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The Longest Chapter

The Longest Chapter

Literary fiction, poetry, first editions, classics…

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Category: Used Books

21 good books for the summer

June 21, 2018June 21, 2018 ~ The Longest Chapter

On the advent of the longest day of the year and the true beginning of summer, here's a list of books to cherry pick for your summer reading. They are riveting, involving, devastating or simply delightfully satisfying. But if you're looking for new releases, they're not here.

Why “Black Boy” still matters

February 27, 2018May 11, 2018 ~ The Longest Chapter

Published in 1945, Richard Wright's classic childhood autobiography vividly reveals what it was like growing up black and poor in the Jim Crow South long before the Civil Rights Movement. It’s an unsentimental but moving and distressing travel back in time that should not be missed.

A bookshop closes

January 26, 2018 ~ The Longest Chapter ~ 3 Comments

Much of my book collecting mania got spent at Acorn Bookshop that’s now going out of business. Here are a few of the treasures I found, in this tribute.

A city inspector’s book list

July 5, 2017July 8, 2017 ~ The Longest Chapter

Every once in a while, a person I hire to work at my house will pause in front of the book cases. This is one of those occasions.

An old good book for the beach

June 15, 2017June 15, 2017 ~ The Longest Chapter ~ 4 Comments

"Birdsong" by Stephen Faulks is a powerful epic not to be overlooked and a stunning portrayal of courage and redemption.

Great books go a step further

March 29, 2017 ~ The Longest Chapter ~ 7 Comments

What's the difference between a good book and a great one? Jonathan Safran Foer answers in an introduction to "The Fixer" by Bernard Malamud.

“They think we’re different, you know.”

January 26, 2017 ~ The Longest Chapter ~ 3 Comments

Most know "In the Heat of the Night" for the 1967 Academy Award-winning movie starring Sydney Poitier and Rod Steiger. The film is based on the mystery novel with the same title by John Ball, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2015. I thought it was time I read it.

A bibliomaniac’s burden

September 1, 2016 ~ The Longest Chapter ~ 3 Comments

I became determined in my need to find the right reading copy of Pat Barker's World War I novel, "Regeneration." Here's what happened that afternoon.

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Book Recommendations

Tune in to All Sides Weekend Books, aired on NPR member station WOSU 89.7 FM where I recommend great books to read. This includes many that don’t get enough media attention, the good stories readers struggle to find. You can stream the live show online, sign up for the podcast, or listen from the archives at  WOSU 89.7 FM. All Sides Weekend Books airs the third Friday every month with occasional exceptions.

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