Do you have any advice for teaching English comprehension, as well as reading and writing, to a fifteen year old Filipino street kid who's never been to school a day in his life? [more inside]
posted by ferdinandcc on Dec 1, 2009 - 13 answers

I love to read but I'm a really slow reader. I avoid reading books longer than about 300 pages because it takes me so long to get through anything longer. I read for hours everyday (mostly online stuff) so it's not lack of practice. Is there anything I can do to speed up?
posted by Andy Harwood on Nov 29, 2009 - 16 answers

Can I teach myself to read French in five months? [more inside]
posted by SamuelBowman on Nov 28, 2009 - 16 answers

What is the best hardware/software system for keeping track of a) hundreds of academic papers in PDF form and b) my handwritten notes on these hundreds of papers? Bonus if the answer integrates with some sort of citation management software. [more inside]
posted by col_pogo on Nov 24, 2009 - 9 answers

I'm looking for book recommendations for a young woman who has recently become interested in religion. Ideas please! [more inside]
posted by schmoo on Nov 22, 2009 - 20 answers

Where can I find great works of fiction online or in some sort of text form that I can read on my Mac? [more inside]
posted by 2oh1 on Nov 19, 2009 - 27 answers

I'm trying to find a short sci-fi story I read over 10 years ago that I barely remember. It may have involved some or all of the following: bicycle repair, ripe banana smelling bacteria used as deodorant and anti-libido medication. [more inside]
posted by jrishel on Nov 19, 2009 - 7 answers

In search of something to read to my ill grandmother. [more inside]
posted by pised on Nov 17, 2009 - 17 answers

Please help me remember the title and author of a short story I read maybe 15 years ago. A handicapped woman, living with her sister and her sister's family, sees a man in church she feels quite sure is the devil. In order to get away from him, she struggles to regain the physical independence she had given up. (She had gone into a wheelchair because walking was possible, but too painful.) She does manage to become self-sufficient enough to move out on her own--and then wonders if it was worth it, after all. I am almost sure the author was Italian. Can anyone help?
posted by uans on Nov 16, 2009 - 0 answers

How can I learn to read aloud with more feeling? [more inside]
posted by No-sword on Nov 16, 2009 - 22 answers

Books recommendation for an industrial engineer [more inside]
posted by Carius on Nov 14, 2009 - 13 answers

Pulp Filter: I'm looking for books (fiction or non) that read like the recent Bond films: dark, thrilling, brutal, and glamorous.
posted by roger ackroyd on Nov 6, 2009 - 25 answers

They shouldn't let people like me attend used book sales, but now that the damage is done: how and where to begin reading Sartre? [more inside]
posted by notquitemaryann on Nov 4, 2009 - 20 answers

Need recommendations of quality chick lit books. [more inside]
posted by mikoroshi on Oct 27, 2009 - 19 answers

Tell me everything you know about this sentence construction: "Are you finished your lunch?" [more inside]
posted by peep on Oct 22, 2009 - 91 answers

BookFilter: I'm looking for a novel that I read several times in the early '90s; despite having read and enjoyed it several times, I've forgotten the title and author! [more inside]
posted by Skoloxia on Oct 21, 2009 - 9 answers

When I read technical documents or books, my mind fuzzes over and I get easily distracted. It's hard for me to get a deep understanding of technical subjects. This is starting to become an issue professionally. What can I do? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 21, 2009 - 10 answers

Is she being honest/should I give up (online dating related)? [more inside]
posted by plungerjoke on Oct 20, 2009 - 31 answers

Recommend some great literature in the Steinbeck tradition. [more inside]
posted by Go Banana on Oct 14, 2009 - 18 answers

I need a book recommendation for my girlfriend; her favourite book is Yann Martel's "Life of Pi". Any ideas? [more inside]
posted by mizike on Oct 7, 2009 - 28 answers

Please help me fuel my new-found obsession with comic books! What are some of your favorite recommended reads, as well as comic book resources, tips, and tricks? [more inside]
posted by joshrholloway on Sep 28, 2009 - 31 answers

How should I prepare to read Infinite Jest? [more inside]
posted by blueplasticfish on Sep 25, 2009 - 48 answers

Fantasy recommendations based on previously enjoyed books. [more inside]
posted by zennoshinjou on Sep 24, 2009 - 39 answers

Philosophy Filter: What are some fresh and interesting questions or topics in philosophy? [more inside]
posted by k. on Sep 6, 2009 - 21 answers

I've taken responsibility for a very small children's library and I'd love your ideas for making it awesome. [more inside]
posted by serazin on Sep 3, 2009 - 14 answers

