Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Since I don't have television, it's difficult to keep up with daytime shows like Oprah. But I happened to be traveling and turned on the hotel tube to see Barbara Walters' appearance on Oprah — talk about female power! Surprisingly, it sounds like Barbara has written an interesting book, which she titled, Audition: A Memoir because she's been doing just that her whole life. I picked up a copy and thumbed through it and here what is in store for all you BW fans. Auditions is published by Knopf May 6th,2008.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
The cello is both the most beautiful and sorrowful of stringed instruments. And so, it is only fitting that The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway (Knopf, Canada April 2008) is a story of extraordinary beauty and imagination that will sweep you off your feet with its compelling prose. "One day a shell lands in a bread line and kills twenty-two people as the cellist watches from a window in his flat. He vows to sit in the hollow where the mortar fell and play Albinoni’s Adagio once a day for each of the twenty-two victims... " Entice your book group to read this month's Wine & Book selection, The Cellist of Sarajevo, based on the true story of Vedran Smailovic. Listen to the music while you taste the old-world wines from the region for a truly moving discussion and a memorable experience.
CS Richardson has worked in publishing for over twenty years. He is a multiple recipient of the Alcuin Award, Canada’s highest honor for excellence in book design, and a frequent lecturer on various facets of publishing, design, and communications. The End of the Alphabet: A Novel, published by Doubleday Canada, is his first novel and it has just been awarded the Commonwealth Writers Prize for A Writer's First Novel. Congratulations Scott!! [interview Feb 2008]
You may not have realized that the website you visit frequently for concise biographical information on world authors is coming from an obscure Finnish library near the Russian border! Meet Petri Liukkonen, Director of The Kuusankoski Library, Finland.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
The NYPL's "LIVE" series presents, BOOKS THAT CHANGED MY LIFE with a stunning line-up of authors: Annie Proulx, Olivier Rolin, Yousef Al-Mohaimeed, Antonio Muñoz Molina, Catherine Millet & Paul Holdengraber, moderator. And PUBLIC LIVES-PRIVATE LIVES from the PEN Society's "International Voices Festival". This year’s theme couldn't be more timely. How do we draw a line between our private and public selves? When must we tell private stories for the public good? How, as readers, writers, and citizens, do we confront threats to our privacy? What is still considered private in the Internet age? Do we need to redefine the meaning of public and private in the 21st century? The writers in this year’s Festival will mine this rich theme in a variety of literary conversations, panels, readings, and performances. Links and details inside.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
"In Farewell, My Subaru: An Epic Adventure in Local Living, Doug Fine writes about his hilarious adventures in green living and some surprising facts he discovered about energy consumption; such as, it takes several thousand gallons of jet fuel to fly an organic banana from Honduras to Silver City, NM, or three times the amount of fuel he uses in his car each year. After graduating from Stanford, Doug Fine strapped on a backpack and traveled to five continents, reporting from remote perches in Burma, Rwanda, Laos, Guatemala and Tajikistan. He is a correspondent for NPR and PRI and the author of Not Really An Alaskan Mountain Man. His work has appeared in the Washington Post, Wired, US News and World Report, Christian Science Monitor, and Outside magazine. A native of Long Island, he lives in an obscure valley in Southern New Mexico alongside many goats and coyotes. Visit his web site at www.dougfine.com
Sunday, April 13, 2008
With the news of world-wide protests over China's behavior in Tibet, and the resulting disruptions of the Olympic torch ceremonies for the Summer Games in Beijing, it seems appropriate that this year's PEN Freedom to Write Award go to imprisoned Chinese writer Yang Tongyan who is serving a 12-year prison term for posting anti-government articles on the Internet. What role does the PEN society perform and why should we care?
Monday, April 07, 2008
The winners of this year’s Pulitzer Prizes were announced on Monday, April 7, at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. The awards honor books in five categories — fiction, poetry, history, biography, and general nonfiction – though the judges may decline to give an award in any of them. The Pulitzer site, www.pulitzer.org, has all the results. A special citation was awarded to Bob Dylan for his profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power. Click on quick links to purchase.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Libration joins "celebration" with "library," though I'm uncertain whether it's a noun or a verb - possibly both! April 11th-19th. Details to come, but Save The Date on Saturday April 12th when four stunning Vancouver writers: David Chariandy, Shaena Lambert, Timothy Taylor and Teresa McWhirter come to Whistler. What do they have in common? They each live in Vancouver. They each published a new book in 2007 that is garnering popular and critical acclaim. Join us fireside at the WPL from 6-8 pm to discuss "Writing On The Edge: Perspectives of BC Writers." What is it about Vancouver's geography, economy, politics, history, climate, multiculturalism, or our proximity to the border that affects these writers? Check-out the Libration poster for all the events and activities
Sunday, March 09, 2008
"Transforming learning from on campus to off campus to where there's no campus at all," that's what iTunes U is all about. Load up on lectures from the top professors at the top universities in the country. And it's FREE. This is the most thrilling discovery for me in years. I love the trend of podcasts and v-casts to access online education. Presentations, performances, lectures, demonstrations, debates, tours, archival footage — it's all about getting inspired. Listen to "An Evening with Leonard Cohen and Philip Glass" from Stanford U, watch a linear alegbra class at MIT, or catch a lecture by Thomas Friedman on how technology has made Beijing, Bangalore and Bethesda "next door neighbors." Just download to your iPod and listen on the way to work or in the comfort of your living room by plugging into your TV.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
