An Epic or Two

In case you missed it, former Wilmette native and Reagan public affairs official Karna Small Bodman has a new novel out, "Checkmate". Wilmette Life (last week):

The New Trier High School graduate was a 15-year television reporter and commentator in California and Washington D.C., then signed on with the Reagan administration for six years, rising to senior director for public affairs of the National Security Council.

Tuesday, she's publishing a novel that makes hay on her long-time admiration of Ronald Reagan, and his Star Wars missile defense plan.

"Checkmate," a $24.95 Forge Books hardback, is the story of Dr. Cameron "Cammy" Talbot, inventor of a missile defense system so blue-sky it makes Reagan's outer space initiative look down to earth.

Bodman will be in town next month at a few local events.

Another source of entertainment, the Wilmette Theatre has initiated a Foreign Movie Club, with coffee from Charlie's coffee shop next door, one Thursday morning a month. The next showing is next Thursday, the 18th, featuring Curse of the Golden Flower, a newly released Chinese epic, described as one of the best foreign films of the year. Coffee and cake at 9 AM, movie at 9:30 AM. (There are also regular showtimes in the afternoon and evening.) Trailer here.