entertainment/books-and-literature - stltoday.com

Politics and page turners: summer book preview

Sat, 26 May 2012 06:30:00 -0500

Whether you pack one in our beach bag or download it to your e-reader, there are plenty of choices for the slow summer days.

Rating romance novels

Wed, 23 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500

You can't always tell how explicit a book is by its cover. RT Book Reviews also uses a sensuality rating system. A review of "Fifty Shades of Grey" said its hero is 'sizzling hot" but the story "ta…

'Fifty Shades' may be readers' summer romance

Wed, 23 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Hundreds of readers are waiting throughout the St. Louis area for a copy of the erotic novel.

Best-sellers from Publishers Weekly for the week ending May 12 and from area bookstores

Sun, 20 May 2012 06:15:00 -0500

New John Irving book is No. 4 in hardcover fiction.

Penned in St. Louis by Jane Henderson: Jo A. Hiestand

Sun, 20 May 2012 06:15:00 -0500

Novel deals with murder and arson.

Maurice Sendak defined

Sat, 12 May 2012 00:05:00 -0500

When the mind that first imagined the Wild Things disappeared for good this week, the children-turned-adults who adored Max and his wild rumpus with big-eyed monsters didn't just mourn the loss of …

'Where Wild Things Are' author Maurice Sendak dies

Tue, 08 May 2012 07:50:00 -0500

The well-loved author of children's books died early today after suffering a stroke on Friday.

Best-sellers from Publishers Weekly from the week ending April 28

Sun, 06 May 2012 02:45:00 -0500

Stephen King's latest tops the hardcover fiction list.

Penned in St. Louis: Terry Baker Mulligan

Sun, 06 May 2012 02:30:00 -0500

Theresa Jean Baker grew up in Harlem in the 1950s. She became a teacher, married a graduate of Columbia law school and eventually moved to St. Louis. But Harlem was "the blueprint" of her life, and…

Vanessa Williams on pageants, Hollywood and Mom

Sat, 05 May 2012 08:00:00 -0500

'Desperate Housewives' actress and her mother write book together.

Q&A: A chat with writers kicks off Children's Book Week

Fri, 04 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500

For the St. Louis County Library, the first chapter of Children's Book Week is a conversation this evening with three authors of young adult books.

Penned in St. Louis: Steve Stranghoener

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Steve Stranghoener, 57, of Bridgeton, has written four novels. His latest, "Murder by Chance: Blood Moon Lunacy of Lew Carew" (WestBow Press, 292 pages, $22.95) involves a werewolf. He says it brin…

Best-sellers from Publishers Weekly for the week ending April 21 and from area bookstores

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Here are the best-sellers from Publishers Weekly for the week that ended April 21:

Three cookbooks are filled with fresh ideas

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:00:00 -0500

Peeks inside three appealing new cookbooks, with one or two recipes from each.

Best-sellers from Publishers Weekly for the week ending April 14 and from area bookstores

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 18:15:00 -0500

Grisham's latest is No. 1 in hardcover fiction.

Penned in St. Louis: Shawntelle Madison

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 18:15:00 -0500

Her book has been called "original, quirky and off-beat."

Poetry events gather diverse fans

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 11:45:00 -0500

W.B. Yeats came to St. Louis in 1904.

'Read mob' to gather under the Gateway Arch on Monday

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The event will be filmed for YouTube as readers mill around and then stand in place to spell out "Read Books."

A list of 'backup' baseball books

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 17:45:00 -0500

There are the famous baseball stories, and then the not-so-famous. "The Might Have Been" author Joseph M. Schuster offers a list that goes "beyond the starting lineup" of baseball books.

Penned in St. Louis: William A. Donius

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 17:45:00 -0500

Author has background as a banker.

'City of Scoundrels' recounts days of disaster in 1919 Chicago

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 17:15:00 -0500

It's a compelling story.

Webster Groves professor's baseball novel is sad but still delights

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 07:15:00 -0500

"The Might Have Been" is lovely, poignant and heartbreaking.

Publisher announces title of J.K. Rowling’s next book

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:56:00 -0500

‘The Casual Vacancy’ will be available on Sept. 27.

Haney's take on Tiger's swing, not Tiger the swinger

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Veteran PGA golf instructor Hank Haney has a new book about Tiger Woods. But it isn't a "tell-all" mainly because Tiger doesn't share all with either his friends or swing coach. That said, the book…

Penned in St. Louis: Carolyn Ives Gilman

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 17:00:00 -0500

Her latest book is "Ison of the Isles."

Best-selling books from Publishers Weekly for the week of March 31

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 16:45:00 -0500

Jodi Picoult novel is at No. 5 on hardcover list.

