News Blog @ Wellington City Libraries

Not many of us live a Jack Reacher type of life, but Lee Child’s famous hero can still teach us some useful lessons. Who could quarrel with time – honoured army maxim : always be prepared (and perhaps the other : never volunteer for anything!). Many men will wish that they had adhered to Reacher’s rule of having only one woman at a time and everyone knows the value of travelling light. Some other dictums are perhaps more personal to him – such as the advantage of showing opponents what they’re up against with hand-to hand combat, advice on cracking codes and handling weapons,and an injunction against the breaking of furnture.

“Reacher’s Rules” below has been described as the ultimate guide to all seventeen Jack Reacher novels, which have a tremendous following. It is an excellent foil for the more serious works featured here, which include many how-to books, a new study of P.G. Wodehouse based on his letters, and another volume on Jane Austen’s ” Pride and Prejudice” to mark its centenary year.

Good prose : the art of nonfiction / Tracy Kidder & Richard Todd.
“Pulitzer Prize-winning author Kidder (Strength in What Remains) teams with his longtime editor Todd (formerly at the Atlantic Monthly) to write a comprehensive, practical look at the best practices of professional nonfiction writers and editors. While Kidder and Todd’s goal is to provide guidance for writing excellent “essays, memoirs, and factual narratives,” anecdotes and close readings throughout the text are an excellent resource for would-be writers of any prose genre. In an unusual move, the authors maintain their individual voices; some short sections are signed TK or RT, while other longer sections are written in an authoritative third person. Chapters offer advice from the field regarding “beginnings,” narrative, memoir, essays, factual reporting”. (Publisher Weekly)

Love in the afternoon : and other delights / Penny Vincenzi.
From her sweeping novels to her searing journalism, Penny Vincenzi has been writing all her life, and this is a collection of her work brought together in a single edition for the first time. As well as ten stunning short stories, Penny also shares some of her thoughts on a range of subjects from love and relationships to work and families, making this collection a must-read for any Vincenzi fan.(Syndetics summary).

The complete idiot’s guide to writing nonfiction / by Christina Boufis.
“Get all the tools you need to craft compelling creative nonfiction prose. This helpful guide gives you everything you need to write real-life characters, compelling plots, natural dialogue, and captivating details.”(Syndetics summary).

Reacher’s rules : life lessons from Jack Reacher / with a foreword by Lee Child.<br /”This irresistible guide to the world of the Reacher novels features timeless advice from Jack Reacher, the maverick former army cop, hero of Lee Child’s blockbuster thrillers, and now the star of a major motion picture. The brainchild of #1New York Times bestselling author Lee Child, Reacher is a freelance troubleshooter with a mysterious past—and a serious passion for justice. Now the hard-won knowledge and hard-hitting strategies of fiction’s toughest tough guy are within every thriller reader’s reach;—in a rapid-fire rundown of the trade secrets, tried-and-true tricks, and time-honored tactics that separate the man in the street from the man to beat.’ (adapted from book description on www.globalbooks.com).

Living, thinking, looking / Siri Hustvedt.
“A dazzling collection of essays by the bestselling author of What I Loved and The Summer Without Men. This is wrtten with Siri Hustvedt’s customary intelligence, wit and ability to convey complex ideas in a clear and lively way.”(Syndetics summary).

The storytelling animal : how stories make us human / Jonathan Gottschall.The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human
“Humans live in landscapes of make-believe. We spin fantasies. We devour novels, films, and plays. Even sporting events and criminal trials unfold as narratives. Yet the world of story has long remained an undiscovered and unmapped country. It?s easy to say that humans are “wired” for story, but why? In this delightful and original book, Jonathan Gottschall offers the first unified theory of storytelling. He argues that stories help us navigate life’s complex social problemsj̄ust as flight simulators prepare pilots for difficult situations. Storytelling has evolved, like other behaviors, to ensure our survival.”(Wellington City Libraries catalogue note).

“A life in letters / P. G. Wodehouse ; edited by Sophie Ratcliffe.
“This first comprehensive collection of correspondence by the creator of the irrepressible Jeeves and Bertie Wooster reveals Wodehouse (1881-1975) to be an indefatigably cheerful chap whose “voice” might easily be mistaken for that of one of his comic characters. Weaving biographical information around skillfully edited and annotated letters from 1899 to 1975, Ratcliffe creates a portrait of Wodehouse as a tireless worker, devoted family man, and loyal friend.”(Summary from www.globalbooksinprint.com).

Shakespeare’s common prayers : the Book of common prayer and the Elizabethan age / Daniel Swift.
“Swift (Skidmore) examines intersections between Shakespeare’s plays and the Book of Common Prayer, revisiting issues related to marriage, death, and remembrance familiar from the New Historicist and cultural materialist criticism of the 1980s and 1990s. His document-based approach, however, consciously departs from prior criticism in that it starts with a document that was central to Elizabethan culture, not one that simply “appears relevant now.” In the opening chapters (and thereafter), Swift makes clear that he has not arbitrarily selected the Book of Common Prayer as a Shakespearean source; he consistently justifies (CHOICE)

Happily ever after : celebrating Jane Austen’s Pride and prejudice / Susannah Fullerton.
In 2013 Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice turns 200. Again and again in polls conducted around the world, it is regularly chosen as the favourite novel of all time. Read and studied from Cheltenham to China, there are Jane Austen Societies from Boston to Buenos Aires, dedicated to sharing the delights of Jane Austen’s masterpiece. Here is the tale of how Pride and Prejudice came to be written, its first reception in a world that didn’t take much notice of it and then its growing popularity. (Wellington City Libraries catalogue note).

Shakespeare’s lost kingdom : the true history of Shakespeare and Elizabeth / Charles Beauclerk ; [foreword by Prof. James Norwood].
“It is perhaps the greatest story never told: the truth behind the most enduring works of literature in the English language. Who was the man behind Hamlet, Romeo, and Falstaff? What passion inspired words so potent that “not marble, nor the gilded monuments / Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme?”In Shakespeare’s Lost Kingdom, critically acclaimed historian Charles Beauclerk humanizes the bard who for centuries has remained beyond our grasp. If the plays and poems of Shakespeare were written today, he argues, we would see them for what they are-shocking political Works written by a court insider, someone shielded by the monarch in an unstable time of armada and reformation. But the author’s unique status and identity were quickly swept under the rug after his death. The official history-of an uneducated merchant writing in near obscurity, and of a virginal queen married to her country-dominated for centuries.Shakespeare’s Lost Kingdom delves deep into the conflicts and personalities of Elizabethan England, as well as the plays themselves, to die true story of the “Soul of the Age. ” This is a compelling, convincing history. You’ll never look at Shakespeare the. same way again. Book jacket.” (Syndetics summary)

This year is a momentous one in that it marks the two-hundreth anniversary of the publication of Jane Austen’s second and most famous novel, ‘Pride and prejudice’, descibed by her as ‘her own darling child”. The occasion has been marked in Britain by a commemorative stamp issue and a series of events including a readathon. Here in New Zealand, celebrations have been much more subdued, but Jane Austen fans will be fans forever, whatever the year!! We will doubtless receive many handsome volumes marking the event in the coming months, but in the meantime we feature a noteworthy biography which was published this year, to keep the flame burning brightly.

Literary rogues : a scandalous history of wayward authors / Andrew Shaffer.
“In this rollicking romp through a gallery of writers whose genius came with a price (alcoholism, drug addiction, depression, and other troubles), Shaffer (Great Philosophers Who Failed at Love) offers a terrific blend of literary history, biography, and witty commentary. With a breezy style full of pithy asides, Shaffer profiles a wide range of writers including the Marquis de Sade, Samuel Coleridge, Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Baudelaire, Dorothy Parker, Dylan Thomas, Elizabeth Wurtzel, and James Frey, exposing both the exuberant and the dark sides of their notorious lives. Shaffer may playfully acknowledge an early romanticized admiration for his rock star writers and their decadent lifestyles, but he does, emphatically, note the grim aspects of their lives (early deaths and debilitating depression). (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved” (Publisher Weekly).

My ideal bookshelf / art by Jane Mount ; edited by Thessaly La Force.
“The books that we choose to keep –let alone read– can say a lot about who we are and how we see ourselves. In MY IDEAL BOOKSHELF, dozens of leading cultural figures share the books that matter to them most; books that define their dreams and ambitions and in many cases helped them find their way in the world. Contributors include Malcolm Gladwell, Thomas Keller, Michael Chabon, Alice Waters, James Patterson, Maira Kalman, Judd Apatow, Chuck Klosterman, Miranda July, Alex Ross, Nancy Pearl, David Chang, Patti Smith, Jennifer Egan, and Dave Eggers, among many others. With colorful and endearingly hand-rendered images of book spines by Jane Mount, and first-person commentary from all the contributors, this is a perfect gift for avid readers, writers, and all who have known the influence of a great book.” (Syndetics summary).

The fun stuff, and other essays / James Wood.
“This collection of 23 essays gathered from the New Republic, the London Review of Books, and the New Yorker offers the latest proof that Wood (How Fiction Works) is one of the best readers writing today. Devouring these pieces back to back feels like having a long conversation about books with your most erudite, articulate, and excitable friend. To read his essays on the works of Norman Rush, Aleksandar Hemon, Leo Tolstoy, or Lydia Davis is to relive the specific brand of joy created by a particular work of genius. Wood’s reviews are never just evaluations; more often they are passionate, sensitive discourses on the variations of authorial voice, the nature of memory, or the burden of biography.(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved” (Publisher Weekly)

The real Jane Austen : a life in small things / Paula Byrne.
“Just in time for the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (first published in January 1813), comes Paula Byrne’s vivacious new portrait of its author. The approach Byrne (Jane Austen and the Theatre) takes is refreshingly material-based and the book is experimental in structure; each chapter unfolds from the biographer’s description of a small object associated with Austen’s life (chapter titles include “The East Indian Shawl”, “The Cocked Hat” “The Card of Lace”, “The Crimson Velvet Cushions”, and “The Topaz Crosses”). © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.” (Publisher Weekly).

