15 Fad Books You Probably Forgot About

Like pretty much anything else out there, literature still winds up enslaved to fads and trends, some positive, some negative, and others entirely neutral. A few of the fads books out there still deserve academic and mainstream attention that, for some reason or another, fizzled when some other shiny read ambled on into the bookish sphere. Some probably never should've wasted valuable publishing resources in the first place, but at least give snarky Internet writers fodder. The following represent some, but by no means all, examples of faddish reads from across the quality spectrum.

1. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

   Credit card debt doesn't seem so sexy and glamorous ten years later, does it? Sophie Kinsella's gushing love letter to rampant, irresponsible materialism (and, of course, the joys of manipulating a major rich hottie to pay it all off) is best left in the previous decade, a far safer locale than the recycling bin where it truly belongs!

2. A Million Little Pieces by James Frey

   Unlike all the other fad books listed here, this one's notoriety drew readers stricken with schadenfreude rather than any genuine interest. Once an Oprah's Book Club selection, meaning thousands upon thousands immediately flocked to it because a celebrity said so, A Million Little Pieces eventually fell to, well, a million little pieces when it turned out the author just made everything up, which obviously only causes controversy if the book in question is marketed as NONFICTION.

3. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

   Even though 1997's "it" novel Memoirs of a Geisha finally received the coveted film treatment in 2005 (starring a Chinese woman, because of course it did), the medium shift failed to renew any significant interest in the source material. Interestingly enough, unlike A Million Little Pieces, Memoirs of a Geisha was always intended as pure fiction, despite the title. Funny how that works.

4. The Babysitter's Club series by Ann M. Martin

   Despite the movie, television show, dizzying array of spinoffs, and doll series, the ladies (and one boundary-busting gentleman) of the BSC remain largely unknown to today's adolescents and their sparkly vampires and whatnot. Kristy and the gang enjoyed a good decade on the shelves of engaged readers, making their reign last significantly longer than the average fad.

5. Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution by Robert Atkins

   Yeah, yeah. Diet books should probably count as cheating since they could easily fill this entire list, but since they're still publications, they totally qualify. Here's a hint for anyone trying to drop some weight: If a guide touts itself as "revolutionary," chances are it's actually anything but. Although being able to eat nothing but delicious meat certainly tempts any non-vegetarians out there…

6. The Official Preppy Handbook by Lisa Birnbach

   The Official Preppy Handbook was to the 1980s what The Hipster Handbook eventually became to the 2000s: an acidic, satirical analysis of a popular subculture that spawned numerous wannabes. Despite its largely forgotten status (though its legacy lives on in the aforementioned spiritual successor by Robert Lanham), the book completely deserves a read through; preppies still exist, after all!

7. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

   Most people these days still talk about David Fincher's superb adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk's debut novel (and rightly so!), but how many even remember that it was a book in the first place? Beyond the opening credits, of course. Although the author's subsequent publications vary from the equally evocative to the face-palmingly frustrating, Fight Club stands among his most essential reads.

8. He's Just Not That Into You by Greg Behrendt and Lisa Tuccillo

   Whether this bang-your-head-into-the-wall stupid dating guide could be thought of as more misandrist or misogynist is kind of like figuring out how many licks it takes to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop: the world may never know. Considering its vomitous, eye-rolling over-reliance on arbitrary gender roles and standards (not to mention unfair demonization of shy, polite men who may not always return phone calls), society certainly benefits from the book phasing into obscurity. Here's hoping it stays that way, with any potential popularity resurgence as purely ironic in nature.

9. House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

   With its quirky, twisted, and shamelessly postmodern structure, heavily experimental author Mark Z. Danielewski's first novel seemed an unlikely candidate for mainstream fervor, however fascinating it might be. Most of House of Leaves' contemporary obscurity stems from the author's seemingly under-the-radar existence, with little activity beyond publishing three subsequent books, rather than a lack of talent or effectiveness.

10. White Teeth by Zadie Smith

    Like Mark Z. Danielewski, Zadie Smith never failed to live up to her literary promise, she just appears to prefer staying low-key after initially blowing up. Time named this novel one of the best released between 1923 and 2005, yet few beyond the most ardent bibliophiles have even heard of (much less read) it these days. A shame!

11. Pretty much anything by Horatio Alger

    The vast majority of readers old and young today probably have no idea who this author even is, but in the 19th century, his narratives of industrious Americans were the cat's pajamas-clad bee's-knees. Modern audiences might cringe at the blatant pandering, formulaic plot lines, and stock characters, but back in the day Horatio Alger earned the Gilded Age zeitgeist's affections.

12. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

    Despite sitting firmly on bookstore shelves labeled "FICTION," an epidemic of The Da Vinci Code fever plagued American audiences when readers (egged on by Dan Brown himself, of course) started touting the conspiracy theories it posited as TOTALLY THE VERY REAL HIDDEN TRUTH ABOUT ART HISTORY AND THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR, YOU GUYS!!! Seeing as how Y2K failed to deliver three years earlier, the paranoid had to latch onto something to satiate themselves. Apparently the poorly-written adventures of a blandly perfect protagonist and his blandly perfect attempts at deciphering (fake) art history proved a worthwhile outlet.

13. The Sweet Valley High series by Francine Pascal

    Sweet Valley High always stood as the trashy alternative to Babysitter's Club for adolescents too young to pick up Jacqueline Susann's kitschy classic Valley of the Dolls. Neither series holds up terribly well into adulthood, but those lucky enough to remember them these days probably hold some rightfully fond memories all the same.

14. The South Beach Diet by Arthur Agatston

    People somewhere must still stick with this fad strategy stemming from a fad book, because South Beach Diet frozen meals are still sold today. But that doesn't change the fact that its time in the media spotlight has already passed over in favor of the next sexy way to temporarily lose weight. Wasn't it replaced by that lemon juice and chili powder one or something?

15. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

    Oh, sure, the movie adaptation significantly improved sales of The Help, and it seems like anyone who isn't already nose-deep in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo has been checking out the narrative of a plucky white journalist and her anti-racist action. Yay and all that. But history shows that few are really going to go pick it up (or even give one fig) once the film's hype eventually winds down.

20 Creative Geniuses Who Were Also Mentally Ill

Both serious academics and pop psychologists appear preoccupied over finding definitive links between mental illness and influential, brilliant creative output, with floods of studies attempting to make sense of it all. Whether or not such a connection genuinely exists, of course, will probably remain in the theoretical realm for the foreseeable future. One can certainly alter the course of human achievement without any sign of mental illness or distress. And, despite unfortunate, prevailing stigmas often painting those with psychiatric concerns as incompetent or incapable of accomplishing much of anything to their fullest potential, it is entirely possible to exist as both a genius and a troubled individual. Without the following thinkers, mankind would end up denied some incredible insight into the elations and despairs inherent to existence. To condemn them for the pain so many were both with — or conditioned into by external circumstances — is, in some ways, to condemn the species itself.

1. Vincent van Gogh

   Probably more than any other influential, creative mind in history, renowned painter Vincent van Gogh is so often cited as the quintessential troubled artist. His tragic life ended in suicide at age 37, and experts continue debating what diagnosis afflicted him; bipolar disorder, complications from epilepsy, or schizophrenia remain the most popular candidates. According to his correspondence, van Gogh experienced at least two major depressive episodes, followed by intensely innovative periods.

2. Sylvia Plath

   Lauded for her deeply personal writings, much of this great American poet's oeuvre illustrated the very real suffering she experienced as a result of bipolar disorder. Semi-autobiographical novel The Bell Jar pulled from Sylvia Plath's own personal experiences with self-mutilation, suicide attempts, depression, insomnia, paranoia, and other manifestations of her diagnosis. Following a grim suicide, her work eventually became integral in helping mainstream readers better understand how mental illness impacts patients.

3. Ludwig van Beethoven

   Psychology was not exactly a cohesive discipline in Ludwig van Beethoven's time, of course, but that doesn't stop contemporary professionals from analyzing his personal letters and other writings. The brilliant composer admitted to harboring suicidal thoughts, and some experts believe his cycles between crippling depression and wildly fertile creativity signaled bipolar disorder. Other theories posit that a history of physical abuse at the hands of his alcoholic father, which may have instigated his eventual deafness, left him traumatized and troubled in perpetuity.

