May 2011 Literary Events

Sunday, May 1

Author Minsoo Kang will be discussing his latest Sublime Dreams of Living Machines. This novel recognizes the importance of the robot within modern day civilization. It examines how the robot has evolved throughout history of the West. 4pm, Left Bank -CWE, 399 N. Euclid Ave., 367-6731.

Monday, May 2

River Styx will be celebrating 36 years of independent and literary programming with its annual Art and Literary Feast at Duff’s Restaurant. The cost is $45 per person and includes Duff’s cuisine and by Kevin Prufer and Jane O. Wayne. Duff’s Restaurant, 392 N. Euclid Ave. Please email [email protected] before April 21 for ticket information.

St. Louis County is pleased to present the acclaimed author of Water for Elephants, Sarah Gruen, who will discuss her new novel Ape House. Come early (6:30) for a group presentation by the staff of Left Bank Books. 7pm, SLCL- Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 994-3300.

Tuesday, May 3

There will be a discussion of Galileo’s Daughter by Dava Sobel. Light refreshments will be served. 7pm, SLCL-Meramec Valley Branch, 625 New Smizer Mill Rd.

Novelist Francisco Goldman will be presenting Say Her Name, a novel that describes his love and the loss of his wife Aura Estrada. 7pm, Left Bank Books-CWE, 399 N. Euclid Ave.

Wednesday, May 4

All are invited to participate in a book chat of On Folly Beach by Karen White. 10:30 am, SLCL-Thornhill Branch, 12863 Willowyck Dr., 994-3300.

The Sunset Hills Borders BookClub will be meeting to discuss Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, by John Berendt. 7pm, Borders Café, 10990 Sunset Hills Plaza, Sunset Hills, 909-0300.

The St. Louis County Library Foundation will present National Book Award-winning historian Nathaniel Philbrick for a book discussion and signing of The Last Stand: Cluster, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of the Little Big Horn. This program is free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase at the event. 7pm, SLCL- Headquarters, 1640

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S. Lindbergh Blvd., 994-3300.

The St. Louis System would like to invite you to a discussion and of Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss & Love with Matt Logelin. 7pm, SLPL- Schlafly Branch, 225 North Euclid Avenue, 367-4120.

Ann Cuiellette Marr will be presenting her new , Classic Creole: A Celebration of Food and Family. This Cookbook features authentic New Orleans dishes. 7pm, SLPL- Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Ave, 367-4120.

Kathryn Stockett will be presenting her book, The Help. The Help tells the story of three women who begin a movement that changes the way women, both black and white, view each other. To attend, purchase a copy of The Help from Left Bank Books and receive two tickets to the event. 7pm, Christ Church Cathedral, 1210 Locust, 436-3049.

Thursday, May 5

The Mystery Lovers Book Club invites you to participate in a discussion of The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny. 10 am, SLCL-Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 994-3300.

The Trailblazers Adult Book Club will meet to discuss The Camel Bookmobile by Marsha Hamilton. Registration is required prior to this discussion. 10am, SLCL-Jamestown Bluffs Branch, 4153 N. Hwy 67.

Women on the Move are hosting a luncheon including New York Times best-selling author Jacquelyn Mitchard. Mitchard will be discussing her novel The Breakdown Lane as well as details of her personal experience with Multiple Sclerosis. Tickets to the luncheon are $75 per person and benefit Gateway Area of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Visit www.nationalmssociety.org for more details. 11:30 am, The Ritz- Carlton, 100 Carondolet Plaza.

Join in a discussion of Off Season by Anne Rivers Siddons. This is the story of a woman who searches for meaning after her husband’s death. 2pm, SLCL-Indian Trails Branch, 8400 Delport Dr., 994-3300.

Boarders in Sunset Hills invites you to attend the St. Louis Storytelling Festival. 7pm, 10990 Sunset Hills Plaza, Sunset Hills, 909-0300.

The St. Louis County Library Foundation is presenting author Luanne Rice for a discussion and signing of her new novel The Silver Boat. This event is free and open to the public. 7pm, SLCL-Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 994-3300.