H.P. Lovecraft : against the world, against life / by Michel Houellebecq ; translated from the French by Dorna Khazeni ; with an introduction by Stephen King.
“Michel Houellebecq, author of the controversial novel Platform (2003), pays tribute to H.P. Lovecraft in his extended 1991 essay, H.P. Lovecraft: Against the World, Against Life, translated from the French by Dorna Khazeni. In his introduction, Stephen King tells of an idea for a story he never wrote inspired by the Providence Gentleman. The book also reprints two Lovecraft stories, “The Call of Cthulhu” and “The Whisperer in the Dark.” (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved” (Publisher Weekly).

The open door : one hundred poems, one hundred years of Poetry magazine / edited by Don Share and Christian Wiman.
“Founded in the flower of modernism, important (and importantly unpartisan) during the clash of styles and schools in the 1960s, and resurgent (as well as well-funded) today, the magazine out of Chicago has long had a place at the center of U.S. verse. Share and Wiman-who now hold the titles of editor and senior editor-select a delightful and powerful set of poems from the magazine’s history”. (Publisher Weekly).

Good prose : the art of nonfiction / Tracy Kidder & Richard Todd.
“Pulitzer Prize-winning author Kidder (Strength in What Remains) teams with his longtime editor Todd (formerly at the Atlantic Monthly) to write a comprehensive, practical look at the best practices of professional nonfiction writers and editors. While Kidder and Todd’s goal is to provide guidance for writing excellent “essays, memoirs, and factual narratives,” anecdotes and close readings throughout the text are an excellent resource for would-be writers of any prose genre. In an unusual move, the authors maintain their individual voices; some short sections are signed TK or RT, while other longer sections are written in an authoritative third person. Chapters offer advice from the field regarding “beginnings,” narrative, memoir, essays, factual reporting, style, the business of writing, editing, and usage.” (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved” (Publisher Weekly).

Escape velocity : a Charles Portis miscellany / edited and with an introduction by Jay Jennings ; cover art and illustrations by Mike Reddy.
“Whether this is your first encounter with the world of Portis or a long-awaited return to it, you’ll agree with critic Ron Rosenbaum – whose essay appears here alongside tributes by other writers – that Portis ‘will come to be regarded as the author of classics on the order of a 20th-century Mark Twain, a writer who captures the soul of America’.(Summary from www.globalbooksinprint.com).

From Mānoa to a Ponsonby garden / Albert Wendt.
“In Hawaiʻi Wendt watches the changing shadows of the Koʻolau mountains from his verandah; considers the nature of mauli, the seat of life; walks protected in his partner’s perfumed slipstream to work; and writes to fellow poet Hone Tuwhare from the excesses of Las Vegas. In the second half of the book we move to the garden in Ponsonby in 40 ‘garden’ poems. Includes some of Wendt’s inky, drawn poems about the Sāmoan tsunami or galu afi. A book about ageing and the consideration of death”–Publisher information.

The moment : wild, poignant, life-changing stories from 125 writers and artists, famous and obscure / edited by Larry Smith.
“The turning points, revelations, epiphanies, dramatic changes, the opening or closing of a door—in a life, a career, a love—can occur in a single glorious, terrible, unpredictable, serendipitous, crucial, calamitous, chaotic, amazing . . . Moment.
The creators of the enormously popular Not Quite What I Was Planning and Six-Word Memoir series now offer stories of the Moment—the one-time chances, unexpected coincidences, and sudden catastrophes that made all the difference in the story of one life.
The results are triumphant, outrageous, heartwarming, heartbreaking, embarrassing,illuminating, and inspiring—life-changing moments from contributors Dave Eggers, Diane Ackerman, Elizabeth Gilbert, Bill Ayers, Jennifer Egan, A. J. Jacobs, Judy Collins, and many more.” (Syndetics summary).

How literature saved my life / David Shields.
“As the title suggests, the ever-goading, line-crossing Shields, riding high on the hubbub over his call for appropriation in Reality Hunger (2010), offers another mash-up of memoir and literary criticism. Though he veers off into annoying sexual braggadocio, he does offer telling glimpses into formative aspects of his life, such as his preference as a boy for watching rather than playing baseball, and why, for him, writing is bound up with stuttering. He critiques movies and television and muses on why we were gleeful over Tiger Woods’ fall, an inquiry that deepens into an energetic analysis of our tragic flaw, our impulse to self-destruct. Shields reiterates his call for nonfiction that explores our shifting, unstable, multiform, evanescent experience in and of the world and analyzes an array of writers.He is an invaluable mind-sharpener; as you read, you argue with him, thus affirming the passion literature arouses and sustains.”-Seaman, Donna Copyright 2010 BooklistFrom Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.” (Booklist)

Milton’s ‘Paradise Lost’ is regarded as one of the most important works in English language. This epic poem in blank verse is divided into twelve books, and deals with the biblical story of the fall of Adam and Eve. It has inspired a mass of critical commentary and interpretation and much theological discussion.The big new edition we feature here is of a very exulted kind, beautifully illustrated by Gustave Dore.
Other picks this month focus on more “bread and butter” matters – a humorous approach to winning the Nobel prize,a miilitary approach to writing a novel and a new book on New Zealand quotations which will raise many smiles.

Milton’s Paradise lost / illustrations by Gustave Doré.Paradise Lost
“Milton follows many classical examples by personifying characters such as Death, Chaos, Mammon, and Sin. These characters interact with the more traditional Christian characters of Adam, Eve, Satan, various angels, and God. He takes as his basis the basic biblical text of the creation and fall of humanity (thus, ‘Paradise Lost’), which has taken such hold in the English-speaking world that many images have attained in the popular mind an almost biblical truth to them (in much the same way that popular images of Hell owe much to Dante’s Inferno). The text of Genesis was very much in vogue in the mid-1600s (much as it is today) and Paradise Lost attained an almost instant acclaim.” (Syndetics summary)

Lives of the novelists : a history of fiction in 294 lives / John Sutherland.
“Arranged in chronological order the novelist’s lives are opinionated, informative, frequently funny and often shocking. Professor Sutherland’s authors come from all over the world; their writings illustrate every kind of fiction from gothic, penny dreadfuls and pornography to fantasy, romance and high literature. The book shows the changing forms of the genre, and how the aspirations of authors to divert and sometimes to educate their readers has in some respects radically changed over the centuries, and in others – such as their interest in sex and relationships – remained remarkably constant.” ( Summary from www.globalbooksinprint.com).

Quotable New Zealand quotes : Kiwi wit & wisdom for all occasions / compiled by Jim Weir.
“Helen Brown, James Belich, Joe Bennett, Steve Braunias, Dan Carter, Helen Clark, Joy Cowley, Max Cryer, Karl du Fresne, Marc Ellis, Dai Henwood, Sam Hunt, Kevin Ireland, Lloyd Jones, Sir Bob Jones, Hamish Keith, John Key, Dame Fiona Kidman, Chris Laidlaw, Nigel Latta, Michael Laws, Sarah-Kate Lynch, Richie McCaw, Bill Manhire, Peta Mathias, Paula Morris, Sam Neill, Sir Geoffrey Palmer, Hekia Parata, Bill Ralston, Sir Anand Satyanand, Tom Scott, CK Stead, Philip Temple, Brian Turner, Hone Tuwhare, Ian Wedde, Peter Wells, and Spiro Zavos … are just a selection of the noted and notorious whose words feature in this hand-picked and up-to-date smorgasbord of New Zealand quotations. Compiler Jim Weir has a magpie’s eye for the bon mot, whether from a celebrated humorist (’Every party you have ever attended: dull people talking about the weather and thinking about sex’ – Joe Bennett) or a post-quake Christchurch resident (’I now have a nervous pee every hour’ – Trevor Evans). Wry, wrenching, inspiring, scurrilous, scatological, laugh-out-loud funny: QUOTABLE NEW ZEALAND QUOTES is compulsively readable and a treat throughout” (Summary from www.globalbooksinprint.com).

How to win the Nobel Prize in literature : a handbook for the would-be laureate / by David Carter.
“With humor, wit, and insight, David Carter sets out a number of fail-safe rules to follow in order to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.There are acclaimed writersJames Joyce, Marcel Proust, Tolstoy, Mark Twainwho never won the Nobel Prize, and others, less well-known, such as Henryk Sienkiewicz, Paul Heyse, and Romain Rolland, who did. What exactly does onehave to do to impress, or be snubbed by, the Nobel Committee? This book is a fascinating survey of the Nobel Prize for literature, constructed as a tongue-in-cheek series of rules. “Be a man” is one of them, and “Make sure your best work has been translated into Swedish” another. Presenting biographical information as well as extracts from their work, David Carter will try to answer a number of questions about the prize, such as What are the outstanding qualities of the winners’ works? Were there any unusual circumstances attending the award? and Who else was considered and rejected and why” (Summary from www.globalbooksinprint.com).

