Knowledge Cards from The New York Public Library
A series of new Knowledge Cards adapted from The
New York Public Library Literature Companion, each deck features 48 stimulating
questions and fascinating answers about literature. Published by Pomegranate
Press in association with The New York Public Library. 3 1/4 x 4 inches each.
The Plot Thickens
A Literature Quiz Deck from The New York Public Library
Are you itching for a personal challenge? Or maybe a friendly competition with
a fellow book lover? Or perhaps, best yet, a rousing Q&A in your reading circle?
Then this little deck of cards is just the ticket for an entertaining, enlightening,
and sometimes even surprising tour of some of the greatest and most popular
works of literature. One side of each card presents a brief synopsis of a well-known
novel, short story, or play--with possibly just enough clues mixed in to help
you identify it. On the opposite side, all is revealed, including a concise
overview of the author's life and works.
The Plot Thickens gathers an
intriguing cornucopia of literary works, illuminating the greats of the past
(Shakespeare, Austen, Fitzgerald), as well as the masters of today (Updike,
Proulx, Rushdie).
Sample Clue: In this short story, a once-celebrated Parisian chef
works as a cook for two pious Norwegian sisters who know nothing of her illustrious
past. Upon winning the lottery, she uses her winnings to prepare a sumptuous
feast for the sisters and the devout followers of their late father, an ascetic
pastor.
Answer: "Babette's Feast," by Isak
Dinesen
2004; $9.95; ISBN 0-7649-2824-4
Unforgettable Characters
A Literature Quiz Deck from The New York Public Library
This wickedly entertaining Q&A deck of 48 cards is sure to be a hit with any
group of devoted readers, students of literature, or literary trivia buffs.
Alternatively,
Unforgettable Characters will provide the solitary book
lover with hours of challenging fun. One side of each card briefly describes
a principal character in a famous novel, short story, or play--with perhaps
just enough hints to help you make an identification. The other side reveals
the character's name and the work in which he or she appears, along with interesting notes on the plot and the author. Austen and Brontë, Orwell and O'Neill, Pasternak and Nabokov are among the literary luminaries you will find here. All lovers of great literature will enjoy the challenge of coming up with the correct character, even if some remain tantalizingly just out of memory's reach.
Sample Clue: The spirited and outspoken heroine of an early-nineteenth-century
novel of manners, she is one of five unmarried daughters of a family of modest
means.
Answer: Elizabeth Bennet, in Jane
Austen's Pride and Prejudice
2004, $9.95; ISBN 0-7649-2876-7
Melodrama, Modernism & Myth
A Literature Quiz Deck from The New York Public Library
This deck of 48 Knowledge Cards will make a perfect gift for a forgetful English major, or can perhaps serve as an enjoyable pocket-sized education for the solitary autodidact, or even as a challenging Q&A literary workout for two or more players. One side of each card describes an unnamed literary concept, movement, or device; the other side reveals the correct term, along with a concise definition, examples, and contextual notes (e.g., Front: "A pithy, witty expression in poetry or prose"; Back: "EPIGRAM / From Greek: `inscription' ..."). As a thumbnail reference,
Melodrama, Modernism & Myth is a welcome addition to any library; as a game, it is guaranteed to light up any gathering of literature lovers.
Sample Clue: A narrative element needed to motivate a plot, but insignificant in itself.
Answer: MacGuffin--The term is often associated with the work of Alfred Hitchcock, whose films frequently turn on such a device.
2004, $9.95; ISBN 0-7649-2959-3
B. Bergeron, 10/04
