The verb reek derives from two similarly pronounced words that were familiar in Old English times.  One meant “to emit smoke” and the other meant “to emit a strong smell.”  Today the verb reek may have either meaning.  By itself, wreak means “to give expression to; to vent.”  Bottom line:  Chimneys, cigars, and bad relationships “reek.”  Hurricanes, earthquakes, ice storms, droughts, and war wreak destruction and devastation.  http://www.dailywritingtips.com/reeking-and-wreaking/ 

Homonyms (also called homophones) are words that sound like one another but have different meanings.  Some homonyms are spelled the same, like bark (the sound a dog makes) and bark (the outer layer of a tree trunk).  Some homonyms are spelled differently, like one (the number) and won (having been victorious).  Note:  The Columbia Guide to Standard English defines homophones as words that are pronounced alike and have different spellings (like flower and flour), and defines homonyms as a more general term that includes both homophones and words that are spelled alike and have different meanings (like bank [the edge of a river] and bank [a financial institution]). However, the Random House Unabridged Dictionary (1993 edition) defines the terms homonym and homophone in such a way that each term includes words that are pronounced alike and have different spellings, and also words that are spelled alike and have different meanings.  Find a list of common homonymns, including reek and wreak, at http://www.enchantedlearning.com/english/homonyms/  

Tanzanite is a gemstone that was found in Tanzania in 1967.  Tanzanite comes from the mineral Zoisite.  It is made from calcium, aluminum and silica.  Zoisite can come in many colors; however Tanzanite is usually sold when it is either blue, bluish violet or blue with a hint of purple surrounding it.  Besides forming naturally, Tanzanite can be synthetically created.  It is interesting to note that when Tanzanite is created synthetically it is no longer has the mineral properties of Zoisite; it has different mineral properties called Fosterite.  Practically all Tanzanite is treated whether synthetically or natural.  It is usually heated with temperatures over 500 degrees Celsius. This treatment process enhances the color of the stone.  Tanzanite has a few shortcomings including the fact that it is not that hard, with only a score of 6.5 to 7 on Moh’s hardness scale.  It can also lose its color to extreme heat. While normal wear and tear shouldn’t affect the color of the stone, it has been known to change slightly.  http://www.gemstoneeducation.com/Tanzanite_2.htm

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Columbia Point, Boston, MA 02125 (617) 514-1600  Toll free (866) JFK-1960  The Museum is open 7 days per week, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with the exception of New Year’s, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.  Last introductory film of the day is at 3:55 p.m.  Find details of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library’s plans to pay tribute to President Kennedy on November 22, 2013 at http://www.jfklibrary.org/Visit/Nov-22-2013.aspx  Search holdings at http://www.jfklibrary.org/  For assistance, contact reference staff at 617.514.1629 or Kennedy.Library@nara.gov. 

Yonaguni is a town located entirely on Yonaguni Island in Yaeyama District, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.  It is the westernmost municipality in Japan, and is known for billfish fishing and as a diving spot.  Recently, a megalith known as the Yonaguni Monument was discovered on the seafloor off the southern edge of the island and has been in the spotlight as possible man-made, underwater ruins.  Animals of interest:  Yonaguni horse – One of eight traditional Japanese horses, the smallest horse in Japan.  Unable to be seen anywhere other than the island of Yonaguni.  Atlas moth – Called ayami habiru locally, this is the world’s largest moth.  In Japan, it is found only in Yonaguni.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yonaguni,_Okinawa 

Q.  What do the works of Gregory Maguire and Jasper Fforde have in common?  A  They each write parallel novels. 

The Parallel Novel, or Reimagined Classic, is a piece of literature written within, or derived from, the framework of another work of fiction by another author.  This designation is distinct from franchised book series, which are typically works licensed by the publisher of the original work to use its settings and characters.  Generally, an author creating a parallel novel will choose a marginalized or potentially misunderstood character and recast the events from the perspective of that character.  The practice of appropriation in literature is clearly ancient (Aeneas, a minor character from Homer's The Iliad, is given his own epic story by Virgil), but it is relatively common in contemporary fiction.   See examples of parallel novels at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_novel

Gibe refers to a taunt or a derisive remark. It functions as both a verb (to taunt) and a noun (taunt).  Jibe has a nautical use (relating to turning the sail to go on an opposite tack), but it’s most often used to mean agree or to be in accord.  http://grammarist.com/usage/gibe-jibe-jive/

An action verb with a direct object is transitive while an action verb with no direct object is intransitive.  Some verbs, such as arrive, go, lie, sneeze, sit, and die, are always intransitive; it is impossible for a direct object to follow.  Other action verbs, however, can be transitive or intransitive, depending on what follows in the sentence.  Compare these examples:

Because of blood sugar problems, Rosa always eats before leaving for school.

Eats = intransitive verb.
If there is no leftover pizza, Rosa usually eats whole-grain cereal.
Eats = transitive verb; cereal = direct object.
During cross-country practice, Damien runs over hills, through fields, across the river, and along the highway.
Runs = intransitive verb.
In the spring, Damien will run his first marathon.
Will run = transitive verb; marathon = direct object.
http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/intransitiveverb.htm

Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin, known as Miles Franklin (1879–1954) was an Australian writer and feminist who is best known for her novel My Brilliant Career, published in 1901.  While she wrote throughout her life, her other major literary success, All That Swagger, was not published until 1936.  She was committed to the development of a uniquely Australian form of literature, and she actively pursued this goal by supporting writers, literary journals, and writers' organisations.  She has had a long-lasting impact on Australian literary life through her endowment of a major literary award known as the Miles Franklin Award.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_Franklin

Miles Franklin Award   "Without an indigenous literature, people can remain alien in their own soil."  Find 2013 winner and 2013 shortlist at http://www.milesfranklin.com.au/