Novelist’s boot camp : 101 ways to take your book from boring to bestseller / Todd A. Stone.
“Novelist and teacher Stone has organized this handbook as a battle plan, complete with missions and plenty of military argot, and includes instructions for a 12-week novelists’ book camp. His topics include mental preparation, invention, development, drafting (including the all-important shock and awe factor), revision and rewriting, editing and proofreading, and even a pass to break out of boot camp to pay a visit to writers’ groups and workshops. The material is chopped into easily-digestible MREs and the olive drab throughout camouflages the page numbers perfectly. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)” (Syndetics summary)

The Auckland University Press anthology of New Zealand literature / edited by Jane Stafford and Mark Williams.
“From Polynesian Mythology to the Yates’ Garden Guide, from Allen Curnow to Alice Tawhai, from Jessie Mackay to Alison Wong, from Julius Vogel to Albert Wendt, from the letters of Wiremu Te Rangikaheke to the notebooks of Katherine Mansfield – Māori, Pākehā, Pasifika, and Asian New Zealanders have struggled for two and a half centuries to work the English language into some sort of truth about this place. The Auckland University Press Anthology of New Zealand Literature brings together for the first time in one volume this country’s major writing, from the earliest records of exploration and encounter to the globalised, multicultural present”(Summary from www.globalbooksinprint.com).

The Sherlock Holmes miscellany / Roger Johnson & Jean Upton.
“This miscellany explores the fascinating and enigmatic world of Sherlock Holmes, his place in literary history and how he has become the iconic, timeless character who is loved by millions. Contains facts, trivia and quotes from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary stories, the reader can also explore the often weird and wonderful characters who graced Conan Doyle’s pages. Do you know the difference between a Penang Lawyer and a Tide-Waiter? And if you think a ‘life preserver’ is a cork-filled flotation device, how does Wilson Kemp fit one into the sleeve of his jacket? The Sherlock Holmes Miscellany is light-hearted and highly informative, and perfect for both the Sherlock aficionado and those new to the world of 221B Baker Street.” (Syndetics summary)

New selected journals, 1939-1995 / Stephen Spender ; edited by Lara Feigel & John Sutherland, with Natasha Spender.
“Private faces in public placesAre wiser and nicerThan public faces in private places.W.H. Auden, dedication to Stephen Spender, 1932 Stephen Spender wrote almost a million words of journal entries between his September Journal in 1939 and his death in 1995. In choosing from these voluminous journals for the new edition, the editors have tried to provide a picture of the various lives Spender brought together in autobiographical form. The earlier 1985 edition of the Journals was overseen by the author, and it privileged his thoughts about poetry – his own and other people’s. The new edition includes the final ten years of Spender’s life and provides access to the more intimate thoughts and feelings of the private man, but equally documents his life as a public intellectual who played a part in shaping the European literary and intellectual culture of his age. As we look back on the dramatic events of the twentieth century, we find that Spender was involved in many of them.” (Summary from www.globalbooksinprint.com).

Literary love : great writers on love and romance / Isobel Carlson.
“All around the world, every second of the day, people are falling in love. It has been the subject of books and songs for centuries, with many great writers, past and present, having something to say on the matter – from Aristotle (’Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies’) to Stefan Zweig (’I am sure that no one else has ever loved you so lavishly, with such doglike fidelity, with such devotion, as I did and do’).This collection of heartfelt quotations from diaries, letters, poems and prose is perfect for anyone feeling the heady rush of romance, whether it’s an old flame still burning bright or a new one just beginning to spark.” (Summary from www.globalbooksinprint.com)

Through the window : seventeen essays (and one short story) / Julian Barnes.
“In these seventeen essays (and one short story) the 2011 Man Booker Prize winner examines British, French and American writers who have meant most to him, as well as the cross-currents and overlappings of their different cultures. From the deceptiveness of Penelope Fitzgerald to the directness of Hemingway, from Kipling’s view of France to the French view of Kipling, from the many translations ofMadame Bovaryto the fabulations of Ford Madox Ford, from the National Treasure Status of George Orwell to the despair of Michel Houellebecq, Julian Barnes considers what fiction is, and what it can do. As he writes in his preface, ‘Novels tell us the most truth about life: what it is, how we live it, what it might be for, how we enjoy and value it, and how we lose it.’
When his Letters from London came out in 1995, the Financial Times called him ‘our best essayist’. This wise and deft collection confirms that judgment.” (Syndetics summary)

Magic hours : essays on creators and creation / by Tom Bissell.
“Award-winning essayist Bissell explores the highs and lows of the creative process from the set of “The Big Bang Theory” to the first novel of Ernest Hemingway to the final work of David Foster Wallace and more in this study of artistic creation and genius”. (Syndetics summary)

Wired for story : the writer’s guide to using brain science to hook readers from the very first sentence / Lisa Cron.
“Imagine knowing what the brain craves from every tale it encounters, what fuels the success of any great story, and what keeps readers transfixed. Wired for Story reveals these cognitive secrets-and it’s a game-changer for anyone who has ever set pen to paper”. (Syndetics summary)

Happy New Year to all lovers of literature.The beginning of 2013 sees the world of letters in very good heart as you will see from the selections we have for you this month. They include new collections of poems by Sylvia Plath and the American poet of protest Muriel Rukseyer. German writer Gunter Grass reflects on a pivotal year in his country’s history and Bill Manhire has produced an interesting collaborative work based on the last pages of Scott’s journal.

There is yet another analysis of the Harry Potter books – there is always more to discover about him ! – a book on the difficult art of writing creative non-fiction and to balance things out a humorous book on ‘typos” throughout the ages. We hope you find something to interest you here.

Sylvia Plath : poems / chosen by Carol Ann Duffy.
“Sylvia Plath was one of the defining voices of twentieth-century poetry, and one of the most appealing: few other poets have introduced as many new readers to poetry. Though she published just one collection in her lifetime, The Colossus, and a novel, The Bell Jar, it was following her death in 1963 that her work began to garner the wider audience that it deserved”. (Summary from www.globalbooksinprint.com).

Ardency : a chronicle of the Amistad rebels / compiled from authentic sources by Kevin Lowell Young.
“A multiple-voiced epic poem using many poetic forms, relating the story of the Africans who mutinied on board the slave ship Amistad in 1839. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.” (Library Journal)

The poetry of thought : from Hellenism to Celan / George Steiner.
“With his hallmark forceful discernment, George Steiner presents in The Poetry of Thought his magnum opus: an examination of more than two millennia of Western culture, staking out his claim for the essential oneness of great thought and great style. Sweeping yet precise, moving from essential detail to bracing illustration, Steiner spans the entire history of Western philosophy as it entwines with literature, finding that, as Sartre stated, in all philosophy there is ‘a hidden literary prose.’”–Jacket.

The politics of Harry Potter / Bethany Barratt.
“This political analysis of Harry Potter uses the beloved wizarding world to introduce readers to the equally murky and intimidating world of the political. Readers may be surprised to discover that in fact J.K. Rowling’s work provides us with entries into all of the most important political questions in history – from current controversies about terrorism and human rights, to the classic foundations of political thought”– Provided by publisher.

The seven deadly sins : a celebration of virtue and vice / edited by Rosalind Porter ; preface by Alex Clark.“In this lively collection of new writing, Nicola Barker, Dylan Evans, David Flusfeder, Todd McEwen, Martin Rowson, John Sutherland and Ali Smith go head to head with the capital vices to explore what we really mean when we talk about sin. The resulting mixture of erudite and playful essays and startling new fiction might not make you a better person, but it will certainly give you pause for thought when you’re next laying the law down or – heaven forfend – about to do something beyond the pale yourself.” (Amazon.co.uk)

You can’t make this stuff up : the complete guide to writing creative nonfiction–from memoir to literary journalism and everything in between / Lee Gutkinddivgt
“From rags-to-riches-to-rags tell-alls to personal health sagas to literary journalism everyone seems to want to try their hand at creative nonfiction. Now, Lee Gutkind, the go-to expert for all things creative nonfiction, taps into one of the fastest-growing genres with this new writing guide. Frank and to-the-point, with depth and clarity, Gutkind describes and illustrates each and every aspect of the genre, from defining a concept and establishing a writing process to the final product. Offering new ways of understanding genre and invaluable tools for writers to learn and experiment with,You Cant Make This Stuff Upallows writers of all skill levels to thoroughly expand and stylize their work.”(Summary from www.globalbooksinprint.com).

The collected poems of Muriel Rukeyser / edited by Janet E. Kaufman & Anne F. Herzog ; with Jan Heller Levi.
“Muriel Rukeyser held a visionary belief in the human capacity to create social change through language. She earned an international reputation as a powerful voice against enforced silences of all kind, against the violence of war, poverty, and racism. Her eloquent poetry of witness-of the Scottsboro Nine, the Spanish Civil War, the poisoning of the Gauley Bridge laborers-split the darkness covering a shameful world”. (Summary from www.globalbooksinprint.com).

These rough notes / [poetry by] Bill Manhire ; [photography by] Anne Noble ; [music composed by] Norman Meehan ; [vocals by] Hannah Griffin.
“Drawing its title from one of the last pages of Scott’s journal, These Rough Notes is a collaboration between writer Bill Manhire, photographer Anne Noble, composer Norman Meehan and singer Hannah Griffin. ‘Beneath the ice’ remembers the tragedies of Scott’s polar expedition of 1912 and the crash of NZ901 into Mt Erebus in 1979. ‘The notebook songs’ capture the experiences of scientists and other contemporary visitors to the ice”–Back cover.

