In 1956, toward the end of Reverend John Ames's life, he begins a letter to his young son, an account of himself and his forebears. Ames is the son of an Iowan preacher and the grandson of a minister who, as a young man in Maine, saw a vision of Christ bound in chains and came west to Kansas to fight for abolition: He "preached men into the Civil War," then, at age fifty, became a chaplain in the Union Army, losing his right eye in battle. Reverend...

Kaye Gibbons joins Elissa Schappell to discuss The Life All Around Me, the sequel to her novel Ellen Foster. Andrea Marcovicci reads an excerpt.

Michael Cunningham (The Hours) sits down with Stacey D'Erasmo to discuss his novel Specimen Days. Isaiah Sheffer reads an excerpt.

Karen Joy Fowler leads a celebration of Jane Austen. Hope Davis reads selections from Austen's classic works.

Brian Jacques joins Jon Scziezka (The Time Warp Trio) to discuss Eulalia!, the latest in the Redwall series of novels.

New York Times best-selling author Cornelia Funke makes a rare appearance to talk about the stunning conclusion to the beloved Inkheart trilogy, a thrilling adventure series. Co-presented with Bank Street Bookstore, Thalia Kids' Book Club events are lively talks between children's book authors and their fans (ages 9-12) plus one event for teens. Each event includes a creative writing project, a free-wheeling discussion with the audience, and a book...

Judith Jones and Alex Prud'homme discuss and read from their kitchen-based memoirs: Prud'homme's My Life in Food and Jones's My Life In Paris (co-authored by Prud'homme and Julia Child).

Richard Ford joins Isaiah Sheffer to discuss his novels The Sportswriter, Independence Day, and The Lay of the Land. David Strathairn (Good Night and Good Luck, Temple Grandin, Lincoln) reads excerpts from Ford's works.

Amy Bloom sits down with Isaiah Sheffer to discuss her book, Away. Jill Eikenberry reads an excerpt from the book.

Two-time Newbery Medal winner Gary Schmidt talks about the frequently comic mishaps and adventures of a 12-year-old Long Island boy in the Vietnam era. Actor Khris Lewin performs an excerpt from the book. Co-presented with Bank Street Bookstore. Thalia Kids' Book Club events are lively talks between children's book authors and their fans (ages 9-12), plus one event for teens. Each event includes a creative writing project, a free-wheeling discussion...