4. Martin Ramirez

   Fans of art history and The New York Times both consider Martin Ramirez's collages and drawings some of the most essential examples of Art Brut (or "outsider art") ever. During his three decades in a California mental health facility, he produced hundreds of pieces, attracting attention for particularly showstopping line work. The completely self-taught Ramirez lived with schizophrenia, although debates continue waging over whether or not it held any significant influence over his eventual oeuvre.

5. Virginia Woolf

   Virginia Woolf likely experienced bipolar disorder during an era when medical professionals proved poorly equipped to deal with the symptoms and presentations. Writing offered one of her only solaces for channeling the transitions between suicidal depression and overwhelming elation, as her doctors preferred isolationist bed rest worsening the condition. Unfortunately, the solution eventually drove the modernist author to drown herself as a means of quelling the emotional and physical torment stemming from both her diagnosis and the loneliness of the main treatment option.

6. Elliott Smith

   A history of abuse as a child — details of which neither friends nor family will disclose — drove this influential, introspective singer-songwriter to depression, substance abuse, and suicide. In all likelihood, his heavy heroin usage acted as a means of alleviating both the lingering trauma and resulting descent into despair; even after jettisoning the habit, though, Elliott Smith's music garnered acclaim for its honest depiction of wrenching emotional (and physiological) pain. From a Basement on a Hill currently stands as one of the scene's most earnest albums exploring the internal struggles of the not-so-willingly alienated.

7. Eugene O'Neill

   Depression ran in this Pulitzer and Nobel-winning playwright's family, afflicting at least both parents, a brother, and even his children, two of whom eventually killed themselves. Eugene O'Neill himself grappled against alcoholism in response to the condition, to the point he attempted suicide and spent a stint in the hospital. Adding to the tragedy, a misdiagnosis of Parkinson's Disease (which was more than likely late-onset cerebellar cortical atrophy in reality) meant he ended up ingesting drugs that did nothing for his increasing physiological pain, including tremors and brain shrinkage, which exacerbated his mental health in turn.

8. Michelangelo Buonarroti

   Literal Renaissance man Michelangelo Buonarroti garnered almost as much fame for his nasty temper and antisocial tendencies as his genuinely breathtaking sculptures, paintings/frescoes, architecture, and (to a lesser extent) poetry. Along with severe knee, kidney, and bladder issues plaguing him for much of his existence, the brilliant artist's output features a common melancholic, sometimes defeatist or fatalistic, theme. Obviously, at this point one cannot present a definitive diagnosis, though mental health professionals believe first-person accounts of his erratic behavior reveal a man with bipolar disorder, clinical depression, or both.

9. Brian Wilson

   Regardless of one's opinion regarding surf, pop, and psychedelic rock, nobody will deny that The Beach Boys left a significant impression on the music industry; frontman Brian Wilson typically earns most of the credit for their widespread success. A mélange of drug use, depression, and schizoaffective disorder plagued him with hallucinations, paranoia, bouts of overeating, and stints in bed sometimes lasting months on end. These days, Wilson does not shy away from detailing his experiences, hoping that the honesty will help others come to terms with their own mental health struggles.

10. Amy Tan

    The Joy Luck Club still sits on English class syllabi across the nation, and for good reason; few novels delve so deeply into the oft-marginalized experiences of Chinese-American women with such deft insight. Author Amy Tan hails from a family plagued with depression and suicide, and when symptoms of the former started creeping in, she panicked to the point she denied herself valuable treatment. But once everything grew almost entirely unbearable, Tan courageously entered psychotherapy and started on a Zoloft regimen that met her personal needs.

11. Edvard Munch

    Even individuals largely uninterested in the art world still know expressionist masterpiece "The Scream" through pop cultural osmosis (or, at least, news regarding a plethora of thefts and theft attempts!); artist Edvard Munch's entire body of work encompasses some truly amazing paintings, drawings, prints, and etchings beyond that, of course. Growing increasingly hermitic as time ticked forward, he oftentimes found himself crunched beneath despair due to his own poor health, losing his mother and sister at an early age, an emotionally estranged father, frustration with the art scene, and a mounting obsession with death. Anxiety and depression, as one can imagine, fueled some of his most powerful, memorable images — including his most famous piece.

12. Kurt Vonnegut

    One of America's most beloved 20th century wits fell into such a heavy state of depression for a time — to the point he ditched his celebrated writing career almost entirely. Breakfast of Champions marked his emergence from the period, and Kurt Vonnegut also followed it up by openly talking about everything the experience entailed with the hopes of promoting mental illness de-stigmatization. Part of him, however, always thought that some degree of melancholia was absolutely essential in cobbling together literary masterpieces.

13. Frida Kahlo

    For much of her troubled life, Frida Kahlo found herself forced to live with a staggering array of neurological, physical, and mental conditions; almost all ended up depicted in her art with the raw honesty that landed her a laudable spot in history. Decades-long battles with immense physiological pain eventually led her to start relying on increasingly heavy painkillers to dull the depression, which in turn stoked suicidal thoughts, especially after her art began declining in quality. She died of a pulmonary embolism instead of her own hand, but her masterpieces remain among the world's most effective, evocative creative depictions of pain ever produced.

14. Woody Allen

    Anyone who's ever sat down with a Woody Allen film probably wouldn't be surprised to find out about his ongoing fight against depression, nor the fact that he uses comedy as a coping mechanism. The roles he assigns himself grow organically from his own perspectives, flaws, and experiences, serving as both self-assessment and an effective glimpse into how anxiety comes to shape a patient's life. Movies, however, do not offer the only creative solace — he has also written extensively about depression and anxiety, usually with a splash of his signature humor.

15. Philip K. Dick

    Drug abuse, particularly hallucinogens, and mental illness involving visions (more than likely schizophrenia exacerbated by rampant LSD usage) almost singlehandedly kickstarted the entire cyberpunk genre. One of pioneer Philip K. Dick's seminal novels, VALIS, exists solely because of the visual and auditory experiences resulting from this mix. His depression, nervous breakdowns, and anxiety over a dead twin sister receive less attention than the other conditions, but still left a major mark on the science fiction classics he published.

16. Mark Rothko

    Mark Rothko, the genius abstract expressionist, only started garnering his current acclaim after committing suicide in 1970. Episodes of crushing despair pockmarked most of his life, costing him his first marriage and requiring medication (which, tragically, he voluntarily overdosed on) to curb. Because Rothko also dealt with almost manic periods of lush creativity, leading some contemporaries and mental health experts to postulate that he may have experienced bipolar disorder comorbid with his depression.

17. Daniel Johnston

    For most of his life, this acclaimed outsider artist and singer-songwriter has grappled with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, though none of that prevents him from enjoying a sizable fanbase. After moving to Austin, he earned attention by giving demo tapes to those falling within his orbit, quickly garnering enthusiastic listeners eager for his next live performance or art show. Many of Daniel Johnston's drawings feature pop culture fixtures like Captain America as well as his own imagined creations, such as Jeremiah the Innocent — of whom a very famous mural sits in his adopted Texas home.

18. David Foster Wallace

    When renowned postmodernist author David Foster Wallace took his own life in 2008, friends, family, and fans reacted with both shock and understanding. For 20 years, he received both therapy and medication for severe depression, and an improperly coordinated switch between prescriptions may have very well triggered his unfortunate passing. The experiment ended up inspiring a far darker period than Wallace had ever encountered, sadly reflecting the realities of many individuals whose medications damage their brain chemistry beyond repair.

19. Ian Curtis

    Joy Division vocalist Ian Curtis, one of the most iconic frontmen of post-punk, committed suicide at age 23 and launched a maelstrom of speculation which almost rivals that surrounding Kurt Cobain. Some blame his epileptic seizures, others his regular difficulties with woman (and, according to his family, everything else) for the debilitating depression encompassing his entire life — though nobody suspected it would end so tragically. Even before Curtis' death, Joy Division defined the British post-punk sound almost singlehandedly, and musicians today still consider them a major influence.

20. Jackson Pollock

    A history of substance abuse and bipolar disorder ravaged one of the premiere (and obviously controversial!) abstract expressionists; in all likelihood, the former existed as a means of coping with the latter. A brilliant painter whose splattered works even now elicit either frothing mouths or enthusiastic hosannas, both conditions instigated major gulfs between his friends, family, and lovers alike. Evidence exists suggesting that Jackson Pollock struggled immensely with the extreme reactions to his art and mounting fame, which may have very well worsened his already stressful mental state.

