Archives: libraries

Back on the road, in a literary sort of way; libraries; and writing advice from Elmore Leonard: newsletter, Dec. 21, 2018

December 24, 2018 | By Jim Stovall | No Comments | Filed in: American Road, books, journalism, newsletter, writers, writing.

This newsletter was sent to all of the subscribers on Jim’s list (2,962) on Friday, Dec. 21, 2018.     The Christmas holiday season, Hannukah, the winter solstice, the beginning of the college football bowl season — they all collide for the next couple of weeks, provoking an increase in shopping, singing, television watching, and • Read More »

The father of modern caricature, bitterness among literary lights, and a view of personal technology: newsletter, Nov. 30, 2018

December 3, 2018 | By Jim Stovall | No Comments | Filed in: newsletter.

This newsletter was sent to all of the subscribers on Jim’s list (2,984) on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018.     The theme of writing — good writing, I hope — permeates all of my newsletters, but this week you may notice another: caricature. I have tried this art form from time to time with varying degrees • Read More »

The man who wanted every book; the quintessential English detective; and the first American crime novel; and morenewsletter May 18, 2018

May 21, 2018 | By Jim Stovall | No Comments | Filed in: newsletter.

This newsletter was emailed to everyone on Jim’s email list (2,644) on May 18, 2018   A summer head cold attacked me this week, making life miserable for a few days, but I tried not to let it slow me down too much. The major woodworking project that I mentioned last week was completed and • Read More »

Hernando Colón: The man who tried to read everything

May 16, 2018 | By Jim Stovall | No Comments | Filed in: journalism.

Hernando Colón (1488-1539), the illegitimate son of Christopher Columbus, spent much of his life traveling around Europe — and later America — amassing what was then the largest private library in the world. His goal was to collect all of the knowledge of the world into one place (Seville, Spain, as it turned out) because • Read More »

Martin Luther, Isaac Asimov, and the value of libraries; 50-plus true-crime books; and more; newsletter, April 27, 2018

April 30, 2018 | By Jim Stovall | No Comments | Filed in: newsletter.

This newsletter was sent to everyone on Jim’s email list (4,067) on Friday, April 20, 2018. Finally, the crimson clover has started to bloom (about a month late, due mostly to cold weather). Agriculturally, that’s the big event in our lives this week. The bees have started to work the clover, and now, maybe, the • Read More »