'Tis the good reader that makes the good book; in every book he finds passages which seem to be confidences or sides hidden from all else and unmistakably meant for his ear; the profit of books is according to the sensibility of the reader; the profound thought or passion sleeps as in a mine, until it is discovered by an equal mind and heart.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ayn Rand and the World She Made
~ Anne C. Heller
Anne C. Heller has written a riveting, massively researched biography of the self styled 'radical for capitalism' Ayn Rand. "A thoroughly absorbing account of the passion, ferocity, ambition, and humanity."
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Joe Sherry at the Adventures in Reading blog has compiled a list of best reads of the previous decade. (I admire his memory!) It is an interesting list. He admits to reading fantasy and sci fi, but the reading here includes some fascinating reads.
Under the Dome
Under the Dome: A Novel
Under the Dome
~ Stephen King
King's return to supernatural horror is uncomfortably bulky, formidably complex and irresistibly compelling.
Watch the book trailer for Under the Dome
Watch the author Stephen King discuss the inspiration and writing for the book
The Complete Book of Questions: 1001 Conversation Starters for Any Occasion
by Garry Poole
This book provides groups with 1,001 engaging and thought-provoking icebreaker questions to start and sustain meaningful conversations.
Emily Farrell makes a good case for " classic".
'Love Story' is a readable classic, she writes, Forty years after it was written, it still draws teens to its universal issues.
Is it better to read "Love Story" by the late Erich Segal, who died recently, or "Hamlet," by the really late playwright William Shakespeare? The answer seems obvious to most educated people. "Hamlet" is the world's greatest tragedy; "Love Story" is trash.
But they are both classics. Yes, both. If a classic stands the test of time, "Hamlet" needs no defense. And as this high school English teacher can attest, "Love Story" still resonates with teenagers 40 years after it was written. The boys still identify with the struggle of being independent from parents, and the girls understand the desire to marry a man who is rich and athletic. Everyone cries when Jenny dies and sobs when the Barrett men finally admit, "Love means never having to say you're sorry."
A classic deals with universal dilemmas.
... And this is the first of the major points she makes in support of her viewpoint ...
The memoir genre rolls on with this batch of 24 from Team Memoir. Standard themes like family dysfunction persist, but we get an enticing twist from a Vanderbilt heir. Also, two firsts: a memoir of assisted suicide, sure to hit a nerve with baby boomer caregivers, and of nonbiological lesbian motherhood. more » » »
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Behind every best seller you're likely to find a library hold. See what patrons are lining up to read at Unalaska Public Library, where supernatural fiction by biggies like Charlaine Harris and Diana Gabaldon sits alongside TV on DVD from Lost to House MD. more » » »
Christos N. Gage and Chris Samnee. DC/Vertigo Crime, $19.99(184p) ISBN 978-1-40121-067-0
In a page-turning mix of science fiction and noir thriller, New York City detective Adam Kamen is on the trail of the serial killer Henry the Eighth, so named for his penchant for decapitating his victims. Kamen is a familiar character—hard-boiled, independent, a guy with a tough exterior but emotions that run deep. A head injury in the midst of the investigation gives Kamen unusual powers and leads to an exploration of trepanation—deliberately drilling a hole in the skull—as well as introducing him to a beautiful psychiatrist who develops an interest in his case.
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