The Canton Seniors Book Group meets on the fourth Thursday of the month from 2:00-3:00 PM in Canton Public Library's Group Study Room A. We meet every month except December. Information Services librarians, Elaine Skrzynski and Joyce Simowski, alternate leading the discussion. Copies of the discussion book are distributed at the monthly meeting or request a copy at the Adult Services Help Desk. No registration required.

South of Broad: a novel by Pat Conroy meets July 25

Case histories: a novel by Kate Atkinson meets August 22

River of doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's darkest journey by Candice Millard meets September 26

Say nice things about Detroit by Scott Lasser meets October 24

The Paris wife: a novel by Paula McLain meets November 21

Michigan Week (May 18-25) is a good time to remember the state's celebrated natives from all walks of life. Communities across Michigan can lay claim to renowned authors, artists, musicians, actors, athletes, politicians, inventors and more. Film makers Francis Ford Coppola, Sam Raimi, Michael Moore, and Paul Schrader were all born in Michigan. Just some of the world famous musicians born here include Stevie Wonder, Kenny Burrell, Betty Carter, Earl Klugh, Bog Seger, Glen Frey, Madonna, and Iggy Pop. Actors born in the state include Bruce Campbell, Tom Selleck, Lily Tomlin, Ellen Burstyn, Kristen Bell, Julie Harris, George Peppard, George C. Scott, Danny Thomas, and Marlo Thomas — the list goes on. Noteworthy authors such as Edna Ferber, Terry McMillan, Judith Guest and Marguerite De Angeli are also Michigan natives. Famous Michigan born athletes include baseball players Charlie Gehringer, Jim Abbott and Hal Newhouser. Find out more about our state's notable heritage by checking out some of the following items from the Library's collection.

Alden B. Dow: midwestern modern by Diane Maddex — Architect

The Dodge brothers: the men, the motor cars, and the legacy by Charles K. Hyde — Automobile engineers

Celebrate National Poetry Month by getting to know more about the lives of some of our greatest poets:

Longfellow: a rediscovered life by Charles C. Calhoun

Yeats's ghosts: the secret life of W.B. Yeats by Brenda Maddox

Dylan Thomas: a new life by Andrew Lycett

From noon to starry night: a life of Walt Whitman by Philip Callow

Rough magic: a biography of Sylvia Plath by Paul Alexander

The perfect book for a book discussion is one that's not too easy, not too hard, that will hold the interest of a diverse group of readers and will also inspire a lively discussion. For additional book club resources the Canton Public Library offers a wide variety of  Book Club in a Bag kits.

Life itself: a memoir by Roger Ebert

I hated, hated, hated this movie by Roger Ebert

The great movies III by Roger Ebert

The great movies II by Roger Ebert ; photo stills by Mary Corliss

The 2013 theme for National Women's History Month is "Women Inspiring Through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics." In that spirt, check out some of the following titles acknowledging the tremendous contributions of women to science and technology throughout history:

Jocelyn Elders, M.D.: from sharecropper's daughter to surgeon general of the United States of America by Joycelyn Elders and David Chanoff — Jocelyn Elders, pediatrician, public health administrator & the first woman Surgeon General of the United States

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day (March 17), think about reading an Irish author or about Irish history.

Pioneering women who led and won struggles for equality and civil rights; created and advanced educational and professional opportunities; and made great contributions to the arts, sciences and humanistic causes are honored each year during the month of March — National Women's History Month.

Reference Books

Chronology of women worldwide: people, places & events that shaped women's history by Lynne Brakeman, editor ; Susan Gall, managing editor

Extraordinary women of the Medieval and Renaissance world: a biographical dictionary by Carole Levin ...

Lives like loaded guns: Emily Dickinson and her family's feuds [kit] by Lyndall Gordon - In 1882, Emily Dickinson's brother Austin began a passionate love affair with Mabel Todd, a young Amherst faculty wife, setting in motion a series of events that would forever change the lives of the Dickinson family. The feud that erupted as a result has continued for over a century. Lyndall Gordon, tells the riveting story of the Dickinsons, and reveals Emily as a very different woman from the pale, lovelorn recluse that exists in the popular imagination. Gordon digs deep into the life and work of Emily Dickinson, to reveal the secret behind the poet's insistent seclusion, and presents a woman beyond her time who found love, spiritual sustenance, and immortality all on her own terms.

