About Books & Literature: Get Cozy With These Books This Winter

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Books & Literature From Emily Faherty, your About Books & Literature Editor Are the freezing temps trapping you in the not-so-great indoors this winter? Remember, there's nothing like a good book to keep you warm (and keep you from going stir crazy with the family). Grab a blanket, some surprisingly easy, homemade hot chocolate, and one of these latest picks for our favorite readers. 7 Books for a Cold Winter Night Unlike summer's light, beachy reads, we love to dive into a bit of a heavier book in the colder months. How many of these popular winter books have you read? Search Related Topics:  book recommendations  the thirteenth tale  her fearful symmetry Coming Soon: February's New Releases We told you all about the latest January releases a few weeks back. But you've probably read them all by now, right? Good thing these new books hitting the shelves in February are just around the corner. Search Related Topics:  2014 books  new book releases  Top 10 Children's Books About Chinese New Year The Chinese New Year begins this Friday, January 31! Celebrate the Year of the Horse (and explain its significance to your kiddos) with these great Chinese New Year children's books that bring the holiday to life — dragons, lanterns, fireworks, and all! Search Related Topics:  children's books about holidays  childen's books about seasons  Related Searches Writer of Books Best Free Books Ready to Read Books Books on Line Children Books Featured Articles Follow About.com on Social Media! What You Should Read in 2014 Review: 'The Cuckoo's Calling' Our Favorite 2013 Illustrated Books for Kids 8 Innovative Online Magazines 12 Famous Authors on How Reading Makes You a Better Writer   More from About.com Run Your First 5K Even couch potatoes can be ready for a 5K with just a couple months of training. Read more...> Help! I'm Too Busy Time and stress management tips to help you feel as though you have more time. 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: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2014 About.com   Advertisement

About Books & Literature: New Review Round-Up

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Books & Literature From Emily Faherty, your About Books & Literature Editor The About.com Books & Literature Experts are always hard at work reading and reviewing some of the latest books to hit the shelves (including these brand new January releases). Let's take a look at a few of the most recently reviewed titles from their reading lists. 'Starting Over' by Elizabeth Spencer At the age of 92, Elizabeth Spencer released Starting Over, a new collection of nine short stories. The author and playwright is best known for the novella The Light in the Piazza which was made into a film in 1962 and a Broadway musical in 2005. January is a great time of the year to pick up her powerful and thought-provoking stories about new beginnings, a departure from one's old ways, and a growth in personal knowledge. Search Related Topics:  elizabeth spencer  short fiction  literary fiction 'Witch Finder' by Ruth Warburton This new YA book (the first in its series) by Ruth Warburton takes place in a Victorian London fantasy world and alternates between two narrators. There's Luke, a new witch hunter tasked with killing a randomly-selected witch in order to complete his initiation. And there's Rosa, an aristocrat expected to make a good marriage in order to help restore her family's fortunes and (of course!) Luke's chosen target. Expect a slow-build of adventure and a budding love story. Search Related Topics:  ya witch books  ya romance books  ya fantasy books 'The Ocean at the End of the Lane' by Neil Gaiman According to the reviewer, this dark, intoxicating novel by Neil Gaiman is a "mix of drama and fantasy that comes close to touching the hem of classic literature." It plunges readers into the story of a 47-year-old man returning home and facing mysterious events that happened 40 years earlier when he discovered a dead body, his family's flaws, and three neighbors with powerful supernatural secrets. Search Related Topics:  neil gaiman  ocean at the end of the lane  fantasy 'Chains' by Laurie Halse Anderson Middle school readers will enjoy Laurie Halse Anderson's award-winning historical novel Chains, the fervent story of one girl's personal revolution to break free from an intolerable situation and win her own freedom. It takes place during the American Revolution and is told from the viewpoint of Isabel, an orphaned slave girl living with a Loyalist family. When she is asked to help spy for the Patriot rebels, it opens up many questions, like who is most likely to grant her the one thing she most desires — the British or the Americans? Search Related Topics:  historical fiction for middle grade readers  middle grade / middle school nonfiction  middle grade / middle school fiction Related Searches Best Free Books Ya Books Classic Literature New Released Books Book Search Featured Articles What's New for February? 8 Innovative Online Literary Magazines What is Creative Reading? Introduction to Shakespeare's Women 12 Things Writers Have to Say About Reading January 19: Happy Birthday, Edgar Allan Poe!   More from About.com Run Your First 5K Even couch potatoes can be ready for a 5K with just a couple months of training. Read more...> Help! I'm Too Busy Time and stress management tips to help you feel as though you have more time. 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: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2013 About.com   Advertisement

About Books & Literature: 450th Year of Shakespeare

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Books & Literature From Emily Faherty, your About Books & Literature Editor Did you know 2014 marks the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare? All year long, Bard fans will celebrate the milestone with literary events around the world. We're joining in the fun and revisiting the works of the world's greatest playwright, too! If you haven't picked up Shakespeare since high school English class (guilty), it's time to reacquaint yourself with that iambic pentameter. Who Was William Shakespeare? There are actually a lot of missing gaps in Shakespeare's biography. We know he was born in Stratford-upon-Avon and staged many of his plays at London's Globe Theater. But these five interesting facts might really surprise you. Like that he didn't actually write his plays. Wait, what? Shakespeare: The Lost Years Quiz: Test Your Shakespeare Knowledge! Search Related Topics:  stratford upon avon  shakespeare's life  shakespeare facts What's Your Favorite Shakespeare Play? Whether you're into tragedies or comedies, Shakespeare seems to have a play to suit any mood. How many of his classics have you read? What Was 'Macbeth' About? Most Memorable 'Romeo & Juliet' Characters Much Ado in 'Much Ado About Nothing' Search Related Topics:  shakespeare's plays  shakespeare study guides  shakespeare in performance 'Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day?' What girl doesn't have a thing for "Sonnet 18"? (Swoon!) There are actually 154 Shakespeare sonnets total. So I guess the 450th anniversary is as good a time as any to try to read a new one! Start with these other favorite (and romantic) verses. Search Related Topics:  shakespeare's sonnets  love poetry  But What Does It All Mean? All those "wherefores" and "arts" and "thous" might leave you scratching your head, wondering what it even means. Shakespeare's language is all his own, so if you're having trouble following along, "give us leave to" help. Related Searches Best Free Books Shakespeare Sonnet William Shakespeare New Years Books Macbeth Shakespeare Featured Articles Top 10 Books of 2013 Cozy Books to Warm Up to This Winter What's New in January? What is a Reading Challenge? Best Book Club Reading Recommendations Favorite Children's Books for January   More from About.com Run Your First 5K Even couch potatoes can be ready for a 5K with just a couple months of training. Read more...> Help! I'm Too Busy Time and stress management tips to help you feel as though you have more time. 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: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2013 About.com   Advertisement