Beloved Irish author Maeve Binchy died today at age 72. Her first novel Light a Penny Candle was published in 1982. Read more here. Fans may want to watch this video on Maeve's philosophy of life.

I finally found the time to read that most acclaimed novel by Canadian master Robertson Davies, 'Fifth Business'. It was a thoroughly engaging and deeply satisfying read. It is the story of the life of the narrator, Dunstan Ramsay, a retired school master who relates his experiences from early childhood to the present. We meet a host of wonderfully told characters engaged in any number of mild and intense encounters, and follow Dunstan’s development as an insightful but conflicted man. All of the story lines – from small town gossip and meanness, to the terror of World War I, to the intricacies of the magician’s craft, to unrequited love – draw you in with wonder and exquisite writing. I plan to read both sequels in this series, known as The Deptford Trilogy.

San Diego ComiCon wrapped last weekend and the Eisner Award Winners have been announced.

Best Continuing Series: Daredevil by Mark Waid, Marcos Martin, Paolo Rivera, and Joe Rivera

Best Limited Series: Criminal: The Last of the Innocent by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips

Best Publication for Young Adults (Ages 12-17): Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

Best Reality-Based Work: Green River Killer by Jeff Jensen

Best Graphic Album - New: Jim Henson's Tale of Sand by Jim Henson and Jerry Juhl with Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team going to Ramon K. Perez for this book as well

Best U.S. Edition of International Material: The Manara Library by Milo Manara and Hugo Pratt

Best U.S. Edition of International Material - Asia: Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths by Shigeru Mizuki

Best Writer: Mark Waid for Irredeemable, Incorruptible and Daredevil

Best Writer/Artist: Craig Thompson for Habibi

As part of their multiyear Celebration of the Book, The Library of Congress has created an exhibition of 88 Books that Shaped America. You've probably heard of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Thomas Paine's Common Sense, but how about Amelia Simmons' American Cookery or Jacob Riis's How the Other Half Lives? The exhibition runs through September 29, but If you can't make it out to Washington D.C. check out the list and add your own input!

According to CBS and an annual Central Connecticut State University survey, the Twin Cities are in the top ten most literate cities in the
U.S. The article lists information about book clubs in the area.