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Books

updated Tue Jun 29 2010 08:57:53

Top 10 summer reads

updated Mon Jun 21 2010 19:00:58

'Little House' star on childhood fame and Gary Coleman

Actress Alison Arngrim is most famous for playing the wicked Nellie Oleson on "Little House on the Prairie." Nellie -- one of the ultimate TV villains of all-time -- did things like imitate a stuttering child and persuade a classmate to steal the answers to a test among many other atrocities.

updated Fri Jun 18 2010 18:54:19

Big screen's take on 'Jonah Hex' looks like a letdown

There are typically two types of comic book movies -- movies like "Ghost Rider" and movies like "Batman Begins."

updated Wed Jun 09 2010 11:00:50

Batman's past, present, future collide

As everyone but the citizens of Gotham City knows, Batman is Bruce Wayne. But lately, he's been Dick Grayson. And this month, he's also Damian Wayne and Terry McGinnis. Will the real Batman please stand up?

updated Mon Jun 07 2010 15:41:01

Shiny surprise during new visit to 'Serenity'

To say the gone-too-soon series "Firefly" has a devoted fan base might be the biggest understatement in sci-fi fandom.

updated Mon Jun 07 2010 13:26:41

Stephenie Meyer: Read 'Bree Tanner' before seeing 'Eclipse'

Can't wait for "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" to hit theatres? Author Stephenie Meyer says she's got the perfect solution for fans hoping get their "Twilight" fix before June 30: Dig into the series' latest novel.

updated Fri May 28 2010 16:33:17

Undeterred by scandal, Duchess appears at book show

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, appeared at a book convention in New York City on Wednesday, undeterred by a scandal that she allegedly offered to sell access to her former husband, Britain's Prince Andrew.

updated Tue May 25 2010 18:19:03

Jules Feiffer: A cartoonist's 'Sick' outlook

The comic strip was originally called Sick Sick Sick, but it wasn't about ghouls or horror or any of that "Tales from the Crypt"-type stuff.

updated Fri May 21 2010 17:00:28

Review: 'The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest'

The final book in Stieg Larsson's massively popular Millennium trilogy is less a follow-up to the last one than a continuation of it, as if he'd written a single 1,000-page volume and then ripped it in half.

updated Fri May 14 2010 15:30:43

Review: Laura Bush's 'Spoken from the Heart'

Laura Bush never interested me much until Curtis Sittenfeld wrote an addictively readable novel based on her, "American Wife."

updated Tue May 11 2010 14:03:26

Tyra Banks to publish her first novel

Supermodel. Talk-show host. Actress. Singer. Reality-TV queen. Now, the versatile Tyra Banks is adding yet another line to her crowded résumé: novelist.

updated Wed May 05 2010 09:33:37

The anatomy of an unauthorized tell-all

Kitty Kelley, author of the controversial biography "Oprah," has a motto over her desk that speaks to her philosophy about her profession as a celebrity biographer: "Tell the truth, but ride a fast horse."

updated Wed Apr 28 2010 17:30:00

Appeals court upholds ruling in Seinfeld cookbook case

The author of a children's cookbook cannot copyright ideas for slipping vegetables into children's food, a federal appeals court said in upholding a ruling in favor of the wife of comedian Jerry Seinfeld in a copyright infringement case.

updated Mon Apr 26 2010 13:46:18

Was Shakespeare's ghost writer ... Shakespeare?

To most people, the literary debate over who wrote the works of William Shakespeare would appear to be much ado about nothing. After all, the play's the thing, right? What does it matter who wrote it?

updated Fri Apr 23 2010 13:15:51

The man behind 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'

Stieg Larsson left behind a trail of intrigue that rivals the dark thrillers he created.

updated Fri Apr 23 2010 02:47:07

Archie Comics announces new gay character

Riverdale High School, the stomping ground of comic book legend Archie Andrews, will open its doors to its first openly gay student.

updated Wed Apr 21 2010 10:45:43

Susan Boyle's autobiography to be published this fall

Susan Boyle, already the subject of two reverie-themed books (this past February's authorized "Dreams Can Come True," and the unsanctioned "Susan Boyle: Living the Dream: The Biography of Britain's Incredible Singing Sensation") will finally tell her own story in "The Woman I was Born to Be," due this fall.