Just my typo / compiled by Drummond Moir.“From the sublime to the ridiculous, Just My Typo is a hilarious collection of typographical errors, slips of the pen and embarrassing misprints which, like any typo of any kind, should never have happened, cannot be excused, and must not in any way be glorified. Enjoy.You’ll travel back in time to meet great figures from history: Sir Francis Drake (who circumcised the world in a small ship), Queen Victoria (who pissed graciously over the Menai Bridge), and Rambo (the famous French poet)”.(Summary from www.globalbooksinprint.com).

From Germany to Germany : journal of the year, 1990 / Günter Grass ; translated from the German by Krishna Winston.From Germany to Germany: Diary 1990
“Novelist, playwright, artist, sculptor, printmaker, and poet, Nobel laureate and controversial public figure Grass shares a fascinating journal in which he identifies himself as a cultural professional. Public intellectual might be the equivalent term in America, but Grass has no American equivalent. Here he recounts his crisscrossing of East and West Germany during their formal unification, one of the most important periods in modern German history.” (Booklist)

Swimming studies / Leanne Shapton.
“Swimming Studies is a collection of autobiographical sketches that explore the worlds of competitive and recreational swimming. From her training for the Olympic trials as a teenager, to meditative swims in pools and oceans as an adult, Leanne Shapton contemplates the sport that has shaped her life.”–Cover.

Shakespeare’s temor and Verdi’s cough is the intriguing title of this month’s first selection. It is a somewhat different take on our literary greats – an account of the medical afflictions which impaired their lives or ended them.This book will give you new admiration for the tenacity of these artists and give rise to astonishment that they could produce such wonderful work in the face of their malaise.
We also feature a new study on Shakespeare by a distinguished Japanese academic which examines what the bard can teach us about justice, the theme of many of his famous plays. He illustrates how many of these parables have relevance in the modern world.
Hobbit mania briefly seized Wellington last Wednesday – a perfect day merged into a perfect evening as the stars moved up the red carpet to the oohs and aahs of the excited crowd. It is fitting therefore that another prime pick this month is a book about this much-loved and widely read novel. If you feel you want to know more about what made Tolkein tick this is the tome for you.

Shakespeare’s tremor and Orwell’s cough : the medical lives of great writers / John J. Ross.
“The Bard meets House in this illumination of the medical mysteries surrounding ten of the English languages most heralded writers. Were Shakespeares shaky handwriting, his obsession with venereal disease, and his premature retirement connected? Did John Milton go blind from his propaganda work for Oliver Cromwell? These questions and many more are answered in this fascinating untold story” (Summary from www.globalbooksinprint.com).

The words of our time : speeches that made a difference, 2001-2011 / [edited by] John Shosky.
“We often look at history as a discussion of the past. But we are living modern history with each day, writing our story, setting a course for the time to come.Words of Our Time is a compilation of the great modern speeches of our time.It includes speeches by Barack Obama, Aung San Suu Kyi, Benjamin Netanyahu, George W. Bush, Tony Blair, Nelson Mandela, Benazir Bhutto, and Pope Benedict XVI.John Shosky, PhD, is a leading public speaking coach and author of “Speaking to Lead.”" (Summary from www.globalbooksinprint.com).

A thousand times more fair : what Shakespeare’s plays teach us about justice / Kenji Yoshino.
“Yoshino, celebrated law professor and author of the acclaimed memoir “Covering,” offers a fresh reading of a dozen seminal Shakespeare plays to show how they provide parables of justice relevant to our lives today.” (Syndetics summary)

Both flesh and not : essays / David Foster Wallace.
“A compilation of fifteen of Wallace’s seminal essays, all published in book form for the first time.Brilliant, dazzling, never-before-collected non-fiction, by the legendary David Foster Wallace, author of The Pale King. Beloved for his brilliantly discerning eye, his verbal elasticity and his uniquely generous imagination, David Foster Wallace was heralded by critics and fans as the voice of a generation. Collected in Both Flesh and Not are fifteen essays published for the first time in book form, including writing never published before in the UK.” (Summary from www.globalbooksinprint.com).

Finding my elegy : new and selected poems 1960-2010 / Ursula K. Le Guin.
“Though internationally known and honored for her imaginative fiction, Ursula K. Le Guin started out as a poet, and since 1959 has never ceased to publish poems. Finding my elegy distills her life’s work, offering a selection of the best from her six earlier volumes of poetry and introducing a powerful group of poems, at once earthy and transcendant, written in the first decade of the twenty-first century”. (Wellington City Libraries catalogue note).

Vex, hex, smash, smooch : let verbs power your writing / Constance Hale.
“Helps aspiring writers understand the importance of using powerful verbs in their work through examples of brilliant writing and presents a linguistic history to demonstrate how language and writing has evolved over time.” (Wellington City Libraries catalogue note).

Essays in biography / Joseph Epstein.
“Who is the greatest living essayist writing in English? Unquestionably Joseph Epstein. Epstein is penetrating. He is witty. He has a magic touch with words, that hard to define but immediately recognizable quality called style. Above all, he is impossible to put down. How easy it is today to forget the simple delight of reading for no intended purpose. Each of the 39 pieces in this book is a pure pleasure to read.” (Summary from www.globalbooksinprint.com).

Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien’s The hobbit / Corey Olsen.
“The Hobbit is one of the most widely read and best-loved books of the twentieth century. In December 2012, millions will be introduced or reintroduced to J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic with the arrival of the first of two film adaptations by acclaimed director Peter Jackson. Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” is a fun, thoughtful, and insightful companion volume, designed to bring a thorough and original new reading of this great work to a general audience. Professor Corey Olsen (also known as the Tolkien Professor) will take readers on an in-depth journey through The Hobbit chapter by chapter, revealing the stories within the story”.(From information provided by the publisher).

Romeo and Juliet / edited by John Crowther.
“No Fear Shakespeare gives you the complete text of “Romeo and Juliet” on the left-hand page, side-by-side with an easy-to-understand translation on the right. Each No Fear Shakespeare contains” (Syndetics summary).

OTHER TITLES IN THIS SERIES AT WELLINGTON CITY LIBRARIES:
HAMLET
MCBETH
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM.

Measure for measure / William Shakespeare ; edited by N.W. Bawcutt.
“Shakespeare’s vivid dramatic projection of moral and ethical issues in Measure for Measure has given the play great appeal to both readers and theatergoers. Exploring the play’s qualities as a complex work of art written specifically for the theater, the introduction to this new edition sets the play in its historical context, discussing the originality of Shakespeare’s treatment of a well-known story”.(Syndetics summary).

How to read a novelist / John Freeman ; drawings by W.H. Chong.
“John Freeman, author and editor of Granta magazine, has interviewed nearly every name in the world of literature. In this collection, Freeman has compiled the most insightful and fascinating of his interviews, essays and articles”.(Wellington City Libraries catalogue note).

Elemental : Central Otago poems / Brian Turner ; photographs by Gilbert Van Reenen.
“A very special book for everyone who loves those two rugged New Zealand icons: Poet Brian Turner and the Central Otago he so loves and defends. This collection of around 100 poems have been selected by the poet from over 30 years of writing. About half have been previously published u the other half are new. Turner has been one of the few writers who, over a long period of time, has been a lucid and lyrical interpreter of this special part of New Zealand.” (Summary from www.globalbooksinprint.com.).

Poetry is the medium of the month: we have received lots of lovely books on this topic this month – books of poetry, books on how to write poetry and on how to read it and appreciate it. The 2013 version of “Poet’s Market” is hot off the press – we hold a reference copy which is always available in the Arts, Music & Literature section (on the first floor at the Central Library) and another which is available for loan.
Prose is also not forgotten. Janeites will be pleased to see a new book written by a leading American academic on the cults and cultures connected with her work. We also feature a book on the writing of creative non-fiction (always a difficult medium to get right!) and another on Verdi’s use of Shakespeare’s plays in many of his operas. Plenty to choose from here – take your pick !!

2013 Poet’s market / Robert Lee Brewer, editor.
“The Most Trusted Guide for Getting Poetry Published. The2013 Poet’s Market includes hundreds of publishing opportunities specifically for poets, including poetry publications, book/chapbook publishers, contests, and more. These listings include contact information, submission preferences, insider tips on what specific editors want, and – when offered – payment information Plus, the editorial content in the front of the book has been revamped to include more articles on the Business of Poetry, Promotion of Poetry, and Craft of Poetry. Learn how to navigate the social media landscape, write various poetic forms, give a perfect reading, and more.” (Summary from Global Books)

Jumping ship : essays, speeches and incidental poems / Glenn Colquhoun.
“A book of essays and poems on the relationship between Pākehā and Māori, and on the practice of medicine…Includes, among other things, a state of the nation speech from Waitangi 2007, organised by the Treaty Resource Centre: He Puna Mātauranga te Tiriti; a keynote address for the English teachers conference, Takapuna Grammar, 2008; the introduction to the New Zealand edition of ‘Suburban Shaman’ by Cecil Helman; and an oration given at the conference of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, Wellington 2009″ (Publisher description)

Jane Austen’s cults and cultures / Claudia L. Johnson.
“Claudia L. Johnson shows how Jane Austen became “Jane Austen,” a figure intensely – sometimes even wildly – venerated, and often for markedly different reasons. Johnson begins by exploring the most important monuments and portraits of Austen, considering how these artifacts point to an author who is invisible and yet whose image is inseparable from the characters and fictional worlds she created. She then passes through the four critical phases of Austen’s reception-the Victorian era, the First and Second World Wars, and the establishment of the Austen House and Museum in 1949-and ponders what the adoration of Austen has meant to readers over the past two centuries.” (Summary from Amazon).

