books

A copy of Emily St. John Mandel's "Sea of Tranquility" rests in snow on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: ‘Sea of Tranquility’: An underwhelming and too soon look at the pandemic

I first added “Sea of Tranquility” to my to-read list after I saw Barack Obama post about it on Instagram. The former president has good… Continue reading

A copy of Emily St. John Mandel's "Sea of Tranquility" rests in snow on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Tom Kizzia poses with a stack of his book, “Cold Mountain Path,” on Sept. 1, 2021. (Photo provided)
Tom Kizzia poses with a stack of his book, “Cold Mountain Path,” on Sept. 1, 2021. (Photo provided)
Examples of contemporary books that have been banned or challenged in recent years are displayed on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, at the Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna library hosts Banned Book Club

Books have been challenged or banned for their content nationwide.

Examples of contemporary books that have been banned or challenged in recent years are displayed on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, at the Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A copy of “Once Upon the Kenai: Stories from the People” rests against a desk inside the Peninsula Clarion’s offices on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Hidden history

‘Once Upon the Kenai’ tells the story behind the peninsula’s landmarks and people

A copy of “Once Upon the Kenai: Stories from the People” rests against a desk inside the Peninsula Clarion’s offices on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
“Glimmer of Hope: How Tragedy Sparked a Movement” was published in 2018 by Razorbill and Dutton, imprints of Penguin Random House LLC. (Image via amazon.com)

Off the Shelf: The power of personal voice

“A Glimmer of Hope: How Tragedy Sparked a Movement” provides first-person accounts of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida

“Glimmer of Hope: How Tragedy Sparked a Movement” was published in 2018 by Razorbill and Dutton, imprints of Penguin Random House LLC. (Image via amazon.com)
A copy of “The Fragile Earth” rests on a typewriter on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A copy of “The Fragile Earth” rests on a typewriter on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A copy of “Firefighting: the Financial Crisis and Its Lessons” rests against a typewriter on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: An economy on fire

“Firefighting: The Financial Crisis and Its Lessons” gives a retrospective on the 2008 financial crisis

A copy of “Firefighting: the Financial Crisis and Its Lessons” rests against a typewriter on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Courtesy Photo
Linda Buckley, a retired Juneau educator, has written her second children’s book “The Humpback in the Herring.” Like her first book, “The Bear in the Blueberry,” the book examines the relationship between organisms big and small.

Children’s author is back with a whale tale

First there was ‘The Bear in the Blueberry.’ Now, there’s ‘The Humpback in the Herring.’

Courtesy Photo
Linda Buckley, a retired Juneau educator, has written her second children’s book “The Humpback in the Herring.” Like her first book, “The Bear in the Blueberry,” the book examines the relationship between organisms big and small.
A copy of “I am Malala” is seen on Saturday, March 19, 2022, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Taking back the pen

Malala Yousafzi writes of the struggle for education in Afghanistan

A copy of “I am Malala” is seen on Saturday, March 19, 2022, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
At-first reluctant author talks about her Elizabeth Peratrovich book

At-first reluctant author talks about her Elizabeth Peratrovich book

Alaska Native rights advocate also took in cats and read Victor Hugo to high schoolers.

At-first reluctant author talks about her Elizabeth Peratrovich book
‘The Lost Girls of Paris’ — a thrilling tale of love, war and spies

‘The Lost Girls of Paris’ — a thrilling tale of love, war and spies

The frame was beautiful. The picture inside it was of a stranger. Who would give away that lovely piece of workmanship with a loved one’s… Continue reading

  • Feb 13, 2019
  • By TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER Bookworm Sez
  • Lifebooks
‘The Lost Girls of Paris’ — a thrilling tale of love, war and spies
Local author Ann Mercer poses with her book, “Miss Lucy Moose Falls Down in the Swamp” at River City Books in Soldotna on Wednesday. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Inspired by a moose

Kasilof woman writes and illustrates her 1st children’s book

Local author Ann Mercer poses with her book, “Miss Lucy Moose Falls Down in the Swamp” at River City Books in Soldotna on Wednesday. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
William Morrow and Company

Gaiman makes a case for why ‘Art Matters’

Doodling, scribbling, sketching. That’s what most people think you’re doing when you’ve got pen in hand and paper in front of you: just idly making… Continue reading

William Morrow and Company
Bookworm Sez: ‘No Sunscreen for the Dead’ — Hilarity with a side of mystery

Bookworm Sez: ‘No Sunscreen for the Dead’ — Hilarity with a side of mystery

You didn’t recognize the number. So you didn’t answer the phone. That’s how you operate these days: accept calls you know, and keep your money… Continue reading

  • Jan 30, 2019
  • By TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER Bookworm Sez
  • Lifebooks
Bookworm Sez: ‘No Sunscreen for the Dead’ — Hilarity with a side of mystery
‘The Ghost Photographer’ — Creepy, yet believable tales of Hollywood

‘The Ghost Photographer’ — Creepy, yet believable tales of Hollywood

You know how they do it. It’s a snap, really. A little bit of computer imagery, film cells inserted here, a half-screen there, and you’ve… Continue reading

‘The Ghost Photographer’ — Creepy, yet believable tales of Hollywood

Shop Talk: Reading Corner

When Aurora Kleinschmidt first opened the Reading Corner nearly four years ago, she said it was all a labor of love. The used bookstore works… Continue reading