Excerpt: 'Reading Comics: How Graphic Novels Work and What They Mean'
Douglas Wolk takes graphic novels seriously and dissects today's comic-book landscape.
Arts
Excerpt: 'The Great Comic Book Heroes'
Jules Feiffer offers a critical history of comic books. He labels comics "junk" — only to vigorously defend our need for them.
Surveying Sex, A To Z, In 'Dirty Words'
Like most things that happen in the bedroom, the collection of essays found in Dirty Words is fun, naughty and totally inappropriate for the eyes of children.
Excerpt: 'Dirty Words'
Adultery, commitment, sex, obsession — this encyclopedia covers all of these subjects and more.
Philadelphia's Gum Tree Cut Down
For the first installment in a series on unlikely landmarks, the BPP talks to business owners on Philadelphia's South Street about what locals call the "gum tree." For years, it was a repository for chewed gum. But the neighborhood is sprucing up, and the tree has been cut down.
Philadelphia's Gum Tree Cut Down
For the first installment in a series on unlikely landmarks, the BPP talks to business owners on Philadelphia's South Street about what locals call the "gum tree." For years, it was a repository for chewed gum. But the neighborhood is sprucing up, and the tree has been cut down.
Political Books Trump Trashy Fiction
Primary season is (finally) over, summer is (almost officially) here and, as Publishers Weekly reports, a new crop of political books is about to make its way to the stores. Hankering for a political classic? Check out our favorite books of all time.
The Mystery of the World's Most Expensive Wine
In 1985, a single bottle of wine purported to be from Thomas Jefferson's own cellar was sold at auction for $156,000. Benjamin Wallace traces the mystery surrounding the bottle in The Billionaire's Vinegar.
Recipes: 'Simply Organic'
Many an organic manifesto has hit the bookstore of late, but Simply Organic is different: light on sermonizing, and neck-deep in great recipes that highlight familiar seasonal flavors. Try Asparagus and Scallops and, for dessert, the Basil-Lemon Cake.
Recipes: 'Raising the Salad Bar'
Summertime is salad time! Try an Arugula and Avocado Salad with Shaved Parmesan, topped with a garlicky lemon dressing. Or, if you still can't warm up to your leafy greens, maybe a sprightly Chicken Salad with Fruit and Toasted Pecans is more to your liking?