Books & Literature

Book critic John Leonard reviews the new first-novel by Fae Myenne Ng, about an immigrant family in San Francisco.

President Carter has written a new book about his early days in politics, "Turning Point: A Candidate, A State, and a Nation Come of Age," Terry will talk with him about his presidency, the work he's done since he's left the office, and what he thinks about a Clinton presidency.

Rodriguez was called a traitor to his Mexican-American heritage after he published a collection of autobiographical essays, "Hunger of Memory" in 1982. He has a new book of essays, "Days of Obligation: An Argument with My Mexican Father," in which he still struggles with questions about identity.

Zigler is Professor of Psychology at Yale, and one of the founders of the Head Start education program. Founded in the 1960s, it funds services for poor children. He's written a new book about the history of the program, called "Head Start: The Inside Story of America's Most Successful Educational Experiment."

Writer and Vietnam veteran Lewis Puller's Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir, "Fortunate Son," is now out in paperback. His father, Chesty Puller, was a famous Marine. Lewis also joined the Marines in 1967, and was badly wounded in Vietnam.

Maureen Corrigan reviews the New Amsterdam-based crime novel "The Dutchman," by Martin and Annette Myers, who write together under the name "Maan Myers."

Child Psychologist and an expert on how chronic violence affects a child's growth and development James Garbarino. He's just co-authored a new book, "Children in Danger: Coping with the Consequences of Community Violence," about the children who grow up in the "war zones" of cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. Garbarino has also co-authored, "No Place to be a Child: Growing Up in a War Zone, and is president of the Erikson Institute for Advanced Study in Child Development.

Book critic John Leonard reviews the novelists newest collection of essays.

A pioneer in brain and memory research, Dr. Daniel Alkon has written a new book, called "Memory's Voice: Deciphering the Mind-Brain Code." He uses the example of one disturbed person to look at how the brain remembers -- a childhood friend who was abused by her father and emotionally scarred. Alton suggests that people like his friend never complely unlearn behavior brought upon by such traumas, and that the impressions made on a child's memory will permanently linger in the complexes of the brain.

Book critic John Leonard reviews "Moorish Spain," by British scholar Richard Fletcher, about the often violent culture clash in Medieval times.

Tharp studied ballet with George Balanchine, and modern dance with Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, and Paul Taylor. In 1965 she formed her own company, Twyla Tharp Dance, which she ran for more than 20 years with over 70 works created and performed. She's collaborated with Mikhail Baryshnikov and David Byrne. She has a new autobiography, "Push Comes to Shove."

Wall Street Journal correspondent Erik Larson is interested in how companies know the intimate details of our lives. His new book, The Naked Consumer, is an investigation into direct marketing techniques--how corporations collect the vast network of data they use to market their products.

Critic Maureen Corrigan recommends two books that you might want to give as holiday presents. First, a children's book called Emily, by Michael Bedard, about a young girl who meets Emily Dickinson. Second: The Open Door, a new paperback collection of writers writing about what made them love to read books when they were young.

Author Aljean Harmetz's new book, Round Up the Usual Suspects, tells the inside story of the making of the film Casablanca. Harmetz is also the author of The Making of the Wizard of Oz. She was the Hollywood film correspondent for The New York Times for 12 years, and is now a contributing editor for Esquire.

Some consider Grass Germany's greatest contemporary writer, both for his fiction -- including The Tin Drum -- and for his political essays. Grass argued for years against against German reunification because of the hatred and resentment he was afraid it would unleash; he believes his fears have since come to pass.

Critic Maureen Corrigan reviews the novel Regeneration, about a British poet wounded in World War I who tries to make his anti-war views known. It's based on the life of poet Siegfried Sassoon.

Book critic John Leonard reviews Marguerite Duras' novel "North China Lover," a more explicit version of her earlier novel "The Lover," which has been made into a movie.

Lahr has written a number of books and screenplays, including "Notes on a Cowardly Lion:" (about his father, the comedian Bert Lahr), and "Prick up Your Ears; The Biography of Joe Orton. Lahr has been the drama critic for over 25 years for "The Village Voice," and for "Vogue" (of Britian). He's written a new book about Barry Humphries and his creation, the dandy/alter ego Dame Edna Everage.

Author Nuruddin Farah came from a long line of poets and storytellers; he was one of first to use Somalia's written language, which was developed in the 60s. Prior to that, he wrote in English. He's recently had several books published in the United States. Farah, who's currently in exile in Nigeria, will discuss Somalia's culture and history.

Retired Major General Jeanne Holm was the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. She worked her way up the to become a major general and in 1976 was appointed Special Assistant for Women to the President. She also served on DACOWITS, the Defense Advisory committee on Women in the Services. Holm has written a book, "Women in the Military: An Unfinished Revolution." She says that though discrimination against women in the military still exists, it's impossible for America to engage in a war without women.