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A new look at Lincoln
Review by Martin BradyAnother Lincoln book? Well, why not, given that the Great Emancipator is always a compelling figure. Lincoln, Life-Size, which offers a well-focused, historically rich selection of photographic portraits, was the brainchild of the ever-Lincoln-conscious Kunhardt family, authors of Lincoln: An Illustrated Biography and Looking for Lincoln. This new volume…
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The lure of money, power and privilege
Review by Lauren BufferdWhen Adam Haslett was writing the novel that became Union Atlantic, he couldn’t have known that a book about a rogue banker, the Federal Reserve and conflicts between old and new monies would have such special resonance at the beginning of the century’s second decade. Haslett’s vision of an implosion in the financial world was certainly prescient, making this an eerily… -
Shattered hearts and second chances
Interview by Karen ElleyThe seeds of Kristan Higgins’ writing career were sown when, at the age of 13, she swiped Shanna—a notorious bodice ripper by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss—from her grandmother’s nightstand. Woodiwiss has been called “the founding mother of the historical romance genre” and has inspired a whole generation of writers, Higgins among them.
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In pursuit of a longer lifespan
Review by Alison HoodIn the next 20 years, as the baby-boom generation ages, the numbers of people ages 65 and older will increase from approximately 13 percent to 20 percent. Given the probability that more of us will live longer, perhaps even achieving centenarian status, journalist Greg Critser (Fat Land, Generation Rx) examines the range of scientific possibilities—from legitimate to dubious—of…
Featured ReviewSaved by the power of wordsThe gritty side of black urban life has been portrayed so often in literature that it has become its own genre: street lit. Authors such as Iceberg Slim and Sister Souljah have captured the black experience in groundbreaking novels, and hip-hop artists like Tupac Shakur and 50 Cent have explored the dark side of urban life in words and music. So the challenge for Jerald Walker was to find something new to write about in Street Shadows: A Memoir of Race, Rebellion, and Redemption. Walker succeeds for two reasons: There are some unique experiences in his life, and he is a strong writer.
The plot line for Street Shadows is familiar—an African-American youth overcomes the poverty, drugs, gangs and violence of the big city to become a success.…
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Printz winner Libba Bray to write Jazz Age series
Winter's readingExploring the worlds of love and griefIn his debut novel, Michael J. White has crafted an affecting story of first love and first loss. It’s an observant and often lyrical tale of its protagonists’ efforts to navigate some of the early, stumbling steps on the road to adulthood.
Seventeen-year-old George Flynn has moved with his parents and older brother to Des Moines. Apart from a…
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Web exclusives!Behind the Book: When history inspires fictionWeb exclusiveI have never been very good at coming up with ideas for stories and novels. When I was in graduate school, they encouraged us to scan the obituaries for stories. I could never do this! Aside from the fact that I'm a Southerner and have a deep respect for the deceased, I often take ideas to my desk and find they don't work. I don't know your experience, but I've found that… Read More… |
Tops for teensAn eighth grader in an Elizabethan freak showWeb exclusive
Erin Dionne, author of Models Don’t Eat Chocolate Cookies, has again found a way to capture the sheer mortification of being the average eighth grader. But Hamlet Kennedy, the heroine of The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet, feels anything but average, much to her dismay. With parents who are professors obsessed with “The Bard” and a…
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For the homeLifestyles: Engaging projects for your crafty sideIn the worst economic downturn since Herbert Hoover, DIY consciousness is pure gold. The three books reviewed here will help you save money by doing it yourself in three areas that can be huge money pits: your wedding, your house and your creative dreams. Read More… |
