There are a lot of people out there who can live without books, but I'm just not one of them. And I'm betting most of you Read Streeters aren't, either.

So when I saw a backlash to the idea, I thought a compromise was in order: do we really need to either cut books out entirely or ignore our wallets and buy to our heart's content? I think not! Here are a few options for booklovers who can't stop reading, but can't afford the latest best-seller:

 A membership to BookSwim will put you back $15 a month, but that's still cheaper than buying the hardcover. And if you really love it, there's an option to buy it for cheaper than you'd get at the book store.

Grab a few free books from The Book Thing, and donate some while you're at it.

There's always the library, of course!

E-books, many of which are available for free at sites like Project Gutenberg, can be read on your computer, your e-reader or even your smart phone.

Exchange a few unwanted books for new ones at PaperBack Swap, for the cost of shipping (generally less than $3 a package, according to the site).

Bookstores that offer used tomes, such as Ukazoo Books, Salamander Books and Market Street Books have a wide selection, and quite a few fresh titles.

And I'm sure many of you have other ingenius ways of saving money without sacrificing your bookshelves. Got any tips of your own?

Posted by Nancy Knight at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

OK, guys, we're almost through our week without Dave, so let's end it with a bang. And then be very, very happy when Dave returns from vacation.

This week, I read a young adult chick-lit novel, The Truth About Forever, by Sarah Dessen. The book follows Macy Queen, an overachieving teen who's known around town as "the girl who watched her father die" when her father suffered a heart attack during a morning run. Macy is completely damaged, and through the book begins to pick herself up and learn how to live again. In other words, it's a real pick-me-up, and a perfect summer book. 

Speaking of pick-me-ups, isn't it about time to give away a book? Congratulations, JTK, you've won American Adulterer. But I want a better description of this one than just a "meh." At least, I hope it's not a "meh" book.

So what will we give away next? How about the authorized adaptation of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. The graphic novel, with an introduction written by Bradbury himself, is eerie and emotional, with gorgeous artwork by Tim Hamilton. So let us know what you're reading, and it could be yours!

Posted by Nancy Knight at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Freebie Friday
        

If you're in the mood for a few great stories today, drop everything you're doing and head to the Writer's Festival at Charlestown Retirement Community today, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is the community's second festival, held at the Cross Creek clubhouse, and features nine pulbished residents.

Talents include a former Morgan State and Coppin State creative writing teacher, whose novel will be published in December and an 86-year-old first-time published author, who used his experiences as a real estate agent for C&O and B&O Railroads as the inspiration for his collection of short stories.

"In this era of texting and tweeting," Jeff Getek of Erickson Living said in an e-mail, "these folks have put pen to paper for the love of story-telling."

 If that's too short notice for you, beginning tomorrow, Daedalus Books -- both in Baltimore and Columbia -- is holding a sidewalk sale, featuring 50 percent off books, all weekend.

Ukazoo Books' monthly Books 'N' Brunch will be held Saturday morning. You can browse the Towson shop's books while munching on free breakfast, held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

And Constellation Books is hosting a tea with local author Gary Clites, whose mystery Seneca Wood is set in Baltimore and West Virginia.

Got some more bookish events? Tell us about them, and they'll be added to the Read Street calendar.

Posted by Nancy Knight at 9:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Book It
        

How many books do you think you've borrowed from the library in your lifetime? I'm thinking it's somewhere in the low hundreds for me, while I'm admittedly not much of a book borrower anymore.

In any case, I've got nothing on Scotland's Louise Brown, who has borrowed nearly 25,000 books from her local library since 1946. The 91-year-old has borrowed at least 6 books a week since then, and lately has doubled her habit to 12 books a week.

The library staff has rightly come to love their star reader, and have since issued a challenge to all the libraries in the land -- can you beat this?

"We are fascinated to know if Mrs Brown's record can be beaten," Janice Goldie, a cultural services manager, told the BBC. "There may be other people out there who can beat them and we would love them to get in touch."

Looks like I've got some catching up to do.

Posted by Nancy Knight at 9:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Australian author Justine Larbalestier has recently taken a stand about the cover of her latest book, Liar, and its misleading cover. Misleading how?

Well, the protagonist of the book is a compulsive liar named Micah, who's working on her honesty issues. She's also black. However, the cover art depicts an unambiguously white girl, and because of the underlying themes of honesty in the book, now fans are questioning the most basic facts of the book, like "hey, is Micah even lying about her race?"

Understandably, Larbalestier is upset that the novel she worked so hard on is unraveling thanks to a book cover that she had absolutely no creative control over. And in a world where the Gates scandal is picking up steam instead of fading away, there are many reasons to have this conversation.

First, there's the question of whether or not authors should have a say in how their work is presented to the world. I firmly believe that they should at least be at the table when this decision is made, and not just to veto the truly egregious covers. This is their life's work, their creation, and I'm still shocked whenever I hear that the writer is given only cursory knowledge of what message their book will convey to the reader at first glance. 

The fact that many also get no say in the title of their books confuses me to no end.

Secondly, there's the matter of "whitewashing" book covers. Whether it's a case of ignorance or malice, this is also unacceptable. As a commenter notes, her students have never said they wouldn't read a book because of the cover model's race -- the boys are more concerned about flowers, hearts and pastels.

So what is the purpose of changing a character's race on the cover, confusing anyone who actually picks the book up? Are white characters really that much more palateable to the average reader? Or is this just an out-of-touch marketing strategy? (Because there's no doubt it's racist.)

We should encourage everyone to read more. That means presenting books honestly, and giving minorities relateable characters, as well -- and not just in the "urban fiction" section.

Have you authors out there had similar experiences while publishing your books? Or have you been a slightly confused reader whose book cover misportrayed the characters you went on to read about?

Posted by Nancy Knight at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Michael Jackson's 1988 autobiography, Moonwalk, is coming back to bookstores this fall.
The book, in which Jackson talks of his fame, music career and famous family, will be released in October, Reuters reports. It will sell for $25 and will have a new introduction by an as yet unnamed celebrity. Did someone say "Liza"?
Moonwalk was No. 1 on The New York Times best-seller list in 1988. It may be headed there again, as the frenzy over his June death continues.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 8:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

Apple's tablet may be taking aim at the Kindle and other e-readers. Book publishers are talking with Apple about being part of the pre-Christmas launch of a portable tablet-sized computer designed to boost sales of music and movies, according to the Financial Times.

The device could become the latest revolutionary product from Apple, whose design and interface genius has changed forever the desktop, cell phones and digital music. FT said the tablet is likely to be launched with new content deals, including some aimed at stimulating sales of CD-length music. The touch-sensitive computer will have a screen that may be up to 10 inches diagonally. It will connect to the internet like the iPod Touch – probably without phone capability but with access to the web, and to Apple’s online stores for software and entertainment.

According to the FT, the device could also provide an alternative to Amazon’s Kindle, Sony’s Reader and a forthcoming device from Plastic Logic, recently allied with Barnes & Noble. "It would be a colour, flat-panel TV to the old-fashioned, black and white TV of the Kindle," one publishing executive said

Incredible that the Kindle, which seems like a newborn (at least in version two), is already being compared to B&W TV. Talk about light-speed innovation.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 9:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

Once is not enough for Read Streeter and author Gail Farrelly. She asks: Do you like to re-read? If so, what's on your re-read shelf? Here's her guest post:

Frank Sinatra crooned that, "Love is lovelier, the second time around." Does that apply to books too?

Sometimes reading a book just once isn't enough. I love to re-read light fiction when I'm tired, stressed, or sick -- any time I can't concentrate but need to be entertained. One of my favorite re-reads is the Hamish Macbeth mystery series by M. C. Beaton. Hamish, the local cop in a small Scottish village, is such a unique character. He's very smart but has absolutely no ambition; he's kind but childish. He gets himself into the most outlandish situations with his superiors, girlfriends, villagers, perps, etc. Hamish never fails to entertain. He's like comfort food. Chocolate without the calories.

Verlyn Klinkenborg in a recent piece in The New York Times confesses to being a re-reader and points out that, "Part of the fun of re-reading is that you are no longer bothered by the business of finding out what happens." He also indicates that the whole business of re-reading starts early, as "The love of repetition seems to be ingrained in children. And it is certainly ingrained in the way children learn to read — witness the joyous and maddening love of hearing that same bedtime book read aloud all over again, word for word, inflection for inflection." Klinkenborg admits, "I forget a lot, which makes the pleasure of re-reading all the greater." Among his favorite authors for re-reading are John J. Rowlands, Michael Herr, A.J. Liebling, and George Eliot.

I re-read for fun, but there are those who have to re-read for work. Judges, for example. Clyde Haberman, writing in The New York Times about the lawsuit regarding J. D. Salinger's attempt to prevent the U. S. distribution of 60 Years Later: Coming Through the Rye, chose an unusual way to introduce (see the following two paragraphs) his article:

"It sounded as if the judge did not want anyone to think she had never picked up a copy of J. D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye in her younger days.

“I have read — ” Judge Deborah A. Batts of United States District Court in Manhattan started to say, and then thought better of it. “Let me rephrase that,” she said. “I have reread Catcher in the Rye."

Who can blame Judge Batts for setting the record straight? I doubt there were many who graduated from Radcliffe in 1969 without having read that book!

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (17)
        

The latest roundup of books with a regional interest, by Towson University English professor Diane Scharper, covers the housing crisis, Chesapeake Bay ferries and assisted living. Here are her capsule reviews for The Baltimore Sun:

Busted: Life Inside the Great Mortgage Meltdown by Edmund L. Andrews (W.W. Norton, $25.95). New York Times business reporter Andrews tells the inside story of the collapse of the housing market and the resulting loss of $12 trillion from the U.S. economy. Part chronicle of economic history and part memoir of his own financial collapse, Busted is a riveting account of greed, irresponsibility, and “don’t ask, don’t tell” economics. The book begins in 2004 when Andrews and his fiancee, Patricia Barreiro, borrowed more than $400,000 for a $460,000 house in Silver Spring. It ends with the unhappy couple on the verge of separating as they face the loss of their home to foreclosure. But Andrews and Barriero were not alone. Millions of home-buyers shared their plight, causing what Andrews calls the great mortgage meltdown. Andrews discusses exotic mortgages, liars’ loans, dishonest brokers, money lenders, and high-profile financial institutions intent on making a fast buck while those in charge — from Alan Greenspan on down — looked the other way.

Chesapeake Ferries: A Waterborne Tradition, 1636-2000 by Clara Ann Simmons (Maryland Historical Society, $34). George Washington may have slept here, but he had second thoughts about ferrying across the Chesapeake Bay. A diary entry for March 1791 describes an especially uncomfortable trip via Rock Hall, Md., as Washington fumed

 at "the unskillfulness of hands" that caused the ferry to run aground several times. Washington is one of many luminaries mentioned in Chesapeake Ferries. With black and white illustrations, the book offers a nostalgic account of ferries, ferrymen, ordinaries (inns connected to ferries) and the ways they affected roads, towns (including town names like Harper’s Ferry), and history. According to Simmons, taking a ferry was as commonplace for a 17th or 18th century traveler as driving across a bridge is for a 21st century commuter. Yet, aside from occasional road markers, little evidence survives of the hundreds of ferries that carried people, wagons, animals, automobiles, and even trains across the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac and Susquehanna Rivers from 1636 to 2000. With oral histories, photographs, and written records--diaries, letters, and newspaper archives--Simmons recreates a bygone era.