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The Mystery Book Club invites you to participate in a discussion of Nine Dragons by Michael Connelly. This book tells the story of LAPD Detective Harry Bosch who returns to solve the murder of a liquor store owner. 7pm, SLCL-Florissant Valley Branch, 195 New Florissant Rd., 994-3300.

Left Bank Books is pleased to present renowned Islamic scholar and St. Louis native Thomas Michel, S.J., who journeyed from his home in Ankara, Turkey to deliver the lecture "Christian-Muslim Encounters in the Age of Quantum Physics," that is based on the ideas and experiences found in his new of essays, A Christian View of Islam: Essays on Dialogue. 7pm, First Unitarian Church, 5007 Waterman, 367-6731.

Friday, May 6

University of Missouri-St. Louis invites you to a book launch of Eammon Wall’s new book Writing the Irish West: Ecologies and Traditions. 7pm, UMSL, 331 Social Sciences and Buisness Building, 516-6495.

Saturday, May 7

Earl Austin, Jr. will be giving a talk about the best PHL basketball teams in the area including stories about parents of athletes in the area. His new book, You Might Need a Jacket II will also be available for purchasing and signing. 2pm, Walnut Park Library, 5760 West Florissant Avenue, 383-1210.

The St. Louis County Library Foundation’s Buzz Westfall Favorite Author Series is pleased to present Journalist James B. Stewart. He will be present for a discussion and signing of his new book Tangled Webs: How False Statements are Undermining America- From Martha Stewart to Bernie Madoff. Books will be available for purchase at the event from Pudd’nHead Books. 7pm, SLCL-Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 994-3300.

Monday, May 9

Come join in a discussion of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. 1:30 pm, SLCL-Weber Road Branch, 4444 Weber Road, 994-3300.

Come Join the Central Book Discussion Too as they discuss Freedom by Jonathan Franzen. 6:30 pm, SLPL-Machacek, 6424 Scanlan Avenue, 781-2948.

Observable Readings at RAC, the series will shift to the Regional Arts Commission with Missouri Poet Laureate David Clewell and poet, musician, writer Chris King. This is the last reading of the Observable season which will resume in September at the Bottlworks. Reading begins at 8 pm, 6128 Delmar, www.stlouispoetrycenter.org.

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Tuesday, May 10

Webster Groves Public Library invites you to discuss Lord of Misrule by Jaimy Gordon. 6pm. 3232 S. Brentwood Blvd., Webster Groves, 961-3784.

William Stage and his daughter Margaret Stage will host a talk about their new book, The Painted Ad: a Postcard Book of Vintage Brick Wall Signs. This book is a discussion of the time period of American History when wall signs dotted the commercial landscape. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing. 7pm, SLPL-Buder Branch, 4401 Hampton Avenue, 352-2900.

Join the Grand Glaize Library Book Discussion Group every second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Come if you have a love of books and intelligent discussion. 2pm, SLCL- Grand Glaize Branch, 1010 Meramec Station Rd., 994-3300. Bookies Book Discussion Group will look at One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson. 2pm, SLCL-Oak Bend Branch, 842 S. Holmes Ave., 994-3300.

The As the Page Turns book discussion group will examine Kim Edwards’ The Memory Keeper’s Daughter. 7pm, SLCL-Weber Road Branch, 4444 Weber Rd., 994-3300.

HQ Evening Book Discussion Group invites you to participate in a discussion of River of Doubt by Candice Mallard. 7pm, SLCL-Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 994-3300. The Washington University Foreign Literature Reading Group will discuss The Woman in the Dunes by Kobo Abe. 7:30pm, West Campus, 727-6118.

Wednesday, May 11

Join in a discussion of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. This novel consists of thirteen short stories about retired schoolteacher Olive Kitteridge. 2pm, SLCL-Daniel Boone Branch, 300 Clarkson Rd.

The St. Louis County Library Foundation is pleases to present Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Geraldine Brooks who will discuss and sign her new novel Caleb’s Crossing. 7pm, SLCL-Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 994-3300. Thursday, May 12

You are invited to participate in a book discussion of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford. 1:30 pm, SLCL-Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 994-3300.

