I don't know anything about Kate Buckley so I'm just going to give you the press release blurb:

Please join Carmichael's for a unique poetry reading by Kate Buckley from her new book, A Wild Region. Artist and poet Buckley grew up in Kentucky and her finely crafted poems strongly reflect her Appalachian roots. She is the winner of the Gabeheart Prize for Imaginative Writing and the North American Review's James Hearst Poetry Prize.

Carmichael's Bookstore

2720 Frankfort Avenue

Louisville, KY

(502) 896-6950

I was unaware that Howard Fineman graduated from UofL Law and began his journalism career at the CJ. That's pretty cool. It should add another interesting layer to his discussion at Carmichael's next week.

Carmichael's is delighted to host Newsweek senior Washington correspondent and MSNBC analyst Howard Fineman. Mr. Fineman will be discussing his new book, The Thirteen American Arguments: Enduring Debates that Inspire and Define our Country. Fineman earned a law degree at the University of Louisville and began his career as a journalist at the Louisville Courier-Journal.

Thursday May 15, 2008
7PM

Carmichael's
2720 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, KY
896-6950

A children's book signing at a winery seems slightly odd to me but odd in a good way. I endorse it. So allow me to tell you about Rebecca Gazarik's book signing this Friday night at Felice Winery.

Rebecca is a local freelance artist and writer releasing her first children's book called The Caribbean Caribou. On Friday she'll be signing and discussing the book at Felice Winery. In simple terms he book is about a caribou who waits winter. That is a sentiment I can co-sign on so I wish Rebecca great, great success with this book.

May 2, 2008
5PM-9PM
Felice Winery
*part of First Friday festiveness

Some Sundays I love Kenny Mayne and his NFL Countdown segments. Some Sundays I don't. Mostly my Sunday mood depends on how well my beloved Titans are doing and are predicted to do on any given Sunday. Kenny Mayne can't be faulted for that. In any case Kenny Mayne will be at Carmichael's Frankfort Avenue store on Thursday May 1 to discuss and sign his new book.

ESPN horse racing commentator, host of the hilarious "Mayne Event" segments on NFL Countdown and all-around funny guy Kenny Mayne will join us for a talk and signing for his new book, An Incomplete and Inaccurate History of Sport. He'll be in town for Derby, book promotion, and general revelry.

**This will be a ticketed event at Carmichael's, free tickets are available at both Carmichael's stores.

Carmichael's Books
2720 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, KY
896-6950

I don't know a single thing about this book other than the fact that it's got a great, great title. OK that's not quite true. I also know it's a book of poetry and that the author Sherry Wright will be reading at Carmichael's on Saturday April 19, 2008 at 4PM.

Carmichael's Bookstore
2720 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, KY

Carmichael's is celebrating the release of Sallie Bingham's new collection of stories with a reading and signing by the author on Sunday April 13, 2008 at 4PM. The collection, "Red Car", is published by Louisville press Sarabande Books

Carmichael's Bookstore
2720 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, KY

On Friday April 4, 2007 at 7PM Tony D'Souza will be at Carmichael's on Frankfort Avenue to read from his second novel The Konkans. From the release I got "D'Souza's first novel, Whiteman, was widely praised and won a prize for first fiction. The Konkans are a mostly Catholic ethnic group from West India. D'Souza's novel is set in suburban Chicago as a family confronts issues of race and class and struggles with embracing America while preserving their own cultural heritage. Please join us to hear this talented writer."

Carmichael's Bookstore
2720 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, KY

If mysteries are your thing this reading with mystery author Beverle Graves Myers sounds very cool.

Beverle Graves Myers premieres the fourth volume in her Baroque mystery series featuring opera singer and amateur sleuth Tito Amato with a reading from The Iron Tongue at Midnight. Each book in this celebrated series features a rich tapestry of opera in 18th century Venice, singers who sacrifice their manhood for their art, and a murder.

The Iron Tongue at Midnight reading with author Beverle Graves Myers
Saturday March 29, 2008
4PM

Carmichael's Bookstore
2720 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, KY

I don't know much, or anything really, about this work so I'm just going to quote Carmichael's directly about this event. I'll say that it certainly sounds like it will be a very interesting talk.

Local architect and historian Steve Wiser will give a talk based on his new book, Louisville 2035, a look at our city's past and present and a fascinating vision for what it might look like 25 years from now. Wiser is a nationally recognized architect, past president of the Louisville Historical League, and author of four books.

Louisville 2035 discussion with author Steve Wiser
Saturday March 22, 2008
4PM

Carmichael's Bookstore
2720 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, KY

Recovering "Yiddishland" is a heck of a title for a book. It certainly grabs my attention. Said book was written by Merle Bachman, professor of English at Spalding University. Bachman will be discussing the book at Carmichael's on Frankfort Avenue on Sunday March 16, 2008. A brief description from Carmichael's:

Recovering "Yiddishland", a recently published look at literary works by Yiddish immigrant writers at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries. Bachman's book demonstrates how reading these works can deepen our understanding of what becoming American really meant to generations of immigrants who came to the U.S. in this historically
rich era.

