This week I finally got around to reading Ayelet Waldman's latest novel, Red Hook Road (Random House, 2011). Despite 350+ pages of 7-point font, it was a quick read and a perfect summer beach book (which I enjoyed from the comfort of my living room in suburban Chicago).I … [Read more...]
The colorful life of Nguyen Cao Ky, 1930-2011
Over the weekend, one of the most colorful leaders during the Vietnam War passed away in Kuala Lumpur. Nguyen Cao Ky was the Prime Minister of South Vietnam from 1965 to 1967.The politics of the Vietnam War is still a touchy subject for many, so I won't go into that. But … [Read more...]
You can take me out of Asia, but…
When the video of Wendi Deng's spike to the pie-thrower went viral last week, I read many accounts of what compelled her to react that way. I'm not sure it had anything to do with her Shandong roots. Maybe it was just her background as a volleyball player?No matter, it got me … [Read more...]
Book of the week–The Foreigners
Some years back, my parents vacationed in Buenos Aires and came back raving about the beauty and vibrancy of the city. So when I stumbled upon Maxine Swann's new novel, The Foreigners (Riverhead, 2011), I was game.The title refers to the First Worlders who arrived in Buenos … [Read more...]
An afternoon with Ellen Sussman
Today I had the pleasure of attending a luncheon with Ellen Sussman, author of the recently published novel, French Lessons (Ballantine, 2011). Ellen is on tour for French Lessons and was kind enough to stop in Chicago to discuss her new book, writing, and the juicy bits of … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 174
- 175
- 176
- 177
- 178
- …
- 244
- Next Page »