14 Videos You Should Share on “Make Your Dream Come True Day”

Each year on January 13, wedged in there between "Feast of Fabulous Wild Men Day" and "National Dress Up Your Pet Day" lies "Make Your Dream Come True Day." The idea is to use the day to move yourself a little closer to your lifelong dream by taking at least one step towards accomplishing it, or helping someone else take their own step. To get yourself motivated, take a look at these 14 videos, then inspire your friends by sharing with them.

1. Jason McElwain

   This moving video and others like it have gotten millions of hits since 2006 when the story took place. Jason McElwain is a highly-functioning autistic kid from New York who had served for four years as the team manager for his beloved varsity basketball squad, but had never been given a spot on the roster. During the final minutes of the division title game, McElwain's coach sent him in where he made six three-pointers and became the game's high-scorer.

2. Braeden Kershner

   At the age of 18, Braeden Kershner's dream was to conduct the Boston Pops. The problem: the privilege came at a cost of $10,000. So he set about earning the money by working 11 jobs, somehow finding time to also learn every instrument in the orchestra. Kershner did not stop once he fulfilled his dream. After joining the Marines, he now teaches music, where he has mentored band kids and given them a reason to stay in school.

3. Bobby Henline

   Bobby Henline's dream of becoming a stand-up comic came true by way of a hard road. This particular road was in Iraq, laced with roadside bombs. Henline was severely disfigured by the blast that killed other members in his unit. But Hemline was determined not to let his injuries prevent him from achieving his goal, not only for himself but for the other soldiers killed in his vehicle and throughout the war. He is now a motivational speaker and comedian with "more doors open to him now than before."

   

4. Susan Boyle

   In an industry that prizes beauty just as much as ability, Simon Cowell and his fellow judges on Britain's Got Talent took one look at Susan Boyle and thought the same thing others had thought: she won't be able to sing. But this woman who "never had a proper chance" took one breath and blew them all away with her amazing voice. She's since become a household name, selling over 14 million albums. And that first song she sang? "I Dreamed a Dream," of course.

   

5. The Tipton-Smith family

   The Tipton-Smith family went through back-to-back tragedies when their home burned down, and their son Ransom was killed in a car accident. Faith Tipton-Smith wanted to finish the family home Ransom had helped plan, but did not have the funds. In the video, the folks at Extreme Home Makeover help them finish the home. The family also gets to meet Rachel, the girl who received Ransom's heart, which saved her life.

6. J K Rowling

   You've heard the name, but what you may not have known is before she was worth $1 billion, Joanne Rowling was a divorced single mother living on welfare with an infant child. In this video, she recounts how she made her dream of making it as a writer a reality by writing whenever, wherever she could.

   

7. Rudy

   The film version took a few creative liberties, but the real-life Rudy really did fulfill an impossible dream of playing football at Notre Dame. At 5'6", 165 pounds, Daniel Ruettiger slaved away on the practice squad before finally getting on the field for the last play of the last game of his senior year. He recorded a sack and was carried off the field, the first of only two times in the history of the school.

8. Dustin Lance Black

   When the film Milk won the Oscar for Best Screenplay in 2009, screenwriter Dustin Lance Black gave this short but moving speech about gay rights in America. He recounts how his dream of being able to live his life freely came true, and he sends a message of hope out to homosexual kids everywhere, telling them to hang in there because one day soon their dreams of equal rights will be a reality.

9. Walt Disney

   As far as dreamers go, they don't come any bigger than Walt Disney. This video is a clip from a special about the life of the man who was once fired from a newspaper for having "no creative ideas." Disney dreamed of making wholesome entertainment for kids, and he succeeded with his movies and ultimately with his biggest dream, Disneyland.

10. William Wallace

    Maybe you're one of the three people who still hasn't seen this movie. William Wallace dreamed of a Scotland free from the tyranny of British control. His (fictional) speech before the battle at Bannockburn is in the canon of classic inspirational videos. If you haven't watched it in a while, go back and listen to the words…If you're fearing taking a risk, you may regret it one day.

11. Margie Warrell

    This practical video is an interview with Margie Warrell, author of Find Your Courage, a best-selling book about dreaming big, overcoming your fears, and chasing those dreams down. She tells you to quit procrastinating and lay out a plan for becoming the achiever you always hoped you would be.

12. Dream On by Aerosmith

    Here's Steven Tyler reminding you not to stop dreaming when you fail, because you got to lose to know how to win.

13. Kriss Carr

    Kriss Carr had a simple dream: to not let cancer kill her. Some people tried to tell her that her rare form of cancer had a 100% mortality rate, but she refused to acknowledge such a thing. Instead, she made cancer "her guru." This video from the Oprah Winfrey Show is a montage of clips from her documentary Crazy Sexy Cancer. Eight years later, Carr is still going strong and still dreaming big.

14. Dead Poet's Society

    This is a great clip to get you in the mood to go out there and seize the day. Robin Williams' Professor Keating exhorts his young pupils to look over the faces of the young men who went before them, who are now long gone. "Make your life extraordinary," he tells them. If this video doesn't fire you up, nothing will. Carpe diem!

12 Marketing Skills Every Writer Now Needs

In a world of blogs, tweets, website comments, and Facebook status updates, everyone is a writer. That is, they are in the sense that they are communicating through the written word. But you're a writer: you know what a gerund is, and you would never mistake "it's" with "its." Of course, the proliferation of social media has only served to flood the market with content producers. If you want to make it as a writer, you will have to separate yourself from the crowd so your work can be appreciated. Here are 12 marketing skills to help you become the next Hemingway.

The ability to…

1. …make friends with Twitter.

   As a good writer, you already have the ability to write concise, interesting, and funny prose. That's all Twitter is. It should be a breeze for you to build a following of people that includes literary agents and book editors that can assist you in getting the word out about your work, or offer you a deal if you don't have one. Don't use this as a chance to hit them over the head with your book; just demonstrate what a good writer you are and they will want to read it on their own.

2. …network.

   Recommending Twitter is really just a way of saying you need to be able to network. As aspiring author Julie Cantrell found, there are accomplished writers out there who are happy to give you advice on marketing your work. Email them, Facebook them, or add them on LinkedIn, just don't be too pushy or stalker-ish.

3. …create your own .com.

   You could go the blog route, but you'll look far more professional with your own website. Pick up a copy of Teach Yourself Dreamweaver and download a free, fully-functional trial version of the software from Adobe. Consider making large chunks of your writing available for free on your site, and don't give in to the temptation to sell ads.

4. …e-publish.

   Giving your work away may not seem like a great marketing strategy, but even the pros do it, because it works. And for an unknown like you, it might just be the best way to get your work in front of people. E-publishing is one way to get your material into a professional, digital format that can be downloaded. Learn how to use Adobe Acrobat or similar software to have your work listed on the Kindle Library, for free or for royalties, if you prefer.

5. …maximize web traffic.

   There is an entire field of professionals who work at optimizing companies' and individuals' web traffic. Since you don't have a personal SEO employee, you'll need to learn how to maximize your visibility on search engines by using clear and accurate keywords in your site title, description, and body. The way to move to the top of the search list is to have lots of other sites linking to your page, so you'll have to submit your stuff to various sites that deal with your topic and encourage them to link their readers to you.

6. …speak in public.

   Traditional media outlets like radio and TV are turning more and more towards the new class of internet writers and bloggers. If a major TV show or radio program comes calling wanting to interview you, you'll need to be prepared to be beamed into millions of homes around the world. Do your homework and watch how other authors and writers handle different interviewers.

7. …make videos.

   Don't wait for the TV cameras to come to you. Pick up an inexpensive camcorder or just use your laptop webcam. Shoot an introductory video of yourself for your site and your latest book project, or upload a highlight reel to YouTube of key points in your work. You don't have to be Steven Spielberg, just keep it simple. Don't zoom in and out, don't use any lame screen wipes, and don't sound like you're reading from a script.

8. …know the industry.

   Even after they get a book deal, many authors are surprised to find the majority of the marketing depends on them. Know going in what kind of writing sells and can be marketed and you will save yourself a lot of time and effort in the long run. Keep up with what's hot by reading Writer's Market or Script.

9. …brand yourself.

   Establishing yourself and your writing as a brand involves knowing what your core strength is. It's the one thing you know more about or write better than anyone else. Take Perez Hilton: he turned a love of celebrities and gossip into a website with millions of views each month. His name/pseudonym is now synonymous with the subject. Find what you're passionate about and become laser-focused on that subject, and eventually you'll be branded as a respected authority.

