SUNDAY, February 1 at 1:30 pm: Eavan Boland

My plan for this new Sunday time is to read contemporary Irish poets, and I'll begin with my newest discovery, Eavan Boland. I'm enjoying reading her work, and look forward to sharing my favorites with you.

Currently directing the creative writing program at Stanford, Eavan Boland was born in Dublin in 1944. Her family moved to London when she was six; she returned to Ireland for college and graduate school. Check out her entry at Poets.org for a more complete biography. Her poetry is full of Irish landscapes and history, the early experience of exile, and the complexity of everyday lives.

THURSDAY, January 29 at 6:30pm: Tales from Darby O'Gill

Our Seanchai, Shandon, reads stories from the same delightful author who brought you Darby 'OGill. What happens when two young men challenge the Devil at a game of cards? Can they really hold their own against the Prince of Darkness? Or is it just more Celtic Bravado. Find out who prevails in the classic tale The Haunted Bell. Stories told in Voice.

TUESDAY, Jan 27 @ 6.30pm - Three Blind Mice by Agatha Christie

Join us for one of the most famous 'who dun its' by Agatha Christie. Three Blind Mice was the basis for the play The Mousetrap, one of the longest running plays ever. Story will be in voice and will conclude next Tuesday.

MONDAY, Jan 26 at 7pm: "The House at Pooh Corner" Continues

More Exploits with "Pooh Bear" and his friends as they find Tigger up a tree with nowhere to go, invent the game of "Poohsticks", and see Piglet do a Very Grand Thing! Stories told in Voice and repeated Tuesday's at 7pm in Magicland Park (IM Caledonia in-world for an LM if you miss Monday's reading and MUST have your Pooh fix!). Free "Poems of Pooh" by A.A.Milne book this week, as well as the "Winnie-the-Pooh" Picture Book.

SUNDAY @ 1:30pm - A Visit to Grandpa's by Dylan Thomas

Join Simeon Beresford, a guest from Bookstacks, to hear the fine Welsh classic "A Visit to Grandpa's" by Dylan Thomas.

SATURDAY, Jan 24th @ 2pm: Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven

Mark Twain's story follows Captain Elias Stormfield on his extremely long cosmic journey to heaven; his accidental misplacement; his short-lived interest in singing and playing the harp (generated by his preconceptions of heaven); and the obsession of souls with the "celebrities" of heaven, like Adam and Moses, who according to Twain become as distant to most people in heaven as living celebrities are on Earth. Twain uses this story to show his view that the common conception of heaven is ludicrous and points out the incongruities of such beliefs. (This was according to Wikipedia!)

WEDNESDAY JAN 21 at 7pm • Stardust • Tristran in Faerie

Tristran Thorn has left Wall and entered Faerie to find the fallen star ... the only way he can win the lovely Victoria's heart. But last week, we also learned that powerful witches also want the star. And what, exactly, do the heirs of Stormhold want? Other than to kill each other off, that is!

Neil Gaiman's Stardust will continue tonight with Chapter 4, as Tristran begins his search not knowing exactly where he is, or what he needs to do. Join me, as I continue my reading of this marvelous tale. Reading in voice, audience comments in voice or text ... All welcome!

TUESDAY, 20 JAN @ 6:30pm Alternative Poe Stories

Join Derry and Elder for two not often heard tales from Edgar Allen Poe. "The Balloon Hoax" chronicles the faux flight of a hot air balloon across the Atlantic in 72 hours. "The 1002nd Night of Sheherezade" is what Poe imagines the final story that lovely lady told her evil husband. Two very different Poe stories, join us!

MONDAY, JAN 19 at 7pm: The House at Pooh Corner

Edward Bear (known as "Winnie-the-Pooh", or "Pooh" for short) continues his adventures with the many denizens of the Hundred Acre Wood. Christopher Robin, Piglet, Rabbit, Eeyore, Kanga & Roo are all there, and a bouncy newcomer as well! Come and relive the joys with these friends of A.A. Milne's creation, or experience them for the first time with Storyteller Caledonia Skytower. Stories Read in Voice.

SUNDAY, 18 Jan @ 1pm: Weaving our History in Cloth: The Fabric of Ireland

Join us as we dedicate the new exhibit in the Library. The story details the history of lace, wool, linen and shirtmaking. Each of those textile arts rose to high prominence in Ireland, and all started as cottage industries, assisting women and girls to help their families thru the famine, the troubles and other hard times. Shandon Loring, Che Barzane and Cookie Kappler have provided us with lovely freebies of sweaters, slippers, sheep, and balls of yarn too!

