Mary Daniels Brown

My mother always insisted that, as soon as I was old enough to sit up, she’d find me in my crib after my nap babbling away, with a Little Golden Book on my lap. I’ve had my nose in a book ever since. I grew up in a small town, with the tiny town library literally in my backyard. As an only child in an unhappy home, I found comfort and companionship in books. As an adult I wanted to be Harry Potter, although I admit I’m more Hermione. My life has been a series of research projects. Reading has taught me that human lives are deliciously messy and that “it’s complicated” isn’t a punchline.

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An In-Depth Guide to Book Sizes Every once in a while I come across a book that isn’t a standard size. That difference may not seem important, but it can make shelving the book difficult if you want to put it in with, say, other books by the same author. Category: Publishing People Are Sharing […]

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Book Covers. Top row: Blue Diary by Alice Hoffman, Blue Nights by Joan Didion, Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, The Black Echo by Michael Connelly, The Red Leather Diary by Lily Koppel, Tolstoy and the Purple Chair by Nina Sankovitch. Second row: Red Leaves by Thomas H. Cook, Wolf in White Van by John Darnielle, Women in White Coats by Olivia Campbell, Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anappara John

Top Ten Tuesday: Books With an Adjective In the Title 

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Here’s how it works: Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl

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The Book That Unleashed American Grief “John Gunther’s Death Be Not Proud defied a nation’s reluctance to describe personal loss.” Deborah Cohen discusses Death Be Not Proud, published in 1949, John Gunther’s account of the his son’s death at age 17 from a brain tumor. The publisher, Harper & Brothers, feared at the time that

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stack of 3 books plus open book with pen. Title: Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Books On My Spring 2022 TBR

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Here’s how it works: Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl

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Women’s History Month at New York Public Library “This March, The New York Public Library celebrates Women’s History Month with recommended reading, spotlights on significant women librarians from our 125 year history, events and programs, and more.” Categories: Literary History, Literary Criticism 13 Empowering Memoirs Written by Women In honor of Women’s History Month. Categories:

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Discussion

What Makes a Good Twist Ending?

Introduction I still remember the experience of first seeing the movie Planet of the Apes (the original 1968 version starring Charlton Heston). As the movie ended, Taylor (the astronaut played by Heston) and Nova rode off on a horse in search of a new place to live. As they rode along the beach, the camera

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MLB Lockout Ends and 162-Game Season Will Be Played – The New York Times

After a long series of deadlines, threats and delays, a tentative agreement was reached and a full 162-game season should begin on April 7. Source: MLB Lockout Ends and 162-Game Season Will Be Played – The New York Times YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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2 containers of Books on Tape: (left), an upright container of tapes of The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton, and (right) a cardboard box addressed for return to Books on Tape in California.

Remembering Books on Tape

Duvall Hecht, who popularized audiobooks as founder of Books on Tape, dies at 91 Duvall Hecht, Founder of Books on Tape, Is Dead at 91 I was saddened recently to read of the death of Duvall Hecht, founder of Books on Tape, because our family had one particularly memorable experience with his product. In 1975

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Theresa Malkiel, a Jewish socialist immigrant, inspired International Women’s Day 

International Women’s Day began with a Russian-born Jewish woman in New York City, before traveling to the Soviet Union and back again. Source: Theresa Malkiel, a Jewish socialist immigrant, inspired International Women’s Day – The Washington Post

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A Literary Guide to Understanding Ukraine, Past and Present Ukrainians have long-prepared for this moment. Their rich land has been invaded many times before and their people have suffered innumerable losses for generations. The Ukrainian language and culture has nearly been eradicated at multiple points in their long history, and they’ve been fighting an active

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