For the Love of Wisdom Book Club invites you to discuss The Moral Landscape by Sam Harris. To reserve a copy, please call 722-6586. 7pm, SLPL-Carpenter Branch, 3309 South Grand Boulevard, 772-6586.

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Thursday, May 12

New York Times Sports Columnist George Vecsey will discuss his book Stan Musial. This novel entails the life of twenty-time All-Star and St. Louis Cardinals icon, “Stan the Man” over his nearly seventy years in the national spotlight. This event is free and open to the public. For reservations call 444-1827 or email [email protected]. 9am, Missouri Athletic Club, 405 Washington Ave.

Tim Sandlin will present his new novel Lydia that revisits many of the characters from his GroVont trilogy. 7pm, Left Bank Books-CWE, 399 N. Euclid Ave.

Friday, May 13

Come join the Rock Road’s Book Discussion club for discussion of My Antonia by Willa Cather. Pick up a copy of the book at the Rock Road branch. 10am, SLCL-Rock Road Branch, 10267 St. Charles Rock Rd., 994-3300.

Author of the international Devil in the White City, Eric Larson will present his latest novel In the Garden of the Beasts. This novel tells the story of William E. Dodd, a professor who was picked by President Roosevelt to be America's first ambassador to Nazi Germany. The event will be an on-stage interview moderated by Debbie Monterrey, host of KMOX’s “Total Information AM.” 7pm, SLCL-Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 994-3300, books will be available for purchase through Left Bank Books.

Second Friday Notes presented by St. Louis Poetry Center in collaboration with Whole Foods Market will feature poets Lisa Ebert and Linda O’Connell. 7pm, Whole Foods Market, Town and Country, at Woodsmill and Clayton Roads.

The UMSL MFA Graduate Reading Program will feature Brit Blasingame, Ron Austin, Anna Eggemeyer and Kim Mailes. 7pm, E. Desmond Lee and Mary Ann Lee Theater of the Touhill Performing Arts Center, UMSL, One University Blvd., 516-6845.

Saturday, May 14

The Mystery Lover’s Book Club will be discussing A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd. Please call ahead for groups of 5+. 10am, SLPL-Buder Branch, 4401 Hampton Avenue, 352-2900.

The Saturday Afternoon Book Club will be discussing Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson at the Webster Groves Public Library. 2pm, 3232 S. Brentwood Blvd., Webster Groves, 961-3784.

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Marilyn Kinsella will host a discussion and book signing of her book Storytelling and QAR Strategies co-authored with Phyllis Hostmeyer. This book offers a detailed explanation of research-based reading comprehension framework that provides teachers, school librarians, and storytellers with the tools necessary to incorporate the deep learning of QAR into classroom works. Copies of this book will be available for sale at the event. 2pm, SLPL- Buder Branch, 4401 Hampton Avenue, 352-2900.

Sunday, May 15

The BookClub invites you to their 424th discussion. This month they will discuss Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. Contact Lloyd Klinedinst at 636-451-3232 for details about time and location, or visit http://www.klinedinst.com.

Monday, May 16

You are invited to attend a book and movie discussion of books and films you are currently enjoying. 11am, SLPL-Baden Branch, 8448 Church Road, 388-2400.

The Thornbirds Book Group will meet to discuss The Beach House by Jane Green. 2pm, SLCL-Thornhill Branch, 12863 Willowyck Dr., 994-3300.

Author and Grammy Award-winning musician Steve Earle will discuss and sign his new book, I'll Never Get Out of this World Alive. This book tells the redemptive tale of a man living with Hank Williams' ghost. Steve Earle is a singer-songwriter, actor, activist, and has also written the story collection Doghouse Roses. Books will be for sale courtesy of Subterranean Books. 7 pm, SLPL-Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Ave., 367-4120.

Tuesday, May 17

The Afternoon Book Club will meet to discuss Tell No One: A Novel by Harla Coben. 2pm, SLCL-Florissant Valley Branch, 195 New Florissant Rd., 994-3300.

The Book Discussion Group will be discussing The Postmistress by Sarah Blake. 6:45 pm, SLPL-Kingshighway, 2260 South Vandeventer Avenue, 771-5450.

