In 2013 North Reading Reads Robert B. Parker

This year North Reading Reads celebrates the late Robert B. Parker, a revered author who wrote almost 70 novels. After his death, in 2010, writer and friend Gary Goshgarian said, “He wrote about the things that were most important to him: love, family, and human decency.” 

In 1973, in his first novel, The Godwulf Manuscript, Parker introduced Spenser, “One of the most popular literary heroes of our time…,” according to editor Otto Penzler. Parker’s wit, compressed style, and Boston settings, have made his books bestsellers.  Spenser also became a popular TV series, starring Robert Urich as Spenser for Hire.

Several library events are planned for March.  The final program is a special evening with Joan Parker, wife of the late author. Please save the date!

In addition to Spenser, Robert Parker also wrote three other series, featuring the characters Jesse Stone, Sunny Randall, and Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch (westerns), respectively. Luckily for readers, the series live on. Iron Horse, part of the western series in novels by Robert Knott, has just been released. Ace Atkins, will publish his second Spenser novel, Wonderland, in May. Michael Brandman’s second Jesse Stone mystery, Fool me Twice, came out in September.

Both library book groups will read and discuss A Catskill Eagle, a Spenser novel published in 1985, but the library has copies of almost all Robert B. Parker’s books and you are encouraged to read any – or as many of his novels as you like. Early Autumn and Valediction are other fan favorites.  Robert Parker was especially proud of All Our Yesterdays, a historical novel set in Boston. He also wrote Double Play about Jackie Robinson. One of his three Young Adult novels, Chasing the Bear, gives us background about Spenser as a teenager. The library carries books about Robert Parker, including In Pursuit of Spenser: edited by Otto Pensler, and Spenser’s Boston, with photographs by Kasho Kumagai.

You’ll find lot more information on the Robert B. Parker website and Facebook page.   

The Godwulf Manuscript was one of my favorite Spenser books and Stranger in Paradise one of my favorite in the Jesse Stone series. Do you have a favorite by Robert B. Parker? Or maybe more than one?

North Reading Reads 2013 Program Schedule:

Wednesday, February 27, 10AM Book Discussion: A Catskill Eagle,

Tuesday, March 5, 7PM,  Book Discussion: A Catskill Eagle,

Thursday, March 7, 7PM: An evening with Joseph Gallo, author of Boston Bronze & Stone Speak to Us

Tuesday, March 12, at 7PM, a reading by Hank Phillippi Ryan, TV commentator and author of The Other Woman, co-sponsored by Haley Booksellers

Saturday, March 16, 2PM: Music with Art Grossman for the whole family; Chocolate Chip Cookie Bake-Off

Thursday, March 21, 7PM: An Evening with Joan Parker, with Nancy Parsons and Danielle Masterson

During March there will  also be a display of photographs and paintings of Boston scenes, by local artists.

And keep watch for children’s programs in March!

We thank the Friends of the Library for their support of North Reading Reads 2013.

For the library latest, please visit www.flintmemoriallibrary.org, subscribe to the email newsletter, Books & Beyond, Wowbrary, for weekly alerts of the newest books and DVDs, or find us on Facebook. We’re now on Pinterest and Tumblr, too.