Best of
United-States

1958

The Object-Lesson


Edward Gorey - 1958
    A missing artificial limb, ghostly spectres and the statue of Corrupted Endeavour all have a place in this enigmatic tale, which combines elements of French surrealism, Japanese haiku and lots of good fun. With its humorous obscurity and puzzling intrigues, The Object Lesson delights and provokes.

Listening Point


Sigurd F. Olson - 1958
    Olson brings to his writing a native’s perception of the north country and the happy gift of making readers participate in his appreciation of trees and plants and animals." Atlantic Monthly

High Tide at Gettysburg


Glenn Tucker - 1958
    How near the South came to victory is clearly set forth in these pages. The author vividly conveys the background of the crucial b attle of the Civil War so that the reader can fully appreciate its unfolding.

The 13 Clocks and The Wonderful O


James Thurber - 1958
    It has everything to please everybody. There is a princess in distress, a prince in disguise, a wicked uncle, and a last minute race between good and evil which is as exciting as any thriller. James Thurber wrote it, when he was supposed to be writing something quite different, because he couldn’t help himself, which must be why it bubbles with gaiety and wit, and why everybody who has read it immediately wants to read it all over again.The Wonderful O, the second story in this book, is about two abominable villains, a man with a map and a man with a ship, who sail to the island of Coroo in search of treasure and, when they can’t find it, revenge themselves on the gentle inhabitants by banning everything with an O in it. First they take the O’s out of all the words and then they start forbidding such things as dogs, cottages, coconuts, and dolls. They are just getting round to forbidding mothers when the islanders decide there are four things with an O in them that must not be lost. Three of them are ‘hope’, and ‘love’ and ‘valour’. The fourth and most important is really the whole point of The Wonderful O, which is a wonderful book.

The Long Dream


Richard Wright - 1958
    Set in a small town in Mississippi, The Long Dream is a novel rich in characterization and plot that dramatizes Richard Wright's themes of oppression, exploitation, corruption, and flight. It is the story of Fishbelly (called Fish), the son of Tyree Tucker, a prominent black mortician and owner of a brothel whose wealth and power were attained by forging business arrangements with corrupt white police officers and politicians. The riveting narrative centers on the explosive and tragic events that shape and alter the relationship between Fish and his father.

The Americans, Vol. 1: The Colonial Experience


Daniel J. Boorstin - 1958
    "A superb panorama of life in America from the first settlements on through the white hot days of the Revolution." - Bruce Lancaster, Saturday Review

The Big Jump and Other Stories


Benjamin Elkin - 1958
    The Big Jump - in which Ben earns the right to have a pet dog,Something New - in which Ben helps the King outwit the Bad King's ultimatum to show him something brand-new, andThe Wish Sack - in which the King helps Ben get the stolen wish sack, which will fill itself with anything the owner desires, back from the Bad King.Lively crayon art and easy text in an advanced leveled reader.

Candy Stripers


Lee Wyndham - 1958
    As a junior aide at the Medical Center, she lightened the heavy work load each regular nurse had. But she sometimes wondered why she was there--she didn't plan to be a nurse; it was hard work; she didn't especially like helping other people. One day she met David, a technician who was interested in a hospital career. Somehow he made her feel rather special and very grown-up."Suddenly she knew that she wanted to be among the dedicated-she'd never be a nurse, but her hospital experience might lead to laboratory work, even to being a doctor, but it was something real and definite to think about and strive for."