LIFE&STYLE
Korea through the pages
More foreign readers seeking books related to Korean society, culture
Nov 8, 2013
Daesan Literary awards winners announced
(From left) Poet Jin Eun-young, author Kim Soom, playwright Koh Yeok-ok and translator Choi Yang-hee, winners of this year’s Daesan Literary Awards. (Yonhap News) Poet Jin Eun-young, author Kim Soom...
Nov 7, 2013
A filmmaker’s inner world of fantasy, horror
Guillermo del Toro (MCT) Over the last two decades, filmmaker Guillermo del Toro has become known as one of popular culture’s great visionaries. He’s channeled his wild, restless imagination to crea...
Books focus on J.F. Kennedy’s conservatism
When we think of John F. Kennedy, we can’t help but bring to mind images of his assassination, but if there’s anything surprising about the 50th anniversary of his killing, it is the books that look ...
History of PBS’ ‘Masterpiece Theatre’
Making Masterpiece: 25 Years Behind the Scenes at ‘Masterpiece Theatre’ and ‘Mystery!’ On PBS By Rebecca Eaton (Penguin, NY) Do you remember Alistair Cooke? Besides being a renowned journalist, he...
Dan Simmons’ new novel disappointing
The Abominable By Dan Simmons (Little, Brown and Company) Since Dan Simmons’ new novel of mountaineering, lengthy technical explanations, Nazis and the occasional yeti is titled “The Abominable,” ...
Seoul book festival to feature popular authors
Seoul Book Festival 2013 to hold night reading programs and Q&A sessions with authors
Nov 6, 2013
‘Lost Generation’ novel wins top French literary prize
French writer Pierre Lemaitre poses with his book, “Au Revoir la-Haut,” after being awarded the 2013 Goncourt literary prize in Paris on Monday. (AP-Yonhap News) PARIS (AFP) ― France’s top literary ...
Nov 5, 2013
Paretsky’s ‘Critical Mass’ is packed with action
Critical Mass By Sara Paretsky (Putnam) There must be something inspiring about dating a classical musician: Since private investigator V.I. Warshawski took up with double bassist Jake Thibaut in ...
Oct 31, 2013
Marilyn Monroe look-alike is ‘Lowcountry Bombshell’
Lowcountry Bombshell By Susan M. Boyer (Henery Press) Eccentric characters go together in Southern mysteries like, well, shrimp and grits. But Susan M. Boyer deftly shapes characters with just eno...
Richard Kadrey takes on teen horror in ‘Dead Set’
Richard Kadrey’s new novel, “Dead Set,” gave me nightmares. And I can’t stop myself from telling him ― even though the bestselling horror author dresses in black, has intimidating tattoos and the wat...
Bill Bryson takes you back in time with ‘One Summer: America, 1927’
When readers follow Bill Bryson on a literary amble, they never know exactly where they might end up ― just that they’ll probably be happy to have tagged along. His past journeys, along the Appalach...
Bridget Jones author shares insights on latest book
British author Helen Fielding attends a photocall ahead of a signing session for her new book “Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy,” on Oct. 10 at a bookshop in central London. (AP-Yonhap News) It’s be...
Oct 24, 2013
Poet laureate: ‘The pen … an instrument of discovery’
Poet laureate Billy Collins. (MCT) You may think writing poetry is all about gazing at the stars in the sky and the bluebells in the fields, then being struck by divine inspiration. But if you ask B...
Bed writing haunts ‘The Daylight Gate’
The Daylight Gate By Jeanette Winterson (Grove) Jeanette Winterson’s new novel is a strange and spare piece of horror writing about witch trials that arrives on these shores just in time for Hallo...