The Reading Diva

Several months ago, I borrowed a copy of Nikki Giovanni's new book Chasing Utopia from my coworker Kathleen.  And lost it.  I think I left in on the bus.  Looked everywhere and couldn't find it (and it still hasn't popped up anywhere).  So I told her that I lost it and that I was going to replace her copy. So when it was announced Nikki was coming to Columbia for the South Carolina Book Festival , I figured that I can get her to sign the replacement copy.  And it became very important once Kathleen announced her retirement after 26 years on the job.  But there was one problem: I was going to be in Chicago during the book festival. And my friend Valinda, who usually goes every year, didn't go to the festival. I sent out an SOS on Twitter and Facebook to see if anyone was going to the book festival.  Luckily, my friend Deona was going to be in the Columbia area and agreed to get the book signed.  And trying to get that book signed lead her...

I am sad to return to this blog with a heavy heart.   Dr. Maya Angelou passed away this morning . Many have given their thoughts about her passing in various mediums, but I want to write about the time that I got to see her in person. It was April 21, 2007.  I was living in Greenville at the time, working at the public library there.  The city has an arts festival every year called Artisphere and at the time, it was a fairly new festival (they just celebrated their 10th anniversary).  So it was a major coup that they were able to get Maya at this festival.  So I gather the little bit of coins that I had (because I sure wasn't making a lot of money working circulation at the library) to come up with the $30 (I think) to see Maya at the Peace Center . The Peace Center was PACKED. People from all colors were there, trying to soak up the knowledge that Maya was going to give us.  But the sad thing is that I don't remember much what she talked...

Relax in Paradise Marsha Mehran ,  Farley Mowat  and  Leslie Thomas . Congratulations to all of the O. Henry Prize winners ! The Residue Years and Long Division were two of the nominees of the Saroyan Prize . A sequel to The Pillars of Earth is on the way , but no date of release has been made. The Daily Mail has to pay JK Rowling after making false claims about the Harry Potter author. In the article I posted last week, the author of the new Michael Jordan book said that he did not interview Jordan for the book, but had interview him once before.   So why are people mad that Jordan's racism quotes aren't new ? Herbie Hancock's memoir will be released in October . Recent interviews/book events caught on video and audio include Walter Mosley and Michael Eric Dyson , bell hooks (one includes Janet Mock) and Kiese Laymon . Marcus Books in San Francisco has been evicted from their building . The New York Public Library has abandoned plans to revam...

It's that time of year where I take part in the 10 books 30 days challenge . As some of you may know, I have struggled with this challenge by only reading 4-5 books during the month.  What makes this year even harder is that somehow I have lost my reading groove.  Yes I'm still reading, but for some reason I haven't been able to finish a book. Maybe Southern Charm has zapped my brain cells. And Goodreads kindly reminds me that I am seven books behind my reading goal for the year (which is part of the reason I want to do this challenge).  And did I mention that I will be out of town for a week and have three college graduations in May?  I hope to finish reading a book. Soon. Relax in Paradise Paul Robeson Jr. ,  Stefanie Zweig  and Al Goldstein . Congratulations to all of the Edgar Award winners ! To Kill a Mockingbird will finally be released as an e-book and a downloadable audiobook . Almost ten years after her passing, new short stories from O...