NPR Columns: Book Reviews http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4467346&ft=1&f=4467346 Book reviews of the best new fiction and nonfiction books by NPR's Alan Cheuse, Maureen Corrigan, and Karen Grigsby Bates. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:24:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Book Reviews http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4467346&ft=1&f=4467346 A Conservative Read On Palin's 'Going Rogue' Sarah Palin may be the Republican party's next big hope, but commentator Rod Dreher says her new book, <em>Going Rogue</em>, does little to bolster her image. She may be the perkiest small-town American in the spotlight, but Palin is selling her personality, not a platform. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:24:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120508053&ft=1&f=4467346 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120508053&ft=1&f=4467346 Sarah Palin may be the Republican party's next big hope, but commentator Rod Dreher says her new book, Going Rogue, does little to bolster her image. She may be the perkiest small-town American in the spotlight, but Palin is selling her personality, not a platform.

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]]> Searching For Answers? 'Googled' Disappoints Ken Auletta's new book, <em>Googled,</em> chronicles the behemoth search engine company from the bottom up. But critic Troy Patterson says that few of the book's points are so penetrating that they couldn't be easily discovered via a quick Google query. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:32:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120056038&ft=1&f=4467346 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120056038&ft=1&f=4467346 Ken Auletta's new book, Googled, chronicles the behemoth search engine company from the bottom up. But critic Troy Patterson says that few of the book's points are so penetrating that they couldn't be easily discovered via a quick Google query.

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]]> 'The Lacuna,' Kingsolver's Vacant Return It's been nine years since Barbara Kingsolver, author of <em>The Poisonwood Bible,</em> has released a new novel &mdash; but is <em>The Lacuna</em> worth the wait? Critic Maureen Corrigan says this personalized perspective on the Red Scare in Mexico reflects the hidden meaning of the book's title: vacancy. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120025143&ft=1&f=4467346 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120025143&ft=1&f=4467346 It's been nine years since Barbara Kingsolver, author of The Poisonwood Bible, has released a new novel — but is The Lacuna worth the wait? Critic Maureen Corrigan says this personalized perspective on the Red Scare in Mexico reflects the hidden meaning of the book's title: vacancy.

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]]> Lethem's Tedious, Maddening 'Chronic City' Jonathan Lethem's new novel, featuring a fatuous former child TV star and his stoner friend, swirls around aimlessly, lifted only occasionally by the author's dazzling prose. Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113998191&ft=1&f=4467346 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113998191&ft=1&f=4467346 Jonathan Lethem's new novel, featuring a fatuous former child TV star and his stoner friend, swirls around aimlessly, lifted only occasionally by the author's dazzling prose.

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]]> On The 'Wisdom Trail,' Platitudes Prevail Long on generalities and short on real wisdom, <em>The Wisdom Trail</em> does not do justice to the women it profiles. Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106932019&ft=1&f=4467346 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106932019&ft=1&f=4467346 Long on generalities and short on real wisdom, The Wisdom Trail does not do justice to the women it profiles.

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]]> Harvey Kurtzman: The Comics World's 'Mad Genius' Critic Milo Miles reviews <em>The Art of Harvey Kurtzman: The Mad Genius of Comics</em>. It's Dennis Kitchen and Paul Buhle's illustrated biography of influential artist and writer Harvey Kurtzman, the inventor of <em>MAD Magazine</em>. Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:53:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106972028&ft=1&f=4467346 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106972028&ft=1&f=4467346 Critic Milo Miles reviews The Art of Harvey Kurtzman: The Mad Genius of Comics. It's Dennis Kitchen and Paul Buhle's illustrated biography of influential artist and writer Harvey Kurtzman, the inventor of MAD Magazine.

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]]> Journalist Looks At The 'Why' Behind Columbine In his new book, Dave Cullen delivers a clear-eyed portrait of the brains behind the Columbine killings. He says the massacre wasn't an emotional outburst or revenge fantasy carried out by a couple of social outcasts. Reviewer Susan Jane Gilman calls the book strong, but says it doesn't quite sing. Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:31:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103191819&ft=1&f=4467346 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103191819&ft=1&f=4467346 In his new book, Dave Cullen delivers a clear-eyed portrait of the brains behind the Columbine killings. He says the massacre wasn't an emotional outburst or revenge fantasy carried out by a couple of social outcasts. Reviewer Susan Jane Gilman calls the book strong, but says it doesn't quite sing.