Best-sellers from Publishers Weekly for the week ending March 24

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 18:15:00 -0500

"The Hunger Games" tops children/young adult list.

Best-sellers from Publishers Weekly for the week ending March 17 and from area bookstores

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 18:30:00 -0500

"Lone Wolf'' tops hardcover fiction list.

Penned in St. Louis: Michael A. Kahn

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 18:00:00 -0500

Fictional Rachel Gold stars in seven mystery novels.

'The Hunger Games' makes a good snack out of teen-lit bestseller

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:00:00 -0500

The film is dressed as a dark satire of soulless entertainment, lacking a distinctive identity.

Dystopian literature catches fire with 'Hunger Games' craze

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:10:00 -0500

First came wizards. Then vampires. Now, young readers are obsessed with real kids; if only they weren't also menaced by them.

La Russa has a book deal

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:39:00 -0500

Retired Cardinals manager Tony La Russa is ready to look back on his amazing career.

Penned in St. Louis: James W. Erwin

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Missouri's war was one of "ceaseless retaliation, mutilated dead and few prisoners," James W. Erwin writes in "Guerrillas in Civil War Missouri" (History Press, 126 pages, $19.99). Erwin, a lawyer …

Hal Holbrook: Channeling Mark Twain for nearly 6 decades

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:00:00 -0500

The actor finds an easy connection with the Missouri native he calls "this tough old bird who tells the truth about who we are."

Author recalls trek to winning memory championship

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 09:15:00 -0600

Forgot where you put your keys? Can't recall an acquaintance's name? Have no idea why you're standing in front of the refrigerator?

Q&A: Kate Chopin bust to be dedicated Sunday in Central West End

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Kate Chopin joins the Writer's Corner this weekend. The bust by sculptor Jaye Gregory will gaze at images of T.S. Eliot and Tennessee Williams; William Burroughs will be added next year. Doug Teasd…

Former Pulaski Bank CEO Bill Donius' book to be published next week

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:47:00 -0600

YOUR OTHER LEFT: A book on unlocking the creativity of your right brain by Bill Donius, former chairman and CEO of Pulaski Bank, is set to be released on Tuesday culminating more than three years o…

Penned in St. Louis: Howard J. Levinson

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 06:00:00 -0600

The novel is primarily science fiction.

Lamott, Ripken, Albright among authors coming to town

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0600

One prominent writer who will be here in spirit is W.B. Yeats; in person will be Cal Ripken Jr., Anne Lamott and David Sedaris, among others.

In Oliver's dystopian world, love is a disease

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 16:45:00 -0600

Lauren Oliver's novels take aim at something essential to human nature: love.

St. Louis' finest buildings to be on display in Chi-town

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:23:00 -0600

"HEY, HEY" ST. LOUIS ARCHITECTURE: Architectural photographer extraordinaire Bill Zbaren is giving St. Louisans another reason to venture north to the Windy City.

Dr. Seuss inspires special story time for St. Louis students on Friday

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 15:00:00 -0600

IT IS FUN TO HAVE FUN: In celebration of what would be Dr. Seuss's 108th birthday on Friday, local business and civic leaders will read about the exploits of "The Cat" and of bored Sally and Conrad…

Berenstain Bears co-creator dies

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 12:14:00 -0600

Jan Berenstain wrote and illustrated the Berenstain Bears books that have charmed preschoolers and their parents for 50 years

Best-sellers from Publishers Weekly for the the week ending Feb. 18 and from area bookstores

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 18:15:00 -0600

Best-selling books for week ending Feb. 11

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:30:00 -0600

Here are the best-sellers from Publishers Weekly for the week ending Feb. 11:

Missouri and St. Louis figure prominently in today's NYT

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:49:00 -0600

CHECKMATE: Today's New York Times prominently features a couple of stories with Missouri roots -- one good and one not so good.

Best-sellers from Publishers Weekly for the week ending Feb. 4 and from area bookstores

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:45:00 -0600

Local author who grew up in Harlem publishes memoir

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:13:00 -0600

FROM SUGAR HILL TO STL: Terry Baker Mulligan, a St. Louis community college teacher married to a partner with Lewis Rice, has written a memoir about growing up in the Sugar Hill neighborhood of Har…

'Hello, Cupcake' creators to visit St. Louis Tuesday

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:15:00 -0600

With their new book, "Cupcakes, Cookies & Pie, Oh, My!," Karen Tack and Alan Richardson have lifted their creativity to new levels.

Best-sellers from Publishers Weekly for week ending Jan. 28 and from area bookstores

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:30:00 -0600

Here are the best-sellers from Publishers Weekly for week ending Jan. 28

Parenting memoirs go global

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:30:00 -0600

'Tiger Mother' author's paperback tour brings her to St. Louis this week.

