‘Saving Washington,’ Black Girl Book Club and a Ballpark Mystery
Chris Formant, author of the historical novel, “Saving Washington: The Forgotten Story of the Maryland 400 and The Battle of Brooklyn,” will discuss his book on Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. at RJ Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, Madison. The book blends historical fact with fictional elements to tell the little-known story of the battle on Aug. 27, 1776 that pitted 400 men from Maryland – some call them America’s 400 Spartans – against the much stronger British army. 203-245-3959 or rjjulia.com.
On Nov. 24 at 3 p.m. at Wesleyan RJ
Julia Bookstore, 413
Main St., Middletown, the Well
Read Black Girl
Book Club will discuss “Some
Places More Than
Others” by Renée
Watson. The nationwide club’s goal is to introduce diverse writers and highlight the work of black women authors. Glory Edim and her team curate the book selections by season. The Wesleyan group is moderated by Charnaie Gordon, founder of the Here Wee Read blog that recommends diverse books for young readers. 860-685-3939 or wesleyanrjjulia.com.
On Nov. 30 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the bookstore, Patricia Walsh Chadwick, author of “Little Sister: A Memoir” will take part in the Holiday Gift Guide Book Signing. Chadwick’s book is the story of her life as a teenage member in the 1960s and later an outcast from in the ultra-conservative and controversial religious sect in Cambridge, Mass. that was called the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Information: banksquarebooks.com. author, has published poetry collections, picture books, fiction and nonfiction for young readers. 860-8680525 or hickorystickbookshop- .com.
Mike Magee,
M.D., is the author of “Code
Blue: Inside the
Medical-Industrial Complex” and a medical historian and journalist at the
President’s College at the University of Hartford. He will give a free talk on Nov.
25 at 6 p.m. at Prosser Public Library, 1 Tunxis Ave., Bloomfield, called “Code Blue: The Birth of the Medical Industrial Complex … and what’s to be done about it now.”
His educational 45-minute slide presentation explains the evolution of the Medical-Industrial Complex and proposes that health care in America is complex and difficult to understand and not the world’s best system. Magee says it is like a tapeworm that feeds on the U.S. economy and is ripe for changes that will benefit Americans.
Registration: prosserlibrary.info or 860-243-9721, ext. 3558.
Christopher Wigren, deputy director of Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, will discuss his book, “Connecticut Architecture: Stories of 100 Places” on Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. at Stratford Library, 2203 Main St., Stratford at a free bi-monthly meeting of the Stratford Historical Society.
The book is a project of the Trust and reflects more than 30 years of research. It surveys Connecticut’s diversity of structures, from Colonial meetinghouses and Modernist houses to refurbished factories, town greens and corporate headquarters. stratfordlibrary.org or 203-385-4164.
Four Connecticut authors will meet the public and sign books during the South Windsor Farmers Market Indoor Market at Enes Community Center, 150 Nevers Road, South Windsor, on Shop Small Saturday, Nov. 30 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is free.
Beth Caruso (“One of Windsor,” “The Salty Rose”), R. C. Goodwin (“Model Child”), Penny Goetjen (“Murder Beyond the Precipice”), and Elsa Kurt (“Welcome to Chance” series) will take part. southwindsorfarmersmarket.com or Book Club on the Go at 860-265-6077.
The Evening Street Review of Sacramento, Calif., a publication that emphasizes a belief in the equality of both men and women will publish in fall 2020 “The Sprite,” a short story by Charles R. Vermilyea Jr. of Mansfield.
“The Sprite” describes how an East German woman contrived to flee to the West in an Austin-Healy Sprite. Vermilyea, 77, is a retired Courant copy editor and has worked for several newspapers. cvermilyea@charter.net or 860-429-0757.
Fans of the New Yorker magazine, widely considered one of the finest American publications for its timely investigative pieces, opinion writing and reviewing, as well as excerpts from current works of fiction and clever and provocative cartoons, can share their opinions of its articles at a free discussion group that meets weekly at Noah Webster Library, 20 South Main St., West Hartford.
The meetings, led by volunteer moderators, are held on Fridays from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and the next one will be Nov. 29. At each meeting, the previous week’s issue is discussed, to allow enough time for distributing and reading it. Copies are available through the library’s Zinio subscription, suitable for any internet-connected device or computer, and limited printed copies also are available. Parking in the nearby Isham Garage in Blue Back Square can be validated by the library. 860-561-6990.