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Levitt (center) is seen here at a book signing for his first book, “Ben's,” at the former Philadelphia Print Shop in Chestnut Hill with Dickie Cobbs and Celeste M. Walker.

New Flourtown author's 'dark' baseball/murder novel

Now that the major league baseball season has just begun might be a good time for baseball fans to read “The Will of the Creator,” a novel just released in early April by Flourtown novelist Sam Levitt, 61, which has a baseball theme (sort of). more

by Len Lear | 4/29/21

The seemingly intractable problem of two historic peoples claiming the same piece of land is examined in depth by West Mt. Airy's Curtis Pontz in his just-published book, “The Stranglehold” (Dorrance Publishing Co.).

Mt. Airyite's book offers solution to Israeli conflict

Curtis Pontz, 80, a Mt. Airy resident for the last 47 years and lifelong Philadelphian, is the first to admit he is not an academic historian. more

by Len Lear | 4/22/21

Janet (right, bottom) and her younger sister, Susie, are seen many years ago, flanked by her parents, Jessica and Jerry Goodman. Jerry spent the four years of World War II in the Pacific theater in an air control tower. “They were both wonderful,” said Janet.

Hill author's new book explores sisterhood

When I first saw Janet Gilmore's new book, “She's your Sister and You Love Her, Right,” I thought it would be one of those light-hearted, quick-read pocket-sized birthday gift books that are ubiquitous in gift shops and tourist destination stores. more

by Len Lear | 4/15/21

Former Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Natalie Pompilio (seen here) and her sister, professional photographer Tricia Pompilio, will discuss their just-published book, “This Used to be Philadelphia,” on Monday, April 19, 7 p.m., in a Zoom presentation sponsored by the Big Blue Marble Bookstore in West Mt. Airy.

Stellar reporter/author at Mt. Airy Zoom book event

For years, every time I saw the byline Natalie Pompilio in the Philadelphia Inquirer, I would make it a point to read the story. I knew it was bound to be a compelling human-interest story. more

by Len Lear | 4/14/21

David Jackson Ambrose, author of the new novel, “A Blind Eye,” says that “the tremendous bullying that many young people experience is part of the problem that is manifesting in such a tragic way in our schools today.” (Photo by Caroline Ann Torge)

Provocative new novel for prose-perfect local author

I was blown away by the grenade-explosion prose in "State of the Nation," a 2018 novel by David Jackson Ambrose. Ambrose now has a new book coming out in early April, “A Blind Eye,” which tackles the tinder box subjects of LGBTQ relationships, mental health, disabilities, “transracialism,” domestic abuse and police/civilian interactions. more

by Len Lear | 4/9/21

"The Lost Pianos of Siberia” is deep, romantic as title implies

One of the pleasures of doing this column comes when readers send book suggestions. more

by Hugh Gilmore | 4/7/21

Hiller's bizarre new book about living in baseball park

Many folks in the Chestnut Hill area are familiar with Tom Garvey from seeing him for years in his wife Peggy's funky clothing store, Mango. more

by Len Lear | 4/1/21

A book made us reconsider our relationship with trees

Every once and a while book comes along that changes your outlook on life. This just happened to me recently when I read The Age of Wood by Roland Ennos. more

by Ned Barnard & Pauline Gray | 3/26/21

Carol Seitchik, 80, after a lifetime as a visual artist has published her first book of poetry, “The Distance to Odessa,” about the immigration experience. The image on the book cover is a painting by Boston artist Alex Gerasev titled "Arrival."

Ex-Mt. Airy artist writes first book of poetry at 80

(Ed. Note: Neil Nolen is a Mt. Airy native who now lives in Odessa, Ukraine. He wrote this about 80-year-old acclaimed artist and poet Carol Seitchik, who is also from Mt. Airy — Bryan Street … more

by Neil Nolen | 3/26/21

The Hare Krishna Temple at 41 W. Allens Lane in West Mt. Airy is one of the subjects examined in a new book, “From Mother Divine to the Corner Swami: Religious Cults in Philadelphia” (Arcadia Publishing), by former Germantown resident, journalist and author of many books, Thom Nickels.

Mt. Airy's Krishna Temple explored in powerful new book

Several years ago, a nephew of mine, Gabriel, was a student at the Hare Krishna Temple, 41 W. Allens Lane in West Mt. Airy. more

by Len Lear | 3/25/21

Allen Hornblum's latest book, released Feb. 16, is “The Klondike Bake-Oven Deaths,” based on actual events at Holmesburg Prison. According to Hornblum, who has written often about the prison system, the “Klondike” episode was “the worst case of prison abuse in American history.”

Local author's book: “Nation's worst prison abuse case'

Hornblum's latest book, released Feb. 16, is “The Klondike Bake-Oven Deaths” (Sunbury Press) based on actual events in 1938, also in Holmesburg Prison. Unlike Hornblum's non-fiction books, this one is “historical fiction.” more

by Len Lear | 3/19/21

Journalist Jessica Bruder’s book “Nomadland” inspired a TV film that is good on its own, but not nearly as deep an examination of its subject matter as the book.

Workampers, widows and wheel estate – Book v film of "Nomadland"

Author Jessica Bruder was probably the kind of kid who looked behind the screen and found the wizard working the mic. She is drawn to writing about American subcultures, often by living and traveling with her subjects. more

by Hugh Gilmore | 3/17/21

Robert Kolker's medical-mystery bestseller, "Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family," is a tale of a family struggling with mental illness and the evolution of the science to diagnose and treat it.

Good looks, talent and brains ran in the family. So did schizophrenia.

What's a parent to do when a child's odd behavior escalates far enough, frequently enough, that it can't be shrugged off as just an eccentric personality? And what if the problem is magnified by six? more

by Hugh Gilmore | 2/24/21

Rich Krassen holds up his memoir, “Breadcrumbs on My Journey,” written in his late 70s before he was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. (Photo reprinted, with permission, from the Northeast Times)

Before cancer, wonderful memoir by Philly sports guy

Occasionally someone will ask me how I find out about so many fascinating musicians, authors, artists, etc., in the relatively small geographical we cover. more

by Len Lear | 2/19/21 | 1 comment

Walter Tevis and his wife Jamie Griggs in better days, photographed on the cover of Griggs’ memoir, "My Life with The Hustler."

‘Queen's Gambit’ author was amazingly diverse, but known more for movies based on his work

"The Queen's Gambit" Netflix series was recently nominated for Golden Globes awards for Best Picture and Best Actress. More than sixty million people have watched it. Though the novel the series was based on has been around since 1983, it has been hardly known outside of chess fan circles. more

by Hugh Gilmore | 2/17/21

Mt. Airy native Valerie Harrison (seen here), who has both a law degree and a doctorate degree, and co-author Katie D’Angelo will discuss their new book virtually on Monday, Feb 8, 7 p.m., sponsored by Big Blue Marble Bookstore in West Mt. Airy.

'Black child, white parents,' topic of Mt. Airy talk

For decades, Katie D’Angelo and Mt. Airy native Valerie Harrison, who both work at Temple University and both have doctorate degrees (Harrison is also a lawyer), engaged in conversations about race and racism. more

by Len Lear | 2/3/21

Monica Hesse tells the story of sleuths tracking down the people responsible for a string of arsons in "American Fire: Love, Arson, Life in a Vanishing Land."

10 TRUE CRIME books that don't feature murder

Despite its being an enjoyable genre, a lot of people have burned out on reading True Crime books. more

by Hugh Gilmore | 1/28/21

This is the cover of Stephen Tow’s book, a must-read for fans of British rock music of the 1960s.

Terrific rock music book by local author, poor timing

Stephen Tow is a brilliant writer and researcher, but his timing is world-class unlucky. Tow is the author of “London, Reign Over Me: How England's Capital Built Classic Rock” (Rowman & Littlefield), which chronicles the rock music from the British Isles in the 1960s and early '70s. more

by Len Lear | 1/28/21

Max Gross, author of “From Schlub to Stud” and “The Lost Shtetl,” will discuss his books via Zoom on Monday, Jan. 25, 7 p.m., an event sponsored by Big Blue Marble Bookstore in West Mt. Airy.

'From Schlub to Stud' author at Mt. Airy Zoom event

How many nerdy young men have felt insecure looking in a mirror, envying the handsome, muscular star athletes who seem to effortlessly wind up with the beautiful, popular and most desirable cheerleaders, prom queens, etc.? The answer: Millions! more

by Len Lear | 1/20/21

Springfield’s ‘History in Motion’ via zoom on Jan. 28

The Springfield Township Historical Society will present guest speaker Nancy Moses, author of “Fakes, Forgeries and Frauds.” more

1/15/21

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Dancing for St. Patrick's Day

Learning to love the ‘beautiful efficiency’ of flowers

Courtney Jewell has been selling weekly deliveries of fresh local flowers in Northwest Philadelphia since 2019, after moving to East Mt. Airy.

Piffaro explores the Austrian court and countryside

Piffaro, the Renaissance Band, will perform a concert of music from the Austrian court and countryside Saturday. March 25, at 7:30 p.m. in the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill.

A delicious taste of Irish at Tavern on the Hill

The bar, as dark and dense as the Irish woods, was rocking with laughter as we made our way gingerly to the charming dining room just beyond.

Allens Lane exhibit: bold, candid and uncompromising

Dara Haskins, a Germantown artist whose solo exhibit opens this week at Allens Lane Art Center, is as bold, candid and uncompromising as her colorful work.