Book showcases county courthouses

pjnyden@wvgazette.com (Paul J. Nyden) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:45:00 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A book of the history of West Virginia courthouses might not be the stuff of best-sellers, but dont sell it short. "The stories in this book are not quite as dry as in a regular history book. This is not like a textbook,"...

In Short: June 13-19, 2013

(Staff reports) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 21:40:55 -0400

W.Va. documentary West Virginia Public Broadcastings "West Virginia: The Road to Statehood" will have a free preview screening at 7 p.m. Friday in the Culture Center Theater. The documentary examines the events and philosophies ...

Paul J. Nyden: Author says U.S. depends to much on military power

pjnyden@wvgazette.com (Paul J. Nyden) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 22:00:00 -0400

"The Dispensable Nation: American Foreign Policy in Retreat" by Vali Nasr, Doubleday, 300 pages. Hardcover, $28.95.CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Growing tensions in the Middle East seem increasingly complex, making it difficult to figure out wh...

Book Notes: June 9, 2013

(Staff reports) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 23:00:00 -0400

Lewisburg Lit Fest LEWISBURG, W.Va. -- Best-selling author Jeannette Walls will headline the Lewisburg Literary Festival, speaking at 2 p.m. Aug. 3 at Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg. Her memoir, "The Glass Castle," has been o...

Book review: 23 Shots puts spin on 1894 W.Va. gunfight

(James E. Casto) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 23:00:00 -0400

"23 Shots." By Mack Samples. Quarrier Press. 112 pages. $9.95. CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Mack Samples is best known as a talented West Virginia musician (and Vandalia Award winner). But Samples is also a prolific author whos published a nu...

E-book restrictions hamper libraries, Kanawha director says

(Megan Workman) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 19:34:09 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- While more people continue to check out electronic books from the Kanawha County Public Library, the limitations set by publishing companies have become a threat to libraries buying the e-books, the librarys director said. Alan Enge...

Book Notes: June 2, 2013

(Staff reports) — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 23:00:00 -0400

First novels a winner CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The author of "In the Garden of Stone," a novel set in the West Virginia coalfields in the 1920s, will sign copies of her book from 5 to 7 p.m. June 20 at Taylor Books. Susan Tekulve...

Dean King to make appearences to talk about new Hatfield & McCoy book

(Staff reports) — Fri, 31 May 2013 19:50:29 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Much has been written -- fact, fiction and legend -- of the infamous Hatfields and McCoys conflict. Yet best-selling author Dean Rusk has waded into this well-trod territory with a new nationally published book,

Drive puts books in the hands of kids

dawn@wvgazette.com (Dawn Miller) — Sat, 25 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Remember all those books that readers donated during the winter for The Charleston Gazettes Happy Valentines Childrens Book Drive. They continue to make their way into the hands of children. Thank-you notes are making their way bac...

Newly discovered Pearl S. Buck novel to be published

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:27:16 -0400

PHILADELPHIA -- A publisher is planning to release a newly discovered novel by the late Nobel Prize-winning author Pearl S. Buck later this year. Buck wrote the novel, titled "The Eternal Wonder," shortly before she died in 1973, according to a ...

Kanawha Summer Library Club begins June 8

(Staff reports) — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:28:37 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Kanawha County Public Library will have its annual Summer Library Club June 8 through July 27. This years theme is "Reading Is Math-Magical." Several area libraries will participate in kickoff events that feature games,...

Brooks McCabe: Investing in nature and prosperity

( ) — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:00:00 -0400

Natures Fortune By Mark R. Tercek and Jonathan S. Adams Basic Books, 198 pages., $26.99, hardcover.CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Any West Virginian interested in creating a competitive, self-sustaining economy should read Natures Fort...

Book Notes: May 19, 2013

(Staff reports) — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:00:00 -0400

Authors at Taylors CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Several West Virginia authors will make presentations at the "Jump Into Summer Reading -- Meet the Author!" event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 25 at Taylor Books. Featured authors include...

Book review: Coonts hero battles terrorists on the high seas

(James E. Casto) — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:00:00 -0400

"Pirate Alley." By Stephen Coonts. St. Martins Press. 310 pages. $26.99. CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia native Stephen Coonts hit it big with his first novel, "Flight of the Intruder," published in 1986, and hes given hi...

Book details fall of Harman Mining and tactics of Massey Energy

pjnyden@wvgazette.com (Paul J. Nyden) — Sat, 11 May 2013 22:00:00 -0400

The Price of Justice: A True Story of Greed and Corruption. By Laurence Leamer. New York: Times Books/Henry Holt and Co., 433 pages. Hardcover, $30. If you go: Author Laurence Leamer, along with Mingo County native and Pi...

