I’m going to tell you why you should attend FFAPL book reviews and author talks. For one thing, you might learn some obscure facts.
On July 21, Dan Wilcox, peace activist & noted local poet, reviewed Shadow Ticket, a detective novel by Thomas Pynchon. He mentioned that, in the fictional tale, there may have been some factual events. Sure enough, the Bridge Table Murder case actually happened. “Myrtle Adkins Bennett…, a Kansas City housewife,” was charged with “the murder of her husband John G. Bennett over a game of contract bridge in September 1929.” She was acquitted in March 1931.
Dan also mentioned several other Pynchon novels. When the novelist won the National Book Award for Gravity’s Rainbow, it was Professor Irwin Corey, the eccentric comedian, who accepted the award.
Upcoming
The events take place Tuesdays at 2 pm at the Albany Public Library, 161 Washington Avenue, in the large auditorium. Limited parking is available in the rear of the building.
July 28 | Book Review | The Left Hand of Darkness, a sci-fi classic by Ursula K. Le Guin. Reviewer: David Brickman, photographer & FFAPL treasurer.
August 4 | Book Review | Tiny Gardens Everywhere: The Past, Present, and Future of the Self-Provisioning City by Kate Brown, science historian at MIT. Reviewer: Richard King, retired attorney.
August 11 | Book Review | The Hours of Henry VIII: A Renaissance Masterpiece by Jean Poyet by R. S. Wieck, W. M. Voelkle & K. Michelle Hearne. Reviewer: K. Michelle Hearne Arthur, Ph.D., former museum curator and director & current high school history teacher.
August 18 | Book Review | Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman. Reviewer: Mary A. Rosch, former APL Trustee, current FFAPL board member, proud Albany native who is active in several local organizations and loves connection, learning, and building community.
August 25 | Book Review | The Last Extinction: The Real Science behind the Death of the Dinosaurs by Gerta Keller. Reviewer: Jonathan Skinner, PhD, retired statistician & amateur classicist.
1000 Madison Avenue, the former Pine Hills library
Moth-style stories
- $5 at the 2nd floor door; cash, Venmo, and Zelle accepted – All proceeds go to the local business for allowing us to use their space!
- Doors open at 6:30 (sign up to take the mic)
- Show begins at 7:00 pm, ends at 8:15 pm