Books that feature great writing AND great storytelling? [more inside]
posted by shotgunbooty on Sep 2, 2009 - 50 answers

What's the best way to learn Japanese, if you don't care about being able to write it? [more inside]
posted by Mwongozi on Aug 30, 2009 - 18 answers

Is there a web site which recommends the best writing on the net on a periodic basis? [more inside]
posted by jpg15 on Aug 23, 2009 - 11 answers

7 days poolside... I need books! Tell me what to buy! [more inside]
posted by cgg on Aug 21, 2009 - 37 answers

What chair, side-table, lamp, and ottoman combo would you have to create the best reading nook? I have about $1,000 to spend on the best reading lamp, side-table, and chair/couch for my house. I'm a law school student (rising 3L) and I need some to setup a comfortable space to read at night. I can't seem to find a good combination that will make reading at night easy without making me too sleepy.
posted by roundrock on Aug 20, 2009 - 7 answers

Which quality newspapers and other news services provide full-text RSS feeds? I'm looking for a world, national, and also sources specific to California news and politics. Alternatively, what are some MacGyver-style ways to make a full-text RSS feed for my current favorites? [more inside]
posted by cgomez on Aug 18, 2009 - 2 answers

Need some book recommendations. Just finished reading Bram Stoker's Dracula...and am getting through the Historian. In the past I have enjoyed The List of Seven, Club Dumas, The Alienist, Name of the Rose and so forth. So I guess I like the mystery-within-history sort of suspense/horror/thriller. The things I didn't get into were Dan Brown, Ian Pears, and anything having to do with Templars or Mary Magdalene. Can you recommend me your favorites? -- Thanks so much.
posted by snap_dragon on Aug 15, 2009 - 35 answers

What are some good poems to read aloud, that take the form of direct address? [more inside]
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur on Aug 12, 2009 - 37 answers

Can a head injury possibly make you more intelligent? [more inside]
posted by Askiba on Aug 12, 2009 - 20 answers

Has anyone taking a psychic reading? I am thinking of taking a reading from Char Margolis? I do know of James Randi foundation, and I am aware that there are lots of scams. I am skeptical, but I'd like to check for myself before deciding one way or the other. It would be great to hear from someone who has actually taken the reading (either with Char or someone else). How was the experience like? Is it worth spending the time and money (Char charges 600$).
posted by raghuram on Aug 4, 2009 - 99 answers

Looking for light, sociological holiday reading material... [more inside]
posted by FuckingAwesome on Jul 31, 2009 - 13 answers

For such a picky eater, I sure like to read a lot about food. What good food books can you recommend? [more inside]
posted by kidsleepy on Jul 28, 2009 - 42 answers

[LibraryFilter] What are your best resources for (fiction) reader's advisory (children, YA, adult)?? [more inside]
posted by tamarack on Jul 24, 2009 - 7 answers

What do you love about popular books on society, history, and human sciences? What do you hate about them? [more inside]
posted by carmen on Jul 23, 2009 - 19 answers

Please recommend your favorite "behind the scenes" nonfiction books! [more inside]
posted by bookmammal on Jul 18, 2009 - 48 answers

I am trying to build a library of inspirational sentences. [more inside]
posted by shotgunbooty on Jul 13, 2009 - 18 answers

How do you read a newspaper? [more inside]
posted by andythebean on Jul 11, 2009 - 23 answers

Why Do I Read Right to Left? [more inside]
posted by emhutchinson on Jul 11, 2009 - 10 answers

I need new Web sites to replace my old ones. [more inside]
posted by Cool Papa Bell on Jul 1, 2009 - 14 answers

What are the best bars in San Francisco for reading? [more inside]
posted by rhizome on Jul 1, 2009 - 11 answers

I'd like to learn about biology. Can you recommend some books to get me started? [more inside]
posted by SamuelBowman on Jun 30, 2009 - 21 answers

Why do I suck at teaching myself, reading, and studying? Can I fix it? [more inside]
posted by joshrholloway on Jun 29, 2009 - 15 answers

What are the best books on mythology (all kinds)? [more inside]
posted by fantine on Jun 27, 2009 - 28 answers

I demand to know your favorite short story anthologies. [more inside]
posted by zoomorphic on Jun 23, 2009 - 30 answers

People talk about "writing the Great American Novel." What do you think are valid examples of the G.A.N.? What novels, American or otherwise, did you enjoy reading and wish you had written?
posted by Busoni on Jun 20, 2009 - 70 answers