10. …make a media kit.

    Microsoft Publisher is all you need to make a professional press kit to send out to agents or publishing houses. Include in your materials the market research you've done to show how the writing can be profitable, and include the best bits of material from the work. You'll have to find the right balance between providing enough pertinent info and overwhelming the audience with data.

11. …be available.

    If you really want to make a living by writing, you're going to have to make it your top priority. Don't be too busy to turn anything down: an interview for a blog or a neighborhood weekly, a "local authors" day at a small bookstore, or a speaking engagement across the country. It make not sound like a skill to be available, but being upbeat and on your game at all times requires work, plain and simple.

12. …sell online.

    Financially-speaking, the most important aspect of marketing is knowing how to sell your products. With all this attention you've drawn to your website, you have to know how to operate a digital store. Paypal is the industry standard for accepting payments, but you'll also need to make arrangements to accept the major credit cards. To protect your customers, you'll have to know how to use https.

12 Writers Who Still Refuse to Use Computers

Computers are incredible tools: we use them to connect around the world, gather all of the information in the universe, find inspiration, and maybe play a few games now and then. They're also very helpful for writers, offering organization, editing, and writing tools that are more useful than any tools available before. But for so many writers, they're just not the right tool for the job. There's something romantic and creative about setting pen to paper, which for many writers, makes the very act of writing possible. For others, pen and paper are favored for their portability and lack of constant distractions. Others find that they do their best work on a typewriter. Whatever the reason or method, these writers have chosen not to compose their works on computers, preferring instead to put pen to paper or fingertips on the typewriter. And although some do use computers for editing and social connections, their first drafts are never created with the use of digital aids. Read on to learn why and how these 12 famous writers get their best work done without the help of computers.

1. PJ O'Rourke

   Political satirist and author PJ O'Rourke, an early proponent of Gonzo journalism, prefers a typewriter to a computer. O'Rourke uses an IBM Selectric typewriter to create his manuscripts, as he says that focusing on writing while using a computer would be difficult due to his short attention span. In the New York Times, O'Rourke further shared his reasons for avoiding the computer, explaining that "writing on a computer makes saving what's been written too easy," with "mistakes neatly stored in digital memory." He also worries that with a computer, instead of becoming distracted, he simply might "write too much too fast," suffering from the sins of excessive speed and quantity.

2. Oliver Sacks

   Oliver Sacks is commonly known as a neurologist who sometimes writes, but he prefers to be known as an author. After all, he aspired to become a writer as young as age 12, and his compassionate books (all 10 of them) have changed medical writing forever. For a man who has changed so much, it's somewhat surprising that the man himself has not changed with the times. When the New York Times asked him what he's been "following," Dr. Sacks responded, "I don’t know what Facebook and Twitter are since I don’t use a computer. But a friend gave me a hat with a built-in compass, since I have no sense of direction." Sacks prefers to use a pen and paper or electric typewriter, sharing that "I love the physicality of paper." So much so, that his editor and assistant Kate Edgar prints out Sacks' 50+ daily emails.

3. Lee Rourke

   British novelist Lee Rourke believes that creative writing is simply better with a pen, insisting that longhand is a more portable and individual way to write. In a piece for the Guardian, Rourke shares, "Everything I've ever written was composed in notebooks first." He buys notebooks obsessively, with hundreds of filled ones in boxes and just as many empty ones ready and waiting for inspiration to strike. For Rourke, longhand writing allows him to enter a "zone of comfort" he just can't find in a computer, as he finds the sound of typing annoying: it reminds him of the offices he's worked in, signing off on invoices rather than crafting a great literary work. Rather, Rourke takes his pens and notebooks everywhere, writing anywhere and whenever he wants as it comes to him in fits. Rourke does, however, use a computer to transfer his finished works to the typed word, editing as he goes along.

4. Jon McGregor

   Like Rourke, British author Jon McGregor also prefers to write longhand or with a typewriter first, then edit his work on a laptop or netbook. He shares, "An idea or phrase can be grabbed and worked at while it's fresh. Writing on the page stays on the page, with its scribbles and rewrites and long arrows suggesting a sentence or paragraph be moved, and can be looked over and reconsidered. Writing on the screen is far more ephemeral – a sentence deleted can't be reconsidered. Also, you know, the Internet." McGregor's pen of choice is a Muji 5mm, and he types on an Olivetti. The author himself admits that he has a bit of a "fetishisation of process," which for him, is an exercise in procrastination.

5. Patrick McLean

   Patrick McLean loves computers and technology, with books on the Amazon Kindle and a couple Parsec Awards for Podcast Fiction. But when it comes to producing the written word, McLean finds that it's simply easier to put pen to paper. In fact, he was actually surprised to find out that the easiest way for him to write is by "composing with a long, flowing, and delightfully irregular script that fills the page like a river of words." He notes that it often takes him less time than it would to type, and he simply writes better. Like McGregor, McLean's preference for physically writing has a lot to do with focus and avoiding the distractions of technology. McLean's longhand writing speed that rivals his typing production is due in no small part to the fact that "a pen and paper has but one functionality. It captures the marks I make so that they can be referred to at a later time. It doesn't ring, it doesn't bother me with an incoming chat or IM. It never asks me to plug it in so it can get more power. It doesn't crash, it never needs an upgrade, and it is unlikely that someone will snatch my pad and bolt from a coffee shop with it when I turn my back." For at least one technology-loving writer, pen and paper's beautiful simplicity makes all the difference in the world.

6. Orhan Pamuk

   Novelist Orhan Pamuk is Turkey's best-selling writer, and with his Nobel Prize in Literature, the first Turkish citizen to be awarded a Nobel. His prize-winning works are not composed on a computer, but in a graph paper notebook. He likes to write one full page, and then leave the next one open for revisions. Using his notebooks, Pamuk relishes in the absence of a backspace button, and the opportunity to capture inspiration when it strikes.

7. Kazuo Ishiguro

   Kazuo Ishiguro is a Japanese-British novelist, one of The Times' 50 Greatest British Writers Since 1945, in fact, as well as a Man Booker Prize Winner. Certainly some part of his success has to do with Ishiguro's extreme organization and planning, all done with pen and paper through flow charts, folders of narratives and plot, and carefully auditioned narrators. This process takes two years to complete, including research, and after that, Ishiguro writes his first drafts by hand, editing by hand in pencil as well. Once completed, Ishiguro finally types his own pages.

8. Niven Govinden

   English novelist Niven Govinden certainly uses a computer: he has a Twitter account, after all. But the author of We Are the New Romantics and Graffiti My Soul insists that "a blank computer screen makes me want to throw up." With the "physicality" of longhand, Govinden is able to revise as he works, taking advantage of the "greater sense of space" afforded by a pen. Govinden finds that "a lined notebook is less judgmental," and he is able to write in a more economical way, thinking harder about the sentences that follow each other.

9. John Le Carre

   David John Moore Cornwell, pen name John Le Carre, once worked for MI5 and MI6, but he left it all behind as an international bestseller, known for The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, and The Constant Gardener. Le Carre much prefers to write his novels in longhand: he has stated that he's actually allergic to computers. Each day, he wakes up at 4 a.m. to write furiously until lunch, and once complete, his wife, Jane Cornwell types up the day's work. Editing is done in a drafting and redrafting method, with edits and rewrites typed and stapled on top of the original. Le Carre's entire beautiful mess of work was once kept in a barn, but he famously donated his 85 boxes of manuscripts to the Bodleian Library at Oxford. The Guardian points out that with these paper manuscripts, fans and academics alike can learn more about Le Carre's working methods, methods that would not easily be revealed on a computer. The Bodleian does, however, plan to make the archive available online.

10. Tess Gerritsen

    For bestselling author Tess Gerritsen, her blogging is best done on the computer, but for novels, only pen and paper will do. She doesn't use a computer or even a typewriter, instead using a Bic pen and sheets of unlined paper. Gerritsen is quite comfortable composing articles and other pieces at the keyboard, but for her, fiction is a completely different matter. She struggles to make things work while writing novels on the computer, finding that she hardly finishes a thing at the end of the day because she's spent too much time "perfecting them." But beyond that, Gerritsen values pen and paper for its physical properties: "I like knowing that once the ink’s on the page, it can’t magically disappear when the power goes out. I like being able to write notes to myself in the margins, to have an inserted sentence curl up the side of the page." Additionally, she likes that no one can read her handwriting, as she believes that her first drafts are terrible and unreadable.

