Anne Rice's genre-breaking tale of the early years in the life of Jesus Christ tops the list this week, along with a new Scott Turow, biographical works from Billy Crystal and David Halberstam, and a commentary on political virtues from President Jimmy Carter. Four for the younger crowd include a new Princess Diaries novel and three Narnia offerings.
Monday, October 31
With 700 Sundays to play with, comedian Billy Crystal re-creates the magic of his successful one-man Broadway show in this heartwarming memoir that brings to life his lovable, eccentric family and his happy childhood on Long Island's South Shore. "Once Crystal is finished with shtick and on to the story of his marvelous Long Island family, readers will be glad they can savor it at their own pace. There's the story of Crystal's uncle Milt Gabler, who started the Commodore music label and recorded Billie Holiday singing "Strange Fruit" when no one else would... There's even Louis Armstrong at the Crystal family seder, with Crystal's grandma telling the gravelly-voiced singer, 'Louis, have you tried just coughing it up?'" —Publishers Weekly
Tuesday, November 1
In Ordinary Heroes by Scott Turow, a man discovers the startling truth about his deceased father's wartime activities when he stumbles across a secret stash of letters. Bestselling novelist Scott Turow departs from his courtroom thrillers for a spellbinding story of WWII intrigue. "Inspired by the experiences of his own enigmatic father, who served as commanding officer in a World War II medical unit, Turow weaves together numerous narrative threads, the most compelling of which is Dubin's uneasy tenure as commander of a beleaguered rifle company. While Turow's fans might prefer the lively verbal skirmishes that suffuse his legal fare, the author's action sequences (like that white-knuckle free fall onto the battlefront) do plenty to quicken the pulse." —Allison Block, Booklist
Vampire novelist Anne Rice departs her usual genre with Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt. Rice brings her formidable storytelling talents to bear on a bold new literary endeavor ten years in the making—a fictionalized narrative account of the early life of Jesus, told in the words of the Gospels. "A triumph of tone... As he ponders his staggering responsibility, the boy is fully believable—and yet there's something in his supernatural empathy and blazing intelligence that conveys the wondrousness of a boy like no other.... With this novel, she has indeed found a convincing version of him; this is fiction that transcends story and instead qualifies as an act of faith..." —Kirkus Reviews
In Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis, President Jimmy Carter turns his attention to the political arena. "[Carter's] assertion that Christian fundamentalists are uniformly rigid, domineering, and exclusivist paints with a broad brush. His concern over the doctrine of "pre-emptive" war is well argued, but his consistent criticism of Bush foreign policy drips with the partisanship he claims to decry. Carter may be a kind, decent, even admirable man, but this book preaches to the choir and will not change many minds..." —Jay Freeman, Booklist
Article comments
1 - Guppusmaximus
Why do we need fictional stories about Jesus Christ when his real accurate history is the best non-fiction novel portrayed in the New Testament?!?
People like Ann Rice and Dan Brown use their talents to make a mockery out of The Lord's life of Love and Service to Mankind.... If they read the bible on a day to day basis they wouldn't feel the need to slander Jesus with their Materialistic persuits!!
God help them...
2 - Nancy
I have a copy of the N.T., so I already have all the JC fiction I need or want.
3 - Aaman
Is there an uptick in Narnia-interest, comparable to the LOTR frenzy from the LOTR films?
And, commenter#1, all art builds on previous art. So, the myths of the modern age extend from the myths you refer to, like they extended Babylonian and Egyptian myths, und so weiter - I recommend you read some Joseph Campbell
4 - Nancy
I don't think the Narnia frenzy has quite reached the levels of the LOTR thing, but it's definitely climbing, according to bookstore reports.
5 - Guppusmaximus
Commenter 3,
It's funny how you use the english language in an intelligent manner but the message behind those words are ludicrous and ignorant. The fact of the matter is that C.S. Lewis' work holds a far deeper message than the shallow attempts of Hollywood trying to revive a pagan's dream(LOTR)...As for The New Testament being myth, You have no proof that it is....and if Joseph Campbell proposes such a novel, narrow-minded approach in his books I would rather wipe my ass with the pages.
6 - Nancy
The week long rains around here must have brought out all the concrete-brained neotheos along with the snakeheads. Of course the N.T. is myth, or mostly myth: all religion is myth. Pixie dust & fairy cake, I think someone on one of these blogs called it. The only one displaying any ignorance here is you. Aaman is not a christian; neither am I. Therefore neither of us are constrained to believe the N.T. is factual.
7 - Guppusmaximus
You are correct... The only constraint you have is to that pea sized gob of shit between your ears which you consider to be a brain which shows to me that you have no comprehension of what the truth would be if it slapped you upside the head!!
Peace:)
8 - DrPat
All of you: The Chronicles of Narnia and Anne Rice's new work are for sale next week. The New Testament is already for sale in the bookstore.
If you don't want to read them, my suggestion is, don't buy them! But cool down the ad hominem about those who DO want to read them.
Calling people names based on their choice of reading material is, IMHO, extremely un-Christian!
9 - Scott Butki
Besides, you can always get the good book for free at a hotel, courtesy of the Gideons.
10 - Aaman
You can get most good books for free from a library
11 - Scott Butki
And then there's good ol' BookCrossing, which is a really cool concept.
12 - Aaman
Bookcrossing is funny - and arduous to do for long, methinks
13 - Scott Butki
Funny ha ha as in amusing
or funny as in weird?
I did it for a while but haven't lately.
It helps to live in a city - unlike mine - where people appreciate books instead of just throwing away any they find.