We don’t really like to talk about--DEATH. Even the word itself can suddenly cloud a conversation or cause someone to squirm. What makes death so difficult to talk about? That’s the subject of Warraich’s elucidating and provocative new book, Modern Death. Warraich writes, “The very nature of death, the mystery that surrounds it, breeds uncertainty. Uncertainty breeds fear, and contrary to general perception, never has death been as feared as it is today.” Warraich is at once doctor, scientist, … [Read more...] about Modern Death

Nabokov’s Favorite Word Is Mauve by Ben Blatt What makes a book great? Are the prize-winning authors really better writers? And what makes them better? In Ben Blatt’s book Nabokov’s Favorite Word is Mauve, he sets out to answer these questions by applying a mathematical and statistical formula for examining the classics, bestsellers, and our own writing. He analyzed thousands of texts by loading them into databases and then letting his hard drive churn through them, seeking to determine if our … [Read more...] about Nabokov’s Favorite Word Is Mauve

So what does the story of Adam and Eve have to do with us today? Well, let me tell you, brothers and sisters, a lot. In Bruce Feiler’s fascinating and eye-opening new book, he re-examines the story--its impact through the ages--the authors, theologians and celebrities who have influenced our understanding of the original version in the Bible. Feiler’s book sheds light on how we have defined love based on that story, how we view relationships, marriage, and sex. Each chapter is more engaging and … [Read more...] about The First Love Story: Adam, Eve, and Us

This book captured my attention from the opening paragraph to the very end! What a story and what wonderful storyteller Tinti is. It’s at once a coming-of-age adventure, a love story and a literary thriller focusing on the relationship between a father and daughter. Samuel Hawley is a gruff, gun-toting, bullet-scarred man who is attemptting to raise his spirited daughter, Loo, after his wife’s mysterious and unexpected death. I loved the alternating view points between chapters and the revealing … [Read more...] about The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley