About Books & Literature: Bleak Books

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Books & Literature From Megan Romer, your About Books & Literature Editor If beach reading is not so much your style, we've got a couple of darker book recommendations this week. Memorial Day is coming up, which means a somber day of remembrance and reflection, but it also (for most of us) means a day off -- why not use that time to read for a couple of hours? New in Paperback: 'War' by Sebastian Junger This first-hand nonfiction chronicle of soldier's lives in Afghanistan received rave reviews when it first hit the shelves in 2010 (and, indeed, made our list of the Best Books of 2010), and remains timely and relevant now. It's in paperback, so if you haven't read it yet, no more excuses. See More About:  war by sebastian junger  afgh  Review: 'When the Killing's Done' by T.C. Boyle The latest from contemporary literature author T.C. Boyle is focused around how humans interact with the environment, revealed in a family drama set on the Channel Islands off Santa Barbara (a wild stretch of islands that some call California's Galapagos). Is it his best work? Maybe not, but it's still better than most of what's on the shelves today, and certainly worth a read. See More About:  t.c. boyle  literary fiction  For Memorial Day: Poems of War and Remembrance Memorial Day is coming up here in the United States. It's a rare holiday in that almost every formal observance that takes place involves poetry, usually the famous "In Flanders Fields" (that's the one about poppies), but often others, as well. Even if you're not planning on attending an official Memorial Day service, taking a moment to read one or two of these poems would certainly be a nice way to remember the holiday. See More About:  war poems  william shakespeare  walt whitman Memorial Day Quotes "And they who for their country die shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier's tomb, and beauty weeps the brave." - Joseph Drake See More About:  memorial day quotes  veterans day quotes  freedom quotes Books & Literature Ads Books Children Story Books Kids Picture Books Short Stories Books Fantasy Books Online Featured Articles Sit Down and Read, New Yorkers! The Mortal Instruments Series Shakespeare's Stratford: Top 5 Attractions Marvel HeroClix Captain America The Best of Stephen Sondheim   More from About.com Backyard Chickens 101 Dabble in the self-sufficient, eco-friendly life with these essential chicken-raising tips. More> 24 Amazing Container Gardens These gorgeous and creative gardens prove it doesn't take a lot of space to create something special. More>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Books & Literature newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2011 About.com   Organic Gardening Books 'The Resilient Gardener' - Carol Deppe 'The Complete Compost Gardening Guide' - B. Pleasant and D. Martin 'The Truth About Organic Gardening' - Jeff Gilman Advertisement