geeking out over Jane Eyre

If you or anyone you know is an Eyre aficionado, you may be interested in this series I was made aware of whilst hobnobbing at RWA's Librarians' Day last week.

The Jane Eyre Chronicles by Joanna Campbell Slan

Death of a Schoolgirl (9780425247727)  (This title is available in the PLJC system)

Death of a Dowager (9780425253519)

I spoke with the author at the event and she gave me a few postcards and pamphlets about the book (which I will make available at our next meeting) and told me about a FREE virtual author event coming up in October.  The event, featuring Joanna Campbell Slan, will explore the history of Charlotte Bronte's classic and celebrate 166 years of Jane Eyre.

The event will be on October 16, 2013, from 3-5pm EST at http://shindig.com/event/jane-eyre

For more information, or book club questions, contact the author at joannaslan@aol.com and visit her website at www.joannaslan.com.

author Michael Morris

This came through the staff email this afternoon:

The Hoover Public Library has just had a very successful book group with
Michael Morris new book, Man in the Blue Moon.  He came to the library and
we engaged with him for over an hour about this book, his previous books,
and about his writing life.  He's a great speaker.  He wanted me to let
other library's know that he'd be willing to go to any of the branch
libraries for a book talk if you wanted him to come.  (He's local so it's
convenient for him.)

You can contact him at the following email address: wiregrass@earthlink.net.

Thanks,
Shannon
Hoover Public Library

Danny’s Mom: a novel by Elaine Wolf

Beth is a high school guidance counselor when her only son is killed in a one-car accident.

She blames her husband because she had argued against letting Danny drive that night, and she feels guilty for not standing up to both of them to prevent it.   After only three weeks she goes back to her job and her personal turmoil bleeds over into her relationships with a vulnerable student who is being bullied, a teacher who is the victim of a “mean girls” hate campaign, and a rigid administrator who refuses to listen to her concerns.   As a former educator, this author supposedly has insight into what really goes on in our schools, but if things are this bad, our teachers deserve combat pay.   I was so unsettled by this book that I asked a former school administrator to read it and give me her feedback (or at least her reassurance that the behavior described is exaggerated).    I can’t say I liked it, but it is certainly thought-provoking.   With its themes of grief, rage, professional conflict, school bullying, sexual orientation hate crimes and doubt about how much educators can and should do to protect students and themselves, this novel seems ideal for reading groups.

Kelly, Springville Road