Inside Assisted Living: The Search for Home by J. Kevin Eckert, Paula C. Carder, Leslie A. Morgan, Ann Christine Frankowski and Erin G. Roth (The Johns Hopkins University Press, $16.95). A happy old age depends on one’s surroundings. That’s the bottom line of Inside Assisted Living. Combining personal narrative and social history, the book is a collaborative effort by Eckert and others affiliated with the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at UMBC. As horror stories about conditions in nursing homes became widespread, Eckert explains, older adults looked to assisted living — a concept that refers to social care rather than just the medical care associated with nursing homes. Focusing on the residents at six Maryland group homes, the authors ask several questions: Are the caregivers professional, pleasant, courteous, and caring? Is the setting welcoming, clean, and well-equipped? Are the residents satisfied? Answers: generally yes. Insightful and well-written, the book covers everything from playing games to dealing with emergencies. Unfortunately, to protect privacy, the authors do not reveal the names of the assisted living facilities involved. While understandable from an academic point of view, this omission limits the book’s appeal.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Marylandia
        

Sunday in The Baltimore Sun, Cornell University professor Glenn C. Altschuler reviews The Wilderness Warrior, a new biography that focuses on Theodore Roosevelt's push to preserve America's wilderness. Here's an excerpt:

In his magnificent and magisterial biography, Douglas Brinkley, a professor of history at Rice University, celebrates Roosevelt, a Harvard trained zoologist, as a "pro-forest, pro-buffalo, cougar-infatuated, socialistic land conservationist." Between 1901 and 1909, "that damn cowboy" set aside 234 million acres of Wild America for posterity, creating hundreds of federal bird reservations, national game preserves, forests, parks, and monuments. More than his trust-busting or his Nobel Peace Prize, Brinkley demonstrates, these actions should secure Roosevelt’s reputation as one of the greatest presidents in American history.

By mixing Darwinian analysis with cowboy campfire yarns, and establishing himself as a gun-toting Easterner embodying a western ethos, Brinkley writes, Roosevelt was able to persuade congressmen, bureaucrats in the departments of Agriculture and Interior, and millions of Americans that saving "natural wonders, wildlife species, timberlands, and diverse habitats was a patriotic endeavor." When he couldn’t, he went beyond his legal authority (to preserve The Grand Canyon as a public park) or issued "I So Declare It" executive orders.

Brinkley is too good an historian to ignore inconsistencies and contradictions in Roosevelt’s conservationist philosophies and policies. But he tends to downplay them. Acknowledging, for example, that the president’s penchant for big-game hunting "was troublesome" to Americans concerned about cruelty to animals, he indicates that the justification — hunters participated directly in ecological cycles of birth and death — was "more intellectually honest than all the bleatings" of critics. Despite his "blood lust," he adds, Roosevelt fought for wildlife refuges, seasonal hunting, hunting licenses, bag limits, and strict regulations against killing young animals or females during the mating season. ...

Roosevelt was, no doubt, a larger-than-life figure, large enough to contain contradictions, and arrogant enough to ignore them. Although he didn’t always take into account the consequences of hyper-industrialization, he deserves the appellation Brinkley bestows on him in this splendid biography: "a conservation visionary," who entered "the fray double-barreled," at a time in which hunting, drilling, population growth, and pollution were unregulated, and used the powers of the presidency, as none before him had, to preserve America’s precious resources "with their majestic beauty unmarred."

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Reviews
        

The recent arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., the African-American scholar and author, has become a frenzy of accusations, recrimination and good old political spin. Just as the fire was dying down — and it seemed Gates could get back to writing more books such as Colored People: A Memoir and In Search of Our Roots — President Barack Obama’s comment about Cambridge, Mass., police acting “stupidly” stoked it again. (Obama later backpedaled, implying that the word "stupidly" was subject to varying interpretations. Huh?)

As a former Boston resident, I’m well aware of the area’s history of racial tension. The school busing crisis (here's a 1974 protest) stoked passions, leading to the horrible scene of a white teen assaulting a black lawyer with an American flag — a moment caught in a photo that won the 1977 Pulitzer Prize. And though I’m a Red Sox fan, I’m sadly aware that the team was the last to integrate — Pumpsie Green joined the Sox in 1959, more than a decade after Jackie Robinson broke the color line.

In this episode, there seems to be enough blame to spread between the police officer and Gates. Both men took what should have been a minor incident and blew it into a nationwide debate on race relations. Read Streeters have taken both sides of the issue, with the most poignant comments coming from those who have also felt the sting of a police inquiry on suspicion of Homeowning While Black. 

Here's a pro-Gates sampling:

Come on, there are so many reality tv shows where we have seen height of moronic unharmful comments in front of cops, and the cops just ignore it — truthbehld

Many people have blamed Dr. Gates’ behavior for being arrested. But ... there is no law against becoming agitated, particularly when one is accused of being a robber and thief in one’s own home. — Walter

I live in one of the most exclusive villages in a gated community in [suburban] Chicago. ... I have been asked to show ID, twice, in the foyer of my home. ... Until you walked a mile in Henry Louis Gates’ shoes, you don’t really know what was going through his mind. — etoile

And a sampling backing James Crowley, the Cambridge officer who arrested Gates:

Treating cops who risk their lives to protect us in anything other than a deferential way is callous &, well, stupid. — Marie

When Gates implied that the officer was a racist, he crossed a line. To me that’s JUST as bad as using the ‘N’ word — Jerry T

Gates behaved like a Leona Helmsley. He harassed the policeman (one of the “little people”) because he could. — Ted

Photo from AP

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (25)
        

E. Lynn Harris, the author of best-selling novels about the African-American gay community, has died at age 54, the Associated Press said today.

Publicist Laura Gilmore said Harris died Thursday night after being stricken at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, and a cause of death had not been determined. She said Harris, who lived in Atlanta, fell ill on a train to Los Angeles a few days ago and blacked out for a few minutes, but seemed fine after that.

Harris once wrote in Essence magazine: "The truth is that most brothers who are attracted to men are desperately afraid of revealing it. ... Many ... fear that ... they'll be drummed out of their families, destroying their only safe haven in an already unwelcoming society."

After graduating from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Harris sold computers for more than a decade before self-publishing his first novel, Invisible Life, in 1991, according to his website. The book was sold mainly through black-owned bookstores, beauty salons and book clubs, and became a sleeper hit; a few years later it was published by Anchor Books. Other books include If This World Were Mine (1997), Not A Day Goes By (2000), Any Way the Wind Blows (2001), and A Love of My Own (2002), which were New York Times bestsellers.

Among his awards: Blackboard Novel of the Year: Just As I Am, Any Way the Wind Blows and A Love of My Own; James Baldwin Award for Literary Excellence: If This World Were Mine. In recent years, he has also been named to Ebony's "Most Intriguing Blacks" list, Out Magazine's "Out 100" list and New York Magazine's "Gay Power 101" list.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 2:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Obituaries
        

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has apologized for the company's recent Big Brotherish move, swiping copies of George Orwell's 1984 and other novels from Kindles, without any warning to the owners of the devices. That sparked outrage, and Thursday, as the company reported its earnings, Bezos issued a contrite statement:

"This is an apology for the way we previously handled illegally sold copies of 1984 and other novels on Kindle. Our 'solution' to the problem was stupid, thoughtless, and painfully out of line with our principles. It is wholly self-inflicted, and we deserve the criticism we’ve received. We will use the scar tissue from this painful mistake to help make better decisions going forward, ones that match our mission."

As you may know, I'm not the biggest fan of the Kindle and other e-readers. But I hand it to Bezos for being so plain-spoken in acknowledging Amazon's mistake.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

I cannnot tell you how happy I am that it's Friday. All signs point to functioning Internet at my home by Saturday, and things can only go up from there.

What makes me even happier? Handing out great books! So congratulations, Caite, you've won The Girl Who Played with Fire!

Meanwhile, I've just picked up The Disappearance of Irene Dos Santos, by Margaret Mascarenhas. I'm not a huge fan of mystery, but I've heard good things about this book, and I'll be sure to post a review as soon as I'm done.

Also, it puts off my having to read New Moon, so that I can talk intelligently about it when the movie comes out and everyone is going crazy. The things I do for you people.

Next up to give away? American Adulterer by Jed Mercurio. The novel studies the philandering ways of our 35th president, exploring the psychology behind his dalliances. At once fictional and historical, the book provides wit and insight, without condemning or condoning.

Interested? Tell us what you're reading, and it could be yours!

Posted by Nancy Knight at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Freebie Friday
        

At least that's what you'd expect to get by buying this book. After all, the cover screams DAN BROWN!!!

But look more closely, and you find that it's just a ham-handed promotion by Brtitish retailer WHSmith. The book is actually Simon Kernick's Deadline, which buyers get for free by pre-ordering Brown's upcoming thriller, The Lost Symbol (to be released Sept. 15).

Marketing Week and Bookninja noted the shameless ploy, and Sarah Weinman, who has revewed mysteries for The Baltimore Sun and other publications, called it a "jaw-dropping, epic, book marketing fail." No word from Simon "Nine point type" Kernick.

I know bookstores are having a hard time these days, but isn't this an insult to readers?

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 8:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

I don't know about you, but I am ready for this week to be over with. Come on, Friday!

 But, since we have to wait a bit longer, you might want to spend your evening at Constellation Books' Book Club, where they'll be discussing Proust was a Neuroscientist. Proust and neurobiology? I know, it sounds intimidating, but I'm intrigued.

 To add a bit of color to your weekend, Greetings & Readings is hosting a book signing with local artist Linda Biggs, who is known for her collectible fairy statues and fantasy art. Her works are featured in Her Rainbow World.

The Maryland Writers Association will meet at Ukazoo Books Monday evening, where you'll be greeted with coffee, poetry, essays and anything else you can think to present in 10 minutes at the open mic.

And if you're just looking for a place to relax, the Creative Alliance at the Patterson has a program for you. Lori Thompson, a graduate of the National Writing Project, will instruct you on how to express and transform all those negative feelings into art and writing. No experience needed, but registration is $115; $130 for walk-ins.

I plan to hang out at the Hamilton Festival on Saturday, so if you're in the neighborhood, maybe I'll see you there!

Posted by Nancy Knight at 2:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Book It
        

As a Baltimore outsider, I've always been amazed at the Small-timore phenomenon, and the tight web of connections among folks who grew up here. I also wonder whether there is ever more than six degrees of separation between Baltimore and any event in the world. Exhibit A: The Cambridge cop embroiled in the Henry Louis Gates arrest tried to save the life of Reggie Lewis, the Baltimore-bred basketball star.

At the time, James Crowley was working security for Brandeis University, where the Boston Celtics held pre-season workouts. The 27-year-old Lewis had been a legend at Dunbar High and was a star for the Celts, but on July 27, 1993, he had a heart attack during practice. Crowley tried mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the dying Lewis.

“I wasn’t working on Reggie Lewis the basketball star. I wasn’t working on a black man. I was working on another human being,” Sgt. Crowley told the Boston Herald. Crowley strongly rejected accusations by Gates that he is a racist, and said there was no need to apologize for his actions in last week's arrest of the African-American scholar and author. Here is Crowley's arrest report.   

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (14)
        

Fans of the Wimpy Kid series -- and there are millions -- may feel the earth shaking. The publisher just released cover art for the latest in the phenomenally successful series by Marylander Jeff Kinney -- born at Andrews Air Force base and a 1993 Maryland grad -- and the book is scheduled for an Oct. 12 release. The initial run: 3 million copies.

If you haven't heard about the series, here's a quick rewind: Kinney drew a cartoon strip featuring a character named Igdoof for the Diamondback, the student paper on the College Park campus. But he couldn't get a syndication deal after graduating, so after years of effort he started writing an online strip about the trials of middle schooler Greg Heffley, told in diary form. His work drew tens of millions of hits on Funbrain.com, and a book deal followed.

The first book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, was released in 2007 and spent months atop the New York Times best-seller list for kids' chapter books. Two other books have followed, and #4, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days tells of Greg's summer vacation.

(One other fun note: The promotional tour for the book features a Wimpy Kid ice cream truck tour -- Baltimore County is one of the stops, on Aug. 22. We'll keep you posted on the details as it gets closer.)

Last year, The Baltimore Sun's Joe Burris spoke with Kinney. Here are some exceprts from that story:

[Greg Heffley] is not that cool. In fact, he's kinda wimpy. He's got a big head and a stick for a body; he looks like a Blow Pop. Plus, he wears a stupid backpack the size of a microwave. He's got a mom who's a total wimp. He scams his wimpy friends. He thinks wimpy thoughts. And, he gets harassed by his teenage brother Rodrick and other boys because ... well, why do you think? ...

"I wasn't bullied the way that Greg Heffley is in the book, but there were plenty of moments of terror and intimidation," said Kinney. "On the whole, I made it through childhood unscathed. My childhood was, I think, fairly typical for a kid growing up in the '70s and '80s, but plenty of funny things happened along the way. In writing this series, I set out to find the humor in the mundane and to celebrate the universality of childhood.

"I would say that I really wanted to remember what it was like to be a kid and put myself in that frame of mind. And that took a lot of work to remember the pettiness and being put upon."

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 8:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Marylandia
        

Looking for a literary event for your young reader? Stop by the Enoch Pratt Central Library Saturday for storytime with First Lady Katie O’Malley.

Reading to kids must be a staple for first ladies. Katie is shown here with her son, Jack, at a similar event last year at the Rosedale library. And Kendel Ehrlich helped kick off Baltimore County's summer reading program. Good for them -- we should do all we can to get kids reading.

(Of course, the most infamous politico-reading moment came on Sept. 11, 2001, when President Bush listened to The Pet Goat in a Florida classroom while the World Trade Center was being attacked by terrorists.)

If you can't make Saturday's event, the Pratt will present another special storytime when library CEO Carla D. Hayden reads for kids Monday at 11 a.m. at the Patterson Park Branch, 158. N. Linwood Avenue.

Baltimore Sun photo by Algerina Perna

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Do you have the burning desire to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard)? Does your need to write often get frustrated by the daily doldrums of your life? Or maybe you're a tortured soul who writes all the time, but can't quite find that spark of inspiration that brings the joy back to the job?

If so, Weekly Writing Assignment may be the answer.

Daniel Waldman, a PR guy from Baltimore, has started the site to encourage his fellow writers to enjoy themselves again. The project, which began Saturday, provides a different writing prompt every week, giving participants a full week to write a short passage (300-word limit). This week's prompt is 15 random words including "California," "buzz" and "chortle."

(Photo by Cierpki at stock.xchng)

"I’ve always found that the best way to get my own creative juices flowing is to have an assignment, with a due date, and I’m hoping that the assignments on this site spark some great works," Waldman explains in the About section of the site. "I also love to read and discuss other people’s work. That’s as much part of the creative process as writing is."

Waldman says the site has been percolating for about a year. "Growing up, I wanted to be a writer, but life kinda got in the way (bills, family, work, etc.)," he told me. "I've struggled for years to keep doing creative writing, but sometimes it's a huge challenge. I needed a way to keep myself motivated and this site is what I came up with."

Along with the assignments, Waldman plans to post an interview with a local writer soon, and if the site does well he says he hopes to enlist a few volunteer editors.

As to rewarding top writers, stay tuned. While he can't afford to hand out prizes at this point, it may happen in the future. For now, you get the chance to share your newly inspired writing skills with an admiring audience, which may be reward enough for many.

Posted by Nancy Knight at 12:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

It's been interesting to read comments about the arrest of African-American scholar and author Henry Louis Gates Jr. at his home. There's a Grand Canyon-sized gap between folks who say that police often push minorites around, and those who say Gates over-reacted. Whatever your view, there are others to back you up.

For a local spin on the issue, take a look at The Baltimore Sun's Second Opinion blog, where Homeland resident Glenn McNatt writes about his own experience "Being home while black." Here's an excerpt:

A similar mix-up happened to me about 10 years ago, shortly after we moved into a house in Baltimore's Homeland neighborhood. Someone saw me emptying the trash out back one night and called the police. I was in the kitchen finishing up the dinner dishes when they knocked on the back door; when I opened it they entered and asked if I lived there. In the end I had to show my driver's license, then call my wife and daughter downstairs to vouch for me.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Here's a photo, snapped by a neighbor, of the arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr., the well-known Harvard professor, author and commentator on the African-American experience. This is the experience, he'd say -- even after the disorderly conduct charge was dropped and the city of Cambridge called last week's arrest “regrettable and unfortunate.”

“There are 1 million black men in jail in this country, and last Thursday I was one of them,” Gates told The Washington Post yesterday. “This is outrageous and that this is how poor black men across the country are treated every day in the criminal justice system. It's one thing to write about it, but altogether another to experience it.”

The arrest has quickly become fodder for commentators eager to blast police -- and those who question Gates' behavior. Whatever your view, you can easily find a pundit to support it -- even among Read Street comments.

But anyone who wants a look at the modern history of race relations in Boston need go no further than Common Ground, J. Anthony Lukas' masterpiece about the school busing crisis. He examines three families, one black and two white, as they face desegregation in the 1970s. It's an honest look at a complex problem, told in a very human way, and it won the 1986 Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction.

Update 7/23: Here is the officer's arrest report, which sheds more light on the incident.

Photo via AP

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 5:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)
        

There's been a lot written about George R.R. Martin lately, but most of it isn't about his books.

For instance, fans of Martin's planned seven-part fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire, have reacted favorably to the news that Sean Bean was cast to play the lead, Ned Stark, in an HBO pilot based on the first book.

What they haven't been so favorable toward is how long it's taking Martin to finish the series, which began in 1996 with A Game of Thrones. Since then, Martin's written and published three more in the series; the last one, A Feast for Crows, was published in 2005.

Four books in nine years isn't too shabby. But with three more projected before the series ends, and four years since the last one was published, fans are getting antsy.

So antsy in fact, that one wrote to Neil Gaiman for advice:

 "When writing a series of books, like Martin is with "A Song of Ice and Fire" what responsibility does he have to finish the story? Is it unrealistic to think that by not writing the next chapter Martin is letting me down, even though if and when the book gets written is completely up to him?"

 In other words, what exactly are Martin's fans entitled to, anyway?

As Gaiman puts it, not much. While I won't repeat his exact phrase (this is a family blog, after all) I can say that I agree to a certain extent.

You're paying for a book, and that's what you get. If you want to know more about a character, a world or a subject, feel free to wait for the author to write more, or become a fanfic writer and make yourself happy.

However, I've been known not to start a critically acclaimed series for fear that I wouldn't live to see its end. For instance, I've still not started Stephen King's Dark Tower series, which spanned from 1982 to 2004. Twenty-two years is a long time to sweat over a fictional world, from a reader's perspective.

And can you imagine the ruckus if J.K. Rowling had abandoned Harry Potter, five books in? There would have been riots in the middle schools.

So what's your stance on unfinished series? Do you wait until the author's completed his entire work, or roll the dice and hope for the best? Do authors owe their fans a timeline, or should they be happy for any bit of writing they can get?

Posted by Nancy Knight at 2:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

Here's a disturbing report: Henry Louis Gates Jr., a prominent Harvard scholar of African-American history, was arrested last week at his Cambridge, Mass., home after police were called about a possible break-in.

Today, local officials said the charges would not be pursued, but the whole episode is unsettling for someone who has written several books on the black experience in America. They include Colored People: A Memoir and In Search of Our Roots: How 19 Extraordinary African Americans Reclaimed Their Past. He also wrote The Signifying Monkey: A Theory of African-American Literary Criticism.

Gates was arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct after a confrontation with an officer at his home, according to news reports. Charles Ogletree, a Harvard Law professor who is Gates' lawyer in the case, told CNN today that Gates had returned from China on Thursday to his home and discovered his front door jammed. He opened his back door with his key and tried unsuccessfully from inside his home to open the front door.

That's when a police officer appeared and asked Gates for identiffication. Gates apparently balked at being questioned about his own home, and it all spiraled out of control from there.

Update 7/23: Here is the officer's arrest report, which sheds more light on the incident.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 1:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (70)
        

Just got back from a family reunion at Skytop Lodge, a grand, sprawling stone manse in the Poconos. Seeing all the relatives from Connecticut was great -- so was the mountain setting.

But what I liked most was sensing the weight of tradition, of a slower time (even though I blogged with the lodge's wi-fi service yesterday). Lawn bowling on a manicured court, the huge semi-circular porch with rocking chairs, afternoon tea, the jazz band -- all lent an air of America in the 1930s or 1940s. Even better: our room came equipped with a stack of books, including Sue Grafton's A is for Alibi and The Illustrated Letters of Jane Austen, another hint that this is a place to simply relax.

And it worked. After a day of golf and mountain biking, I was happy just to linger over meals or sit on the porch with my family, exchanging stories. Have you found a spot like this, the perfect setting to relax and read?

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Author: Sarah Schmelling

Synopsis: The McSweeney's contributor and D.C. resident has given Facebook a literary makeover. Books and authors including Hamlet, Edgar Allan Poe, Anna Karenina and Ernest Hemingway are introduced to social media -- with varying degrees of success.

Review: The book begins with an invitation to join "William Shakespeare's Admirable, Righteous, Singluar, and Incomparable Booke Club Group," and continues its pithy, saucy tone through Jack Kerouac's profile, in which his interests include "Jazz, spontaneity, the road, steam of consciousness and the mad people."

I especially enjoyed the Dante's Inferno Quiz, in which you can discover which circle of hell you are destined for; and of course Jane Austen's tumultuous affair with the Web site that begins with astonishment at 4,537 friend requests and ends with the literary genius' love of her own wordplay in status updates. And the 20th reunion for the Lord of the Flies is downright devilish -- I can absolutely imagine Jack mocking Survivor (no hunting?!) and working as a script advisor for Lost.

While it's difficult to read this book straight through, I did get a sense of timesuck that always accompanies my time on Facebook, so kudos to Schmelling for recreating the best and worst of the medium.

If you liked: Facebook, MySpace, classic literature, or making fun of every book you had to read in high school, you'll love reliving these tomes through the Internet prism.

Avoid this if: Making fun of Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott, Oscar Wilde or Emily Bronte raises your blood pressure. No one is safe in Schmelling's social network!

Posted by Nancy Knight at 2:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Reviews
        

Sad news -- Frank McCourt, whose gripping memoir of impoverishment won the Pulitzer Prize, has died. The cause was metastatic melanoma, according to Scribner, his publisher.

McCourt, 78, had been gravely ill with meningitis for the past two weeks, having developed the disease after receiving treatment for skin cancer, the New York Times reported. McCourt wrote numerous books, but was most famous for the Pulitzer Prize-winning "Angela's Ashes," which was made into a hit movie.

That's the one I'll always remember him for. He didn't need to try for an encore after that. Rest in peace, Frank.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 8:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Over at the Charm City Moms blog today, they're considering the question: "What do you think is an appropriate age for kids to begin having Harry Potter (book 1) read to them?"

Blogger Kate Shatzkin turned to the Enoch Pratt Free Library for advice. Here's an excerpt from the answer prepared by Deborah Taylor, the Pratt's School and Student Services Coordinator, and Selma Levi, children's librarian at the Central Library:

"Rowling’s language and wordplay, especially in the first two books, make the books easy to read and understand but parents may find some of the imagery and circumstances in which Harry finds himself, a bit frightening for very young children. Each of the first two books builds to a very intense concluding episode. Parents should know how their child might react to a very high level of drama. From Book Three on, the books get increasingly dark and explore even more emotionally intense areas."

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 1:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

The Baltimore Sun's Jill Rosen took a look at Ben Mezrich's Accidental Billionaires, a new book about the founders of Facebook. As we noted last week, he's taking some heat for writing a narrative that mixes fact and fiction, Here are excerpts from Rosen's take on Mezrich and his book:

Mezrich, who’s 40, says he likes to live vicariously through the capers of his over-achieving characters. But, he pretty much is one himself: He graduated from Harvard. He’s published 10 books, and like the last one, his latest title is set to become a movie.

His book jacket photo shows a boyish man with wire-rim glasses and a cool leather jacket at odds with an ever-so-slightly nebbish grin. “Part of it is I am a geeky kid at heart who couldn’t get laid,” he said this week by phone from a hotel in New York. “I’m kind of like that guy in a corner who’s watching it all go on.” ...

[A]s much press as Accidental Billionaires is getting, Ben Mezrich can’t seem to dodge the claims that his non-fiction is, well, a bit on the fiction side. No one’s denying his stories are fun reads. It’s that they say they’re a little bit too fun, that some of the most salacious details have an unfortunate tendency to be unprovable.

Accidental Billionaires has Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who didn’t talk to Mezrich for the account, eating koala meat on one occasion and leaving a party with a Victoria Secret model on another. In one entirely fictionalized scene, Mezrich imagines what it would have been like if Zuckerberg really did break into a residence hall to steal data, as he thinks he did but cannot say for sure. For pages, he has Zuckerberg sneaking around, crouching in the dark, hiding behind a sofa as a couple has paragraphs worth of foreplay.

And Mezrich pumps scenes full of descriptive elements, the sort of little things one wouldn’t necessarily remember from the day before, let alone from years ago. The way an incidental streamer drifted to the floor. How someone coughed slightly. A shrug. “You have to remember what you are reading,” Mezrich says. “You didn’t pick up a textbook. You didn’t pick up a documentary. You read it in that light.”

In the post-James Frey world, critics don’t seem as willing as Mezrich would like to accept that line of reasoning. A June 24 headline on a New York Times blog entry about his book reads: “A New Book on Facebook, Some of It Fact-Based.” “The (True?) Story Behind Facebook’s Founding,” Time magazine says coyly. “Often the details Mezrich makes up are juicier than the facts that inspired the scenes,” Jessi Hempel writes in CNNMoney.com. “So far, even some of the details labeled ‘fact’ in the book have been disputed.”

Mezrich readily admits that bits and pieces of the story he might not know, he “imagines” to the best of his ability. He argues that he’s not making things up so much as taking artistic liberties to make the books readable. And, he adds, he’s disclosed those liberties in authors notes at the front of each book. “There’s definitely old-world journalists who don’t get what I do,” he says. “I clearly fall under non-fiction. I don’t think anyone in the book would feel differently.”

Some folks at Facebook apparently do feel differently. The company’s spokesman Elliot Schrage has been widely quoted lambasting the book, saying it’s as believable as a Hollywood bodice-ripper. “Ben Mezrich clearly aspires to be the Jackie Collins or Danielle Steele of Silicon Valley,” he says. “In fact his own publisher put it best. ‘The book isn’t reportage. It’s big juicy fun.’ ” (Schrage quotes Doubleday publicist Todd Doughty who made that statement to a New York Times writer.)

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

As someone who often reads in restaurants and other public places around Baltimore -- and who is curious about what others are reading -- the inwardness and anonymity of the e-book reading experience seems very odd. I don’t mean that we should brandish the latest “hot” book in public like some designer handbag. “Look, the new Pynchon!”

We should approach books with intellectual honesty, and not use them simply as a signal for companionship and conversation. But I’m happy to chat about a book with fellow readers — strangers even. Consider it an impromptu mini-book club.

Other Read Streeters feel differently. In response to a post last week on this topic, Gail said she was annoyed when strangers asked her about her books. Lenn said the Kindle and other e-book readers free us to read only books that interest us, without worrying about what other people think.

Have you had a close encounter with a stranger over a book -- and how did it go?

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 1:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

So you thought you were actually buying books when you plunked down $9.99 via your Kindle? More like renting them.

Amazon reached into the files of Kindle owners in recent days to retrieve pirated copies of George Orwell's 1984 and other books, according to the Associated Press. Users were notified after the books were swiped, and were given refunds.

A company spokesman said the move was meant to delete pirated copies that had been added to the Kindle store by someone who did not have the legal right to the material. "We are changing our systems so that in the future we will not remove books from customers' devices in these circumstances." spokesman Drew Herdener said Friday, according to the AP.

Amazon's actions highlight concerns that e-book retailers retain access to items that they sell -- and access to an individual's Kindle. Sort of like Big Brother, eh George?

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

I saw Harry Potter Wednesday night in a packed theater, and before I let you know what I thought, I'd just like to share a nice, human connection that I made with a (gasp!) fellow Kindle user!

I know, I know. After Dave's various tirades, you'd think such a thing to be impossible. But in fact, the nice woman next to me was reading from her Kindle while waiting for Potter to begin. I was actually reading from my iPhone's Kindle application, since the clutch I brought was a bit too tiny to carry the actual device.

We soon go to talking about the various Kindles, the reading experience and how great it was to travel with books no matter where you are, and how little space you need to carry them. It was a beautiful thing.

And then the movie started. And if you haven't seen it, or read the book, I'd say just enjoy the pretty picture there and ignore the rest of this post.

First, it must be acknowledged that I took my boyfriend, and he's never read the books or really even seen any of the movies straight through. While he was a bit apprehensive, we both agreed we liked the movie. It wasn't fantastic: My mind wasn't blown, and he didn't immediately rush out to buy the entire series. But we enjoyed the nearly three-hour film, and the teen angst and young love was played pitch-perfect by the entire cast, especially Emma Watson.

There weren't many newcomers for this film, and the focus remained on the core characters: Harry, his best friends Ron and Hermione, the wise old Dumbledore, and the ever-looming presence of Voldemort (who doesn't actually appear in this movie, but is name-dropped all over the place).

So while I'd describe this installment as more of a "talkie" than an action-adventure, it was like seeing old friends; and as always the movie was remarkably true to its source material.

But in saying that, I have to point out the biggest flaw of the movie, and the one time the books really should have been followed more strictly. The problem with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is that the over-arching mystery of the book -- who is the Half-Blood Prince, and why is he important -- is effectively lost in the movie. While Snape is identified as such, the name is never explained, nor is his role in the film as well-rounded as in the book.

After a bunch of scenes in which Snape acts like, well, Snape, and Dumbledore inexplicably trusts him anyway, you're left feeling that Dumbledore was a fool and Harry should be a whole lot angrier than he is. Since reading the Half-Blood Prince, I'd imagined Dumbledore's funeral scene to be a show-stopper, and instead it was muted and nearly incomprehensible. That was a disappointment.

In the end, it feels like you just watched a very long set up for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Which, in a way, was going to be true no matter what. But in losing the heart of the battle of wills between Harry and Snape, you lose the plot of Half-Blood Prince.

So while I didn't hate it, I can see why some would. And all I can say to them is this: Deathly Hallows is being split into two separate films, almost guaranteeing that all those loose ends and unexplained plots will be fully explored. I hope you can wait until then!

(Photos courtesy of Warner Brothers)

Posted by Nancy Knight at 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Reviews
        

Happy Friday, Read Streeters!

Let's not beat around the proverbial bush. Today's winner of The Accidental Billionaires is Kathy. Congratulations, and I hope you enjoy his book as much as you enjoyed hearing him speak.

This week, I've been reading a lot of books, but my favorite was Sarah Schmelling's book, Ophelia Joined the Group Maidens Who Don't Float: Classic Lit Signs on to Facebook. It has a little bit of the bard, a little bit of Jane and the party posted for The Canterbury Tales is full of bawdiness, as you would expect. The book will be released next month, and I suggest it for anyone who enjoys literature -- or just making fun of it.

This week's giveaway is The Girl Who Played with Fire, by Stieg Larsson. If that name looks familiar, (and who forgets a name like Stieg?), it's probably because you spied his last novel, the international best-seller The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo at your local bookstore. The second of the Millenium trilogy follows the original's heroine, Lisbeth Salander, who is suspected of murdering two investigative journalists, and only Mikael Blomkvist believes in her innocence.

Let us know what you're reading, and it could be yours!

Posted by Nancy Knight at 9:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (15)
Categories: Freebie Friday
        

Our friends over at the io9 blog -- motto: We come from the future -- are asking readers to recommend the worst Sci-Fi book covers of all time.

Among the early front runners is an edition of Iceworld by Hal Clement. The plot involves a high school science teacher and inter-planetary drug running. No wonder the cover looks so goofy.

So take some time out of the blistering heat today to go through that pile of books in your basement. Maybe you'll win a trip to the fiuture. (Let us know the price of Google stock.)

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 8:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Hi guys! Did you miss me? I took a little bit of time off, and while I expected to write a few blog entries from home, my Internet provider had other ideas. Apparently "upgrading my service" is code for losing Internet access for a week.

But now I'm back, and ready to share a few literary events with you.

There's a little thing called Artscape that's taking over our city this weekend. If you're there Friday night, stop by the Baltimore Sun booth between 8 and 9 p.m. to see me and Dave (and possibly my puppy Murphy). We'd love to talk books with you!

But if you're trying to avoid the festivities, here are a few events that'll keep you busy:

First of all, as you well know, this is the opening week for the latest Harry Potter movie. I won't spoil my review by saying too much here, but if you're a Rowling fan, you should (and probably already have) check it out.

Saturday afternoon, New York Times best-selling author Connie Briscoe will be at the Reginal F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture to discuss and sign her latest book, Sisters & Husbands, a sequel to Sisters & Lovers. The event is free with museum admission; $8 general, $6 for seniors and students.

Also Saturday, Constellation Books in Reisterstown is hosting a tea with authors of Young Adult titles, targeted to kids in grades three through nine.

And Monday night, Towson's Ukazoo Books will hold its biweekly creative writing session, inviting writers to work on their own projects, or begin with a group prompt, and share their works. Register in advance at 410.832.BOOK.

Got other plans? Let us know about your own literary events for the upcoming week!

Posted by Nancy Knight at 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Book It
        

Frank McCourt is gravely ill with meningitis and is unlikely to survive, the author's brother said today, according to the Associated Press. Malachy McCourt said that his 78-year-old brother, best known for the heart-breaking memoir Angela's Ashes, is in a New York hospice, "his faculties shutting down."

"He is not expected to live," said Malachy McCourt, himself an author and performer. Frank McCourt, shown here in 2007, was recently treated for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, but his brother says he had been doing well until about two weeks ago, when he contracted meningitis.

"He was out and about, being active, doing talks and so forth," Malachy McCourt said.

Here's a video of Frank McCourt on writing about poverty, which helped define his childhood in Ireland and was a theme of Angela's Ashes.

AP photo

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

We're in the midst of the 40th anniversary of man's first trip to the moon: the Apollo 11 mission lasted from July 16-24, 1969, with the moon touchdown coming July 20. The moment captivated the nation, and I imagine that I watched it on a primitive television set from my home in Connecticut. But somehow, that Norman Rockwell scene has been lost in my memory -- unlike the day that JFK was shot, for example.

For such a stunning moment in history, the moon landing -- and the space race itself -- produced surprisingly few great books. If I had to pick one, it would be The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe, which describes the earliest days of the space program, from the perspective of the fighter pilots-turned astronauts. Wolfe does a great job describing their daring and heroism -- and how they bristled at the space bureaucracy that tried to rein in their maverick nature.

Here's another way to get into the moon mood: a video by Baltimore Sun photographer Karl Merton Ferron on the race to the moon.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Here's James Wolcott in VF (and thanks to Michael Schaub at the Bookslut blog for noting it): How can I impress strangers with the gem-like flame of my literary passion if it’s a digital slate I’m carrying around, trying not to get it all thumbprinty? Books not only furnish a room, to paraphrase the title of an Anthony Powell novel, but also accessorize our outfits. They help brand our identities.

And Molly Flatt on the Guardian's book blog: Novels aren't just sources of solitary cogitation. They are social objects, and we use them to brandish our identities, mark our allegiances and broker our relationships. ... Thanks to the intimate connection between story and reader, they impact upon us very personally, and can drive otherwise undemonstrative folk to feel they have a right – nay duty – to confront complete strangers with their zeal, and have thus been responsible for some of the most unexpected human encounters I've had.

Baltimore Sun photo by Jed Kirschbaum

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 6:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

Ben Mezrich is drawing lots of attention -- and lots of flak -- these days for his new book, The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal. Let's set aside my  disdain for ridiculously long, colon-ized book titles, and get right to the point: Is he playing fast and loose with the facts?

I'm a strict constructionist when it comes to non-fiction. I have tremendous respect for authors such as John McPhee, who can make complex subjects come alive with their reporting and writing. But I have little patience for folks who bend the truth to suit their needs. That's why I'll probably never pick up a James Frey book. Mezrich's method of crafting composite characters and embellishing scenes has been deconstructed and criticized before, notably in relation to Busting Vegas his book about MIT kids who developed a method to win big at blackjack in Vegas.

Now, critics are asking whether he took the same liberties in his new book about the founding of Facebook. The Baltimore Sun will look at the issue this Sunday, and readers can ask Mezrich when he appears at a reading at the Enoch Pratt library Tuesday, July 21 at 6:30 p.m.

But as a strict constructionist, I'm giving Mezrich a pass -- for now. Busting Vegas includes a disclaimer that some events and individuals are composites. In Accidental Billionaires, a more prominent author's note says "details of settings and descriptions have been changed or imagined." I do worry that Mezrich, in interviews, seems to brush off the disclaimers, as if his narratives build a "truth" that is truer than the facts. ("The idea that the story is true, is more important than being able to prove that it's true," he told the Boston Globe last year.) That's a losing argument, Ben. Drop it.

So caveat emptor. Enjoy the book, but don't confuse it with real life -- any more than you'd consider reality TV shows to be reality.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Why don't The Baltimore Sun's real estate ads ever have any deal that's this exciting for bibliophiles?

According to British news reports, the beach that inspired Virginia Woolf's To The Lighthouse has been sold. The 76-acre property, in the southwestern tip of England, has a view of the Godrevy Island lighthouse. The winning bid at auction was about $130,000, less than buildable lots on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Woolf's autobiographical novel, published in 1927, was set in the Hebrides but drew on her childhood holidays in St. Ives, where she stayed at a house that had a view of the island, according to The Independent.

That report comes a few days after The Telegraph reported that Daphne Du Maurier's former Cornwall home, which was the setting for her novel, Frenchman's Creek, was for sale. The price: about $3.3 million.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 1:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

The Girls from Ames has been a fixture on best-seller lists, thanks to its theme of enduring friendship. We asked Jenny Litchman of Annapolis, one of the "girls," to tell us how the book has changed her life. To hear more, drop by the Barnes & Noble in Annapolis (2516 Solomon's Island Road), where she, author Jeff Zaslow and two other "girls" will hold a reading at 7:30 Thursday, July 16. Here's Jenny:

I am “Jenny from Ames,” the one who started this whole thing. When I wrote Jeff Zaslow an e-mail six years ago, commenting on a column he had just written, I had no idea that my best friends and I would become “characters” in a best-selling non-fiction book about women’s friendships. When my friends and I entered into this project with Jeff, we truly had no idea that anyone would want to read a book about 11 small-town girls from the Midwest. We really agreed to do it because we wanted a chronicle of our friendship for ourselves and our daughters.

I couldn’t imagine, before, that people would find us very interesting, since what has happened to us, individually and collectively, over the years happens to millions of people around the world every day. But I guess that’s exactly why people like it so much, because our stories are universal, and readers see themselves and their own friends in our pages.

I have been fortunate these last few months, since the book came out, to have been the recipient of lots of stories about other people’s friends. I can’t tell you how many times someone at work, for instance, has come into my office, closed my door, and told me how much they enjoyed reading our book and how much my friends remind me of their friends. They then will tell me about their current best friend(s), their oldest childhood friend(s), the best friend that they lost touch with, or their closest, dearest friend who died and left them so lonely for a best friend.

It has been my privilege to be the recipient of these stories and I’m so happy that this book has been the mechanism by which we women start a dialog about our friends and the role they play in our lives. Most people tell me that reading our book has made them either pull their own friends closer to them or it has inspired them to reconnect with friends with whom they had lost touch.

The role that friendship plays in our health is also touched on in the book. Jeff cites several research studies that show how our health is impacted in a positive way when we have close, caring friendships. Two of the girls from Ames were diagnosed with breast cancer and they feel certain that our close friendship helped them get through their diagnoses and treatments, both from a physical and mental standpoint. It is my hope that one day every doctor’s regular advice will be not to “Take two aspirin and call me in the morning” but rather to “Call two friends and take an aspirin in the morning.”

This experience has affected me in a very profound way. I will never again take for granted my relationships with each of my nine sisters. I suspect it is common that most of us take our good friends for granted, especially in the course of our busy lives when we don’t have time to stop and really think about how special these relationships are. I had always assumed that everyone had this many close, best friends. It wasn’t until Jeff started writing the book and doing the research that I realized that many people have just one good friend, or maybe two or three. But to have nine best friends really is special, and I know that now. I so appreciate each and every one of them for the incredibly warm, intelligent, caring, thoughtful and hysterically funny women they are.

I know, without a doubt, that we will be friends when Jeff Zaslow is writing the sequel “The Old Ladies from the Ames Nursing Home.” I know that, no matter what, they will be there for me, and I for them. Always.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Marylandia
        

Happy Bastille Day! As Read Streeters know, I'm an incorrigible Francophile, though I stop short of shooting off fireworks to mark the storming of the infamous Parisian prison. (I do hope to celebrate with a plate of steak frites, especially since we have a house guest from Lyon for the next few weeks.) If you're in the mood to join the celebration, here are a few books to pick up:

Eiffel's Tower by Jill Jonnes. Jonnes, who lives in Baltimore, has crafted a cultural history of the Paris landmark and its creator, who was vilified by many while the tower was being built. She also weaves in Thomas Edison, Annie Oakley and other prominent personalities who attended the world's fair that brought us the tower, though I found their stories less compelling than Gustave Eiffel's.

The Discovery of France by Graham Robb. A full century after the revolution, France remained divided by a dizzying mess of linguistic and cultural barriers. Robb takes a very human look at the patchwork nation, examining its people and their customs -- while noting the forces that eventually brought unity.

The Flaneur by Edmund White. In capturing the joy of wandering Paris' streets, White delivers short profiles of interesting characters, major historic events and neighborhoods.

Of the mysteries I've read recently, I'd pick Louis Bayard's The Black Tower over Cara Black's Murder on the Ile St. Louis and Fred Vargas' The Chalk Circle Man.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 1:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Harry Potter fans worldwide are eager for this week's opening of the movie adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. But the hype that accompanies each book and movie in the series is a headache to a Maryland man named Harry E. Potter. (Maryland has or recently had at least three Harry Potters, 16 Hermiones, 3 Siriuses, 13 men named Snape and 15 women named Narcissa.) The Baltimore Sun's Mary McCauley explains it all in a story; here's an excerpt:

It isn't enough of a coincidence that he shares a name with the most famous literary character on the planet. He would have to have a scar on his forehead, starting between his eyes and snaking up his forehead in a line - just like the boy wizard created by J.K. Rowling.

"Oh my lordy Hannah," says the real-life Harry E. Potter, 76, of Leonardtown. "You have no idea what it is like to have this name. Just 15 minutes ago, I got a phone call from some girls who were about 13 or 14, and who giggled a lot. And you cannot be rude to them, you know that? You cannot be rude.

"That J.K. Rowling owes me something. I'm not sure what, but she owes me."

Click here for the rest of Mary's story on Potterish names.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 8:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)
        

Author Nicholas Sparks is known best for weepers such as The Notebook and Nights in Rodanthe, but you might not know this about him: He's also a coach for a record-setting track team of high schoolers.

Runners from the New Bern, N.C., team set three U.S. records on the way to winnning seven national titles this year, according to the Raleigh News & Observer.  Sparks, who helps coach the team, has also been a generous benefactor, giving more than $1 million toward building a track and improving the area's track and field program, the newspaper reported in an earlier story (which also noted that his gifts have sparked some hard feelings). 

Sparks was quoted as saying, "I think I can help kids in the areas that I know best. One of those is track and field. I don't know how to get a kid a scholarship in gymnastics, but I do know how to help a kid get a track scholarship."

Photo by Alice M. Arthur

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 1:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

It all began when actress Brooke Shields said that although Jackson was known as the King of Pop, he was always a little prince to her. She quoted from The Little Prince: “Here is my secret. It is very simple: One sees well only with the heart. The essential is invisible to the eyes.”

Suddenly, Internet inquiries lit up for the words: the little prince. For a time, it was among Google’s most-searched terms. Can it be that so many people are unfamiliar with Antoine de Saint Exupery’s petit masterpiece? Has time run out on his timeless classic?

The generation that grew up with that book (it was published in 1943) also swooned over the pop philosophy of Jonathan Livingston Seagull and the fairy tale love story of Love Story, so maybe its literary tastes weren’t flawless. Still, I thought The Little Prince would have more shelf life.

Makes you wonder about the signature books of the younger generation. Judging from recent best-seller lists — loaded with the vampires of Stephenie Meyer and the wizards of J.K. Rowling — tastes runs heavily toward escapism and fantasy. Is there an underlying philosophical message for the generation? Maybe it’s acceptance of others, including vampires. Or: Good sorcery triumphs over evil sorcery.

Sure doesn’t compare to: “The essential is invisible to the eyes.”

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 1:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)
        

Did you, like me, buy Amazon's Kindle a week or two before it went on sale? Did you, like me, think you had the worst luck ever? Then you, like me, could become $60 richer.

After admiring Read Streeter Nancy Johnston's Kindle 2 for weeks, I decided to take the plunge last week and hand over a whopping $359+ (I wanted a cover and a warranty) to get one, too. I have plans to travel in Europe via train this fall, and I didn't want to lug several books around. It arrived Friday. It was so pristine and pretty!

On Tuesday, Amazon announced it was dropping the price of the Kindle to $299. It cited lower production costs, but I think it was done, in part, to lure people who had been thinking about getting the e-book reader for awhile but couldn't quite commit. I committed about four business days too soon.

I didn't have much hope that I'd get a $60 credit or refund, as I couldn't find a price-adjustment policy online, but I thought I'd try. I used Amazon's "request call back feature," and a customer-service rep got back to me in about a minute. 

So, Kindle-ites, call and get your cash back if/while you can!

Now the question is, should I get more books? Book suggestions welcome!

Photo: Getty Images

Posted by Carla Correa at 5:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

To mark the 60th anniversary of the National Book Awards, the sponsoring foundation has created an interesting "book-a-day" blog to feature fiction winners. Beginning with Nelson Algren’s The Man With the Golden Arm (1950) and ending with Peter Matthiessen’s Shadow Country (2008), each blog post contains commentary and related links. The National Book Foundation's countdown blog began July 7 and runs until Sept. 21.

But, as they say in infomercials: Wait, there's more! The public will choose the best of the 77 books. On September 21, the foundation will name six finalists, and open public voting (one vote per email address) for a month. Each email address will be entered into a drawing for two tickets to the National Book Awards Ceremony, as well as dinner and two nights at the Marriott near Wall Street.

As they used to say when I lived in Roanoke, Va.: You can't beat that with a stick.

p.s. My crystal ball says the six finalists will be: Invisible Man, The Fixer, Rabbit is Rich, The Color Purple, Cold Mountain and The Wapshot Chronicle. I'll bet an R.C. and a Moon Pie (also Roanoke).

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 5:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

You've got to love this story for its through-the-looking-glass quality. A super-secure federal prison ruled that two books written by President Obama contain information "potentially detrimental to national security" and rejected an inmate's request to read them.

According to the Associated Press, Ahmed Omar Abu Ali is serving a 30-year sentence at the federal supermax prison in Florence, Colo., for joining al-Qaida and plotting to assassinate then-President George W. Bush. Last year, Abu Ali asked to read Dreams from My Father and The Audacity of Hope. But prison officials, citing guidance from the FBI, determined that passages in both books contain information that could damage national security.

In court documents related to his resentencing, prison officials flag specific pages — but not specific passages — deemed objectionable, the AP said. They include one page in Obama's 1995 book, Dreams from My Father, and 22 pages in his policy-oriented 2006 book, The Audacity of Hope.

I can picture the talk show headline already: Obama #1 on Terrorist Summer Reading List!

Update: Friday, a prison spokesman said that several months after the refusal, Abu Ali was given access to the books.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

 Happy Friday, everybody! I hope you have fantastic weekends planned.

Let's get the happiness started a little early for rhapsodyinbooks, who's won Seen The Glory. Congratulations!

Right now, I'm reading Nick Douglas' Twitter Wit: Brilliance in 140 Characters or Less. With a foreward by a cofounder of Twitter, the book does a good job explaining the social networking site's impacts large and small. As a bonus, it's hilarious. I now want to friend everyone mentioned in it. A few gems:

Synopsis for Twilight: "And then, like, vampires," giromide

It seems no matter how ugly a place may be, it will have "Keep XYZ Beautiful" signs. New Jersey has them. Mordor probably does, too, jonathaneunice

Every time I turn a thousand pages to the back of Infinite Jest, I half expect the little footnote to read, simply, "Sorry," lianamaeby

The book comes out this fall, and while I've received this advanced version, it never hurts to sign up and suggest a few of your own favorite tweets at the book's Web site.

Next up: The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal, by Ben Mezrich. Mezrich's last book, Bringing Down the House, was made into a movie, and it looks like this one is well on its way to the same treatment, with the screenplay written by Aaron Sorkin himself.

Let us know what you're reading, and it could be yours!

Posted by Nancy Knight at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Freebie Friday
        

Fred Trust grew up in the former Soviet republic of Azerbajian, but was no stranger to the story of the Wizard of Oz. He was captivated by the tale, and after coming to the U.S., became a collector of Oz books. The Owings Mills resident loaned about 50 of his books to the Geppi Entertainment Museum for its Wizard of Oz exhibit, which also includes games, dolls and toys; it runs through January. We asked Fred to tell us about his passion. Here's his guest post:

The Wizard of the Emerald City is one of the favorite children's book titles in the former Soviet Union. However, very few people are aware of its real author and origin. The Russian writer Alexander Volkov translated L. Frank Baum's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and also changed the names of most characters, removed some elements of Baum's novel, and added some new ones. The story was a favorite of mine as well as of many other children growing up in the former Soviet republics.

When my own children were born and I was looking for good children's books to read to them, I decided to find out if by any chance The Wizard of the Emerald City was translated from Russian to English. To my surprise I discovered that the book was initiated and originally published in this country in 1899! Although at the time I obtained an inexpensive replica of the book to read to my kids, I set myself a goal to obtain the earlier copy of the Wizard of Oz.

Through my research I quickly learned that obtaining the first edition of Wonderful Wizard of Oz would be a challenge since this title was selling for over $10,000 at that time. Diving deeply into

In 2009, there has been a resurgence of interest in the Wizard of Oz. For example: Andrew Lloyd Webber plans to produce the Wizard of Oz play on Broadway; two animated Wizard of Oz movies are in works; MGM and Sony Pictures announced a remake of The Wizard of Oz; and Oscar nominee Anne Hathaway has signed on to star in the Weinstein Company’s biography of famous singer and actress Judy Garland.

The Wizard of Oz story is so deeply imbedded in American culture that almost on a weekly basis I find some ties to it through the media. For example, in conjunction with death of Michael Jackson, it was indicated repeatedly that he played a Scarecrow in the movie "The Wiz" in 1978. The best-selling author Michael Connelly in his most recent book "The Scarecrow" uses various facts from the Oz series, such as Denslow Associates (William Denslow illustrated the Wizard of Oz title), Fred Stone (appeared in the first Broadway musical in 1902), references to a character Dorothy from Kansas, etc.

Currently, the Geppi Museum through its exhibit celebrates the 70th anniversary of 1939 Wizard of Oz movie and I was honored to lend a number of my books to that exhibit. All 40 famous Oz titles that can be seen on the display in this exhibit are around 100 years old, rare and very hard to find in this pristine condition. It should also be noted that L. Frank Baum wrote over 70 other books outside of Oz series and many of them can also be seen in the museum.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Marylandia
        

Who doesn't enjoy a love story? OK, besides you. But I bet you love a good war story, right? Hmm. How about both? Local author Vincent Gisriel Jr. will be at Greetings & Readings Saturday to sign and discuss his book, Hearts Away, Bombs Away, based on his father's experiences in World War II and the correspondance between Gisriel Sr. and the woman who would become his wife.

Also Saturday, Elissa Brent Weissman, a past guest blogger here at Read Street, will be at Red Canoe to sign copies of her new book, The Trouble with Mark Hopper. If you enjoyed Standing for Socks, you won't want to miss this story of a young boy and his doppelganger. And Elissa is just an extremely sweet individual, so you should go introduce yourself and grab a few of Red Canoe's yummy snacks, while you're at it.

Minas Boutique hosts Second Sunday Poetry again this month, with Alan Barysh, Ron Williams, Suzanne X, Rabbi Liz Bolton, Julie Fisher, Miriam Botwinik and Marcus Colasurdo. Oh, and you, if you're in the mood for some open mic action. Your $3 donation and/or nonperishable food item will go toward Hearts Place Shelter.

 Finally, on Tuesday, Marnie Colton begins her six-week course on poetry to be taught at Red Emma's Free School. The classes focus on contemporary poetry by young women.

As always, look for more events on our Read Street calendar, or let us know about any we haven't included!

Posted by Nancy Knight at 2:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Book It
        

Nouveau Baltimorean Larry Doyle will have his novel, I Love You, Beth Cooper, spread across the big screen when the movie adaptation opens nationwide Friday. Doyle, who moved to Baltimore four years ago, will also appear tonight in Baltimoored: Summer in the City, A Live Radio Show. Today in The Baltimore Sun, Michael Sragow profiled Doyle. An excerpt:

Larry Doyle's wife says he's funny only when he's talking to someone other than herself.

Luckily, he should be talking to hundreds of theatergoers at Center Stage Thursday for Stoop Storytelling, the popular stage series featuring Baltimoreans relating their own tales of Charm City.

Doyle, author of the Thurber Prize-winning novel I Love You, Beth Cooper [shown here accepting the award]... has also written the screenplay and served as an executive producer for the movie version of his novel, which opens nationwide Friday; the director is Chris Columbus, who made the first two Harry Potter pictures.

It should be a heady time even for a 50-year-old, formerly L.A.-based veteran who has won two Emmy awards and one Annie for his work on The Simpsons.

But over the phone from a hotel lobby in Tribeca (he planned to attend a "special screening" of Beth Cooper in New York Tuesday night), he remained refreshingly down-to-earth and dry. "That's Vincent D'Onofrio walking by," he interrupts himself to say, "looking ... kind of ... fat."

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Marylandia
        

Good news for Nancy and the other Kindle-ites: Amazon cut the e-reader's price to $299 on Wednesday.

The new price is $60 below the pricetag the Kindle has had since its 2007 debut. Spokeswoman Cinthia Portugal said the price cut is not just a short-term promotion. "We've been able to increase the volume of Kindles we're manufacturing and decrease the cost of doing so," she said, according to the Associated Press.

Amazon has not disclosed Kindle sales figures, and the publishing industry has said e-books account for less than 1 percent of book sales, the AP said. But it is a fast-growing segment. Amazon's larger Kindle DX, which is geared toward textbooks and periodicals, still has its original price of $489.

I think the price cut will make the Kindle2 attractive to more consumers. But until the price drops much more significantly -- to $99.99 or lower -- I don't think it will become a mass market item. It will still appeal mainly to (a) travelers who hate lugging suitcases full of books; (b) time-starved parents; (c) heavy, heavy readers; (d) library-phobes; and (e) those who are all of the above. So, what price would attract you?

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 4:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Author: Sarah Rees Brennan

Synopsis: Set in modern-day England, the story begins with 16-year-old Nick Ryves and his brother, Alan. Their family's been torn apart by the demons they run from, but now two teens are are asking them to fight back to save one who's been marked for possession.

Review: Nick is quite the head case, and you can't really blame him: After all, his day-to-day life running from magicians and demons would drive anyone a little crazy.

The intense loyalty of his brother, whose love he guards jealously from any woman who stumbles into their lives (including his own mother), is just about the only bright spot in their fugitive existance. That, and the huge honking sword he carries at all times. 

The characters and their world are portrayed consistently and realistically, which is always the most important aspect in the fantasy genre, and sometimes overlooked by less saavy writers. And the great big whooper of a family secret in the plot ensures that it's not just all magic, all the time.

I'm looking forward to the next installment in this new series, and many more books from first-time author Brennan. 

If you liked: Holly Black (Tithe), Garth Nix (Shade's Children, Keys to the Kingdom series) or Patricia Briggs (Mercy Thompson series) you'll enjoy this. Nick's character provides a likewise strong voice, but there's plenty of development to be had.

You should avoid this if: The supernatural just doesn't do it for you. While there is some violence, it never gets too graphic, and the young love angle is kept at a minimum, so if you're looking for a hot sex scene, move on.

Posted by Nancy Knight at 2:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Reviews
        

Congratulations to Kathleen Keane, who recently began a one-year term as president of the Association of American University Presses, a group with 134 member presses.

"I am honored to accept this position, and I am proud of the AAUP's on-going efforts to advance scholarly publishing and serve the very accomplished and collegial community of member presses," Keane, director of the Johns Hopkins University Press, said in a statement.

Keane joined the Hopkins press in 2002 as director of finance and operations. In 2004, she became director of the organization, which is America's oldest university press, and its staff of 140. According to the Hopkins press, it publishes 200 new titles annually, manages the publication of 70 scholarly periodicals, runs an online collection of 450 scholarly journals and handles customer services operation for 16 presses.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

To generate buzz about its books and authors, Hachette Book Group has begun to post the complete contents of selected books on its website. FOR FREE!

The selection of the OpenAccess program isn't huge right now, but it does include several books that have garnered impressive reviews, including Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith and The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent. There's also Gossip Girl.

A number of publishers have similar programs to promote new authors or a new series -- or to simply to spread the word about interesting books. It's not a bad strategy. Folks who read online are still a minority, but their recommendations can drive sales of printed books. So the publisher and readers can benefit.

Call me a caveman, but I'm not big on reading e-books and still  like the feel of paper (did cavemen have books?). I guess I could print out these freebies, but that would be cruel to Mother Earth. So this offer may be lost on me, but hey, enjoy!

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

The Baltimore Sun's Mary McCauley, a regular contributor on Read Street, stopped by the Enoch Pratt library, where folks could watch the Michael Jackson memorial service on a large screen. Her report: There were about 50 people at the Pratt, watching a video projected onto a large screen. Initially, there were only about 20 chairs, but as the crowd grew, workers put out more. A few people apparently were attending the funeral on their lunch break, and snacked from styrofoam containers. Others chatted with their neighbors and formed new friendships.

"I came to the Pratt because I wanted to be surrounded by llike-minded people who really care about Michael Jackson," said Tiffany McDonald, 36, of Baltimore, who attended the event with her 12-year-old daughter, Nyah. "His music expressed his compassion and love for people."

Members of the crowd swayed in time to such songs as "I'll Be There" and to a musical tribute called "I Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer" written for the occasion by Stevie Wonder. Spectators wiped away tears -- and not just the women.

Regina Penton, 50, from Baltimore, was on the phone with her sister when she heard the news of of Jackson's death. "I dropped the phone," she recalled. "I couldn't believe it. My sister was like, 'Girl, are you O.K.? Are you O.K.?' I cried. I couldn't sleep."

So she made it a priority to come to the Pratt to watch the funeral. "Michael Jackson brought a lot of people together," she said.

Baltimore Sun staff photo by Tasha Treadwell

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 4:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Conspiracy theorists, ready, set, go! Publishers in the United States and Great Britain today released the covers for Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol, which goes on sale Sept. 15. The U.S. version (on left) shows the Capitol surrounded by mystical symbols and a red seal that features a double-headed eagle, the number 33 and the a Latin phrase meaning "order from chaos." It looks genuinely creepy, but no less so than the dollar bill's Great Seal, an eyeball hovering over a pyramid. Brown decoders have noted the similarities to emblems of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, which has a headquarters in Washington.

The U.K. version (on right) seems more straightforward. The Capitol is more prominent, presumably to emphasize to folks in the Mother Country that Washington is the mystery's setting. It also features a key with a square and compass, an age-old symbol of architecture and Freemasonry.

You can keep following the mystery on The Lost Symbol's Twitter page, where puzzles are regularly posted. Or you can get creative, deciphering this intriguing map of Washington, which has the square and compass image superimposed to link key buildings. Or take Read Street's Dan Brown quiz. (Answers here.)

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 2:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

While I'm hesitant to kick libraries when they're down, I couldn't pass up the chance to share the Awful Libary Books blog.

Created by two Michigan librarians, Mary Kelly and Holly Hibner, the site chronicles the absolute worst books discovered on library shelves. We're talking The New York Times' 1985 guide to the return of Haley's Comet, a Star Power manual, outlining how to use obsolete computer programs I've never even heard of, and a 1962 book about what man will do when we reach the moon someday.

As Kelly and Hibner point out, these books aren't bad per se, they're just horribly outdated and could now actually be harmful for anyone trying to find information they can actually use.

Anyone here want to use a medical tome about AIDS that's about 20 years out of date? I didn't think so.

The best part is, they're always looking for more material. So the next time you find a book that makes you giggle, roll your eyes or even head for the trash can, snap a picture and send it to Awful Library Books where we can all "enjoy" it.

Posted by Nancy Knight at 8:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

The title of this blog entry says it all. I'm seeking the most obsessed Harry Potter fans imaginable for a story I'm writing for Sunday's paper. I'm particularly interested in those who demonstrate extreme behavior.

Is there anyone out there who re-reads all seven Harry Potter books each year? Any otherwise sane adults who named their firstborn son, "Albus"? Anyone who has actually trying to invent a "Marauder's Map" or a flying broomstick?

(Don't laugh -- according to an article in Science magazine, researchers at Duke and Berkeley have actually come up with something they're calling a cloak of invisibility.)

The catch -- you knew there would be a catch -- is that you have to live in Maryland, and you have to be willing to have your real name printed in The Sun.

 If you, umm, "qualify," please e-mail your name, e-mail address and a daytime phone number to: mary.mccauley@baltsun.com

Thanks. I think.

Posted by Mary McCauley at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Michael Jackson isn't the first name that comes to mind when I think about great books (though Read Street has noted his interest in Batman and other classic heroes from the comics).

But Baltimore's Enoch Pratt Free Library exists to be more than a repository of great books. So Tuesday at 1 p.m., fans of the King of Pop can watch TV coverage of his memorial service on a 10-foot by 10-foot screen in the main hall of the Pratt's central branch, at 400 Cathedral Street. The most recent event broadcast in the hall was President Obama's inauguration.

“The Pratt Library has always shown history making events on television screens on display at the Central Library Main Hall,” Carla D. Hayden, who heads the Pratt, said in a statement. “From man landing on the moon to the inauguration of President Obama, the Pratt has simulcast news making events.”

AP photo of Jackson in a May 6 rehearsal for planned 2009 concert tour

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 4:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Want to speak your mind about the latest "best Wimbledon final ever" and get a chance to win Strokes of Genius by L. Jon Wertheim while you're at it?

Stop by Second Opinion and tell me what you think of Federer and the state of tennis today.

And no, you don't have to agree with me in order to win.

Posted by Nancy Knight at 2:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Whatever
        

In any newsroom, one of the late-night duties is fielding calls from folks tryng to settle a bar bet or finish a homework assignment: How many home runs did Babe Ruth hit? Who was Baltimore's mayor in 1980? Well, we can brace for more calls, now that the Enoch Pratt library's "Night Owl" Telephone Reference Service has fallen victim to budget cuts.

For 15 years, late night callers could ask librarians any bit of trivia, according to this story by Liz Kay of The Baltimore Sun. But that service ended on June 30. Here's an excerpt from Liz's story:

The Telephone Reference Service started more than 40 years ago, with reference librarians responding to queries for homework assistance or just the winning lottery numbers. They received about 250,000 calls last year, [Pratt spokesman Roswell] Encina said. Answers are usually delivered within five minutes.

"People are still using it even in the age of Google and Twitter," he said. However, only about 6,500 calls came in during Night Owl hours last year, the spokesman said.

Curious minds must now restrict their phone calls to the phone reference line between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

For those with Internet access, reference help is still available outside library working hours, however.

The Pratt still operates its "Ask-a-Librarian" service. Questions can be submitted via a form on the library Web site, and librarians usually reply within two working days. There is also 24-hour reference assistance available via the Maryland Ask Us Now!, a service that allows residents and students to chat online with librarians.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Hope everyone had a nice 4th of July weekend filled with picnics and fireworks. I got away for a couple of days, and brought a few books along, including The Sky Below and The Chalk Circle Man, but spent most of my time in du Pont country, touring Longwood Gardens and Winterthur.

To get us all thinking about reading again, here's author Gail Farrelly with a guest post on the topic of A Chance Encounter: What to do when you find yourself bookless? I was getting out of my car at the pool when I realized I had forgotten to bring a book to read. Panic! I grabbed what happened to be available, a book a friend had left in the back of my car: Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy by Jane Leavy. I have little interest in sports and didn't expect to like it but figured it'd be better than nothing. A shock! I'm loving it. The book is more history than baseball. Koufax is such an interesting person and Leavy a wonderful writer.

I'm thinking of Shaw's quote: "Take care to get what you like or you will be forced to like what you get." Hmm. Maybe not. I didn't bring what I liked, but I was only a few pages into the Koufax book when I knew that I liked what I got. No forcing required! Sports, horror, memoirs, and anything with a terrorist theme usually end up in "Don't Go There" territory for me. But now I'm thinking I've probably missed out on a lot of good books, because I've pigeon-holed them into the category of books I don't like.

Have you ever read a book that just happened to fall into your lap -- by chance or on a whim -- and then it turned out to be fabulous? Did it make you change your mind about choosing books?

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Bravo for Deborah Batts.

Last week, the federal judge barred U.S. distribution of an unauthorized sequel to The Catcher in the Rye. Her ruling was a victory for 90-year-old author J.D. Salinger, who for decades has jealously guarded his privacy — and his words. The courthouse battle in Manhattan focused on 60 Years Later: Coming Through the Rye (read a review here), which tells the story of Holden Caulfield as a senior citizen. The book, written by a Swedish author, already is available in Europe and was scheduled for a summer release here.

Authors have lots of leeway to parody other works, as anyone who ever read Mad or National Lampoon knows. But Salinger’s lawyers argued that he retains an interest in Caulfield — 57 years after the classic was published — and called the new book a “ripoff.”

Judge Batts (Radcliffe, Class of 1969; Harvard Law, 1972) rejected claims that 60 Years was a critical examination or parody of the original, according to news reports. The literary battle may continue; Judge Batts’ order is a stopgap measure until a trial is held.

But her ruling doesn’t address a larger issue: Is Catcher still relevant? Last fall, Oberlin professor Anne Trubek argued that the book is past its prime. “I think that most American teenagers will find it rather tame and sort of laughable the things that were once considered so controversial,” she said on NPR.

Certainly, today’s teens shouldn’t be fed a steady diet of books featuring angst-ridden white prep school boys — A Separate Peace; Good Times, Bad Times; etc. — as I was.

Yet Catcher remains a classic on the theme of searching for identity and meaning. That theme resounds today, just as it did 50, or 100, years ago. Consider the musical “Spring Awakening,” a recent Tony-winner adapted from a 19th Century German novel; it takes all of its power and energy from those universal themes.

And if kids can waste time watching “Gossip Girl” or “90210,” there must be a place for Salinger’s simple, powerful story.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 1:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The Baltimore Sun's Joe Burris spoke with Michael Lewis, whose books have examined Wall Street avarice, a Silicon Valley crash and the Oakland Athletics' scouting system. Here's Burris' take: So what’s it been like for the man who recently crafted Home Game: An Accidental Guide to Fatherhood to take readers to the changing table? “It was the first time I had to worry if my wife was going to let me get away with it,” said Lewis, whose latest book is a collection of a series of journal entries from Slate magazine. He’s perhaps best known for such works as Liar’s Poker, which chronicled his years as a bond trader on Wall Street, and Moneyball: The Art of Winning An Unfair Game, which dealt with the Oakland Athletics’ struggles to compete with major market teams.

But he’s also struck chords with Home Game, as he looks at how today’s fathers cope with being more involved with the everyday trials and triumphs of parenting. Lewis offers some colorful but poignant anecdotes on how he anticipated a plethora of joyful, father-knows-best moments, only to be awash with mixed emotions about the role.

He says it’s not surprising that men still struggle to find their way in the parenting landscape despite playing a more active role for years now. He says that women have experienced liberation from their former roles as mothers and home makers and added that many are conflicted about it. Why should men be any less conflicted about their roles, he asks. Here’s more from Lewis about his book and his view on parenting:

How much do you compare, as a father, to your father? “My father once watched me with a kind of detached pity as I struggled to dress our baby. Finally, he said, ‘You know, I didn’t talk to you until you went away to college.’ His experience of fatherhood was so different to mine that, at least in the first few years, it was completely useless to me. And yet he was, and is, a terrific dad. But there’s no way, if he landed the job today, he could get away with his approach."

What kind of responses have you received from other fathers about your book? “I’m sure there are fathers who take offense at my view of the role but I haven’t heard from them. Most of the response has been from women, who say something like, ‘It’s nice to know that my husband was actually thinking what I thought he was thinking.’ From men I tend to hear something like, "Dude! I can’t believe your wife let you get away with writing this!’"

When you felt the need to discuss difficult parenting moments with others, whom did you turn to? “I never felt that need. Or, if I did, I turned to my journal. My wife, on the other hand, had about 6,000 new mothers with whom to commiserate. New mothers gather; new fathers roll themselves up into a tiny ball in the corner of the room until the pain subsides.”

In what way do you believe that parenting resources serve fathers? “If by ‘parenting resources’ you mean the parenting books and birthing classes and so on: very little, in my experience. For a start, there’s the near total absence of the comic sensibility in them, when what they are describing is inherently a comic role. Each time my wife and I attended birthing class -- and we went to them before the birth of each of our three children -- there came a moment when the group split, and the women went into one room, and the men into another. The moment the men were alone the tone changed. In the presence of their wives and the instructors the men were serious and concerned; left to their own devices what they really wanted to do was joke about the absurdity of the enterprise. We had no real role to play except to pretend that we had a role to play.”

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 1:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Happy Freebie Friday, all!

It's my birthday, as well as July 4th weekend, so I'm just going to get right down to business.

Congratulations, Lindsey: You've won I Am Not Sidney Poitier! And the next time I'm in a Cormac mood, the Border trilogy is the way I'm going.

And next up, Seen The Glory: A Novel of The Battle of Gettysburg, by John Hough Jr. The battle, which ended on this date in 1863, was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. So if you're looking for something to do today, check out Gettysburg! It's beautiful country, with plenty of history for all.

So let us know what you're reading, and the book could be yours!

Meanwhile, everyone have a Happy Fourth! I'm going to go rustle up some cake.

Posted by Nancy Knight at 9:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Freebie Friday
        

You just have to get through the second half of the workday, and it's holiday weekend for you!

Along with the fireworks, here are a few events you can enjoy this week, both patriotic and downright bookish.

 Tonight, Ukazoo Books holds their monthly forum, an open mic in which poets, playwrights, authors and musicians come together and share their art. You can sign up in advance by e-mail or call 410-832-BOOK.

Tomorrow night, Cyclops Books hosts "For Crying Out Loud: Born Free." There will be many artists, and a birthday party, as writer Fernando Quijano III, whose work you may remember from Smile, Hon, You're in Baltimore! celebrates his 40th year with free drinks and snacks for all. Happy birthday, Fernando!

Saturday is the best holiday of them all! What, you think Thanksgiving and Christmas are good? I prefer my holidays with fireworks and air conditioning, thanks. So everyone do me a favor, and have a safe, happy Fourth of July.

Posted by Nancy Knight at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Book It
        

Read Streeter Gail Farrelly asked recently whether  authors should get a chance for a do-over. Well, Ernest Hemingway is getting the chance for an unusual, posthumous do-over: Scribner's release of a revised version of A Moveable Feast.

The book, a memoir of Paris' ex-pat society after World War I, has always had a ghostly quality. It was assembled from Hemingway's writings after he committed suicide in 1961, even though he did not consider the works finished. In a story about the re-release, the New York Times notes that he wrote a letter to his publisher, Charles Scribner, that “it is not to be published the way it is and it has no end.”

The differing versions highlight the problem of having an editor with a personal stake in the writings, the Times article points out. Hemingway's fourth wife edited the original, creating a final chapter on the dissolution of his first marriage and the start of his relationship with Pauline Pfeiffer (pictured here). Now Seán Hemingway, a grandson of Hemingway and Pauline, has re-edited the material. He removed part of that chapter and placed it in an appendix, while adding passages from Hemingway’s manuscript that Seán believes paint his grandmother in a more sympathetic light.

If only Papa could get his hands on the material himself.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Score another courthouse victory for J. D. Salinger in his battle to stop U.S. distribution of an unauthorized sequel to The Catcher in the Rye. (Here are court filngs for the curious.)

A federal judge ruled today that the novel, 60 Years Later: Coming Through the Rye, which is available in Europe, cannot be published here. U.S. District Judge Deborah Batts rejected claims by the Swedish author that the book was a critical examination or parody of character Holden Caulfield, the Associated Press reported.

The book was scheduled to be published in the United States late this summer. Batts' ruling is a temporary order meant to remain in place until the case can be aired at trial, the AP said. But the judge said Salinger was likely to succeed on the merits of his lawsuit.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 4:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

By now, everyone's heard of Alice Hoffman's Twitter rant. Hoffman has since apologized, but that outsized reaction to a bad review has overshadowed one I find even more amusing and immature: Alain de Botton's comment on a book reviewer's blog, in which he writes:

"You have now killed my book in the United States, nothing short of that. So that's two years of work down the drain in one miserable 900 word review. ... I will hate you till the day I die and wish you nothing but ill will in every career move you make. I will be watching with interest and schadenfreude."

Talk about bitter! Hatred and eternal bad will for a review in the New York Times Sunday Book Review which pretty much guarantees that everyone will hear about The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work, even if they don't immediately buy it.

I guess Botton's not a member of the "no such thing as bad publicity" camp. And now? There are people swearing never to read the book simply because of his reaction to the review. Talk about backfiring!

So how should author's respond to a bad review? The Guardian suggests writing a nasty journal entry, and then destroying the evidence, which does make sense in a writer's state of mind. But I'm wondering why the authors, in both cases, couldn't have simply written a private message to the reviewer.

And I guess this is my plea: Authors, if I anger you, just shoot me an e-mail. I'm sure we can discuss this like rational adults and not enraged elementary school kids at recess.

Posted by Nancy Knight at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

Read Streeter Patrick Lackey, who always has an interesting thought about the process of reading, is our guest poster today. Patrick's question (followed by his response): Which would you say is easier, reading or writing?

Many would answer, reading, of course, because not everyone can write, but practically everyone can read. I'd call it a tie.

The relationship of a writer to a reader is like the relationship of a lead dancer to a follow. The one gives directions or sometimes just clues; the other responds. If you've ever done ballroom or swing dancing, you know that following is every bit as difficult as leading, if not more so.

For one thing, the lead in dancing does moves he knows. The follow may know moves the lead doesn't, but that doesn't matter. The follow has to respond to what the lead suggests. Similarly, the writer does what he can do and goes where he can go, using the words he knows. T.C. Boyle doesn't ask himself which words the readers know. He searches his brain for words he knows. The reader may know words Boyle doesn't, but that doesn't matter. The reader has to know all the words Boyle does.

Even as the lead dancer is the choreographer, the writer is a kind of cartographer, leaving the reader to attempt to follow his maps, often an arduous task. The writer, of course, maps territory familiar to him. The reader frequently finds himself in territory that's entirely strange.

The writer rewrites, even as a lead dancer practices a move till he has it mastered. The dance follower does not have that luxury, since she doesn't know what's coming next. The reader could reread every sentence three times, but that would make reading a lot less fun and destroy the pace of the book.

I've both written and read, and I've noticed that I can write tired better than I can read tired. Writing builds up its own momentum. Reading requires an instant alertness that's difficult to maintain when fatigued.

One difference between a reader and a writer is that a remainders table cheers the former and horrifies the latter. Another difference is that the writer, in effect, performs for the public while the reader succeeds or fails in private. A third difference is that readers may be in awe of writers, but writers, while dependent on readers, do not look up to them.

Who can say who's to blame when the attempted communication between writer and reader fails. Henry Kissinger once was asked about the effects of his newfound fame. He responded that now when he was boring at parties people thought it was their fault. Similarly, writers usually get the benefit of the doubt when communication fails, leaving readers to chastise themselves for not getting it.

To me, good reading and good writing are equally hard. What do you say?

In any case, the future of books lies more with readers than with writers. We'd better wish both good health.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)