updated Thu Apr 15 2010 09:50:48

Review: 'Oprah: A biography' by Kitty Kelley

The rap on Kitty Kelley is that she's a gossipmonger. That she's salacious. That her research leans too heavily on anonymous sources.

updated Fri Apr 09 2010 11:41:46

Portia de Rossi to address eating disorders, sexuality in memoir

Portia de Rossi is ready to share her story.

updated Thu Apr 08 2010 18:27:57

Ideas for future 'Harry Potter' books

J.K. Rowling celebrated Easter at the White House, reading to some kids and answering questions about the future of "Harry Potter". According to the The Washington Post, Rowling said she doesn't have explicit plans to write another "Harry Potter" tome, but she certainly hasn't ruled out the idea. "Maybe 10 years from now," she said. Eee! Even this possibility, no matter how slim, got us excited about the prospect of another book about the gang from Hogwarts. To help Rowling get started writing, we came up with some ideas for her next novel.

updated Wed Apr 07 2010 11:02:37

J.K. Rowling: Another book soon

Two of the music industry's hottest acts, Justin Bieber and the "Glee" cast, hit the White House stage for yesterday's annual Easter Egg Roll.

updated Thu Apr 01 2010 19:22:13

10 celebrities who've fiddled with fiction writing

Yes, yes, James Franco is going to Yale, the third stop on his tour of schools in the tri-state area -- before graduating from Columbia and going all Ivy League business, Franco had a brief fling with New York University. Amongst those precious days he spent at the latter, I was fortunate enough to share an elevator with him on the way to one of my classes.

updated Tue Mar 23 2010 12:05:59

Shel Silverstein book slated for 2011 release

The second posthumous collection of poetry and illustrations by beloved children's author Shel Silverstein will be released next year by HarperCollins, Publisher's Weekly reports.

updated Wed Mar 10 2010 10:15:54

Jackie Collins, still the queen of steam

There was a time when the masses received much of their dose of behind-the-scenes Hollywood stories from author Jackie Collins.

updated Mon Mar 01 2010 10:46:51

'Letters to Jackie' conveys U.S. heartbreak

When U.S. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated nearly 50 years ago, he left behind a nation stunned by grief and brimming with questions.

updated Thu Feb 25 2010 14:08:24

Review: Lincoln as vampire hunter? Eh

Can there be anything left to learn about the 16th president of the United States? Er, maybe.

updated Mon Feb 22 2010 15:46:58

Margaret Atwood and the end of humanity

When Margaret Atwood looks into the future, she sees catastrophe.

updated Fri Feb 05 2010 15:31:34

Jenny Sanford tell-all has revealing glimpses

Hell hath no fury like a political wife scorned.

updated Wed Feb 03 2010 17:11:44

Review: DeLillo's latest disappointing

Every new book from Don DeLillo is a literary event, but some are more eventful than others.

updated Thu Jan 28 2010 16:04:54

Author J.D. Salinger dies at 91

J.D. Salinger, the famously reclusive author whose 1951 novel, "The Catcher in the Rye," became a touchstone for generations of readers, has died. He was 91.

updated Wed Jan 06 2010 14:50:19

'Nanny Returns' to take on toxic families

When authors Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus followed the cases of accused fraudsters Ezra Merkin, Bernie Madoff and Brooke Astor's son Anthony Marshall, they couldn't help but think of the men as little boys.

updated Mon Jan 04 2010 17:30:14

Battle over new Warren Beatty biography

In his prime, Warren Beatty may have been known as one of Hollywood's most famous Casanovas. But did he really sleep with more than 12,000 women, as an upcoming biography claims?

updated Thu Dec 24 2009 09:52:49

Your winter staycation reading list

For those of us who won't be spending our holidays somewhere warm and wonderful, the next best thing to jetting to St. Barts, Miami, or Cabo is getting lost in a book that takes you there. Herewith, ten tomes that offer tropical settings and enough sun-drenched drama to make Jay-Z's yacht look boring. The only thing you'll miss is a tan.

updated Thu Dec 24 2009 09:51:43

Your winter staycation reading list

For those of us who won't be spending our holidays somewhere warm and wonderful, the next best thing to jetting to St. Barts, Miami, or Cabo is getting lost in a book that takes you there. Herewith, ten tomes that offer tropical settings and enough sun-drenched drama to make Jay-Z's yacht look boring. The only thing you'll miss is a tan.

updated Wed Dec 09 2009 18:03:49

Matt Damon makes history 'Speak'

What are you doing this Sunday? If you know what's cool, you'll be rediscovering American history during The History Channel's premiere of the documentary "The People Speak" based on Howard Zinn's book, "A People's History of the United States."

updated Wed Dec 02 2009 17:37:15

What really killed Jane Austen?

It is a truth universally acknowledged -- or nearly so -- that Jane Austen, the author of "Pride and Prejudice," died of a rare illness called Addison's disease, which robs the body of the ability to make critical hormones.

updated Wed Nov 25 2009 07:59:46

Vampire romance novels suck in readers

If the chaste Bella and Edward lived in writer J.R. Ward's world, they would have hit the sheets long ago.

updated Mon Nov 23 2009 18:35:16

Life lessons from a celebrity guru

Laura Day doesn't call herself a psychic. She prefers the term "intuitionist." Whatever you call whatever she has, actors, studio heads, and corporate and financial titans pay her $10,000 a month for 24/7 access to it.

updated Wed Nov 11 2009 07:49:28

D-Day historian: 'Ryan' not best war film

Some reviewers have called "Saving Private Ryan," Steven Spielberg's World War II film about D-Day and the search for a soldier, one of the greatest war movies.

updated Sat Oct 31 2009 08:41:30

A bloodier Dracula rises again

Move over, Edward Cullen.

updated Fri Oct 23 2009 20:47:02

Our romance with debt -- we'll pay later

Unless we value fairness, reciprocity, and honest dealing, and the concept of balances -- for debt and credit depend on them -- and unless we are able to trust our systems, we would not be able to have debt and credit -- no one would lend, because there would be no expectation of ever getting paid back.

updated Wed Sep 30 2009 09:38:04

A post-Holocaust tale of freedom deferred

By the end of World War II in April 1945, with about two-thirds of European Jewry wiped out, Jewish survivors stepped out of the darkness in search of a place to call home.

updated Wed Sep 16 2009 07:50:02

Review: Brown's 'Symbol' a second-rate 'Code'

Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code" has spawned a raft of imitators, most of which pale in comparison; the latest, "The Lost Symbol," is by Brown himself.

updated Fri Sep 11 2009 00:10:55

Jessica Seinfeld wins plagiarism case against her

A federal judge on Thursday threw out an author's claims that Jessica Seinfeld, the comedian's wife, plagiarized from her cookbook, but the judge left open claims of defamation against Jerry Seinfeld himself.

updated Thu Sep 10 2009 13:04:53

Six days until 'The Lost Symbol' hits stores

Dan Brown could not have written a more suspenseful plot if he'd tried.

updated Thu Aug 20 2009 18:45:45

Flannery O'Connor: A 'contrary' woman's legacy

Flannery O'Connor did not expect to become the subject of a biography. She thought the narrow borders of her life -- lived "between the house and the chicken yard" -- wouldn't give a writer much to work with.

updated Tue Aug 11 2009 09:08:15

New chapter for Nancy Grace with her first novel

Readers of Nancy Grace's debut novel, "The Eleventh Victim," would be forgiven if they assumed the main character is based on Grace.

updated Fri Jul 24 2009 19:07:22

Author E. Lynn Harris dead at 54

E. Lynn Harris, the author who introduced millions of readers to the "invisible life" of black gay men, was a literary pioneer whose generosity was as huge as his courage, friends said Friday.

updated Tue Jul 21 2009 18:45:42

Shange's 'For Colored Girls' has lasting power

A rainbow brought Ntozake Shange some peace.

updated Tue Jul 21 2009 09:33:34

Shange's 'For Colored Girls' has lasting power

A rainbow brought Ntozake Shange some peace.