Recovering "Yiddishland" discussion with author Merle Bachman
Sunday March 16, 2008
4PM

Carmichael's Bookstore
2720 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, KY

Kentucky Books for Patients is an interesting project that collects donations of new or gently used books by Kentucky writers or writers associated with Kentucky. Their goal is to "establish book collections in cancer centers of hospitals and clinics throughout Kentucky."

Next Thursday March 14, 2008 a special evening of readings and music by Kentucky writers and musicians is happening at The Jazz Factory in support of Kentucky Books for Patients.

"Presented as part of The Jazz Factory's Jazz & Spoken Word monthly series, the event will feature readings by an all-star cast of the region's best-known writers, including poets Jane Gentry Vance (Kentucky's Poet Laureate), Frank X Walker, Sarah Gorham, Leatha Kendrick, Kathleen Driskell, Maureen Morehead, Frederick Smock, and Mary Welp. Poems by Aleda Shirley, a former Louisvillian and cancer survivor now living in Mississippi, will be read, in her absence, by poet Emma Aprile.

Also reading will be Dr. Donald Miller, head of the James Graham Brown Cancer Center; writer Dianne Aprile, producer of Jazz & The Spoken Word, and Clint Morehead, the University of Louisville fourth-year medical student who created The Kentucky Books for Patients Project to establish book collections in cancer centers of hospitals and clinics throughout the state."

The Jazz Factory
(in The Glassworks Building)
815 W. Market St.
Louisville, KY

Part of my reading goals for 2008 is to read a good deal of Wendell Berry's work. I've been doing that and enjoying Berry very much. So I imagine that my donations to this cause are going to be in the form of Wendell Berry books because everyone needs to read them.

Locust Grove's Fourth Annual Used Book Sale will be Saturday March 8 and Sunday March 9, 2008. Books of every imaginable genre and style will be represented with books being sorted by categories.

From the press release

The sale will feature all categories of books from mysteries to children's books, history, cookbooks, reference books & movies. 12,000+ books will be offered for sale. Books are priced at $2.00 for hardcover, $1.00 for trade paperbacks, and .50 for regular paperbacks, with a few special or antiquarian books priced higher. At the end of the sale on Sunday from 2:00-4:30 p.m. books will be sold by the bag for $10.00.

Book appraiser Charles Bartman will do free book appraisals on Saturday at 2 p.m. Please limit to two books per person. NEW this year will be a Silent Auction, on Saturday from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. featuring unusual, valuable and antiquarian books.

Locust Grove
561 Blankenbaker Lane
Louisville, KY 40207

Just an fyi that the reception at Carmichael's for Will Lavender's book Obedience has been rescheduled due to the crazy weather today. Instead of being tonight the reception will be Sunday February 24, 2008 at 4:00PM at Carmichael's on Frankfort Avenue. 

Local author Will Lavender's first novel Obedience hit store shelves yesterday. I've got five copies in my hot little hands I'm itching to giveaway courtesy of the book's publisher (thanks Shaye Areheart Books). To enter all you have to do is leave a comment or send an email telling me what your favorite book is. Bonus points if in your comment you tell why it's your favorite book.

For Louisville based winners of this contest, and Louisville readers in general, the author and I have discussed putting together a one time book club gathering to meet and discuss Obedience. I can hardly describe how much fun I think it would be to discuss a good novel with the author. I really hope we can pull this gathering off. So, please also leave a comment to let me know if you'd be interested in said gathering.

Obedience is a psychological thriller, the author describes it as being reminiscent of the Michael Douglass film "The Game" and set on a a college campus. Here is the full publisher's blurb

When the students in Winchester University's Logic and Reasoning 204 arrive for their first day of class, they are greeted not with a syllabus or texts, but with a startling assignment from Professor Williams: Find a hypothetical missing girl named Polly. If after being given a series of clues and details the class has not found her before the end of the term in six weeks, she will be murdered.

At first the students are as intrigued by the premise of their puzzle as they are wary of the strange and slightly creepy Professor Williams. But as they delve deeper into the mystery, they begin to wonder: Is the Polly story simply a logic exercise, designed to teach them rational thinking skills, or could it be something more sinister and dangerous?

The mystery soon takes over the lives of three students as they find disturbing connections between Polly and themselves. Characters that were supposedly fictitious begin to emerge in reality. Soon, the boundary between the classroom assignment and the real world becomes blurred-and the students wonder if it is their own lives they are being asked to save.

Finally, Will Lavender will be reading from Obedience at Carmichael's on Frankfort Avenue tomorrow night, February 21, 2008 at 7PM. I really hope there is a great turnout to support this local author and his new work. A literary town is a great town.

Contest info
To enter leave a comment or send an email to info AT consuminglouisville.com (with Contest Entry as the subject) that includes the title of your favorite book. Feel free to also share why that book is your favorite.

Winners will be selected at random from all entries received before 12:01AM Monday February 25, 2008.

