KBAQ Book of the Month
December 2009 KBAQ Book of the Month: The Symphony-A Listener's Guide by Michael Steinberg
The Symphony-A Listener's Guide, by Michael Steinberg
A great holiday gift for the serious classical music aficionado!
Full story
NPR Book Reviews
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Holly Golightly: Breaking Rules In A Little Black Dress
In 1961, the character Audrey Hepburn brought to life in the movie <em>Breakfast at Tiffany's</em> captured the imagination of an America on the cusp of a sexual revolution. Writer Sam Wasson shows how Hollywood made a hit out of a story about a call girl.
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'Ripe': One Man's Quest For The Perfect Tomato
Once upon a time, tomatoes were considered poisonous, even dangerous. But gradually, the plump produce made its way into our homes and onto our plates. Arthur Allen tells the story of the tomato's redemption, popularization and eventual modification in his book, <em>Ripe: The Search For The Perfect Tomato.</em>
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'Golden Mean': Everyday Liveliness In Ancient Greece
Alan Cheuse reviews the prize-winning book "The Golden Mean" by Annabel Lyon. The historical novel tells a story of the Greek philosopher Aristotle teaching Alexander the Great. Cheuse teaches writing at George Mason University in Virginia.
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What's The Story? Writers Reveal Why They Write
Whether they craft fiction or nonfiction, poetry or plays, writers use words to transport readers, and from the simplest blog post to the great American novel, it's a process -- and it's hard work. If you're a writer, tell us: What motivates you to put pen to paper, fingers to keys?
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Hardcover Fiction Bestsellers For July 29
<em>The Help</em> captures both black and white voices of 1960s Mississippi in renegade debutante Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan and housekeepers Aibileen Clark and Minny Jackson.
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In 'Four Fish,' Humans Get Schooled On Seafood
Lifelong angler Paul Greenberg fuses investigative journalism, travelogue and personal memoir into one grand meditation on humankind's relationship with the ocean. <em>Four Fish</em> asks readers "to reevaluate whether fish are at their root expendable seafood or wildlife desperately in need of our compassion."
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Amazon Launches Sleeker Kindle
A vice president at Amazon says the new e-reader, which will become available at the end of August, fits in a coat pocket or a relatively small purse.
-
One Nightstand, Six Affairs: Novels Of Illicit Love
Hotels, pools, beaches, airplanes: all good places to ignite a summer fling -- or read about one. Here are six recent titles that will let you explore, from the safety of your deck chair, our human capacity for ecstasy and pain.
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'Super Sad' And Satiric, Two Stories Of Doomed Love
Gary Shteyngart's dystopian novel narrates two doomed romances: one between a man and a woman, and one between a writer and his country -- or what he fears his country may become. By turns fierce, funny and frightening, <em>Super Sad True Love Story</em> deserves a place on the shelf beside <em>1984</em> and <em>Brave New World.</em>
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In E-Publishing Revolution, Rights Battle Wears On
In the most recent battle of the publishing revolution, a major literary agency has announced its plans to bypass traditional publishers and start selling some prominent titles as e-books through Amazon. Needless to say, publishers are fighting back.
-
'Advise And Consent': Scandal In The U.S. Senate
Thriller writer Richard North Patterson knows about engrossing political dramas -- he served as the SEC liaison to the Watergate special prosecutor. As his favorite thriller, he recommends Allen Drury's Pulitzer Prize-winning <em>Advise and Consent,</em> a political novel that still rings true after 50 years.
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A Fan's Notes: Being A Non-Spoilery Nonreview Of The 'Scott Pilgrim' Movie
In which our comics blogger, who worried about how the Scott Pilgrim books would translate to screen, breathes a sigh of relief.
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Summer Vacation Or Summer Digression?
For many school-aged children in America, summer means checking out of school for at least a couple months. But new research says long breaks from the classroom can set kids back. A group of moms -- Jolene Ivey, Dani Tucker, Loriene Roy -- join Ron Fairchild, CEO of the National Summer Learning Association, for a discussion about the pros and cons of summer break.
-
Conflict Widens In E-Books Publishing
A top literary agency announced a deal with Amazon to publish electronic version of some of its authors' older titles without going through traditional publishing houses. That has publishers on the defensive.
-
A Novel Approach: Free Books For Donations
The Concord Free Press has been publishing books and giving them away for the past two years. The Massachusetts-based publisher just asks readers to make a donation to a charity or a person in need and to chart the donation online. It also encourages readers to share the book with others.
