Enjoy a Book
Everything Robert Louis Stevenson
A new Robert Louis Stevenson website was launched on November 13 under the guidance of Edinburgh Napier University. The website contains pages devoted to each of Stevenson's texts, including plot synopses, full texts with page-turner facilities, and publication information. Also on the site is biographical information, and background about family, friends, his literary network, and his travels. You will find critical writings and lots more, such as references to film, television, radio, and theatrical adaptations of his works. It is all freely available and is a considerable resource for Stevenson scholars and enthusiasts.
Can't wait for Dan Brown?
Who can? But here's something that can help. IF YOU LIKE DAN BROWN is a list of books that look and feel like Dan Brown, blending suspense, science, history, and religion. Some say nobody does it better. Or do they?
The Mending of Health Care
As the current debate rages over health care reform, this look at one man's trek around the world seeking treatment for an old shoulder injury is timely. Reid, a Washington Post journalist and best-selling author, writes about his own experiences seeing doctors in England, France, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, and other countries that have differing models of, dare we say it, "socialized" medicine. He even goes to an Ayurvedic clinic in India. Just released in August, Reid's The Healing of America might just fill the prescription for an interesting read.
How can we think of the state of health care in America without thinking of the late Senator Edward Kennedy and his efforts to deliver good, affordable medical care to every citizen? In Last Lion , published in 2009, seven members of the Boston Globe staff examine his life, warts and all, and his enduring legacy, chronicling his sometimes shaky journey to become one of our most powerful and respected statesmen.
Hot Books for Summer!
Each summer, National Public Radio composes a list of summer reads after gathering recommendations from sources such as the Independent Booksellers Association, librarian Nancy Pearl, book critic Maureen Corrigan, and others. Visit the NPR Summer Books 2009 page to see their list divided by categories such as mysteries, cookbooks, nonfiction, and fiction. You can still read a few of these before the sands of time run out! And if summer wanes before you get to them, read them anyway. Who has to know?
Good Listens!
Anyone who enjoys audiobooks knows that narration is key. It can make or break the listening experience. An indication of a good listen is provided by the Audies, awards from the Audio Publishers Association.
The 2009 Audie Award winners were announced on May 29 in New York City. The Audies is the only awards program in the U.S. entirely devoted to recognizing distinction in audiobook and spoken-word entertainment. Awards were bestowed in over 30 categories.
Duma Key by Stephen King, and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows tied for best fiction.
Hot, Flat and Crowded by Thomas Friedman won in the nonfiction category.
Go to the Audies website to see the nominees and winners in all the categories.
