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Fabulous Fiction Firsts #92 (Small Gems #3)

by muffy

A Tranquil Star: Unpublished Stories by Primo Levi - extraordinary writer, poet and a survivor of Auschwitz, is a collection of 17 (very short) stories, published originally in Italian between 1949 and 1986.

“They reflect Levi's extraordinary range, revealing his abhorrence of bureaucracy, his passion for the most mysterious forces of astrophysics and other sciences, and his Shakespearean understanding of the nuances and peculiarities of human behavior."

This first English edition honors the 20th anniversary of his death in Turin, the city he called home.

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School Library Journal - Best Books of the Year

by kidlit

School Library Journal is one of the main sources that both school and public librarians use for gathering reviews of new children's books. The editors of that publication have put together a Best Books of the Year list.

In the category of picture books, here are some favorites.

Hurry, Hurry by Eve Bunting. Illustrated by Jeff Mack.
This would make a great gift for expectant parents and siblings. All the barnyard animals are rushing off to an important event. An egg is hatching and it is time to celebrate.
Fred Stays With Me by Nancy Coffelt. Illustrated by Tricia Tusa.
A young girl goes back and forth between the homes of her divorced parents. Fred is the dog that goes along.
That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown by Cressida Cowell. Illustrated by Neal Layton.
The Queen wants Emily's precious toy rabbit until Emily explains how cherished toys don't just happen. They have to be loved and nurtured before they reach the beloved status.
Leaves by David Ezra Stein. Illustrated by the author.
Young bear is dismayed to see the leaves falling off the trees. But he soon figures out that he's supposed to be hibernating.

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New Fiction on the New York Times Best Sellers List (12/9/07)

by Mazie

There are no new entries on this week's List. Maybe the Grinch has been at work or everyone is out shopping for holiday books and buying from the 100 Notable Books of 2007 list.

From this Holiday List, I highly recommend the latest collection by William Trevor. He is a master of the short story form and Cheating at Canasta showcases him at the height of his powers. Many compare him to Chekhov but this elderly Irish writer stands alone in modern fiction.

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Green Holidays

by manz

Looking for a way to live and give green this season? Try Eco-Libris for ideas on “sustainable reading.” Eco-Libris is committed to seeking out books and practices that are easier on the environment. They offer a handy Holiday Green Gift Guide for Book Lovers and information on how you can sign up to plant a tree for every book you read, for a dollar a book.

Relatedly, The New York Times recently ran an interesting article on the idea of simplifying gift-giving in eco-conscious ways. Is it simplifying? Is it preaching “ecological responsibility?” Is it worth all the to-do? Will you be giving energy-efficient light bulbs as gifts, or snickering at those who do?

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Everyone's got a story to tell....

by Nicole R

“Everybody’s got something in their life they’re good at. This is what I do good. I eat.”

If that first line doesn't grab you, Storycorps has 15,000 more. Since 2003, the project has brought people into the recording booth to interview their friends and family.

Project founder Dave Isay has chosen some of the best stories to feature in his new book, Listening is an Act of Love. You can hear an interview with Isay and Storycorps interviews, on the NPR site.

[First line is from Competitive eater Don “Moses” Lerman]

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Whiteout: Melt

by anned

U.S. Marshall Carrie Stetko is back in Antarctica in Whiteout: Melt, this time to investigate the mysterious explosion of a Russian research depot. Novelist Greg Rucka and Illustrator Steve Lieber team up on this beautifully done (and most deserving) Eisner winner. Lieber's brushwork is amazing, plus he's a master of zippotone!

If you missed the first four issue mini-series "Whiteout" (from Oni Press 1998), you can read the complete first issue for free at comicspace. Rumor has it that Rucka and Lieber are working on the third (and final) chapter of Carrie's story, "Whiteout: Thaw". The only hint Rucka has given is "Carrie's leaving the ice – the only question is how." A movie, directed by Dominic Sena and starring Kate Beckinsale as Carrie, is in the works and due for release in 2008.

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Books to Films - December Blockbusters

by muffy

Ian McEwan’s Atonement on which the film is based recounts events in the unusually hot summer of 1935, when a privileged young woman’s vivid imagination and recklessness forever alters her life and lives of those she loves. Film critics are loving “the stunning landscapes and gorgeous camerawork”.

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman is part of a trilogy called “His Dark Material”, set in a parallel universe. The series has often been compared to the Harry Potter novels. The movie is churning up some controversy on both sides of the border for its anti-Catholic bias. Be your own judge and check out the New York Times Review. Better yet, go see the movie.

At long last - the much-anticipated The Kite Runner is here. It's based on Khaled Hosseini’s popular novel that traces the unlikely friendship of a wealthy Afghan youth and a servant's son, in a tale that spans the final days of Afghanistan's monarchy through the atrocities of the present day. Read the latest news on what is happen with the young actors.

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Pitching in for Eubie by Jerdine Nolen

by Tahira

Lily’s sister Eubie just got a scholarship to college. The family has to raise $3000 for room and board. Everyone pitches in to help. Mama takes in sewing, Eubie baby-sits, Papa and Jacob will take on extra work. What can Lily do? Jerdine Nolan tells a heartwarming story of a family working hard to make a dream come true.

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Fairy Bits - New Stuff

by ryanikoglu

If your passion is pixies, check these out. In the Realm Of The Never Fairies: The Secret World Of Pixie Hollow packs fairy lore and pictures of fantasy worlds. Gail Carson Levine's Fairy Haven And The Quest For The Wand is one more fairy quest novel. Both are especially fun for upper elementary grades. And then there is the Disney Fairy site where kids can create their own fairies and share with others.

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Physics + Wild Fun = Good Book

by annevm

Bestselling author and scientist Stephen Hawking and his daughter Lucy Hawking have a children’s book out that has strong gravitational pull on our 11-year-old son. In fact, reading George’s Secret Key to the Universe is keeping him up way past bedtime. The major attraction is a super-computer named Cosmos who allows George and his friends to travel through the universe, as they learn about time and space. But what if the wrong people got Cosmos? That would be bad. The book's website says sequels are planned in 2008 and 2009.