The annual Friends of the Alamance County Libraries Used Book Sale hasn't looked exactly like itself in a while. That's not too surprising in a global pandemic caused by COVID-19. The twice a year sales were closed by the coronavirus in the spring and fall of 2020 with only an outdoor sale of used CDs. … Continue reading Friends of the Library fall book sale returns with some safety measures
Book shelf
Cool Papa Bell: New book looks for the man behind the baseball mythology
The Bona Fide Legend of Cool Papa Bell: Speed, Grace and the Negro Leagues; By Lonnie Wheeler; 325 pages; Abrams Press, New York; 2021. In biographies written about professional athletes, especially baseball, there is typically a section near the bibliography and index outlining a player’s career statistics, usually listed year by year with team affiliations. … Continue reading Cool Papa Bell: New book looks for the man behind the baseball mythology
Book Review: ‘Deacon King Kong’ is a rollicking romp
"Deacon King Kong"; By James McBride; 2020, Riverhead Books; 270 pages. In devouring every delightful sentence or poignant passage in "Deacon King Kong" it is impossible to believe that author James McBride didn't have a grand time writing each and every word. That's how much fun it is to visit this slice of south Brooklyn … Continue reading Book Review: ‘Deacon King Kong’ is a rollicking romp
Book review: ‘Every Drop of Blood’ — an astonishing look at Lincoln’s second inaugural
"Every Drop of Blood: The Momentous Second Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln": By Edward Achorn; 376 pages; Atlantic Monthly Press, 2020. By itself the premise looks almost impossible. How does an author go about producing a book around one presidential inaugural speech that numbers only 701 words given by arguably the most chronicled and discussed figure … Continue reading Book review: ‘Every Drop of Blood’ — an astonishing look at Lincoln’s second inaugural
UPDATE: Spring Friends of the Alamance Libraries Book Sale postponed
UPDATE: In the Breaking COVID-19 News Department is this announcement about the Friends of the Alamance Libraries Book Sale. Posted today (March 12, 2020) from the Friends of the Library . . . Dear Book Sale Customer: Due to the COVID-19 Virus (Coronavirus) the Friends of Alamance County Libraries is postponing our Spring Book Sale. … Continue reading UPDATE: Spring Friends of the Alamance Libraries Book Sale postponed
Colson Whitehead’s ‘The Nickel Boys’ a stunning follow to ‘The Underground Railroad’
The Nickel Boys; By Colson Whitehead; Penguin Random House LLC, 2019; 210 pages. Colson Whitehead doesn't waste words. Among novelists today, he's the ultimate economist in that department. Every short sentence serves a purpose. His stories unfold like a well-worn document that contains untold secrets tucked away in the corner of an old nightstand. He's also on … Continue reading Colson Whitehead’s ‘The Nickel Boys’ a stunning follow to ‘The Underground Railroad’
Review: ‘The Rise and Fall of the Branchhead Boys’ the story of an N.C. political dynasty
The Rise and Fall of the Branchhead Boys: North Carolina's Scott Family and the Era of Progressive Politics; By Rob Christensen; University of North Carolina Press; 2019; 322 pages. In today's polarized political environment it is almost impossible to imagine a time when elected leaders worked to solve the day-to-day problems of average people struggling … Continue reading Review: ‘The Rise and Fall of the Branchhead Boys’ the story of an N.C. political dynasty
Tim Conway was always funny, always likable
This is a review I wrote in 2013 about Tim Conway's autobiography in 2013. The comedian passed away today at age 85 after nearly a lifetime of making people laugh. Rest in peace, Mr. Conway and signature characters like Dorf, Mr. Tudball and the world's oldest man. “What’s so Funny? My Hilarious Life,” by Tim … Continue reading Tim Conway was always funny, always likable
Saving and expanding Burlington’s downtown bookstore
Burlington will keep its downtown bookstore after all. Let me be the first to say, "Yay!" Some might remember that back in December I wrote about the looming departure of Persnickety Books, a used bookstore on Davis Street. The closing, set for this winter, was a shame because the enterprise is a successful one. And, … Continue reading Saving and expanding Burlington’s downtown bookstore
Book review: ‘Football for a Buck”; or, how Donald Trump killed the USFL
'Football for a Buck: The Crazy Rise and Crazier Demise of the USFL'; by Jeff Pearlman; 2018; Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt Publishing Co.; 366 pages. Near the end of "Football for a Buck: The Crazy Rise and Crazier Demise of the USFL," author Jeff Pearlman's 366-page lament about the brief three-season life of a professional football … Continue reading Book review: ‘Football for a Buck”; or, how Donald Trump killed the USFL
Madison's Avenue 