On the subject of mother-daughter relationships, Amy Tan is one of the reigning writing queens. She is the author of the famous The Joy Luck Club, The Kitchen God's Wife, The Hundred Secret Senses, The Bonesetter's Daughter, Saving Fish from Drowning, and more recently Rules for Virgins (2011). She also wrote two children's books, including Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat, which was adapted for television and shown on PBS. Tan draws greatly from the unique relationship that she had with her mother, yet her writing remains accessible to all readers.
Rules for Virgins is a tale that takes place in 1912 Shanghai, where courtesans and
Amy Tan’s Latest and Upcoming Novels
by Louise May 9th, 2013 | Book Review, Fiction, Topic of the Month
Edward Tufte on Data Presentation
by Louise March 28th, 2013 | Authors
I've seen quite a few bad presentations, and I thought I could blame it on the fact that I attend a technical school. It's hard enough having to present technical information, let alone fluidly in the form of a presentation. If a presenter had spoken clearly, without reading off the slides, and without fidgeting too much while at the center of attention, I used to consider the presentation a success. However, data presentation guru Edward Tufte would strongly beg to differ. (I doubt he would applaud more than one or two presentations I have seen in my lifetime.)
His numerous
His numerous
Latest Fiction by Jodi Picoult
by Louise March 15th, 2013 | Authors
Fiction novelist Jodi Picoult publishes a book almost exactly once a year, and the last few years have seen no exception. Here's what you should know about her two latest releases, The Storyteller (2013) and Lone Wolf (2012).
The Storyteller (2013): Picoult was inspired to write this book after reading Simon Wiesenthal's The Sunflower, in which the main character, as a prisoner in a concentration camp, is brought to the bedside of a dying Nazi, because of the Nazi's request to confess to and be forgiven by a Jew. The moral dilemma posed for Mr. Wiesenthal made Picoult wonder what
The Storyteller (2013): Picoult was inspired to write this book after reading Simon Wiesenthal's The Sunflower, in which the main character, as a prisoner in a concentration camp, is brought to the bedside of a dying Nazi, because of the Nazi's request to confess to and be forgiven by a Jew. The moral dilemma posed for Mr. Wiesenthal made Picoult wonder what
The Mysteries of Edgar Allan Poe Part 2
by Mackenzie M. March 8th, 2013 | Book Review, Classics
In August I wrote a review of the mysteries of Edgar Allen Poe, which included such favorites as "The Pit and the Pendulum", "The Purloined Letter", and "The Tell-Tale Heart". This week I stumbled upon my big book of Poe mysteries and found three more that are definitely worth a revisit. Poe’s works are dark, terrifying, and somewhat tedious to read, but are classic works that should not be overlooked. Even though Halloween is several months away, Poe’s dark mysteries are sure to entertain.
"The Murders in the Rue Morgue" is the first short story that includes a detective in
"The Murders in the Rue Morgue" is the first short story that includes a detective in
Victoria Kann
by Louise March 1st, 2013 | Authors
It's hard to make a name in children's books when so there are already so many classic must-reads filling the shelves. How does one join the ranks of Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree), or Maurice Sendak (Where the Wild Things Are)? For better or for worse, it takes more than a good book to capture an audience nowadays. Luckily, Victoria Kann brings great books to the table, and then some.
Kann is the award-winning co-author and illustrator of the Pinkalicious series. Pinkalicious is a young girl who loves pink. She can't get enough pink, especially not enough pink
Kann is the award-winning co-author and illustrator of the Pinkalicious series. Pinkalicious is a young girl who loves pink. She can't get enough pink, especially not enough pink
