Thursday, September 25, 2008

About Books, September 27, 2008

Bill Yenne has written an outstanding biography, "Sitting Bull." I really liked his depiction of Sitting Bull's early life and I loved learning about the Lakota culture. It was much misunderstood by the European soldiers and settlers. So was Sitting Bull misunderstood. He was never the top military chief that we thought. But he was a true leader and his story including his warrior years and celebrity years, is very interesting.

Listen to the interview at http://www.wvik.org/listings-aboutbooks.htm

Monday, September 8, 2008

About Books, September 20, 2008

Ying Chang Compestine is the author of "Revolution is Not a Dinner Party," a novel about growing up in China under Mao. It is drawn from her own childhood experiences. Ying is also well known for her interest in healthy Chinese cooking. She teaches cooking classes, sometimes on cruises, and develops recipes for the Boulder Heart Institute. Check your local library for her cookbooks. The one I like is called "Secrets of Fat-Free Chinese Cooking."

Listen to the interview at http://www.wvik.org/listings-aboutbooks.htm

About Books, September 13, 2008

Tana French, author of "The Likeness," grew up in Ireland, Italy, the United States and Malawi and chose Dublin as her home when she reached adulthood. I read her first thriller, "In the Woods," and was so excited to have the opportunity to interview her for her second. French has created a group of characters that inhabit a Dublin detective squad. Rob Ryan was featured in her first novel; Cassie Maddox in her second. The story involves the murder of Cassie's physical double. Cassie assumes the victim's character and goes undercover to live in the victim's college house in order to discover who the murderer is. Tana was a delightful person to talk to and I look forward to her third novel.

Listen to the interview at http://www.wvik.org/listings-aboutbooks.htm

Thursday, September 4, 2008

About Books, September 6, 2008

Thomas Foster, a professor of English at the University of Michigan, has written "How to Read Novels Like a Professor." I think it's a valueable and important book for both readers and writers. After a brief history of the novel, Foster talks about opening lines, character, voice, place, endings and much more. Along the way he has interesting "laws" like the Law of Character Clarity and the Law of Shutting Doors. All of this has changed for the better the way I read novels.

Listen to the interview at http://www.wvik.org/listings-aboutbooks.htm