Enter the World of Smart Pop Books (Lit 101)

Last month, I brought to our readers a list of Smart Pop Books dedicated to many of today’s favorite TV shows. This time around I will be providing a new three-part series of articles, covering the Smart Pop Books dedicated to many of the popular works of fiction.

To review, Smart Pop Books have been published by Benbella Books since 2003, covering topics ranging from Star Wars to Gilmore Girls to the work of Joss Whedon. The writers of these books are New York Times best-selling authors, television writers, psychologists, philosophers. They are actually anyone with a love of pop culture and who have something worth sharing.

Here is the first list from their collection of books dedicated to popular literature:

Hunger Games

First, there is the book trilogy by Suzanne Collins called “The Hunger Games Trilogy”. The Smart Pop Book dedicated to this popular series of novels is called “The Girl Who Was on Fire”. The official description for the book is Katniss Everdeen’s adventures may have come to an end, but her story continues to blaze in the hearts of millions worldwide. Thirteen young adult authors take you back to Panem with moving, dark, and funny pieces on Katniss, the Games, Gale and Peeta, reality TV, survival, and more, asking questions such as:

How does the way the Games affect the brain explain Haymitch’s drinking, Annie’s distraction, and Wiress’ speech problems?

What does the rebellion have in common with the War on Terror?

Why isn’t the answer to “Peeta or Gale?” as interesting as the question itself?

What should Panem have learned from the fates of other hedonistic societies throughout history—and what can we?

You can get your copy of “The Girl Who Was on Fire” here.

Millennium Trilogy

Next is the Smart Pop Book spotlighting The Millennium Trilogy by the late Stieg Larsson called “The Psychology of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” The book focuses on Lisbeth Salander, the multi-faceted protagonist of the trilogy, who is an enigma—an astoundingly intelligent, prickly bundle of contradictions. What makes her tick? What makes her special? Is she bound for an inevitably self-destructive end? Or can she rise from the ashes of her childhood trauma? The book investigates Lisbeth the same way Mikhail Blomkvist might, seeking answers from mental health clinicians and researchers to better understand Salander, her psychology, and her world—including the ways in which that world reflects, or doesn’t reflect, our own.

You can get your copy of “The Psychology of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” here.

Twilight

Then there are the two Smart Pop Books dedicated to The Twilight Saga of books written by Stephenie Meyer: “The Psychology of Twilight” and “New Dawn”. The first book is led by husband-and-wife psychology team E. David Klonksy, PhD, and Alexis Black who look at love, family, vampires, werewolves, and the Twilight obsession while offering more than a dozen fascinating new angles on the series. The second book features young adult authors who look at the series with fresh eyes, allowing fans to fall in love with Edward, Bella and the rest of Forks, Wash., all over again. The book is packed with the same debates readers engage in with friends: Should Bella have chosen Edward or Jacob? How much control do Meyer’s vampires and werewolves really have over their own lives? And much, much more.

Twilight

You can get your copy of “The Psychology of Twilight” here and “New Dawn” here.

Anita Blake, vampire Hunter

Staying in the supernatural world is the Smart Pop Book that is dedicated to the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series of books by Laurell K. Hamilton called “Ardeur”. The official description for the book is: Straddling the series’ dominant themes of sex and power, Ardeur gives Anita fans a deeper look into the dynamics that have kept readers fascinated throughout the run of the series. Why is the ardeur the very best thing that could have happened to Anita, personally? How is Anita’s alternate United States a logical legal extension of our own? And as the series continues, what other bargains might Anita have to make with herself and others in order to keep the people she loves safe from harm?

You can get your copy of “Ardeur” here.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians

Then there is the Smart Pop Book entitled “Demigods and Monsters” that is based on the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series of books by Rick Riordan. This series of books focuses on a 12-year-old dyslexic boy who discovers he is the son of a Greek god, the target of mythical Greek monsters and the center of a prophecy that could change the balance of power in the world forever. And, in this Smart Pop book, young adult authors take on Greek gods, monsters and prophecy, adding insight and even more fun to Riordan’s page-turner series. The book, according to the official description, also includes an introduction by Percy Jackson series author Rick Riordan, which gives further insight into the series and its creation, and a glossary of ancient Greek myth, with plenty of information on the places, monsters, gods and heroes that appear in the series.

You can get your copy of “Demigods and Monsters” here.

Crank and Glass

The last book in this first part of the article series is entitled “Flirtin’ with the Monster” and it focuses on the Crank and Glass book by Ellen Hopkins. The official description goes like this: Where is the line between truth and fiction? Why do love and addiction so often go hand in hand? What does the real “Kristina” think about the way her story is told in Crank and Glass? Crank and Glass have always been more than just stories. Join their author Ellen Hopkins and a host of other writers as they delve deep into Kristina’s story, from the straight truth on the physical effects of methamphetamine addiction to the psychological consequences of keeping secrets (and how Hopkins’ books have encouraged so many teens to reveal theirs). With an essay by Ellen’s real-life daughter (the basis for the character of “Kristina”) that tells her version of the events that inspired the books—along with perspectives from “Scott,” “Jake,” and 10-year-old “Hunter,” the baby from Crank—Flirtin’ with the Monster is a compelling journey through the complexities of Hopkins’ beloved bestselling works.

You can get your copy of “Flirtin’ with the Monster” here.

In next week’s column – the second of this three-part series – some of the popular books that were written about in the Smart Pop Books literature collection will include (but not be limited to) Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, Stephanie Plum (and more).

To find out more about Smart Pop Books, please visit their official website.