Info Island this week

Reading Garden
Book Discussion Friday August 17, 2007 at 5pm SLT: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Presented by Melissa Perreault and the Virtual Book Group. The discussion will take place in the Reader’s Garden, Cybrary City II (38, 244, 22). Discussion is open to the public.
Contact Princess Ivory or Melissa Perreault for more information.

Hosseini’s stunning debut novel starts as an eloquent Afghan version of the American immigrant experience in the late 20th century, but betrayal and redemption come to the forefront when the narrator, a writer, returns to his ravaged homeland to rescue the son of his childhood friend after the boy’s parents are shot during the Taliban takeover in the mid ’90s. Amir, the son of a well-to-do Kabul merchant, is the first-person narrator, who marries, moves to California and becomes a successful novelist. But he remains haunted by a childhood incident in which he betrayed the trust of his best friend, a Hazara boy named Hassan, who receives a brutal beating from some local bullies. 2003. Reed Business Info., Inc.

Fiesta Time
Hola! Fiesta time at TX950 on Info Island I on top of the Bell Library - Friday August 17th at 6 PM SL. Senor and Senoritas, you are invited to spice up your night with hot Salsa at this week’s party! Prize for top male and female costume. Contact Abbey Zenith for additional information.

Storytelling session at the Falling Anvil Pub, Caledon Tamrannoch
Sat, August 18, 5 - 8pm
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Tamrannoch/233/113/23

Co-sponsored by the Clan of Seafarers and Storytellers, and the Caledon Library

The creation and performance of music is an artform that has special power and magic for an audience: join us to share in tales of the ways that music can unite people, stir the emotions, transport the soul, or free the mind. For the artists themselves, the act of presenting music also can be an highly emotional–and not always perfect–experience.

If you wish to offer a story of how Music can seduce, motivate, or engage the human heart–or tales of the highs and lows of performing–please contact JJ Drinkwater or Aldo Stern.

August Book Discussion at the Caledon Library
The Princess & th Goblin, by George MacDonald
August 20th, 6-8pm
Whitehorn Memorial Library, Caledon VictoryCity
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20VictoriaCity/59/196/23

The Caledon Library’s Book of the Month for August is The Princess and the Goblin, by George MacDonald. First published in 1872, this work stands on its own as a “magical tale and a coming-of-age story of great imaginative power. There is a wise and loving Grandmaman, a handsome King-papa, a brave and resourceful Miner-boy, and a true-hearted Princess, plus comical-sinister Goblins spectacular underground scenery, and magical pigeons who are never fully explained, all described in MacDonald’s clever and fantastic prose.

The book is also highly regarded as a Christian allegory, and has been much analyzed for its depiction of the relationship be “civilized” usurpers and native peoples.

Lyr Lobo will lead a discussion of the work. All literary schmoozers, magical beings, lovers of fantasy, and appreciators of children’s books are most welcome to join us, whether they have read the book or not.

The work is available at the Caledon Library, or may be read on-line at
http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=macdonald&book=goblin&story=

Business in Second Life
Stop by Info Island I to see a display by Doug Mandelbrot of IBM about doing business in Second Life. Doug Mandelbrot
spoke to an audience of over 60 at Info Island on August 10. Participants viewed the display and interacted with Doug.