Civil rights activist Rosa Parks was born on February 4, 1913 in Tuskegee, Alabama. On December 1, 1955 she refused to obey a bus driver's order to give up her seat  to a white passenger, setting off the Montgomery Bus Boycott. This became one of the defining moments of the Civil Rights Movement leading to nationwide efforts to end segregation of public facilities. She eventually moved to Detroit where she lived until her death in 2005.

Citizen soldier: a life of Harry S. Truman by Aida D. Donald

Detroit City is the place to be: the afterlife of an American metropolis by Mark Binelli

Do the movies have a future? by David Denby

The eve of destruction: how 1965 transformed America by James T. Patterson

Mr. and Mrs. Prince: how an extraordinary eighteenth- century family moved out of slavery and into legend by Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina; researched with Anthony Gerzina

Black mutiny: the revolt on the schooner Amistad by William A. Owens

On her own ground: the life and times of Madam C.J.

On Thursday, February 14 at Noon we will be discussing:

Lives like loaded guns: Emily Dickinson and her family's feuds by Lyndall Gordon — In 1882, Emily Dickinson's brother Austin began a passionate love affair with Mabel Todd, a young Amherst faculty wife, setting in motion a series of events that would forever change the lives of the Dickinson family. The feud that erupted as a result has continued for over a century. Lyndall Gordon, tells the riveting story of the Dickinsons, and reveals Emily as a very different woman from the pale, lovelorn recluse that exists in the popular imagination. Gordon digs deep into the life and work of Emily Dickinson, to reveal the secret behind the poet's insistent seclusion, and presents a woman beyond her time who found love, spiritual sustenance, and immortality all on her own terms. An enthralling story of creative genius, filled with illicit passion and betrayal.

Today we honor the life of Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights leader who would have turned 84 this year. A federal holiday to honor King, who was assassinated in April 1968, was first observed in 1986. Congress also designated it a national day of service in 1994.

Books

April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King Jr.'s death and transformation of America by Michael Eric Dyson

At Canaan's edge: America in the King years 1965-68 by Taylor Branch

Once every four years, Americans enter into a months-long national spectacle — often with bitter battles, high drama, mudslinging, and hilarious blunders. At the end of all of this discourse, we ultimately entrust the leadership of our country to the victor. Although, the election of George Washington as the country's first president was a foregone conclusion, the campaigns to follow were usually anything but. This Special Collection provides a guide to those individuals elected to lead our country, as well as a look at how the Presidential campaign has evolved in the last 200 years. As we observe Inauguration Day 2013, this is a good time to immerse yourself in some presidential history.

Reference Books

America at the polls.

The NFL playoffs are in full swing and Super Bowl 47 is right around the corner. While you're waiting, catch up on some of the lives of some of the sport's greatest players and coaches — both past and present:

Moving the chains: Tom Brady and the pursuit of everything by Charles P. Pierce

Namath: a biography by Mark Kriegel

Elvis Presley was born on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi. He would have turned 78 this year. A multi-dimensional performer, Elvis' diverse talents are on display in the many recordings and movies that he left behind:

Careless love: the unmaking of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick

The Colonel: the extraordinary story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley by Alanna Nash

The road to grace [large print]: the third journal of the walk series by Richard Paul Evans

What doesn't kill you [large print] by Iris Johansen

The beginner's goodbye [large print] by Anne Tyler

The hunter [large print]: a novel by John Lescroart

"You gotta have friends... and this month's selections examine the lives and friendships of a variety of women.

The Canton Seniors Book Group meets on the fourth Thursday of the month from 2:00-3:00 PM in Group Study Room A. We meet every month except December. Adult Services librarians, Elaine Skrzynski and Joyce Simowski, alternate leading the discussion. Copies of the discussion book are distributed at the monthly meeting or ask for a copy at the Adult Services Help Desk.