POSTED: Wednesday, November 24, 2010, 4:07 PM
Wednesday: Poet, novelist and educator Ruth A. Rouff grew up in South Jersey. Her latest book,
Ida B. Wells: A Woman of Courage tells the story of a black journalist who wrote extensively about lynching in the early 20th century. For this Women's Writing and Spoken Word Series event, poet and life coach Renda Rose will be joining Rouff. Here's hoping that Rose's autobiography,
Grace and Mercy Brought Me Home, will inspire more surges of motivation than rolls of the eye. Wed., Nov. 24, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., $5,
Moonstone Arts Center, 110A S. 13th St., 215-735-9598.
Thursday: Eat way too much turkey with people you love! Emerge sleepy-eyed and content.
Friday: Recuperate. Have a lazy day with your family down at
Big Jar Books, a used bookstore and café in Old City.
Saturday: In 1861, John Wanamaker founded a department store in Philadelphia called Wanamaker's, famous for the bronze eagle statue that stood in the center. In
Wanamaker's: Meet Me at the Eagle, local author Michael J. Lissickey nostalgically traces the story of the linchpin store, from its bright beginnings to the bittersweet end. Sat., Nov. 27, 12:30 p.m., free,
Barnes and Noble, 1805 Walnut St., 215-665-0716.
Sunday: Pick up
Foreign Bodies, the latest novel by Cynthia Ozick. Ozick, who has always been obsessed with Henry James, uses this book to tell the story of James' Ambassadors in reverse. New York Times' Thomas Mallon praises "the witty, fierce way in which it goes about upending the whole theme and meaning and stylistic manner of its revered precursor."
Monday: Here's where you have some choices to make up for the Thanksgiving break. Do one, do some, do all!
a: Catch the tail end of the Chester County Library holiday book sale. Bring along a sturdy sack that you can fill with $.50 hardbacks, $0.25 paperbacks and $1 audio books, videos and DVDs. For $3, you can fill up a bag with anything you want. Go crazy! Mon., Nov. 29, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.,
Chester County Library, 450 Exton Square Pkwy, Exton, 731-989-4673
b: Support the Lenape High School media center by swinging by their book fair, where you can meet author Eli Kowalski and have him sign copies of his sports book
Relive the Philadelphia Eagles 1960 Champion Season, or his new children's book
Kushka: The Dog Named Cat about a dog who thinks she's a cat — a pretty poignant commentary on identity crisis, if you ask me — and a bonus: Kushka will be there in the furry flesh. Sun., Nov. 30, 6 p.m.,
Barnes and Noble, 1311 Nixon Dr., Moorestown, N.J., 856-608-1622
c: If you don't already, get to know the work of local playwrights through a free dramatic reading of their work by professional actors. InterAct Theatre company actors Amanda Schoonover, Zura Johnson, Keith Conallen, and Ames Adamso will be performing work by local playwrights Genne Murphy, Seth Bauer, Jackie Goldfinger, Mike Whistler and Quinn Eli. Mon., Nov. 29, 7 p.m., free,
Kelly Writer's House, 3805 Locust Wk, 215-573-9748
Tuesday: Civil War expert, Columbia professor and award-winning historical author Eric Foner's latest work,
The Fiery Trail: Abraham Lincoln & American Slavery, chronicles how Abraham Lincoln managed to abolish slavery in a bisected nation and change the landscape of American politics. Tues., Nov. 30, 7:30 p.m., $7-$10,
Central Library, 1901 Vine St., 215-686-5322
