Question of the Day | 10/15/2008 12:00 am

Who are your favorite contemporary literary heroes or heroines?

Whoopi Goldberg | 10/15/2008 12:00 am

Whoopi Goldberg's 4 Favorite Authors

Stephen King, Candace Bushnell, Adriana Trigiani, J.K. Rowling

21 Comments

Liz Smith | 10/15/2008 12:00 am

Liz Smith's Top 22

Marie Brenner, Tina Brown, Paul Krugman, Gail Collins, Anna Quindlen, James Frey, Tom Friedman, Richard Cohen, Camille Paglia, Jon Meacham, Bob Caro, Gay Talese, David McCullough, Frank Rich, Kathy Reichs, Philippa Gregory, Laurie Graham, Graydon Carter, Julia Reed, Christopher Buckley, Harold Bloom, Henry Hertzberg and there are many more.

Click here on this text to read my New York Post column.

1 Comment

Judith Martin | 10/15/2008 12:00 am

Judith Martin's Sharp Point of View

I thought literary heroes and heroines were the characters in the books, not the characters who wrote them, as others interpret this question. Becky Sharp, rather than Mr. Thackeray. (What do you mean, Becky is not contemporary? She certainly acts as if she were.)

2 Comments

Joan Ganz Cooney | 10/15/2008 12:00 am

Which Author Does Joan Ganz Cooney Love?

I love anything Tina Brown writes and also E. L. Doctorow and Jonathan Chait of the New Republic and Jon Meacham of Newsweek (who has a wonderful cover essay on Sarah Palin and writes fabulous books on American history) and many others.

2 Comments

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The past few years, I’ve had precious little time to develop heroes or heroines after I experienced them; not sure I retained many, in fact. I’ve read too many journals, and essays.

By C jay on 10/15/2008 12:17 am

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This is hard. I read more non-fiction than fiction. Tim Russert comes to mind and the Professor who gave the ‘Last Lecture.’ Greg Anderson wrote my favorite book for cancer patients to read and reread and reread. There are so many new political books out and my short term memory sucks. I guess the authors are my heroes and heroines, if I could only remember their names. I’m probably the only person who comes to this site who isn’t writing or has already written a book, even though my mom is convinced I should. I have already been a starving artist and a starving dancer. I don’t want to end up being a starving author too! LOL CA

By C A Rose on 10/15/2008 12:26 am

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I thought contemporary Literary heroes were characters. Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee, Elizabeth I, Olive Kitteridge, Scout Jem and Atticus, Sir Robert Carey. There are more but I have been reading current politics and history more than anything. On the other front, Tom Friedman, Camille Paglia Christopher Hitchens, Salman Rushdie, Christopher Buckley and more that I am too tired to think of but when I read others answers tomorrow, I will invariably remember. Too much wind and smoke swirling through the mind tonight.

By Frannie Em on 10/15/2008 12:27 am

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Hi Frannie Em. I’ve not been posting as much. But I did want to ask for your good wishes…..as a fellow cancer survivor. My mammogram taken earlier this month was not clear. There are calcium deposits, very tiny, but the radiologist thinks that they might be irregular in shape; not a good sign. Therefore, I go in for a biospy tomorrow morning. Nervous as a cat right now but I keep remembering the mantra that one must continue to think positive. Right? Bonnie

By Bonnie Oliver on 10/15/2008 1:15 am

Sending a lot of prayers and good wishes to you Bonnie. Hang in there and let us know.

By Dab-a- do on 10/15/2008 2:11 am

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Bonnie, I know how it is, and how difficult it is to go on with life with this hanging over you. Know that I — and I am sure everyone reading this has every finger crossed and is praying for you. Try - oh!try - to think positive. It often makes a difference!

By joan larsen on 10/15/2008 6:24 am

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Bonnie, My best wishes and prayers are with you. Do try to keep a positive outlook……….when you’re feeling very stressed try to watch something funny on TV…… Laughter releases good endorphens.

By Dona Howlett on 10/15/2008 7:33 am

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You will let us know the outcome of the biopsy, won’t you? I send my good wishes to you and do hope the bloody thing comes out negative. I imagine it will take a few days or so before the lab will get the results or maybe in your case they do it asap. I recall an aspiration I had years ago and I had to wait a week for the results. We are all rooting for you, Bonnie.

By phyllis Doyle Pepe on 10/15/2008 7:58 am

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Bonnie, Am sending positive thoughts, positive energy out for you. Best,

By N P on 10/15/2008 11:09 am

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Bonnie! I will be sending good thoughts—though I am not by nature a positive thinker and wonder if they will count. I have a feeling this will be OK—but I am not very psychic either. Just pend until you know something…

By Star Lawrence on 10/15/2008 11:16 am

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Dear Star–your thoughts when good will always count––at least they have for me. And I’m glad you aren’t psychic––a down to earth kind of gal is what I take you for and I’ll take you any day. (although not for a ride)

By phyllis Doyle Pepe on 10/15/2008 12:11 pm

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Good thoughts and energy going your way , Bonnie.

By Jeannot Kensinger on 10/15/2008 11:32 am

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Bonnie, Will be thinking of you. Always be positive, it’s hard at times. But you have to keep your thoughts and hopes up.

By Barbara Taylor on 10/15/2008 11:59 am

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Bonnie Hi friend. You have my good wishes and all the love that I can send you through the airwaves. It is a one step at a time process. They are just doing their job and taking care of you. Nerves are to be expected and can be annoying, but we are who we are. It is definitely a test of courage and you will find out just how much you have while they test you. Testing is just testing, it is not a definitive answer to what the rest of your life is going to be like. Our breasts don’t define us, they may challenge us, but they don’t define us. Yes thinking positive is the best way to go. Take it one step at a time. I am sorry I didn’t see your post last night, you are probably at the doctors right now so I am going to sit down, get quiet and get some love flowing your way. Peace and grace and peas and gravy.

By Frannie Em on 10/15/2008 11:56 am

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Frannie, Phyllis, Star, Gianna and everyone. Thank you all so much. It has been 10 years since I went through this and the first thing I can tell you is that the biopsy procedure is much different. You are placed on a leather like cot about 4 to 5 feet off the ground and there is a hole in the middle of the cot where you place your breast. The doctor and nurses are working below you. Very strange. Some guy in Texas developed this system and apparently because the patient is lying face down, the accuracy is much improved. Heck of a morning, though. Should know the results in 2 or 3 days. I think I will go out a buy some of those black plums recommended by Mrs. Dee. Sounds good….I think I might need a couple of pounds worth. Again, everyone, thank you for your kind comments. I just sitting here late last night and I saw Frannie’s post. We are both cancer survivors as are several women who post here regularly including Mugsy, and I just felt like communing with a fellow survivor. But to have so many of you respond is very heartwarming. I was and am deeply moved.

By Bonnie Oliver on 10/15/2008 4:30 pm