Has a news story ever prompted you to read a particular book?

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Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. I was intrigued by all the news stories I saw and read. It was an amazing book. Too bad they did such a bad job on the movie.

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I heard a report on tv regarding a book on Iran. Since I had just been there, I noted the name of the book and am in the middle of reading it right now.

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Although it was originally Gordon Lighfoot's dirge/ballad about the loss of 20 souls aboard the Fitz that sparked my interest in the subject. I researched the news story through archives (at that time in both the NYU and New York Public libraries) and this led me to two great books: The Gales of November by Robert J. Hemming and The Night the Fitz Went Down by Dudley Paquet and Hugh Bishop. Although Sebastian Junger's book The Perfect Storm was a good read, these two books were better. Maybe someday a studio will make a movie about the Fitz and her tragedy.

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Many years ago I read a news article about Heinrich Harrer. He wrote Seven Years in Tibet. I read the book and became enthralled. I began reading many other books about Tibet, the Dahli Lama and other Tibetan Lamas. In the early 90's I had the priviledge to hear Mr. Harrer speak at a seminar at the Museum of Natural History. When Seven Years in Tibet was made into a movie, I went to see the premiere. Talk about coming full-circle.

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I had read a story about our nation's prisons so when I read a review of a book on such in the LA Times, I read it. The book is "Going Up the River: Travels in a Prison Nation" by Joseph Hallinan and what an eye-opener! A must read for any citizen with a decent heart and soul.

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Once again, Nelson DeMille has pre-empted a contemporary news story. He did it with Tom Block in Mayday, which was the TWA 800 disaster written before the TWA disaster. And read DeMille's Word of Honor to see the Kerrey story before the Kerrey story. Are these authors psychic or what??

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The Perfect Storm is one that comes to mind as does Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. 

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I read Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi about the murders of Sharon Tate and friends and the LoBiancos by Charles Manson.

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I read the book "In Cold Blood" after reading about the actual murders in the press. It was gruesome. The book aptly portrayed the carnage of the murders.

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Anytime I hear of a scheduled execution, as in the upcoming one of Timothy McVeigh, I recall the book by John Grisham, "The Chamber"........not a lot of action, but a story to get your attention and to really think about the issue of capital punishment. It certainly changed my own feelings about this controversial topic.

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Yes..I read ICE BOUND, and enjoyed reading every detail.

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I picked up The Weight of Water in an airport store. When I read that it was based on an actual murder case of about a hundred years ago, I bought it. (The writing was marvelous.)

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Not that I can remember.

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Yes - the Perfect Storm and Mist of Chinteague

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I read The Perfect Storm after hearing about the congruence of the three storm systems in the Atlantic. Sometimes I will read the book after the book publicity tells how it is related to the news rather than the other way around.

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ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!!?!?!?!???! I have read some of the best books my mind has seen by following through on journalistic efforts: sometimes by the effort not providing me with enough information, and sometimes by affecting me so emotionally that I must search for more. Sometimes I search for more of a subject, and sometimes I search further for the great writing of a journalist, as in the case with Scott Anderson and Joseph Mitchell. Readers Beware: If you read something in a newspaper that intrigues you, go a step further to the newspaper or magazine's website where you will often find links taking you directly to related information! And that leads you to ... and this leads you to ... News and magazine stories have led me to some wonderful writers and books. At the very least, I go to websites about the subject I've read about in the news and find books sourced there. The newspaper gets me all fired up to write, as well! If I read a story that has a great effect on me, I am compelled to write to the editor, which I rarely do. Instead I take the energy of what I'd say and turn it into a piece of creative nonfiction or even a story, tale or fable -- even a poem. I seem especially poetic in the mornings. I've come up with some strong-heart writing after reading the newspaper! Of course, my favorite part of the newspaper is the Sunday Book Review, which I covet and do not share! This part of the newspaper has led me to many a great book! But Seriously -- I have been prompted to find and read some great books after reading a news story; and I think NEWSWORTHY will be a welcome addition to the site. I'm looking forward to it!

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I read John Grisham's Runaway Jury after hearing about the cigarette industry being sued for smoking related deaths/illness. I was shocked, to say the least, to learn how juries are manipulated by both prosecution and defense teams.

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The opening of many a Broadway show has caused me to read about the characters in the show; to find out if they are portrayed accurately. The two people who come to mind immediately are Eva Peron, the controversial first lady of Argentina and the heroine of Ragtime, Evelyn Nesbitt. Of course, Evita was easier to research and has as many admirers as detractors; but it was fascinating to find that Evelyn truly existed as the girl on the swing.

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John Grisham's A Painted House