About Books & Literature: Literature of the Opening Ceremonies and More!

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Books & Literature From Megan Romer, your About Books & Literature Editor Sports... that's the thing with the ball and all that running, right? I won't lie. I'm not the world's biggest sports fan. I do quite like the Olympics, though, if for nothing other than the spectacle of it all. English Literature at the Opening Ceremonies Talk about a spectacle! Those opening ceremonies were, as a good London-born friend put it, "Fabulous, crazy, uplifting, and gorgeously British," while pretty much all of my American friends said, "Whoa. Weird." At any rate, it's the first time I can remember literary references playing out in such a major event, so have a look at Esther's round-up of the show! Children's Books About the Olympics My son is still sort of too young to understand the Olympics. Oh, who am I kidding, I just don't understand how most of the sports work, so I'm a terrible explainer. Perhaps it's time we invest in a few books around here. See More About:  summer olympics for kids  nonfiction books for kids  children's books about sports Review: 'Search Sweet Country' by Kojo Laing No interest whatsoever in the Olympics? Can't blame you, pal. Perhaps some esoteric literary fiction is more your game? Here's a suggestion for you: a re-release of an under-appreciated 1986 novel which "renders the Ghanaian city of Accra as an amorphous, Technicolor stage." See More About:  mcsweeneys  african literature  Now in Paperback: '11/22/63' by Stephen King If you've been putting off reading this 849-page non-horror time-travel-based Stephen King book, you're out of excuses. It's in paperback now and, well, there's not much on TV these days... See More About:  11/22/63  stephen king  jfk assassination Books & Literature Ads Kids Books Authors Read Books Online Books Literature Books Books on Line Featured Articles Dante's Gift to Poetry: Terza Rima 2012 Comic-Con Best and Worst Manga Interview with 'Wizzywig' Creator Ed Piskor Overcoming Writer's Block Friendship Day Quotes Special Needs Parenting Book Reviews   More from About.com Free Children's Books How would you like to have access to a free online public library of books from around the world for kids 3 to 13? Read more...> Best Water Parks Better pack your bathing suit -- here are our recommendations for the funnest, wettest, splashiest water parks around. Read more...>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Books & Literature newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2012 About.com   Let the (Improv) Games Begin! Olympics-Themed Improv Games Harry Potter Theater Games Classic Improv Game: Sit, Stand, Lean Advertisement

About Books & Literature: Poems for Weddings

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Books & Literature From Megan Romer, your About Books & Literature Editor I am one of a very tiny number of people who got invited to an impromptu wedding tomorrow, and though I think I might be able to wing a toast to the lovely and deeply spontaneous couple, I'm bringing a poem along in my pocket just in case. (I was told to wear jeans, so at least the pocket thing will be easier.) Poems for Weddings If you're planning your wedding, be kind and give your friends a week's notice or so. What I meant to say was, if you're planning your wedding, consider including some poetry in your ceremony. Our Guides to Poetry have assembled a beautiful collection here. See More About:  wedding poems  wedding songs  marriage ceremony Review: 'The Lower River' by Paul Theroux This newest release by Paul Theroux fictionalizes an incident from the author's own life, when as a young Peace Corps volunteer, he was held captive in a village in Malawi. Now in Paperback: 'The Night Circus' by Erin Morgenstern This wonderful novel, one of our Bestseller Guide's favorite books of 2011, seems to be on every book club reading list I've seen recently, and now it's conveniently in paperback. See More About:  the night circus  erin morgenstern  2011 books 2012 Eisner Award Winners A couple of weeks ago, the Eisner Award winners were announced at Comic-Con. See which comic book, manga, and graphic novel artist and writers, as well as some industry folks, took home awards this year. See More About:  eisner awards  2012 comic-con  comic-con international Books & Literature Ads Cheap Comic Books Selling Comic Books Wedding Poems Biography Books Read Books Online Featured Articles Picturebox to Publish Bara Manga Best Books for Boys Moliere and Theatre Superstitions Olympics Quotes Longfellow: 'Rain in Summer' Raymond Chandler - 'The Big Sleep'   More from About.com Free Children's Books How would you like to have access to a free online public library of books from around the world for kids 3 to 13? Read more...> Best Water Parks Better pack your bathing suit -- here are our recommendations for the funnest, wettest, splashiest water parks around. Read more...>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Books & Literature newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2012 About.com   Classic Essays About London "The Aspect of London" by Arthur Symons "The Coffee Houses of London" by Thomas Macaulay "Night Walks" by Charles Dickens Advertisement

About Books & Literature: The Best Books of 2012 (So Far!)

