Library of Congress Lifetime Achievement Awarded to Novelist Herman Wouk

The Library of Congress is bestowing its first Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Writing of Fiction to Herman Wouk, for his "extraordinary contributions to American letters and his dedication to, as he has said, 'the enduring power of the novel." Librarian of Congress James H. Billington will present the award to Wouk on September 10 in Washington, D.C. Wouk will read from his writings.
Wouk was among the first group of recipients of the Library's Living Legend Award. He is donating his literary diaries, remaining manuscripts and correspondence to the Library. The Library currently holds the manuscripts of five Wouk novels, including The Winds of War and War and Remembrance. Wouk's novels are available at the Fremont Public Library; call 847-918-225 or reserve them online.

NY Times Article: "Online, R U Really Reading?"

Motoko Rich, writing in the New York Times on July 27 asks “Online, R U Really Reading?” In his article, Rich discusses our current "passionate debate about just what it means to read in the digital age. The discussion is playing out among educational policy makers and reading experts around the world, and within groups like the National Council of Teachers of English and the International Reading Association. As teenagers’ scores on standardized reading tests have declined or stagnated, some argue that the hours spent prowling the Internet are the enemy of reading — diminishing literacy, wrecking attention spans and destroying a precious common culture that exists only through the reading of books. But others say the Internet has created a new kind of reading, one that schools and society should not discount. The Web inspires a teenager... who might otherwise spend most of her leisure time watching television, to read and write." What do you think?

Rights to John Steinbeck's work returned to Penguin

A federal appeals court has overturned a 2006 decision that awarded rights to 10 John Steinbeck titles to the author's son and granddaughter. The new decision returns the rights to Steinbeck's publisher, Penguin. Penguin issued the following statement: "As John Steinbeck’s publisher for over 60 years, we are tremendously gratified by the Second Circuit’s decision. We are pleased that Penguin Group (USA) remains John Steinbeck’s publisher for generations to come. We look forward to continuing to work with all the people involved who share Steinbeck’s distinguished legacy and to further expanding the audience for Steinbeck’s seminal works.” Penguin, which in 1994 entered into a publishing contract with Steinbeck's third wife, Elaine Steinbeck (who died in 2003), will now revert to publishing the 10 titles--nine novels and one play--as per that 1994 agreement. The titles are: Cup of Gold; The Pastures of Heaven; The Red Pony; To a God Unknown; Tortilla Flat; In Dubious Battle; Of Mice and Men; Of Mice and Men (the play); The Long Valley; and The Grapes of Wrath.

Two New Books by Chicago Area Authors

Peter Ferry's debut novel Travel Writing features a protagonist named Peter Ferry. Like the author, the character is a textbook writer and teacher of creative writing. The novel is set in the North Shore; Ferry knows the area well. He is a retired teacher of creative writing at Lake Forest High School who lives in Evanston.
Early in the book, Ferry confidently says "We intend to sell a few books." Hope his protagonist's claim comes true for the author.

Chicago mystery writer Marcus Sakey's third novel, Good People, is set in the Lincoln Square neighborhood. When the Reeds attempt to put out a fire in a downstairs apartment, money starts spilling from the walls. They happily keep the money, later discovering that it was stolen. And then their adventures begin. Sakey won the 2007 Strand Magazine Critics Award for best first novel for The Blade Itself.

2008 Hugo Awards

The winners of the 2008 Hugo Awards, chosen by members of the World Science Fiction Society, are:

Novel: The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon
Novella: "All Seated on the Ground" by Connie Willis
Novelette: "The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate" by Ted Chiang
Short Story: "Tideline" by Elizabeth Bear
Non-fiction Book: Brave New Words: The Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction by Jeff Prucher

2008 RITA Awards Sponsored by Romance Writers of America

The following are the award winners:
First Book: Dead Girls Are Easy by Terri Garey
Contemporary Series Romance: Snowbound by Janice Johnson
Contemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure: Treasure by Helen Brenna Contemporary Single Title Romance: Catch of the Day by Kristan Higgins
Historical Romance: Lessons of Desire by Madeline Hunter
Inspirational Romance: A Touch of Grace by Linda Goodnight Novel with Strong Romantic Elements: Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn
Paranormal Romance: Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward
Regency Historical Romance: The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn
Romance Novella: "Born in My Heart" in Like Mother, Like Daughter by Jennifer Greene
Romantic Suspense: Ice Blue by Anne Stuart
Young Adult Romance: Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Books Into New Movies

The Dying Animal by Philip Roth has been adapted into a film, Elegy, starring Academy Award nominee Penélope Cruz and Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley. Roth is a Pulitizer Prize winner.

Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited is a new film starring Emma Thompson. There also is a TV mini series starring Jeremy Irons which came out in 1981. Waugh's novel is poignant tale of lost innocence. Time Magazine included the novel in its list of "All Time 100".

Nobel Prize Winner Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Dead

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, whose works condemned the suffering caused by the Soviet Communism, died at 89 years of age in his beloved Russia. His works include: A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, The First Circle, The Cancer Ward and the Gulag Archipelago. The latter, a detailed description of the Soviet labor camp system, was the reason for his expulsion from the Soviet Union. Following the collapse of the Soviet government, Solzhenitsyn returned to Russia. He criticized what he described as its spiritual decline. Later, he saw President Vladimir V. Putin as a restorer of Russia’s greatness. More than 30 million of his books have been sold worldwide and translated into some 40 languages. In 1970, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Solzhenitsyn did not travel to Stockholm to accept the prize for fear that the Soviet authorities would prevent him from returning. He lived courageously, believing “it is within the power of writers and artists to do much more: to defeat the lie!”