The next Whistler Reads (WR) meeting will take place May 10th at the WPL. This is our eighteenth book pick. Alternating between fiction and nonfiction titles, we have chosen The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama. With the Democratic primaries heating-up in the neck-to-neck race between Hillary and Obama, this is going to be a stunning meeting. We have a political skit planned by a former Second City actor and his team. Conservative candidate John Weston (Sea to Sky Corridor + Sunshine Coast) will discuss the book and field questions. John is himself an author, and he is passionate about Obama's non-partisan politics. Listening to John's voice message I learned he is muliti-lingual, and speaks English, French and Mandarin fluently. Don't forget - Sunday is Mothers Day. Bring yours and we'll have a long-stemmed rose waiting for her.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The New York Review of Books (NYRB) is moving offices from their current location to Hudson Street in Greenwich Village. Take advantage of the 40%-60% discounts on excellent titles not often available at these prices. Sale ends March 9th. Just browsing the list of fiction, translated fiction, essays and criticism along with other genres, I have pulled a few titles from my own shopping list. Aside from personal reading interests, it's always nice to have a few extra books on hand for gift occasions in the coming months; these are books suitable for most everyone. Learn more about this important literary and publishing force in America.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Put your FACE to a BOOK! It's a Whistler Public Library and WR-BookBuffet joint program. To celebrate the opening of the grand new Whistler Public Library, BookBuffet-Whistler Reads will be filming locals, resort visitors, World Cup and Olympic athletes as part of a video presentation putting your FACE to a BOOK. There is a child, teen, adult and athlete category. Everyone is welcome. Just pick a book and tell us, in about two minutes, what you loved about it. The video-book reviews will be compiled into a short feature film that will be previewed at the Whistler Library Opening Gala festivities April 12th-17th and available online here. Find out how you can participate below.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
It’s the variety that makes Joe Hill’s collection of 20th Century Ghosts, (William Morrow, 2007) stand out from the crowd of horror novelists. The stories range from the grotesque, to unnerving, even poignant and nostalgic.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
It is interesting to consider which books and authors are most popular with lending libraries versus the bestseller lists and literary fiction. James Patterson has just made the top spot, reports the Guardian, having tallied over 1.5 million copies of his books lent in the past year. He is the third author to have earned the distinction since they began keeping such records in 1982. J.K. Rowling and Ian McEwan only made it to 107 and 252 respectively on the library lending list, whereas their novels, Harry Potter and Atonement made it to 1 and 13 respectively on bestseller lists for the year. What does this say about borrowers? Check out the top 10 borrowed books list and see for yourself.
Friday, February 08, 2008
The Whistler Reads initiative is fashioned on the Citywide Reads programs in many cities across the country. Want to be a part of this exciting community venture, meet authors, discover new books, join the biggest book group in BC?
Read more and sign yourself and your group up today!
Friday, February 01, 2008
Cellophane (Dial Press) by Marie Arana is a novel set in the Peruvian rain forest during the 1930s where Don Victor Sobrevilla and his wife, Doña Mariana, venture to find a location for their papermaking factory. Along with the discovery of the secret to making cellophane (a fascinating story in itself) the family is drawn into an erotically charged landscape of surreal history and obsession. Nominated as a National Book Award finalist, Arana's writing has been compared to other literary giants, Allende, Marquez and Conrad. We think this novel is the perfect choice for February, when romance and exotic locations can sweep you away in the best literary tradition. Marie Arana, editor of Washington Post Book World Wines recommended for this book naturally derive from Peruvian sources. Enjoy!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
While browsing through the stacks at a favorite independent bookstore, I came upon a copy of Fifth Business, a Canadian classic by Robertson Davies, the first novel of his acclaimed Deptford Trilogy. I cannot resist a Penguin paperback—the combination of superior cover art and binding make them a pleasure to hold, read and collect. If you've not yet discovered Canada's prominent novelist, playwright, critic, and journalist, then pick up a copy of Fifth Business as it is his most autobiographical work of fiction. It tells the story of three characters—Dunstan Ramsey, Boy Staunton, and Paul Dempster, whose life paths are haunted by a single boyhood event. Davies' prose is reflective of his academic study of mythology and archetypes, his career as a repertory actor and theater advocate. He was one of the founders of the Ontario Stratford Shakespearean Festival, North America's leading classical theater.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Facebook, the social network site, invites members to invent applications for its users. The most popular of these is an online game called "Scrabulous" which is based on the Mattel-Hasbro board game Scrabble. The software was developed by Rajat and Jayant Agarwalla, who are based in Kolkata, India. Lawyers for the board game say the online version infringes their client's copyright and must be removed.
According to the Scrabulous website it has 594,924 daily active users - about a quarter of the total that have signed up to play it - meaning that at any one time in the day there are half a million people worldwide playing the game online. Users admit to having never played the board version, but after becoming hooked on Scrabulous...
Saturday, January 12, 2008
If one of your New Year's resolutions is to start a book group -- you're in good company. But it's important to lay the ground rules early and get into good habits. Here are some of the ways you can -- avoid the pitfalls.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
If you attended any fine art gallery shows this past year, chances are that the art book created for one of the collections was designed by Ed Marquand's team in Seattle, Washington. The New York Times this past December featured four Marquand titles in their "Ten Best Art Books of 2007" one of a series of "Bests" that the world waits to peruse before shopping for the bibliophiles on their holiday list. Marquand Books, one of the most respected companies of its kind in the United States, produces fine illustrated books for museums, galleries, publishers, artists, collectors, and architects.
