Thursday
September 17, 2009
Back Home
 |
Julia Keller
Author/Presenter
We welcome
the return of this Pulitzer Prize winner and
Chicago Tribune culture critic to open our 23nd
season. Keller’s new novel is narrated by Rachel
Browning, a 15-year-old girl whose father
suffers a traumatic brain injury while serving
in the Iraq war. When he returns home, Rachel
and the rest of the family must adjust to a new
reality; the dad they knew is gone forever,
replaced by a sullen stranger. "Back Home" is
about the strength and resiliency of families,
and the tremendous sacrifice made by our
military veterans and their families.
|
 |
|
Thursday
October 15, 2009
River Ghosts
by B. R. Robb
|
Bruce Steinberg
Author/Presenter
We welcome Batavia attorney Bruce Steinberg for
his second "Books" appearance. Publishers Weekly
praised River Ghosts as a murder mystery
written with "steely eloquence" and
Kirkus
Reviews awarded Steinberg’s novel its
coveted Starred Review, comparing it favorably
with Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones.
Mayor Jeff Schielke selected it as one of the
year’s three important books with Batavia
connections. Steeped in a hard-scrabble search
for faith amid stubborn racism, River Ghosts is
a mystery that matters.
|
 |
|
Thursday
November 19, 2009
More Batavia Literary
Highlights |
Mayor Jeff Schielke
Presenter
Mayor Jeff Schielke continues his
sharing of recently discovered literature, both
new and old in age, which features Batavia,
Illinois, as its central theme. The highly
entertaining pieces featured are sure to catch
the interest of local readers, both old-timers
and newcomers.
|
 |
|
|
|
Thursday
January 21, 2010
The Scot Harvath
Series
|
Brad Thor
Author/Presenter
New York Times best-selling author Thor
talks about his popular series of thrillers
featuring covert Homeland Security operative and
former Navy SEAL Scot Harvath. Nelson DeMille
has called Harvath “the perfect all-American
hero for the post-September 11 world.” Thor has
served as a member of the Department of Homeland
Security’s Analytic Red Cell Program.
Thor Website |
 |
|
Thursday
February 18, 2010
The White House Chef
Series
|
Julie Hyzy
Author/Presenter
Chicago-area author Julie Hyzy, will discuss
her "White House Chef" mystery series, including
State of the Onion, Hail to the Chef,
and the newest book,
Eggsecutive Orders.
These books feature Olivia (Ollie) Paras, who
feeds the First Family and saves the world in
her spare time.
Hyzy Website
|
|
 |
|
Thursday
March 18, 2010
Playing With the Enemy:
A Baseball Prodigy,
a World War, and a Field
of Broken Dreams
|
Gary Moore
Author/Presenter
Chicago-area author
Gary Moore will discuss his nonfiction account
of his father Gene’s experience as a 15-year-old
catcher signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers just as
World War II began. Gene played on the Navy
baseball team before being brought back to the
U.S. to serve on a secret mission, guarding
German POWs whose U-boat was captured.
ONE BOOK, ONE BATAVIA SELECTION FOR 2010
Moore Website |
 |
|
Thursday
April 15, 2010
The Beckham Experiment
and
American Icon |
Lester Munson
Presenter
Nationally known commentator, writer, ESPN
editor, and our go-to guy on sports topics,
Lester Munson shares his impressions of two new
sports books. The first describes the state of
professional soccer in America. The second
describes Roger Clemens and his use of
performance-enhancing drugs. Munson is sure to
comment and take questions on other current
issues. What about those Cubs?
The Beckham Experiment
by Grant Wahl
American Icon by N.Y. Daily News Sports
Investigative Team
Munson Website
|
 |
|
Thursday
May 20, 2010
The Dixie Highway
in
Illinois
|
James R. Wright
Author/Presenter
Homewood historian James R. Wright will give an
overview of the early history of the Dixie
Highway in Illinois, illustrated by photos from
his book. The highway was an early thoroughfare
between Chicago and Miami. In Illinois, the
highway’s origins date to 1915, and it was the
first Illinois highway to be fully paved when it
was completed in 1921.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
