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Historical Fiction October 2018
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Writing Out Loud: Author Maurice Broaddus Saturday, Oct. 27, 7:30 pm Maurice Broaddus was originally born in London, England, but has lived in Indianapolis, Indiana for most of his life. A community organizer and teacher, his work has appeared in magazines like Lightspeed Magazine, Weird Tales, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Asimov’s, Cemetery Dance, Uncanny Magazine, with some of his stories having been collected in The Voices of Martyrs. His books include the urban fantasy trilogy, The Knights of Breton Court. And the (upcoming) middle grade detective novel, The Usual Suspects. He co-authored the play Finding Home: Indiana at 200. His novellas include Buffalo Soldier, I Can Transform You, Orgy of Souls, Bleed With Me, and Devil’s Marionette. His gaming work includes writing for the Marvel Super-Heroes, Leverage, and Firefly role-playing games as well as working as a consultant on Watch Dogs 2. Learn more at MauriceBroaddus.com. The Friends of the Library will host a reception and book signing following the program. All programs are free and open to the public.
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| Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen by Sarah BirdInspired by: the life of Cathay Williams, the first African American woman to enlist in the U.S. Army.
What happens: After describing her life in bondage, Williams recounts how she became Union Army "contraband" during the Civil War and how, disguised as a man, she later served as Buffalo soldier "William Cathay."
You might also like: James McBride's The Good Lord Bird; Paulette Jiles' The Color of Lightning. |
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Dracul
by Dacre Stoker
What it's about: A prequel to Dracula, based on original author notes and co-written by a family descendant, reveals the iconic vampire's origin story, the early years of Bram Stoker and the tale of the enigmatic woman who connected them.
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| Washington Black by Esi EdugyanWhat it's about: In 1830, 11-year-old enslaved child George Washington Black -- a.k.a. "Wash" -- is hired out as a manservant to Christopher "Titch" Wilde, an inventor who needs the boy's help to test his hot-air balloon. Everything goes wrong, and that's just the beginning.
Reviewers say: "strong, beautiful and beguiling" (The Guardian)
Book Buzz: This novel by acclaimed Canadian author Esi Edugyan (Half-Blood Blues) was recently shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. |
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| The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes GowarWhat it's about: When London merchant Jonah Hancock becomes the owner of a mummified "mermaid" specimen, his decision to display it publicly results in some colorful new acquaintances, including brothel madam Mrs. Chappell and beguiling courtesan Angelica Neal.
Read it for: well-developed characters; witty, period-appropriate dialogue; and a vividly drawn setting that captures the sights, sounds, and smells of 18th-century London.
For fans of: the panoramic view of British society in Michel Faber's The Crimson Petal and the White. |
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| The Underground River by Martha ConwayIntroducing: Seamstress May Bedloe and her cousin, actress Comfort Vertue.
What it's about: After surviving a steamship explosion, the women follow separate paths: Comfort becomes a speaker on the abolitionist circuit, while May joins a riverboat theater troupe and is blackmailed into ferrying enslaved children across the Ohio River to freedom.
Publication history: The Underground River was originally published in the United Kingdom as The Floating Theater. |
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| Fools and Mortals by Bernard CornwellStarring: Richard Shakespeare, younger brother of playwright William.
What happens: A junior member of the Lord Chamberlain's Men, Richard leaps at the chance to prove himself when the company's scripts are stolen by a rival playhouse. Meanwhile, Puritans would shut down every theater in London if they could.
Author alert: Known for fast-paced, action-packed series about soldiers (Sharpe) and warriors (Saxon Stories), Bernard Cornwell shifts gears in this stand-alone, which brings to life the world of Elizabethan theater. |
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| Church of Marvels by Leslie ParryWhat it's about: Shortly after a fire consumes the Church of Marvels, their mother's Coney Island sideshow, teen sword-swallower Belle Church disappears, prompting her twin sister, Odile, to search for her.
Why you might like it: This richly detailed novel, set in a gritty 1895 New York City, takes place within a 24-hour period and contains four interwoven storylines.
You might also like: Alice Hoffman's The Museum of Extraordinary Things. |
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| The Life She Was Given by Ellen Marie WisemanWhat it's about: Lilly Blackwood, a nine-year-old with albinism, becomes a sideshow attraction after her mother sells her to a traveling circus. In a parallel narrative, set 25 years later in the 1950s, 19-year-old Julia Blackwood investigates her family history.
Why you might like it: The Life She Was Given introduces resilient young protagonists thrust into difficult circumstances and provides a well-researched depiction of circus life during the Great Depression.
For fans of: Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants. |
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Needle Arts League
Every Thursday, 5:30 pm
Library Meeting Room
The Needle Arts League of Michigan City promotes all forms of needle arts. Membership is open to anyone interested in needle arts such as crochet, needlepoint, cross stitch, crewel, tatting, and other hand stitching. All skill levels and ages are welcome. An exchange of skills and materials is encouraged. For information, call 219-873-3049.
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200th Anniversary of Frankenstein: Film Showing
Friday, October 26, 2:00 pm
Library Meeting Room
Two hundred years ago, 18-year-old Mary Shelley did an extraordinary thing. After a dreary winter evening spent indoors telling ghost stories during the storied “year without a summer,” she took her idea and turned it into a novel. In January of 1818, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus appeared, first published anonymously with a preface by her husband, poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Mary Shelley wasn’t an ordinary 18-year-old. In addition to her romance with Shelley and friendship with Lord Byron, she was also the daughter of philosophers William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft. She was steeped in Romantic poetry and Victorian thought from a very early age, and conversant with the intellectual controversies of the day. To honor her achievement and to celebrate the 200th anniversary, we will be showing the original version of the 1931 film Frankenstein starring Boris Karloff.
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Beginning Spanish Language Course
Saturdays in October & November, 9:10 am
Library Meeting Room
Join us for an eight-week Beginning Spanish language course, offered every Saturday in October and November. A $5 textbook is required. The class itself is free.
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Beginning French Language Course
Saturdays in October & November, 10:15 am
Library Meeting Room
Join us for an eight-week Beginning French language course, offered every Saturday in October and November. A $5 textbook is required. The class itself is free.
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Axis 360 eBooks
Find popular fiction, non-fiction, and picture e-books and e-audiobooks for children, teens, and adults! It's simple--just download the app on your device, search for "Michigan City Public Library", and log in with your library card number and PIN.
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NoveList Plus
Looking for more books by your favorite author, or want to find similar authors? On hold for the newest bestseller and need something to read while you wait? Not sure of the next book in the series you’re reading? Found a book you love and want more books like it? Then try NoveList Plus, the online readers’ resource that helps you uncover your next great read, whether it’s fiction or nonfiction. Log in with your library card number.
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Library Catalog
Look up books and other materials, place items on hold, and more.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Michigan City Public Library 100 E. 4th Street Michigan City, Indiana 46360 219-873-3044mclib.org/ |
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