Showing posts with label authors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label authors. Show all posts

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Sacramento Area Authors

It wouldn't be hard to deduce that libraries in, say, California might have a fairly good collection of Californiana, and that Nevada libraries might have a similar collection about that state. But what happens if the connection to the location is more tenuous – not necessarily about the state; not necessarily set in the state, but written by someone who lives in the area? Enter the Sacramento Area Authors collection! Single copies of titles in this special collection reside in the Sacramento Room, where such works are actively collected, but additional copies of the works may be borrowed from Central Library and other branches in our library system.

Who are Sacramento Area Authors? What do they write? You might recognize these luminaries who lived in Sacramento County when their books were published: Sharon Davis (wife of former Governor Gray Davis), Herb Caen, Biba Caggiano, Joan Didion, and Ernesto Galarza. There are many other authors, both old and new, represented in the collection, with titles ranging from the sublime through the everyday to the fringe, such as Historic Photos of Sacramento, Last chance for justice, Midlife Bible: a woman's survival guide, and Deluxe transitive vampire.

To find and explore this collection of over 2000 titles, go to the library's catalog and click the Subject tab, and then type Sacramento area authors. Come and visit during the Sacramento Room's service hours – prepare to be delighted!

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Norman Mailer and Ira Levin

Two notable authors passed away this week.

Norman Mailer, whose work over the last 60 years was noted for being sensational, fascinating and disturbing, passed away on November 10. His first success was The Naked and the Dead (1948). Other works followed that explored the "underside of modern culture," treating corruption, murder, violence, capitol punishment, biographies of controversial or sensational people (Lee Harvey Oswald, Marilyn Monroe, Gary Gilmore.) Mailer received a Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction in 1969 for "The Armies of the Night" and for fiction in 1980 for "Executioner's Song".

Ira Levin, best known for his novel, Rosemary's Baby, passed away on November 12. He was also a songwriter and playwright, who wrote Broadway's longest-running Broadway comedy-thriller, "Deathtrap". Several of his novels became movies (Boys from Brazil, Stepford Wives), and his play "No Time For Sergeants", based on the book by Mac Hyman, launched Andy Griffith's acting career.

In our collection: Norman Mailer's books, Ira Levin's books

Read more about Norman Mailer in the Literature Resource Center and the Biography Resource Center (Library card number and PIN required.)

Read More about Ira Levin in the Literature Resource Center and the Biography Resource Center (Library card number and PIN required.)