Philip Gulley

Philip Gulley has a new book out called, "If the church were Christian: rediscovering the values of Jesus." Gulley is a Quaker minister from small town Indiana very near my own hometown. Our library system owns many of his titles. I'm particularly fond of "Porch Talk: stories of decency, common sense, and other endangered species." We also own six titles in his fictional series about Harmony, Indiana.

Time for a quiz

The London Book Fair is taking place this week in, well, London, and because of the Icelandic volcanic mayhem, many exhibitors and attendees are stuck at home.  Of course, us Northwesterners know a thing or two about volcanoes, and the library has lots of books about Mount St. Helens as well as other famous (and infamous) eruptions.  But do you ever wonder why no one highlights works of fiction that feature volcanoes?  Ok, probably not, but if your interest is piqued now, test your lava knowledge by taking this quiz created by the UK newspaper, The Guardian.

And for your volcanic reading pleasure:

Pompeii by Robert Harris
The Volcano Lover: A Romance by Susan Sontag

Still Alice

Still Alice by Lisa Genova is a novel about a college professor who, after experiencing episodes of forgetfulness, goes to a doctor and finds out that she is in the early stages of Alzheimers.  What is unique about this story is that it is told from the professor's point of view as she progresses through the various stages of this devastating disease.  I always enjoy hearing an author speak about her work, and if you do too, please take a look at this interesting video.