Page 62 - Sonoma County Gazette July 2017

By Date
101 Things That Piss Me Off. Known for using satire to pinpoint everyday truths and ironies about being a young adult in the modern world. Tickets available online only. $20 - includes signed copy of book, 7:00p Copperfields - Petaluma, 140 Kentucky St, 707-762-0563, Petaluma, 707-762-0563, copperfieldsbooks.com/ event/ticketed-event-rachel-ballinger
Jun 30 ~ Rumi’s Caravan: A Magical Evening of Poetry and Music. Please join us for a magical evening of poetry and music, performed in the ecstatic tradition by the amazing all-volunteer troupe from Rumi’s Caravan. 100% of event proceeds will be used to en- sure that sustainable leadership de- velopment programs within Sonoma County continue, and THRIVE. $35 for meal and performance/$25 for performance alone, 6:00p Hermann Sons Hall, 860 Western Ave, Petalu- ma, dailyacts.nonprofiteasy.net/Pub- licPages/Event/Details.aspx?eid=31530
Jul 3 ~ Mystery Book Club at the Windsor Senior Center - discussing The Body in the Birches, by Katherine Hall Page. Free 2:30p - 3:30p, Windsor Senior Center, 9231 Foxwood Dr, Windsor, 707-838-1020, so- nomacounty.libcal.com/event/3381089
Jul 3 - Petaluma Rivertown Poets A- Muse-ing Mondays was designed to unite seasoned poets, amateurs, and poetry lovers in celebration of the spo- ken word. Free - 6:15p - 8:30p Aqus Cafe, 189 H St., Petaluma, 707-778- 6060, Sandra Anfang, facebook.com/ RivertownPoetsAMuseingMondays
Jul 6 ~Come join us at the Guernev- ille Regional Library for Coffee with the Director, a chance for community members to discuss library-related topics with Sonoma County Library Director Brett Lear. We bring the coffee-- you bring the conversation!
10 - 11 pm 14107 Armstrong Woods Rd. Guerneville
Jun 30 ~ Author Event at Copperfields -
Coffee with the Director occurs at most of the Sonoma County branch libraries.
Please check event website for more in- formation! sonomacounty.libcal.com/
Jul 10 - Petaluma Women Who Write - of all persuasions and genres meeting monthly for feedback and community, in an understanding and supportive forum where constructive criticism inspires and uplifts. For further infor- mation, contact: Carole J. Coates – pot- teryhound@gmail.com Free / 2nd Mon- day’s / 6 - 7:30p, Aqus Cafe, 189 H St., Petaluma, Carole Coates, aqus.com/ event/women-who-write/2017-03-13/, potteryhound@gmail.com
Jul 11 ~ Hot Summer Nights with the Redwood Writers and Copperfield’s Books present four Tuesday evenings of local author readings in July and Au- gust. “Davenport”, “The Witch Lineage”, “A Life Without Living” & “Murder is Forever” William Haigwood - Dav- enport Marian Lindner - The Witch Lineage S.C. Alban - A Life Without Living Roger DeBeers - Murder is For- ever Free, RSVP requested, 7p Cop- perfields Santa Rosa, Montgomery Village Store, 775 Village Court, Santa Rosa, 707-578-8938, copperfieldsbooks. com/event/hot-summer-nights-red- wood-writers-william-haigwood-mar- ian-lindner-sc-alban-roger-debeers
Jul 13 ~ Petaluma Folk Tales: A Storytell- ing Evening from those in the know. Featuring native daughter, Petaluma Grange president and former mayor Pamela Torliatt. PAC Members $8, Non-Members $10, 7p Petaluma Arts Center, 230 Lakeville St, Petaluma, 707-762-5600, petalumaartscenter.org
Jul 17 ~ Author Event at Copperfields - Hum If You Don’t Know The Words is a beautifully rendered look at loss, racism, and the creation of family. Free, RSVP re- quested, 7p Copperfields - Healdsburg, 106 Matheson, Healdsburg, 707-433-9270, copperfieldsbooks.com/event/bianca-marais
Book Review: The Snowman
By Diane McCurdy
The Snowman is no breezy summer read.
It is dense, labyrinthine, and often grotesque. Jo Nesbo, the author, is a good writer but so complex that the reader can become weary. When reading just for pleasure I don’t want to have to apply a textbook type of energy
to the printed page. If you are looking for a quicky beach read, this isn’t it. I appreciated the intricacies of the plot but there are so many characters, places and institutions with unfamiliar Norwegian names that one can be overwhelmed. I was relieved when I closed the last, the 550th page. Nesbo is often compared to fellow Scandinavian, Steig Larsson, author of the Millennium series the most well known of which is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I prefer Larsson’s style.
The Snowman is a macabre thriller. Anti-
hero Harry Hole has several tragic aws
not the least of which is a predilection for alcohol. In Oslo, he is on the trail of a serial killer whose trade mark is leaving some kind of snowman at the scene of the crime. There is no lack of snow in Norway. All the victims are women. All have children. All have deep, dark secrets. What is the connection that strings them together? The most tantalizing plot element is how Hole goes about his research to nd the missing link. It involves subterfuge and the study of exotic disease. Along the way the reader is lead down several dead end streets where it appears the killer has been identi ed. But Hole always has doubts and keeps investigating. Suspense builds as he assembles the pieces of the puzzle and puts them together.
Nesbo has written 10 crime novels and his body of work has generated a huge fan base. Twenty three million copies of his books have been sold and they have been translated into 50 languages. He is somewhat of a Renaissance man. A musician and songwriter, he is a member of a rock band and he is a rock climber. He had been a stock broker and a nancial analyst when he gave it all up and eshed out a Harry Hole adventure when he was on an adventure of his own. Hole came to life on a laptop in a plane on Nesbo’s way to Australia.
Of course, the lm version was inevitable. It will premiere this fall. Then, another inevitability will occur, the book will zoom up again on the best-seller lists. The movies stars Michael Fassbender as the detective. Fassbender has acquitted himself well in such features as The X Men, Twelve Years a Slave and Macbeth. He is a good choice if he can emanate the slightly debauched charisma of Hole. He will be supported by Val Kilmer and Chloe Sevigny. It will be interesting to see what the screenwriter does with the wealth of subplots, characters and ashbacks. I don’t envy his job.
Rumi’s Caravan at Hermann Sons Hall, 860 Western Ave, Petaluma
62 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 7/17
LITERARY cont’d on page 65