The Pageturners Book Club invites you to participate in the debut novel by Washington University graduate, Stefen Merrill Block. The Story of Forgetting tells the story of two men as they attempt to understand the mysteries of Alzheimer’s disease. 2pm & 7pm, SLCL-Tesson Ferry Branch, 9920 Lin-Ferry Dr., 994-3300.

Wednesday, May 18

The Mystery Readers Book Club invites you to discuss Book of Air and Shadows by Michael Gruber. 2pm, Kirkwood Public Library, 140 E. Jefferson, 821-5770.

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The Urban Discussion Group will be discussing Addicted by Zane. 7pm, SLPL-Carpenter, 3309 South Grand Boulevard, 772-6586.

The Trailblazers After Dark will be meeting to discuss The Devil’s Punch Bowl by Grey Illes. 7pm, SLCL-Sachs Branch, 16400 Burkhardt Pl., 994-3300.

Join the Evening Book Discussion Group as they discuss And Not Afraid to Dare by Tonya Bolden. 7:30 pm, SLCL-Oak Bend Branch, 842 S. Holmes Ave., 994-3300.

The FV Evening Book Discussion Club invites you to participate in a discussion of The Tea House on Mulberry Street by Sharon Owens. 7:30pm, SLCL-Florisant Valley Branch, 195 New Florissant Rd., 994-3300.

Thursday, May 19

The Urban Street Lit Café Book Discussion will be hosting a book discussion of Eating Pomegranates by Diane Patton. 6:30 pm, SLPL-Julia Davis, 4415 Natural Bridge Avenue, 383-3021.

In her novel, Groping Toward Democracy, Pricilla Dowden-White, a history professor at University of Missouri-St. Louis examines the African American interwar history of St. Louis. 7pm, Left Bank Books-CWE, 399 Euclid Ave., 367-6731.

Friday, May 20

The Mystery Readers Book Club will be discussing Elvis and the Grateful Dead by Peggy Webb. 10am, SLCL-Oak Bend Branch, 842 S. Holmes Ave., 994-3300.

Saturday, May 21

Kirkwood Public Library invites you to the Summer Reading Kick-Off Party. Sign up for summer reading while participating in fun activities and watching special performers. For more information please visit kirkwoodpubliclibrary.org. 10am-1pm, Kirkwood Public Library, 140 E. Jefferson, Kirkwood, 820-5770.

Join the Saturday Reading Book Discussion Group for a talk about Olivia’s Story by Jeffrey Copeland. 12:30pm, SLPL-Julia Davis Branch, 4415 Natural Bridge Avenue, 383- 3021.

The Buder Branch Book Discussion Group invites you to participate in a book talk of Cloud Atlas by Liam Callanan. 1pm, SLPL-Buder Branch, 4401 Hampton Avenue, 352- 2900.

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Monday, May 23

Join the Manga Book Discussion Group and Jonathon Perry for a discussion of North World by Lars Brown. 6pm, SLPL-Julia Davis Branch, 4415 Natural Bridge Avenue, 383- 3021.

Tuesday, May 24

Poetry at the Point presents poets John Samuel Tieman and Timothy Leach at the Focal Point, 2720 Sutton in Maplewood, the reading begins at 7:30pm and is free.

You are invited to join a discussion on Michael Chabon’s The Yiddish Policeman’s Union with the As the Page Turns book club. 7pm, SLCL-Weber Road, 4444 Weber Rd., 994- 3300.

The Tuesday Evening Book Club invites you to participate in a discussion of The Princess Bride by William Goldman. 7pm, SLCL-Thornhill Branch, 12863 Willowyck Dr., 994-3300.

Wednesday, May 25

The Bookies Book Discussion Group invites you to participate in a discussion of Harry Truman’s Excellent Adventure by Matt Alego. 2pm, SLCL- Oak Bend Branch, 842 S. Holmes Ave., 994-3300.

Come join the Central Book Discussion at Schlafly this month they will discuss Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder by Rebecca Wells. 4pm, SLPL-Schlafly 225 North Euclid Avenue, 367-4120.

