Testimony

Synopsis: At a New England boarding school, a sex scandal is about to break. Even more shocking than the sexual acts themselves is the fact that they were caught on videotape. A Pandora's box of revelations, the tape triggers a chorus of voices--those of the men, women, teenagers, and parents involved in the scandal--that details the ways in which lives can be derailed or destroyed in one foolish moment.

I love Anita Shreve but this one left me wanting a little more. The story is told through the "testimony" of about 21 different characters and although I liked the style, I found myself wanting more from certain participants. Even with such serious and thought provoking subject matter, this is a fairly quick read with excellent character development.

Jamie at Home

I'm so excited to try these recipes from Jamie Oliver's new cookbook- "Jamie at Home"

• -Beautiful Zucchini Carbonara

-Tomato Cilantro Salsa with Grilled Tuna

• Jamie's recipes are always so clear and fun to create.

I love just looking at all the beautiful pictures!

Serena

After all of the hype about Serena by Ron Rash, I finally read it and I must admit, all of the hype was right on. I think that the opening paragraph is amazing and definately sets the tone of the book:

"When Pemberton returned to the North Carolina mountains after three months in Boston settling his father's estate, among those waiting on the train platform was a young woman pregnant with Pemberton's child. She was accompanied by her father, who carried beneath his shabby frock coat a bowie knife sharpened with great attentiveness earlier that morning so it would plunge as deep as possible into Pemberton's heart."

Pemberton is an ambitious young lumber baron set to rape the Carolina forests in his quest for power, but his new wife Serena, makes him seem mild by comparison. The young pregnant girl from the opening paragraph plays a pivotal roles in the rise and fall of the Pembertons. Those who have called this novel and Appalachian tragedy that echo Macbeth have certainly gotten it right.

The characters are rich, the descriptions supurb, the suspense keeps you on edge and by no means stop reading this book until the unpredictable end is reached!

Money Matters

The state of our national economy has every one feeling a little scrooge-ish this year. But before you throw out this kids' Christmas stockings take a look at these money-saving options. We bet you'll discover new ways to save in areas you haven't even thought of yet. So browse our suggested titles, set up you family's mint.com account, and ride this economic tidal wave out!

National Book Award Finalists

Awards: National Book Award Finalists
The National Book Foundation has named the 2008 National Book Award finalists. You can watch the announcement here. Winners in each of these categories will be announced at a ceremony on November 19 in New York City. The NBA finalists include:

Fiction

The Lazarus Project by Aleksandar Hemon (Riverhead)
Telex from Cuba by Rachel Kushner (Scribner)
Shadow Country by Peter Matthiessen (Modern Library)
Home by Marilynne Robinson (FSG)
The End by Salvatore Scibona (Graywolf Press)

Nonfiction

This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War by Drew Gilpin Faust (Knopf)
The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family by Annette Gordon-Reed (Norton)
The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How the War on Terror Turned into a War on American Ideals by Jane Mayer (Doubleday)
Final Salute: A Story of Unfinished Lives by Jim Sheeler (Penguin)
The Suicide Index: Putting My Father’s Death in Order by Joan Wickersham (Harcourt)

Poetry

Watching the Spring Festival by Frank Bidart (FSG)
Fire to Fire: New and Collected Poems by Mark Doty (HarperCollins)
Creatures of a Day by Reginald Gibbons (Louisiana State University Press)
Without Saying by Richard Howard (Turtle Point Press)
Blood Dazzler by Patricia Smith (Coffee House Press)

Young People's Literature

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson (S&S)
The Underneath by Kathi Appelt (Atheneum)
What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell (Scholastic)
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart (Hyperion)
The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp (Knopf)

2008 Booker Prize

And the Man Booker Prize 2008 goes to......

Aravind Adiga's The White Tiger.

More here.

Just for Fun

At a meeting of the college faculty, an angel suddenly appears and tells the head of the philosophy department, “I will grant you whichever of three blessings you choose: Wisdom, Beauty --- or ten million dollars.” Immediately the professor chooses Wisdom. There is a flash of lightning, and the professor appears transformed, but he just sits there, staring down at the table. One of his colleagues whispers, “Say something.” The professor says, “I should have taken the money.”

"Mom, What's a Credit Default Swap?"

Goodnight, money. Slate posed an inter-generational question for our time: "Mom, What's a Credit Default Swap?"

Answer: Books to read your children during a financial crisis.

A new book by David Macaulay

After six years of study and preparation and hard work, David Macaulay is finally satisfied with his latest book, "The Way We Work." This time around, his subject is neithercastle nor cathedral, but the human body itself.The author and illustrator spoke to NPR recently. When asked what age reader he intended to reach, he says, "61." Macaulay turns 62 in a few months.

I wish I had written that!

Write big books, earn big bucks. Forbes magazine featured its annual "The World's Best Paid Authors" list of 10 bestselling writers who "pulled in a combined $563 million between June 1, 2007, and June 1, 2008, thanks to hefty advances, impressive sales and silver screen adaptations." This year's Forbes list includes:

J.K. Rowling ($300 million)
James Patterson ($50 million)
Stephen King ($45 million)
Tom Clancy ($35 million)
Danielle Steel ($30 million)
John Grisham (tied at $25 million)
Dean Koontz (tied at $25 million)
Ken Follett ($20 million)
Janet Evanovich ($17 million)
Nicholas Sparks ($16 million)

Book Club News

It's National Reading Group Month and in honor of this page-turning tradition Random House Reader’s Circle is hosting a special month-long event: Book Club Fest! Visit them at http://www.BookClubFest.com, and check out thier exclusive podcasts, sweepstakes and more.