Lauren Redniss' "Radioactive" tells the love story and scientific collaboration of Pierre and Marie Curie during the 19th and 20th centuries. It's a stunning combination of art and text that expresses much more than biographical events. Here's a look at this compelling, unusual book that uses glow-in-the-dark ink on its cover.
“La vie en Paris,” a siren’s song
Penelope Rowlands feels the siren call of Paris. On her website she writes, "Why, of all the places I've lived, did Paris affect me the most? For, although I’ve lived in half a dozen cities, this one left the deepest mark." The question drove her to compile "Paris Was Ours," a collection of 32 essays by diverse writers who bring us close to Parisian life and culture through their experiences. It's a delightful book to read.
Our imperfect memory
Julian Barnes is the author of 11 novels and three books of stories. His fiction has been nominated three times for past Man Booker prizes, and this year he snagged the win. "The Sense of an Ending" is spare in size but large in emotional scope. The narrator, a retired London man in his 60s, is forced to reevaluate his memories after receiving an unusual inheritance. Easily read in one sitting and unforgettable for the messages Barnes imparts about how we remember our past.
Obsession of a modern-day Ahab
When Ohio artist Matt Kish got the idea to illustrate the Signet Classic paperback of Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick," he decided to produce an illustration for every page. (The Signet Classic runs north of 500 pages.) He completed the project in 543 days. Here's the story of how that happened, and illustrations from the beautiful book that's published by Tin House Books.
The lucky life of Bruce Jay Friedman
Here's a memoir that's pure pleasure, written by a literary author and Hollywood screenwriter. The name-dropping is terrific fun, but the stories Bruce Jay Friedman shares in "Lucky Bruce" are the best.
Moscow’s neon lust and frenetic sin
A. D. Miller's "Snowdrops" is indeed a page-turner, as the judges of the Man Booker award have indicated. (Miller's debut is shortlisted for the award.) Much of its allure is the insider's view of modern Russia and the atmospheric, snow-charged, toe-numbing winters.
History is now and England, 2060-1940
Thank you Connie Willis for science fiction I've embraced and enjoyed in "Blackout/All Clear," award-winning time travel that goes backward in time, from 2060 to 1940.
An impulsive reaction turns fatal
Will Allison's "Long Drive Home" is a tense psychological and emotional drama so well executed it made me want to never put it down and nervously walk away from it at the same time.
Man Booker finalists that “zip along”
It's that time of year when the Brits count down to the best new 2011 novel published in the British Commonwealth or Republic of Ireland. Here's the final six, with links to synopses to help you make choices for your reading table. Also, the interesting premise that influenced the judges.
A famous “fait divers” in Paris, 1933
Sarah Maza's book about Violette Nozière's patricide, her trial and its outcome offer a look into the culture of crime in 1930s Paris overshadowed in history books by Hitler's rise to power. This is a satisfying story, interesting and historically rich.
A timely story about a father’s abduction
"Anatomy of a Disappearance" by Hisham Matar is fiction, but it touches the real-life story of the author, whose Libyan father spoke out against the Gaddafi dictatorship and disappeared several decades ago. Here's a look at this memorable novel, Matar's second.
Swedish crime from Karin Alvtegen
Here's an author to keep your eye on. She has three novels published in the U.S. and a style in the crime novel genre that's smart and captivating. I paid a hefty exchange rate so I could read her newest book "Shadow," and it was worth every British pound sterling.
A sisterhood of lonely hearts
If you're looking for that one final good book to read on the patio or take on vacation these dog days of summer, "Break the Skin" by Lee Martin just might be the one. The gathering of lovelorn, irrational characters in a Midwest small-town setting create the perfect, relaxed page-turning draw.
Hype that doesn’t pan out stateside
Stephen Kelman's "Pigeon English" is getting lots of attention for its unique narrative voice. It's even long-listed for the 2011 Man Booker Prize. But the plot draws from a true British crime, and that affects the success of the story this side of the pond.
Adventures in vintage drug paperbacks
I attended Pulpfest 2011 with a list in hand of 36 colorful book titles that included "I Am a Teen-Age Dope Addict," "The Marijuana Mob" and "Reefer Girl." Here's why, and what I learned about the books, plus photos of some that came home with me.
The Longest Chapter 