SUNDAY, Jan 18 @ 1:30pm "Youth" by Isaac Asimov

Dave93 Nieuport will read the classic sci fi story "Youth" by Isaac Asimov.

SATURDAY, JAN 17th @ 2pm: Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven

Mark Twain's story follows Captain Elias Stormfield on his extremely long cosmic journey to heaven; his accidental misplacement; his short-lived interest in singing and playing the harp (generated by his preconceptions of heaven); and the obsession of souls with the "celebrities" of heaven, like Adam and Moses, who according to Twain become as distant to most people in heaven as living celebrities are on Earth. Twain uses this story to show his view that the common conception of heaven is ludicrous and points out the incongruities of such beliefs. (This was according to Wikipedia!)

THURSDAY, JAN 15 at 6:30pm: More "Tales of Beedle the Bard"

Shandon shares more tales of "Beedle the Bard" and selections from J.K. Rowling including "Quidditch Through the Ages" and "Fantastic Beasts and How to Find Them" . . . free invivisbility cloak and more. Mount your trusty CleanSweep Six (or just teleport!) to the Library for a delight ful evening marvel and whimsy. Reading repeated Saturday mornings on board the Galaxy Cruise Ship.

WEDNESDAY JAN 14 at 7pm • Stardust continues!

Wednesday at 7 pm SLT, I'll pick up at the beginning of Chapter 2, In Which Tristran Thorn Grows to Manhood and Makes a Rash Promise.

Join me to discover what happens in Neil Gaiman's wonderful tale. Reading in voice, comments from the audience in voice or text :) All are welcome!

TUESDAY, JAN 13th @ 6:30pm Happy Birthday Poe Party

Join the WOI Storytellers for some of the favorites of Edgar Allen Poe, as we hold an early celebration of his 200th birthday. We'll be offering The Raven, Lenore, The Masque of the Red Death, and more stories (if there is time). Plus we will have a tshirt freebie and cake!

MONDAY, JAN 12 at 7pm . . . More Adventures with Pooh Bear and Friends

Join Caledonia and Pooh as they discover Very Useful Pots, go on Expotitions, and are surrounded almost entirely by water. All Stories told in Voice, and are repeated on Tuesdays at Magicland Park at the same hour. Come along for the journey, . . . you never can tell where it might lead!

SATURDAY, Jan 10 @ 2pm: More Stories from Bracebridge Hall

Join Elder and Derry as they continue exploring the clever characters and curious events from the English manor house Bracebridge Hall. The story is from Washington Irving, and quite delightful.

THURSDAYS & SATURDAYS in January The Tales of Beedle the Bard

Five Stories, plus commentary by Albus Dumbledore.
This book played a key role in the conclusion of the 'Deathly Hallows'. This collection of fairy tales compiled by a 15th-century bard named Beedle – the wizard world's equivalent of the Grimm brothers - of Grimm's Fairy Tale fame.
Lotsa Free Gifts including an Invisibility Cloak!

WEDNESDAY JAN 7 at 7pm • Neil Gaiman's Stardust

Tonight, I'll begin reading Stardust, by Neil Gaiman. If you're only familiar with the movie, you're in for a treat. Gaiman adapted his tale marvelously for the screen, but left out some of my favorite characters and plot twists. If this story is new to you, and you love fairies, magic, stars, swordfights, witches, and adventure ... well, be there, is all I can say!

This is an old-fashioned fairytale, complete with blood and thunder, love and romance, and scary bits. What happens beyond the Wall is unexpected, amazing, and life-changing! Not having read this aloud, I'm uncertain how far we'll get each night ... perhaps three weeks will see us to the end of Tristran Thorn's adventures.

Join me for a voice presentation of this wonderful tale!

TUESDAY, JAN 6 @ 6:30pm: Sherlock Holmes and the Red-Headed League

Join us for a mystery with redheads! Imagine that!! It is a fine Sherlock Holmes story!!

MONDAY, JAN 5 at 7pm: "Silly Old Bear!"

Caledonia rings in the new year with A. A. Milne's classic adventures with Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, Rabbit, and the bear himself: "Winnie-the-Pooh". The adventures will be repeated each week on Tuesday's at 7pm in Magicland Park, which will join the West of Ireland through these story events, to raise money for PROJECT CHILDREN.