On Saturday, April 29, two exceptional authors will be signing books and sharing their respective insights that their research has given them.
John Yilek’s first book, History of Norway, has been a popular title at Ingebretsen’s since the day we began to carry it. It is an overview of Norway’s past and John used “the hundreds of pages of notes” that he wrote while teaching Norwegian history for Mindekirken’s Norwegian Language and Culture program. An attorney and adjunct law professor for 35 years, John’s long-time avocation has been Norwegian history and culture. He studied the language so he could read original source material and has made numerous trips to Norway.
“Stories of Norway are stories that I found while researching my first book. They’re from Norwegian-language sources, so they aren’t as well known here,” says John. Some of the nineteen stories are legendary, some historical, and all focus on individuals who, in some form, shaped Norwegian history. You will look at the statue of Ole Bull in Loring Park with a deeper appreciation after reading John’s book.
(This event was in 2017) John will be at Ingebretsen’s, 1601 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, from 1 to 3 on Saturday. He will give a reading from Stories of Norway, sign copies, and talk with people.
Sailor, explorer, and champion for preserving the Arctic, David Thoreson will be at Norway House, from 10 to 2. His book, Over the Horizon; Exploring the Edges of a Changing Planet chronicles the changes he observed in the Arctic while sailing and exploring the area. The book and the gallery exhibit at Norway House draw from Thoreson’s journal entries and photographs as he documented these changes.
Thoreson’s conversational and somewhat sparse writing style (keeping a journal while pitching about at sea probably teaches one to get to the point quickly) explains the science in a way that is easy to comprehend and the personal anecdotes make you feel as if you are reading a letter from a particularly interesting friend.
Most important, Thoreson makes us understand that we are at a tipping point in climate history. What we do now will have implications for our children, grandchildren, and beyond. David will be at Norway House, 913 E. Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, at 10 to have coffee, talk, and sign books. He will give a guided gallery tour at noon, then take questions afterwards.
Please join us for both events and take advantage of this opportunity to speak one-on-one with the authors in a welcoming setting.