Exploring Top Books of Shelfari

After living in Britain for two decades, Bill Bryson recently moved back to the United States with his English wife and four children (he had read somewhere that nearly 3 million Americans believed they had been abducted by aliens--as he later put it, "it was clear my people needed me"). They were greeted by a new and improved America that boasts microwave pancakes, twenty-four-hour dental-floss hotlines, and the... (more)

I Love Everybody (and Other Atrocious Lies): True Tales of a Loudmouth Girl

I Love Everybody (and Other Atrocious Lies): True Tales of a Loudmouth Girl

by Laurie Notaro

Here are more scathingly funny tales from the wild side! Laurie Notaro survived the debauched ride of her twenties and the bumpy road to matrimony. Now she’s ready to take on the thirtysomething years . . . and almost middle age has never been more hilarious. Laurie is married, mortgaged, and now—miraculously—employed in the corporate world, discovering that bosses come in all shapes, sizes, and degrees of... (more)

Hiroshima Notes

by Kenzaburo Oe

A moving study of the Hiroshima bombing and its horrific aftermath by the 1994 Nobel laureate for literature provides an eloquent account of the victims of the atomic blast, the efforts of caregivers, and the devastating struggle to come to terms with the tragedy. Reprint. NYT.

Teen Dreams: Reading Teen Film And Television from Heathers to Veronica Mars

Teen Dreams: Reading Teen Film And Television from Heathers to Veronica Mars

by Roz Kaveney

In this pioneering and entertaining book, Roz Kaveney examines the crucial films and television shows in the teen-driven genre and reveals the inner workings of their consistent themes. From John Hughes' early films, to the cheerleaders of Bring It On , the films and their characters deal with sex and gender relations, presenting a picture of the hidden life of teenagers. Hit teen films can also promote products,... (more)

I Was Told There'd Be Cake

by Sloane Crosley

Wry, hilarious, and profoundly genuine, this debut collection of literary essays is a celebration of fallibility and haplessness in all their glory. From despoiling an exhibit at the Natural History Museum to provoking the ire of her first boss to siccing the cops on her mysterious neighbor, Crosley can do no right despite the best of intentions-or perhaps because of them. Together, these essays create a... (more)

Neptune Noir -Lib (Smart Pop)

by Leah Wilson

Neptune Noir is a collection of essays on the hit drama Veronica Mars , and is not authorized by CW, the creators or producers of Veronica Mars , or any entity associated with the show. More than just a high school drama, Veronica Mars is a smart and savvy teen detective show that offers complex mysteries and rapier wit, engaging social commentary, and noir sensibilities—with the occasional murder thrown... (more)

The Best American Travel Writing<tm> 2009

The Best American Travel Writing 2009

by Simon Winchester

Acclaimed writer Simon Winchester brings his keen literary eye to this year's volume of the finest travel writing from the past year. "Full of insights, humor, the exotic and distant, and the ordinary and near" ( Library Journal ) this collection finds "a perfect mix of exotic locale and elegant prose" ( Publishers Weekly ).

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Tags: essay collection

I'm a Stranger Here Myself

Notes on Returning to America After Twenty Years Away

by Bill Bryson