Beckley writer breaks down his youth in Crapalachia

lynch@wvgazette.com (Bill Lynch) — Sat, 11 May 2013 23:00:00 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Scott McClanahan doesnt like to talk too much about why he writes the way he writes -- or why he writes at all. "I dont really think about it too much, honestly. Its like breaking down your religion or if your girlfriend loves ...

Book Notes: May 5, 2013

(Staff reports) — Sat, 04 May 2013 23:00:00 -0400

A Woman of Courage FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- Robert Thompson, author of "A Woman of Courage on the West Virginia Frontier: Phebe Tucker Cunningham," will be making several appearances in north-central West Virginia on May 11 and 12. ...

Book review: Voices called Billy Ray Cyrus to success

(James E. Casto) — Sat, 04 May 2013 23:00:00 -0400

"Hillbilly Heart." By Billy Ray Cyrus. New Harvest (Amazon Publishing/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt). 274 pages. $25. CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Like countless other teenage boys, a young Billy Ray Cyrus dreamed of becoming a professional baseb...

The Last Academy a mediocre debut

flipside@wvgazette.com (Nicholas Ransbottom, Home study) — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:01:23 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The debut novel from Anne Applegate is supposed to be creepy because it follows the protagonist, Camden Fisher, at her new boarding school as she tries to unravel a myst...

Freaks is daring, exciting and even a bit educational

flipside@wvgazette.com (Ronni Lynn Wood, Scott High School) — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:07:04 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- People have always been fascinated with what they consider freaks -- people who are different and just dont fit in with the rest of the world. As far back as Victorian London, further even, people have been interested in seeing f...

Facebook at the heart of horror mystery Defriended

flipside@wvgazette.com (Jessica Johnston, Valley High School) — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:09:19 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In "Defriended," author Ruth Baron does a fairly good job at displaying pitch-perfect knowledge of teen pop culture and accurately represents teenage dependency on cellular devices, the Internet and, in this case, F...

Chinese immigration explored in educational, entertaining Fire Horse Girl

flipside@wvgazette.com (Ronni Lynn Wood, Scott High School) — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:11:24 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Almost everyone knows about immigration. Its happening all over the U.S. at any given time. Most people think of Ellis Island in New York City when they think about immigration, but thats not the only place for it. One of the b...

Free Comic Book Day to be held Saturday

(Staff reports) — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:59:35 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Saturday is the 11th annual Free Comic Book Day, when many independent comic stores across North America give out free comics to bring new readers to the medium, as well as improve literacy in young readers. Locally, South Charlest...

In Short: May 2-8, 2013

(Staff reports) — Wed, 01 May 2013 16:57:00 -0400

Crowns play The gospel musical "Crowns" will be staged this weekend at 110 Marshall in Beckley. The dinner theater begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $15 per person or $25 for couples and $7...

Paul Nyden book review: Government by the money, for the money

pjnyden@wvgazette.com (Paul J. Nyden) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 22:00:00 -0400

"The Servant Economy: Where Americas Elite Is Sending the Middle Class." By Jeff Faux. John Wiley & Sons, 2012, 298 pages. Hardcover, $27.95. CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Few political leaders and government officials -- Democra...

Romance novelist writes love letter to Appalachia

Elizabeth.Gaucher@wvgazette.com (Elizabeth Gaucher) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 23:00:00 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Its a classic tale of a double life: mild-mannered librarian by day, steamy romance writer by night. Susan Maguire is the circulation services supervisor for the Kanawha County Public Library, but she is also romance author Sarah Ti...

Book Notes: April 14, 2013

(Staff reports) — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 23:00:00 -0400

Bird book for kids CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Amber Elmore, of Sissonville, has written her second book in the Betsy Beansprout series. "Betsy Beansprout Bird-Watching Guide" shows kids how to have fun while bird watching. It contai...

Book review: Author captures currents of Crapalachia

(Atlanta Journal-Constitution) — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 23:00:00 -0400

"Crapalachia: A Biography of a Place." By Scott McClanahan. Two Dollar Radio. $16. "The best way to do anything," writes Scott McClanahan in his new memoir, "is to get a bunch of poor people to do it." And "Cr...

The Farm is a post-apocalyptic thriller

flipside@wvgazette.com (Tessarae Thompson, Scott High School) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:00:12 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Emily McKays "The Farm" is set in a post-apocalyptic world. The time prior to the apocalypse is known as the Before. In the Before, vampires existed, but they did no...

Shadow Breakers an adventure of mystical proportions

flipside@wvgazette.com (Ronni Lynn Wood, Scott High School) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:02:59 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- What would you do if you had just moved to a new town only to discover that something wasnt right. What if the town you had moved to was a center for paranormal happenings. And what if you were told that you had to learn how to fight t...

Money Run is fast-paced and exciting

flipside@wvgazette.com (Ronni Lynn Wood, Scott High School) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:05:25 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The life of a teen thief sounds like a pretty interesting thing to read about to begin with, right. Well, throw in the biggest heist of the century, the countrys second-deadliest assassin and a few life-threatening circumstances -- all...

