Our things literary.
"Eclectic" is how Randy Shell describes his selection at downtown Wytheville's Oracle Books. It's also how he likes his customer base. "The fun is in the mix, the interaction between me and the customers, and between the customers themselves. I want people to linger and exchange ideas. That's what a bookstore is all about." Oracle Books proprietor… Continue reading ★ Road Trip: Downtown Wytheville’s Oracle Books
July 30 ★ Little Free Library Dedication, 2 PM at Walrond Park, 6824 Walrond Dr. July 31 ★ Soul Sessions Summer Finale, 8 PM at Morning Brew (Taubman Museum)August 1 ★ Podcast Release (1.3) with Guest Soul Sessions' Bryan HancockAugust 1 ★ Little Free Library Dedication, 2 PM at Green Hill Park, SalemAugust 1 ★ New… Continue reading ★ More summer book events
My friend, the writer Maura Kelly, sent me a link to a poem. It was "Ithaka" by C.P. Cavafy, a work I had been given once before in the form of C.P. Cavafy: Collected Poems, translated by Edmund Keeley and Philp Sherrard and edited by George Savidis (Princeton University Press, 1975). Maura had written in the… Continue reading ★ A poem between friends: “Ithaka” by C.P. Cavafy
Roanoke Arts and Culture Coordinator Susan Jennings is retiring at the end of July. She was the first person to take on the role, and indeed, it was built for her. Formerly the executive director of the Arts Council of the Blue Ridge, Susan made the move from Arts Commission member to City staff member… Continue reading ★ Art for Everyone: Susan Jennings’ lasting impact
Erika Joyner is an active community building presence in the Roanoke Valley. A native of New York, Joyner has worked in a variety of efforts to create a just and equitable society through anti-war, anti-racism, and cooperative efforts in Detroit and Virginia. A transgender woman, she's been in Roanoke for seven years. During that time,… Continue reading ★ Erika Joyner on the Power of Women Poetry Presence
The June newsletter is a great way to share with friends what's happening in BOOK CITY ★ Roanoke. Lots of upcoming events, recaps of past events, and links to good content. Click on the link below and you'll even find archives of past newsletters.
The Roanoke County Public Library's summer reading program is in full swing, and it's not just for kids. Kick off your summer reading with a sit-down chat with Library Director Shari Henry and California-based author Michelle Gable on Sunday afternoon, June 2. The 3 PM chat will take place at the South County Library. While… Continue reading ★ Kick off your summer reading with Michelle Gable and Shari Henry
June 22 ★ Valerie Archual Meet & Greet, 11:30-1PM at Vinton LibraryJune 23 ★ Francis Gary Powers, Spy Pilot, 2 PM at South County LibraryJune 25 ★ Heath Lee, The League of Wives, 7 PM at Historical Society of Western VAJune 27 ★ Healing the Heart of Democracy discussion 4, 6:30 PM at South CountyJune 27 ★… Continue reading ★ Summer book events
Volume XXVI of ARTEMIS JOURNAL features "On the Maury" by artist and author Sally Mann. Artemis Journal rolls out its 26th issue on Friday, June 7, at the Taubman Museum of Art. In anticipation, we asked Jeri Rogers, the indefatigable lead of the all-volunteer team behind this literary and arts mainstay, what we should expect… Continue reading ★ Jeri Rogers on the 2019 ARTEMIS Launch: June 7 at the Taubman
We Roanokers are lucky to have so many public libraries. But did you know we also have numerous “little” libraries? Ten years ago, Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin, built a model one-room schoolhouse as a tribute to his Mother, a teacher. He put it on a post in his front yard, filled it with books… Continue reading ★ Take a book, leave a book at a Little Free Library
BOOK CITY ★ Roanoke 