“You can’t make this stuff up : the complete guide to writing creative nonfiction–from memoir to literary journalism and everything in between / Lee Gutkind.
“From rags-to-riches-to-rags tell-alls to personal health sagas to literary journalism everyone seems to want to try their hand at creative nonfiction. Now, Lee Gutkind, the go-to expert for all things creative nonfiction, taps into one of the fastest-growing genres with this new writing guide. Frank and to-the-point, with depth and clarity, Gutkind describes and illustrates each and every aspect of the genre, from defining a concept and establishing a writing process to the final product. Offering new ways of understanding genre and invaluable tools for writers to learn and experiment with,You Cant Make This Stuff Upallows writers of all skill levels to thoroughly expand and stylize their work” (Summary from Global Books).

The best American poetry, 2012 / Mark Doty, editor ; David Lehman, series editor.
“Mark Doty brings the vitality and imagination that illuminate his own work to his selections for the twenty-fifth volume in theBest American Poetryseries. He has chosen poems of high moral earnestness and poems in a comic register; poems that tell stories and poems that test the boundaries of innovative composition. This landmark edition includes David Lehman&’s keen look at American poetry in his foreword, Mark Doty&’s gorgeous introduction, and notes from the poets revealing the germination of their work. Over the last twenty-five years,The Best American Poetryhas become an annual rite of the poetry world, and this year&’s anthology is a welcome and essential addition to the series.” (Summary from Global Books).

On poetry / Glyn Maxwell.
“A collection of small essays and chapters each tackling a different element of this enchanting art form, all written by prolific & acclaimed British poet Glyn Maxwell. Each essay illustrates Maxwells take on poetry, his inspirations, his favorite writers, and indeed his thoughts on what makes a good poem.” (Summary from Global Books).

Master class / by Terrence McNally.
“Master Class is a pyrotechnical theater–fireworks in a contained space where Maria Callas is brought back to life in Sturm und Drang. Inspired by a series of master classes the great diva conducted at Juilliard toward the end of her career, this drama puts Maria Callas at center stage again as she coaxes, prods, and inspires students–”victims” as she calls them–into giving the performances of their lives while revealing her own. As she slips off into memories, we experience her days at La Scala, her marriage to Meneghini, and her great doomed love for Aristotle Onassis. But the dazzling theatricality comes from Callas’s emotional explosions, her cutting wit, and the soaring music as each student sings an aria that exposes the Divina’s vulnerabilities … and her genius.’ (Summary from Amazon).

In praise of messy lives : essays / Katie Roiphe.
‘This powerful collection of essays ranges from pop culture to politics, from Hillary Clinton to Susan Sontag, from Facebook toMad Men,from Joan Didion to David Foster Wallace to—most strikingly—the author’s own life. For fans of the essays of John Jeremiah Sullivan and Jonathan Lethem. Katie Roiphe’s writing—whether in the form of personal essays, literary criticism, or cultural reporting—is bracing, wickedly entertaining, and deeply engaged with our mores and manners. In these pages, she turns her exacting gaze on the surprisingly narrow-minded conventions governing the way we live now.” (Summary from Global Books).

Verdi’s Shakespeare : men of the theater / Garry Wills.
“*Starred Review* Italy’s greatest operatic composer based his tenth, twenty-sixth, and final (twenty-seventh) operas on Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Othello, and The Merry Wives of Windsor, respectively. Wills strives to show how alike Shakespeare and Verdi were as creative artists and how, despite jettisoning more than half of Shakespeare’s words, the operas remain Shakespearean in significance. The Italian and Englishman each produced as well as composed his stage works, crafting them for the available talent ; Shakespeare, his acting company,Verdi, the available voices.”
(Summary from Global Books).

Why lyrics last : evolution, cognition, and Shakespeare’s sonnets / Brian Boyd.
“In Why Lyrics Last, the internationally acclaimed critic Brian Boyd turns an evolutionary lens on the subject of lyric verse. He finds that lyric making, though it presents no advantages for the species in terms of survival and reproduction, is “universal across cultures because it fits constraints of the human mind.” An evolutionary perspective- especially when coupled with insights from aesthetics and literary history-has much to tell us about both verse and the lyrical impulse.”(Summary from globalbooksinprint.com).

Here / Wisława Szymborska ; translated from the Polish by Clare Cavanagh and Stanisław Barańczak.Here
“No reader, not even poetry-phobes, should miss the bright revelations of Nobel laureate Szymborska. A Polish poet influenced by Czeslaw Milosz and annealed in her country’s suffering during WWII and Stalinsim, Szymborska writes pithy, mischievous, and wise poems that disarm, delight, and enlighten in a flash even as they illuminate hidden dimensions of existence. The poet marvels over the intricacy, immensity, secrecy, and vigor of life. In Microcosmos, she considers the miniscule entities a microscope reveals and wonders if they even know they are–or aren’t. In Thoughts That Visit Me on Busy Streets, Szymborska ponders nature’s recycling of faces, so that a passerby might be . . . some pharaoh with briefcase and glasses. She writes of her teenage self, the earth’s astounding bounty, accidents, nature’s innocence, and time.”(Summary from www.globalbooksinprint.com).

Literature-lovers might also like :

Reading on the farm : Victorian fiction and the colonial world / Lydia Wevers.
“In Reading on the Farm, Lydia Wevers uses the library on Brancepeth Station in the Wairarapa, its staff and users as the ground for an extended reflection on the meaning of books, reading and intellectual life in colonial New Zealand.” (Syndetics summary)

Murder is by far the most popular fiction genre – everyone loves a whodunnit – so a comprehensive book on detective fiction is very timely. ‘Books to die for” is such a book, in which the world’s greatest mystery writers discuss the world’s greatest mystery novels. Perhaps for the true addict reading about a murder mystery is not quite as satisfying as reading a murder mystery but you might find some new material here and discover new authors.
Science fiction is another popular genre and a very useful guide to the best novels published between 1985 and 2010 will find a ready audience. We round out this month’s picks with a book of essays on various aspects of biography, another on the world’s most influential speeches and a third on the poetry of Jack Kerouac – interestingly the medium he felt most defined him.

Books to die for : the world’s greatest mystery writers on the world’s greatest mystery novels / edited by John Connolly and Declan Burke ; editorial assistant, Ellen Clair Lamb.“With so many mystery novels to choose from and so many new titles appearing each year, where should the reader start? What are the classics of the genre? Which are the hidden gems. In the most ambitious anthology of its kind yet attempted, the world’s leading mystery writers have come together to champion the greatest mystery novels ever written. In a series of personal essays that often reveal as much about themselves and their work work as they do about the books that they love, more than 120 authors from twenty countries have created a guide that will be indispensable for generations of readers and writers. From Christie to Child and Poe to PD James, from Sherlock Holmes to Hannibal Lecter and Philip Marlow to Peter Wimsey, BOOKS TO DIE FOR brings together the cream of the mystery world for a feast of reading pleasure, a treasure trove for thse new to the genre and those who believe that there is nothing new left to discover. This is the one essential book for every reader who has ever finished a mystery novel and thought . . . I want more.” (Summary from www.globalbooksinprint.com).

Some remarks / Neal Stephenson.
“Neal Stephenson has made a name for himself as a writer whose imagination knows no limits.
-Salon.
No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Neal Stephenson is, quite simply, one of the best and most respected writers alive. He’s taken sf to places it’s never been (Snow Crash, Anathem). He’s reinvented the historical novel (The Baroque Cycle), the international thriller (Reamde), and both at the same time (Cryptonomicon). Now he treats his legion of fans to Some Remarks, an enthralling collection of essays-Stephenson’s first nonfiction work since his long essay on technology, In the Beginning…Was the Command Line, more than a decade ago-as well as new and previously published short writings both fiction and non. Some Remarks is a magnificent showcase of a brilliantly inventive mind and talent, as he discourses on everything from Sir Isaac Newton to Star Wars.”(Summary from www.globalbooksinprint.com)

Biography, a user’s guide / Carl Rollyson.
“Biographer Rollyson (English, Baruch Coll.; Rebecca West: A Life) provides an unusual mix of expertise and first-person anecdotes in 100 brief essays on various aspects of biography. Organized alphabetically by topic, the essays cover subjects ranging from “fair use” to “living figures” and include such prominent biographers as the late Richard Ellmann. The topical strategy may help readers who think, much like a biographer, in terms of categories, thus suiting Rollyson’s work for writers and students. However, the organization also obscures some content, e.g., a detailed examination of John F. Kennedy biographies dominates the essay “Definitive Biography,” yet it is only through the index that readers can find linked material on Kennedy. Rollyson maintains an informal writing style even for narrating academic questions, as in the essay “Libel,” wherein he discusses legal constraints regarding the use of unpublished material. The popularity of biographies has recently encouraged in-depth discussion about the genre’s development in both scholarship and journalism.” (BOOK JACKET)

The words of our time : speeches that made a difference, 2001-2011 / [edited by] John Shosky.“This is a book of the most influential speeches given since entering the new millennium. It is a timely book, capturing contemporary and powerful expressions of ideas and reasoning. Global in perspective, these speeches stand as unmediated and authentic testaments to the profound impact of great words and persuasive vision. Our ideas, mindset, politics, and culture have changed to reflect national and global events of immense magnitude, such as international terrorism, the rise of new wealth in the developing world, austerity in Europe and the United States, shifting global power arrangements, and new opportunities for investment and influence. These speeches define our present history and will be used by historians to understand us in the years and centuries to come. These are the words of our time.’ (Summary from Amazon.co.uk).

