Potter Deemed Readable in Georgia

A judge in Georgia will allow the adventures of Harry Potter to be read in Gwinnett County school libraries despite objections from parents who feel the books and character promote witchcraft.  Read on, if you dare.

A Look Back: the University of Notre Dame, 1956-57

Call us enthusiasts yet again for tracking down a copy of the 1956-57 Dome, the University of Notre Dame yearbook. We’ve thumbed through the thing and found a few items of interest, which we’ve highlighted below - plus with added commentary.

Hauntings at Massachusetts' Hoosac Tunnel

This article, entitled "Ghosts of the Bloody Pit", from PrairieGhosts.com talks about hauntings at Massachusetts' Hoosac Tunnel. We were interested since the name of the tunnel (and the mountain range) figures into some of John's books that take place in Minnesota.

All About Evil: Tori Sfinx

by Broteus Mitchell

May 7, 2007

Picturing Marshall as It Was

A new book showcasing 196 photographs of Marshall, Michigan, taken before the 1950s will be released May 19 during Michigan Week celebrations. Jane Ammeson and Susan Collins compiled the book, titled Marshall, part of the Images of America series, with the help of the Marshall Historical Society as well as family photos and postcards from Marshall citizens.

Uncovered: Grimoire - Tracked by Terror

Brad Strickland's second book in the Grimoire series - Tracked by Terror - is scheduled for release in October 2007, the cover art was recently revealed.

Memoriam: Kurt Vonnegut

Author Kurt Vonnegut has died. He was 84. Some of his best-known works include Cat's Cradle (1963), the #1 best-seller Slaughterhouse-Five (1969), and Breakfast of Champions (1973).  We're not really sure what else to say.

"No good at life, but very funny sometimes with the commentary."
- KV

The Spaghetti Incident

Down on the farm 50 years ago today the BBC reported about the Swiss Spaghetti Harvest, where “thanks to a very mild winter and the virtual elimination of the dreaded spaghetti weevil, Swiss farmers were enjoying a bumper spaghetti crop.”

Destined Livery

A fan of Bellairs found one of the anthologies in a Barnes and Noble and, tempted at the prospect of reading more Johnny Dixon, picked up a copy. Good move! Why?  "I found R. L. Stine incredibly boring and non-subtle after them... I don't know why he was so popular."

The Key of Aramath

We recently received an email from a budding author who goes by the handle A.A. Riley who - besides being a big fan of John Bellairs and Brad Strickland - has attempted her own children's book, The Key of Aramath. The synopsis below is part of her press release:

More Books on Tape

We recently came across an old newsletter, the Talking Book Topics from January-February 1999, highlighting the then-recent books that were read to cassette and/or CD for the blind and physically handicapped. We were surprised to see three books of John's were listed in the mix:

• The Doom of the Haunted Opera, read by Erik Sandvold. 
• The Drum, the Doll, and the Zombie, read by Erik Sandvold 
• The Secret of the Underground Room, read by Christopher Hurt.

We would appreciate hearing more about these editions, if more is to be told (or heard).

Review: Face "Cheerful Tone And Unapologetically Anachronistic"

Book review: The Face in the Frost

Time Capsule: 1967

February, 1967: Prospero and Roger Bacon could sing the Dies Irae and apparently John Bellairs could, too.

Creepy Carvings in Wood

Something...rather someone...jogged my memory this week of raising the dead (don't ask), which in turn led to John Dee, which brought to mind that eerie engraving of him and the spectral woman in white in the English Churchyard. Chances are you may have seen the picture.  John Bellairs apparently did and described the engraving in a book read by Lewis Barnavelt [The House with a Clock in its Walls, 67-8].

All About Evil: Timothy Foulest

by Broteus Mitchell

Feb. 12, 2007