'Brady Bunch' star's book: addiction, depression, Hollywood romances
Maureen McCormick never opened up to her "Brady Bunch" siblings about her new tell-all book.
The Browser: "The Good Thief"
A weekly look at new releases.
Review: Fiction
A cold split
The author of the renowned "Out Stealing Horses" is back with a new novel about a young girl's coming of age during World War II.
Review: Nonfiction
'Dying is not what it was'
Physician Robert Martensen draws on his 30 years in medicine to illustrate how treatment and choices have drastically changed.
Review: Nonfiction
A Civil War buff's delight
This comprehensive look at Sherman's march to the sea is based on the letters of those who were there.
Review: Short stories
Love of words forms 'Pattern'
Jeffery Renard Allen's first collection of short stories is both urban and poetic.
Local bestsellers
Fiction, nonfiction, advice and how-to
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The Latest from the local scene
Offbeat moments: a book for the ages
By Laurie Hertzel
Eric Hanson has just published a book.
Now, I realize that “Eric Hanson” is a pretty common name around these parts. This one is not the former Star Tribune reporter who occasionally reviews books on these pages. This one is a Minneapolis writer and illustrator whose work has appeared in the New Yorker, McSweeney’s and Vanity Fair.
His book is called “A Book of Ages: An Eccentric Miscellany of Great and Offbeat Moments in the Lives of the Famous and Infamous, Ages 1 to 100,” (Harmony Publications, 306 pages, $19.95), and with a subtitle like that, it pretty much needs a paragraph all to itself.
Recommendations that everyone should read
Five books with voice
Writer-storyteller Kevin Kling knows a thing or three about voice. Here are five books he thinks have strong voice and finds to be a "bit off the normal path":
HAD I A HUNDRED MOUTHS
by William Goyen
Born with "the gift," Goyen, from Texas, seems to speak through the page. Profound, dark and amazing stories. When asked where his beautiful and twisted tales come from, Goyen replied, "You don't think it starts with peace, do you?"
THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD
by Zora Neale Hurston
Loveliest of love stories. At one point, the main character says something like, "She could make a man forget to get old and forget to die."
DIRTY MUSIC
Karyn Roesler, Coon Rapids: I'm reading "Bells of May" by Jane Wagoner, written in 2006. It's a story about a family living in the Harz Mountains in the late 18th century. The characters are wonderful! I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and German history.
Kim Battern, Maple Grove: Today I finished reading "Split: a Memoir of Divorce" by Suzanne Finnamore. It's one of those books that immediately suck you in and you're a goner till the last page. Suzanne is such a smart writer; she takes you through her achingly truthful five stages (from denial to acceptance) as her marriage died.
Oct. 7: Richard Russo Talking Volumes kicks off with novelist Richard Russo, whose "Empire Falls" won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2002. "Bridge of Sighs," his first novel since that book, is being issued as a paperback this fall.
Nov. 20: Wally Lamb Wally Lamb will read from his first novel in 10 years, "The Hour I First Believed," due out in November. His previous novels, "She's Come Undone" and "I Know This Much Is True," topped the New York Times bestseller list.
Both authors will appear at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul. Public ticket price is $20; member tickets are $18. 651-290-1221.
Here are some of Books Editor Laurie Hertzel's favorite sites and blogs. Got a literary link to share? E-mail Laurie.
- WOMEN RULE WRITER An Irish writer's take on writing, reading, literary competitions and workshops in Ireland.
- Poets & Writers The website for Poets and Writers Magazine--podcasts, author interviews, and writing resources.
- Creative Writing A place to keep apprised of writing competitions in the United States.
- Gather Minnesota Readers The Website for Minnesota Public Radio's books blog.
- The Loft Literary Center The Website for the Loft, a local place for writers and readers.
- Trashionista A Website devoted to chick lit and mommy books.
- A.Word.A.Day Go here to learn a new word every day.
- World Wide Words Michael Quinion answers your language questions and writes about English from a British point of view.
- bookreporter.com A plethora of online book reviews and reading guides.
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