Penned in St. Louis: Pam Wilson

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:00:00 -0600

Pam Wilson says "S.O.S. From Suburbia" is for women dreaming of a "good night's sleep, an over-the-top anniversary celebration and perfect thighs." Wilson, who writes for stltoday.com/moms, collect…

Best-selling book for week of Jan. 22

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:00:00 -0600

Here are the best-sellers from Publishers Weekly for the week ending Jan. 21:

Penned in St. Louis: Ellie S. Grossman

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:30:00 -0600

Ellie S. Grossman calls her columns "domestic satire." A blogger for jewishinstlouis.org and a freelance writer, Grossman collected some of her pieces for "Mishegas of Motherhood" (Bluebird, 295 pa…

Italian scholar at Washington University is finding an eclectic audience for her work

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:15:00 -0600

ANATOMY RULES: It isn't often that an academic scholar -- especially one who works in as obscure a field as 18th-century Italy and anatomy -- is treated like a rock star.

Penned in St. Louis: Charles D'Angelo

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:30:00 -0600

Charles D'Angelo, 26, weighed 360 pounds as a teen and knows the pain of "feeling like an outsider." He vowed to change while lying in bed, unable to see the TV over his stomach.

Best-sellers

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:30:00 -0600

Here are the best-sellers from Publishers Weekly for the week ending Jan. 14:

Children's books increasingly emphasize visual art

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 08:30:00 -0600

The glories of children's literature will be highlighted Monday when the Caldecott, Newbery, Coretta Scott King and more than a dozen other book awards are announced.

A Look Back • Poet T.S. Eliot visits his home town in 1933

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:05:00 -0600

Famed author banters with admiring reporters in first trip here in 19 years.

Used-up books are turned into furniture, art

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Stacks of books turned into tables? Volumes made into shelves? Pages turned into sculpture?

Best-sellers from Publishers Weekly for week ending Jan. 7 and from area bookstores

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 18:30:00 -0600

Here are the best sellers from Publishers Weekly for the week ending Jan. 7:

Penned in St. Louis: Craig Kaintz

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 18:15:00 -0600

The co-author of "Let's Go Cruizin' Again" says readers are still nostalgic for 1950s-'70s North County. Craig Kaintz's book (Virginia Publishing, 124 pages, $22.95) has sold more than 1,000 copies…

'Trivia Junkie' compiles quizzes on Civil War history

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 15:15:00 -0600

Author has visited every major Civil War battlefield, taught military history and reviews books for the Missouri Historical Society.

St. Louis Central Library to reopen in November after $70 million transformation

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:00:00 -0600

The goal is to restore the exterior, preserve interior details, and expand public areas.

St. Louis' hidden interiors to be featured in a book by local designer

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:02:00 -0600

PEELING THE ONION: While St. Louis is known for great architecture by icons such as Louis Sullivan (Wainwright Building), Frank Lloyd Wright (Kraus house, Kirkwood) and Eero Saarinen (Gateway Arch)…

Q&A: Getting the story from a book festival director

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 06:00:00 -0600

For Marcia Evers Levy of Creve Coeur, books are her boss.

A year when Borders closed — and small bookstores grew

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:25:00 -0600

The St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance helped raised awareness of area businesses with bus cruises and literary speed-dating.

Best-sellers from Publishers Weekly for week ending Dec. 24

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Best-sellers

Best-sellers from The New York Times for week ending Dec. 10 and from area bookstores

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 12:15:00 -0600

Here are the best-sellers from The New York Times for the week ending Dec. 10:

Best-sellers from Publishers Weekly for the week ending Dec. 10 and from area bookstores

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 16:45:00 -0600

Here are the best-sellers from Publishers Weekly for the week ending Dec. 10:

It's elementary: Holmes formula shows up in many films and TV shows

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:00:00 -0600

The Holmes detective-sidekick-nemesis formula has inspired a slew of sleuthy imitators on TV and in movies. "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows," from director Guy Ritchie, opens Friday.

After artist's death, family finishes her passion project

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 07:30:00 -0600

The children's book is illustrated with photos of handmade story sets.

Best-sellers from The New York Times for the week ending Nov. 26 and from area bookstores

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 12:00:00 -0600

Here are the best-sellers from The New York Times for the week ending Nov. 26:

15 children's books that make great gifts

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 09:45:00 -0600

Some people never outgrow beautiful children's books. Some even make a living reading them.

From Mickey to Mona Lisa, coffee-table books entertain

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 08:00:00 -0600

For enthusiasts and book collectors, the images and words can be out of this world.

