The National Book Critics Circle has issued its second list of books a lot of very well-read people hope you will read. Initially called the "most recommended" list, the NBCC has decided on a seasonal theme for this quarterly offering, namely "Good Reads: Winter List." Five hundred critics and authors, including the likes of Annie Proulx and Jonathan Franzen, sent in their votes.
At 7 p.m. Monday at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, two local award-winning authors, National Book Award Winner Charles Johnson and NBCC winner Jonathan Raban, as well as this writer and Seattle Weekly critic Brian Miller, will use the NBCC list as a springboard "for a discussion on good books, good reviews and how much difference a recommendation — be it from a critic or a friend — makes."
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/books/2004182127_buzz17.html
Friday, February 15, 2008
Recent Books
The Billionaire Who Wasn't
Conor O'Clery; Translated by Lee Soon-young from English to Korean; Mulpure: 452 pp., 15,000 won
This is a worthwhile book to read particularly for many Korean chaebol and others not aware of the importance of giving back to society.
In 1988, Forbes Magazine hailed Chuck Feeney as the 23rd richest American alive. Feeney was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey to a blue-collar Irish-American family during the Great Depression. Not well known to the public until recently, Feeney made a big fortune as the founder of Duty Free Shoppers, the world's largest duty-free retail chain.
But Feeney decided in 2005 to cooperate in the writing of his biography to promote what he calls ``giving-while-living'' because he wants to promote his philosophy to many other rich people. Feeney believes that the wealthy have a moral duty to spend their money on good cause during their lifetime.
This book portrays Feeney as a frugal man who takes economy class flights, does not have a luxurious house or car, and has donated large sum of his wealth to charitable and philanthropic causes.
In his mid-seventies, he startled the world again by determining his foundation will spend the remaining $4 billion in his lifetime.
-Chung Ah-young
`No Country for Old Men'
Comac McCarthy; Translated by Im Jae-seo from English to Korean; Sapiens21: 344 pp., 11,000 won.
The 2007 Pulitzer Award winning author of ``The Road'' brings a harrowing tale that takes place in the heart of the Texan dessert. With revolvers and shootouts, run-down motels and fugitives, the novel has all the conventional elements of a crime thriller ― but it is far from typical with its gripping suspense.
In the stark desert near the Rio Grande, a hunter named Moss comes across dead bodies, a stash of heroin and more than $2 million in cash. Before he knows it, he is drawn into a world of violence and mayhem.
More than an edge-of-the-seat experience, it draws you into the pages with intensity. No wonder the Cohen brothers decided to bring it to the big screen ― McCarthy's violent imagery is animated like a Western movie.
But more than a thriller, the author constantly questions the meanings of crime and responsibility, love and moral ambivalence and illustrates how past memories grip and thrash at the human spirit. The novel itself was inspired by the poem ``Sailing to Byzantium'' by William Butler Yeats. ``An aged man is but a paltry thing,'' writes Yeats. One must wonder whether there is no country for old men?
The Cohen brothers bring the heart-thumping story to the big screen, and the movie received eight Oscar nominations. The film will come to theaters across Korea Feb. 21.
-Lee Hyo-won
Art in New York - Masterpieces of New York Museums
Lee Ju-heon; Hakgojae: 320pp., 16,500 won
Visit art museums of New York through the book, ``Art in New York - Masterpieces of New York Muse.'' This introduces five big New York museums and the must-see masterpieces of those museums.
The five museums are The Museum of Modern Art, also known as MoMA, Guggenheim Museum, Whitney Museum of American Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and The Frick Collection.
Lee Ju-heon explains Western and American art history in easy words and some 100 paintings, all in full color, and detailed explanations on each painting helps understanding them.
According to Lee, the museums of New York show both the legacy of the Old Continent and the ambitions of the New Continent.Author of the book, Lee, was a former reporter and director of gallery Hakgojae. Now he works as an art critic.
This is the second book in the ``Art Travel'' series of Hakgojae. The first book was on Russian art. London and Northern Europe art will come next.This book provides an escape from reality for those who cannot fly to New York City to appreciate the actual paintings.
-Kwon Mee-yoo
2008 Trend Keyword
Kim Min-joo; Miraebook Publishing: 351pp., 12,000 won
Remember that fancy word describing the activity of companies supporting artists or art organizations? Or maybe the documentary film Hollywood heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio produced in order to warn the world of environmental issues?
If you don't have a clue, or do know the answers but want to learn more about them, ``2008 Trend Keyword'' is the book for you.
Living in such a fast paced world with new ideas and trends springing up every minute, keywords are the essence of simplicity when explaining a subject, a person or even a certain period.
Kim Min-joo, head of management consulting company Lead & Leader, is offering his version of keywords to look for in 2008 through his book ``2008 Trend Keyword.''
The book offers various keywords in five different categories: economy, society, people, culture, and science.
