Oct 12, 2015
Posted by the Daily News Online:
BATAVIA — Richmond Memorial Library has been providing lunchtime book reviews for close to four decades through its Books Sandwiched In program. Well, it’s time again.
The 36th annual fall series will begin at 12:10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, in the Gallery Room at the library, 19 Ross St. As always, coffee, tea and cookies from the library’s Bookworm Café will be served.
On Oct. 14, Jim Lewis will review “Moriarty†by Anthony Horowitz, a novel authorized by the Arthur Conan Doyle estate. In this story, Sherlock Holmes’ nemesis, who supposedly died in a fall at Reichenbach Fall, Switzerland, reappears. Pinkerton agent Frederick Chase and Scotland Yard inspector Athelney Jones pursue the shadowy and sinister criminal poised to become Moriarty’s evil successor.
Readers have enjoyed Sherlock Holmes’ stories for over 125 years, and one of Batavia’s ardent Sherlockians is Lewis, who has read the entire canon of Holmes stories. Lewis is a retired Batavia High School social studies teacher and U.S. Navy lieutenant commander. He appreciates that this novel follows the traditions of the original stories.
On Oct. 21, Gary and Sharon May will review “The Oregon Trail†by Rinker Buck. This book recounts the author’s 2,000-mile journey by mule-drawn wagon retracing the steps of the early pioneers. Far more demanding than the popular video game of the same name, this journey let Buck and his brother experience the mechanical, environmental and existential challenges similar to the earlier travelers.
Reviewers Gary and Sharon May are both Batavia natives who retired from dentistry and teaching, respectively, to set out on new adventures. Their first was to hike the 2,000 mile Appalachian Trail, the second to move to the Pacific Northwest, destination of the Oregon Trail.
On Oct. 28, Tristan Zuber will review “The Wright Brothers†by David McCullough, a book that recounts the historic first powered flight in December 1903 and then traces the brothers’ lives and the challenges they overcame in their effort to fly. These brothers, who came from humble surroundings without indoor plumbing or electricity, had some things in abundance: books, determination and courage.
Zuber grew up on a Byron dairy farm and majored in food science and animal science at Cornell University. She now works with Cornell Co-operative Extension to provide food safety and technical training to food processors and their workforces and also to connect companies with expertise at Cornell University.
On Nov. 4, Cathy Contant reviews “The Lives They Left Behind: Suitcases from a State Hospital†by Darby Penney and Peter Stastny. The book recounts the stories of the patients at the Willard Psychiatric Center in Willard, N.Y. The authors studied the contents of over 400 pieces of luggage the residents brought to the hospital upon their admissions and then left when the center was closed in 1995.
Contant has been a nurse in cardiology and emergency rooms as well as a school nurse involved with concussion management. She took part in nursing trips to Port Au Prince, Haiti and the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota.
The Books Sandwiched In committee finds reviewers in a variety of ways, including readers’ enthusiastic comments on books they have read. Each program ends by 1 p.m. For more information, call the library at (585) 343-9550.
