Memphis Reads

Nonfiction/History

Wayne reviews HIROSHIMA by John Hershey (Knopf, 1946)

One of the most important narrative non-fiction books to be published in the United States in the 20th Century did not start out as a book at all. In the early days of 1946 the editor of the New Yorker magazine asked writer John Hersey to report on the effects of the atomic bomb detonation on the residents of Hiroshima. Hersey traveled to Japan in the late spring where he toured the destruction and interviewed survivors. While there, Hersey decided that he would “write about what happened not to buildings but to human beings.”

Written in a stark, understated style, Hersey focused on the lives of six Hiroshima residents before and after the bombing. The finished article was over 30,000 words long and was scheduled to run for four consecutive issues. Deeply impressed with Hersey’s narrative, the editor felt that breaking the article up into four parts would lessen its emotional impact on the reader. So, the New Yorker decided to run the entire piece in one issue, which required the elimination of all other content.

Appearing in the August 31st issue, “Hiroshima” struck a chord with American readers. The issue quickly sold out and the ABC radio network broadcast a reading of the entire article over four-half hour programs in early September. The following month, October 1946, Alfred A. Knopf published the article in book form where it remains in print to this day. Hersey’s Hiroshima is now recognized as a narrative non-fiction classic.

Wayne Dowdy, Central Library History Department

Labels: History, Nonfiction, Reviews by Wayne Dowdy

The finalists for the National Book Critics Circle Award were announced Saturday, January 21st. Click here to view finalists in their respective categories. The winners will be announced March 8, 2012.

Booklist Online has compiled this year's Oscar-nominated movies and the books they were based on. Click here to see the books and films.

Visit Word and Film as they count down the days to the Oscar ceremonies with 30 Days of Our Favorite Book-to-Film Adaptations. More book-to-film adaptations, profiled here, debuted at this year's Sundance Film Festival, which took place January 19-29.

See what authors Zadie Smith, Jonathan Franzen, Jeffrey Eugenides, and others picked as their favorite all-time books. Click to view the Flavorwire article, Your Favorite Authors' Favorite Books of All Time. Do you see any of your favorites?

Labels: News and Notes

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, the Horror Writers Association has announced the nominees of the Bram Stoker Vampire Novel of the Century Award.

About the selection process and criteria: "A jury composed of writers and scholars selected, from a field of more than 35 preliminary nominees, the six vampire novels that they believe have had the greatest impact on the horror genre since publication of Draculain 1897." -from the website

The nominees are:

The Soft Whisper of the Dead (1983) by Charles L. Grant

Salem’s Lot (1975) by Stephen King

I Am Legend (1954) by Richard Matheson

Anno Dracula (1992) by Kim Newman

Interview with the Vampire (1976) by Anne Rice

Hotel Transylvania (1978) by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

The winner will be announced at the World Horror Convention on March 31, 2012 in Salt Lake City. More details can be found at www.stokers2012.org

Labels: News and Notes

Fiction/Young Adult

Andrea reviews GIRL, STOLEN by April Henry (Henry Holt, 2010).

This young adult novel begins with low-life, high school dropout, Griffin, perusing the mall parking lot. He is looking for a car to hijack, thinking his chances will be even better since so many people are out Christmas shopping.

Lo and behold, Griffin hits the jackpot when he finds a Cadillac Escalade with the keys in the ignition! His father, a seasoned criminal, is going to be so pleased with Griffin’s find. Griffin is definitely not expecting to find someone dozing in the backseat when he boosts the car from the parking lot. After both have been given the shock of their lives, threats are issued and the tension escalates. The biggest shock to Griffin and readers is when he realizes his sixteen-year-old hostage is blind!

Over the course of days, as Cheyenne is held captive, Griffin’s feelings for her shift dramatically. Even though Cheyenne lost her sight three years prior, she is not all helpless, and is in fact quite resourceful. Griffin goes from a feeling of terror that Cheyenne will turn in Griffin and his father, Roy, to admiration for Cheyenne and all she has gone through.

Readers will feel sympathy for the situation Cheyenne is in with Roy, Griffin, and their accomplices. Knowing she is disabled and in a horrible situation, readers will admire and respect Cheyenne that much more. Girl, Stolen is definitely a psychological thriller filled with drama and intensity. You won’t forget Cheyenne Wilder and her plight anytime soon.

Andrea King, Poplar-White Station Library

Labels: Fiction, Reviews by Andrea King, Young Adult

Nonfiction/History

Cathy reviews TITANIC SINKS! by Barry Denenberg (Viking, 2011).

“Experience the Titanic’s Doomed Voyage in this Unique Presentation of Fact and Fiction”

While this book is published as juvenile literature, it is also an interesting read for adults or teens as well.

Excerpts from fictional Modern Times Magazine articles appear in a timeline sequence, beginning with the year 1908. The first article is about the naming of the new luxury liner. While the competition of the day advertise as being the fastest and finest passenger ships, the Titanic’s goal is “luxury and comfort, not speed.” There are also excellent period photographs and illustrations in the book.

There is a journal account by the chief correspondent of Modern Times, S.F. Vanni, dated April 11-15, 1912, and published in its unedited form. He was pulled from the water suffering from severe hypothermia with his journal wrapped in plastic and taped to him. He didn’t survive, but the journal of his time spent on the Titanic was saved.

This book will be excellent choice for school reports, and for those wanting to learn more information about the Titanic.

Cathy Brooks, Bartlett Library

The Costa Concordia cruise ship accident in Italy and the upcoming 100th Anniversary of the Titanic disaster have opened doors of curiosity about similar events.

Browse the library catalog for more books about: Titanic and shipwrecks

Labels: History, Nonfiction

Wondering why you can't seem to get into your regular reading ritual? It's probably a case of the winter season blahs. Book Riot offers help for readers suffering from Mid-Winter Reading Slump.

World Book Night, which began in the U.K. last year, is coming to America. What is World Book Night? "The goal [of World Book Night] is to give books to new readers, to encourage reading, to share your passion for a great book." On April 23, 2012, volunteers will give away 20 copies of a favorite book chosen from a pre-selected list of 30 titles. View the Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more.

Another great book-sharing opportunity is geared toward young readers--the Birthday Party Pledge. The purpose of BPP is to give the gift of multicultural books for one year to little readers for their birthdays or any other special event. Visit birthdaypartypledge.com for book recommendations and other information.

Labels: News and Notes

The nominees of the 2012 Edgar Awards have been announced.

The Best Novel award finalists are:
The Ranger by Ace Atkins

Gone by Mo Hayder

The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino

1222 by Anne Holt

Field Gray by Philip Kerr

Click here to view the all nominees. The Mystery Writers of America will announce the winners on April 26, 2012.

Labels: Awards, News and Notes

The Guardian reported that crime novelist Reginald Hill passed away on January 12 at the age of 75. His most popular works were the Dalziel and Pascoe mysteries, Midnight Fugue being the most recent addition. Hill won the Gold Dagger Award in 1990 for Bones and Silence.


Read Reginald Hill's obituary

Browse the library catalog for novels by Reginald Hill

Labels: Author Obits