James Bond
This year marks the 100th birth anniversary of Ian Fleming, author of the James Bond novels. He was born May 28, 1908. Britain is celebrating his life and contributions to British culture all year. There's a great website dedicated to Ian Fleming and this celebration at www.ianflemingcentenary.com. Read a short biography, see the original covers of the Bond books (some quite racy, really), look at the listing of events, and more. You can watch a short video of Fleming describing how he came up with the name James Bond, which is very interesting. He wrote one book a year starting in 1952 until his death. The first book, "Casino Royale" was published in 1953, and more than 100 million of his Bond novels have been sold. He also wrote the children's book "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" for his son, Caspar.
In January, a Royal Mail stamp was issued in his honor, which sold out faster than a stamp of The Beatles, which was issued last year. In April, an exhibition titled "For Your Eyes Only _ Ian Fleming and James Bond" opened at the Imperial War Museum. More than 20,000 people have visited so far. People just love to love James Bond. You can even take a James Bond tour if you really love James Bond.
Fleming tried several different professions but wasn't successful. When World War II started, he became the personal assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence. He held that job all throughout the war and he used the experiences to write the Bond books. Fleming was not a healthy man; he had heart disease. Many of the funds raised during this year's events will benefit the British Heart Foundation. As the website says, "During this centenary year let's toast Ian "¦ with a martini." Shaken, not stirred, of course.
Spring Reading
"A Tale of Two Subs" by Jonathan McCullough is the true story of the submarine USS Sculpin when it was attacked by a Japanese destroyer on Nov. 19, 1943. Although the sub dove deep to hide from the destroyer, there was too much damage to stay submerged. The sub was forced to surface. The crew was transferred to a Japanese aircraft carrier. A few weeks later, the submarine USS Sailfish came upon a Japanese aircraft carrier. The survivors of the Sculpin were on this boat, locked in the brig, which was unknown to the crew of the Sailfish. The author interviewed survivors and did thorough research to tell this riveting story.
Bobby Dunston is a homicide cop in "Madman on a Drum" by David Housewright. One day in September, his daughter is kidnapped in broad daylight. The kidnappers demand $1 million ransom. Dunston learns that one of the kidnappers is his childhood friend Scottie, who has committed the kidnapping as payback for so-called crimes they committed in their past. Dunston borrows the money from his friend McKenzie, a former cop and now private investigator. The child is safely returned, but Scottie is found brutally murdered. The story behind the story now has to be uncovered before anyone else is hurt.
Mary Randolph shows you simple methods to avoid probate in "8 Ways to Avoid Probate." Some of the things you can do include naming beneficiaries, having joint ownership of property, establishing living trusts, giving away property, and money and more. The laws for each state are also included.
Right after Alyse Myers' mother dies, she and her sisters clean out their mother's apartment. It was hard trying to decide what to keep, what to discard. Alyse wants just one thing, the wooden box that sits on a shelf in the back of a closet. She has coveted this box her whole life, never knowing what it contained, but sure that it would change her life. "Who Do You Think You Are" is a memoir of mother and daughter. You'll also learn what was in the box.
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Marie Bruni is director of Huntington Memorial Library in Oneonta. Her column appears in the community section of The Daily Star every Thursday.
