What is most important about the world of American literature? It's an important question, and some would argue for the works of Twain, while others might speak eloquently about Richard Wright, and so on. This inventive 16-part series for college students deals with the foibles of American literature through a "diversity of voices" in a way that is eminently accessible and interesting. This series...

DC By the Book is an innovative project created by Tony Ross and Kim Zablud of the DC Public Library. This rather novel work "explores the richness of non-Federal civic life in Washington and its character as a city, as brought to life by fiction." The entire work is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Studies' Library Services and Technology Act grant program. First-time visitors can...

The American Library Association (ALA) has created this excellent resource for those seeking to learn about books that have been challenged around the United States. These lists have been compiled by the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom since 1990. Users can dive in by browsing the listings on the left-hand side of the page including Authors By Year, "Banned & Challenged Classics," and "30...

Franzen On The Book, The Backlash, His Background http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129747555 A touch of Franzenfreude http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/sep/19/books-franzen-gender-wars-reviews Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Weiner Speak Out On Franzen Feud http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jason-pinter/jodi-picoult-jennifer-weiner-franzen_b_693143.html Publishers...