday. Bookmania is an awesome event. The Blake Library hosts 25 well-known authors who talk about their work in a variety of contexts. For more information, go to: library.martin.fl.us. Details are available. Oh, by the way, Saturday is FREE!

Friday Bob and I will be Literary Escorts hosting an author. I guess we'll have to behave and not embibe too much. Hummmm...

Read Anything Good Lately?

A member of my book group picked Smoke Screen by Sandra Brown as our opening book for the 'season'. (Remember, I live in Florida where the seasons correspond to the travels of snow birds.) I got into reading SB and found I liked her style. She writes murder mysteries but her style is not totally predictable and her stories don't always occur in the same place.

Then I read Still Alice, a heartbreaking story of a woman who develops early onset Alzheimer's Disease at age 50! Scary stuff!!! The author, Lisa Genova, holds a Harvard PhD in neuroscience and is an online columnist for the National Alzheimer's Association.

My husband gave me a book with the suggestion that I might like it, it's brief. It's Mitch Albom's for one more day. Humm...it looks very interesting. This is a library book so it'll be my next read.

When that's done I'll read The Color of Lightning by Paulette Jiles. My husband and I will be her escort for BookMania, an event held annually (since forever!) at the Blake Library in Stuart. This year BookMania will be held Saturday, January 23rd at the Blake, of course. Check out the Martin County Library System's website (www.library.martin.fl.us) for more details about the program, authors and the schedule. Books will be available to buy or bring your already purchased books for the author to sign and personalize. Oh, BookMania is FREE. Is that awesome or what!!!!

If you love rubbing shoulders with authors, and love your cocktails as well, spring for the $75 to attend the Library Foundation's Signature Event (www.libraryfoundationmc.org) the night before (Jan. 22nd) also at the Blake. The theme for the 'pre' event is Hot Havana Nights!

Let me hear what you love to read! I need suggestions!