Friends of the Marathon Library Books and Coffee Series 2008

The Friends of the Marathon Library cordially invite you to attend the Winter 2008 Books and Coffee series. All programs will be held at Kirk of the Keys, 8877 Overseas Highway, Marathon. The programs will be on Thursdays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Coffee, tea, ice water and cookies will be served at 1:00 p.m. The speakers will start at 1:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

January 10th
Sloan Bashinsky, denizen of Key West and astute, honest political commentator, writes a fascinating blog, GoodMorningKeyWest.com. A colorful, brilliant man, Sloan will not bore you!

January 17th
Keynoter Editor Larry Kahn will regale us with his take on Keys politics, fishing and life in general. An award winning journalist, Larry is one of Marathon’s luminaries and is sure to entertain.

January 24th
Author Tom Corcoran, the quintessential Key Wester and creator of the Keys-based Alex Rutledge mystery series, will bring us his new photo book, Key West In Black and White, which offers a collection of photographs taken in the 1970s capturing the unique nautical spirit of Key West.

January 31st
Marathon Librarian and poet Mark Giffen along with Key West poet Rosalind Brackenbury will each read a selection of their favorite poems.

February 7th
Henry James scholar, Professor Mary Cross of Key West will tell us about her new biography of Madonna. Formerly a professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Professor Cross is an excellent speaker.

February 14th
Key West playwright and screenwriter Ben Harrison will present his film and book about Count Von Cosel and his love for the fair, albeit deceased Elena. Undying Love, The Musical was performed in Key West, directed by Tom Murtha. The film is a campy production that reminds some of a Key West version of Rocky Horror Picture Show.

February 21st
Marathon photographer Larry Benvenuti has traveled to Cuba scores of times and will present his matchless pictures of this beautiful country. This is a unique opportunity to see Cuba though an independent eye.

February 28th
Eighty-nine year old Islamorada historian Irving Eyster, a Keys treasure, will speak on his recent book about his grandfather, Dr. Jeremiah Reade Explores Florida. Born in 1850 in Indiana, Dr. Reade made his way to Florida by offering an Indianapolis newspaper a daily column if it would pay his way.

March 6th
The undisputed dean of Marathon historians, Dan Gallagher will present his latest book, A New Look At Marathon and Its History. Dan’s previously published books on Marathon’s history are: Marathon Matures; Marathon 1906—1960; and Marathon: Heart of the Key West Extension.

March 13th
Nationally recognized historian Gail Swanson will speak about her fourth and fifth books on Keys history, Connecticut Seafarers at Key West and Place Names of the Florida Keys; Our Ancient, Dramatic History Discovered!!!

March 20th
Our beloved Jo Lee Scarborough will fly in from Iowa with "Sweetie" to regale us with her thoughts on Marlo Thomas' best seller, The Right Words At the Right Time. A book for "those in need of hope, a hero, or a healthy dose of inspiration,” this is a heartwarming collection of personal revelations from such luminaries Doris Kearns Goodwin, Steven Spielberg and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

March 27th
Key West writer Michael Haskins will entertain us with his soon to be published Keys-based mystery, Chasin’ The Wind, a mystery novel featuring Mad Mike Murphy. Tom Corcoran calls the book "a genuine winner...Haskins knows that a razor's width separates life and death at the end of the road. No one guards the gate to Key West. No island law exists that isn't, quite simply, a target."