Science fiction : the 101 best novels, 1985-2010 / Damien Broderick & Paul Di Filippo ; with a foreword by David Pringle.
“Inspired by David Pringle’s landmark 1985 workScience Fiction: The 100 Best Novels, this volume supplements the earlier selection with the present authors’ choices for the best English-language science fiction novels during the past quarter-century. Employing a critical slant, the book provides a discussion of the novels and the writers in the context of popular literature. Moreover, each entry features a cover image of the novel, a plot synopsis, and a mini review, making it an ideal go-to guide for anyone wanting to become reacquainted with an old favorite or to discover a previously unknown treasure. With a foreword by David Pringle, this invaluable reference is sure to provoke conversation and debates among sci-fi fans and devotees.” (Synopsis from www.globalbooksinprint.com).

Jack Kerouac : collected poems / Jack Kerouac ; [edited by] Marilene Phipps-Kettlewell.
“Poetry was at the center of Jack Kerouac’s sense of mission as a writer. This landmark edition brings together for the first time all Kerouac’s major poetic works–Mexico City Blues, The Scripture of the Golden Eternity, Book of Blues, Pomes All Sizes, Old Angel Midnight, Book of Haikus–along with a rich assortment of his uncollected poems, six published here for the first time. He wrote poetry in every period of his life, in forms as diverse as the classical Japanese haiku, the Buddhist sutra, the spontaneous prose poetry of Old Angel Midnight, and the poetic “blues” he developed in Mexico City Blues and other serial works, seeing himself as “a jazz poet blowing a long blues in an afternoon jam session on Sunday.” Many poets found Kerouac a liberating influence on their work.”( Summary from www.globalbooksinprint.com).

June fourth elegies / Liu Xiaobo ; translated from the Chinese by Jeffrey Yang ; foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
“Xiaobo won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010, but could not visit Sweden to collect it: he was then, and remains, in prison in China for the human rights activism that began with his part in the demonstrations of 1989 at Tiananmen Square and continued, in and out of jails and labor camps, for the next 20 years. Each spring-whether incarcerated or “at home in Beijing”-Xiaobo wrote a poem to commemorate the Tiananmen victims. Those raw, yet reflective, sometimes nightmarish elegies make up the bulk of this bilingual edition, put into clear English by the poet Yang (Vanishing-Line), whose extraordinarily useful afterword puts Xiaobo’s sharp and sometimes allusive lines into both Chinese literary and historical context. Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved” (Publisher Weekly)

The view from up there / Gerry Te Kapa Coates.
“I admire the grace of these poems, and the carefulness which keeps them clear and direct. I also appreciate the ease with which they are able to bring together the Maori language and English, achieving a synthesis that is uniquely true to the country.” — Phillip Mann (Quoted in Beatties Book blog July 27 2012)

Whatever we think of the smooth, suave, martini-sipping super spy James Bond it is not usually that he was the saviour of Britain, nor that he is a figure of great cultural significance. But in a widely-praised new book, that is exactly how he is portrayed. It shows how he became the hero a depressed post-war country desparately needed, infusing it with new hope and vigour. Author James Winder grew up in Britain during those years, and fell in love with Bond. He writes with great enthusiasm and affection for his subject.

Staying with things British we also feature a new book of poems for Jubilee year by the current Poet Laureate Carol Duffy, appropriately entitled “Jubilee lines”, along with new books on Shakespeare and P.G. Wodehouse.

P.G. Wodehouse in his own words / edited by Barry Day and Tony Ring.
“An unorthodox biography of “the greatest comic writer ever” (Douglas Adams) and a window into the mind of a brilliant humorist. From the publisher of the acclaimed collector’s Wodehouse editions, P.G. Wodehouse In His Own Words is a sparkling collection of excerpts from the master’s own writings that reveals a wonderfully entertaining gloss on Wodehouse’s own life story.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The man who saved Britain / Simon Winder.
“After victory in World War II, Britain was a relieved but also a profoundly traumatized country. Simon Winder, born into this nation of uncertain identity, fell in love (as many before and since) with the man created as the antidote, a quintessentially British figure of great cultural significance: James Bond. Written with passion, wit and a great deal of personal insight and affection, this book is his wildly amusing attempt to get to grips with Bonds legacy and the difficult decades in which it really mattered.” – (adapted from Global Books in Print summary)

102 ways to write a novel : indispensable tips for the writer of fiction / Alex Quick.
“This straight-talking, sympathetic, but never patronizing guide to the artand the craftof writing fiction is a refreshing blend of the mundane (how to find an agent), with the more cerebral (the importance of rhythm; how to handle point of view). A delightfulvade mecumfor the aspiring author.” – (adapted from Global Books in Print summary)

The writing book : a practical guide for fiction writers / Kate Grenville
“A completely practical workbook that offers down-to-earth ideas and suggestions for writers or aspiring writers to get you started and to keep you going. The Writing Book doesn’t just talk about how to write fiction; it takes you, step-by-step, through the process of doing it. Each chapter concentrates on one aspect of writing: getting started, bringing characters to life, writing convincing dialogue, revising and writer’s block, etc. Exercises in each chapter are carefully structured so that each one builds on the one before. Examples from contemporary Australian writing demonstrate how different writers tackle the technical aspects of their art. By working your way through this book, you’ll gradually craft a piece of fiction, and develop confidence in your own fictional voice. If you’d like to write, but you’re not sure how to start, The Writing Book will show you how. If you’re already writing, The Writing Book will give you practical ideas for new energy and direction.” – (adapted from Global Books in Print summary)

The Wilder life : my adventures in the lost world of Little house on the prairie / Wendy McClure.
“For anyone who has ever wanted to step into the world of a favorite book, here is a pioneer pilgrimage, a tribute to Laura Ingalls Wilder, and a hilarious account of butter-churning obsession.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Man made : a stupid quest for masculinity / Joel Stein.
“Studying sonograms, Stein (Time humor columnist) felt he needed to upgrade his manliness in order to become a role model for his son: “If I can just make it through some man stuff-go camping, play a sport, hunt an animal, fix stuff around the house-I’ll gain some credibility.” With that goal, he embarked on his quest to transform himself into a manly man, even though his wife, Cassandra, regarded it as “an incredibly stupid idea.” After scribbling a list of “11 new Herculean labors,” he began by going on a weekend Boy Scout camping trip: “At about 0300, I gain an even deeper appreciation for houses.” He does a 24-hour shift with L.A. firefighters even though wearing “vulnerable-toed shoes” instead of boots.” – (adapted from Publisher Weekly summary)

Hidden Shakespeare : a biography / Nicholas Fogg.
“An intriguing examination of the influences and circumstances that made Shakespeare the genius that he was. Provides answers to the many questions surrounding Shakespeare’s life. On 26 April 1564, William Shakespeare was baptized in Stratford-upon-Avon. He would go on to be the greatest writer who ever lived. In Hidden Shakespeare, Nicholas Fogg explores Shakespeare’s life, from his family background and education in Stratford, through his career in London, to 1616, when he finally shuffled off this mortal coil. Fogg examines the circumstances and stories surrounding Shakespeare, providing reasoned answers to the many questions. Did he leave school at the age of thirteen? Did he have an arranged marriage? Why did he leave Stratford to emerge as a star of the London stage? What impact did his life and the period in which he lived have on his work? William Shakespeare’s talent was the result of a fortuitous combination of environment, epoch and genius. This fascinating new book draws these threads together to provide a more complete impression of the man and his works.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Knucklebones : poems, 1962-2012 / Sam Hunt.
“Sam Hunt is New Zealand’s best-known and, arguably, best-loved poet. Since the publication of Doubtless: New and Selected Poems in 1998 (which has sold over 5000 copies), his career has been having a significant renaissance. He continues to regularly perform, has published a memoir, BACKROADS, a new collection of poems, CHORDS, had a feature documentary, ‘Purple Balloon’, go to general cinematic release, and collaborated with Dick Frizzell on a series of poem paintings. KNUCKLEBONES: POEMS 1962-2012 is the latest collection of Sam Hunt poems to be published. It is intended to replace DOUBTLESS (now out of print) to ensure that a substantial collection of his poems remain available to the general reader. Organised chronologically with a selection of poems from each of his published books, KNUCKLEBONES presents an outstanding collection of Sam Hunt’s work, that runs from the earliest poems that first made his name, through to poems written 50 years on in 2012. Sam Hunt has had a remarkable and enduring career, and Knucklebones is a fitting tribute to the quality of his remarkable poems.” – (adapted from Global Books in Print summary)

Jubilee lines : 60 poets for 60 years / edited by Carol Ann Duffy.
“To mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne, Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy brings together a dazzling array of contemporary poets (sixty in fact) to write about each of the of the sixty years of Her Majesty’s reign. Celebrated writers as Simon Armitage, Gillian Clarke, Wendy Cope, Geoffrey Hill, Jackie Kay, Michael Longley, Andrew Motion, Don Paterson and Jo Shapcott, alongside some of the newest young talent around – address a moment or event from their chosen year, be it of personal or political significance or both. Through a series of specially commissioned poems, Jubilee Lines offers a unique portrayal of the country and times in which we have lived since 1952, culminating in an essential portrait of today: the way we speak, the way we chronicle, the way we love and fight, the way we honour and remember. Brilliantly introduced and edited by Carol Ann Duffy, Jubilee Lines is an unforgettable commemoration: not only a monarch’s reign but of a way of living for generations of her peoples.” – (adapted from Global Books in Print summary)

Dancing with Mrs. Dalloway : stories of the inspiration behind great works of literature / Celia Blue Johnson.
“In this cornucopia for aspiring writers and trivia fans, Johnson (co-founder of Slice Literary) draws from research, first- and second-hand accounts, and “myths” to explore what inspired some of Western literature’s titans and beloved children’s authors, including: Tolstoy, Pasternak, Cervantes, Hemingway, Faulkner, Tolkien, Twain, Woolf, and others. Johnson’s approach will best suit readers who are familiar with these authors and their signature works, since she assumes prior knowledge and forgoes biographical backgrounds and plot summaries in favor of succinct, genial sketches that enliven the moment creativity struck. Sections often conclude with positive results through publication or subsequent recognition. While some authors were inspired by real personages, memories, everyday incidents, travel, and other stories, others were driven by larger, political consequences (Orwell’s Animal Farm), or crimes (Capote’s In Cold Blood).” – (adapted from Publisher Weekly summary)

American writers star this month. In a predominately British culture it can be refreshing to look at the world in a different way. We feature three American writers: the very well-known Jonathan Franzen of The Corrections fame, the very reputable John Leonard who will be recognised by readers of The New York Review of Books and a new study of the life and work of Kurt Vonnegut. This ground-breaking novelist wrote books which combine satire, black hmour and science fiction. He was also a critical left-leaning intellectual and a free thinker who was president of the American Humanist Association. All in all a most fascinating man.