Our next Whistler Reads book selection is going to appeal to all the male (and female) members who joined last month who tend to nonfiction. Challenge yourself to some world-class fiction. To our regular members, you are in for a treat. The spare, haunting prose of Per Petterson, Norway's most prominent fiction writer, has been receiving critical acclaim worldwide for his third novel, Out Stealing Horses: A Novel. Published by Graywolf Press, this story will captivate you from the first page forward. The style is nothing like typical North American prose. Here is a book I would encourage you to read out loud to family or friends in segments each night,for the pure pleasure of capturing this beautiful translated work. Join us at the Whistler Public Library on Thursday, March 6th 7-9 pm. Discussion Questions Below
Monday, December 31, 2007
My 2008 New Year's Resolution is to take the National Endowment for the Arts "To Read or Not to Read" report seriously and take action. The NEA produces the most comprehensive and reliable survey on reading there is. It draws from consistent, widespread sources that produce measurable conclusions: Only one in four Americans read a book last year. "Despite improved reading abilities in elementary school . . . all progress appears to halt in teenage years at age thirteen. There is a general decline in reading among teenage and adult Americans, and they read less well. Even college graduates' regular habit of reading has declined. These declines have demonstrable social, economic, cultural, and civic implications." What can we do? Read this and find out.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
For January we thought you'd enjoy reading Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia (Viking 2007), the runaway bestselling memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert. Facing a difficult divorce and a punishing affair, the New York journalist decides to escape her personal hardship by traveling to Italy then India, finally ending up in Bali. At once funny and profound, Gilbert's self-indulgent journey can be your guilty pleasure this month, along with fine wines picked by our partners at Women & Wine. Paramount Pictures has acquired the rights and will star Julia Roberts, according to Variety.com
Sunday, December 16, 2007
This is the list of authors and books that won awards in 2007.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
It is always a delight to speak with authors in the UK. BookBuffet caught up with Lucy O'Brien, who hails from London. Lucy is the author of several female rock biographies and female rock historical bestsellers. Her latest is the groundbreaking biography of pop icon Madonna. The Material Girl turns fifty in 2008 and in anticipation, Lucy has produced a thorough, sensitive, and illuminating treatise that will help demystify the woman who has made history as the most successful female singer to date.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
In our household every member receives a book for the holidays. When the busy social schedule calms down and before we have to return to work or school, it's nice to read a hand-picked book. Check out our highly personalized gift list, and make your shopping easy with one trip to the bookstore or order online, (make that "express, wrapped and labeled with free shipping") and save yourself the hassle of parking, shopping, and schlepping.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
A poet from the age of fifteen, Xiaolu Guo first came to London in 2002 as an experienced novelist and filmmaker from mainland China. Her observations led to her third book, the first in English, a remarkable mix of eastern and western ideals with a clever, funny, often profound and engaging writing style. Titled A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers: A Novel (Published by Nan A. Talese, September 4, 2007), The novel explores a subject that many people can relate to, the acquisition of a new language. This book was nominated for the 2007 Orange Prize for fiction. Read the review then listen to the interview, and view clips from her filmography. Xiaolu Guo is a talent we will see and hear more.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
"Prometheus stole fire and gave it to men."
-Apollodorus, The Library, book 1:7, second century B.C.
"My two great loves are physics and New Mexico. It is a pity that they can't be combined." So wrote J. Robert Oppenheimer, the enigmatic and mystic genius who managed to do just that at Los Alamos following his appointment as Scientific Director of the Manhattan Project.
The father of the atomic bomb was a unique polymath who can justifiably be credited with founding the foremost school of theoretical physics in America. Moreover, in contrast to many gifted mathematicians and physicists, Oppenheimer's intellectual curiosity extended well beyond the limits of his chosen career. He was a prolific reader and loved the arts, especially poetry. He was also fascinated by mysticism and with his remarkable facility to acquire languages with astounding ease, he learned Sanskrit so that he could study the ancient Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Short Message Service (SMS) allows users to "text" a message between cell phone, pocket PC's. More than 500 billion SMS messages were sent across the world's global system messenging in 2004. But just like the annoyance we've all experienced in public places when someone is talking loudly, endlessly and personally on their phone, SMS has its own set of issues. Learn some SMS etiquette
Thursday, November 29, 2007
The End of the Alphabet
by CS Richardson (Doubleday, 2007) is a one-hundred-and-nineteen-page gem coming out in paperback that you can read in one sitting. Be prepared to be taken on a roller coaster of emotion. It is the story of a couple, one of whom has just been diagnosed with a terminal illness and told will not live past one month. It is a story of love, of courage, and of loss. It is a story you will read and pass on to friends, because we all admire this kind of love; we all fear this kind of devastation and find ourselves compelled to look into their abyss. The End of the Alphabet has just been awarded the Commonwealth Writers Prize for First Novel. Congratulations Charles!!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
The folks at Bluerectangle.com have a great idea -- one I've been working towards myself -- video book reviews you can watch in about a minute or two delivered by (what appears to be) regular folks. It's a great concept for those of us attempting to look past the hype of a book by mainstream publishing marketers and get a peer review of a new book. It's like taking the Amazon visitor reviews one step further. With Blurectangle.com you get to see the reviewer and determine their sincerity and honest opinion. Click on title for more details.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Help us with our goal to break the top 100,000 websites. Today we're at 115,886 which is up there with www.health.com (117,423) and www.readinggroupguides.com (168,348). Did you know there are over 140 million domains registered world wide. That places Bookbuffet.com in the top 8.27%. How can you help? (a) Browse our latest features and click on the social networking links at the bottom of each to post it to Digg, Facebook or your own blog or favorite social networking sites. (b) Subscribe to our RSS feeds and get the latest book news, author interviews, member generated reviews and timely editorials. Our podcasts are a great way to discover new authors. (c) Register your book group. Easy as A B C - Click, Share, Join, Subscribe. Prizes to the lucky members who join on day 100,000! Stay tuned.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Will libraries holding book stacks become a thing of the past? Amazon's Jeff Bezos plans to announce his new electronic book-reader device called The Kindle on Monday in New York City at the W Hotel's swanky Union Square location. The Kindle will cost $399 but the W Hotel has a corporate alliance with Amazon that will allow guests to check out devices like a library book, with downloaded books coming straight off Amazon's website. Marketing research by the company followed iPhone's launch strategy that used celebrity endorsement. Rumors have it the year-long awaited e-readers will come with a pre-loaded bestseller. Watch for the announcement Monday. For a re-cap on the battle between Google and Amazon technology click feature title.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
American novelist, playwright, journalist, screenwriter and film director Norman Mailer died on this day of renal failure following lung surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award once, he was awarded the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters from The National Book Foundation in 2005. His break-out novel in 1948, The Naked and the Dead, published when he was just twenty-five, describes the face of war from his military experience when drafted into the US army serving in WWII Philippines theatre. It is on the Top 100 Novels List. Mailer and co-founder Dan Wolf started The Village Voice in Greenwich Village in 1955. Mailer was married six times and is survived by four children and one adopted son. For a list of his other creative works and links to noted obituaries, click feature title.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Madonna is the most famous female pop artist of our time; singer-songwriter, dancer, record and film producer, actress, and a fashion icon. She has won multiple Grammy and Golden Globe awards and is known for her controversial music videos, stage performances, and use of political, sexual, and religious themes in her work. Discover the woman behind the mystery. Journalist Lucy O'Brien's groundbreaking biography, Madonna: Like an Icon (HarperCollins, Nov 2007) gets at the heart of Madonna's chameleonlike existence. Extensively researched and perceptively written, it explores the complex personality and legendary drive that made her "the world's most successful female musican" (Guinness Book of World Records). A great book to discuss with your group over equally provocative wines picked for you by our partners at www.womenwine.com
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Follow the example of Whistler Reads - a village book group that is now on its sixteenth book selection, The Age of Turbulence by Alan Greenspan. This discussion promises to be one of the most thought provoking of the year. It is a must-read for anyone involved in business, finance, economics, politics or who simply wants to understand how the world operates. Penguin writes, "This book is the distillation of a life's worth of wisdom and insight into an elegant expression of a coherent world view. The Age of Turbulence will stand as Alan Greenspan's personal and intellectual legacy." Hosted by BC Entrepreneur of the Year Lukas Lundin, and with special guest speaker Glen Donaldson PhD from the Sauder School of Business. With economists forecasting a recession, the changes to the Cnd-US currency exchange rates, and the banks reeling from the sub-prime mortgage crisis - it behooves you to attend this talk. Don't miss the chance to meet Mr. Greenspan at a sold out event in Vancouver later in January. Sponsorship generously provided by Lundin Mining. Plus, Lukas Lundin has donated two tickets to see Greenspan that will be up for raffle at the January 4th discussion.
Join WR and get your ticket for Jan 4th online today! $20 advance/ $25 at the door
Your receipt is your ticket.
Saturday, November 03, 2007
The Financial Times last week unveiled the results of an online poll of readers to find the best business book of all time, and the winner, by a wide margin, was The Wealth of Nations
, Adam Smith's influential economic treatise published in 1776.
Friday, November 02, 2007
What makes us women? Whistler Reads fifteenth reading selection November 1st at the Durlacher Hof was a resounding success as members new and old (with tourist visitors attending from Mexico and Switzerland) had a one-hour conversation with the author, Dr. Louann M. Brizendine, via speaker phone. Available as podcast shortly As a neurobiology undergrad at Berkeley in the '70s, Louann asked the question, "Why is there no research study results of female animal behavior and brain physiology?" Since that time, researchers like Louann have, along with advances in non-invasive MRI and PET scanners, learned a wealth of information encapsulated in Dr. Brizendine's book, The Female Brain. Written in an easy to read, "Ahhah!" format that weaves what Publisher's Weekly calls "a trove of information and stunning facts" and that Huffington exclaims is "bloody brilliant ... answers questions that have plagued me for years, as well as ones I hadn't even formulated yet."
Monday, October 29, 2007
The iPhone is a multimedia and Internet-enabled quad-band GSM EDGE-supported mobile phone designed and marketed by Apple Inc. Its single-touch screen technology is so easy to use, they've sold more than 1.4 million iPhones since the release date on June 29th. To stop people from buying phones and reselling them, Apple announced last Thursday that it will limit sales to two per person (down from five) and you can no longer pay cash - they want to track credit cards and checks. What's so great about the iPhone? It's a virtual office enabling you to multi-task with a single finger. Take a look at what this amazing piece of technology can do, then read on to discover some of the perks and quirks of how people are using the phone.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
I heard the first firecracker go off in the street outside my office window just now, reminding me that Halloween is approaching for all the happy, carefree school children here in the West. This is not the case for the millions of children in Africa. Last evening the third in a series of talks put on by Whistler Community Services Organization hosted world-renowned Canadian human rights advocate, UN ambassador and HIV-AIDS speaker, Stephen Lewis. The sold-out 800-seat crowd gathered in the Whistler High School gymnasium gave organizers a fright just two days away from the event when only a quarter of them had purchased their $20 ticket. Proceeds go to the Stephen Lewis Foundation. Click title for full article.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Ms. Lessing, who turned 88 on October 22, never finished high school and largely educated herself through her voracious reading. She was born to British parents in Persia (now Iran), was raised in colonial Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), and now lives in London. She has written dozens of books of fiction, as well as plays, non-fiction, and an autobiography. She is the 11th woman to win a Nobel Prize in literature. Here is the latest coverage of the announcement with links to books.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
When Canadian Joseph Boyden came on the literary scene he wowed readers with his powerful historical fiction set during WWI about brotherhood, native identity, and the raw face of war. To meet and speak with Joseph is a pleasure. He's handsome, and has a quick smile and a generous personality. His self-effacing modesty makes him accessible to people despite his success and obvious talent. Please join me in listening to Joseph talk about his life, his writing, and his upcoming new novel, which will follow on the success of Three Day Road.
Monday, October 01, 2007
With the harvest and Thanksgiving on everyone's mind, BookBuffet invites you to take a look at Barbara Kingsolver's nonfiction treatise Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life
for this month's Wine & Book pick. It's about eating local, eating seasonal, supporting small farms, and saving the planet from extinction through your everyday purchasing choices of food that is not trucked, flown or shipped using fossil fuels to your market. Don't miss the opportunity to drink a lovely local wine along with this book when you meet to discuss it with your group. Women & Wine have lots of ideas on wine makers whose products are organic, too. Learn about wine as you read the wonderful titles selected especially for this group.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
It's Film Festival season in Canada again, which means right after Toronto, comes Vancouver and then Whistler. With so many excellent novels adapted to film we are going to list some of our favorites and introduce a "Books to Film" night on alternate months. Grab your book group members for a feature film in your neighborhood and meet for coffee to compare the book with the film. We'll provide details to spice up your discussion, but obviously everyone reads and views things from their individual perspective. Bring your expertise and share it liberally -- with the popcorn.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Let's eat, John. (OR) Let's eat John. The first is a request to John about a meal. The second is suggesting that John become the meal. "A misplaced comma can be a big deal!" says Jeff Rubin, the founder of National Punctuation Day®. What a brilliant idea. If you despised all that grammar stuff in school, now is your chance to brush up on punctuation. While your spell check program can hide one bad habit, it only takes a few memorized rules to keep you out of punctuation purgatory. A properly punctuated document can mean the difference between getting your point across, or losing your audience (or client, or job) altogether. Take this one day to celebrate the comma, apply the period, learn when to use a semicolon or a colon, and ensure you know where to put the apostrophe or how use a dash. An ellipsis -- what's that? Check out this website dedicated to punctuation, and purchase a copy of one of these excellent resource books for yourself or someone in need.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
The Whistler Writers and Readers Festival takes place September 14-16th. This year event organizer Stella Harvey and her Vicious Circle team invited Whistler Reads to take part. Sign up for a class. Don't miss our readers and writers mixer, Saturday Sept 15th 8-10 pm at Millennium Place. This evening is arranged and moderated by Whistler Reads founder, Paula Shackleton. It's Book Club Night when you get to chat with author Jen Sookfong Lee about her wonderful novel that is set in Vancouver's Chinatown, The End of East
(Knopf, Canada). Thanks to our sponsors who are providing door prizes. WR now boasts ~200 members. Everyone is welcome. "Whether you live, work or play in Whistler -- read what Whistler is reading." Join the WR Shanghai Tang After-
Party, 10-12 pm at Ric's Mix Lounge located nearby. Tickets and how to join WR below.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
As a book group moderator in a ski-resort town, I like to say, "You already exercise your body, come exercise your mind!" in my bid to get people to join our village book group. But studies show aerobic exercise actually doubles blood flow to the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for neurogenesis (new brain cell growth, new memory). It works for everyone: from aging brains to children, and everyone in between. Exercise in combination with social stimulation is even better, they say. That old adage "the body feeds the mind" turns out to be true. Here are three excellent books on fitness for three age groups. Motivation for everyone. Click the title for the full article describing the science and some cool products to use while working out.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
The Whistler Writers and Readers Festival takes place September 14-16th. This year event organizer Stella Harvey and her Vicious Circle team invited Whistler Reads to take part. Sign up for a class. Don't miss our readers and writers mixer, Saturday, Sept 15th, 8-10 pm at Millennium Place.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
They have been negotiating for decades, but just this week Canada, Quebec, and Nunavik came to an "agreement in principle" between the three sides, with a formal signing ceremony to follow within weeks. What does it mean for residents north of the 55th parallel in Quebec consisting of one-third of the land mass? Residents -- regardless of ethnicity -- will be given an opportunity to vote for their own government. A Nunavik Assembly of five members will act as the cabinet and elect a speaker. Each member will be responsible for one governmental department, such as health, education, and local and regional affairs. This treaty is different from BC's Nisga'a Treaty, which is based on ethnicity. Learn more about the treaty, the region, and the people with links to literature from the region.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Now in its thirty-ninth year, the Man Booker aims to reward the best novel of the year written by a citizen of the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland. It has the power to transform the fortunes of authors and even publishers; last year's winner Kiran Desai has traveled the world since winning in 2006. The 2007 longlist of thirteen books -- the Man Booker's 'Baker's Dozen' -- was chosen from 110 entries; 92 were submitted for the prize and 18 were called in by the judges. Browse the list (below), click on book titles to purchase; challenge yourself to read as many as you can. Each book is a gem crafted this year by authors from around the world. See list below... -photo credit ManBooker
Thursday, August 02, 2007
For the first time the rarest and most exquisite examples of the sacred texts of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths are on display together at the British Library: Torahs, Bibles and Qur’ans. If you are in London this summer it is worth a visit. If not, browse the BL's interactive online exhibit for a look at what these texts have meant to "people of the book" all around the world for centuries. It includes videos with discussions by historians and religious experts, a chance to "flip through" the books that are on display, and more. In these troubled times, it behooves us to understand the similarities between world religions. Here is a taste of my visit...
Monday, July 30, 2007
The Saxon word for pebble is chesil. Ian McEwan's brilliant new novelette, On Chesil Beach: A Novel
is this month's Wine & Book Group pick. Set in 1962, it begins on the wedding night of a young virgin couple, Edward and Florence. After meeting and falling in love at a London college, they anticipate their vows as the entry into 'real adult' life; however, naiveté brings disappointment. The story is a touching examination of relationships, love, sex, the era, and how, despite best intentions, people somehow manage to get it wrong. McEwan asks, "Can the entire course of a life can be changed –- by a gesture not made or a word not spoken?" Despite differences in sexual politics today, readers will resonate with these two characters. Chesil Beach is an excellent choice for the last month of the summer. So pack your beach bag and slip in a delicious wine selected by our partners at Women and Wine. McEwan calls this a movie-length book that will take about three hours to complete -- just right for a lazy afternoon picnic!
Sunday, July 29, 2007
TORONTO (Reuters) - An Italian writer decided to put his mobile phone to good use during his daily commute to and from work -- by writing a book. Robert Bernocco, an IT professional, took advantage of his travel time by writing a 384-page science fiction novel, Compagni di Viaggio (Fellow Travelers), on his Nokia using the phone's T9 typing system.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Is it the pitter-Potter of little feet I hear? In case you are like me, the only person left on the planet who has not managed to run out on Day One to purchase a copy of the latest and last Harry Potter books published by Bloomsbury, here is an excellent round-up on BBC of all the books in the series. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. J.K. Rowling is richer than her Queen from the royalties earned from book sales and associated film and merchandizing revenues. Click on feature title for excerpts and links to purchase.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
When Sir Ernest Shackleton was looking for men to join his expedition to the South Pole in 1914 at the outbreak of WWI, the advertisement is supposed to have gone like this: "Men wanted for hazardous journey. Safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success." My initial thoughts wandered to that when I was asked to travel for a book commission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the spring of 2006. Just eight weeks shy of the first democratic election in forty years, Global Watch was reporting rebel bands still roaming the eastern countryside, preying on civilians after the civil war that brought rape, starvation and genocide to 4 million people. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned of malaria and a host of curable and incurable endemic diseases. What follows is an account of my trip and the fruit of my travels, a 217 page photographic coffee-table book with accompanying essays on - the history, land and people of the richest undeveloped copper region in the world - Katanga: Land of Copper (Marquand Books, Dec 2006) Take a look at this snap shot of a country on the brink of change with renewed optimism for peace and prosperity. There is no Lonely Planet guide to the Congo as yet, but there soon will be!