In his book, Kim not only lists more than 200 keywords, but also gives examples, background information and also reasons why these will be the words of the year. There is even an overview of important keywords that shook the nation in 2007.
For those who need a chance to catch up on the latest news or trends, this book may just be the trick.
Next time anyone asks for a quick update on a current subject, tuck into your book and share the information, and even pretend you already knew all along!
-Han Sang-hee
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2008/02/142_18998.html
Conor O'Clery; Translated by Lee Soon-young from English to Korean; Mulpure: 452 pp., 15,000 won
This is a worthwhile book to read particularly for many Korean chaebol and others not aware of the importance of giving back to society.
In 1988, Forbes Magazine hailed Chuck Feeney as the 23rd richest American alive. Feeney was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey to a blue-collar Irish-American family during the Great Depression. Not well known to the public until recently, Feeney made a big fortune as the founder of Duty Free Shoppers, the world's largest duty-free retail chain.
But Feeney decided in 2005 to cooperate in the writing of his biography to promote what he calls ``giving-while-living'' because he wants to promote his philosophy to many other rich people. Feeney believes that the wealthy have a moral duty to spend their money on good cause during their lifetime.
This book portrays Feeney as a frugal man who takes economy class flights, does not have a luxurious house or car, and has donated large sum of his wealth to charitable and philanthropic causes.
In his mid-seventies, he startled the world again by determining his foundation will spend the remaining $4 billion in his lifetime.
-Chung Ah-young
`No Country for Old Men'
Comac McCarthy; Translated by Im Jae-seo from English to Korean; Sapiens21: 344 pp., 11,000 won.
The 2007 Pulitzer Award winning author of ``The Road'' brings a harrowing tale that takes place in the heart of the Texan dessert. With revolvers and shootouts, run-down motels and fugitives, the novel has all the conventional elements of a crime thriller ― but it is far from typical with its gripping suspense.
In the stark desert near the Rio Grande, a hunter named Moss comes across dead bodies, a stash of heroin and more than $2 million in cash. Before he knows it, he is drawn into a world of violence and mayhem.
More than an edge-of-the-seat experience, it draws you into the pages with intensity. No wonder the Cohen brothers decided to bring it to the big screen ― McCarthy's violent imagery is animated like a Western movie.
But more than a thriller, the author constantly questions the meanings of crime and responsibility, love and moral ambivalence and illustrates how past memories grip and thrash at the human spirit. The novel itself was inspired by the poem ``Sailing to Byzantium'' by William Butler Yeats. ``An aged man is but a paltry thing,'' writes Yeats. One must wonder whether there is no country for old men?
The Cohen brothers bring the heart-thumping story to the big screen, and the movie received eight Oscar nominations. The film will come to theaters across Korea Feb. 21.
-Lee Hyo-won
Art in New York - Masterpieces of New York Museums
Lee Ju-heon; Hakgojae: 320pp., 16,500 won
Visit art museums of New York through the book, ``Art in New York - Masterpieces of New York Muse.'' This introduces five big New York museums and the must-see masterpieces of those museums.
The five museums are The Museum of Modern Art, also known as MoMA, Guggenheim Museum, Whitney Museum of American Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and The Frick Collection.
Lee Ju-heon explains Western and American art history in easy words and some 100 paintings, all in full color, and detailed explanations on each painting helps understanding them.
According to Lee, the museums of New York show both the legacy of the Old Continent and the ambitions of the New Continent.Author of the book, Lee, was a former reporter and director of gallery Hakgojae. Now he works as an art critic.
This is the second book in the ``Art Travel'' series of Hakgojae. The first book was on Russian art. London and Northern Europe art will come next.This book provides an escape from reality for those who cannot fly to New York City to appreciate the actual paintings.
-Kwon Mee-yoo
2008 Trend Keyword
Kim Min-joo; Miraebook Publishing: 351pp., 12,000 won
Remember that fancy word describing the activity of companies supporting artists or art organizations? Or maybe the documentary film Hollywood heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio produced in order to warn the world of environmental issues?
If you don't have a clue, or do know the answers but want to learn more about them, ``2008 Trend Keyword'' is the book for you.
Living in such a fast paced world with new ideas and trends springing up every minute, keywords are the essence of simplicity when explaining a subject, a person or even a certain period.
Kim Min-joo, head of management consulting company Lead & Leader, is offering his version of keywords to look for in 2008 through his book ``2008 Trend Keyword.''
The book offers various keywords in five different categories: economy, society, people, culture, and science.
In his book, Kim not only lists more than 200 keywords, but also gives examples, background information and also reasons why these will be the words of the year. There is even an overview of important keywords that shook the nation in 2007.
For those who need a chance to catch up on the latest news or trends, this book may just be the trick.
Next time anyone asks for a quick update on a current subject, tuck into your book and share the information, and even pretend you already knew all along!
-Han Sang-hee
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2008/02/142_18998.html
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