updated Mon Jul 20 2009 11:20:52

Frank McCourt, author of 'Angela's Ashes,' dead at 78

Author Frank McCourt, whose tragic childhood became creative grist for his first book, the Pulitzer Prize-winning "Angela's Ashes," died Sunday, according to the Web site of his publisher, Simon & Shuster. He was 78.

updated Wed Jun 03 2009 16:49:57

Lawsuit targets 'rip-off' of 'Catcher in the Rye'

Reclusive author J.D. Salinger has emerged, at least in the pages of court documents, to try to stop a novel that presents Holden Caulfield, the disaffected teen hero of his classic "The Catcher in the Rye," as an old man.

updated Thu May 28 2009 05:38:18

Comic suspense: Archie Andrews pops question

"Jughead, do you want to be my best man?" comic book character Archie asks on his blog.

updated Wed May 20 2009 12:32:40

Larry King: The day my father died

I was walking home from the library carrying nine books. That's the way my memory sees it. I can't know for sure if it was exactly nine books. Maybe I picture nine books because I was nine years old. I'm certain that I was nine years old, because I'm sure of the date -- June 9, 1943. There were a lot of books under my arm on that summer day because I loved books. I wonder what happened to those nine books ...

updated Tue May 19 2009 15:52:12

Excerpt: Betting my last dollar on a horse

I was thirty-seven years old. (In 1971). I had no job. I had a couple hundred thousand dollars in debts. And a four-year-old daughter. I'd take Chaia to our secret park on our visiting days. That's when the pain cut the deepest -- looking at my daughter and knowing I had no way to support her.

updated Tue May 05 2009 14:58:41

Umpires, pitchers by the book

No play can begin in a baseball game until the pitcher throws the ball. And no play can conclude until the umpire makes the call.

updated Tue May 05 2009 14:25:21

Communists, capitalists still buy into iconic Che photo, author says

It is the most popular photograph in history: Argentine revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara stares pensively at the horizon, his steely eyes shielded behind a thick beard and his trademark beret. The shot -- taken by Cuban photographer Alberto Korda in Havana on March 5, 1960 -- turned the charismatic and controversial leader into a cultural icon.

updated Sun May 03 2009 08:32:44

Review: Matlin's 'Scream' is sometimes painful

If you're interested in actor Marlee Matlin, you'll want two questions answered before deciding whether to read her memoir, "I'll Scream Later":

updated Tue Apr 28 2009 10:41:09

Best-selling author shaped by cannibals, Christianity

Ted Dekker spent his formative years living with cannibals. It's a helpful background for an author who writes novels about serial killers.

updated Mon Apr 27 2009 12:59:03

'Atlas Shrugged' author sees resurgence

"Where is John Galt?" reads a sign in the back of a vehicle heading down Interstate 85 in Atlanta, Georgia.

updated Fri Apr 24 2009 23:13:13

Prince Charles signs green movie deal

Britain's Prince Charles will follow in the footsteps of former U.S. Vice President Al Gore with an upcoming book and film documentary on the environment, the prince's publisher said.

updated Mon Apr 20 2009 05:16:24

'Empire of the Sun' author Ballard dies

British author J.G. Ballard, whose boyhood experience in a World War II internment camp became the novel and film "Empire of the Sun," died Sunday at age 78, his literary agent said. He had suffered from cancer for several years.

updated Sun Apr 19 2009 00:50:49

Chavez's gesture turns book into bestseller

The big winner out of this week's Summit of the Americas in Trinidad may be a decades-old book about the exploitation of Latin American people throughout history.

updated Fri Apr 10 2009 04:42:50

Michael Phelps' mom: My son has great values

Debbie Phelps, the mother of swimming star Michael Phelps, who won a record eight gold medals in Beijing, is the author of a new memoir, "A Mother For All Seasons."

updated Mon Apr 06 2009 08:18:58

Crime writer Walter Mosley debuts new series

Fans of the character Easy Rawlins don't want to hear it, but author Walter Mosley says he has officially moved on.

updated Mon Mar 23 2009 13:12:33

Tragic poet Sylvia Plath's son kills himself

The family history of poets Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath took another tragic turn Monday when it was revealed that their son had committed suicide after battling depression.

