Topic: Circuses

2 debut novels worth drooling over

This fall is crowded with new releases from literary heavyweights from Tom Perrotta and Jeffrey Eugenides to Joan Didion and Haruki Marukami. But it also offers two new names worth searching out: Erin Morgenstern and Chad Harbach, both of whose debut novels offer readers a chance to dive into fully realized worlds. In one, it’s a 19th-century traveling circus that’s open only at night; in the other, it’s a Midwestern baseball field. Both novels feature protagonists who are the very best at what they do. (Morgenstern and Harbach are no slouches, either.)

Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson star in 'Water for Elephants'

Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson form two sides of a love triangle in the Depression-era story 'Water for Elephants,' where the best performance comes from Rosie the elephant.

Top picks: 'Circus' miniseries, Microsoft Kinect, Ethan Gilsdorf's "Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks,' and more

PBS miniseries 'Circus,' Microsoft controller free gaming sensor Kinect, Monitor contributor Ethan Gilsdorf's new book "Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks,' and more recommendations.

For kids: Three letter-challenge

A quiz where you see how many words you can find that have the letters "ght" in them.

Blago grabs children for historic photo op

New York's freshest shows

From ancient sculpture to Van Gogh's night inspirations, the best of this season's art.

Beijing's final bow

The odd, remarkable, yet true story of Jumbo the circus elephant

Jumbo and his devoted handler lived a strange tale of celebrity, tragedy, and love.

The odd, remarkable, yet true story of Jumbo the circus elephant

Jumbo and his devoted handler lived a strange tale of celebrity, tragedy, and love.