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Author Susan Messer Discusses The Detroit Riots Of 1967 And Her Book, 'Grand River and Joy'
Susan Messer's 2009 novel, 'Grand River and Joy,' offers a fascinating glimpse of several northwest Detroit neighborhoods during the long, hot summer of 1967. This fascinating work weaves the stories of a Jewish shoe wholesaler, his family, and the African-American father and son who live above his business at Grand River and Joy. The book has been chosen by the U-M Honors College to be read by its incoming 2010 freshmen over the summer. Join us as Messer, of Oak Park, Ill. discusses the book and the issues it raises - racial strife, white flight, blockbusting and how learning about Detroit's past might help in planning for its future. A booksigning will also occur and books will be for sale at the event.
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Banned Books Week Event: To Kill A Mockingbird Discussed By Emmy Award-Winning Filmmaker Mary McDonagh Murphy - Author Of 'Scout, Atticus & Boo: A Celebration Of Fifty Years Of To Kill A Mockingbird'
In observance of Banned Book Week (September 25 - October 2) as well as the 50th anniversary of this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Mary McDonagh Murphy, will show excerpts from her new documentary 'Hey, Boo: Harper Lee & To Kill a Mockingbird' and discuss the documentary and her book 'Scout, Atticus & Boo: A Celebration Of Fifty Years Of To Kill A Mockingbird.' She will also cover the controversies surrounding 'To Kill A Mockingbird,' and why it has been one of the most challenged books in America.Mary McDonagh Murphy's new documentary and book explore the novel's power, influence and popularity. With reflections from Anna Quindlen, Tom Brokaw, James McBride, James Patterson, Wally Lamb, Oprah Winfrey and more, they chronicle the many ways the novel has shaped lives and careers. Harper Lee has not given an interview since 1964, but Murphy's reporting, research and rare interviews with the author's sister and friends add new details and photos to the remarkable story of an astonishing phenomenon. A book signing will follow and books will be available for sale at the event.
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University of California-Santa Barbara Professor Nelson Lichtenstein Discusses His Book 'The Retail Revolution: How Wal-Mart Created a Brave New World of Business'
Wal-Mart is the world's largest company and it sets the standard, both socially and commercially, for a huge swath of the global economy. UCSB History Professor Nelson Lichtenstein will demonstrate how the company's success has spread evangelical Protestantism into the workplace, made South China an American workshop, and pushed American politics to the right, when he discusses his widely-praised book, 'The Retail Revolution: How Wal-Mart Created a Brave New World of Business.' This event, which is co-sponsored by the University of Michigan's Eisenberg Institute for Historical Studies, will include a book signing and books will be on sale at the event.
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Best-selling Author Linda Greenlaw Discusses Her New Book 'Seaworthy: A Swordboat Captain Returns to the Sea'
Linda Greenlaw, America's only female swordfish boat captain, whose life was featured in the book and film 'The Perfect Storm,' will discuss her new book, 'SEAWORTHY: A Swordboat Captain Returns to the Sea.' She has written three New York Times bestselling nonfiction books about her life as a commercial fisherman, and has also written a cookbook and two mysteries. This new book marks her return to non-fiction and aptly chronicles her return to one of the world's most dangerous professions: swordfishing. This event will also include a booksigning and books will be on sale, courtesy of Border's.
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Michael Erlewine Discusses His Book 'Blues in Black & White: The Landmark Ann Arbor Blues Festivals'
Michael Erlewine, the award-winning archivist of popular culture, who founded and built the largest music review database in the world, All-Music Guide, has written a fascinating new book that chronicles the Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival.The first Ann Arbor Blues Festivals, in 1969 and 1970, brought together the greatest-ever selection of blues performers and helped bring modern blues music to a wider audience. Never before had such a far-reaching list of performers been assembled. These groundbreaking festivals were the seed that grew into the Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival, which was continued annually for many years.
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Kris Carr, Author of "Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips," Presents From Illness to Activist
When Kris Carr was diagnosed in 2003 with a rare liver cancer (Stage IV) with metastasis to the lungs, she decided to exert control over the things there were in her power: her attitude, her diet, and her lifestyle. In the process, she has become an outspoken advocate for living your best life with cancer, promoting a message that focuses on health and wellness and motivating her audiences to become empowered participants for change.Kris chronicled her journey with cancer in the 2007 documentary, Crazy Sexy Cancer, and has written two books, Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips, and Crazy Sexy Cancer Survivor: More Rebellion and Fire for Your Healing Journey. Kris has been featured on CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, The TODAY Show, Good Morning America, and The Oprah Winfrey Show. At this event, she will discuss her remarkable journey and show clips from her documentary.Two medical professionals from the University of Michigan will join Kris after her presentation for a panel discussion focusing on the nutritional and psychological aspects of living life with cancer: Zora Djuric, PhD, is a Research Professor at the University of Michigan Department of Family Medicine and performs research at the Cancer Center in the U-M Medical Center. Laurel Northouse PhD, RN, FAAN, is the Mary Lou Willard French Professor of Nursing at the University of Michigan. She is also Co-Director of the Socio-Behavior Program at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.A book signing will follow and books will be on sale at the event. This event is made possible through a Partners In Research grant from the National Institutes of Health and is cosponsored by the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center Community Outreach Office, Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research, the UM Taubman Health Sciences Library, and the Ann Arbor YMCA LIVESTRONG Program.
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Andrea Lyon Discusses Her Memoir: Angel of Death Row: My Life as a Death Penalty Defense Lawyer
Andrea Lyon, a nationally recognized expert in the field of death penalty defense and the first woman in the nation to serve as lead defense attorney on a death penalty case will discuss her fascinating new memoir 'Angel Of Death Row: My Life as a Death Penalty Defense Lawyer.' Over the past 30 years Lyon has defended and tried more than 130 murder cases, all for clients who could not afford a lawyer, nineteen of which were death penalty cases (she won all 19). This gripping book spans her years in the courtroom defending those accused of murder and fighting the inequities that corrupt our justice system. This event will also include a booksigning and books will be on sale.
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Author Doug Stanton Discusses His Book - Horse Soldiers: The Extraordinary Story Of A Band Of US Soldiers Who Rode to Victory in Afghanistan
Bestselling author Doug Stanton will discuss the amazing story of the small band of Special Forces soldiers who went on a secret mission to battle the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan immediately following September 11th, and achieved victory. This inspiring and dramatic account of that stunning victory, recorded in his acclaimed book, 'Horse Soldiers: The Extraordinary Story Of A Band of US Soldiers Who Rode to Victory in Afghanistan,' has just been sold for a major theatrical release to Jerry Bruckheimer Productions, producers of 'Black Hawk Down.' This event includes a book signing and books will be for sale at the event, courtesy of Borders.
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National Library Week Author Event: Grant Brown Discusses His Michigan Notable Book 'Ninety Years Crossing Lake Michigan: The History Of Ann Arbor Car Ferries'
In 1892, the Ann Arbor Car Ferries shook the transportation world by doing what was then deemed impossible, carrying loaded railroad cars by ship across the 62 miles of open water between Frankfort, Michigan and Kewaunee, Wisconsin. Crossing the lake with loaded freight cars was a treacherous task that presented daily obstacles. With passion, acuity, and remarkable detail, Grant Brown, in this Michigan Notable Book, describes the nearly 100-year crossings, from their beginnings with James Ashley's bold new idea of car ferrying down to the last fight for survival until the Michigan Interstate Rail Company finally closed in 1982. This event, co-sponsored by the Washtenaw County Historical Society, will include a book signing and books will be on sale.
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Who Is Anton Chekhov?
Join Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures, Michael Makin and Residential College Drama Lecturer Katherine Mendeloff as they examine Chekhov's role in Russian literature and society and as transformer and innovator of Russian drama. U-M acting students will also perform several scenes from Uncle Vanya featuring costume, live music and other scenic elements, setting the stage for a lively discussion of Chekhov's classic play and the challenges set forth for actors and directors in mounting this production. This event is presented in conjunction with the University Musical Society production of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya by the Maly Drama Theater of St. Petersburg at the Power Center March 25-28. The event is also held in collaboration with the U-M Center for Russian and East European Studies, and the U-M Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures.