‘Life of Louise Norton Little’ explores mother of Malcolm X
Most biographies of Malcolm X provide little insight into the life of his mother, Louise Little. Her life is often dismissed with the phrase “she was in a mental institution,” …
Bill Castanier's Latest Articles
Murder, they wrote, just in time for summertime reading
Summertime and the reading is easy. Summer is the time to put the 1,000-page classics and political biographies on the shelf at least until the leaves fall and turn your reading to the much more …
‘Gossard Girls’ recounts Upper Peninsula’s trailblazing history
When Phyllis Michael Wong found herself relocating to Marquette to serve as first lady of Northern Michigan University, she had no idea about the revolutionary women from the county’s past …
Kerouac and Kesey hit milestones
Two important American novels, both penned by counterculture icons, celebrate significant anniversaries this year, and both authors play an important role in the great American road trip.
‘White Nights’ delivers captivating Michigan mystery
While on vacation in the Upper Peninsula, odd couples Laurel and Arnie and Claire and Charles unwittingly become amateur homicide detectives after they stumble into an investigation of a suspicious death. Soon, as told in Deb Davies’ new mystery, “White Nights,” they discover the case may not have been accidental.
The dark, mystical themes in ‘Dark Roots’
Edward Rosick’s first book was on a medical topic — understandably, given he is a Lansing-area physician.
‘Unnoticed and unreported’ political ramblings in ‘A Distant Rumble’
While reading longtime Michigan political consultant G.T. Long’s memoir, the name Lee Atwater may pop in your head. Atwater played on the national political stage and was noticed for his aggressive campaigning and political stumping. Long performed a similar role for such Northern Michigan and Upper Peninsula Democratic candidates as Mitch Irwin and Pat Gagliardi in the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s.
The past of Lansing’s bookstores
Bookstores in Lansing have almost always been around.
‘Notables’ tops Lansing literary events this month
Authors, poets and readers in the Capital City need to get ready to “kick out the jams” in April, because three major literary events are on the calendar — two of which were canceled for the last two years out of pandemic precaution.