From Publishers Weekly

Why order pizza while discussing Barbara Ehrenrich’s Nickel and Dimed when you can eat like the characters in the book (Pasta on a Tight Budget)? Gardner, publisher of the bimonthly newsletter The Literary Gathering, plans out a year’s worth of books and menus for book clubs. The books (four per month) range from classic to contemporary, and encompass fiction and nonfiction; the accompanying themed menus are made up of generally uncomplicated fare. Gardner also includes discussion questions for each book. September honors Celebrate Banned Books Week, with suggestions for reading The Color Purple (and eating Southern foods, like Harpo’s Fountain 7 UP Cake). Some book choices are unusual (Geshundeit!, a health book by Patch Adams); others predictable (Angela’s Ashes, by Irishman Frank McCourt, in March; Gone with the Wind for February romance); and a few accompanying meal suggestions are a stretch (The Catcher in the Rye features some peripheral cha (more…)

Review

“This widely expanded update to the original 2004 edition defines nearly every facet of contemporary life  from arts, grammar, mythology and culture to science, economics, and geopolitical issues.

Though bearing an authority and informational wealth that might rival the voluminous Oxford Dictionary of English, this surprisingly manageable volume is organized alphabetically by subject and contains thousands of highly accessible essays, tables, and lists, all composed by New York Times field experts.

It also includes an introduction by longtime “On Language” columnist and Pultizer Prize winner William Safire.

An essential background reference for almost every subject: highly recommended for all public libraries.” ~Library Journal 

“I wish I’d had this book 25 years ago. It is certain to become an indispensable tool for fact fanatics.” ~ Bill Bryson, author of A Short History of Nearly Everything

“In short, this is the largest, most up-to-date and affordable one volume (more…)