'Hercules' star pens book about stroke recovery

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Nothing ever knocked Hercules down for long.

Post-Dispatch rounds up favorite books of 2011

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 00:05:00 -0600

This year, a look at other best-book lists reveals as diverse a selection as seen in a long time.

Local book sellers pick favorites of the year

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

What did others like this year? Here are some favorite titles from four local bookstore owners, along with some award winners published in 2011.

Writer offers a St. Louis guidebook for locals

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

"Finally, A Locally Produced Guidebook to St. Louis, by and for St. Louisans, Neighborhood by Neighborhood," by Amanda E. Doyle with Kerri Bonasch has an unwieldy title but offers a concise guide t…

Best-sellers from The New York Times for the week ending Nov. 12 and from area bookstores

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 07:15:00 -0600

Here are the best-sellers from The New York Times for the week ending Nov. 12:

Best-sellers from Publishers Weekly for the week ending Nov. 12 and from area bookstores

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Here are the best-sellers from Publishers Weekly for the week ending Nov. 12:

'Art of Fielding' strikes out

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 16:45:00 -0600

The celebration of "The Art of Fielding" as the World Series champion of baseball novels began immediately. Early reviews placed it in the lofty company of Bernard Malamud's "The Natural," Philip R…

Penned in St. Louis: Peter Leach

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 07:30:00 -0600

Peter Leach's first novel is based on a Depression-era event in Ste. Genevieve, Mo. "Gone by Sundown" (Gival Press, 238 pages, $20; paperback) was inspired by a fatal shooting of two white men. Tow…

Author updates themes in 'Scarlet Letter' in 'When She Woke'

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 07:00:00 -0600

Some of the most inventive novels can come from everyday occurrences.

Magic House brings 'Magic Tree House' stories to life

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:00:00 -0600

Three new traveling exhibits are built around Thanksgiving and other historical themes in the popular book series.

Noted garden author and literary lion wined, dined and 'greened' in St. Louis

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:48:00 -0600

DIETZ DOES STL: Paula Deitz, editor of the quarterly literary journal, The Hudson Review, and a frequent contributor to the New York Times, Architectural Review and Gardens Illustrated, is on a whi…

Best-sellers from The New York Times for the week ending Oct. 29 and from area bookstores

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Here are the best-sellers from The New York Times for the week ending Oct. 29:

SLU to present Vargas Llosa with St. Louis Literary Award

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 08:30:00 -0600

In the realm of Latin American literature, Mario Vargas Llosa is held in the highest esteem. He is perhaps best known for his novels — which include "The Time of the Hero," "Conversation in the Cat…

Best-sellers

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Here are the best-sellers from Publishers Weekly for the week ending Oct. 29:

Penned in St. Louis: Kelli Allen

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 13:45:00 -0500

Kelli Allen has helped edit a book to benefit Joplin schools and libraries. "Storm Country," a 169-page anthology of prose, fiction and poetry, launches at 7 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Regional Arts Commi…

Orlean explains Rin Tin Tin's appeal in new book

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 10:15:00 -0500

Even among wonder dogs, he was special.

Want to be in a John Grisham novel? Check this out

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:06:00 -0500

A NOVEL TWIST: Could the next Harry Rex Vonner or Lucien Wilbanks ("A Time to Kill") be some name from St. Louis?

Best-sellers from The New York Times for the week ending Oct. 15 and from area bookstores

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Here are the best-sellers from The New York Times for the week ending Oct. 15:

Alan Arkin

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Alan Arkin

How to make it in Hollywood? Don't ask Alan Arkin

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 09:15:00 -0500

Fifty years ago, Alan Arkin was desperate for a paying job. He'd briefly played the lute in an off-Broadway play. When that gig ended, he reluctantly decided to follow up on a job offer in Chicago.

Penned in St. Louis: Carole Lanham

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 08:15:00 -0500

Carole Lanham calls herself the Horror Homemaker on the web. "I like spooky, psychological stuff," she says. "The torment of guilt is much more interesting to me than the torment of physical tortur…

The wild worlds of Maurice Sendak

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 00:09:00 -0500

Exhibit at county library features illustrations from the author’s daring 60-year career.

Best-sellers from Publishers Weekly for the week ending Oct. 16 and from area bookstores

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Here are the best-sellers from Publishers Weekly for the week ending Oct. 15:

Penned in St. Louis: Eleanor Sullivan

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

In 1817, a group of religious separatists left Germany and founded the village of Zoar in Ohio. Zoar gained prosperity when the state paid members to help build the Ohio Canal. Eleanor Sullivan, wh…

5 experts pick favorite Sendak books

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

We asked five book lovers to name their favorite Maurice Sendak titles. Here are their selections: