About Books & Literature: The 10 (or so) Best Books of 2010

If you can't see this email, click here

Books & Literature From Megan Romer, your About Books & Literature Editor While you read this, I am shopping for books at my favorite bookstore in New York City. It's a little hole-in-the-wall on a side street in the Village, and I could spend hours there. In fact, I think I will. The 10 Best Books of 2010 Ten? Did we say ten? We meant twelve. Okay, thirteen. Hey, you try narrowing them down! It was a great year for books, what can you do? Funny Holiday Books Do you have a case of the Grinchies? That'll happen every so often. We've got a cure for you, though... funny holiday books from the likes of Dave Barry and David Sedaris. They'll get you in a jolly mood one way or another. Classic Poems Set to Music Are you looking for a slightly quirky gift idea for a poet who loves music or a musician who loves poetry? There's a cure for that, too! From Natalie Merchant's folky 'Leave Your Sleep' to Luciana Souza's sultry 'Neruda,' there's something here for a wide range of tastes. Best New Manga of 2010 Do you need a little something for the manga fan in your life? Or maybe just a reward to yourself for being such a polite and well-behaved holiday shopper? Well, we have some meticulously curated ideas for you on that front, friend. Books & Literature Ads Books Horror Books Fiction Novel Writing Books Children Story Books Books and Authors Featured Articles Herman Melville Biography Kids' Comic Book Gift Guides A Ghost in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre Robots, But-Heads, and Plagiarism: Language in the News What's Your Favorite Book About the Theatre? Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1   More from About.com Great Gadget Gifts iPad or iPod? Kindle or Nook? Point-and-shoot or DIL camera? If you're confused by this year's must-have gadgets, check out our top picks. More> The Gift of Entertainment The lowdown on the latest holiday releases, plus recommendations on the best in music, movies and more. 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 © 2010 About.com   Children's Books for Hanukkah 'Celebrate Hanukkah' - National Geographic Society 'Hanukkah Haiku' - Harriet Ziefert More Kids' Books for Hanukkah Advertisement

About Books & Literature: Turkey Thursday and Black Friday

If you can't see this email, click here

Books & Literature From Megan Romer, your About Books & Literature Editor I get to have three Thanksgiving dinners this year, all on the same day. All turkey. I personally would rather have spaghetti carbonara, as suggested by Calvin Trillin, but in order to keep the family peace, I'll just eat my turkey like a good girl. Thanksgiving Books for Kids I will not, however, sit at the grown-ups' table. I don't want to and you can't make me. Nanny-nanny-boo-boo. Mark Twain on Thanksgiving Mark Twain was a classic curmudgeon, and had some pertinent things to say about Thanksgiving (hint: they weren't all bad!), which leads me to believe that if he were alive, he'd be sitting at the kids' table, too. Best Books to Give as Christmas Gifts As soon as Thanksgiving is over, the Christmas shopping season starts. Some people will go all doorbuster-crazy and camp out in front of the local electronics store at 2:00 am to get a deal on a DVD player. I will be getting everyone books, as usual, and I will be ordering them from the internet. The internet, you see, does not throw elbows or shove old ladies out of the way. Oxford USA's Word of the Year for 2010 On an unrelated-to-holidays note, Oxford USA has picked their Word of the Year for 2010. Click above if you dare, but my fellow word nerds, brace yourselves. For the record, my vote would've gone to one of the runners-up, the oddly useful "nom nom," but no one asked me. Books & Literature Ads Turkey Black Friday Thanksgiving Recipes Turkey Dinner Menu Top 100 Books Featured Articles 'Where Good Ideas Come From' by Steven Johnson Holiday Gift Buying Guides for Comic Book Lovers Funny Thanksgiving Quotes Harry Potter Improv Games Royal Shakespeare Theatre Reopens! Weekly Manga Reading List   More from About.com Thanksgiving Recipes Herb-roasted turkey with cornbread stuffing, cranberry relish and roasted squash, sweet and tart fruit pies, and many more. More> Choose the Perfect Gift Whether you're looking for teens, teachers, grandparents or even pets, we have suggestions to make shopping easier. 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 © 2010 About.com   Poems for Thanksgiving Day "The Pumpkin" by John Greenleaf Whittier "A Thanksgiving Poem" by Paul Laurence Dunbar "Fire Dreams" by Carl Sandburg Advertisement

