Books & Poetry

The Oz Series by Gregory MaGuire takes the world of the Wizard of Oz and fleshes it out with intriguing characters and political intrigue. However, the latest addition to the series, “A Lion Among Men” falls short of its predecessors.

All over the world, “Twilight” fans are mourning the loss of what could have been an amazing addition to the series -- “Midnight Sun.”

“Brisingr," the third book in the Inheritance Cycle by fantasy prodigy Christopher Paolini, will not disappoint fans of the series. Nearly 800 pages leave room for several flaws, but they are nothing that was not present in the previous installments.

For all of the die-hard "Twilight" fans engrossed in the New York Times' bestselling novels by Stephenie Meyer, readers will certainly not be disappointed with her latest addition to the "Twilight" series, "Breaking Dawn."

These cautionary memoirs prove that such a severe lack of balance can put you at rock bottom quicker than you can say “get laid lemonade.”

Stephanie Meyer, author of the best-selling "Twilight" series, enters the world of adult fiction with “The Host," a story a little bit about aliens and a lot about what it means to be human.

Admit it: Most people at some point crush on someone who does not technically exist. While TV’s McDreamy is one popular option, for the literary-minded girl, the printed page holds plenty of crush-worthy characters.

Global warming has created hotter-than-sin rays for scantily clad students to savor, but something is needed to occupy their frying brains. What better than some green-inspired reading? Step outside and learn how to sustain that soft grass on which everyone is sprawled.

Recently made into a film starring Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson, “The Other Boleyn Girl” was first a novel by the acclaimed author of historical fiction, Philippa Gregory. Several of Gregory’s novels, including "The Other Boleyn Girl," have made the New York Times Best Seller List.

Although I do not consider myself to be the most literary-conscious person, I do hold a special place in my heart for various books that I have either been forced to read through school or have actually chosen to read on my own.

"Everything but the Kitchen Sink: What Every Modern Woman Needs to Know" by Francesca Beauman may sound like a pro-feminist book, but one look at the shocking range of topics makes it clear that this is not the case.

Break-up book “Things I’ve Learned From Women Who’ve Dumped Me” features famous comedians, actors and writers offering up wisdom about love and all that comes along with it, including the inevitable torture of being dumped.

Joey Comeau’s recently published compilation of short stories, “It’s Too Late to Say I’m Sorry,” has a range of story lines that vary between lesbian love affairs, bike tours gone bad, grandmothers turning into zombies and every imaginable scenario in between.

Teeming with pop culture tidbits and critical levels of melodrama, “But Enough About Me...,” the autobiography of Jancee Dunn, is a cross between a watered-down version of “Sex and the City” and a PG-13 version of Chuck Klosterman’s “Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs.”

In her memoir entitled "You'll Be Okay: My Life With Jack Kerouac," author Edie Kerouac-Parker tells her story of the ways in which Kerouac impacted her life. However, she does little in way of providing details and disappoints readers expecting a typical tell-all book.

Plenty of famous musicians have written autobiographies touting their days of sex, drugs and rock ‘n' roll. However, Eric Clapton is probably the only one who has to work in the bit where he stole George Harrison’s wife.

There seems to be a resurgence of clean, family fun in the entertainment industry (i.e. two -- going on three -- "High School Musicals"). Former *NSYNC member Lance Bass joined the wholesome horde with his new autobiography, "Out of Sync."

For members of the Colbert Nation, Stephen Colbert's "I Am America (And So Can You!)" might be the best book ever written. For those not in on the joke, however, the book is instead a confusing mass of insults.

“Geek Love" by Katherine Dunn tells the tale of a carnival family, the Binewskis and their traveling circus. The novel’s pages reveal a bizarre world in which being normal is reviled, while love and revenge are realized in shocking ways.

Mel Helitzer’s “Don’t Let the Bastards Get You Down: 101 Strategies to Laugh Your Way from Repudiation to Happiness” is a self-help book that goes beyond constraints of its category by offering funny advice that can apply to people in all stations of life.

“The most important thing I learned on Tralfamadore was that when a person dies he only appears to die. He is still very much alive in the past, so it is very silly for people to cry at his funeral.”

The Beatles said it first: “All you need is love.” Rob Sheffield, however, got it right: "All you need is love," plus good taste in music. Sheffield chronicles his musically-rooted relationship with deceased wife in “Love is a Mix Tape.”

After three years of torturous waiting, fans of Megan McCafferty’s Jessica Darling series have gotten their hands on the third addition, Charmed Thirds, which follows Jessica throughout her four years of college.

Megan McCafferty, the author of the popular Sloppy Firsts and its sequel, Second Helpings, spoke with Speakeasy about her long-awaited third addition, Charmed Thirds, coming out April 11.