Summary: Strategies for reading a trilogy; literary charities worth donation to; Princesses Behaving Badly and The Most of Nora Ephron. Reminder: The Books on the Nightstand 2013 Holiday Gift Guides (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2013/11/the-2013-holiday-gift-guides-are-here.html) are available for download here (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2013/11/the-2013-holiday-gift-guides-are-here.html). I really do think there's a gift for everyone on your list so please spread the word and share the link! Trilogy Troubles Elizabeth A. from Massachusetts asked about reading trilogies; do we wait until all three books are out before we start or do we dive right in? Ann and I are both unlikely to wait, though that can lead to problems, like losing track of details from book to book, or losing momentum mid-series. Though trilogies seem to be the norm now, books are sometimes planned as a stand-alone, but prove so popular that more installments are added. Conversely, if the first book in a planned trilogy does not meet sales expectations, it's possible future books will not be released. So, it's not always easy to tell for sure whether a book is part of a trilogy or not. What are your thoughts on trilogy reading? (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/audiobooks.jpg)Audiobook of the week (09:02) (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/hoot.jpg)Hoot (http://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/hoot/161725)by Carl Hiaasen, narrated by Chad Lowe is Ann's pick for this week's Audiobooks.com Audiobook of the Week. Special thanks to Audiobooks.com for sponsoring this episode of Books on the Nightstand. Audiobooks.com allows you to listen to over 40,000 audiobooks, instantly, wherever you are, and the first one is free. Download or stream any book directly to your Apple or Android device. Sign up for a free 7-day trial and free audiobook download by going to www.audiobooks.com/freebook (http://www.audiobooks.com/freebook) Literary Giving (12:27) The end of the year is a very popular time for charitable giving, both for philanthropic and tax reasons. Many people have favorite charities to support, but in case you're looking for a new place to donate, we cover several literary organizations: Toys for Tots (http://www.toysfortots.org/) - not a literary organization per se, but books are welcomed by this organization. Here's a wonderful sheet (http://www.toysfortots.org/literacy/The%20UPS%20Store%20Book%20List.doc.pdf) they put together recommending titles in various categories and age groups. Reading is Fundamental (http://www.rif.org/) - through 12/31, donations to this wonderful organization will be matched. If your company also matches funds, that means your funds could be tripled. I also mention their link to an article called "15 Reading Materials That Aren't Books (http://www.scholastic.com/parents/blogs/scholastic-parents-raise-reader/15-reading-materials-arent-books?cid=PAR/smd/20131017/facebook/rrblog15readingmaterialsnotbooks//PAR/content/9am)." Reach Out and Read (http://www.reachoutandread.org/) - a national organization that provides books at pediatrician well visits. Thanks to an anonymous benefactor, donations to Reach Out and Read are also being matched this holiday season. I mention Literacy Volunteers of America, but it turns out they are now part of an organization called ProLiteracy (http://www.proliteracy.org/) which formed in 2002. 826National (http://826national.org/) - with 8 locations in cities around the US, 826 teaches literacy by offering tutoring and teaching kids to write. Two Books We Can't Wait For You to Read (26:42) (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/princesses.jpg) (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nora-ephron.jpg) Princesses Behaving Badly by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie is a fun, accessible walk through history's most un-princess-like princesses. From sex parties, to Nazi spies,
