Mamma Mia! A Mother Tougher Than The Godfather

Mario Puzo isn't known for his strong female characters — but if you've read his pre-Godfather work, The Fortunate Pilgrim, you might think otherwise. Author Zoe Ferraris recommends this book, which is based on Puzo's own mother. Do you have a favorite literary matriarch? Tell us in the comments. - READ MORE

Lessons In Counterterrorism From The Octopus

Ecologist and "natural security expert" Rafe Sagarin thinks our systems for dealing with natural disasters and terrorist attacks need to be updated. The best place to turn for advice? Other organisms. - READ MORE

Letting Go

She closed the book, placed it on the table, and finally, decided to walk through the door. She cast her gaze upon the scene outside the window; the rhythmic swaying of the zombies transfixed her. As she watched, their number seemed to grow. They were an expanding mass of unfocused aggression. - READ MORE

Exercise

She closed the book, placed it on the table, and finally, decided to walk through the door. Had Ellen been a less sentimental person, she would have left the revolver as well, but it had been with her since the beginning, and she found it a comfort. - READ MORE

Three Pilgrimages To Gain 'A Sense Of Direction'

Gideon Lewis-Kraus didn't know what to do with his life, so he took three very long walks. In his new memoir, he describes his journeys in Spain, Japan and Ukraine. "The whole idea of pilgrimage is that you're hoping that you're going to rise to the occasion in some way," he says. - READ MORE

History, Heartbreak And 'The Chemistry Of Tears'

The hero and the heroine of Peter Carey's new novel are separated by 150 years — and are brought together by an enormous, 19th-century, mechanical duck. The Chemistry of Tears is the 12th novel by the Australian-born, two-time Booker Prizewinning author. - READ MORE

The 12 Days Of Disaster That Made Modern Chicago

In 1919, Chicago was called the "youngest great city in the world." World War I had just come to a close, troops were coming home, industry was booming and crime was down. But in mid-July of 1919, just about everything that could go wrong in Chicago did. - READ MORE

How A 'Daily Show' Writer Grew Up Funny

Lizz Winstead has always looked at life a little differently. She's written a book of essays that takes readers through the different chapters of her life: growing up, becoming a comic and helping to create The Daily Show. - READ MORE

'In One Person': A Tangled Gender-Bender

Desire can have a profound effect on young adults during their formative years. Novelist John Irving turns 70 this year, and his latest novel is a coming-of-age story about loss, identity and AIDS — told by a bisexual narrator named Billy Abbott. - READ MORE

Deford: How Sportswriting Has Changed 'Over Time'

NPR sports commentator Frank Deford says he has always been "more interested in the people than in who was winning the games." In his new memoir, Over Time, he says it used to be easier for writers to get close to athletes. - READ MORE