About Books & Literature: Disappointments, Superheroes, and Literary Snacks

If you can't see this email, click here

Books & Literature From Megan Romer, your About Books & Literature Editor If you're an American, in a couple of weeks you're going to invariably be stuck in a small room with all of your relatives and at least one very sharp knife. Perhaps it's time to start brushing up on your topics of conversation now, because you can only say "Pass the gravy!" so many times before Aunt Mildred realizes that you're dodging her questions. The Worst Books of 2010 "So, anyone read any terrible books lately?" is a good one to get people talking, and hopefully laughing. Don't mention anything controversial, though... that knife is still going to be sitting right there by the turkey. 'Running the Books: The Adventures of an Accidental...' Running the Books: The Adventures of an Accidental Prison Librarian, by Avi Steinberg, sounds like it would be a good one to bring up as an interesting book that you've recently read. You'd have to actually read it first, though, so go ahead and get on that. The Top DC Comic Book Superheroes of All Time "So, who's your favorite DC comic book superhero?" would be a good icebreaker, as well. If someone says "Spider-Man," though, it would be best to just smile and nod. Family harmony. You can do it. Review: 'Harry Potter: The Unofficial Cookbook' The new Harry Potter movie comes to theaters this week, which means that by Thanksgiving, everyone (including Aunt Mildred) will have seen it, and you'll want to be able to discuss it. This cookbook will help you make the perfect thematic dinner party menu to eat before you go out to the show. Or a good stocking stuffer to keep in mind for your favorite kiddo. Books & Literature Ads Books Thanksgiving Recipes Thanksgiving Turkey English Literature Turkey Recipes Featured Articles Gathering International Poets for the Olympics Weekly Manga Reading List 5 Quick Facts About Shakespeare Kander and Ebb's 'The Scottsboro Boys' "The Solid Flesh" by Simeon Strunsky Douglas Adams Biography   More from About.com Thanksgiving Recipes Herb-roasted turkey with cornbread stuffing, cranberry relish and roasted squash, sweet and tart fruit pies, and many more. More> Choose the Perfect Gift Whether you're looking for teens, teachers, grandparents or even pets, we have suggestions to make shopping easier. 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 © 2010 About.com   Books About Folk Music 'How Can I Keep From Singing: The Ballad of Pete Seeger' 'Innerviews: Music Without Borders' 'Bob Dylan: The Essential Interviews' Advertisement

About Books & Literature: Starting Your Own Book Club

If you can't see this email, click here

Books & Literature From Megan Romer, your About Books & Literature Editor I am part grizzly bear. This time of year, I have a terrible urge to crawl into bed and not come out until the crocuses bloom. This year, though, I'm going to be social and functional all winter long. Or something like that. One Year Book Club Reading List My plan? A book club! At least once every two weeks, I will be forced to leave the house, and in the interim, I will have to read books. The second half of that sentence is the easy part. General Book Club Questions for Study and Discussion Also, upon leaving the house, I have to interact with other people. Hopefully, having a predetermined conversation topic (and lists of questions to ask each other) will help things along. How to Become a Critical Reader It's not just the socialization I'm seeking, though. I think my brain is starting to get a little mushy, and I need to revisit some of those old critical reading skills and spark it back up. What are Your Book Club Favorites? If you're already in a book club, chime in on this fun list of favorite book club reads. My book club (among others) will thank you! Books & Literature Ads Books English Literature Book Club Guides Reading Books Online Literature Novel Featured Articles Create Your Own Comic Book 18 Mini-Manga Reviews Poems by William Blake 'Emily the Strange: The Lost Days' Is 'Lost' Based on 'The Tempest?' Characters in 'The Crucible'   More from About.com Is it a Cold or the Flu? Knowing whether you have a cold or the flu can help you treat your symptoms more effectively. More > Concerned About Your Drinking? This short quiz can help you identify whether or not you have a drinking problem. Take the quiz now >   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 © 2010 About.com   Recent Releases in Contemporary Lit 'By Nightfall' by Michael Cunningham 'The Instructions' by Adam Levin 'Half a Life' by Darin Strauss Advertisement