Books | Thursday, December 28,2006

Scratching the surface

Promise of The Sangamo Frontier never realized

For many central-Illinois natives, the subject of Robert Mazrim’s new book, The Sangamo Frontier: History and Archaeology in the Shadow of Lincoln, is a surprise — the concept of archaeolo

Books | Wednesday, November 29,2006

The write stuff

Local woman wins national fiction, poetry competitions

By Amy Spies Karhliker

Carol Manley is one of the best writers in Illinois today, but you can’t buy a book with her name on the cover — yet. She is a contributing editor to the “People’s Poetry&rdquo

Books | Wednesday, November 29,2006

Best books of '06

Give your favorite reader a page-turner for the holidays

By Cinda Klickna

The holiday season is a perfect time to hit the bookstore and select the ideal book for each reader on your list. Here are suggestions in six different categories. FICTION The number 13 may be consi

Books | Wednesday, November 29,2006

The Great Communicator

Lincoln wrote to shape and save a nation

By Roland Klose

Abraham Lincoln said goodbye to Springfield in a succinct, emotion-filled speech on Feb. 11, 1861. “To this place, and the kindness of these people,” Lincoln said, “I owe every thing

Books | Wednesday, October 25,2006

Capturing lost stories

Jacksonville’s Scott Maruna tells tales of central Illinois

By Carol Manley

I once had a political-science professor who believed that air conditioning had destroyed the fabric of our society. Before air conditioning, he said, people spent summer nights sitting outdoors on st

Books | Wednesday, October 18,2006

In defense of Mary

New novel tells the controversial First Lady’s story

By Marissa Monson

Mary, a new novel by Janis Cooke Newman, gives Mary Todd Lincoln the opportunity to tell her turbulent life story in a voice that rings true to her bold and unconventional persona. There’s no s

Books | Thursday, June 15,2006

Book Expo buzz

Historical novel about Mary Todd Lincoln among titles you’ll be hearing about

By Gale Walden

If you like books, if you really like books — if you are the kind of person whose books overrun your house, whose book budget exceeds your food budget, the kind of person who can spend

Books | Thursday, February 2,2006

Just the facts?

There’s a new kid in town and his name is creative nonfiction.

By Corrine Frisch

I used to work in a library, and the person I most envied there was the cataloger. She got to see all of the new books first and decide where they would reside in the cozy confines of the De

Books | Thursday, November 10,2005

Abe's Molly

The story of Mary Todd Lincoln

By Corrine Frisch

Mary Todd Lincoln knew a lot of grief. Her mother died when she was 6. She lost three of her four children and was sitting beside her husband the night he was assassinated. When I picture he

Books | Thursday, October 27,2005

Remembering the Levee

Latest by Martha Miller revives tales of Springfield’s fabled seedy section

By Townsend Shoulders

Martha Miller’s new book, Tales from the Levee, has its origins in interviews Miller conducted with the lesbians and drag queens who frequented a district of Springfield now vanished i