Books & Movies

Get Sugar Smart

Get Sugar Smart

by guest blogger Anne Alexander, editorial director, Prevention Over the past couple of years, I have developed a food obsession. Not as in “I am obsessed with grape tomatoes or mint chocolate,” which I am. No, I’ve set my sights on sugar. Woe is the person who mentions the American diet or diabetes or processed […]

Read More
Sex, Reputation, and Leaning In: A  Romance Author's Favorite Books  of 2013

Sex, Reputation, and Leaning In: A
Romance Author’s Favorite Books
of 2013

by guest blogger Maya Rodale, author of smart and sassy romance novels I confess, after a long day writing novels, I don’t always want to spend the evening looking at more words. Having said that, there is no greater pleasure than becoming absorbed in another author’s world. These books are my favorites from 2013—ranging from […]

Read More
7 Things I Learned about Life from Romance Novels

7 Things I Learned about Life from Romance Novels

by guest blogger Maya Rodale, writer of historical tales of true love and adventure In days of yore, there was a tremendous fear that young, impressionable youths would be corrupted by what they read in novels. An 18th-century conduct book warned against reading novels because they “raise expectations of extraordinary adventures and cause readers to admire […]

Read More
Where Is the Love?

Where Is the Love?

by guest blogger Maya Rodale, writer of historical tales of true love and adventure Someone wrote to me recently with a really excellent question: What is the appeal of books like 50 Shades of Grey, and why do so many women want to be treated that way—with violence and domination instead of passion, tenderness, and freedom? […]

Read More
Anxiety as Entertainment

Anxiety as Entertainment

by guest blogger Renee James, essayist and blogger A few years ago, my husband and I watched the Ryan Gosling movie Drive. I don’t remember the plot, and even if I did, I guarantee you I wouldn’t be able to explain it. I can’t tell you why people did what they did in Drive, nor […]

Read More
10 Books That Changed the Way I See the World

10 Books That Changed the Way I See the World

1.    John Adams, by David McCullough. This biography of Adams erases any fantasies we might have about our American Revolution being easy, short, or something to take for granted. It gives a deep insight into what it takes for a revolution to succeed, which is strong, intelligent, and dedicated leadership from within the country and […]

Read More
When Four Authors Went Rogue…

When Four Authors Went Rogue…

by guest blogger Maya Rodale, writer of historical tales of true love and adventure We were all on deadline. We had books to write and promote, as well as personal lives. We didn’t have time for this mad, rogue project that had once been rejected and would take a fair bit of work to bring to […]

Read More
Reading for Pleasure

Reading for Pleasure

by guest blogger Maya Rodale. The New York Times recently published the sort of article that made me snort and itch to pick up my pen in protest. The article? “Does Great Literature Make Us Better?” The answer from the author, Gregory Currie, is…maybe.

Read More