11. JK Rowling

    World-renowned author JK Rowling, the creator of Harry Potter, still prefers to write by hand, although she is known to tweet occasionally. In an interview with Amazon.co.uk, Rowling shared that she does her first drafts on pen and paper, then, like other authors, edits as she types her work onto her computer. Interestingly, Rowling prefers to write with a black pen instead of blue, and likes to use "narrow feint" writing paper, but in a pinch, she'll write on anything. In fact, she used an (empty) airplane sick bag to write down the name of the Hogwarts houses. By writing longhand, Rowling has actually created very valuable pieces: a handwritten and illustrated copy of Rowling's The Tales of Beetle the Bard was auctioned off for $4 million, benefiting a children's charity.

12. Michael Ondaatje

    Michael Ondaatje, the award-winning novelist behind The English Patient, prefers Muji brand notebooks over computers when it comes to writing his works. But interestingly enough, Muji notebooks actually come with a lot of the same functionalities as MS Word, allowing Ondaatje to cut and paste his novels as he goes along. Unlike other pen and paper authors who ultimately transfer their works into type, Ondaatje has been known to compose up to three drafts by hand on his notebooks.

10 Ways Book Publishers Are Fighting Back

Against piracy! Against the digital encroach! Against illiteracy! Against each other! Publishing, that cheeky teaser of mind, body, and soul, enjoys the same level of excitement and drama as other fields, if not more. As with every industry out there, it plays host to a crazy ensemble cast of heroes, villains, threats, challenges, underdogs, and other archetypes. Then conflict happens — or at least publishers come across a conflict that needs addressing. What follows are just some of the few exciting adventures that go down in the publishing world.

1. Partnering with news outlets

   E-book developers pose a threat to their more traditional predecessors, and their recent team-ups with periodicals and blogs make things even harder for them. In order to fight fire with napalm, some publishers have decided to fight the encroaching competition with a good old-fashioned team-up. For example, Politico and Random House are now working together on a series of e-books relevant to the 2012 presidential cycle. Both benefit from this deal when it comes to profits and producing quick content and may very well set the precedent for future collaborations between different media outlets.

2. Launching self-publishing departments

   2011 saw a major publishing house launch its own services catering to the desires of promising authors seeking self-guided options. Penguin's Book Country initiative embraces all the very same tenets making self-publishing such an attractive option, charging between $99 and $549 for various printing and promotions services. Unlike many other similar offerings, the major publishing house provides far more resources and opportunities for aspiring writers — not to mention easy access to some great talents who might very well work in more traditional outlets. Some members in the Book Country bullpens have sold upwards of 1 million units, making them prime candidates for moving on up Penguin's talent ladder.

3. Restricting e-book lending to libraries

   When publishers and Amazon put up their dukes over e-books and e-book lending, innocent libraries suffer more than anyone else. In an attempt to eke out an edge over their digital competition, Penguin ditched its lending services on the Kindle, pulling all but some very old titles, which will still only last until the end of the year. The American Library Association understandably finds this move distasteful, as it greatly lessens their opportunities to provide free e-books to the community. Many cite the publisher's decision as a slap in the face to Amazon over "'copyright security' concerns" that struck the ALA instead, when the real issue should've been over lending rights on the front end.

4. Making readers pay for floundering ad sales

   Cash-strapped sponsors have been slowly pulling out of periodicals, leaving the publishers without the revenue needed to stay afloat. But soft! What solution through yonder conference room breaks? To make up for lost cash flow, consumers are the ones doling out the dollars for subscriptions, exclusive content, and other offerings. Some estimates believe advertising fell by around 35% over the past three years, which places quite a financial burden on readers, who themselves might not have the money to pay for the information they need.

5. iPad-exclusive content

   Penguin and Amazon's not-so-little Kindle tiff isn't the only rumble happening over e-book readers and devices (such as the iPad) enabled to act like them. Apple's notoriously restrictive content policies mean some magazines don't reach the readership they want — a sad prospect when one considers the tablet an ideal technological makeover for the medium. Some enterprising publishers, however, have decided to hook up with the tech juggernaut and offer their most popular reads at a dollar less than the cover price. Hearst Magazines (Seventeen, O, Esquire, Popular Mechanics, and Marie Claire) and Conde Nast (The New Yorker, GQ, and Vanity Fair) stand as the most notable examples of businesses working with the system that so often works against its contemporaries.

6. Keeping digital royalty rates the same, if not lowering them

   Piracy remains a concern across most media, but each must respond to it in its own beautiful and unique snowflake way. In order to address the problem on a digital front, many publishing companies such as Faber and Little, Brown delegate more and more money to combating it. But consistently mounting legal and technical costs mean the money has to come from somewhere — and digital royalties frequently end up the most likely candidate for redistribution. So the authors themselves end up the most fiscally screwed over in piracy situations, though many publishers feel as if they have no other choice.

7. Promoting discourse

   Rather than raging against serious business within the publishing machine, Atticus Books turns its fighting spirits to something more societal in nature. Believing polite, intellectual discourse currently experiences a squelching, agonizing death at the hands of insult-hurling, condescension, and closed-mindedness, it debuted the Six Degrees Left initiative in 2011. The series brings together writers across multiple industries and mindsets in order to strip away controversies to the barest facts. Atticus Books prides itself on offering straightforward talks entirely devoid of the eye-rolling rhetoric of hate found on most political talking heads programs.

8. Partnering with nonprofits

   As with the previous example, it's entirely possible for publishers to "fight back" far outside inherent industry issues and do things that DON'T make them appear silly and/or greedy. Establishing productive partnerships with charitable causes — particularly those promoting literacy, naturally — does nothing but help all participating organizations. A few, such as the relatively new PUBSLUSH Press, take some admirably creative routes towards combating social ills. Its innovative structure allows readers rather than editors to decide what books end up published, and every one printed means one donated to a charitable literary cause. Impoverished children the world over especially benefit from their work with nonprofits like Flying Kites Leadership Academy, a Kenyan school desiring a fabulous library.

9. CrossCheck

   Bibliophiles make the best editors. With their vast knowledge of the written word, they're far better equipped to catch plagiarized submissions than most. But even the most ardent individuals adherent to all things literary can't read every book, pamphlet, and cereal box out there. As such, some ne'er-do-wells out there slip through the cracks and unjustly end up hogging shelf space. Whether they print journals, books, or other formats entirely, some publishing companies have started relying on services like CrossCheck to widen the traps. Run by the nonprofit CrossRef, it allows them to compare submissions with others in the database and check for plagiarism before acceptance. And it's been working. As Nature noted in its article on the subject, around 10% of Taylor & Francis' 216 checked submissions proved sketchy over the span of six months; findings they may not have otherwise noticed.

10. Creative, engaging promotions

    Innovative tactics meant to tantalize readers toward exciting new reads weren't even new when they were new, but they do grant publishers an advantage when trying to fight the Amazons and the Apples and the other hoopla the kids are into these days. Smaller, independent printers like Melville House must compete not only with the digital "menaces," but the Big Six businesses to boot, which requires extra creativity. Their fight against humdrum advertising sees them providing copies to independent booksellers earmarked as free giveaways when customers utter given code words. On the social media front, they drop prices for every 10 tweets sporting a specific hashtag. Melville House used both these strategies when drumming up interest in Gianni Rodani's Lamberto, Lamberto, Lamberto, which earned it some Publishers Weekly love.

10 Famous Authors Featured on the Simpsons

On the air for nearly two decades, many young people today can't even remember a time when The Simpsons wasn't a part of weekly (or in some cases, daily) television viewing. During those twenty years, the show has poked fun at just about every pop culture fad and historical period, as well as scores of famous names. While sometimes silly, the show isn't all fluff, and some of the famous names it's lampooned have been some pretty well-known and well-regarded authors. Whether you want to find out more about authors that might be worth reading or just want to learn more about all things Simpson, read on to find out about some the giants of the literary world who have appeared on the show.

