Books

Book critic John Leonard reviews Sarah Maitland's new novel, which masterfully weaves together real dragons, the end of childhood, cancer, and Christian symbolism in a narrative that somehow leads to salvation.

Michael Jackson (No, not THAT Michael Jackson). He's a beer expert who's written the "Pocket Guide to Beer (The Connoisseur's companion to over 1000 Beers of the World)," by Simon & Schuster. He lives in England and has also written "The New World Guide to Beer.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan review Kitty Kelley's salacious Nancy Reagan: The Unauthorized Biography. Corrigan, who is no fan of the former first lady, says it's perversely entertaining.

Book critic John Leonard reviews the new collection of essays by veteran Polish journalist Ryszard Kapuscinski, called The Soccer Game.

Critic Maureen Corrigan reviews "Mary Diana Dods: A Gentleman and a Scholar" by Betty T. Bennett. Dods was a Victorian writer who advanced her literary career by posing as men named David Lyndsay and Walter Sholto Douglas.

Book critic John Leonard reviews Eduardo Galeano's new book, which is filled with sprawling narratives, memories, and anecdotes about South America.

Amy Scholder and Ira Silverberg are the editors of "High Risk," a new anthology of writings that challenge the authors' self-imposed censorship concerning topics like unsafe sex, drug use, and sadomasochism.

Book critic John Leonard reviews Brett Easton Ellis' controversial new novel. The book's been vilified because of its many graphic scenes of rape, torture, murder, and cannibalism.

Writer James Smith's new book, "The Idea Brokers," examines the growing influence and inner workings of Washington's many research organizations. Several think tank members provided commentary for news networks during the Gulf War.

We examine how our notions of sex and gender has changed over the centuries with historian Thomas Laqueur, author of the book, "Making Sex."