Weekend Links 5-7-21

Spanning the globe to find links of interest for your weekend reading.....

Here are some really cool libraries built to look like books. Makes me want to visit them. 

Why aluminum bats are not allowed in Major League Baseball. It's common sense if you think about it. 

From How to Write A Mystery: A Handbook from the Mystery Writers of America edited by Lee Child with Laurie R. King: Nine Things Your Thriller Needs to be Lean, Mean, and Exhilarating. 

With the publication of The Mysterious Affair at Styles in 1920, Agatha Christie introduced us to Hercule Poirot, one of the greatest fictional detectives ever created. 

Liquid Paper is one of the most ubiquitous office supplies ever created. Here's the story of the secretary who was the creator of the iconic correction fluid. 

It's been 80 years since the premiere of Citizen Kane and all these years later we are still trying to solve all its riddles. 

Examining the artistry of Alfred Hitchcock. 

Long read of the week: Finding My Father Among the Astronauts. This piece made me think a lot about my own father.

What makes a TV show theme song great? 

How Norman Granz used jazz for social change.  If you look at the credits of the most iconic jazz albums you are likely to find a connection to Granz. 

Last week, a computer won the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. But that in and of itself is not the most interesting part of the story. 

How to ignore your phone and read more. 

I haven't read any of Harlan Coben's books (yet) and am only acquainted with a a couple of Netflix series adapted from his novels. But I did find this interview fascinating on many levels. Especially that looking at his background and education he is not someone you would think would become a bestselling author.