Christian Science Monitor | Books

Is Virginia really the best-read state in the nation?

The state also had more cities on Amazon's list of the top 20 most well-read areas than any other.

The strange history of the English language

Linguist David Crystal, author of "The Story of English in 100 Words," analyzes vocabulary from "shellacking" to "Twittersphere."

How fast can they write? E-books push writer productivity

A dozen books a year? Some writers are accelerating the pace in this brave new world of e-books.

Reader recommendation: The Divine Comedy

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An indie bookstore 'saved by a tweet'

Broadway Books in Portland, Oregon, saved from shutting its doors when the owner's son tweeted a plea to help save it, is now celebrating its 20th birthday.

Anna Quindlen talks about her new memoir 'Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake'

Quindlen Krovatin (who happens to be her son) chats with the author about the book and the history behind it.

Reader recommendation: Ghost on the Throne

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Reader recommendation: A Hogan for the Bluebird

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Harry Potter comes to Kindle

All the books in the Harry Potter series will arrive in the Kindle lending library – free for Amazon Prime members – on June 19.

New book claims that Jack the Ripper was – a woman?

Author John Morris points to Lizzie Williams, the wife of a suspect, as the possible culprit.

'50 Shades of Grey' won't be coming to some libraries

'We do not collect erotica,' says one staff member at a library where the books will not be stocked.

Did Ben Bradlee have lingering doubts about Watergate?

A new biography of Ben Bradlee by Jeff Himmelman quotes Bradlee saying that – decades later – he still had "a little problem with Deep Throat."

Jackie Kennedy, Susan Sontag, and Angela Davis: their Paris years

Jackie Kennedy, Susan Sontag, and Angela Davis may not have much else in common. But they'll always have Paris.

Reader recommendation: Like Water for Chocolate

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'Unintended Consequences' by Edward Conrad: already 'the most hated book of the year'?

'Unintended Consequences' by former Bain Capital managing director Edward Conard argues that economic inequality is a good thing rather than a problem.

From our Files: Maurice Sendak interview, 2002

Maurice Sendak, self-taught artist and author of "Where the Wild Things Are" (1963), would eventually write or illustrate over 90 books, beloved by generations of children into adulthood. Sendak, who died today, spoke with Monitor reporter Gloria Goodale on the occasion of an exhibit of his artwork at Los Angeles' Skirball Cultural Center in 2002. He spoke about his personal history growing up in Brooklyn amidst the tumult of family upended after World War II; his escape into an inspired, illustrated world; and his expansion into musical and opera collaborations.

Maurice Sendak showed us 'Where The Wild Things Are'

Maurice Sendak wrote and illustrated the acclaimed 'Where The Wild Things Are,' along with other children's books. He passed away early Tuesday in Connecticut.

Reader recommendation: Matterhorn

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Google asks judge for library suit to be dismissed

The Authors Guild says Google doesn't have permission to reproduce portions of books for their digital library.

How a murder changed China as it moved toward World War II

Paul French, author of 'Midnight in Peking,' tells how the murder of a British diplomat's teenage daughter shook both Chinese and foreigners in pre-war Peking.