Best-sellers for May 27

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Two new books tell Nelson Mandela's story through the prism of food

By J.M. Hirsch AP Food Editor

What do you feed a man who spent decades eating prison food in the name of freedom and reconciliation?

Revisiting the 1933 crash of United Flight 23 in Chesterton

By Jane Ammeson Times Correspondent

In 1933, Melvin Purvis — who in less than a year would become famous for the capture of bank robber and escape artist John Dillinger —stepped in to investigate the downing of United Flight 23. On a transcontinental flight, the Boeing 247 was …

Evanston author explores what's for dinner in the future

By Jane Ammeson Times Correspondent

While many of us are moving backwards foodwise, reveling in heritage vegetables, foraging woods for forgotten greens and enjoying farmhouse dinners, Josh Schonwald is looking toward what we'll be putting on our tables in the years to come.

Best-sellers for May 20

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Here's how to travel 25,000 miles without a penny

By Beth J. Harpaz AP Travel Editor

Michael Wigge left Berlin without a penny and traveled 25,000 miles to Antarctica, hitchhiking, bartering and working his way by ship, plane, car and foot, from Europe to Canada and the U.S. and then through Latin America.

Dyer mother shares bond with daughter in latest 'Chicken Soup' book

By Jennifer Pallay Times Correspondent

Sometimes it's a case of daughter knows best. When Patricia M. Rompca, of Dyer, planned a trip overseas, she was nervous about traveling alone and the long flight. A gift from her only daughter eased her fears and inspired a story featured in…

Local author uses zombies as a metaphor for creating disaster preparedness

By Jane Ammeson Times Correspondent

The title of Alex Newton's recently released "Plan and Prep: Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse" sounds like the latest in a long line of zombie, werewolves and vampire books lining the fiction shelves at local bookstores.

Best-sellers for May 13

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'Where Wild Things Are' author Maurice Sendak dies

By Hillel Italie AP National Writer

NEW YORK (AP) - Maurice Sendak didn't think of himself as a children's author, but as an author who told the truth about childhood.

SHELF LIFE: 'A Difficult Woman' introduces readers to one of the mid–century's most famous, complex women

By Jane Ammeson Times Correspondent

For those who think that making it in a man's world is something this generation thought up, meet playwright Lillian Hellman, one of the most successful Broadway playwrights of either gender, a woman once described as a "tough broad ... the k…

Best-sellers for May 6

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Bethenny Frankel's 'Skinnydipping' makes a splash

By Brooke Lefferts For The Associated Press

Bethenny Frankel has worn many hats in her rise to success. The reality TV star and self-help author has also designed everything from sangria to shapewear ... so why not novelist?

George Harrison's widow hopes new book fills in blanks

By John Carucci Associated Press

George Harrison's widow Olivia hopes to add more perspective on the reticent Beatle with her new digital book, and fill in the blanks left by Martin Scorsese's recent documentary.

Kid Picks with Philip Potempa for Thursday, May 3, 2012

By Philip Potempa philip.potempa@nwi.com (219) 852-4327

Our weekly round-up of new children's media.

Best-sellers for April 29

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TV producer uses her career as a basis for a new Chicago murder series

By Jane Ammeson Times Correspondent

Born and raised on Chicago's south side before moving to Los Angeles and New York, mystery author Clare O'Donohue decided to set her new murder series in the city where she grew up.

Best-sellers for April 22

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'Heroes for My Daughter' is deeply personal book

By Jeff Ayers For The Associated Press

Brad Meltzer's follow-up to his amazing "Heroes for My Son" features more talented individuals who prove one person truly can change the world.

Best-sellers for April 15

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J.K. Rowling's next book: 'The Casual Vacancy'

By Jill Lawless Associated Press

It may lack wizards and witches, but J.K. Rowling and her publisher are hoping her first novel for adults, "The Casual Vacancy," will have the magic touch.

Titanic a magnet for kids, fine line for educators

By Leanne Italie Associated Press

Eleven-year-old John Payne has been a student of the Titanic since kindergarten.

Anne Tyler, still making it up

By Hillel Italie AP National Writer

In the living room of Anne Tyler, you could shelve virtually all the books under a single heading: fiction.

Best-sellers for April 8

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Shelf Life: Author helps others understand autism

By Jane Ammeson Times Co

Despite having an IQ of 158, Aaron Likens often skipped school.