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Your job as a participant of a book group discussion is not to understand. It’s a search, a seeking. A close-reading and discussion of a novel or short story does not require conclusions. Some writers write against easy answers, and endeavor to explore the ambiguities and paradoxes of life in their fiction.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
The RAND Institute is the original socio-political and scientific think tank. Everyone who read A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar, or saw the movie based on the book, is familiar with the story of the Nobel Prize-winning mathematician, John Nash. Nash worked at RAND, the scientific think tank established in 1946.
An acronym for "research and development," RAND is a non-profit institution that helps improve policy and decision-making through research and analysis. Much of this research is available to the general public through the institute's publications.
Residents in Whistler, BC are being treated to a visit by Graham Fuller - CIA and RAND Corporation Expert Sunday July 22 Spruce Grove Field House Public Talk and Forum at 4:30 Friends of the Forum BBQ at 6 pm. This event is being hosted by
The Whistler Forum for Dialogue. Don't miss it, and come prepared with some light pre-reading material. (Click title for details)
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Are you a literary snob? Take this Quiz And Find Out
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
&deThe Whistler Reads group is set to discuss this year's Mann-Booker prize winner, Inheritance Of Loss
by Kiran Desai on Thursday July 5th at 7pm at the Tandoori Grill restaurant in Whistler. With the group membership approaching 200, Founder Paula Shackleton is thrilled to see the support of the Sea to Sky corridor that includes the communities of West Vancouver, Squamish and Pemberton. "It is very exciting to see members from each of these communities participating in Whistler Reads. We welcome everyone - individuals, member of other groups, locals and visitors. Our mantra is, 'whether you live, work or play here'. Exciting opportunities are on the way!" Here is a list of research and discussion points the group will cover. Why not join WR today?
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Michael Moore's latest documentary "Sicko" deals with the healthcare debate in America. BookBuffet's Political Books Contributer, Loree Fayhe brought this excellent movie review by Isaiah J. Poole to our attention. It was posted on the affiliate website of the Institute for America's Future. Whether you agree with Moore's political bent or not, the film stirs the political pot and it will be interesting to see how the public responds and the pundits react. As Poole says, "Go see "Sicko" this week, and since members of Congress are in their states and districts, invite them to accompany you—especially if they think that the nation's medical care ills can be solved by Bush's little tax cut pills.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
July is the month that promises long summer days and time to escape into a delicious novel set in far-away lands. This month’s Wine & Book Pick take us to Beijing, China, where Nicole Mones (bestselling author of Lost in Translation) brings us an enticing story of friendship, love and, cuisine The Last Chinese Chef
(HoughtonMifflin, 2007)
Friday, June 29, 2007
The 2007 CBC Literary Awards competition is now open! The deadline for submissions is November 1st, 2007. The Awards are Canada's only literary competition celebrating original, unpublished works in both official languages. There are three categories: short story, poetry, and creative nonfiction, with cash prizes totaling $60,000, courtesy of the Canada Council for the Arts, publication in Air Canada's enRoute magazine and visibility for the winners and their winning entries offered by CBC.
To find out how to enter, visit their website at http://www.cbc.ca/literaryawards, email them at literary_awards@cbc.ca or call toll-free at 1-877-888-6788.
Stress is an endemic fact of life for people juggling career, family and personal needs. How do you recognize the signs, and how do you restructure your priorities to reduce stress and return to balance? Monica Magnetti is the author of, Outsmart Stress and Being in the Present Moment: How to Create the Blueprint of your Life, she is and the founder of Luna Coaching. BookBuffet spoke with Monica about this social phenomenon and the ways her life coaching practice has helped clients. Listen to the podcast of this interview, and read along with the transcript. Then click to Monica's site for an appointment or book purchase.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
The Authors Guild is the nation's largest and oldest society of published authors and the leading writers' advocate for fair compensation, effective copyright protection, and free expression. They have just been sent a check for $537,000 from the Dutch Lending Libraries for royalties on US books lent out. The practice is not done in North America - but it is in 19 countries in the EU. Read on to see how it works.
Monday, June 25, 2007
I am a big fan of the NewYorker magazine and many of their staff writers. Everyone who knows Malcolm Gladwell is familiar with his groundbreaking books, Blink and The Tipping Point. Gladwell (and others) made some fascinating presentations at their first "Conference 2012: Letters from the Near Future," on subjects ranging from the nature of genius, to morality, to gaming, to intellectual property. Don't miss these excellent podcasts. Some favorites below.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
One of the world's top literary prizes has been won by the twenty-nine year-old Nigerian novelist for her book set in the 1960's Biafran civil war. Meet Chimamanda Ngozi Adichel and her winning novel, Half of a Yellow Sun
(Knopf, 2006)
Friday, June 01, 2007
For June's Wine & Book Group pick we couldn't resist the novel that bumped The Da Vinci Code off of its number one spot on the New York Times Bestsellers List. The Birth House: A Novel
(William Morrow 2006) by Ami McKay is a story about midwifery, with all its controversy and struggles, set in the 1900s in a small town in Nova Scotia with the story-telling tradition of Annie Proulx.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Look no further for your summer reading picks, as three of my favorite authors have new books out just in time: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver, A Thousand Splendid Suns
by Khaled Hosseni, and Falling Man: A Novel
by Don DeLillo. We've thrown in a sexy beach read and a beloved classic for good measure. Order any three online for ontime and free delivery.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
As a person who leads book groups, meets and interviews new authors and reviews books, I frequently get asked the question, "How do books make it in the literary fiction market?" Rachel Donadio's article "Promotional Intelligence," in the May 21, 2006 edition of NYT reveals the window is smaller than a space shuttle trying to land in hurricane season—new authors have two weeks to make it.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
As a member of the torchered, ahem privileged people who call themselves "bi-coastal," I get to hangout in New York regularly. It is the publishing capital of America and my job requires that I meet with industry people. With Book Expo America taking over the city next month, there will not be a single hotel vacancy. I thought it would be fun to share a few of the things I like to do there.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Interested in meeting people and exploring new ideas? Then throw down the gauntlet and take The Whistler Reads Challenge!