updated Fri Mar 20 2009 07:22:01

Superheroes rise in tough times

America faces an economic calamity. Trouble brews in faraway lands.

updated Thu Mar 12 2009 15:18:07

Children's books: Classic reading for fans

They feature characters such as hat-wearing cats, very hungry caterpillars, nice girls named Madeline and naughty boys named Max.

updated Tue Mar 10 2009 08:06:51

Rare Harry Potter book fetches $19,000 at auction

A first-edition Harry Potter book was sold for about $19,000, according to an auction house in Dallas, Texas.

updated Thu Mar 05 2009 02:48:34

'Mockingbird,' 'Mercies' screenwriter Foote dies

(CNN) -- Horton Foote, the Pulitzer Prize- and Academy Award-winning screenwriter of "To Kill a Mockingbird," has died, according to officials at the Hartford Stage theater in Connecticut, where he was working on a production.

updated Wed Mar 04 2009 21:37:13

'Mockingbird,' 'Mercies' screenwriter Foote dies

Horton Foote, the Pulitzer Prize- and Academy Award-winning screenwriter of "To Kill a Mockingbird," has died, according to officials at the Hartford Stage theater, where he was working on a production of several of his plays.

updated Tue Mar 03 2009 10:16:14

'Unrestored' copy of first Superman comic book for sale

After being hidden away for years, a copy of the original "Action Comics No. 1" comic book, featuring Superman and friends, will make a comeback -- to the tune of about $400,000, a comic expert told CNN Thursday.

updated Thu Feb 26 2009 18:02:23

Philip Jose Farmer, science-fiction writer, dies at 91

Author Philip Jose Farmer died in his sleep Wednesday, according to a message on his Web site.

updated Sun Feb 15 2009 15:30:23

For many Chinese, literary dreams go online

If it weren't for the Internet, Murong Xuecun might still be working as a sales manager at a car company in the southern Chinese city of Chengdu. That is what he was doing when he started writing his first novel on his office's online bulletin board system back in 2001.

updated Thu Feb 12 2009 14:51:35

Why Lincoln still matters

Two hundred years after his birth in a log cabin in Kentucky, Abraham Lincoln continues to fascinate.

updated Wed Feb 11 2009 13:41:36

How do you get to 'Sesame Street'?

"Sesame Street" may not be a real place, but tell that to some of the people Michael Davis met when researching and talking about his new book, "Street Gang."

updated Mon Feb 02 2009 12:37:31

Torre on book: 'It wasn't my intention to shock anybody'

Los Angeles Dodgers baseball manager Joe Torre's new book about his old club has been burning up best-seller lists even before it hits stores.

updated Thu Jan 29 2009 17:44:19

Finding humor in 'Stuff White People Like'

The blog "Stuff White People Like" is wildly popular with fans who've embraced the hilarious, satirical sendup of the white middle class that -- according to the list -- have an ongoing love affair with things such as coffee (No. 1), organic food (No. 6), yoga (15) and the Toyota Prius (60).

updated Tue Jan 27 2009 19:00:18

Famed author John Updike dies of cancer at 76

Author John Updike, regarded as one of the greatest and most prolific writers in modern American letters, died Tuesday, his publicist said. He was 76.

updated Mon Jan 12 2009 14:28:26

Commentary: For Obama's poet, poetry 'is the human voice'

When Barack Obama is sworn in as president January 20, there will be music -- by, among others, Aretha Franklin, Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman and the U.S. Marine Band. There will be prayers and speeches -- including Obama's inaugural address. And for the fourth time in the nation's 56 inauguration ceremonies, there will be poetry -- by someone far less well-known.

updated Wed Dec 31 2008 13:23:07

Commentary: Holocaust love story an insult to the survivors

I don't know whether to be sad or angry -- or both. The recent exposé of the fact that Herman Rosenblat's Holocaust memoir is a hoax was no surprise to me. From the first time I heard the story of his "miraculous" survival during the Nazi era, I doubted that it could be true.

