About Books & Literature: Good Books to Read in the Springtime

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Books & Literature From Megan Romer, your About Books & Literature Editor Whether or not the weather in your neck of the woods agrees, the calendar does, in fact, insist that spring is here. So what's on the reading menu this season? Good Books to Read in Spring Thematically springy, either in a literal sense or a symbolic one, these fabulous novels make for a fine seasonal reading list. See More About:  book recommendations  when you reach me  fire in the blood Review: 'The Baseball' by Zack Hample The start of baseball season marks the real beginning of spring for many die-hards, and Opening Day (April 1, 2011) is nearly upon us. For those who are looking to get in the spirit, or with a passing interest in baseball, check out this new book, which puts an interesting twist on baseball nonfiction: the book is literally about the ball itself -- its history, how it's made, how to catch one, and oodles of trivia. It's a fun read, for sure. See More About:  sports books  baseball  'Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night' by Joyce Sidman National Poetry Month is nearly here. For those of you who work with or live with children, it's about time to get your ducks in a row. Our Guide to Children's Books, Elizabeth Kennedy, recommends this 2011 Newbery Award Winner as the perfect book of poems with which to kick your celebrations off. See More About:  poetry books for children  authors of children's books  illustrators of children's books New Films on Poets and Poetry There seems to be an explosion of poetry-related films lately, with both dramatic and documentary movies popping up that explore the work of great poets. Have you seen a great one lately? Books & Literature Ads Books Best Fiction Books Top 100 Books Kids Reading Books Read Books List Featured Articles Manga Review - 'Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maidens Vol. 1' Shakespeare's Lost Years Are You an Elphaba or a Glinda? Thor Character Gallery Characters in 'Frankenstein' Elizabeth Taylor Quotes   More from About.com Discover the Disney Dream Disney's newest cruise ship has something for every family member, from the Aqua Duck watercoaster to adults-only lounges. More> Cruise the Celebrity Eclipse The Eclipse features luxurious interiors, a spa, and the "iLounge" where guests can check email and create their own photo books. 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   Writers on Writing Kurt Vonnegut on Writing With Style Robert Benchley on How to Avoid Writing John Updike on the Pleasures of Writing Advertisement

About Books & Literature: The Latest from Annie Proulx and More!

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Books & Literature From Megan Romer, your About Books & Literature Editor It's spring! Which means, of course, that it's nearly summer. Almost. So close. Blink and we'll be there. In the spirit of living in the moment, though, let's check out some reviews of a couple of recent releases and some other literary news. Review: 'Bird Cloud' by Annie Proulx Most contemporary literature fans are familiar with Annie Proulx's work, most notably her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Shipping News and her short story Brokeback Mountain, which became an Oscar-winning film. With this new memoir Bird Cloud, we get to know Proulx herself, though, for better or for worse. (Mostly for better.) See More About:  annie proulx  memoir  Review: 'Lucy' by Laurence Gonzales If you're looking for some new science fiction, see if this piques your interest: Lucy is a teenage girl who is half-human, half-ape, created in the lab by a mad scientist father, who dies and leaves her all alone. Lucy is fast-paced and thrilling, and though not necessarily Pulitzer material, it's a fun read. See More About:  lucy by laurence gonzales  bonobo apes  Read 'Jane Eyre' Now that a new film adaptation of Jane Eyre has hit theatres (read our review of the movie), it's about time you brush up. Save yourself digging through your old stack of paperbacks from college and read it right here, online! See More About:  charlotte bronte  women writers  jane eyre About.com Manga Reader's Choice Winners We asked, you answered. Over 4500 votes later, we've got our winners. Check 'em out! See More About:  readers choice awards  manga polls  best manga 2010 Books & Literature Ads Books Short Stories Books Kids Reading Books Dark Fantasy Books Children Story Books Featured Articles Spring Fevers: Readings For Writers 'Seeking the Blue Between: Advice... for Young Poets' How Many Sonnets did Shakespeare Write? Captain America Movie Gallery Astrov's Monologue from 'Uncle Vanya' April Fool's Day Quotes   More from About.com Discover the Disney Dream Disney's newest cruise ship has something for every family member, from the Aqua Duck watercoaster to adults-only lounges. More> Cruise the Celebrity Eclipse The Eclipse features luxurious interiors, a spa, and the "iLounge" where guests can check email and create their own photo books. 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   Spring Poems "A Spring View" - Tu Fu, c. 750 "To Spring" - William Blake, 1783 "A Prayer in Spring" - Robert Frost, 1915 Advertisement