Reading for my life : writings, 1958-2008 / John Leonard ; edited by Sue Leonard ; [with an introduction by E.L. Doctorow].
“Reading for My Life is a monumenal collection of Leonard’s most significant writings–spanning five decades–from his earliest columns for the Harvard Crimson to his final essays for the New York Review of Books.” – (adapted from Book jacket summary)

Reading like a writer : a guide for people who love books and for those who want to write them / Francine Prose
“A distinguished novelist and critic offers an inside look at how the professionals read–and write. Written with passion, humor, and wisdom, “Reading Like a Writer” instructs listeners to return to literature with a fresh eye and an eager heart.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The Oxford book of parodies / edited by John Gross.
“The task of anthologists is inherently thankless, inasmuch as most readers will have reason to debate the editor’s decisions of what to include and what to exclude from a collection. Gross (an editor, journalist, and award-winning writer) acknowledges this and also the limitations of his method of choosing the roughly 200 entries that make up this volume; not least of his criteria is “to choose items that [he] enjoy[s].” – (adapted from Book jacket summary)

Crusoe : Daniel Defoe, Robert Knox, and the creation of a myth / Katherine Frank.
“This is a fresh look at a familiar classic, one that provides deep background into the origins of the great shipwreck story and its author, the father of the English novel. It may be familiar territory for Defoe scholars, but Frank offers a terrifically entertaining and detailed comparison of Defoe’s life with that of Robert Knox, a sometime author and shipwreck survivor and the probable model for Robinson Crusoe. Knox was 19 years old in 1660 when he was shipwrecked in Ceylon. Along with his father and crew, he was taken captive by the King of Kandy. He was held there for 20 years and, in 1681, published An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon, which details his day-to-day captivity and his escape. The author of Robinson Crusoe was almost certainly aware of Knox’s book, as Frank demonstrates. Defoe began writing in earnest after he got out of debtor’s prison in 1693, and by the time he published Crusoe in 1719, he had penned scores of books and pamphlets, offering advice on everything from politics to business, road construction, and religion. With light, dead-on humor, Frank shows that Defoe’s great survivor story is really about the power of positive thinking and tags it the ultimate how-to book.” – (adapted from Booklist summary)

Beowulf and other Old English poems / edited and translated by Craig Williamson ; with a foreword by Tom Shippey.
“The best-known literary achievement of Anglo-Saxon England,Beowulfis a poem concerned with monsters and heroes, treasure and transience, feuds and fidelity. Composed sometime between 500 and 1000 CE and surviving in a single manuscript, it is at once immediately accessible and forever mysterious. And in Craig Williamson’s splendid new version, this often translated work may well have found its most compelling modern English interpreter. Williamson’sBeowulfappears alongside his translations of many of the major works written by Anglo-Saxon poets, including the elegies “The Wanderer” and “The Seafarer,” the heroic “Battle of Maldon,” the visionary “Dream of the Rood,” the mysterious and heart-breaking “Wulf and Eadwacer,” and a generous sampling of the Exeter Book riddles. Accompanied by a foreword by noted medievalist Tom Shippey on Anglo-Saxon history, culture, and archaeology, and Williamson’s introductions to the individual poems as well as his essay on translating Old English, the texts transport us back to the medieval scriptorium or ancient mead hall to share an exile’s lament or herdsman’s recounting of the story of the world’s creation.” – (adapted from Global Books in Print summary)

Agatha Christie : murder in the making : more stories and secrets from her notebooks / John Curran.
“John Curran reveals the secrets of the world’s greatest mystery writer in Agatha Christie: Murder in the Making, the fascinating follow up to Agatha Christie’s Secret Notebooks featuring more insight into Christie’s captivating life story and a new windfall of Christie’s unpublished work-including letters, archival papers, and a keenly incisive analysis of Christie’s last, unfinished novel. For readers new to Christie’s mysteries and for life-long fans of Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and Tommy and Tuppence, either from classic Christie novels like Murder on the Orient Express or from the popular Masterpiece Theater adaptations, ‘Curran’s discoveries will shape how Christie is read’.” – (adapted from Independent on Sunday summary)

Farther away / Jonathan Franzen.
“The new book of essays from Jonathan Franzen, author of Freedom. Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom was the runaway most-discussed novel of 2010, an ambitious and searching engagement with life in America in the 21st century. Now, a new collection of Franzen’s non-fiction brings fresh demonstrations of his vivid, moral intelligence, confirming his status not only as a great American novelist but also as a master noticer, social critic, and self-investigator. In Farther Away, which gathers together essays and speeches written mostly in the past five years, the writer returns with renewed vigor to the themes, both human and literary, that have long preoccupied him. Whether recounting his violent encounter with bird poachers in Cyprus, examining his mixed feelings about the suicide of his friend and rival David Foster Wallace, or offering a moving and witty take on the ways that technology has changed how people express their love, these pieces deliver on Franzen’s implicit promise to conceal nothing from the reader.” – (adapted from GLobal Books in Print summary)

The joy of English : 100 illuminating conversations about the English language / Jess Karjalainen.
“This book will teach you not just about grammar but important aspects of spelling, punctuation, word order, common errors, capitalisation, language myths and subtle differences between British and US English.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Writing on the edge : great contemporary writers on the front line of crisis / a book by Tom Craig ; photography by Tom Craig ; edited by Dan Crowe ; [essays by] Martin Amis … [et al.].
“For this compelling book, fourteen writers (including Martin Amis and Daniel Day-Lewis) accompanied medical teams from Doctors Without Borders/Medicins Sans Frontieres into some of the planet’s most dangerous and troubled areas. Their essays from places such as Cambodia, Uganda, Palestine, the Colombian city of Cali, and Uzbekistan lend these crisis spots more reality than do the usual few lines in the newspaper or brief video clips on television news. Photographer Tom Craig accompanied all of the writers on their journeys, and his striking (and sometimes gut-wrenching) images are an essential companion to the text.” – (adapted from Booknews summary)

The death of King Arthur / translated by Simon Armitage.
“First appearing around 1400, The Death of King Arthur is one of the most widely beloved and spectacularly alliterative poems penned in Middle English. While it is more than six centuries old, this magisterial new translation has finally given American readers the ability to experience the splendor and poignancy of the original. Echoing the lyrical passion that so distinguished Seamus Heaney’s Beowulf, Simon Armitage has produced a virtuosic translation of a timeless masterpiece, one that follows Arthur’s bloody conquests across Europe, all the way to his spectacular and even bloodier downfall. This unparalleled presentation of the greatest Arthurian tale promises to become the definitive edition for generations to come.” – (adapted from Global Books in Print summary)

A time for new dreams : poetic essays / Ben Okri.
“Booker-winning novelist and one of Britain’s foremost poets, Ben Okri is a passionate advocate of the written word. In A Time for New Dreams he breaks new ground in an unusual collection of linked essays, which address such diverse themes as childhood, self-censorship, the role of beauty, the importance of education and the real significance of the recent economic meltdown. Proving that ‘true literature tears up the script’ of how we see ourselves, A Time for New Dreams is provocative and thought-provoking. In an intriguing marriage of style and content, the concise but perfectly formed essays in this collection push the parameters of writing whilst asking profound questions about who we are and the future that awaits us.” – (adapted from Global Books in Print summary)

Unstuck in time : a journey through Kurt Vonnegut’s life and novels / Gregory D. Sumner.
“Named for the mental dislocation experienced by Billy Pilgrim in Slaughterhouse-Five, Sumner’s exploration of the iconic writer’s life begins with a brief biography and an outline of the recurrent themes found throughout his 14 novels. The significant elements include Vonnegut’s preoccupation with technology, which stems from his scientific studies at Cornell and later work at General Electric, and his penchant for stories reminiscent of his experience as a soldier and POW during WWII. Fourteen chapters follow, providing plot, background, and analysis for each of Vonnegut’s books.” – (adapted from Global Books in Print summary)

It’s often the bad guys and girls who make the most impression on us as we read – the wicked are always more interesting. Creating realistic villians and manipulative, scheming women will give your story a real punch and give you hours of harmless fun. It is, however, quite an art, and Jessica Page Morrell’s book will give you invaluable help.

Explore the often difficult relationships between writers and their mothers in Colm Toibin’s new book on the subject, provocatively entitled “How to kill your mother”.

We are all so busy these days. Why bother to read classic novels in their tedious entirety when John Crace will conveniently abbreviate them for you so can appear ridiculously well read in a ridiculously short time.

Color me English : migration and belonging before and after 9/11 / Caryl Phillips.
“Born in St. Kitts and brought up in the UK, bestselling author Caryl Phillips has written about and explored the experience of migration for more than thirty years through his spellbinding and award-winning novels, plays, and essays. Now, in a magnificent and beautifully written new book, Phillips reflects on the shifting notions of race, culture, and belonging before and after the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Color Me English opens with an inspired story from his boyhood, a poignant account of a shared sense of isolation he felt with the first Muslim boy who joined his school. Phillips then turns to his years living and teaching in the United States, including a moving account of the day the twin towers fell. We follow him across Europe and through Africa while he grapples with making sense of colonial histories and contemporary migrations-engaging with legendary African, African American, and international writers from James Baldwin and Richard Wright to Chinua Achebe and Ha Jin who have aspired to see themselves and their own societies more clearly. A truly transnational reflection on race and culture in a post-9/11 world, Color Me English is a stunning collection of writing that is at once timeless and urgent.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The bedside book of beasts : a wildlife miscellany / Graeme Gibson ; book design by C.S. Richardson.The Bedside Book of Beasts: A Wildlife Miscellany
“In a wonderfully diverse selection of writings and gorgeous illustrations, this stunning companion to “The Bedside Book of Birds” explores the relationship between predators and their prey.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Bullies, bastards & bitches : how to write the bad guys of fiction / Jessica Page Morrell.
“Get to Know Your Character’s Sinister Side. A truly memorable antagonist is not a one-dimensional super villain bent on world domination for no particular reason. Realistic, credible bad guys create essential story complications, personalize conflict, add immediacy to a story line, and force the protagonist to evolve. From mischief-makers to villains to arch nemeses,Bullies, Bastards & Bitchesshows you how to create nuanced bad guys who are indispensable to the stories in which they appear. Bullies, Bastards & Bitchesis your all-encompassing bad-guy compendium to tapping into any character’s dark side.” – (adapted from Globalbooksinprint.com summary)

Plotto : the master book of all plots / by William Wallace Cook.
“Plot suggestions for writers of fiction. A classic how-to manual, William Wallace CooksPlottois one writers personal method, painstakingly diagrammed for the benefit of others. The theory itself may be simple “Purpose opposed by Obstacle yields Conflict” but Cook takes his “Plottoist” through hundreds of situations and scenarios, guiding the readers hand as a dizzying array of purposes and obstacles come to a head. Cooks method is broken down into three stages: First, the master plot. This four-page chart distills the most basic plot points into a three-line sentence. Next, the conflict situation. Each master plot leads the reader to a list of circumstances, distributed among 20 different conflict groups (these range from Loves Beginning to Personal Limitations to Transgression). There are over 2,000 unique conflict situations in the book, and each is cross-referenced with designs for how the situation might have started, or where it might go. Finally, there are character combinations Cook offers an extensive index of protagonists, each cross-referenced with various supporting players themselves tied to various conflict situations, for what appears to be an inexhaustible reservoir of suggestions and inspiration.” – (adapted from Globalbooksinprint.com summary)

Romantic moderns : English writers, artists and the imagination from Virginia Woolf to John Piper / Alexandra Harris.
“Here is English cultural history at its best. This book has a clear agenda, cites specific works, and contains 79 illustrations, 48 in color. Harris (Univ. of Liverpool, UK) has a background in art history and museum experience and teaches literature. In this wide-ranging account, she looks at English artists, writers, architects, and museum curators of the 1920s, 1930s, and early years of WW II who drew inspiration from their country’s past. Harris has a clear argument: these individuals resisted the widespread idea, derived in great part from Roger Fry, that modernism required shedding personal and historical interests in favor of impersonal, European-inspired aesthetics. These “romantic modernists”–including painters John Piper and Paul Nash, photographer Cecil Beaton, and writers John Betjemin, Vita Sackville-West, and Daphne Du Maurier–all lovingly depicted English country houses, gardens, and village traditions.” – (adapted from Globalbooksinprint.com summary)

A kite in the wind : fiction writers on their craft / edited by Andrea Barrett and Peter Turchi.
“Twenty essays by veteran writers and master teachers offering advice on fundamental aspects of craft such as characterization, character names, first person point of view, and unreliable narrators, as well as consideration of more sophisticated topics, including imminence, creating tension, and the deliberate manipulation of information to create particular effects”–Provided by publisher.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Writing for the web : creating compelling web content using words, pictures, and sound / Lynda Felder.
“With Writing for the Web, you’ll learn everything you need to know to create effective Web content using words, pictures, and sound. Follow along as instructor and write Lynda Felder combines easy-to-follow guidelines with photographs, lists, and tables to illustrate the key concepts behind writing nonlinear, interactive stories; creating succinct and clear © and working compelling images, motion graphics, and sound into your content.Many books offer instruction on how to use software programs to build Web sites, podcasts, and illustrations. But only Writing for the Web explains when and why an author might choose an illustration over a photograph, motion graphics over text, or a slice of Beethoven’s Fifth over the sound of a bubbling brook. Focusing on storytelling techniques that work best for digital media, this book describes the essential skills and tools in a Web author’s toolbox, including a thorough understanding of grammar and style, a critical eye for photography, and an ear for just the right sound bite for a podcast.This clearly written guide provides a fun and practical approach to Web writing for busy students. ” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Harry Potter and history / edited by Nancy Reagin.
“A guide to the history behind the world of Harry Potter? Just in time for the last Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part II). Harry Potter lives in a world that is both magical and historical. Hogwarts pupils ride an old-fashioned steam train to school, notes are taken on parchment with quill pens, and Muggle legends come to life in the form of werewolves, witches, and magical spells. This book is the first to explore the real history in which Harry’s world is rooted.. Did you know that bezoars and mandrakes were fashionable luxury items for centuries? Find out how Europeans first developed the potions, spells, and charms taught at Hogwarts, from Avada Kedavra to love charms. Learn how the European prosecution of witches led to the Statute of Secrecy, meet the real Nicholas Flamel, see how the Malfoys stack up against Muggle English aristocrats, and compare the history of the wizarding world to real-life history.. Gives you the historical backdrop to Harry Potter’s world. Covers topics ranging from how real British boarding schools compare to Hogwarts to how parchment, quills, and scrolls used in the wizarding world were made. Includes a timeline comparing the history of the wizarding world to Muggle “real” history. Filled with fascinating facts and background, Harry Potter and History is an essential companion for every Harry Potter fan.” – (adapted from Publisher’s description)

You talkin’ to me? : rhetoric from Aristotle to Obama / Sam Leith.
“Rhetoric is nothing to be afraid of. It isn’t the exclusive preserve of politicians: it’s everywhere, from your argument with the insurance company to your plea to the waitress for a table near the window. It convicts criminals (and then frees them on appeal). It causes governments to rise and fall, best men to be shunned by their friends’ brides, and perfectly sensible adults to march with steady purpose towards machine guns. In this highly entertaining (and persuasive) book, Sam Leith examines how people have taught, practised and thought about rhetoric from its Attic origins to its 21st century apotheosis. Along the way, he tells the stories of its heroes and villains, from Cicero and Erasmus, to Hitler, Obama – and Gyles Brandreth. Knowledge, it has been said, is power. And rhetoric is what gives words power.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

New ways to kill your mother : writers and their families / Colm Tóibín.
“Through a series of accessible essays, lectures, and reviews that rove from Jane Austen to Brian Moore-many of which appeared in either the London or New York Review of Books- Toibin explores the ambivalent relationships that many writers of the past few centuries have had with their families. The topics Toibin (All a Novelist Needs: Essays on Henry James) addresses include the troubled bond between W.B. Yeats and his father, the fate of Thomas Mann’s children, and John Cheever’s alcoholic parenting and sexual hijinks. The book is divided into two sections: “Ireland,” containing chapters about Irish poets, playwrights, and novelists, such as John Synge and Sebastian Barry; and “Elsewhere,” which roves from Jorge Luis Borges to Tennessee Williams. With essays that prove more informative than argumentative, along with useful minibiographies of important authors, Toibin excels when discussing craft, such as in the opening essay, which compares structural devices in the novels of Jane Austen and Henry James that for devices in the novels of Jane Austen and Henry James that for some reason necessitate an absent mother.” – (adapted from Globalbooksinprint.com summary)

Brideshead abbreviated : the digested read of the twentieth century / John Crace.
“John Crace, creator of the Guardian ’s ‘Digested Read’ column, hilariously summarises the great — and not so great — classics of modern literature. John Crace’s ‘Digested Read’ column in the Guardian has rightly acquired a cult following. Each week fans avidly devour his latest razor-sharp literary assassination, while authors turn tremblingly to the appropriate page of the review section, fearful that it may be their turn to be mercilessly sent up. Now he turns his critical eye on the classics of the last century, offering bite-sized pastiches of everything from Mrs Dalloway to Trainspotting via Lolita and The Great Gatsby . Those who have never quite got around to reading A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man will be delighted to find its essence.” – (adapted from Globalbooksinprint.com summary)

Business presentations and public speaking / Peter H. Engel.
“Business Presentations & Public Speaking provides the information speakers need to maximize their affect on any size audience. Techniques covered include assessing the audience, timing, building excitement, knowing what to say-& when to say it, using visuals, multi-media presentations, humor, & more.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)