1. Neil Gaiman

   Gaiman is one of the most recent authors to appear on The Simpsons. Famous for his sci-fi and fantasy books, the author was appropriately helping Homer, Bart, and a host of other characters to write a young adult novel about vampires, trolls, and other monsters-of-the-minute that are all over pop culture. An award-winning author of the children's fantasy novel The Graveyard Book, Gaiman uses his expertise to help the team crack the code for creating the perfect best-selling YA novel (hint: it involves mixing elements of Twilight, Harry Potter, and a few trolls), but success in the publishing world isn't quite what they expected, nor is Gaiman the ally in their quest for millions they thought he was.

2. Stephen King

   Stephen King is one of the most prolific and popular authors today, publishing numerous best-selling novels during his long career, so it only makes sense that'd he show up in an episode of The Simpsons. King appears comes into an episode when the family decides to take in a book festival, repayment to Lisa for the destruction of her room in a VCR repair gone wrong. When they meet the iconic author, Marge tells him to, "Call me when you start writing horror again," a jab at the author for getting away from his core audience, perhaps. King dutifully notes her request, however, with no hard feelings.

3. Amy Tan

   Like King, Amy Tan also appears on The Simpsons in the book fair episode. Lisa, excited to meet the author of The Joy Luck Club, participates in a panel with the authors, telling her that she loved the book and that "It really showed me how the mother-daughter bond can triumph over adversity." Tan responds that that's not what she meant at all with the book and that Lisa should just sit down as she's embarrassing the both of them. Not a flattering portrait, perhaps, but one might imagine that after months of promoting a book that's what authors would like to say.

4. John Updike

   He may be a Pulitzer Prize winner, but that didn't stop this famous author from appearing on The Simpsons. Updike is also hanging out at the book fair, but for a different reason than Tan or King. It's revealed that he's the ghost writer behind Krusty's new autobiography Your Shoes Are Too Big to Kickbox with God. Clearly not an awards contender like Updike's Rabbit series, Krusty is at the fair promoting it nonetheless. Updike has few lines and reflected later that he struggled with the small chuckle he was supposed to deliver (which promoted Krusty to tell him to shut up), hoping to make it perfect for the show.

5. Thomas Pynchon

   Thomas Pynchon is a famous recluse, a lifestyle that is perhaps well-suited for crafting the dense and complex novels he writes. While Pynchon hasn't appeared in pretty much any media for decades, he has been featured in not one, not two, but three Simpsons episodes. In the first, called "Diatribe of a Mad Housewife" (an episode rife with literary references, and perfect for any bibliophile) he plays himself, though with a bag over his head. He also writes a blurb for the novel Marge has penned that says, "Thomas Pynchon loved this book, almost as much as he loves cameras!" In his second appearance, his lines consist entirely of puns made off of the titles of his novels (example: "These wings are 'V'-licious! I'll put this recipe in 'The Gravity's Rainbow Cookbook', right next to 'The Frying of Latke 49'"), which are sure to elicit more than a few groans from literature lovers. In his third and final appearance, he takes on a non-speaking role, appearing at the Word Loaf convention along with host of other famous authors.

6. Mitch Albom

   Mitch Albom has written several books, but he's perhaps most famous for his true life story Tuesdays with Morrie. Naturally, the episode on which he appears is a parody of that book, and is called "Thursdays with Abie." Unlike many of the other authors on this list, Albom doesn't only appear on the show as himself, instead also voicing the character of Marshall, a journalist who follows Grandpa Simpson around to record his life stories. Albom also shows up as himself, however, entering the nursing home as a journalist competing to record Grandpa's stories, but is told to take a hike, as Grandpa already has his journalist.

7. Tom Clancy

   Tom Clancy appears in a couple of episodes of The Simpsons, but only has a speaking role, actually voiced by the author, in one. Like Pynchon, Clancy also appears in the episode where Marge decides to become an author. Asked to give a sound bite about Marge's book, Clancy comes up with the groan-inducing, "Hello this is Tom Clancy. Would I say, 'if you're hunting for a good read this October, Marge Simpson's book is a clear and present danger to your free time?' Hell no I wouldn't! Whaddya mean I just said it. That doesn't count. Hello? Hello?" Classic Simpsons humor with a literary twist!

8. Stephen Jay Gould

   If you're not much into non-fiction reading, you might not be familiar with Stephen Jay Gould, but when it comes to writing on evolution, paleontology, and popular science, he was one of the biggest names in the business. Before he passed away in 2002, Gould appeared on an episode of The Simpsons called "Lisa the Skeptic," in which the town discovers a skeleton that they believe to be from an angel. Lisa brings a sample of the angel to Gould to test, while the rest of the town goes gaga over the so-called angel. Gould isn't painted in the best light in the episode, however, never actually doing the tests, but telling Lisa the results were inconclusive.

9. J.K. Rowling:

   Given the fervent following Rowling's Harry Potter series has generated around the world, it would have been difficult for such a pop culture-focused show like The Simpsons to have ignored her influence. When the Simpson family makes a quick hop across the pond to England for a vacation, they run into Rowling as she's coming out of a bookstore. Lisa thanks her for turning a generation of young kids onto reading and asks what happens at the end of the Harry Potter series (the episode was aired in 2003). Rowling replies, "He grows up and marries you. Is that what you want to hear?", much to Lisa's delight.

10. Michael Chabon

    Michael Chabon appears as part of a literary power foursome that includes authors Jonathan Franzen, Gore Vidal, and Tom Wolfe appearing at the satirical Word Loaf Literary Conference. All of the authors have some great lines that poke fun at their work while they praise Moe for his surprisingly inspired poetry (created with the help of Lisa, of course). The episode includes a literary shunning and a great fight between Chabon and Franzen, where Chabon declares, "That's it, Franzen! I think your nose needs some Corrections!" Originally, the episode was to end with the authors being crushed by a boulder, but the show took pity on the authors and let them escape with only mild injuries.

10 All-Time Greatest Reunion Movies

Some life experiences completely transcend cultural, geographical, linguistic, and the myriad other boundaries dividing humanity. Reunions, it's safe to assume, more than likely fall underneath this broad umbrella. Not every individual out there will necessarily know one in their lifetime, whether planned or entirely unexpected, but the vast majority probably do — or at least will in the future. So often associated with schoolmates and families, the concept actually stretches to include any interpersonal relationship imaginable. Filmmakers hoping to capture this very human, very emotional tableau have a lush banquet of options available when exploring its intricacies. They can launch it to joyous heights or drag their characters down deeper than the Marianas Trench. And they do.

1. The Big Chill dir. Lawrence Kasdan:

   Many cinephiles consider this baby boomer classic the quintessential American reunion film, partly because of the rockin' soundtrack and partly because of the butt-kicking cast with Jeff Goldblum, Glenn Close, William Hurt, Kevin Kline, and more. Following the suicide of a close college friend 15 years after graduation, the now-thirty-somethings convene at his funeral, reminiscing on good times and how everything changed once school finally ended. Despite some potentially damaging secrets and lies popping to the forefront of their reunion, they ultimately come together in some unexpected ways.

2. Tokyo monogatari dir. Yasujiro Ozu:

   Not every reunion, unfortunately, proves as warm and fuzzy as The Big Chill. Known in English as Tokyo Story, this sad, quiet film from 1953 stands as one of director Yasujiro Ozu's most embraced masterpieces. It follows the story of an elderly couple traveling to the eponymous metropolis, joyous at the prospect of sharing time with their beloved children. Once they reach their destination, however, their reality begins splintering when they find themselves largely neglected. Their daughter-in-law Noriko, a widow, shows them the kindness and respect they expected, but it doesn't serve as a balm for their own biologicals' stinging rejection.

3. Before Sunset dir. Richard Linklater:

   One doesn't have to watch Before Sunrise to appreciate eclectic director Richard Linklater's gorgeously romantic sequel, but it certainly helps. Taking place nine years after the first movie, protagonists Celine and Jesse run into one another while the latter stops in Paris on a book tour. Both still carry pretty heavy emotions from their earlier Vienna rendezvous, spending this much-anticipated second chance exchanging dissatisfaction with their love lives. Despite successes in other (particularly professional) areas, they just can't quit each other.

4. Romy and Michele's High School Reunion dir. David Mirkin:

   In this belly-bursting comedy, a pair of doltish but endearingly upbeat women prepare for their 10-year high school reunion. Terrified over the prospect of being perceived as loser as they were back in those awkward teenage years, they brew up an elaborate (and hilarious) lie about inventing Post-It Notes and special adhesives. In the end, though, all they have to do to show up the bullies what once terrorized them is simply act like their own quirky, bubbly selves.