Pattersons Murder Suspect a thrilling read

flipside@wvgazette.com (Tessarae Thompson, Scott High School) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:20:18 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Four siblings, two murders, one house. Who did it. That is the question Tandy Angel is trying to answer in James Pattersons "Confessions of a Murder Suspect." Wh...

Book Notes: April 7, 2013

(Staff reports) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 23:00:00 -0400

National Library Week CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- National Library Week will be celebrated April 14-20 at libraries across West Virginia with various activities. For example, the Jackson County Public Library wants to reach 414 "Likes&qu...

Wil Haygood did it

lynch@wvgazette.com (Bill Lynch) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 23:00:00 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Texas columnist David Lieber remembers his friend Wil Haygoods time at The Charleston Gazette. "Nobody believed in him," he said. At least, he thought, nobody believed in Wil Haygood very much. Lieber and Haygood worked ...

Library catalogs a record for popular basket fundraiser

earle@wvgazette.com (Rosalie Earle) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 23:00:00 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- At last count, 76 baskets filled with books and goodies had been donated for the annual "A Tisket, a Tasket ... a Literary Basket," a major fundraiser for the Kanawha County Public Library. "The most we have ever had ...

State Library to participate in EveryoneOn campaign

(Staff reports) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:48:27 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The West Virginia Library Commissions State Library will join forces with communities across the nation to help bridge the growing digital literacy gap through a national campaign called EveryoneOn from 1 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the...

Author Q&A: James Lasdun discusses terror of Being Stalked

( Newsday) — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 23:00:00 -0400

NEW YORK -- From his first story collection, "Delirium Eclipse," to his most recent novel, "Seven Lies," James Lasduns fiction often has dealt with the unsettling surprises life sends our way. Imagining such twists in no way prepared...

Book Notes: March 17, 2013

(Staff reports) — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 23:00:00 -0400

Author at UC Builders CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Author Colleen Anderson will be the guest speaker at the University of Charleston Builders luncheon at 11:30 a.m. March 27 in the Erma Byrd Gallery at UC. Anderson will talk about "Missin...

Morgantown student wins state Poetry Out Loud competition

(Staff reports) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:58:21 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Tim DiFazio of Morgantown High School won the state Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest, held March 8-9 at the Culture Center. He will represent the ...

Poetry Out Loud finals Saturday

(Staff reports) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 19:37:30 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The West Virginia state semifinal and final rounds of the Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest take place this weekend at Culture Center Theater. Thirty students f...

Tickets on sale for Kanawha library fundraising event

(Staff reports) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 19:12:35 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Tickets are on sale for the Friends of The Library Foundation of Kanawha County annual fundraising event, "A Tisket, A Tasket ... A Literary Basket," which will be held at 6 p.m. on April 20 at NiSource Gas Transmission. At...

Book details massacres, torture in Vietnam war

pjnyden@wvgazette.com (Paul J. Nyden) — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 22:00:00 -0500

"Kill Anything That Moves: The Real American War in Vietnam" By Nick Turse Metropolitan Books (Henry Holt and Co.), 372 pages. Hardcover, $30.CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The infamous My Lai Massacre, where the U.S. Arm...

From Jefferson to Jackson, Churchill to FDR and beyond with Jon Meacham

douglas@cnpapers.com (Douglas Imbrogno) — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 23:45:00 -0500

WANT TO GO. Jon Meacham Gazette-WVU Festival of Ideas WHEN: 7:30 p.m., March 12 WHERE: Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences ADMISSION: Free

Little Lecture Series opens with talk on Eisenhower

(Staff reports) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 20:11:46 -0500

The annual Little Lecture Series, presented by the West Virginia Humanities Council, begins on March 17 with biographer Jean Edward Smith speaking on his latest subject, Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Kanawha, Charleston intend to maintain funding to library

mackenzie.mays@wvgazette.com (Mackenzie Mays) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 19:44:12 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The remaining primary sources of funding for the Kanawha County Public Library -- the city of Charleston and the Kanawha County Commission -- do not have plans to follow in the county Board of Educations footsteps by pulling fund...

Book Notes: Feb. 24, 2013

(Staff reports) — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 23:00:00 -0500

Korean War remembered CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Hellgate Press has published a book by James N. Butcher, of Washington, D.C., titled "Korea: Traces of a Forgotten War." Butcher was born in Bergoo in 1933. When Butcher was 8, his f...

In Short: Feb. 21-27, 2013

(Staff reports) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:13:43 -0500

Black History Month poetry event Crystal Good will perform from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Culture Center Theater in a free multimedia poetry event in celebration of Black History Month. Good is an Affrilachian (Appalachian African-Am...

The Charleston Gazette - Books