updated Tue Dec 23 2008 11:32:30

Historian sees lessons, Lincoln parallels for Obama

Much has been made of Barack Obama's interest in "Team of Rivals," Doris Kearns Goodwin's best-selling book on President Lincoln and his cabinet.

updated Tue Dec 16 2008 08:42:11

Seventh president a mass of contradictions

Jon Meacham is quick with a quip when asked why he decided to write a biography of Andrew Jackson.

updated Mon Dec 15 2008 08:47:43

The monster Patricia Cornwell created

When Patricia Cornwell began writing thriller novels, she ruled the world of forensic science.

updated Fri Dec 12 2008 12:28:57

'1,000 Things' you need to know about

Several years ago, in honor of the new millennium, Playboy magazine asked musicians for lists of their top 10 songs of the previous 1,000 years.

updated Mon Nov 24 2008 14:24:20

Fashion designer Cole wants to inspire

Kenneth Cole is the first to admit he has a bit of a language problem.

updated Fri Nov 21 2008 15:08:35

'Tipping Point' author looks at 'outliers'

Why are some people amazingly successful -- and other people with the same intelligence or abilities just part of the crowd?

updated Wed Nov 19 2008 19:41:38

'PC' explains almost everything for you

You might want to take John Hodgman's new book, "More Information Than You Require," with a grain of salt. Or maybe the whole shaker.

updated Tue Nov 18 2008 16:21:48

'WKRP' vet Reid, standup Dreesen's previous life

A comedy team starring a DuPont marketing manager and an insurance salesman? It will never work.

updated Thu Nov 13 2008 09:01:57

Thousands pursue wacky world records

Thousands of people around the globe may find the payoff Thursday for the countless hours they have spent perfecting the most ridiculous of feats.

updated Tue Nov 11 2008 11:44:29

Ted Turner: 'I'm not chased by demons'

Ted Turner appeared Tuesday on CNN, the network he founded, to talk about last week's election results, his business ventures, and his relationship with ex-wife Jane Fonda.

updated Wed Nov 05 2008 19:19:37

'Jurassic Park' author, 'ER' creator Crichton dies

Michael Crichton, who helped create the TV show "ER" and wrote the best-sellers "Jurassic Park," "The Andromeda Strain," "Sphere" and "Rising Sun," has died in Los Angeles, his public relations firm said in a news release.

updated Tue Nov 04 2008 07:44:11

'Wicked' author Gregory Maguire returns to Oz

Gregory Maguire absently cleans his glasses with his tie as he talks about pushing someone down the stairs.

updated Sat Nov 01 2008 15:05:54

Acclaimed author Studs Terkel dies at 96

Pulitzer Prize-winning author, radio host and activist Studs Terkel died in his Chicago, Illinois, home Friday at the age of 96.

updated Mon Oct 06 2008 18:11:50

'Sex and the City' creator moves to 'One Fifth Avenue'

Any woman who's ever watched "Sex and the City" has at some point tried to guess which of the characters she's most like. The overly confident Samantha? The slightly prudish Charlotte? The pessimistic Miranda? The overanalytical Carrie?

updated Mon Oct 06 2008 14:20:24

Author rips into political 'Wrecking Crew'

Thomas Frank says he's fascinated by contradiction and irony. So it seems cosmically appropriate that he arrives at CNN Center the day headlines are screaming about the market meltdown, prompting the free-market Bush administration to call for a massive bailout package. (The package was passed by Congress and signed by the president last week.)

updated Mon Sep 08 2008 18:12:03

Judge blocks 'Harry Potter Lexicon'

A federal judge on Monday ruled against a Web site operator who was seeking to publish an encyclopedia about the Harry Potter series of novels, blocking publication of "The Harry Potter Lexicon" after concluding that it would cause author J.K. Rowling "irreparable injury."

updated Wed Sep 03 2008 08:38:57

The cartoonist beloved by GIs and regular guys

George S. Patton did not like Willie and Joe.

updated Fri Aug 15 2008 14:19:22

Political author's name matches name on terrorist watch list

Four years ago, author James Moore released his latest book critical of President Bush.

updated Tue Aug 12 2008 12:57:40

When Wacky Packages ruled

I blame Wacky Packages for making me the man I am today.

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