Laura Hillenbrand has written just two non-fiction books in the past decade. You might think that it would be hard for an author with those statistics to gain any sort of critical acclaim today, but Hillenbrand has managed to do so. That’s what happens when you’re the author of Seabiscuit: An American Legend, the non-fiction account of the great racehorse Seabiscuit, and Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, the biography of Louis Zamperini, a WWII POW and American Olympic distance runner.
Seabiscuit, published in 2001, tells the story of Seabiscuit, a thoroughbred race horse who
Archives for Authors
Author Profile: Nick Hornby
January 13th, 2012 by Kaitlin | Authors, Fiction
It’s funny – for all the famous titles accredited to Nick Hornby, it was two relatively unknown ones that made me a fan of his. Most famous for his novel-to-film-adaptations (High Fidelity, About a Boy, and Fever Pitch), Hornby has an easy style that somehow makes wildly unique characters easy to relate to. Since I haven’t read any of the aforementioned titles, my conclusion is drawn from the two books I have ready by him: How to Be Good and A Long Way Down.
I read A Long Way Down one summer while working at a golf course. I’d be
I read A Long Way Down one summer while working at a golf course. I’d be
Author: James Patterson
January 5th, 2012 by Louise | Authors, Fiction, Young Adults
How do you even begin to talk about a prolific author such as James Patterson? Did you know that at any given time, he might be working on around 30 different projects? While the rest of us gawk at such a number, and wonder how he can keep track of all the different characters, Patterson sees it as an easy way to avoid writer's block: as soon as he gets stuck with one project, he can simply move on to another without wasting a second.
Patterson just might be the world's best-selling author. His books have sold more than 180
Patterson just might be the world's best-selling author. His books have sold more than 180
One-Hit Wonders
November 10th, 2011 by Louise | Authors, Classics, Fiction
When we talk about one-hit wonders, we are usually referring to musical artists who only produced one popular single. That signature song puts them on the map, and becomes the only reason anyone recognizes their name. In literature, these one-hit wonders might be called "one-novel wonders," and their number is far from few.
Take Joseph Heller, for example. If the name doesn't ring any bells, the title Catch-22 certainly will. It was Heller's debut novel, about US servicemen during World War II. The words "catch 22" became a common idiom that refers to a "no-win situation" or a "double bind"
Take Joseph Heller, for example. If the name doesn't ring any bells, the title Catch-22 certainly will. It was Heller's debut novel, about US servicemen during World War II. The words "catch 22" became a common idiom that refers to a "no-win situation" or a "double bind"
The Big Three
October 13th, 2011 by Louise | Authors, Fiction
If you ask someone what the "Big Three" refer to, you might get a number of answers. A history major would name the leaders of the three major Allies of World War II: Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill. Meanwhile, an automobile aficionado would list Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler, which dominated the auto industry for a number of years. To a true sci-fi fan, however, the answer is plain and sample: Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, and Robert Heinlein.
You can't talk about science fiction without mentioning Isaac Asimov. As one of the most prolific writers that the world will ever
You can't talk about science fiction without mentioning Isaac Asimov. As one of the most prolific writers that the world will ever
