Mr. Spock’s life told for children in new book
Richard Michelson’s longtime friendship with Leonard Nimoy of “Star Trek” fame has led to publication of his latest children’s book, “Fascinating: The Life of Leonard Nimoy.” The actor who played “Star Trek’s” legendary Mr....
‘Sticks and Stones’: New vistas from Lew French
In his just-released book, “Sticks and Stones: The Designs of Lew French,” Island stoneworker Lew French, 58, offers us stunning new perspectives about the artistic possibilities offered by stone, the simplest material known to...
Doug Cabral publishes first book, with help from his canine sidekicks
When Doug Cabral first set out to produce a book a couple of years ago, he planned to publish a collection of the columns he’d written about dogs, roughly 15 percent of the several...
‘The Urge to Create’ reveals an assortment of creative Vineyarders
Back in the ‘60s, Martha’s Vineyard was a “where the heck is that?” kind of place. When the 70s, 80s, 90s rolled in, so did a number of celebrities, painting the Island with all...
101 Things to Do in Martha’s Vineyard has something for everyone
“No. 15: Walk through the colorful village known as ‘the campground’ with more than 300 ornate, tiny gingerbread cottages …
What started out as a gathering of Methodists camping in tents for church revival meetings...
Jane Dreeben counts Islanders with an ‘Urge to Create’
We sometimes wonder how many people living on the Vineyard are actively engaged in creative pursuits. Is it 10 percent? 30 percent? More? In “The Urge to Create: Vineyard Portraits,” Jane Dreeben collected 50...
Donald Nelson pitches a new theory on the ‘Chappaquiddick Tragedy’
Time and tide over the past 47 years have erased the physical evidence of July 18, 1969, a dark night when Senator Edward M. Kennedy( D-Mass.) drove his Oldsmobile 88 off the Dike Bridge...
Dennis Lopez crafts life lessons in ‘Journeyman’
Every once in awhile we run into a book that is so good that we want everyone to read it. “Journeyman: A Tradesman’s Tale” is one of those. It’s a true story of an...
The circus comes to Martha’s Vineyard in Shirley Mayhew’s latest book
Almost exactly 53 years ago, in August 1963, the Mills Brothers Circus came to Martha’s Vineyard, a much-publicized milestone journey. The late-night ferry crossing of animals, performers, and equipment captivated the imaginations of Islanders...
Linda Fairstein’s latest thriller goes from rags to riches to murder
After 20 years and 18 sleuthers featuring NYC Assistant D.A. Alexandra Cooper, Linda Fairstein is still keeping it fresh. That’s not an easy task in real life, and it can be a particular struggle...
In ‘The Write Prescription,’ Judith Hannan explores writing as therapy
It’s a wonderful coping skill. When bad things happen to good people, we all love stories. That’s what the news is all about, and gossip, and “Wuthering Heights.” It’s a shared passion, which means...
Vineyard pharmacist writes a ’script for the American economy
Dr. Louis W. Piacentini is, hands down, the nicest man on Martha’s Vineyard. You know this if you’ve ever had a chance to speak to him at Conroy’s Apothecary in Oak Bluffs when he...
Listening for reason: Peter Kramer makes the case for antidepressants
Peter D. Kramer began the informed national discussion of mental illness and treatment 23 years ago with a landmark book, “Listening to Prozac” (Viking Press, 1993).
A lot has happened since, and Dr. Kramer’s latest...
‘This We Believe’: A MVRHS senior project for true Islanders
A large brown delivery box arrived at graduating senior Livie Jacobs’ house on a Monday night in early May. Inside were 200 books, each cover printed with a green central image of Martha’s Vineyard...
Debut novel ‘Nitro Mountain’ explodes on the literary scene
After you read a few chapters of Tennessee author Lee Clay Johnson’s first novel, “Nitro Mountain,” you might picture him as an old cuss of a hillbilly seated on a rickety porch in the...
Authors and panelists discuss the meaning of ‘doing good’ abroad
“Doing Good … Says Who?” a provocatively titled book, resharpens focus on the blunders and assets of work done by well-intentioned Americans in efforts to help residents in poor and undeveloped countries.
The authors, Connie...
New book recounts the history of the Edgartown library
The Friends of the Edgartown Free Public Library have published a delightful history of the town’s 125-year-old library in honor of the library’s move to a new location at 26 West Tisbury Road.
The 32-page,...
‘The Fairy Tale Girl’: The ‘Heart of the Home’ lady writes her memoirs
You wouldn’t think the early years of best-selling home arts author Susan Branch of Vineyard Haven had any sprinkling of pixie dust about them: She grew up in the 1950s in a suburban town...
Vineyard books for all 12 days of Christmas
Enough cooks, cats, poems and predicaments to get you well into next year
Martha’s Vineyard literary community grew vigorously in 2012
My annual Best Reads is based on books I've actually read and reviewed. That doesn't mean there aren't other great reads but I haven't read them.