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]]> Novelist David Rhodes Returns With 'Driftless' Over 30 years ago, Midwestern writer David Rhodes published three much-praised novels in quick succession. But he went silent after a motorcycle accident left him paralyzed. Now he has published a new book: <em>Driftless</em>. Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98657406&ft=1&f=4467346 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98657406&ft=1&f=4467346 Over 30 years ago, Midwestern writer David Rhodes published three much-praised novels in quick succession. But he went silent after a motorcycle accident left him paralyzed. Now he has published a new book: Driftless.

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]]> Death's Absence, Writ Large And Small Two new novels explore the consequences of a personified Death who fails to perform expected duties. Jonathan Carroll's <em>The Ghost in Love</em> focuses on an individual saved from Death, while Jose Saramago's <em>Death with Interruptions</em> examines an entire nation. Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:17:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96107997&ft=1&f=4467346 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96107997&ft=1&f=4467346 Two new novels explore the consequences of a personified Death who fails to perform expected duties. Jonathan Carroll's The Ghost in Love focuses on an individual saved from Death, while Jose Saramago's Death with Interruptions examines an entire nation.

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]]> A Multilingual Voyage, Buoyed By A 'Sea Of Poppies' Amitav Ghosh's sprawling historical novel is set on a former slave ship in 1838, and features a wildly diverse cast of characters and fluid, "beautifully made" sentences. Reviewer Alan Cheuse says <em>Sea of Poppies</em> is worth a passage. Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:30:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96024793&ft=1&f=4467346 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96024793&ft=1&f=4467346 Amitav Ghosh's sprawling historical novel is set on a former slave ship in 1838, and features a wildly diverse cast of characters and fluid, "beautifully made" sentences. Reviewer Alan Cheuse says Sea of Poppies is worth a passage.

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]]> Jim Harrison's Quixotic, Erotic Road Novel Who says road novels have to be about the young? <em>The English Major</em> follows a 60-something teacher as he sets off on a cross-country journey to mend a broken heart &mdash; and revive his libido. Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:38:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96054579&ft=1&f=4467346 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96054579&ft=1&f=4467346 Who says road novels have to be about the young? The English Major follows a 60-something teacher as he sets off on a cross-country journey to mend a broken heart — and revive his libido.

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]]> A Chronicle Of Pregnancy &mdash; And Loss Elizabeth McCracken's new memoir, <em>An Exact Replica Of A Figment Of My Imagination</em>, details the devastating loss of the author's stillborn baby. Maureen Corrigan offers a review. Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:18:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96171637&ft=1&f=4467346 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96171637&ft=1&f=4467346 Elizabeth McCracken's new memoir, An Exact Replica Of A Figment Of My Imagination, details the devastating loss of the author's stillborn baby. Maureen Corrigan offers a review.

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]]> Freud And Oedipus Converge In 'Three Roads' <em>Where Three Roads Meet,</em> the new novel from British psychologist and fiction writer Sally Vickers, is set in the spring of 1923, and features an invented encounter between the ailing Sigmund Freud and a blind, ancient soothsayer. Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:19:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94908875&ft=1&f=4467346 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94908875&ft=1&f=4467346 Where Three Roads Meet, the new novel from British psychologist and fiction writer Sally Vickers, is set in the spring of 1923, and features an invented encounter between the ailing Sigmund Freud and a blind, ancient soothsayer.

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]]> 'Legends en Espanol' Depicts Latino Icons <em>People en Español</em> magazine's new book titled<em> Legends en Espano</em>l is a carefully crafted collection showcasing 100 superstars of the 20th century from film and theater to dance and music. They have influenced both Latino culture and mainstream America. Those recognized include Jennifer Lopez, Celia Cruz, Desi Arnaz, and Shakira. Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95725422&ft=1&f=4467346 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95725422&ft=1&f=4467346 People en Español magazine's new book titled Legends en Espanol is a carefully crafted collection showcasing 100 superstars of the 20th century from film and theater to dance and music. They have influenced both Latino culture and mainstream America. Those recognized include Jennifer Lopez, Celia Cruz, Desi Arnaz, and Shakira.

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]]> Novels Stitch Tightly Woven Tales Of Freedom Alan Cheuse reviews two historical novels, both with protagonists immersed in sewing and slavery: Breena Clarke's <em>Stand the Storm</em> and Frances de Pontes Peebles' <em>The Seamstress.</em> Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:43:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95011333&ft=1&f=4467346 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95011333&ft=1&f=4467346 Alan Cheuse reviews two historical novels, both with protagonists immersed in sewing and slavery: Breena Clarke's Stand the Storm and Frances de Pontes Peebles' The Seamstress.

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