Image Source: Vassar College Archives via flikr.comMark Twain (Samuel Clemens), American storyteller extraordinaire, was born on this date in Missouri in 1835. Twain's name is synonymous with the town of Hannibal and the Mississippi River, which he chronicled, as well as with Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, and the many other beloved characters he created over the course of his writing career. Although his literary accomplishments need little to no introduction, you can read more about his interesting life and career at this link: Twain biography.
In addition to tackling the moral issues of the day, Twain is well known for his legendary wit, which has been immortalized in his many quotes. I have always been amused by his words upon hearing that his obituary had been published in a New York Journal: "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated." Several of his humorous quotes are available from The Quotations Page. I highly recommend reading his musings on topics including banks, humility, Americans, courage, adversity, and duty whenever you are in need of a chuckle or mood lifter.
Catherine
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Happy Birthday, Mark Twain, Literary Giant was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.blogspot.com. This post cannot be republished without express written consent.
It's actually a reissue of an out of print title. According to the database Books in Print, the book was originally published in hardcover by Penguin in 1979, and in paperback by Random House in 1982. Here's what intrigued me about this book:
After a busy weekend, I was looking for a light way to ease into the week. Lo and behold, I discovered that today is the birthday of cartoonist Charles Schulz, who was born in 1922 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Now that the big meal has come and gone, here's a little something more to digest: Gail Collins's op-ed piece from the November 22 edition of The New York Times. Enjoy 
An informative website for discovering your next read is 
Today is the birthday of one of the world's most well-known African writers. Nigerian poet and novelist Chinua Achebe was born in Ogidi, Nigeria's East Central State on November 16, 1930, and is best known for his 1958 book, Things Fall Apart, a powerful observation of the consequences of European colonialism in Africa. Things Fall Apart remains a relevant work, and is often assigned reading for students. Achebe has also written numerous other novels, children's books, short stories, and poetry. 
Looking for a good book to read? Look no further than The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award 2013 nominees, which have just been announced. The list comprises 154 novels from around the world, with 8 Irish; 43 American; 22 British; 12 Canadian; and 42 books translated into English from 19 other languages.
November 6, 2012--Election Day in these United States. I hope everyone has the chance to exercise their right to vote for the candidates who represent their values. Poll results for the presidential, senate, and other races will trickle in later tonight and Wednesday as votes are tallied after what has been an exceptionally long campaign. Given the constant media coverage leading up to Election Day, it's not surprising that campaign issues and tactics were on my mind as I read The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling.