About Books & Literature: Spotlight on Nicholas Sparks and 'The Lucky One'

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Books & Literature From Megan Romer, your About Books & Literature Editor Jodi Picoult tends to spark love/hate reactions among the reading public. Nicholas Sparks, though, always seems to elicit a different sort of split: people either loooooooooooooooove his books or are relatively indifferent toward them. I read (and saw) The Notebook, and didn't quite get the hype, though didn't find it entirely unenjoyable, either. My beloved sister, on the other hand, looooooooooooooooooooooved the book and the movie and suspects that I may, in fact, have no soul. 'The Lucky One' Movie Review The Lucky One, which hit theaters on Friday, is based on Nicholas Sparks' 2008 release of the same name. I'll ruin the surprise for you just a smidge: if you liked other Sparks-based movies, you'll probably like this one. If you didn't? Read on for a chuckle. See More About:  the lucky one  zac efron  taylor schilling Nicholas Sparks Movies Speaking of Nicholas Sparks books-into-movies, here's a complete list. If you like crying in your popcorn and haven't seen all of these, get to it. See More About:  nicholas sparks  books into movies  a walk to remember Nicholas Sparks Complete Bibliography Believe it or not, there are Nicholas Sparks books that haven't been made into movies, and you'll find several of them on this list. Which one is the best, though? Over 200 of our readers have weighed in on that question. See More About:  nicholas sparks  romance novels  dear john Nicholas Sparks Biography Who is this Nicholas Sparks fellow, anyway? Well, for one thing, he's much cuter than I thought he would be. Also, a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, so I should probably avoid making snarky comments about him in the future. See More About:  nicholas sparks  romance novels  Books & Literature Ads Books Childrens Books Nicholas Sparks Fiction Books Amazon Books Featured Articles Book Sniffer Review: 'Hot Pink' by Adam Levin Shojo Beat Announces 2 New Titles for Fall 2012 2012 Trends in Children's Literature 'Journey's End' by R.C. Sheriff Rachel Carson Quotes   More from About.com Financial Emergencies An unexpected change in your financial situation can be incredibly stressful. Here's how to cope. More> Retirement Planning Learn the top five things you need to do in order to start building a retirement nest egg. 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 © 2012 About.com   Classic Poems for National Poetry Month Advertisement

About Books & Literature: How Eskimos Keep Their Babies Warm and More!

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Books & Literature From Megan Romer, your About Books & Literature Editor Before I had a kid I, like so many parents before me, read all the parenting books I could get my hands on. Drs. Sears, Spock, Ferber, Brazelton, and Weissbluth all took their place on my nightstand in the second trimester. Ultimately, though, I found the most entertainment (and comfort) in books about baby brain development (Einstein Never Used Flash Cards was a personal favorite) and anthropological studies. For anything else I need to know, Dr. Google is always on call. 'How Eskimos Keep Their Babies Warm' by Mei-Ling Hopgood A surprise hit in the literary world, this book studies the widely divergent parenting methods used by different groups of people around the globe. The moral of the story? There's no right way, and you're doing a perfectly fine job raising your kids. It's still fun to know how others do it, though. See More About:  parenting books  nonfiction  'Bringing Up Bebe' by Pamela Druckerman Another one that's making the rounds among parents and non-parents alike, this tome is either inspiring or offending every mom-blogger on the web. It certainly has some appeal (who doesn't want a kid who eats their vegetables and chicken livers with glee?), but does it promote an unrealistic ideal for American parents? See More About:  parenting books  reviews  french parenting 'When I Was a Child I Read Books' by Marilynne Robinson On my fairly short list of goals as a mother is a to raise an adult who looks back and utters the title sentence of this book. Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Marilynne Robinson presents this collection of inspirational essays about her life as a writer, her views on the world and politics and God, and various and sundry other topics. It's a dense, meaty read that's perfect for nonfiction and memoir fans. See More About:  when i was a child i read books  marilynne robinson  essays The Orange Prize Longlist Not into nonfiction? No worries. The longlist has been released for the 2012 Orange Prize, and, no surprise, it's a great bunch of novels. If your book club needs ideas, or you just want to catch up on the best of the best of the past year, these books are a great jumping-off point. Books & Literature Ads Free Books Children Books Kids Books Books for Children Preschool Books Featured Articles 'A Farewell to Arms' Quotes 2012 Eisner Award Nominations World Shakespeare Festival 'The Secret' Motion Comic Review Dipping Into David Crystal's Word-Hoard What Play Was Lincoln Watching?   More from About.com Financial Emergencies An unexpected change in your financial situation can be incredibly stressful. Here's how to cope. More> Retirement Planning Learn the top five things you need to do in order to start building a retirement nest egg. 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 © 2012 About.com   Read With Your Kids! 10 Resolutions For Raising a Child Who Loves Reading The NY Times Parents' Guide to the Best Books For Children Babies, Books, and Reading Aloud Advertisement