About Books & Literature: After Earthquake, Manga Artists Share Hope, Help

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Books & Literature From Megan Romer, your About Books & Literature Editor Our Guide to Manga, Deb Aoki, checks in with us regarding many international favorite manga artists and writers after Japan's tragic and massive earthquake, we learn more about the history of information, get the skinny on a great novel that's now in paperback, and remember women's history month. Read on! Japanese Earthquake Relief: Manga Artists Share Hope, Help Manga artists from around the world are finding creative ways to raise funds for earthquake and tsunami relief in Japan, while manga fans wait anxiously for news of their favorite artists, many of whom live in the Land of the Rising Sun. Review: 'The Information' by James Glieck Information travels quickly in this day and age, and complex data can be transmitted with ease by laymen. Quickly-traveling information is not entirely a new phenomenon, though. Writer James Glieck explores information, and the transmission thereof, in his new book, which runs from African talking drums to early dictionaries to twitter and Wikipedia. It's a history worth reading. See More About:  science writing  history  nonfiction Paperback Pick: 'Solar' by Ian McEwan Now hitting the shelves in paperback form (thus giving you no further excuse) is this five-star read from 2010. Ian McEwan is a brilliant storyteller, and Solar might just be him at his very best. See More About:  solar  ian mcewan  british literature Sappho: A Classic Poet in Profile Sappho is a mainstay in any reasonably comprehensive survey of Women's Literature, so for Women's History Month, have a re-read of one of her most famous poems, translated many times over, and remember this most remarkable woman of the arts. See More About:  sappho  classical poets  greek poetry Books & Literature Ads Books Literature Books for Children Earthquake Reading Books Online Featured Articles Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley: A Mother/Daughter Pair Notes on the Writing Life Study Guide: A Streetcar Named Desire, Scene 5 Another Million-Plus Comic Readers Review Hamlet Think Positive Quotations   More from About.com Discover the Disney Dream Disney's newest cruise ship has something for every family member, from the Aqua Duck watercoaster to adults-only lounges. More> Cruise the Celebrity Eclipse The Eclipse features luxurious interiors, a spa, and the "iLounge" where guests can check email and create their own photo books. 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   St. Patrick's Day Stories for Children 'Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland' by Tomie DePaola 'Finn McCool and the Great Fish' by Eve Bunting 'Tales From Old Ireland' by Malachy Doyle Advertisement

About Books & Literature: Happy Mardi Gras, A New Thriller, and More

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Books & Literature From Megan Romer, your About Books & Literature Editor As you read this, I'm busy drinking beers and chasing chickens (well, probably mostly watching other people do those things, but I can at least pretend to be cool, right?), and just generally having a good enough time for all of those people who aren't fortunate enough to live somewhere with a Carnival or Mardi Gras celebration. Review: 'The Terror of Living' by Urban Waite A fairly straightforward debut thriller from new novelist Urban Waite, The Terror of Living is, according to our reviewer, an acceptable but certainly not ground-breaking work. Still worth a read? Check out our review and decide! See More About:  the terror of living  urban waite  thriller fiction Review: 'Swamplandia!' by Karen Russell Swamplandia!, on the other hand, seems much more worth your time, if you're into that slightly twisted modern Southern gothic comedic family-based sort of stuff. I certainly am! See More About:  karen russell  20 under 40  coming of age Whitman's 'I Saw in Louisiana a Live-Oak Growing' And now, to honor Mardi Gras just a touch. It's a holiday where being surrounded by a few thousand of your closest friends is par for the course, so this Walt Whitman poem might be just a touch ironic, though thematic all the same. See More About:  walt whitman  banned books  american literature The Setting of 'A Streetcar Named Desire' New Orleans, home of the most famous Mardi Gras celebrations, is the setting of so many amazing works of literature, which is no surprise, as it has more character than most cities in the world combined. Tennessee Williams chose it for the backdrop of this, his most famous play... but why exactly? See More About:  streetcar named desire  new orleans  french quarter Books & Literature Ads Mardi Gras Literature Best Books Classic Books Fiction Books Featured Articles Tennyson's 'Ulysses' Selected for Olympic Inspiration Everything Seuss! Calling All Teachers of Shakespeare... Thor Movie Gallery Elizabeth Barrett Browning Quotes Moto Hagio Gallery   More from About.com Discover the Disney Dream Disney's newest cruise ship has something for every family member, from the Aqua Duck watercoaster to adults-only lounges. More> Cruise the Celebrity Eclipse The Eclipse features luxurious interiors, a spa, and the "iLounge" where guests can check email and create their own photo books. 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   Quick Reads: Classic Essays "Advice on the Choice of a Mistress" by Benjamin Franklin "The Art of Controversy" by Ambrose Bierce "Bathing in a Borrowed Suit" by Homer Croy Advertisement