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The Reading Life With Craig L. Symonds And Megan Holt

This week on The Reading Life: Susan talks with historian Craig L. Symonds, author of “World War II at Sea: A Global History,” who will be making a visit to the National World War II Museum. Megan Holt of One Book One New Orleans, talks about what's coming up in the citywide reading initiative; this year the selection is "New Orleans: A Food Biography," by Elizabeth Williams.

Here’s what’s on tap in the literary life this week:

  • Mary DeMocker discusses and signs “The Parent’s Guide to Climate Revolution: 100 Ways to Build a Fossil-Free Future, Raise Empowered Kids, and Still Get a Good Night’s Sleep,” Tuesday, May 29 at 6 p.m. at Octavia Books, 513 Octavia St.
  • Craig Symonds discusses and signs “World War II at Sea: A Global History,” Thursday at a reception at 5, presentation at 6, and again Friday, June 1, at noon and 1 p.m. at the National World War II Museum.
  • Tamalyn Dallal, author of 4”0 Days and 1001 Nights, “discusses the book as well as the basics of Middle Eastern dance at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 31, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie.
  • Tom Fitzmorris disuses and signs the revised and expanded edition of “Tom Fitzmorris’s New Orleans Food,” Saturday, June 2, at 4 p.m. at Octavia Books.
  • Susan Eaddy signs her baby book, “Poppy’s Best Babies,” Sunday, June 3 at 2 p.m. at Octavia Books.
  • Summer reading programs are getting underway at area libraries, and they have something to offer children, teens and adult. This year’s theme for children, teens and adults is “Libraries Rock!” All events are free of charge and are open to the public.
  • The East Baton Rouge Public Library’s summer reading program starts Tuesday, May 29, visitebrpl.com for complete information or to sign up.
  • The Summer Fun and Reading Challenge gets underway at the New Orleans Public LibraryJune 1 and 2. Check out what’s happening at your local branches or visit nolalibrary.org to sign up.
  • Librarypalooza, the grand kick-off for the 2018 Summer Reading Program, happens from 10 a.m.to 12 p.m. on Saturday, June 2, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 West Napoleon, Metairie, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Saturday, June 2, at the Jane O’Brien Chatelain West Bank Regional Library, 2751 Manhattan, Harvey.
  • If you’re a Walker Percy fan, you want to see photographer Jared Ragland ‘s exhibit, called “Everything Is Going to Be All Right,” inspired by “The Moviegoer.” It’s on view at the Front, 4100 St. Claude Ave., New Orleans, until early June.
  • One Book One New Orleans hosts its annual fundraiser, Juleps in June, June 1 at 6 p.m. at 1413 Philip St. to support One Book and Words and Music: A Literary Feast in New Orleans. For ticket info, go to onebookonenola.org; you can buy tickets at Eventbrite.
  • June1-3 is the annual Walker Percy Weekend in West Feliciana Parish, with an additional emphasis this year on the work of Shelby Foote. Check out walkerpercyweekend.org to buy tickets; the event is headquartered at Conundrum Books in St. Francisville.
  • The Symphony Book Fair is coming up June 1-3 at the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans. Hours are 9-8 Friday-Saturday, June 1-2, and 9-4 Sunday, June 3. There is an admission fee for a first look, Friday from 9-3. This is the largest book fair in the South and includes art and music as well.
The Reading Life in 2010, Susan Larson was the book editor for The New Orleans Times-Picayune from 1988-2009. She has served on the boards of the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival and the New Orleans Public Library. She is the founder of the New Orleans chapter of the Women's National Book Association, which presents the annual Diana Pinckley Prizes for Crime Fiction.. In 2007, she received the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities lifetime achievement award for her contributions to the literary community. She is also the author of The Booklover's Guide to New Orleans. If you run into her in a local bookstore or library, she'll be happy to suggest something you should read. She thinks New Orleans is the best literary town in the world, and she reads about a book a day.