Shades of Brown Newsletter Releases

April Book Review

Friends Book Review 

Steve and Martha Huddy, retired educators from Williamsport who have studied and written about local history for years, will present a review of their book The Land at the Book Review Luncheon on April 3.

 The Land traces the “biography” of a 13-square mile parcel of otherwise unremarkable territory in central Pennsylvania. Its significance? As WWII begins, the 8500-acre spread becomes home to the Pennsylvania Ordnance Works. At a cost of $50 million, and endless heartbreak wrought by eminent domain land seizures, local TNT production lasted a mere 11 months. What happens during this land plot’s chaotic, whirlwind lifespan reads like a taut Hollywood thriller, replete with bootleggers, a famed American author, Watergate felons, Manhattan Project leaders and other one-time “residents” of this tract of former farmland.

 The Huddys are board members and officers of several local historical societies and volunteer their time with numerous local groups and services. Their 2013 documentary film Surrender! The Sudden Death of Alvira, Pennsylvania about the government’s seizure of local land during WWII debuted to critical regional acclaim at a sold-out Community Arts Center.

 The luncheon will start at 12 noon in the Lowry Room of the Welch Family wing of the James V. Brown Library. Those who wish may purchase lunch at noon for $6. To reserve lunch, use the online reservation calendar on the library website (http://calendar.jvbrown.edu) where you will find a prompt for reservations or call Leslie at the Library at 570-326-0536, ext. 134. Reservations should be made by the Wednesday before the review. (Please note that you should register only if you wish to reserve lunch.) You may bring your own lunch or simply attend the book review, which will start at 12:30PM. Parking is available in the public lot off Market Street, adjacent to the Welch Wing.

March Book Review

Friends Book Review 

The March 6 Book Review Luncheon will feature graphic designer Amanda Emig discussing The Talent Code, Greatness Isn’t Born. It’s Grown. Here’s How. by Daniel Coyle.

 The book introduces a scientific concept that draws on optimizing your performance in sports, art, music, math, or just about anything, using three key elements to build myelin in the brain (a microscopic neural substance that adds vast amounts of speed and accuracy to your movement and thoughts). This explanation of deep practice, ignition, and master coaching enforces the concept that talent can be grown, and brings to light that many people all around you have talent in various forms.

 Emig has worked in the field of graphic design for more than 30 years at Rodale Press, Brodart Company, Lessig Group, James V. Brown Library, and now owns and operates her own graphic design and printing company, Copi, LLC.  She has a BFA in Communication Design from Kutztown University, and a Master’s in Education from AIU.

February Book Review

Friends Book Review for February

Friends Book Reviews resume February 7, 2020. Louisa Stone will present a review of Casey Cep’s book Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee.

Stone says that like many people, she read To Kill A Mockingbird in high school. Later at Bloomsburg University, she could refer to it because all her students had read it. And, like many readers, she also read true crime, a genre that actually started in the 1500s, but is immensely popular today largely due to the success of Truman Capote’s 1966 novel, In Cold Blood.

When Stone heard about Cep’s book, she was curious. She knew Lee and Capote were friends, and she had read In Cold Blood, but wanted to know what Lee had to do with murder and fraud.

In Cep’s book,the author gives us a well-written account of the people and events in this strange tale in Alabama in the 1970s. Part I is the story of Reverend Willie Maxwell, accused of killing five family members for insurance money. Part II explains the complex relationship of the lawyer, Tom Radney. Part III is where we learn how Harper Lee fits in. In each part, Cep includes the social and racial context. It is a fascinating read.

Stone grew up in the Chicago area, received two degrees in English from the University of Michigan, and one in Business Administration from Harvard Business School. She taught at Lycoming College and Penn College, then in the 1980s began teaching English at Bloomsburg University. After retiring from teaching, Stone and her husband David co-founded Williamsport Bicycle Recycle in the Pajama Factory.

The luncheon will start at 12 noon in the Lowry Room of the Welch Family Wing of the James B. brown Library. Those who wish may purchase lunch for $6. To reserve lunch, use the online reservation calendar on the library website (http:// calendar.jvbrown.edu)) where you will find a prompt for reservations or call Leslie at the Library at 570-326-0536, ext. 134. Reservations should be made by Wednesday, February 5. (Please note that you should register only if you wish to reserve lunch.) you may bring your own or simply attend the book review which will start at 12:30 p.m. Parking is available in the public lot off Market Street, adjacent to the Welch Wing.

• Linda Morris
• Joanne O’Neill
• Jeanne Yaggi
• Janet Hurlbert
• Ruth Croyle
• Shelby Weber