Book Notes

Duquesne upset by Grisham’s new novel

Officials at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh are upset that best-selling author John Grisham mentions the school in connection with a fictional gang rape in his latest novel.

Grisham’s “The Associate” deals with a character who attended the private Catholic college and was involved in a drunken rape scene in an off-campus apartment in 2003.

Duquesne University spokeswoman Rose Ravasio says it’s unfortunate Grisham “chose to use our name and associate it with a fictional incident of this nature.”

Grisham told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he chose the school because he saw it once, and has been to Pittsburgh for Steelers and Pirates games. The novel contains several other references to Pittsburgh.

Riemen will discuss his latest book

Rob Riemen will discuss “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Faith, Art and Truth in the 21st Century” at 3 p.m. Thursday at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture.

The founder, president and CEO of the Nexus Institute also will talk about his latest book, “The Nobility of Spirit: A Forgotten Ideal.”

Riemen’s free talk is presented by the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia.

The Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture is in Watson Manor at 3 University Circle.

For more information, visit http://www.virginia.edu/iasc/.

Bryant and Fields will read at library

Gordon Avenue Library will host two local African- American authors for a Big Read program at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Our Legacy Inc. will present a Black History Month Program featuring Florence Coleman Bryant and Uriah J. Fields.

Bryant is the author of “Memoirs of a Country Girl,” “One Story About School Desegregation” and “Rebecca Fuller McGinness A Lifetime: 1892-2000.” Fields is the author of “Inside the Montgomery Bus Boycott,” “The Mutuality Warrior” and “The Saint Troubadour.”

Other events at the library include:

l Tim Lewis, the author of “The Virginiad: 400 Years of Virginia History in Poetry,” will read from and sign copies of his book at 7p.m. Tuesday at Central Library.

l Monday Evening Book Club will meet 7 p.m. Monday at the Crozet Library to discuss “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston.

l Live Poets Society will meet 7 p.m. Wednesday at Gordon Avenue Library. Come and share original poetry.

l The Literary Masterpiece Book Group will meet 10 a.m. Friday at Gordon Avenue Library to discuss “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Bronte.

Valentine’s events planned for B&N

Barnes and Noble is hosting a free family event at 10 a.m. Saturday to celebrate St. Valentine’s Day.

Booksellers will be reading favorite Valentine’s Day stories from 10 to 11 a.m. A Valentine’s Day Craft session will follow from 11 to 11:30 a.m.

Refreshments will be served from 11:30 a.m. to noon.

Barnes and Noble is in the Barracks Road Shopping Center. For more information, call 984-6598.

From staff and wire reports