5. Nun va Goldoon dir. Mohsen Makhmalbaf:

   Real events in director Mohsen Makhmalbaf inspired his deeply personal tale of twenty years between a confrontation and an attempted resolution. A teenage boy stabs a policeman during a rally protesting the shah, ending up jailed for half a decade. Over time, his ratcheting regret and guilt lead him to seek out his victim and forge peace between them. English-speaking audiences will likely find this heavy, emotional example of Iranian new wave cinema under the title A Moment of Innocence.

6. Slumdog Millionaire dir. Danny Boyle and Loveleen Tandan:

   Highly controversial and thoroughly decorated, Slumdog Millionaire exists as both a brutally visceral look at Indian poverty and charming story of rekindling lost love. Police interrogate a young man for his Who Wants to be a Millionaire? acumen, startled that a "simple" street kid could possess such knowledge, and the narrative flashes back to how his squalid, inhumane surroundings made it happen. All hero Jamal Malik wants is a reunion with his beloved childhood friend and love interest Latika, realizing that down such a road lay death and despair.

7. The Best Years of Our Lives dir. William Wyler:

   American troops returning home from World War II must adjust to their brand new lives following violent experiences. Long before Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder received recognition as a serious condition plaguing so many servicemen and women, the Best Picture winner dissected the wrenching difficulties associated with acclimating to home after knowing war. Reunited with friends and family — and making new ones — leads them in directions they never anticipated.

8. Solaris dir. Steven Soderbergh:

   Fans of quiet, ponderous science fiction films in the Kubrickian tradition might want to check out Steven Soderbergh's adaptation of Stanislaw Lem's novel of the same name. Here, a bizarre celestial entity grants astronauts a second chance at establishing closure with loved ones. In the case of the central psychologist played by George Clooney, this means falling for a replica of his wife, dead by suicide. He believes their reunion, however shallow and suspicious his peers find the situation, offers him an opportunity to reconcile where everything went wrong.

9. Efter brylluppet dir. Susanne Bier:

   While returning to his native Denmark chasing funds for the near-bankrupt Indian orphanage in which he works, a harried manager encounters a cheating ex after 20 years apart. Both attend the wedding of a manipulative CEO's daughter — alleged daughter, anyways. It certainly raises questions regarding whether or not one can reunite with someone he or she never even knew existed. The English-speaking audiences out there can find this film under the title After the Wedding.

10. The Wrestler dir. Darren Aronofsky:

    Although primarily about redemption and identity reclamation, Darren Aronofsky's intense masterpiece frequently peers into the awkward loneliness of filial estrangement. Disgraced wrestler Robin Razminski (also known as Randy "The Ram" Robinson) wants to establish a connection with the adult daughter he ditched while she was still very young. Their reunion, as one can easily imagine, involves numerous serious fissures, and what ultimately transpires showcases the tragic possibilities behind earnest reconciliation attempts.

15 Reads Oprah Got Right

Finding a man in the audience of The Oprah Winfrey Show was about as difficult as getting a clear photo of Bigfoot. Sure, a grainy shot of a hairy ape-like creature emerged every now and then, but years went by with nary a sighting. If you happen to be one of said wild beasts known as man, or perhaps are a female with prior engagements between the hours of 3 and 4 p.m. CST, you may have missed the cultural phenomenon that was Oprah, and with it, Oprah's Book Club. And though you may have heard of a little snafu with one of her picks, some of the titles she commanded her army of fans to buy actually merited the attention. So dig these 15 books Oprah nailed.

1. A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

   OK, so it was a little safe for Oprah to recommend works by one of the best-known novelists of all time. But only those with hearts as cold as Estella's will not be moved by these characters' tales of unrequited love, written in easy-to-read prose by the beloved Dickens.

2. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

   Solitude is like a trip through a Darren Aronofsky movie. The 100 years cover seven generations of the Buendía family in Columbia. It's long, it's weird, it's a masterpiece.

3. East of Eden by John Steinbeck

   In his own words, Steinbeck called his previous works — including the classic The Grapes of Wrath —"practice for [East of Eden]". The title is a reference to the place where the Bible character Cain lived after murdering his brother Abel. No straight-up fratricide goes down in the story, but as some of the characters find, love withheld from the person from whom you most want it can be worse than death.

4. The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

   No one conveys the heroism and strength of everyday wives and mothers better than Pearl S. Buck. As the fortunes of the Wang family rise and fall, Buck weaves a tapestry of old versus new, rich versus poor, and authentic life in China at the turn of the 20th century.

5. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

   Oprah went out on another limb here by appointing to the Club the greatest book ever. The tragic title character is a fascinating study in how not to act in a relationship. If you can lift it (862 pages!), pick this one up to add a dash of class to your reading list.

6. The Corrections A Novel by Jonathan Franzen

   When Jonathan Franzen learned his novel had been selected for Oprah's Book Club, he said, "I didn't want that logo of corporate ownership on it." Right there's reason enough to check out this dark comedy about the messed-up members of a messed-up American family trying to pull it together long enough to have one last family Christmas. Be warned: It's a Wonderful Life this ain't.

7. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

   In a story that features incest, borderline-necrophilia, flying characters, and children in pants breastfeeding, even more takes place beneath the surface. The Dead family and their friends leap off the page in what many consider Pulitzer- and Nobel Prize-winning Morrison's best work.

8. The Meanest Thing to Say by Bill Cosby

   Dr. Huxtable teaches us about peer pressure and the power of words in the best entry in the "Little Bill" line of children's books, with great illustrations the kiddos will love. And no, the meanest thing to say is not, "Jello is made of animal parts."

9. She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb

   If you are already depressed, this is not the one to pick up: a young girl struggles to find love after becoming obese, after being raped. But if you have some happy thoughts to spare, this first novel by Wally Lamb is extremely well-written and moving.

10. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle A Novel by David Wrobleski

    Ever imagine what Hamlet would be like if it was set in rural Wisconsin? Well, wonder no longer (and get a life). Wrobleski takes some risks, like narrating some of the story from dogs' point of view, but for the most part, it works.

11. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

    Before the racy Showtime mini-series, there was the book. Use your imagination to revel in the drama and intrigue of knights, kings, and castles in medieval England. Then go watch the show and tell your friends how much better the book is.

12. Cry, the Beloved Country by Ken Alan Paton

    Unlike Matt Damon’s attempt at a South African accent in the film Invictus, Cry, the Beloved Country will move you to tears in a good way. It's a beautiful and important protest of a culture of racism and fear, written pre-apartheid.

13. Back Roads by Tawni O'Dell

    Another Oprah pick, another dysfunctional family. Harley Altmyer raises his three sisters after his mama goes to jail for killin' his daddy. Humor and a quick pace keep it from being a Debbie Downer.

14. Cane River by Lalita Tademy

    Tademy left a successful corporate gig to investigate her roots — this novel is the fictionalized result of that search. This insightful book follows the lives of four generations of black women in her family, starting with her great-great-great-great grandmother in pre-Civil War America.

15. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry

    Call it the Slumdog Millionaire prequel. Four people attempt to navigate through life in hard times in India. Like the movie, there is ugliness and there is beauty; the title refers to the world between hope and despair.

28 Facts You Should Toast Post-Repeal Day

For those who just can't wait until St. Patrick's Day to celebrate the joy and joy-ness that is alcohol, Repeal Day fell earlier this week. Celebrating the passing of the 21st Amendment, which overrode the 18th outlawing the distribution and production of alcoholic beverages, it also stands as a lovely little way for the particularly patriotic to recognize America's freedoms. Most appropriately, with a cocktail or two in hand.

1. Responsible alcohol intake may help bolster memory:

   When enjoyed in low or moderate amounts, University of Auckland researchers noted that alcohol can actually improve one's memory and cognitive abilities. Low or moderate being the operative words here – depending on weight, gender, genetics and overall health, this means no more than one to three beers daily.

2. Red wine might help treat cancer:

   Great news for oenophiles! Red wine contains reservatrol, an antioxidant Rochester University scientists discovered helps kills cancer cells when combined with irradiation. Although it can't be considered a definitive cure-all, this might very well make wine an important ally in prevention and treatment alike.

3. Responsible red wine drinking might improve overall heart health:

   Along with reservatrol, red wine also contains flavanoids, antioxidants which encourage healthier hearts. When combined with a regimen of exercise and nutritious diet, they increase HDL cholesterol (the good kind), reduce inflammation and thin the blood to prevent dangerous clots.