The Symphony-A Listener's Guide, by Michael Steinberg
A great holiday gift for the serious classical music aficionado!
Full story
NPR Book Reviews
-
Holly Golightly: Breaking Rules In A Little Black Dress
In 1961, the character Audrey Hepburn brought to life in the movie <em>Breakfast at Tiffany's</em> captured the imagination of an America on the cusp of a sexual revolution. Writer Sam Wasson shows how Hollywood made a hit out of a story about a call girl. -
'Ripe': One Man's Quest For The Perfect Tomato
Once upon a time, tomatoes were considered poisonous, even dangerous. But gradually, the plump produce made its way into our homes and onto our plates. Arthur Allen tells the story of the tomato's redemption, popularization and eventual modification in his book, <em>Ripe: The Search For The Perfect Tomato.</em> -
'Golden Mean': Everyday Liveliness In Ancient Greece
Alan Cheuse reviews the prize-winning book "The Golden Mean" by Annabel Lyon. The historical novel tells a story of the Greek philosopher Aristotle teaching Alexander the Great. Cheuse teaches writing at George Mason University in Virginia. -
What's The Story? Writers Reveal Why They Write
Whether they craft fiction or nonfiction, poetry or plays, writers use words to transport readers, and from the simplest blog post to the great American novel, it's a process -- and it's hard work. If you're a writer, tell us: What motivates you to put pen to paper, fingers to keys? -
Hardcover Fiction Bestsellers For July 29
<em>The Help</em> captures both black and white voices of 1960s Mississippi in renegade debutante Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan and housekeepers Aibileen Clark and Minny Jackson. -
In 'Four Fish,' Humans Get Schooled On Seafood
Lifelong angler Paul Greenberg fuses investigative journalism, travelogue and personal memoir into one grand meditation on humankind's relationship with the ocean. <em>Four Fish</em> asks readers "to reevaluate whether fish are at their root expendable seafood or wildlife desperately in need of our compassion." -
Amazon Launches Sleeker Kindle
A vice president at Amazon says the new e-reader, which will become available at the end of August, fits in a coat pocket or a relatively small purse. -
One Nightstand, Six Affairs: Novels Of Illicit Love
Hotels, pools, beaches, airplanes: all good places to ignite a summer fling -- or read about one. Here are six recent titles that will let you explore, from the safety of your deck chair, our human capacity for ecstasy and pain. -
'Super Sad' And Satiric, Two Stories Of Doomed Love
Gary Shteyngart's dystopian novel narrates two doomed romances: one between a man and a woman, and one between a writer and his country -- or what he fears his country may become. By turns fierce, funny and frightening, <em>Super Sad True Love Story</em> deserves a place on the shelf beside <em>1984</em> and <em>Brave New World.</em> -
In E-Publishing Revolution, Rights Battle Wears On
In the most recent battle of the publishing revolution, a major literary agency has announced its plans to bypass traditional publishers and start selling some prominent titles as e-books through Amazon. Needless to say, publishers are fighting back. -
'Advise And Consent': Scandal In The U.S. Senate
Thriller writer Richard North Patterson knows about engrossing political dramas -- he served as the SEC liaison to the Watergate special prosecutor. As his favorite thriller, he recommends Allen Drury's Pulitzer Prize-winning <em>Advise and Consent,</em> a political novel that still rings true after 50 years. -
A Fan's Notes: Being A Non-Spoilery Nonreview Of The 'Scott Pilgrim' Movie
In which our comics blogger, who worried about how the Scott Pilgrim books would translate to screen, breathes a sigh of relief. -
Summer Vacation Or Summer Digression?
For many school-aged children in America, summer means checking out of school for at least a couple months. But new research says long breaks from the classroom can set kids back. A group of moms -- Jolene Ivey, Dani Tucker, Loriene Roy -- join Ron Fairchild, CEO of the National Summer Learning Association, for a discussion about the pros and cons of summer break. -
Conflict Widens In E-Books Publishing
A top literary agency announced a deal with Amazon to publish electronic version of some of its authors' older titles without going through traditional publishing houses. That has publishers on the defensive. -
A Novel Approach: Free Books For Donations
The Concord Free Press has been publishing books and giving them away for the past two years. The Massachusetts-based publisher just asks readers to make a donation to a charity or a person in need and to chart the donation online. It also encourages readers to share the book with others.