Monday, May 14, 2007
Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen is an imaginative story set during the American depression involving an orphan boy named Jacob and the tribe of circus performers and animals that become his world. Alternating between Jacob's early life and his final years in a nursing home, the story is sure to intrigue and stimulate interesting discussions. For wines we've picked labels with elephants! Join the Wine & Book Group and meet more hearty food, story and wine lovers!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
The Path Gallery, owned by Brit Germann was the perfect location for this month's Whistler Reads (the village book group) discussion of Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden. This critically and popularly acclaimed novel is set in both Ontario and the trenches of WWI France where Canadians distinguished themselves in the courageous battle of Vimy Ridge. Three Day Road
powerfully evokes this history from a Canadian Native perspective in the same way that Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five
has etched in our minds the bombing of Dresden WWII. Horrifying and beautiful, it will resonate with the group for a very long time. Take a look at the discussion of this novel, which is certainly destined to become a Canadian classic.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
What do you do if you happen to live in a small town with only one theatre that only screens one box-office blockbuster every one to two weeks? If you’re the red-headed dynamo Shauna Hardy Mishaw, you get your buns in gear and turn that paucity of celluloid vacuity into The Whistler Film Festival—Western Canada’s fastest growing cultural phenomenon, screening 80+ films (including top North American directors), $40,000 in prizes and commissions, and the country’s most innovative programming through the Filmmakers Forum. All that and more in just five short years! Learn more about this vital regional addition to the world film festival circuit in this interview with the WFF Co-Founder and Executive Dirctor.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Several films are coming to theatres starting this month that have been adapted from books you have either read or been planning to read. Check out these trailers and see how the screenwriters, directors and actors make artistic alchemy of the book on (or that should be on) your shelf. The Namesake: A Novel
(Mar 9th), No Country for Old Men
(Aug 2nd), Atonement: A Novel
(Sept 6th), The Kite Runner
(Nov 2nd) Time Travelor's Wife (starts shooting in Aug)
Friday, April 13, 2007
Playright, essayist, novelist and literary icon, Kurt Vonnegut died in Manhattan on April 12th of brain injuries sustained after several falls in the previous few weeks. He is survived by his wife Jill Krementz, his six adopted children and one biologic son. Vonnegut's "dark comic talent and urgent moral vision" produced novels like Slaughterhouse-Five
, Cat's Cradle and God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater
. In all, he wrote fourteen novels ranging on metaphysical themes, the banalities of our consumer culture, the destruction of the environment, and creative science fiction worlds that all contained his own brand of philosophy and jokes. (click on title for full feature)
Monday, April 09, 2007
For our March Wine & Book Group book selection we have a wonderful story by Chinese-American author Lisa See. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel
(Random House Trade 2006), Lisa's third novel, is both a suspenseful and poignant story and an absorbing historical chronicle. Her books deal with the cultural divide between her two nascent cultures. To purchase wines suggested by our partners at Women & Wine, click link for more details. Author details and more inside...
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
The American Book Sellers Association is comprised of independent bookstore owners across America. Each month their internet arm, Book Sense tallies book sales in various categories to let consumers know what has been popular. Here are the books we shoppers purchased most in all categories in 2007.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Celebrated British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, author of A Brief History of Time
(originally published in 1988 with 10 million copies sold) plans to celebrate his 65th birthday by taking a zero gravity flight and then a trip into space courtesy of Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Galactic. The lifelong wheelchair-ridden scientist is famous for educating the masses on the origins of the universe, gravity, black holes, time travel and quantum mechanics.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
The Whistler Reads village book group met March 7th at 7pm at Millennium Place to discuss Margaret MacMillan's award winning, Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World (Random House) Three community members (City Councillors and the former Mayor of Whistler) brought history to life with a fun MadLib of the world leaders from the conference; (see pictures) the audience watched them argue and debate the terms of the peace and participated with their own comments and questions. Margaret MacMillan "addressed" the WR group via an earlier podcast interview with WR Director, Paula Shackleton. Fabulous Alsace regional wine was provided by Dundarave Wine Cellar with tasting notes and given out as door prizes. Thanks to Telus, for their support of WR literacy arts in our community.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Marketing, marketing, marketing. Authors either get it, or they struggle with out-dated, inefficient marketing plans. Lisa Unger, NYTimes bestselling author of Beautiful Lies: A Novel
and Sliver of Truth: A Novel
gets it! Her personal website has all the latest bells and whistles of a one-woman techno-band—great design, great audio excerpts, cool use of Flash® , interactive feedback ops, and reading group extras. Check it out!
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Seattle author, Kit Bakke has had an interesting life. In the '60s she was a member of the Underground Weatherman, an activist group who protested the Vietnam war. This interested the FBI enough to compile a 100 page file on her. Today this mother of two with two post graduate degrees and a book publication speaks to us about another reformer, the one featured in her first novel, Miss Alcott's E-mail: Yours for Reforms of All Kinds(David Godine Books 2006) Intrigued? Click on the link to our podcast in this article and listen along.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
While researching a book project this summer at the British Library I came upon a concise little primer on linguistics, Introducing Linguistics (Introducing... S.)
in the souvenir shop. If you have ever wondered about the science of language and the various disciplines that study it, this little gem will suffice.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Wondering how to make this year's Oscar house party even more fun and entertaining? Why not serve the wines matched to each of the Best Picture nominations. Here's what the gals at W&W have picked. Click on title for the full article with movie round-up and wine tasting notes.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Hilarious pillow fight captured by Scott Beale from the Laughing Squid.
