Best-Selling Books in America

By Jerilyn Watson

Broadcast: October 27, 2003
(THEME)
VOICE ONE:
Health and love, crime, secrets from the past -- these are some of the subjects that readers in the United States currently¹ like best. I'm Steve Ember.
VOICE TWO:
And I'm Faith Lapidus. Welcome to This Is America, from VOA Special English. This week, we tell about some of the books that people in the United States are reading right now.
(THEME)
VOICE ONE:
Newspapers and magazines tell us what books people are buying. What the lists of best sellers³ clearly show is that Americans are worried about their health, especially the risks of being too fat.
Several books of advice about how to lose weight are among America's top selling books. Arthur Agatston and Phillip McGraw are the authors of two of them.
In “The South Beach Diet,” Doctor Agatston suggests ways that people can get thinner while still eating foods they like best. Phillip McGraw is a mental health specialist and television personality known as “Doctor Phil.” His book is called “The Ultimate⁴ Weight Loss Solution.” [Editor's note: the correct title is "The Ultimate Weight Solution."] It offers seven ways to lose weight.
VOICE TWO:
Other books on the best-seller² lists might help readers forget their own troubles. These books tell of romantic love and mysterious events from the past that return to threaten the heroes of the stories.
Among novels, romance⁵ writer Danielle Steel has a best seller with “Answered Prayers.” It tells about two people who were friends as children. They meet again years later and fall in love. Danielle Steel has now written fifty-six best sellers. Nora Roberts is another popular romance writer. "Lawless," her novel about love in the American Old West, is a best seller. Many people are also buying another book by Nora Roberts called “1)Temptation⁶.”
VOICE ONE:
Mitch Albom has written a best-selling novel about an old man named Eddie. Eddie repairs rides in an amusement park. He is bitter that he has not lived a more meaningful life. Then, on his eighty-third birthday, Eddie dies. He loses his own life as he tries to save the life of a little girl.
After the man dies, five people who played a part in his life explain to Eddie his existence on Earth. The book is called, “The Five People You Meet in Heaven.”
VOICE TWO:
People who like mysteries have made several books into best sellers. One is "The Da Vinci Code⁷" by Dan Brown. This story tells what happens to an American professor when a museum director in Paris asks to meet with him. Clues linked to works⁸ of art by Leonardo da Vinci lead to ancient secrets. James Patterson is another popular author. He wrote the best-selling mystery “Four Blind Mice.” As the story begins, investigator⁹ Alex Cross prepares to resign from his job as a policeman in Washington, D.C. Just then, Cross learns that an old friend in the military is accused of murder. Cross and the officer he works with, John Sampson, go to work to save the soldier.
Madonna finds a young fan, 18-month-old Jeremy Zorek, during a book signing in New York.
VOICE ONE:
Many lists of best sellers in America also include books for children. One of these is the first book for young people by Madonna. The singer, and mother, has written the storybook ”The English Roses." It is for ages four to eight, and deals with feelings and emotions.
Another popular children's book has a long name. It is called “A Series of Unfortunate Events Number Ten: The Slippery¹⁰ Slope.” The writer, Lemony Snicket, follows three children as they travel through mysterious and frightening mountains.
VOICE TWO:
Some books continue to sell many copies years after they were first published. The books in the “Chicken Soup” series are a good example. They are among the best selling books in the history of publishing. The series began in nineteen-ninety-three with “Chicken Soup for the Soul.” This book of stories was written by Jack¹¹ Canfield and Mark David Hansen.
The “Chicken Soup” books get their name from the traditional idea that chicken soup makes people feel better. Some of the stories make readers cry, but others make them smile or laugh.
VOICE ONE:
