The Accidental FeministBy M.G. Lord (Walker & Co.)Elizabeth Taylor was many things: a talented actress whose first star turn came at age 12 in “National Velvet”; an international celebrity whose eight husbands included her “Cleopatra” co-star Richard Burton twice; an AIDS activist long before it became fashionable; a recovering addict, diet book author and friend of Michael Jackson; and a voluptuous, violet-eyed, raven-haired beauty for the ages. But was she a feminist?In a new book published al

The Book of Korean Tea:A Guide to the History, Culture, Philosophy of Korean Tea and Tea Ceremony By Yoo Yang-seok (MyungWon Cultural Foundation) For those familiar with the well-known tea culture of India, China or Japan, it would be surprising to discover Korea’s rich history in tea ceremonies and culture. Known as “darye” in Korean, the ceremonies have been practiced by Korean people for some two thousand years since the ancient Gaya Kingdom (42-562 A.D.). For any tea lover who’d like to expl

Partway through “Higher Gossip,” the seventh and final collection of reviews and occasional pieces by the late John Updike, I began to understand the problem I’ve always had with the author’s work. It’s pleasant enough ― congenial, intelligent, fluidly written ― but only rarely is it great. As to why this is, “Higher Gossip” offers an unintended answer by revealing not so much the range of Updike’s interests as the chatty conventionality of his ideas.The title, editor Christopher Carduff notes,

Special edition Park Wan-suh novels hit bookstores a year after her deathIt’s been exactly a year since the death of celebrated author Park Wan-suh, but her works continue to appeal to readers, scholars and even theater producers.Commemorating the one-year anniversary of her death, the month of January has been filled with Park Wan-suh themed events and publications. Leading publishing houses have been releasing special editions of her works, while the performing arts scene is celebrating her sh

KEROBOKAN, Indonesia (AFP) ― In 1876 French poet Arthur Rimbaud joined the Dutch colonial army, sailed to the Indonesian island of Java and then deserted and fled into the jungle. No one knows what happened next.More than 130 years later, an American author followed in the Frenchman’s footsteps to try and solve the mystery.“It’s like a Sherlock Holmes story,” said Jamie James, alluding to the detective work needed to trace where the enigmatic Rimbaud, who was born in 1854 and died just before tu

New books in ‘Insight into Korea Series’Making the High-Speed Train Fly: Korean Global STI Strategy, Empowering Korea with New InnovationsBy Kim Suk-joon and others(Jimoondang)The Korea Herald’s “Insight into Korea” book series, which previously dealt with key Korean issues including Dokdo, the Korean Wave, and various social and financial topics, has published two more volumes ― this time about the challenges Korea faces in R&D and science and technology. The books ― “Making the High-Speed Trai

Handaxes in the Imjin BasinEdited by Yi Seon-bok(SNU Press)Many things remain a mystery about the early Paleolithic period, especially the one of East Asia. Many of the Paleolithic remains found in the region have added to such questions. Most importantly, hand axes, which had been considered some of the most significant remains of the early Paleolithic in Europe and Africa, were not found in Asia until the late 1970s.Yet as the first set of Acheulian-like hand axes were found in Korea’s Imjin R

Sure, why not. Let’s have yet another biography of Elizabeth II, this one as she’s about to mark 60 years on the throne.So what is new to justify Sally Bedell Smith’s massive “Elizabeth the Queen”? What is left to uncover, and what should be left uncovered and unknown in the life of this exemplary lady whose predetermined existence of regal obligation is yawningly unenviable, however bejeweled the box it comes in?Smith’s book answers those questions with a double yes ― yes, there are mercifully

‘The Obamas’ surprisingly lacks surpriseThe Obamas By Jodi Kantor(Little, Brown) With all the headlines about Jodi Kantor’s book on Barack and Michelle Obama, the biggest surprise about it is this: There aren’t any surprises.I learned little about the Obamas or the presidency that I didn’t know or imagine, and I’m not even a passionate follower of events in Washington. Well, one thing shocked me. Can you believe the White House residence has a spotty Internet connection and only one extension of

Voices of Foreign Brides: The Roots and Development of Multiculturalism in KoreaBy Kim Choong-soon(AltaMira Press)One of the stars to emerge from last year’s silver screen hit “Punch” was Jasmine Lee. The Filipino-born Korean actress and activist, who rose to prominence as a panelist on KBS TV’s multicultural show “Love in Asia,” also appeared as an immigrant in the box-office hit. Aside from the film and TV roles, Lee was appointed one of Seoul City’s first foreign civil servants last year. The

Staring down a no-good, gun-toting heir to a marijuana empire in rural Kentucky who’s just thrown a dead rat at his car, Raylan Givens stands unfazed.“You know how many wanted felons have given me that look?” he says, calm as a man on a Sunday stroll. “I say a thousand I know I’m low.”Cool.Raylan Givens is one cool character, whether he’s enforcing the law as a deputy U.S. marshal in Elmore Leonard’s new novel “Raylan” or on “Justified,” the taut, moody FX series that has become a critical favor

GENEVA (AFP) ― Geneva once condemned Jean-Jacques Rousseau and burned his books, but is now preparing to celebrate his birth 300 years ago with pomp.The Swiss city has declared him one of its greatest citizens and a key figure of the Enlightenment.The official launch of the 300th anniversary entitled “2012 Rousseau for All” on January 19 will inaugurate an ambitious year-long programme.It will illustrate the writer’s many facets as a philosopher, thinker, teacher, musician and herbalist, who wro