Kid Picks with Philip Potempa for Thursday, April 5, 2012

By Philip Potempa philip.potempa@nwi.com (219) 852-4327

Our weekly round-up of new children's media.

Frank Langella dishes about the famous in memoir

By Mark Kennedy AP Drama Writer

The phone at Frank Langella's home rings and rings, unanswered. The very private three-time Tony Award winner apparently is not willing to answer questions about his debut book.

SHELF LIFE: Chicago author living the 'Wilder Life'

By Jane Ammeson Times Correspondent

During her book tour last year, Wendy McClure estimates that she churned four pounds of butter during the events and flushed about 20 percent of it down the toilet in her hotel room. But when you're trying to create life as it was lived in "L…

Harry Potter adventures go on sale in e-book form

By The Associated Press

At last, Harry Potter's adventures are available electronically.

Best-sellers for April 1

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'Girl Scout Handbook' shows way to better life

By Jane Ammeson Times Correspondent

Rory Dawn Hendrix is not your typical Girl Scout. Smart and sassy, she is growing up in a Reno, Nev., trailer park with a bartender as a mom who only likes the wrong men and neighbors who may be lively but are also seriously self-destructive.…

Best-sellers for March 25

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R.J. Smith dissects James Brown in 'The One'

By Michael Astor Associated Press

When James Brown was imprisoned in 1988 after leading police on a two-state car chase that ended only when his tires were shot out, many people felt he was guilty of nothing more than driving-while-black and called on authorities to free the …

Best-sellers for March 18

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Celebrating three decades of Chicago gumshoe V.I. Warshawski

By Jane Ammeson Times Correspondent

It was 30 years ago that V.I. Warshawski, a private investigator in the manner of Philip Marlowe and others like him — not afraid to brawl and always with a wise–crack or two — first burst upon the literary scene.

Determination, hard work help Lake County woman through adversity

By Jane Ammeson Times Correspondent

For half a century, Erminia Lopez Rincon kept her writing — poems and notebooks filled with her thoughts, her memories and her dreams — in boxes. Then about four years ago she started to put her work in order.

Best-sellers for March 11

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Ian Fleming's magical Chitty car flies again

By Leanne Italie Associated Press

Most cars are just that: Four tires and an engine. And then there's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the flying version born of Ian Fleming's imagination and the namesake of the James Bond creator's only book for children.

Urban historian writes about Chicago brews

By Jane Ammeson Times Correspondent

For Denise Neu, "Chicago by the Pint: A Craft Beer History of the Windy City" (The History Press 2011; $19.99), it wasn't just about the beer. Instead, it was about beer, the buildings and the history.

Best-sellers for March 4

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Kid Picks with Philip Potempa for Thursday, March 1, 2012

By Philip Potempa philip.potempa@nwi.com (219) 852-4327

Our weekly round-up of new children's media.

Projectionist sheds light on crime

By Jane Ammeson Times Correspondent

If you'd been asked to take a guess at what the future held for Kent Dickinson when he was growing up in Highland the answer might have been theater owner because, after all, his parents — Kenneth and Irene — owned the Town Theatre from 1946 …

Do French parents have a certain je ne sais quoi?

By Jocelyn Noveck AP National Writer

So you're visiting someone's home with your child and hot chocolate is served. As the hostess' kids sip the delicious concoction politely and silently, your own little dear takes a gulp and promptly spits it back into the mug.

Feminist Fanny Fern's life recounted in new novel

By Jane Ammeson Times Correspondent

Though she sold more books than her contemporary Harriet Beecher Stowe and was the highest paid and most published writer in the 1850s and 1860s, few outside of academia have ever heard of Fanny Fern while almost everyone recognizes the name …

Best-sellers for Feb. 26

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J.K. Rowling has deal for new novel for adults

By Hillel Italie AP National Writer

J.K. Rowling is back, and writing for adults.

Best-sellers for Feb. 19

Author's new book takes readers inside Bonaparte's summer home

By Jane Ammeson Times Correspondent

Wanting to spend time in a different country and century, New York Times best-selling author Lauren Willig decided to write a novel set in the early 1800s. For Willig, who at the time was working on a Harvard doctorate in Tudor/Stuart England…