4. Low to moderate drinkers live longer lives:

   More than heavy drinkers to abusers, obviously, but they also fare better than their teetotaler peers! Not only do they enjoy a lessened risk of heart disease and cancer, dementia, Alzheimer's (thanks to the improved memory!), strokes, enlarged prostates and arthritis – among other conditions – occur at a lower rate as well. In fact, researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism discovered that low to moderate drinkers had the lowest death rate of all causes than anyone else on the consumption spectrum.

5. Despite its high calorie content, alcohol doesn't result in significant weight gain:

   It seems bizarre and obviously counter to what one would assume, but this is a thing. Researchers can't exactly pinpoint the exact reason why the phenomenon of high-carb beverages resulting in minimal (if any) weight gain exists. Some theories think alcohol's increase of metabolism plays a role, while some think it discourages consumers from noshing on sugars. Although this doesn't explain away their compulsion towards beautifully greasy tacos once the bars close…

6. Intentionally fermented beverages date back to at least the Neolithic Era:

   Assuming brewing, fermenting and distilling aren't even older than researchers already know, intentionally created alcohol has been pleasuring and plaguing mankind since around 10,000 BCE. Stone Age mugs likely housed honey and/or berry-based beverages, which most believe originated as "happy little accidents."

7. The Ancient Chinese were the first to ferment wine:

   Hardly surprising, considering how they invented a myriad of other useful products still seeing action today, like paper, printing, fireworks, noodles and the like. University of Pennsylvania's Dr. Patrick McGovern and crew noted residue evidence of a wine brewed from honey, rice, and hawthorn fruit and/or grapes sticking to pottery dating back to 7000 to 6000 BCE. If his conjectures are correct, this means the earliest (currently) known, regularly consumed wine hails from Jiahu in the Henan Province.

8. Nobody's exactly sure how toasting started:

   Some say the ancient Greeks (or were they Romans?) dunked actual toast into their wine. Others think the tradition started as a way to test beverages for poison, making sure to clink glasses in a manner spilling drops into one another's cups. Just share any of the theories on Repeal Day. They're all pretty much equally viable these days.

9. Ancient Sumerians drank beer from straws:

   Long before the straws known and loved today – about 5,000 to 7,000 years ago, apparently. Using natural products, the ancient innovators enjoyed beers without accidentally ingesting the solids left over after brewing.

10. In ancient Greece, only men could participate in ritual wine drinking honoring Dionysus:

    Females, by contrast, held the exclusive privilege of maenadism. Neither ritual servicing the god of wine himself existed as the orgiastic, ecstatic rampages as depicted in the mass media. That would actually be the Romans and their Bacchanalia, which eventually grew so frenetic the government had to heavily restrict worship and laid waste to a goodly chunk of shrinage.

11. The word "alcohol" has medieval Latin and Arabic roots:

    Interestingly enough, it didn't start out describing intoxicating liquids, but rather cosmetics (Arabic), particularly those containing antimony (Latin). Alcohol (and al-kuhul) first appeared around the 1540s with this definition, eventually broadening to include any pure substance in the 1670s. The first known time "alcohol" as understood in today's English was 1753, referring to wine.

12. Weihenstephan Abbey is the world's oldest brewery in continuous operation:

    Nestled in the formerly eponymous Bavarian village (now known as Freising), the Weihenstephan Abbey houses Benedictine monks (not all Christians abstain!) keeping their beer brewing tradition alive longer than any other brewery in the world. These days, it touts its actual founding year as 1040, though references to receiving hops as tribute start in 768, and focuses mainly on producing lagers and wheat beers.

13. The tradition of smashing a bottle of champagne during a ship christening ceremony began in the late nineteenth century:

    Christenings themselves actually date back to ancient times, but the first recorded instances of champagne's use in the proceedings happened on November 18, 1890. Then-Secretary of the Navy Benjamin P. Tracy's granddaughter shattered a bottle of bubbly against the first American steel battleship, Maine.

14. The world's oldest known alcohol was consumed in 2010:

    And it only took 200 years! South of Aaland in the Baltic Sea, divers stumbled across a shipwreck with 168 champagne bottles and an unknown amount of beer. They handed it over to a sommelier. Then they totally drank it. Apparently the booze, which kept nice and cool at the bottom of the ocean, tasted just as fresh as it would have back in the 1830s when it was originally whipped up.

15. Henri IV Dudognon Heritage is, for now, the most expensive bottle of booze on the planet:

    A bottle of this cognac, manufactured in France since 1776, will only set buyers back about $2 million. #OccupyLiquorCabinet, anyone?

16. American homebrewing likely started around 1587:

    Obviously, if not before. 1587 merely marks the first known homebrewed beer in the United States. Whipped up in the Virginia colonies, it was likely made with corn rather than the hops American beer is mostly known for today.

17. Even at a time when homebrewing could land producers in prison, A Treatise on Lager Beers sold over a hundred thousand copies:

    Despite stern cover warnings about the illegal nature of homebrewing, Fred Eckhert's 1970 manifesto praised the practice, offering up instructions, recipes, and welcome relief from the same old swill. About 110,000 copies of this self-published, now classic, read sold and required seven printings to meet demand.

18. The Maltose Falcons hold the distinction of being the United States' oldest homebrew club:

    Among others, including California's Homebrew Club of the Year winner in 2010! Since 1974, these passionate Los Angeles-based homebrewers have banded together to spread a love of craft beer and DIY sensibilities, inspiring hundreds (if not thousands) of local groups nationwide.

19. Homebrewing is not legal in every state:

    It is, however, perfectly legal on a federal level – but only fermented, never distilled, beverages. Be sure to check the latest information before pursuing homebrewing as a hobby or home-based business. Even the states allowing it still regulate how much and how strong one can make.

20. In 1978, Jimmy Carter legalized homebrewing at the national level:

    Until that point, lovingly crafting beer and wine at home was still illegal, thanks to lingering legislation from the sour old Prohibition days.

21. May 7 marks National Homebrew Day:

    Yes, Congress officially recognizes a National Homebrew Day as of 1988. Fans celebrate by guzzling down some of their favorite beers or trying something new, while many creators themselves participate in the American Homebrew Associations yearly Big Brew event.

22. Homebrewing is most popular in Texas and California:

    Definitive statistics on just how widespread homebrewing really is don't exist, but popular site USABeerTrends offers up the best insight so far. Thirty-six percent of its participating readers hailed from Texas, followed at 21% out of California. Whipping up craft brews at home also pique many creative connoisseurs in Florida, Colorado, Washington, Ohio, Wisconsin, Virginia, Oregon, Alaska, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, and Pennsylvania.

23. No one age group is more likely to homebrew than others:

    The very same USABeerTrends survey noted that only the under-21 and over-50 crowd seemed to shy away from homebrewing. Every other demographic more or less enjoy it in equal measure, though 30% between 41 through 50 craft their own beers as opposed to 35% for both 21 through 30 and 31 through 40.

24. Most home brewers create between five and nine batches, at least in 2009:

    Thirty-nine percent, as compared to 13% for 1 to 4, 26% for 10 to 14 and 22% devotedly hammering out about 15 batches!

25. The American Homebrewers Association currently boasts over 27,000 members:

    And they partner up with over 1,300 breweries beneath The Brewers Association (founded 1941!) umbrella. Since 1982, thousands of members and beer aficionados have flocked to Boulder, Colorado to enjoy the Great American Beer Festival the organizations holds as a celebration of these hearty libations.

26. President Wilson actually vetoed the Volstead Act:

    An alternate name for the National Prohibition Act, Woodrow Wilson rejected the Volstead Act for technical rather than ethical reasons, only to be overridden by both the House of Representatives and the Senate the very same day.

27. FDR's Cullen-Harrison Act legalized the sale of beer and beer alone:

    Wine and spirits drinkers were left luckless when Franklin Roosevelt passed the Cullen-Harrison act in 1933, addressing Depression demand for something soothing to quell the…well…depression. This amendment to the Volstead Act legalized beer with an alcohol content of 3.2% or below.

28. The 21st Amendment repealed the 18th:

    Shortly after FDR passed the Cullen-Harrison Act, the federal government decided to repeal Prohibition altogether, meeting Americans' demands and intending to curb illegal profiteering. The 21st Amendment overrode the 18th, stoking the ire of the temperance organizations responsible for its initial passing.