About Books & Literature: Long Ago and Far Away

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Books & Literature From Megan Romer, your About Books & Literature Editor We got hit with a massive heat wave this past weekend, and the best solution we could come up with for keeping cool was to stay in a shady spot and move around as little as possible. Imagining that we were somewhere else seemed to help, too, so good books about other times or places were in order. 'In the Garden of Beasts' by Erik Larson This widely-acclaimed novelized history reads like fiction but isn't. A true tale of Post-WWI Germany, as seen from the vantage points of the American ambassador and his adventure-eager teenaged daughter, In the Garden of Beasts is eye-opening. 'State of Wonder' by Ann Patchett State of Wonder is a new novel from PEN/Faulkner Award Winner Ann Patchett. The story takes place deep within the richly-described jungles of the Amazon, wherein grows a rare tree which might be the source of a major medical breakthrough. Mysteries and richly interwoven plot twists abound in this gem, which ends with a fantastic twist. See More About:  ann patchett  Interview With 'Snow Flower and the Secret Fan' Author See The movie version of Lisa See's wonderful novel Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (which is, like most of her books, set in China) has hit the theaters, and our About.com Guide to Movies, Rebecca Murray, had a chat with See about watching her story transition to the big screen, what that means, how it works, and how she feels about the whole thing. It's a great interview that sheds light on both See's own process and the process of filmmaking in general. See More About:  snow flower and the secret fan  lisa see  wayne wang Historical Fiction for Middle-Grade Readers When I was a pre-teen, historical fiction was my favorite. I loved imagining life in other times and places. Actually, who am I kidding... I just liked to think about the clothes that I'd get to wear. Hoop skirts, kimonos, togas -- I was sort of obsessed with the concept, actually. But hey, it got me reading. If your young reader is looking for newer suggestions in the historical fiction realm, these books are all recent award winners, and they span multiple times and places. See More About:  historical fiction for kids and teens  children's and teen book awards  Books & Literature Ads Books Kids Picture Books Children Story Books Short Stories Books Literature Featured Articles Writers on Writing: The Myth of Inspiration Isaac Bashevis Singer Profile/Bio 'Angels in America' - Prior Walter Character Analysis Introducing the Shakespeare Comedies 10 Shojo Manga Must-Reads Marvel HeroClix Review   More from About.com 10 Bathroom Remodels There's nothing worse than a bathroom remodel that looks like it belongs in a gas station. If you're looking for inspiration, you'll find it in these luxe, lush photos. More> Inspired Bathroom Tile Choices New tile can transform your bathroom in countless ways, whether you're looking for a playful, colorful child's bath, a cool and elegant sanctuary, or a bold sophisticated escape. 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   Baseball Poems "Casey at the Bat" - Ernest L. Thayer (1888) "Infield Chatter" - Michael Harty (2011) Even More Baseball Poems Advertisement

About Books & Literature: Action-Packed Reading

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Books & Literature From Megan Romer, your About Books & Literature Editor Summer is a time for high-action blockbusters, but you don't have to go to the theater to catch a thrill... there are plenty of books around that will give you the same reaction, if not a better one. 'Carte Blanche' by Jeffery Deaver This new James Bond book, the first written by novelist Jeffery Deaver (The Burning Wire, The Broken Window), who was commissioned by the Ian Fleming estate, got four stars from our reviewer, and definitely seems to do the Bond name proud. See More About:  james bond  jeffery deaver  ian fleming 'Iron House' by John Hart Our reviewer calls this gritty crime drama "unpredictable and riveting" -- what the heck more could you possibly want from a thriller, right? The story of two orphaned brothers and a wild cast of characters -- many of whom are trying to kill them -- Iron House is one not to miss. 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman Need something a little shorter, but no less spine-tingling? Try this classic short story (we've got the entire thing ready for you to read for free). Be ready, though, it'll give you the shivers. See More About:  the yellow wallpaper  charlotte perkins gilman  short story What is the Cosmic Cube? For those of you who are movie buffs, or comic book buffs, or both, it's likely that you've caught at least one of the movies in the new Marvel movie franchise, which includes the new Captain America movie. If so, you may have noticed something called the Cosmic Cube. What is it, and what is its significance? Let our Guide to Comic Books, Aaron Albert, give you the history and the low-down. See More About:  captain america  cosmic cube  red skull Books & Literature Ads Books Children Story Books Kids Reading Books Book Club Books English Literature Featured Articles Grown-Up Books for Teen Readers Shakespeare for Kids Spellbound! Shadow Puppet Theatre Walt Disney Quotes Book Review: 'The New Terrarium'   More from About.com Romantic Road Photo Gallery Explore the enchanting medieval towns, vineyards, and historical castles of Germany's Romantic Road. More> Guide to Oktoberfest 2011 All the details you need to enjoy the beer, sausage and Bavarian Oompha bands at Germany's best festival. 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   Summer Poems Amy Lowell - "Summer" (1912) Carl Sandburg - "Back Yard" (1916) Gerald Manley Hopkins - "Epithalamion" (1918) Advertisement

