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Sunday, February 03, 2013

Appetite For Destruction: A Deadly, Delicious Rock Memoir()  

February 3, 2013 Guns N' Roses epitomized all of the glamour of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. But, author Alex Stone writes, Duff McKagan's memoir shows the ugly underside of the legendary rock group. What's your favorite music memoir? Tell us in the comments.

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It's So Easy
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Monday, January 14, 2013

Spy Vs. Spy: A Former MI5 Director On Loving James Bond()  

January 14, 2013 Though former MI5 director Stella Rimington knows better than anyone that Ian Fleming's From Russia With Love is not a realistic portrayal of life in the intelligence services, she still loves this tale of sex and violence. Which is your favorite Bond book? Tell us in the comments.

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Wednesday, January 02, 2013

Pterrifying Pterodactyl Meets Sexy Detective()  

January 2, 2013 The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec by Jaques Tardi features a beautiful, gun-wielding detective and a horrifying prehistoric monster. Author Rosecrans Baldwin explains why this is no ordinary comic book. Do you have a favorite graphic novel? Tell us in the comments.

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Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Rewriting Homer, With Some Lurid Twists()  

October 24, 2012 Adele Geras' Troy has everything The Iliad doesn't: graphic details and some really bad writing. NPR intern Annalisa Quinn explains why that's exactly what she wanted. What is your favorite remake of a classic? Tell us in the comments.

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Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Bad Sheriff: Murder, Lies And Southern Fried Catfish()  

September 26, 2012 Pop. 1280 is the perfect noir thriller, featuring a murderous, corn bread-loving sheriff from a small town in the South. Author Stephen Marche explains why the book is genre fiction at its best. Do you have a favorite tale of twisted justice? Tell us in the comments.

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Monday, August 27, 2012

'The Magus': A Thrilling, Chilling Guilty Pleasure()  

August 27, 2012 The Magus is the story of a man who wished for adventure — only to be disappointed when that wish comes true. Author Nick Dybek says he identified with the book when he read it at age 20. Was there ever a time you longed for a more interesting life? Tell us about it in the comments.

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Monday, August 13, 2012

You'd Have To Be Psycho To Not Pass This 'Test'()  

August 13, 2012 The Psychopath Test is a fascinating look into the minds of the deranged, but author Carol Rifka Brunt says she read it not to understand the psychology of madness, but to prove she wasn't mad herself. When have you compared yourself to books or characters in them? Tell us in the comments.

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Monday, July 02, 2012

Unicorns And Witches And Wild Mood Swings, Oh My!()  

July 2, 2012 The Black Jewels trilogy flips everything you thought you knew about fantasy on its head. But NPR editor Petra Mayer says it's still a wild ride of mystery, erotica, violence and even true love. What is your favorite book that defies the conventions of its genre? Tell us in the comments below.

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Friday, June 01, 2012

A Passage To India: From The Annals Of The Raj()  

June 1, 2012 NPR editor Krishnadev Calamur didn't expect to like Hindoo Holiday. It looked like a tedious colonial book about India, full of dust and poverty and elephants. But the book's charm and silly characters made it a favorite guilty pleasure.

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Tuesday, April 17, 2012

The Wrong Crowd: A Tale Of Teens Behaving Badly()  

April 17, 2012 Long after the final bell has rung, the echoes of high school hold a fascination for us, even into adulthood. Author Meg Wolitzer recommends a guilty pleasure read that reminds her of the pain of being a teenager. Do you have a favorite book you read as a teen? Let us know in the comments.

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Monday, March 19, 2012

Lives Of The Rich And Shallow: A Socialite's Tale()  

March 19, 2012 Bergdorf Blondes is a book about the lives of New York socialites. It might not be the most highbrow of novels, but when author Cristina Alger suffered a bad breakup, she found this fluffy tale comforting. Have you ever gotten over an ex with a great book? Tell us your story in the comments section.

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Monday, February 27, 2012

Sci-Fi Invasion: A Weird, Brilliant Vision Of Earth()  

February 27, 2012 Get ready: In 2013, an alien race called the Boov are going to invade Earth. Or, at least, that's what happens in Adam Rex's vision of the future. Author Gin Phillips says that The True Meaning of Smekday stuck with her. Do you have a favorite book about aliens? Let us know in the comments below.

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Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Action, Sex And A '70s Vibe: The World Of 'Amber'()  

January 25, 2012 Howard A. Jones isn't just a geek — he's a fantasy geek, and his favorite book is packed with violence, romance and metafictional conceits. It's Roger Zelazny's Chronicles of Amber series.

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Monday, December 26, 2011

Teenage Struggles In A Painful Post-Sept. 11 World()  

December 26, 2011 We're often told that our teenage years are for forging our identities — even if it doesn't feel so great at the time. Author Jennifer Hubbard recommends a book that charts the complexities of growing up.

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Wednesday, September 28, 2011

An Earth-Shattering Tale With An Otherwordly Air()  

September 28, 2011 Is there life beyond high school? Better yet, is there life beyond Earth? Author Stefan Block recommends Arthur C. Clarke's Childhood's End, a guilty pleasure that has the power to transcend the terrestrial mediocrity of everyday life.

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