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Books & Literature From Megan Romer, your About Books & Literature Editor I tried to get up and get a book a few minutes ago, but it turns out, I've melted to my chair. I guess I'll just have to write this newsletter instead. The Best Books of 2012 (So Far!) In the tiny town where I spend much of my summers, the local library is the only place with reliable air conditioning. Woe is me, having to sit around all those books all day long. If you're in the same position, here are a few books to keep your eyes out for while you stay cool. See More About:  2012 books  book recommendations  the orphan master's son Free E-Short Story from Carlos Ruiz Zafon Or perhaps you are, like me, literally glued in front of your computer already. Or, y'know, from the Southern Hemisphere and totally baffled about what I'm talking about. (It's hot here in Upstate NY, in case you hadn't caught on.) Anyhow, here's something new and great and free for you to read, from the author of The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel's Game. What We Learned from Comic-Con Comic-Con International was last weekend, and my own Facebook feed was full of fun pictures of cosplay and other geeky delights. Some big-time announcements were made during the convention, though -- here are some of the biggest! See More About:  comic-con international  neil gaiman  comic book movies Picture Books About Gardens and Gardening Here's my parenting advice for the day: if you cannot possibly take your children outside because it is entirely too hot (or cold), you are still a Very Good Parent as long as you read at least a few books about outdoorsy stuff in the meantime. See More About:  books about gardening  children's picture books  Books & Literature Ads Middle School Books Read Books Online Computer Books Free Books Download Write Books Online Featured Articles Complete Text: 'Cyrano de Bergerac' Poems for Weddings What is Offset Printing? Online Resources for Writers: Summer 2012 How to Memorize Lines Dating Book Reviews   More from About.com Bake Sale Bestsellers Make your next bake sale a profitable one with these irresistible recipes. More> Real Recipes app Download our highly-rated app for free recipes and kitchen tools, for iPhone and iPod Touch. More>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Books & Literature newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2012 About.com   Advertisement

About Books & Literature: Comic-Con, A New Chris Cleave Book, and More!

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Books & Literature From Megan Romer, your About Books & Literature Editor Somehow, I miraculously didn't melt this week. My secret? I ate ice cream for every meal. With all the time I saved on cooking, I got some serious reading done. (Disclosure: I'm lying. I only ate ice cream for lunch and dinner. I ate frozen yogurt for breakfast. I'm not an animal.) Top 10 Reasons to Attend Comic-Con Comic-Con International -- the biggest comics convention in the USA -- is happening in San Diego this weekend, and our Guide to Comic Books sure makes it sound like an amazing time. Reason to Attend #11: the convention center is climate-controlled. Boo-yah! Read more... See More About:  comic con international  comic book conventions  Review: 'Gold' by Chris Cleave Our Guide to Bestsellers strongly recommends this new release from Chris Cleave (Little Bee, Incendiary), which focuses on athletes prepping for the 2012 Olympics. It's tricky business, working current (or future) events into fiction without seeming instantly out-of-date, but Cleave pulls it off. Read more... See More About:  gold  chris cleave  london 2012 olympics Review: 'In One Person' by John Irving I'm halfway through this book and expect to finish it here in a day or two, and thus far, I agree with our reviewer that it's exceptional. I'm an Irving fan already, but even if you're not, you might just find yourself enjoying this one. Read more... Interview With JuYuon Lee: Manga and More Our Guide to Manga had a nice long chat with JuYuon Lee, the Senior Editor of major manga publisher Yen Press, and they discussed the business of manga, what it means to be a manga creator these days, and more. It's a great read for anyone interested in the publishing business, and pretty darn near crucial for anyone who thinks they might like to be a professional manga author or artist someday. Read more... See More About:  juyoun lee  yen press  yen plus Books & Literature Ads Publishers for Books Biography Books Read Books Publishing Books Books Featured Articles Poems from 'Leaves of Grass' Alan Ayckbourn and His Plays James Thurber on Writing and Editing True Love Quotes Love in Shakespeare Review: 'Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons'   More from About.com Bake Sale Bestsellers Make your next bake sale a profitable one with these irresistible recipes. More> Real Recipes app Download our highly-rated app for free recipes and kitchen tools, for iPhone and iPod Touch. More>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Books & Literature newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2012 About.com   The Latest from our Guide to Classic Lit Novel Solution to Prison Overcrowding: Reading! Memories Awakened By Books Memory and Imagination: Nabokov Advertisement