People loved the first “Chicken Soup” book. Another followed, called “A Second Helping¹² of Chicken Soup for the Soul.” Since then there have been many other books. They have names like “Chicken Soup for the Golfer's Soul” and “Chicken Soup for the Cat & Dog Lover's Soul.”
Other writers have joined Jack Canfield and Mark Hansen to write stories for the series. And many other people send material to suggest for the books.
Thirty publishers had rejected the first “Chicken Soup” book before it was finally printed. Today, about eighty million of these books have been printed in North America. And “Chicken Soup” books have been translated from English into thirty-five other languages.
VOICE TWO:
Mystery and horror¹³ stories by Steven King have also sold millions of copies. Some of his most famous - and most frightening -- books are “Carrie,“ “The Shining,” and “The Green Mile.” These and many others have been made into films.
On November nineteenth, the National Book Foundation¹⁴ will honor¹⁵ Stephen King. He will receive the award for Distinguished¹⁶ Contribution to American Letters.
Stephen King lives in Bangor, Maine. Visitors often drive by his home. Carvings¹⁷ of witches and black cats sit on the iron barrier fence around his huge red house.
In nineteen-ninety-nine, a truck hit Stephen King as he walked along a road. He recovered, but the injuries almost killed him.
(MUSIC)
VOICE ONE:
In recent years, Oprah Winfrey and her television talk show have greatly influenced reading in America. Mizz Winfrey started a nationwide book club in the late nineteen-nineties. She suspended¹⁸ it for a while. But now she is again helping Americans find what she believes is the best literature.
Oprah Winfrey chooses a book she likes. She announces her choice on her show from Chicago. Then she asks people to read the book. During the first years of her club, Mizz Winfrey often picked books that had not gained huge public interest. That would immediately change, once the books became choices of Oprah's Book Club.
VOICE TWO:
Now Oprah Winfrey is choosing books from the past. For example, she suggests that club members read “East of 2)Eden,” by the American author John Steinbeck. This huge novel explores family relations over a long period of time. The story uses themes similar in some ways to the 3)biblical story of the brothers 4)Cain and Abel.
Another choice is “Cry the Beloved¹⁹ Country” by South African writer Alan Paton. This nineteen-forty-eight classic²⁰ tells what happens when a black 5)clergyman goes to Johannesburg to find his son.
Alan Paton was a white man. He was born in South Africa in nineteen-oh-three. He worked as director of a corrections center for boys, where he made many reforms. He opposed colonialism and 6)apartheid, the former system of racial separation in South Africa.
VOICE ONE:
A number of other television programs besides "Oprah" also have book clubs that reach millions of people. But there are thousands of small book clubs across the country. Members of these discussion²¹ groups may gather in homes, libraries, offices or religious centers. Some meet in eating and drinking places. Members of book clubs may read classics²² like “The Odyssey²³ of Homer.” They may read poetry. Or mystery stories. Or love stories. Or, they may read books about politics and current events. There are also books that offer directions for book clubs.
Book clubs are not the only big development in recent years. The publishing industry itself has changed. Many small, independent book sellers are struggling to survive. There are now huge book stores owned by a few national companies. Buyers can also order books through the Internet. One thing that has not changed, though, is that people can still borrow books from their local public library.
VOICE TWO:
Book clubs are more than just reading groups. They are social groups, too. Many book club members become friends. They discuss their families and jobs as well as the books they read.
The meetings let people learn what other readers are thinking. As one book club member says, “It is very satisfying to talk about what you read with good friends.”
(THEME)
VOICE ONE:
Our program was written by Jerilyn Watson and Jill Moss²⁴. Caty Weaver²⁵ was our producer. I'm Steve Ember.
VOICE ONE:
And I'm Faith Lapidus. Join us again for more about life in the United States on our VOA Special English program, THIS IS AMERICA.

注释：
1) temptation [ temp5teiFEn ] n.诱惑
2) Eden [ 5i:dn ] n.（圣经）伊甸园, 乐园
3) biblical story 圣经故事
4) Cain and Abel  （圣经）该隐和亚伯（亚当之子）
5) clergyman [ 5klE:dVimEn ] n.牧师, 教士
6) apartheid [ E5pB:t(h)eit ] n.(南非)种族隔离

1 currently   

adv.通常地，普遍地，当前

参考例句：

• Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
• Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。

2 seller   

n.售货者，畅销品

参考例句：

• I hope for this book to become a best seller.我希望这本书会成为一本畅销书。
• She drove a hard bargain with the seller.她狠杀卖主的价。

3 sellers   

n.卖者( seller的名词复数 )；卖方；销售者；销售商

参考例句：

• buyers and sellers transacting business 进行交易的买方和卖方
• All manner of hawkers and street sellers were plying their trade. 形形色色的沿街小贩都在做着自己的买卖。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 ultimate   

adj.最远的；最后的；终极的；根源的，基本的

参考例句：

• What was his ultimate goal?他的最终目标是什么？
• The sun is the ultimate store of power.太阳是能量之本。

5 romance   

n.恋爱关系，浪漫气氛，爱情小说，传奇

参考例句：

• She wrote a romance about an artist's life in Tokyo.她写了一个关于一位艺术家在东京生活的浪漫故事。
• They tried to rekindle the flames of romance.他们试图重燃爱火。

6 temptation   

n.诱惑，引诱；v.引，诱

参考例句：

• I should congratulate you that you resisted the temptation.我应向你祝贺，你抗住了这种引诱。
• Will they be able to resist the temptation to buy?他们能忍住诱惑不买吗？

7 code   

n.代码，代号，密码；法典，法规，规划

参考例句：

• What's the code for Tianjin?天津的代号是多少？
• Remember to use postal code.勿忘使用邮政编码。

8 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

9 investigator   

n.研究者，调查者，审查者

参考例句：

• He was a special investigator for the FBI.他是联邦调查局的特别调查员。
• The investigator was able to deduce the crime and find the criminal.调查者能够推出犯罪过程并锁定罪犯。

10 slippery   

adj.滑的；油滑的，狡猾的，不可靠的

参考例句：

• We found it very slippery under foot.我们感到地上很滑。
• Mind out,the steps are slippery!注意，台阶很滑！

11 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

12 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

13 horror   

n.惊骇，恐怖，惨事，极端厌恶

参考例句：

• The public has been awakened to the full horror of the situation.公众完全意识到了这一状况的可怕程度。
• The thought of working nights fills me with abject horror.一想到要夜间工作我就觉得惨兮兮的。

14 foundation   

n.[pl.]地基；基础；基金会；建立，创办

参考例句：

• The foundation of the university took place 600 years ago.这所大学是600年前创办的。
• The Foundation gives money to help artists.那家基金会捐款帮助艺术家。

15 honor   

n.光荣；敬意；荣幸；vt.给…以荣誉；尊敬

参考例句：

• I take your visit as a great honor.您的来访是我莫大的光荣。
• It is a great honor to receive that prize.能拿到那个奖是无上的光荣。

16 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

17 carvings   

n.雕刻( carving的名词复数 )；雕刻术；雕刻品；雕刻物

参考例句：

• The desk was ornamented with many carvings. 这桌子装饰有很多雕刻物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Shell carvings are a specialty of the town. 贝雕是该城的特产。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 suspended   

a.被暂时搁置的

参考例句：

• A lamp was suspended from the ceiling. 一盏吊灯悬在天花板上。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area. 英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

19 beloved   

adj./n.受爱戴的，敬爱的；爱人，被心爱的人

参考例句：

• She longs for the early return of her beloved.她盼着心上人早日归来。
• She is Tom's beloved wife.她是汤姆的爱妻。

20 classic   

n.经典作品；adj.经典的，一流的；古典的

参考例句：

• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。
• The football match was a classic.那场足球比赛堪称典范。

21 discussion   

n.讨论，谈论；论述

参考例句：

• It is certain he will come to the discussion.他肯定会来参加讨论。
• After months of discussion,a peace agreement is gradually taking shape.经过几个月的商讨，和平协议渐渐有了眉目。

22 classics   

n.文豪( classic的名词复数 )；文学名著；优秀的典范；古希腊与古罗马的文化研究（尤指对其语言与文学的研究）

参考例句：

• There are three great constituents of modern education --the classics, modern history and literature, and science. 现代教育有三大内容 -古典文学、现代历史和文学、以及自然科学。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• "The Classics on Tea", written by Lu Yu of the Tang Dynasty (618 A.D.-907 A.D.) was the world's earliest treatise on tea leave production. 中国唐代陆羽写的《茶经》是世界上最早的茶叶制作专著。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

23 odyssey   

n.长途冒险旅行；一连串的冒险

参考例句：

• The march to Travnik was the final stretch of a 16-hour odyssey.去特拉夫尼克的这段路是长达16小时艰险旅行的最后一程。
• His odyssey of passion, friendship,love,and revenge was now finished.他的热情、友谊、爱情和复仇的漫长历程，到此结束了。

24 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

25 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。