View the video
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Residents of the Pacific Northwest have many opportunities to cross into the rich cultural firmament of our indigenous peoples from their own perspective of the immigrant mosaic. The Talking Stick Festival (Feb. 5-11) in Vancouver, BC brings together established and emmerging Aboriginal artists from across Canada in expressions of theatre, storytelling, writing, music, dance and visual arts. I attended a reading by the captivating and acclaimed author, Joseph Boyden Three Day Road (Penguin, Canada) at the First Nations House of Learning at UBC on Feb 7th, and came away with a greater appreciation of the proud and steady strides of this nation's founding culture.
Monday, February 05, 2007
BookBuffet's political books review editor, Loree Fahy tackles the latest book by CNN anchor and managing editor, Lou Dobbs. Read this review of War on the Middle Class (Viking, Oct 2006) and weigh-in with your comments.
Friday, February 02, 2007
If you are a fan of photography you will no doubt be familiar with the work of Annie Leibovitz. Brandished on the covers of so many Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair magazines her fold-out spreads of celebrities characterize a style. We look forward to "the movie star issue" "the music issue," the industry has become synonymous with her work. In her current exhibit at the Brookline Museum the lens is turned around—on Annie, her loves, family and friends. A Photographer's Life: 1990-2005 (Random House, Oct 2006) 472 pages.
For February's Wine & Book Group we return to Australia with the fifth novel of two-time Booker Prize-nominated Tim Winton, and his post-WWII Australian saga Cloudstreet (Schribner, reprint 2002). Purchase the book online and read the tasting notes of the fabulous regional wines our partners at Women & Wine have picked to match this title. Sip, discuss, enjoy! This is our 14th session. Register for the group, and join in the online discussions.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
"Many people describe Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'Letter from Birmingham Jail', and the civil rights movement as the defining moment in their lives and the generation since has been shaped from it."
Saturday, January 27, 2007
After putting her book club on hold for a year subsequent to her debacle with James Frey, Oprah has reconvened and she's sticking with the autobiography genre and Sidney Poitier's (Yes, the actor) The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography
published by Harper San Francisco 2000.
Friday, January 26, 2007
For at least this generation women have been hearing that smart men are not attracted to smart women. I happen to think the opposite is true --- and here is a book by Dr. Christine B. Whelan Why Smart Men Marry Smart Women
(Simon & Schuster, Oct 2006) Even if marriage isn't your goal, (Is there a book Even Smarter Women Don't Wed--just kidding?!) click on our header for details of the ABC News article discussing this topic & take their quiz.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Gotta love these names... Hal Wakes incoming Artistic Director for the Vancouver International Writers Festival has asked us to post this notice about a cool event they're presenting -- an evening of competitive wordplay that brings together Vancouver's finest. Host Billieh Nickerson, authors Caroline Adderson, Elizabeth Bachinsky, Kevin Chong, Steven Galloway and more! Click on header for details
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Literary Terms 101
Discussing books and examining literature often involves running into literary devices whose name and definition have escaped us since college and university days. Here is a test to refresh your memory.
Friday, January 12, 2007
This is the list of authors and books that won awards in 2006.
Monday, January 08, 2007
The life of doctors and the medical profession has been a source of fascination to the general public for years as witnessed by the success of television series from "ER" and "House," going back to "Marcus Welby" and "Ben Casey." Doctors and nurses do consult on the sets to ensure authenticity, and sometimes they cross-over careers to become professional writers. Vincent Lam's first novel, Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures (Anchor Canada 2006) won Canada's most prestigious literary award -- the Giller Prize for this first work. It gives the raw and honest perspective of medical students and young physicians struggling with the demands of the profession in the Canadian healthcare system. Click on the title for the full article. This is Whistler Reads "January" book discussion: Spruce Grove Field House 7pm Jan 24th. WR partners with the Whistler Public Library
Saturday, January 06, 2007
As popular as national hockey the Canada Reads book debate has become a national (literary) sport that pits a select panel in a series of broadcasts to promote the book title that they feel the whole country should read. Host Bill Richardson, veteran CBC broadcaster, print columnist and author of about a dozen books brings his wry wit and honed moderating skills to the sessions with the objective of involving the whole country in voting (and reading) not one, but perhaps several of the five books announced on the shortlist. It's a brilliant tactic to get Canada reading! Here are this year's books and the panelists who picked them. The debates run from February 28th to March 2nd and are broadcast 11:30 am and 7:30 pm EST. See how many books you can plow through, and don't forget to cast your vote.
Monday, January 01, 2007
January is a great month to review your resolutions. If one of them is "read more books" or "taste more wine" then this is the group for you! Join our Wine & Book Group, meet other people, and use the author, book and wine information to meet those ny's resolutions. This month we feature Joseph Kanon's compelling thriller that has been adapted to film starring Cate Blanchett and George Clooney and directed by Steven Soderbergh.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Ah yes, the holidays are upon us. After your last-minute shopping, why not take in one of these films with family or friends? Our four "B" movies -- er, not that kind of movie -- all start with the letter B: Babel, Bobby, Borat, and Bond. (Technically the new Bond movie is Casino Royal) Purchase the book suggestions that follow each movie for excellent post-view reading.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
It's always interesting to see which authors the books editor for the NY Times will pick for their annual Top 10. Here is the list, which has a selection of fiction, nonfiction and short stories by authors that include Gary Shteyngart, Claire Messud, Richard Ford, Marisha Pessl and more. Click on our article's title for complete list, or the hyperlink above to get to the NYT. (log in required for full NYT articles)
