50 Books That Define the Past Five Years in Literature

Flavorwire.com has compiled a list of fifty books that define the past five years in literature. The traditional book publishing industry has been challenged by the rise of indie presses, new literary magazines, internet self-publishing, and the explosive popularity of e-readers.

That said, it has been a fruitful time for book lovers. These 50 books reflect the injection of fresh voices and also gives a glimpse into what the future holds. The list is not ranked, nor is inclusion dependent on sales or awards. These are fifty books that "show what is great about literature here and now."

Beauty In The Deep

This 1961 film, courtesy of the State Library and Archives of Florida, showcases the famous Weeki Wachee mermaids. This Saturday, November 16, you can meet former mermaid Bonnie Georgiadis at 4:00 pm at the Tarpon Springs Historical Society (Train Depot). She will be signing copies of the book Weeki Wachee Mermaids : Thirty Years of Underwater Photography, which she co-authored with Lu Vickers.

Today in Literary History

Today's remembrance is from recent history. From history.com:

On this day in 2004, Swedish writer Stieg Larsson died suddenly of a heart attack at age 50, only months after turning in the manuscripts for three crime thrillers—The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl who Played with Fire and The Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest—which would later become international best-sellers. Known collectively as the Millennium trilogy, the novels feature the characters Mikael Blomkvist, a middle-aged journalist, and Lisbeth Salander, a young pierced and tattooed computer hacker with a troubled past. Larsson, who never lived to see his books’ success, died without a will, setting off a protracted legal battle for the rights to his work.

November 6: On This Day In History

On November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th President of the United States. By the time of Lincoln's inauguration on March 4, 1861, seven states had seceded, and the Confederate States of America had been established under the leadership of Jefferson Davis. Only one month later, the American Civil War began when Confederate forces opened fire on Union-held Fort Sumter in South Carolina. For preserving the Union and bringing an end to slavery, and for his unique character and powerful oratory, Lincoln is hailed as one of the greatest American presidents. [Source]

The Tarpon Springs Library has many books and DVDs for all ages to further explore the life of Abraham Lincoln.