Category Archives: Books
Revisiting My Own “Wonder Years” Moment
By BOB VICKREY There was something undeniably compelling about the television show “The Wonder Years” that ran from the late 1980s into the early ‘90s. The show was set in a middle-class neighborhood against the turbulent backdrop of the...
Palisadian Co-Authors ‘Redeeming Justice’, a Memoir that Explores the Criminal Justice System
By LAUREL BUSBY Special to Circling the News A false accusation of rape sent 17-year-old Jarrett Adams to prison for almost a decade. His odyssey, detailed in his new book, “Redeeming Justice,” covers his trial with an inept defense attorney,...
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Discovering a Novel that Helped Define My Love of Books
By BOB VICKREY Special to Circling the News Avid readers share a major character flaw in the way we romanticize the world of books. We’re almost like evangelicals who have just discovered religion and feel compelled to...
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Palisades Reads to Feature “The Overstory” on September 22 Via Zoom
This is the third year for Palisades Reads, a community-wide book club sponsored by the Friends of the Palisades Library that seeks to foster connections, spark conversations, but above all celebrate reading. This year’s selection, “The Overstory,” was the 2019...
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Book Launch Set for Ernest Marquez’s History of Rancho Boca de Santa Monica
Life-long resident Ernest Marquez, 97, will celebrate the publication of his latest book, “Rancho Boca de Santa Monica: The 1839 California Land Grant – A History,” on Saturday, September 25. A launch party will be held from 9 a.m. to...
Alan Eisenstock’s Playlist: It’s Forever
(Editor’s note: Palisadian Alan Eisenstock’s 19th book “Redeeming Justice” co-written with Jarrett Adams, which comes out on September 14, was named the Best Book of September by Amazon. “A consuming tale of a broken legal system, its trail of ruin...
Searching for the Mysterious ‘Julie B.’ in Pacific Palisades
BY BOB VICKREY Special to Circling the News The letter writer began her tribute to her favorite author with these words: “I am someone who fell in love with Pat Conroy almost 30 years ago. It started with ‘The Prince...
Posted in Books, Community, Viewpoint
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Palisadians to Discuss ‘Heroes of the Maze,’ a Diesel Bookstore Virtual Event Thursday Evening
Join Pacific Palisades residents Tessa and Chloe Smigla as they discuss “Heroes of the Maze” at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 6, during a virtual story-time event. To register: Click Here. The sisters are the adopted children of Palisadians Lisa...
Readers Want/Have the Answers on Libraries
REGARDING PUBLIC LIBRARIES: A reader reached out to the L.A. Public Libraries on March 17 and asked: “Do you know when L.A. City libraries are going to reopen? I haven’t heard any communication on this. Seems like everything else has...
Posted in Books, Community, Councilman Mike Bonin
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Many City Libraries Will Open May 3, But Not the Palisades Branch Library. Here’s Why.
BY BILL BRUNS Special to CTN The L.A. Times reported Monday that “the Los Angeles Public Library is expected to reopen May 3 with limited service at 38 locations,” thanks to a lifting of Covid-19 restrictions.” Unfortunately, the Pacific Palisades...
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