The High Adventure Book Club encourages you to join a discussion of Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson. 7pm, SLCL-Mid-County Branch, 7821 Maryland Ave., 994-3300.

Bestselling suspense author Elaine Viets is visiting to discuss her latest mystery Pumped for Murder. 7pm, SLCL-Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 994-3300.

Thursday, May 26

The Schlafly Book Discussion Group meets every fourth Thursday of the month. Join them this week as they discuss The Good Earth by Pearl Buck. 7pm, SLPL-Schlafly, 225 North Euclid Avenue, 367-4120.

Tuesday, May 31

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The Kirkwood Public Library is hosting a ‘Stories in the Park’ event. Meet at the Kirkwood Park, Adams & Geyer, Scout Shelter Pavilion to join on a Kirkwood Park Tour! Tuesday night stories will be in a different park each week. 6:30 pm, 820-5770.

Upcoming Events and Notices

The St. Louis Indie Bookstore Cruise will depart from Pudd'nhead Books, Saturday, May 7 by bus, traveling to Left Bank Books with lunch at Duff's Restaurant, then on to Subterranean Books, and finishing at Main Street Books before returning to port. Each stop will include visits with authors, refreshments, give-aways, and other happenings. While en route, passengers will discover some of the literary history of St. Louis's bookstores, as well as book readings of selected passages and trivia games. Tickets are $35 and include a ticket, a St. Louis Alliance Passport (to have stamped at each cruise port), and lunch at Duff's. Tickets may be purchased online from Brown Paper Tickets, or ask a participating bookstore for details. During lunch at Duff's, Left Bank Books will feature author Catherine Rankovic, author of Meet Me: Writers in St. Louis. Several local writers interviewed in the book will also be present for the discussion. 10am, Pudd'nhead Books, 37 S. Old Orchard Ave.

The 5th Annual St. Louis Fine Print, Rare Book & Paper Arts Fair at the University of Missouri-St. Louis in the J. C. Penney Building, Saturday, May 14 from 10am to 7pm and Sunday, May 15, 11am to 5pm. General admission $5.00 per person., 1.50 for students with IDs. Ample free parking is available. Directions available at www.umsl.edu/mercantile for more information call 516-7240.

Washington University will be hosting the 16th Annual Summer Writers Institute, June 13 – 24, 2011. This is a two week intensive writing program in which students have the opportunity to choose from creative nonfiction or the new multi-genre workshop, which encompasses fiction, poetry, and screenwriting. The program includes one-on-one instruction, Readings by guest faculty, Craft talks, and Panel Discussions with writers and editors. Participants in this program may choose to earn three college credits or attend on a noncredit basis. www.swi.ucollege.wustl.edu, 935-6720.

Are you looking for a critique group? If you are a writer living in the St. Louis Metro area, be sure to check out one of these SCBWI sponsored critique groups.

The St. Charles group meets the first Wednesday of each month at 7 pm at the Mid Rivers Barnes and Noble. For more information, contact Stephanie Bearce at [email protected].

The Florissant group meets the second Thursday of each month at 7 pm at Florissant Presbyterian Church. For more information, contact Sue Bradford Edwards, [email protected].

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The St. Louis City group meets the 3rd Sunday of the month at Buder Library at 2:30pm. For contact information, email Jessica Saigh, [email protected] .

The writer's group in West St. Louis County is also looking for several new members. They meet the 3rd Monday at 6:30 at Borders on Olive/Ballas in Creve Couer. Please contact Cindy Reeg if you are interested, [email protected].

There is also an online non beginner critique group that meets the first Friday of every month. They chat throughout the month and critique in real time on their yahoo group "32 Reasons" If interested please contact Julie Hammond at [email protected]

Abbreviations STL: Saint Louis; B&N: Barnes & Noble; KPL: Kirkwood Public Library; LBB: Left Bank Books; SLCL: St. Louis County Library; SLPL: St. Louis Public Library; SCCCL: St. Charles City County Library; UCPL: University City Public Library, WU: Washington University, WGPL: Webster Groves Public Library.

Check the online calendar at cenhum.artsci.wustl.edu for more events and additional details. To advertise, send event details to [email protected], fax 935-4889, or call 935-5576.

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