www.roanoke.com

Bill Gordh, a storyteller who appears on the CDs "Morning, Noon and Nighttime Tales," and "Bill Gordh's Watermelon Patch" will perform and talk about his craft.

Gordh is a published author of children's books. Some of his published credits include "Barbie: Story Collection" (Step into Reading), "Stories in Action: Interactive Tales and Learning Activities to Promote Early Literacy," "Want a Ride?" (Step-Into-Reading, Step 2), and "Two Princesses" (Step-Into-Reading, Step 2).

When: 7:30 p.m., July 1, 2009

Where: Hollins Room, Wyndham Robertson Library, Hollins University, Roanoke

Contact: 540-362-6451

Book Club discussion on F. Scott Fitzgerald's, "Tender is the Night." Moderated by Ben Martin. Public is welcome to attend.

Where: WVTF Broadcast Center, 3520 Kingsbury Circle, Roanoke, VA

When: 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Contact: 540-989-9800

Liz Rosenberg will discuss her work in writing for children and adults. Author of numerous titles, including "17," "Monster Mama," "The Silence in the Mountains," "Eli's Night Light," and "On Christmas Eve," Rosenberg recently published "Home Repair." This book is a decidedly adult novel about life and its ups and downs, traumas and holidays, well-meaning if not eccentric friends, and being thrust into single motherhood.

Rosenberg has published award-winning books for young readers, as well as three prize-winning books of poems. She has served as Chair of the National Book Awards for Young People and as a judge for the Los Angeles Times Book Awards in Poetry, and has written a review column for The Boston Globe for the past 15 years. Her first husband was the late novelist John Gardner. She is a professor at the State University of New York at Binghamton and is currently a writer-in-residence with Hollins University's graduate programs in children's literature.

When: 7:30 p.m., June 29, 2009

Where: Hollins Room, Wyndham Robertson Library, Hollins University, Roanoke

Contact: 540-362-6451

Here's yet another reason why reading is good for you: it isn't really the easiest thing to do while snacking, so snacking takes a break. That's good if you are watching your weight, or sugar intake, or cholesterol. It makes things a little frustrating if you are really in the mood for some Doritos.

Handling a book while munching on cheese powder covered chips is difficult, and then there are the orange smudges you leave on the pages while turning to the next or readjusting your grip. I read mostly hardcovers these days so I need two hands to keep it steady. Those with Kindles may have an easier time of it one handed. Small paperbacks are perfect for one handed reading, but my days of cracking a spine for a five fingered read are pretty much limited.

So what is a reader to do? Watch a movie instead? Put the book down with every sip of wine? Sit at a  <gasp> table, laying the book flat, so as to have a hand free for eating?

Likely, if you're like me, you'll snack anyway, curled up in the easy chair, snuggled up in bed. A smudge of remnant snack isn't the worst thing found in a book.

What's your reading-eating pleasure? Oreos dipped in milk? Popcorn?

Twenty-eight-year-old author, Peter Neofotis developed the tales of his short story collection, "Concord, Virginia" by night, while working by day at the NASA/Goddard Institute for Space Studies in NY, where he was a contributing author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - which shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore.

Performing chapters of his book from memory, Neofotis will appear, discussing "Concord, Virginia."
  
Where: Theater at Lime Kiln, Lexington, VA, 24450

Contact: 540-463-7088,  

http://www.theateratlimekiln.com

When: 7:30 p.m., Sunday, June 28, 2009

David Langva, editorial assistant at Roaring Brook Press’s Neal Porter Books imprint, discusses graphic novels and the world of children’s book publishing. Sponsored by Hollins University’s graduate programs in children’s literature.

When: 11 a.m., Sunday, June 28, 2009
Where: Room 119, Richard Wetherill Visual Arts Center, Hollins University, 8009 Fishburn Drive, Roanoke
Cost: Free
Contact: 362-6451

The Greater Roanoke Home Educators group is holding a used book sale. Home school curriculum and educational materials will be available.

When: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday, June 27, 2009
Where: St. Elias Catholic Church, Roanoke

Contact: grhebooksale@gmail.com

Got comics? Want to swap? The Blue Ridge Comic Club is hosting a comic book trade off. No money needed. Refreshments provided.
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, June 27, 2009
Where: Patrick Henry High School parking lot, Roanoke, VA
Contact: 853-2473

Author Brian Walters will sign copies of his book, "The Retreat From Moscow and Other Poems."

"Human bravery, savagery, thoughtfulness, and passion all find a place in his work." -Howard McCord

When: 1 to 3 p.m., Saturday, June 27, 2009

Where: Books-A-Million, Blacksburg, VA

Contact:  540-552-5070

The recent top 10 requested titles for the Roanoke City libraries are:

1. First Family by David Baldacci
2. Just Take My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark
3. Handle with Care: a Novel by Jodi Picoult
4. The 8th Confession by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
5. Vision in White by Nora Roberts
6. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
7. Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man: What mean really thing about love, relationships, intimacy, and commitment by Steve Harvey
8. Look Again by Lisa Scottoline
9. Wicked Prey by John Sandford
10. Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani

Provided by Alicia Gladwell, Roanoke Public Libraries