On Sunday February 17, 3008 Carmichael's Bookstore on Frankfort Avenue will welcome Chris Bohjalian who is on tour for the paperback edition of his latest book, The Double Bind.

The Double Bind has been on my "to read" list since I read a very positive review when the hardcover edition came out but I still haven't picked up a copy yet. This may very well be the time to do it. And in case you care about her opinions in such matters Oprah is a fan of Bohjalian.

Charmichael's Books
2720 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, KY

Will Lavender is a local author whose first novel, Obedience, is set to be released on February 19, 2008. 

Obedience is described as a psychological thriller. I've got to say that's not normally a genre I read a lot of but the blurbs for the book and Lavender's status as a Louisville writer definitely makes me want to give it a read. If you're interested in psychological thrillers or supporting local authors I encourage you to buy a copy as well. We'll meet back here and discuss it ok?

On Thursday February 21, 2008 at 7PM Carmichael's will be hosting a reading and reception for Lavender at the Frankfort Avenue store. I hope there is a huge turnout to support the debut novel by one of our city's writers.

Carmichael's Bookstore
2720 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, KY

Carmichael's is bring Gary Hirshberg, "C.E.-Yo" of Stonyfield Farm and author of the new book Stirring It Up: How to Make Money and Save the World to town.

He'll be speaking on Friday, January 25th, 2008 from 2:30 to 4 PM in the Community Room at Metro United Way's office, 334 East Broadway.

Info from Carmichaels:
"Stonyfield Farm began in 1983 as a seven-cow operation and has grown into a $330 million company and the world's largest maker of organic yogurt. It has achieved double-digit revenue growth and excellent profits each year for the past two decades while adopting sustainable methods that reduce environmental costs and respect natural systems. Through re-use and recycling, Stonyfield prevents hundreds of tons of materials from reaching landfills and incinerators each year. In Stirring It Up, Hirshberg demonstrates how any business can follow suit and help save the planet while achieving higher growth and better profits.

Gary Hirshberg
Friday, January 25th, 2008 from 2:30 to 4 PM
Community Room
Metro United Way's office
334 East Broadway
Louisville, KY

PBS is airing The Complete Jane Austen. The romantic fun got started last with Persuasion and will include Northanger Abbey on January 20; Mansfield Park, January 27; Miss Austen Regrets, February 3; Pride and Prejudice, February 10-24; Emma, March 23; Sense and Sensibility, March 30 and April 6. How exactly does this related to Louisville? So glad you asked. On Mondays* the local branch of the Jane Austen Society will meet at Carmichael's Bookstore on Frankfort Avenue to discuss the previous evening's Austen offering.

The local chapter of the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) will host discussion meetings at Carmichael's Bookstore, 2720 Frankfort Avenue the Monday night after each show airs* at 7 p.m.  Anyone interested is encouraged to attend.

For more information about the Greater Louisville Chapter of the Jane Austen Society of North America, contact Bonny Wise, Regional Coordinator.  Meetings and programs are held monthly at Historic Locust Grove.  Call  Locust Grove at 897-9845 or email wise@locustgrove.org.

*discussion meetings held AFTER LAST EPISODE with productions that air more than one night.

This Thursday January 10, 2008 at 7PM Carmichael's Books on Frankfort Avenue will be hosting author Andre Bergeron who will be reading from his new book, The Devil's Ridge.

According to Carmichael's "Bergeron uses the mythic quality of the North American great ape, Sasquatch, or Bigfoot, to craft a gripping page-turner that taps into our primal fears and basic instincts. Reminiscent of stories told around the campfire, The Devil's Ridge will make you wonder what is lurking in the shadows, just beyond the fire's light."

Carmichael's Bookstore
2720 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, Kentucky

For their last in-store event of 2007 Carmichael's is hosting the authors of three very different books for signings. This Sunday December 17 from 2-4PM at the Frankfort Avenue store:

Photographer Bill Carner will sign copies of last December's most sought after book, Louisville Then and Now.

Randy West, editor and photographer for the Corydon Democrat, will sign copies of his book of photographs of the people and places of Harrison County, Indiana.

And last, but clearly not least, we'll have Culture Maven C.D. Kaplan, who will sign copies of his fabulously annotated and imminently practical calendar 2008 History Warp Day Planner.

Carmichael's Bookstore
2720 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, KY 40206
502-896-6950

Churchill Downs has released "Kentucky Derby 133," a 96-page coffee-table book that chronicles this year's race. The book is a collection of text written by by John Asher, vice president of racing communications for Churchill Downs and photographs.

Asher and Calvin Borel, the winning jockey of the 2007 Kentucky Derby will be on the book signing circuit this weekend, hitting a different retail store each day to sign copies of the book.

Friday December 14, at 7PM Barnes & Noble at The Summit shopping center
Saturday, Dec. 15, at 2PM Borders on Shelbyville Road
Sunday December 16 1PM A Taste of Kentucky in Mall St. Matthews

The book retails for $35 and is also available for purchase online.


via Business First