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Carol Seitchik, 80, after a lifetime as a visual artist has published her first book of poetry, “The Distance to Odessa,” about the immigration experience. The image on the book cover is a painting by Boston artist Alex Gerasev titled "Arrival."

Ex-Mt. Airy artist writes first book of poetry at 80

(Ed. Note: Neil Nolen is a Mt. Airy native who now lives in Odessa, Ukraine. He wrote this about 80-year-old acclaimed artist and poet Carol Seitchik, who is also from Mt. Airy — Bryan Street … more

by Neil Nolen | 3/26/21

The Hare Krishna Temple at 41 W. Allens Lane in West Mt. Airy is one of the subjects examined in a new book, “From Mother Divine to the Corner Swami: Religious Cults in Philadelphia” (Arcadia Publishing), by former Germantown resident, journalist and author of many books, Thom Nickels.

Mt. Airy's Krishna Temple explored in powerful new book

Several years ago, a nephew of mine, Gabriel, was a student at the Hare Krishna Temple, 41 W. Allens Lane in West Mt. Airy. more

by Len Lear | 3/25/21

Allen Hornblum's latest book, released Feb. 16, is “The Klondike Bake-Oven Deaths,” based on actual events at Holmesburg Prison. According to Hornblum, who has written often about the prison system, the “Klondike” episode was “the worst case of prison abuse in American history.”

Local author's book: “Nation's worst prison abuse case'

Hornblum's latest book, released Feb. 16, is “The Klondike Bake-Oven Deaths” (Sunbury Press) based on actual events in 1938, also in Holmesburg Prison. Unlike Hornblum's non-fiction books, this one is “historical fiction.” more

by Len Lear | 3/19/21

Journalist Jessica Bruder’s book “Nomadland” inspired a TV film that is good on its own, but not nearly as deep an examination of its subject matter as the book.

Workampers, widows and wheel estate – Book v film of "Nomadland"

Author Jessica Bruder was probably the kind of kid who looked behind the screen and found the wizard working the mic. She is drawn to writing about American subcultures, often by living and traveling with her subjects. more

by Hugh Gilmore | 3/17/21

Robert Kolker's medical-mystery bestseller, "Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family," is a tale of a family struggling with mental illness and the evolution of the science to diagnose and treat it.

Good looks, talent and brains ran in the family. So did schizophrenia.

What's a parent to do when a child's odd behavior escalates far enough, frequently enough, that it can't be shrugged off as just an eccentric personality? And what if the problem is magnified by six? more

by Hugh Gilmore | 2/24/21

Rich Krassen holds up his memoir, “Breadcrumbs on My Journey,” written in his late 70s before he was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. (Photo reprinted, with permission, from the Northeast Times)

Before cancer, wonderful memoir by Philly sports guy

Occasionally someone will ask me how I find out about so many fascinating musicians, authors, artists, etc., in the relatively small geographical we cover. more

by Len Lear | 2/19/21 | 1 comment

Walter Tevis and his wife Jamie Griggs in better days, photographed on the cover of Griggs’ memoir, "My Life with The Hustler."

‘Queen's Gambit’ author was amazingly diverse, but known more for movies based on his work

"The Queen's Gambit" Netflix series was recently nominated for Golden Globes awards for Best Picture and Best Actress. More than sixty million people have watched it. Though the novel the series was based on has been around since 1983, it has been hardly known outside of chess fan circles. more

by Hugh Gilmore | 2/17/21

Mt. Airy native Valerie Harrison (seen here), who has both a law degree and a doctorate degree, and co-author Katie D’Angelo will discuss their new book virtually on Monday, Feb 8, 7 p.m., sponsored by Big Blue Marble Bookstore in West Mt. Airy.

'Black child, white parents,' topic of Mt. Airy talk

For decades, Katie D’Angelo and Mt. Airy native Valerie Harrison, who both work at Temple University and both have doctorate degrees (Harrison is also a lawyer), engaged in conversations about race and racism. more

by Len Lear | 2/3/21

Monica Hesse tells the story of sleuths tracking down the people responsible for a string of arsons in "American Fire: Love, Arson, Life in a Vanishing Land."

10 TRUE CRIME books that don't feature murder

Despite its being an enjoyable genre, a lot of people have burned out on reading True Crime books. more

by Hugh Gilmore | 1/28/21

This is the cover of Stephen Tow’s book, a must-read for fans of British rock music of the 1960s.

Terrific rock music book by local author, poor timing

Stephen Tow is a brilliant writer and researcher, but his timing is world-class unlucky. Tow is the author of “London, Reign Over Me: How England's Capital Built Classic Rock” (Rowman & Littlefield), which chronicles the rock music from the British Isles in the 1960s and early '70s. more

by Len Lear | 1/28/21

Max Gross, author of “From Schlub to Stud” and “The Lost Shtetl,” will discuss his books via Zoom on Monday, Jan. 25, 7 p.m., an event sponsored by Big Blue Marble Bookstore in West Mt. Airy.

'From Schlub to Stud' author at Mt. Airy Zoom event

How many nerdy young men have felt insecure looking in a mirror, envying the handsome, muscular star athletes who seem to effortlessly wind up with the beautiful, popular and most desirable cheerleaders, prom queens, etc.? The answer: Millions! more

by Len Lear | 1/20/21

Springfield’s ‘History in Motion’ via zoom on Jan. 28

The Springfield Township Historical Society will present guest speaker Nancy Moses, author of “Fakes, Forgeries and Frauds.” more

1/15/21

Simone Zelitch, a Mt. Airy professor, whose sixth book, “The Hill,” is due out soon, will discuss her works via Zoom on Monday, Jan. 25, 7 p.m.

Mt. Airy author to discuss her work at Zoom event

Simone Zelitch, a Mt. Airy professor and author of six books, and author Max Gross will discuss their works by Zoom on Monday, Jan. 25, 7 p.m. more

by Len Lear | 1/14/21

‘Hiking with Nietzche’ author gets further into the weeds with William James book

I happened on John Kaag's "American Philosophy: A Love Story" back in 2016 and immediately became a fan of this young philosophy professor. more

by Hugh Gilmore | 1/13/21

Begin 2021 with warm, witty and funny "The Diary of a Bookseller"

I can't think of a more charming and endearing way to start the book-reading year than to recommend Shaun Bythell's "The Diary of a Bookseller" (2018) to you. more

By Hugh Gilmore | 1/7/21

Mt. Airy’s former city planner has received high praise for his book of poems, “RunAway Freight.”

Mt. Airy city planner with a side dish of fine poetry

Anyone who struggled through Chaucer, Milton, Dickinson, T.S. Eliot, etc., in an English-Lit course has to be surprised by this news: Poetry reading is up in the U.S. while reading books for pleasure is down slightly. more

By Len Lear | 12/31/20

Susan Lindee, Mt. Airy resident and Penn professor for 30 years, will discuss her new book, “Rational Fog: Science, Technology and Modern War,” in a Zoom presentation on Monday, Dec. 14, 7 p.m.

Mt. Airy author discusses new 'Rational Fog' via Zoom

Mt. Airy resident M. Susan Lindee worked for 10 years on “Rational Fog,” which she will be discussing on Dec. 14. more

by Len Lear | 12/9/20

Chestnut Hill author and Springside School graduate, Elspeth Lodge.

New Hill children's author has ducks lined up in a row

Ed. Note: Chestnut Hill native Elspeth Lodge, 33, is the author of “The Garden Ducklings,” a children's book published in August of this year by Archway Publishing, a division of … more

by Elspeth Lodge | 11/25/20

Historian/author David W. Young, 56, a Germantown resident for 26 years, holds up a copy of his new book, “The Battles of Germantown: Effective Public History in America.” (Photo courtesy of Temple University Press)

'Battles of Germantown': addressing the past honestly

History belongs to the victors, Winston Churchill said, referring to what is recorded in books, enshrined in museums and commemorated with parades — at best, an incomplete version of events. In … more

by Pamela J. Forsythe | 11/25/20

New biography takes fresh look at Steinbeck

John Steinbeck, a native Californian, went to Stanford University hoping to find someone who'd teach him to write. He didn't. What he found, according to William Souder’s new biography of the … more

by Hugh Gilmore | 11/18/20

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Hill psychologist authors acclaimed 'No Perfect Love'

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Historic preservation of interiors preserves not just buildings, but also the stories they tell

Every so often I come across a feature or see a documentary with the topic about the importance of an original, intact, historic building interior.