Actresses - Fiction; Older women - Fiction; Motion picture actors and actresses - Fiction; Private investigators - California - Los Angeles - Fiction
Ray Bradbury discusses his book, “Let’s All Kill Constance." He explains that the plot is set in 1960s Los Angeles and follows an unnamed writer who serves as the novel’s narrator. The mystery begins with a visit from an aging Hollywood...
African American boys - Fiction;
Boxers (Sports) - Fiction;
Phoenix (Ariz.) - Fiction
Murad Kalam discusses his book, “Night Journey.” He begins by explaining that his book is about two brothers who choose drastically opposite life paths: one goes to prison, and the other becomes a champion fighter. He discusses the epidemic...
African American families - Fiction; Racially mixed people - Fiction; African Americans - Fiction; New Orleans (La.) - Fiction; Los Angeles (Calif.) - Fiction
Jervey Tervalon discusses his book, “Lita.” He begins by discussing his previous book, "Dead Above Ground" and how this book begins where the last one ended. Tervalon explores the plot of this new book which follows the protagonist Lita Du...
African American women - Fiction; African American businesspeople - Fiction; African American business enterprises - Fiction; Mothers and daughters - Fiction; Cosmetics industry - Fiction; Betrayal - Fiction
Bebe Moore Campbell discusses her novel, “What You Owe Me.” She explains that her book begins in 1948 when an African American woman befriends a European Jew. The two women go into a cosmetic business together until one betrays the other. ...
Leonard Guarente discusses his book, “Ageless Quest.” He begins by explaining that his book is about his personal search for eternal youth and to stop the aging process. He talks about his career as a biologist and professor at the...
Joseph Olshan discusses his novel, “The Conversion.” He begins by explaining his book is about a young male writer who moves to Italy and has a relationship with an older man. When one of the men dies, the other begins to investigate the...
Amis, Kingsley - Family; Partington family; Novelists, English - 20th century - Biography
Martin Amis discusses his book, “Experience.” The book is about life and what one goes through every minute of the day. Amis talks about his father, Kingsley Amis, his nomadic childhood, and family. He also talks about becoming a writer and...
Augusta (Ga.) - Fiction; Antisemitism - Fiction; Trials (Murder) - Fiction; Male friendship - Fiction
Sol Wachtler discusses his book, “Blood Brothers.” He begins by sharing the book’s plot. He explains that during the late 1950s, fifteen-year-old Luke Lupton befriends T.C. Simmons. Since Luke is one of the town’s very few Jewish residents...
Norman Mailer discusses his book, “Tough Guys Don’t Dance.” Mailer details the plot, which is set in Provincetown, Massachusetts and follows the protagonist Tim Madden. Madden is an alcoholic writer who is attracted to wealthy blondes. When...
Authors, American - 20th century - Biography; Irish Americans - Social life and customs; Journalists - United States - Biography; Alcoholics - United States - Biography; Drinking customs - United States
Pete Hamill discusses his book “A Drinking Life.” He talks about immigrants learning about baseball, the working class, and life after war. He says that men face their morality when they go into a war. Hamill shares that before becoming a...
Andrei Codrescu discusses his book, “The Blood Countess,” which is about the life of his ancestor, Elizabeth Bathory, known as the Blood Countess. Andrei weaves two stories together, one that takes place in the 1590s, and another that is more...
Beatles - Discography; Beatles - History - Chronology; Capitol Records, Inc. - History
Bruce Spizer discusses his book, “The Beatles’ Story on Capital Records.” He begins by explaining that this book is about how America received The Beatles, and his own personal fascination with the band. He describes how Capitol Records...
Melinda and Robert Blanchard discuss their autobiography, “Live What You Love.” The pair begins by talking about the four main characteristics that a successful entrepreneur should have: passion, the right people, a good environment, and...
Brady, Joanna (Fictitious character) - Fiction;
Fourth of July celebrations - Fiction;
Policewomen - Fiction;
Sheriffs - Fiction;
Cochise County (Ariz.) - Fiction;
Arizona - Fiction
J.A. Jance discusses her novel, “Exit Wounds.” She begins by explaining that this book continues the series that follows characters Sherriff Joanna Brady and her husband Butch. She talks about how Joanna investigates the death of a woman who...
Brown, Dan, 1964- Da Vinci Code; Jesus Christ - In literature; Mary Magdalene, Saint - In literature; Christian saints in literature; Christianity in literature
Daniel Burstein discusses his book, “Secrets of the Code.” He begins by talking about Dan Brown’s bestselling novel The Da Vinci Code and how he decided to base his book on stories that Dan Brown had alluded to. Burstein talks about the...
Jodee Blanco discusses her book, “Please Stop Laughing at Me.” She begins by discussing her adolescence and how a traumatic event in sixth grade made her an outcast with her peers. She offers advice to parents that might have children who are...
Castaneda, Carlos, 1931-1998; Anthropologists - United States - Biography; Cults - United States
Amy Wallace discusses her book, “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice: My Life with Carlos Castaneda.” Wallace talks about her relationship with her father, Irving Wallace, and his relationship with Carlos Castaneda. She talks about Castaneda’s...
Ben Sherwood discusses his novel, “The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud.” He begins by explaining that his book is about a boy who makes a promise to his brother on their deathbeds to take care of each other. He talks about how his main...
Bruno Bettelheim discusses his book, “A Good Enough Parent.” He begins by explaining that the most important gift a parent can give his or her child is a sense of security and a positive sense of self. He talks about how parents can duplicate...
China - Civilization - Juvenile literature;
China - Civilization
Maywan Shen Krach discusses her children’s book, “D is for Doufu.” She begins by explaining that the word ‘dofou’ is the English equivalent of ‘tofu’ and that she wanted to relate to what Americans know about Chinese culture. She...
