Mary Daniels Brown

My mother always insisted that, as soon as I was old enough to sit up, she’d find me in my crib after my nap babbling away, with a Little Golden Book on my lap. I’ve had my nose in a book ever since. I grew up in a small town, with the tiny town library literally in my backyard. As an only child in an unhappy home, I found comfort and companionship in books. As an adult I wanted to be Harry Potter, although I admit I’m more Hermione. My life has been a series of research projects. Reading has taught me that human lives are deliciously messy and that “it’s complicated” isn’t a punchline.

‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ turns 50

‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ turns 50: The Reading Life – latimes.com Ken Kesey’s novel ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,’ which became an Oscar-winning film starring Jack Nicholson, turns 50. Does it stand up to time? That’s the question Carolyn Kellogg of the Los Angeles Times asked herself, then read the novel for […]

‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ turns 50 Read More »

“V” Is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton

Grafton, Sue. “V” Is for Vengeance (2011)Putnam, $27.95 hardcover   ISBN10: 0399157867   Audiobook by Random House Audio. Narrated by Judy Kaye  While shopping at a department store, Kinsey witnesses a woman obviously stealing some expensive merchandise. She reports what she has seen to a store clerk, who then notifies security. Kinsey hangs around to

“V” Is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton Read More »

How To Rescue Books on Goodreads – GalleyCat

How To Rescue Books on Goodreads – GalleyCat. Starting today, Goodreads will stop using book identification information from Amazon. While this shift will not hurt any of the ratings, reviews or bookshelves you have created on the site, some books on your bookshelf may need help. I don’t know how I missed this, but I

How To Rescue Books on Goodreads – GalleyCat Read More »

Monday Miscellany

America’s Most Literate Cities, 2011 Drawing from a variety of available data resources, the America’s Most Literate Cities study ranks the largest cities (population 250,000 and above) in the United States. This study focuses on six key indicators of literacy: newspaper circulation, number of bookstores, library resources, periodical publishing resources, educational attainment, and Internet resources.

Monday Miscellany Read More »

American Library Association announces 2012 Youth Media Award winners | American Libraries Magazine

American Library Association announces 2012 Youth Media Award winners via American Library Association announces 2012 Youth Media Award winners | American Libraries Magazine.

American Library Association announces 2012 Youth Media Award winners | American Libraries Magazine Read More »

Monday Miscellany

And the Nominees Are . . . Last week saw the announcements of nominations for two big sets of literary prizes. Mystery Writers of America has announced the nominees for the 2012 Edgar Allan Poe Awards, honoring the best in mystery fiction and nonfiction in the following categories: best novel, best first novel by an

Monday Miscellany Read More »

New Material Added to Notes in the Margin

Yesterday I added the following new material: The Sue Grafton Page The Dennis Lehane Page The Minette Walters Page Most of this material is actually “old” notes that I’m just now getting around to posting after moving the site. But the review of “V” Is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton really is new.

New Material Added to Notes in the Margin Read More »

Monday Miscellany

Welcome to World Book Night Here’s a wonderful way to promote reading: We need 50,000 book-loving volunteers to fan out across America on April 23, 2012! Just take 20 free copies of a book to a location in your community, and you just might change someone’s life. The goal is to give books to new

Monday Miscellany Read More »

Monday Miscellany

Finally, Out with the Old Year. . . In what I promise will be the last list of “best books of 2011” reported here, Washington Post book critic Ron Charles summarizes his favorite novels of 2011 in the following categories: most devastating best Western weirdest sex best seafaring tale most metaphysical best novel about novels

Monday Miscellany Read More »

Monday Miscellany

Happy New Year! Novels and Television Recent news that HBO plans to adapt the works of William Faulkner for television has prompted critical discussion of the suitability of novels for this kind of medium translation. “The novel and television are commingling as never before. And it’s about time,” declares Laura Miller in TV and the novel:

Monday Miscellany Read More »

Scroll to Top