About Books & Literature: Saying Goodbye to Harry Potter

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Books & Literature From Megan Romer, your About Books & Literature Editor This week, the final Harry Potter movie is hitting theatres. That means, of course, that we've come to the end of new Harry Potter releases. *Sniffle* 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' Book Review Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, aka "Book 7," was split into two separate movies. The first movie came out last November, and the second is imminent. Before you go to see it in the theatre, though, why not give the book one final read? It shouldn't take you too long -- it's only about 750 pages long. See More About:  fantasy  jk rowling  harry potter book reviews How Did 'HP7 Part 1' Measure up to the Book? Readers share their opinions (and you can, too!) about how closely the first Deathly Hallows movie matched up to the book. Was it worth the suspense? And how will the final movie be? 'The Deathly Hallows, Part II' Movie Information So this is it. The final chapters of the final movie of the final book. I'm thinking that bringing some tissues along when you go to see the movie might be a wise choice. If You Like Harry Potter... Now that there is officially no new Harry Potter to be had, fans will be needing something else to read. Here are some fantastic classics that will keep you and your kids reading for quite some time. See More About:  must reads  harry potter  fantasy Books & Literature Ads Harry Potter Deadly Hallows Movie Harry Stein Books JK Rowling Books Potter Books Featured Articles Captain America Movie Gallery Contest: Get Published in Shonen Jump! Shakespeare: The Lost Years Revisiting Stinky Sentences 'A Streetcar Named Desire' - The Final Scene Quotes About Me!   More from About.com Career Quizzes Not sure what you want to do when you grow up? Take a career quiz to see if your dream job is a good fit for your interests and skills. More> Self Assessments No quiz can magically tell you what to do with the rest of your life, but a combination of self assessment tools can help you decide. 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   Notable Recent Releases 'In The Garden of Beasts' by Erik Larson 'Buzz Aldrin, What Happened...' by Johan Harstad 'The Wind Up Bird Chronicle' by Haruki Murakami Advertisement

About Books & Literature: July's New Book Releases

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Books & Literature From Megan Romer, your About Books & Literature Editor In our typical over-the-top way, my family finished off our Fourth of July celebration with what we like to call Rocky Road S'mores (like regular s'mores, but with added peanut butter), and I ate about seventeen of them, and I'm still in a borderline comatose state. Since I cannot possibly be productive today, I'm just going to sit here and read. New Book Releases for July So tell me, what's your fancy? Mystery? Thrillers? Romance? July's always a hot month for books, and with releases coming from authors as diverse as Danielle Steel, John Hart, and Sapphire, there's something for just about everybody. See More About:  2011 books  new book releases  'The Night Train' by Clyde Edgerton This book is high on my July reading list, mostly because I'm a sucker for any and all plots that revolve around music. With jazz and old-school rhythm and blues featuring heavily in the story of The Night Train, I'm particularly enthralled. See More About:  clyde edgerton  southern literature  historical fiction 'Wandering Son' by Takako Shimura This new manga tackles the hefty subject of transgender identity issues in teenagers, and it does so with gentle humor and sensitivity and, as our Manga Guide Deb Aoki says, "Wandering Son is a refreshing example of a graphic novel that gives readers a glimpse of a life rarely seen and a story rarely told. Worth a read, and worth sharing." See More About:  wandering son  takako shimura  fantagraphics 2011 Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards Winners Another prestigious set of children's book awards has been handed down for this year. Check out these extraordinary children's books for yourself, and know that they have a pretty serious stamp of approval. See More About:  children's book awards  award-winning children's books  award-winning young adult books Books & Literature Ads Books Authors and Books Literature Award Authors Literature Writing Literature Featured Articles 5 Creative Ways to Analyze Plays Gone With the Wind at 75 Top Patriotic Superheroes Shakespeare the Stoner? Figures of Speech in the Movies Mitch Hedberg Quotations   More from About.com Healthcare Careers Have you been dreaming of working in the medical field? Here are a few things to consider before moving forward with your career plan. More> Medical Job Search From clarifying your goals to successfully interviewing, these six steps can help you obtain a rewarding and profitable medical career. 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   More Notable Recent Releases 'Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me' 'In The Garden of Beasts' by Erik Larson 'Between Parentheses' by Robert Bolano Advertisement