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Author Interviews
Emma Thompson Revives Anarchist Bunny 'Peter Rabbit'
October 11, 2012 After more than 80 years, Emma Thompson's The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit brings Beatrix Potter's beloved character back for a romp around the Scottish countryside — and lots of rule breaking. Thompson says Peter Rabbit's "disrespect for authority" is one of the things she loves about him.
Book Reviews
'Skinny' Starts A Conversation For Overweight Teens
October 10, 2012 Donna Cooner's new young adult novel, Skinny, follows Ever, an obese teenage girl who decides to have weight loss surgery. Reviewer Jennifer Longmire-Wright says Skinny is the start of an important conversation for overweight teens — but doesn't adequately portray the difficulties of surgery.
Author Interviews
Virgin's Richard Branson Bares His Business 'Secrets'
October 10, 2012 Branson dropped out of school at 15, but by 16 he had his own magazine, and by 21 he had opened his first business — Virgin Records. Today, he's the head of a global business empire. In Like a Virgin, Branson shares the story of his success.
PG-13: Risky Reads
Poison And Petticoats: The Incomplete Jane Austen
October 9, 2012 When Rebecca Harrington ran out of Jane Austen novels, she was devastated — until she discovered Austen's Juvenilia, a treasure trove of unfinished novels, stories and letters. Do you like reading unpublished work by your favorite author? Tell us in the comments.
Author Interviews
In 'House,' Erdrich Sets Revenge On A Reservation
October 2, 2012 After his mother is sexually assaulted, 13-year-old Joe Coutts is desperate for answers. But when both official and tribal investigations let him down, he takes matters into his own hands. Louise Erdrich pits justice against vengeance in her new novel, The Round House.
Author Interviews
Schwarzenegger's 'Total Recall' Of His Life, So Far
October 2, 2012 Arnold Schwarzenegger has lived a long life in just 65 years, from poor immigrant to giant bodybuilder, from Hollywood action star to governor of California. He recounts it all — his successes and failures, his dreams and challenges — in his new autobiography, Total Recall.
Books
Boozy Birth Of The American Mafia In Lehane's Latest
October 2, 2012 Author Dennis Lehane says he has always loved the clothes, cars and movies of the Prohibition era — which might be why he has set his new novel there. Live By Night doesn't tell the usual Prohibition story about whiskey smugglers — instead it heads south to Florida for a gritty tale of rumrunning.
Books
Put Down Your E-Reader: This Book Is Better In Print
September 28, 2012 It's the era of the e-reader, and book lovers are trying to get used to reading on the screen. But every now and then, a book comes along that just seems to insist on being physical. The publishers of a richly illustrated retelling of Homer's Odyssey say not all books are meant to be e-books
Books
Poverty Informs J.K. Rowling's New Novel For Adults
September 27, 2012 The Casual Vacancy is worlds away from Hogwarts and Harry Potter. It's a dark comedy of manners, set in a small town in the aftermath of a local politician's death. Rowling says her experiences with poverty informed her gritty portrayal of English life.
Author Interviews
'Sutton': America's 1920s, Bank-Robbing 'Robin Hood'
September 26, 2012 In his first novel, J.R. Moehringer writes from the point of view of Willie Sutton, whom he calls the "greatest American robber." Moehringer says writing historical fiction helped him deal with the anger he felt toward banks after the global financial crisis in 2008.
Book Reviews
Pratchett Leaves Discworld For London In 'Dodger'
September 26, 2012 Author Terry Pratchett is best known for his 39-book Discworld series, but his latest novel, Dodger, leaves the Disc behind for a lighthearted romp through Victorian London. Reviewer Tasha Robinson says Dodger shows an author wearing his not-so-secret soft heart on his sleeve.
Book Reviews
A Lifetime Of Love In 'My Husband And My Wives'
September 25, 2012 Charles Rowan Beye has been married three times — to two women and a man. Now, over age 80, he looks back on his life and asks, "What was that all about?" Critic Maureen Corrigan says Beye's memoir, subtitled "A Gay Man's Odyssey," is a complex, poignant addition to the sexual canon.
PG-13: Risky Reads
The Anti-Romance Novel I Didn't Know I Needed
September 24, 2012 Elissa Schappell was 13 and in search of a delicious romance novel when she stumbled on Erica Jong's feminist call to arms, Fear of Flying. It didn't resonate with her at the time, but later she appreciated its message. Is there a book you've changed your mind about? Tell us in the comments.
First Reads
First Read: Helprin's 'In Sunlight And In Shadow'
September 19, 2012 Author Mark Helprin's latest novel is a sprawling tale of love, honor and danger in the years just after World War II. Returned soldier Harry Copeland spots a mysterious woman in white on the Staten Island Ferry. She turns out to be an heiress with Broadway dreams and a complicated past that threatens their growing love.
