History
By Phillips Payson O’Brien
More than any other men, Winston Churchill, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Benito Mussolini, and Franklin Roosevelt directed the flow and determined the outcome of World War II. This book examines them. It shows how their early life experiences shaped them and how they subsequently shaped World War II. It offers a new, thought-provoking view of the war as driven by the highly personal decisions of five men, not the impersonal tides of history and technology.
By Erik Larson
In the spring of 1861, Americans focused their attention on South Carolina’s Fort Sumter. In his re-creation of the five months stretching from the election of Lincoln to the outbreak of civil war, Larson does the same for us. Through meticulous research and his usual vivid writing, he brings to life the actors and events of that time of enormous national discord. His “saga of hubris, heartbreak, and heroism” is a vivid reminder that unbridled political passions can have horrific consequences.
Mystery
Edited by Otto Penzler
“Virtually all mystery fiction dramatizes one of the simplest and purest components of human existence and behavior: the battle between the forces of Good and those of Evil,” writes Penzler. In this anthology of mystery fiction, one receives the very best of these dramatizations from an era where detective versus criminal first began. Read 33 suspenseful short stories from the likes of Mark Twain, Jack London, Louisa May Alcott, and Edgar Allan Poe, as well as from some very unlikely authors.
Novel
By Thomas H. Schmid
Gale Ruthven is an associate professor of British Romantic poetry at a minor West Texas college. He is also a 400-year-old vampire. This novel explores what vampires do to pass time. A nearly immortal being with vast power must do something interesting or go crazy. A delicious mix of the postmodern era and 19th century, this is a witty satire on modern academia, a fast-paced adventure, and a romp through English literature. It mixes unexpected plot twists with an original spin on old tropes.
Classics
By Booker T. Washington
Born a slave, Booker T. Washington (1856–1915) became one of the most prominent men of his generation. He founded Alabama’s Tuskegee Institute and pushed for African Americans to win their place in society through education, enterprise, and hard work. In this autobiography, he describes his impoverished youth, his drive to educate himself, and the work to which he devoted his life. All Americans, especially the young, should read this book with its message of self-improvement and hope.
For Kids
By Shirley Parenteau and David Walker
This installment of the popular series shows the darling little bears settling down into their beds for the night. When a windy sound gives them a fright, they gather for a story until there are “five sleeping bears.” The simplicity, color, and design of “Bears in Beds” will delight little ones at bedtime and set the tone for a good night’s sleep.
Walker Books, 2012, 32 pages
What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to [email protected]
