http://www.kentucky.com/113/index.xml News, sports, and entertainment from Kentucky.com en-us Copyright 2008 Kentucky.com Books 60 Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:07:39 EDT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's Workbench webmaster@kentucky.com http://www.kentucky.com/481/story/497913.html http://www.kentucky.com/481/story/497913.html Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:10 EDT
Was it his best friend who pulled the gun on Carr some 20 years ago when Carr - fired from a job and thrown out of a bar - tried to kick in his friend's front door and broke a window, as Carr remembered it, or was it Carr himself who held the gun?

Armed with a video camera and digital recorder, Carr revisited his old haunts and interviewed ex-girlfriends, former employers and people he did drugs with. The result is "The Night of the Gun," a memoir that traces Carr's rise from cocaine addict to single dad raising twin girls to sobered-up media columnist for The New York Times.

"I'd always said I'd never write a book like this. And then I started to think, 'But if I ever did, it would be really good,'" Carr says.

Critics agree, heaping praise upon "The Night of the Gun" (subtitled "A Reporter Investigates the Darkest Story of His Life. His Own"). The New York Observer said Carr's first book "turns the traditional memoir on its head, assuming as it does that its author knows nothing about his own life and must research it as though it were someone else's." Simon & Schuster is giving "The Night of the Gun" a big promotional push, with an accompanying Web site - http://www.nightofthegun.com - and about 75,000 initial copies of the book, published Aug. 5.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/481/story/490553.html http://www.kentucky.com/481/story/490553.html Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:42 EDT "Elvis: Your Personal Fashion Consultant"
Authors Michael Feder, Karan Feder
Harry N. Abrams Inc.
$12.95

Elvis Presley is more than just the King of Rock 'n Roll - according to this new book, he's also the King of Style. What will they think of next? An Elvis postage stamp? (It was issued by the U.S. Postal Service in 1993). If you're a die-hard Elvis Presley fan, you can never get enough Elvis stuff. This paper creation features 18 full-color illustrations of nostalgic fun. And it's more than just a novelty gift or collector's item; it's a "punch out and play" paper doll set. Complete with instructions, durable paper highlights fashionable Elvis at his best. What you do with the many versions of Elvis is up to you!

"Elvis Presley: The Family Album"
Author George Klein
Little, Brown and Company
$29.99

Here's something for the more sophisticated crowd ... a vintage photo album that showcases 150 rare photos of rock 'n roll legend Elvis Presley. Fans will treasure black and white memories that include the loves of his life: Priscilla, Lisa Marie and classic cars. Extended family, band members, army pals and Hollywood connections complete this collection. Words can hardly describe such precious moments, but these photos, retrieved from valuable archives, are the next best thing to being there. Get more than a glimpse of the private and professional life of Elvis Presley. Enjoy one of the most authentic family albums ever created.

Elivs Presley (January 8, 1935 - August 16, 1977)]]> http://www.kentucky.com/481/story/490458.html http://www.kentucky.com/481/story/490458.html Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:42 EDT What are little boys made of?
Snips and snails, and puppy-dogs' tails,
That's what little boys are made of.
What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice, and everything nice,
That's what little girls are made of.

The verses above are attributed to Robert Southey in an excerpt from "What Folks Are Made Of," a nineteenth-century nursery rhyme. Its charming depiction of boys is legendary and comparison to playful puppies pretty accurate.

Boys find books most engaging when content is gross, humorous, edgy or just plain silly. Ask any parent. And according to experts, it's normal.

Experts also agree that boys express less enthusiasm for reading than girls. Of course, there's always exceptions to this theory, but let's assume it's basically true. How do you keep them reading? Experiment with books that are stimulating and familiar. Boys like to read the same types of books over and over again ... science fiction, fantasy or any fiction that appeals to their senses will do.

Four titles are chosen with this theme in mind, and one book, published earlier this year, elicits laughter at first glance. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/481/story/488785.html http://www.kentucky.com/481/story/488785.html Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:17 EDT
Banville also says he was inspired to write the Black books after becoming acquainted with the writings of Georges Simenon - not the Maigret mysteries, but the taut, atmospheric, psychological thrillers that Simenon called his "roman dur" (hard novel) tales.

Banville's latest Benjamin Black outing, "The Lemur," is most like Simenon in the economy of its narrative: It can easily be read in a single sitting.

John Glass, the protagonist, is a world-famous Irish journalist who has given up the trade.

Luckily for Glass, his wife, Louise, is well-provided for by her father, William "Big Bill" Mulholland, a former CIA honcho turned cable tycoon. Big Bill has decided he wants to have his life story written up and has commissioned the otherwise unoccupied Glass - for a cool million - to do the honors.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/481/story/488786.html http://www.kentucky.com/481/story/488786.html Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:17 EDT
Of course Diana Palmer fans don't have to be warned.

"Fearless" is another book with ties to Jacobsville, where the rugged hero is set to foil the bad guys but isn't able to thwart love and the heroine draws the readers' complete support and sympathy.

Rodrigo was the "loser" in love in "Outsider," when Sarina and Colby reunited and found their happily-ever-after. What readers didn't fully realize in that book was how devastated Rodrigo was when his DEA partner, Sarina pursued her bliss with Colby.

Glory is a typical Palmer heroine, a damsel in distress type who has hidden depths and is stronger than she appears. An abusive mother left Glory crippled, but loving - and rich - step siblings came to her rescue. Despite a genetic heart condition, Glory has emerged as a tough assistant district attorney who is forced into hiding when a nasty drug lord she's prosecuting threatens her life.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/481/story/483260.html http://www.kentucky.com/481/story/483260.html Thu, 14 Aug 2008 02:40 EDT
Did you miss out on a good book? If so, add one, two or three to your list and whatever you do, don't say goodbye to summer's most exciting authors!

They are unique, gutsy and super talented; but it's the writers' ability to pen novel after novel after novel that is most impressive.

Anne Rivers Siddons is the author of 16 best sellers. Her elegant storytelling is rich with family life and more than a hint of southern tradition.

Siddons reveals her secret storytelling weapon - telling stories to herself:]]> http://www.kentucky.com/481/story/476971.html http://www.kentucky.com/481/story/476971.html Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:53 EDT "THE NAKED TRUTH: YOUNG, BEAUTIFUL, AND (HIV) POSITIVE" BY MARVELYN BROWN WITH COURTNEY E. MARTIN

"Although black people represent only about one in eight Americans, one in every two people living with HIV in the United States is black," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Marvelyn Brown is one of them.

Pain, anguish, confusion and loneliness follow devastating news. Marvelyn, a shadow of her former self, is HIV-positive. She will never forget the day ... July 17, 2003.

[He] answered the phone on the second ring: 'Hello.' 'How you doing?' I asked out of habit. 'I'm good, baby girl. Did the doctors ever find out what was wrong with you?' 'Yeah.' 'So what.s the problem?' he asked, hope in his voice. 'They told me that I.m HIV-positive,' I said somberly. There was a long pause, maybe ten full seconds of silence. And then he said what I knew he would: 'I'm sorry, baby. I'm sorry. I got to go now.' There wasn.t an ounce of surprise in his charming voice. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/481/story/470632.html http://www.kentucky.com/481/story/470632.html Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:00 EDT "THE X-FILES: BOOK OF THE UNEXPLAINED" VOLUMES I AND II BY JANE GOLDMAN

Do you believe in ghosts? Spirits? Alien abduction? Life after death? Are you an 'X-Files' fan? Read this review and you will soon become one.

THE BOOK
"The X-Files: Book of the Unexplained" Volumes I and II by Jane Goldman is right on time. This fully-illustrated guide to paranormal explorations combines two volumes in one and features stunning photographs, anecdotes and testimonials from the world's leading scientists and investigators.

The unbelievable and the unexplained dictate the tone of this encyclopedia of sightings, apparitions, hallucinations and reincarnations. Its content provides few answers, just more questions, much like today's political vibe.

Meet the real Fox Mulder. Meet Nick Pope who works for the British Ministry of Defence in London as a higher executive officer. Pope, nicknamed Spooky, is the government.s expert on UFOs. He gets paid to investigate reports of UFOs. No kidding.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/113/story/388436.html http://www.kentucky.com/113/story/388436.html Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:29 EDT
Garry Barker's . Kentucky Waltz won the 2008 Kentucky Literary Award for Fiction. The $1,000 award is given by Western Kentucky University and Southern Kentucky Book Fest.

Kentucky Waltz is a collection of short stories published by Nicholasville-based Wind Publications.

Other winners in the competition were East Carolina University .professor Robert Morgan in non-fiction for Boone: A Biography, and University of Arkansas writer Davis McCombs in poetry for Dismal Rock.

]]> http://www.kentucky.com/481/story/497859.html http://www.kentucky.com/481/story/497859.html Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:06 EDT
But there's a new political agenda set to cause almost as much ruckus as the candidiates' opposing platforms ... a little book.

"Mike's Election Guide 2008," courtesy of Michael Moore, is a liberal, no-holds-barred examination of our politics. Pages explode with so much humor, you'll find yourself laughing out loud at Moore's sharp wit on serious topics such as health care, childcare, taxes and terrorism. Is he for real? Yep (from the cover photo of the tiny flagpin pictured on his shirt to the handy appendix). But mostly, he's extremely entertaining.

It's easy to conclude which political spectrum Moore identifies with if you're familiar with his background. He's been stirring things up for some time; and he pokes fun of everyone, both liberal and conservative ... especially the conservatives.

Moore is a filmmaker, author, actor and an occasional liberal political commentator. He has directed and produced the documentaries "Fahrenheit 9/11," "Sicko" and "Bowling for Columbine." Two television series, "TV Nation" and "The Awful Truth," showcase his sarcastic dissection of serious topics. He is also the author of two books, "Stupid White Men" and "Dude, Where's My Country?"]]>