About Books & Literature: Famous First Lines and More

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Books & Literature From Megan Romer, your About Books & Literature Editor We know you can't judge a book by the cover, but can you judge it by the first line? Classic First Lines If you're a regular newsletter reader, you know that one of my 2012 resolutions is to read at least 20 classic novels that I've never read. It's going... slowly. But I haven't given up yet. I must say, this list of famous first lines has me rather inspired, and I suspect by next week, I'll be at least one or two books closer to my goal. See More About:  famous  first lines  novels 'Angelmaker' by Nick Hardaway New on the shelves is this 500-page epic about a quiet British clockmaker who unwittingly inherits the job of mob boss from his father. Our reviewer says that "Angelmaker is a blast, a sprawling 500-page narrative intertwining super spies and evil villains with motifs of mathematical beauty and artisanal craftsmanship." See More About:  nick harkaway  funny books  british literature 'A Good American' by Alex George A Good American is another recent epic, and one that seems to be making the rounds of the book clubs this spring. Our reviewer didn't love it, but didn't hate it, either. Says she: "If you're willing to suspend belief, and sink gently into the dreamscape of a story that George lays out, you'll find this book very satisfying. Full of whimsical coincidences and lucky breaks, characters successfully navigate their way to ownership, pursuit of the American dream, sexual awakenings, and religious epiphanies." See More About:  a good american  alex george  debut books Boycotting an Israeli Theater Company? News from impending World Shakespeare Festival really has our readers talking. A group of UK theater luminaries has signed a petition arguing against the inclusion of an Israeli theater company in the enormous festival. Our readers have a lot to say about the issue, from both sides. Weigh in or just see what they have to say. Books & Literature Ads Children Books American Literature Books Fiction Books Autobiography Books Featured Articles Manga Readers' Choice Awards Winners Vampire Monologues #1: The Welcome Speech Hurting Love Quotes Steve Martin on the Period Shortage Spotlight on Barefoot Books What is Cosplay?   More from About.com Financial Emergencies An unexpected change in your financial situation can be incredibly stressful. Here's how to cope. More> Retirement Planning Learn the top five things you need to do in order to start building a retirement nest egg. 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 © 2012 About.com   Poems By Amy Lowell A Fixed Idea (1910) Spring Day (1916) In Excelsis (1922) Advertisement

About Books & Literature: April is National Poetry Month!

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Books & Literature From Megan Romer, your About Books & Literature Editor Only 12% of Americans read poetry. Presumably, fewer than that read it with any regularity. It's unfortunate, because it really doesn't take much time and can add quite a bit of beauty and profundity to the day, so it's a good habit to develop. Why not read a poem a day for just this month and see where it gets you! All About National Poetry Month If you have kids, they'll probably be doing lots of National Poetry Month stuff at school, but there's no reason that you shouldn't partake in some of the fun yourself! Learn more about the history of National Poetry Month, and get some ideas for how to celebrate it. See More About:  national poetry month  american poets  Adrienne Rich, 1929-2012 Speaking of poetry, we lost the influential poet Adrienne Rich last week. Learn more about this powerful woman and the beautiful, meaningful poetry she wrote. 'An April's Day' by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow I don't know what it's like outside where you are today, but here, it's a glorious day -- the perfect day, in fact, on which to read this poem, one of my springtime favorites. See More About:  henry wadsworth longfellow  american literature  poetry Children's Books About Poetry Kids are usually more into poetry than adults (they're smarter than us in a lot of ways), so if you've got a wee poet in your house, help them nurture that love with some of these great books. If you celebrate Easter, one of these might snuggle nicely in the Easter basket, right between the Robin's Eggs and the Peeps. Picture Books About Easter Picture Books About Passover See More About:  poetry books for children  books about writing poetry  Books & Literature Ads Kids Books Authors Children Books Kids Books Books for Children Kids Picture Books Featured Articles 3 of Shakespeare's Most Popular Sonnets Recipe for a Supervillain Bureaucratese, Bilingualism, and the Language of 'Mad Men' Konami Kanata Coming to TCAF Apology Quotes Henrik Ibsen Profile   More from About.com Financial Emergencies An unexpected change in your financial situation can be incredibly stressful. Here's how to cope. More> Retirement Planning Learn the top five things you need to do in order to start building a retirement nest egg. 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 © 2012 About.com   Reviews of Recent Releases 'Writer, MD' edited by Leah Kaminsky 'A Good American' by Alex George 'Nightwoods' by Charles Frazier Advertisement