Secrets of the City

Just because you are madly cleaning the house, grocery shopping, imagining Thanksgiving disasters in the kitchen, or otherwise going into a seasonal catatonic state, doesn’t mean you have to wade in wintery befuddlement.  Take time to join the Big Bang Book club as it addresses the popular science book, Alex and Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence – and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process, by Irene Pepperberg.  Moderated by David Enyeart of Magers and Quinn, this casual discussion is always fun and informative.  The Center for Science, Technology and Public Policy offers insights, as do readers (and non-readers).  It’s a great way to rev up the ol’ gray matter and get yourself to the non-fiction area of your favorite bookstore or library.  Food and beverages available for sale in Grumpy’s back room, as is the book.

Tuesday, November 24, 7 p.m.;  Big Bank Book Club; Grumpy’s Downtown, 1111Washington Av. S., Mpls;

Presented by Magers and Quinn with support from the Center for Science, Technology, and Public Policy, Grumpy’s, and Secrets of the City/MNSpeak.

As it turns out, everybody wants to go home and watch Project Runway instead of going to a seedy bar and talking about schlocky fiction. So tonight’s mnread is off… But how would people like to read The Graveyard Book (which is now in paperback) for Halloween? I think that could be good scary local literary fun. Maybe I can even talk Neil into coming. I just have to, you know, actually meet him first.

A Closer Look at Flyover Land points out this intriguing event: Around the Literary Twin Cities in (Almost) 80 Days. From their Web page, the event is ”a city-wide scavenger hunt that will take participants to bookstores across the Twin Cities.”

How does it work? Each week, we will release a new trivia question, which participants must answer correctly at one of that week’s two designated destinations. Answer correctly and you’ll get a prize.

What questions would you ask?

Our next MnRead will be John Sandford’s books – the perfect paperbacks to bring with you to the pool, beach, or Camp. Pun intended. Just pick one you like and read it. His best known series are the ones ending in “Prey,” but you can also dip into his other stuff if you want. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Sandford_(novelist) How about Thursday, September 3? Any recommendations for a site? Preferably somewhere we can observe the seedy underbelly of Minneapolis where Lucas Davenport sniffs out wrongdoers and brings them to justice?

Bekiyrah mentions Jim Knipfel’s book Quitting the Nairobi Trio, detailing the author’s experiences in a Hennepin county psyche ward during the 80s following a suicide attempt. It’s an older book, ut I hadn’t heard of it before, so I looked it up. “Knipfel is a shrewd observer, with some interesting commentary to make. Just don’t invite him to your dinner party,” says the Austin Chronicle. Has anybody read this one, and what are your responses? Similarly, has anybody read Madness: A Bipolar Life by local writer Marya Hornbacher, which the Minnesota book awards describes as a memoir of the author’s “desperate attempts to counteract violently careening mood swings through self-starvation, substance abuse, numbing sex, and self-mutilation”?

Are there any other local writers who have taken on the subject of mental illness?

Minnetonkascenes publishes some entertaining images from the new book Historic Minnetonka. I lived in Minnetonka during my high school years and wish somebody had told me the town had a history of bare-knuckled boxing. Um, in the woods. Um, while surrounded by guys who look like extras from an Our Gang movie.

While we’re on the subject of photos, let me also point out MinnPics, which consists of large-sized and frequently dramatic photos of our fair state.

Sheila Regan reviews Louise Erdrich’s book A Plaue of Doves; the New York Times also has good things to say about it. Anybody read it yet? What’s your opinion of Erdrich in general, and what do you particularly like, or dislike, by the author?

One last reminder and confirmation that MnRead is on, scheduled for 4 PM Sunday at Como Park near Horton and Hamline (Hm, we should be discussing Dr. Seuss and Brothers Grimm….) If you want to come, please send me an email so you are in on last minute planning (particularly in case of rain). You can reach me at skutir at gmail dot com.

Steve Marsh interviews Tom Davis, longtime comedy partner of Al Franken and author of a new book about his days at Saturday Night Live: We did a Rolling Stones impression that was pretty convincing. And Al was Mick, so he got the expression and the moves and stuff perfect because we were imitating that exact tour in ’82. Mick Jagger was wearing those yellow pants and capezios.

It’s true: it’s pretty convincing.

MPR takes a look at local writer Heather McElhatton’s book Jennifer Johnson is Sick of Being Single; what are some of your worst dating experiences in the Twin Cities?