The Rock Bottom Remainders, a group of literary superstars and wannabe rockstars -- Mitch Albom, Dave Barry, Amy Tan, Scott Turow et al -- are getting together for a four-city East Coast tour for Haiti relief in April. Unfortunately the cities -- Washington, Philadelphia, New York and Boston -- don't include Baltimore. How can they ignore the home of Frank Zappa and Edgar Allan Poe, and of Joan Jett's favorite baseball team?

But let's not hold a grudge, because the Wordstock tour is for a good cause. The band will work with the Pearson Foundation to support World Vision's relief efforts Haiti, as well as local organizations such as the Free Library of Philadelphia. The foundation is donating five new children's books to public schools for each ticket sold in each tour city.

The band features Barry on lead guitar, Tan on vocals, Albom on keyboards, Scott Turow on vocals, Greg Iles on lead guitar, Kathi Kamen Goldmark on vocals, James McBride on saxophone, Ridley Pearson on bass, and Roy Blount Jr. Roger McGuinn of the Byrds will make a guest appearance in Washington, where the band has events April 20 at Sidney Harman Hall and April 21 at the 9:30 Club. Details of all tour stops can be found on the group's website.

You've gotta love the band's approach to music. Here are a couple of FAQs from the website:

Q. What chords does the band know? A. Most of the band knows "E." and "A." A couple of the band members also know "B." We think Mitch Albom may know "F-sharp," but we do not allow him to play it except in emergencies.

Q. What kind of songs does the band play? A. Mainly songs that use the chords "E." and "A."

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Congratulations to "Crocheting Adventures with Hyperbolic Planes," the winner of this year's Diagram Prize for the year's oddest book title. The annual award from the Bookseller trade magazine was created in 1978 as a way pass time at a book fair -- this was, you must remember, before the invention of the BlackBerry, Twitter and reality TV. (But not before Milk Duds, so go figure.)

Here's how the book is described on Amazon: "This richly illustrated book discusses non-Euclidean geometry and the hyperbolic plane in an accessible way. The author provides instructions for how to crochet models of the hyperbolic plane, pseudosphere, and catenoid/helicoids. With this knowledge, the reader has a hands-on tool for learning the properties of the hyperbolic plane and negative curvature." Sounds like the perfect primer for a Science Fair project at the senior center.

I haven't received my review copy of Crocheting Adventures yet, but I envision the protagonist as a cross between Martha Stewart, Indiana Jones and Stephen Hawking. How else to explain the book's victory over finalists such as "Afterthoughts of a Worm Hunter;" "Collectible Spoons of the Third Reich;" "Governing Lethal Behavior in Autonomous Robots;" "The Changing World of Inflammatory Bowel Disease" and "What Kind of Bean is This Chihuahua?"

Previous Diagram Prize winners include "Bombproof Your Horse" and "Living With Crazy Buttocks."

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Promoting his new book "Courage and Consequence," former presidential advisor Karl Rove got a hostile reception from some protestors in Beverly Hills. A small band of demonstrators, including a member of the anti-war group Code Pink, interrupted his remarks to a larger, friendlier crowd, calling him a liar, war criminal and more. As you can see in this video from KCAL, Rove responded by saying the protestors showed the "totalitarianism of the left... They don't believe in dialogue... They don't believe in courtesy. They don't believe in First Amendment rights for anyone but themselves."

Whatever folks think of Rove's role in the Bush White House and his philosophy, I hate to see political demonstrations ruin a book tour. Books are crucial for the exchange of ideas, and authors deserve the right to speak to their fans. (Remember, just last year William Ayers and Bernadette Dohrn faced cancellations on a book tour because of their past relationship with a radical leftist group.) If you object, picket outside the gathering place, organize a boycott -- fine, whether you're protesting Rove or a Democrat.  But don't mess up the evening for folks who want to hear what an author has to say.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 4:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

Stephenie Meyer, author of the hit Twilight series (100 million copies sold), has been quiet lately, though her franchise has been going strong with movie adaptations (Eclipse opens June 30). Today, she announced that she's releasing a 192-page novella -- "The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner" -- on June 5. And in an interesting twist, she'll make it available for free online at a dedicated website for about a month.

The hardcover book will cost $13.99 and will have a first printing of 1.5 million copies, according to publisher Hachette. For each book sold in the U.S. from that print run, $1 will be donated to the American Red Cross International Response Fund. But there's more goodness involved for Meyer's fans: On the website www.breetanner.com, from June 7 to July 5, they can read the book online in English. “I’d always considered The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner as something for the fans,” Meyer said in a news release. “They have been so supportive of all things Twilight.”

 It's an interesting digital strategy. The hardcover and e-book will be released on June 5, and her fans are likely to devour them rather than wait an extra two days for the free version. Shows what star power can do.

The publisher decribes the novella as the "story of Bree Tanner, a newborn vampire first introduced in Eclipse, and the darker side of the world she inhabits. The novella chronicles the newborn vampire army’s journey as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens."

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 9:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

So I've seen a lot of little bookish things that have caught my eye recently, and thought I'd share a few of them with you:

Jane Austen spoilers: Player vs. Player travels to the Regency Era.

"Foiled," by Jane Yolen -- with illustrations by Mike Cavallaro -- was fantastic, and I'm really looking forward to the sequel. At least, there'd better be a sequel. Aliera deserves a second date, and I want to learn more about fencing!

Hey, Star Wars fans! Didn't your mother teach you to treat books better than that?!

And finally: "Sh*t My Dad Says," based on Justin Halpern's hilariously inappropriate Twitter feed, (and soon to be a comedy with William Shatner in the title role) is one of the few Web-based books I've read that is much, much better than the original site. Organized into broad life lessons, ("It's Important to Know the Value of a Dollar," and "At the End of the Day, At Least You Have Family,") Halpern first shares a ridiculously comical anecdote of life with his father, and then shares the one-liners that everyone has so grown to love from the senior Halpern. For instance:

On selling his beloved two-door 1967 Mercury Cougar:

"This is what happens when you have a family. You sacrifice. [Pause.] You sacrifice a lot. [Long pause.] It's gonna be in your best interest to stay away from me for the next couple days."

I'd love to share more, but to be honest ... it's not exactly SFW. But on May 4th, you can have your own copy. Till then, go check out the Twitter feed.

Posted by Nancy Knight at 9:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

In news from across the pond, the BBC notes that England's former poet laureate, Sir Andrew Motion, is writing a sequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island." The book, due to be published in 2012, will return to the story a generation later, as Jim Hawkins Jr. and Long John Silver's daughter seek out some pirate treasure that is still missing on the island.

How very British -- revisiting a classic without zombies or sea monsters. In the hands of a more cutting-edge author, Long John would be bitten by a vampire and set sail with a crew of dead men, seeking out his buried treasure.

By the way, here's a link  if you want to read the original Treasure Island.Yo ho ho!

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

The exhibition includes nearly 80 works of art, as well as letters, photographs and other memorabilia. The show runs until August 1.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

President Obama visited the University of Iowa yesterday to tout his health care reform legislation, and stopped at the Prairie Lights bookstore, which he had noted in his speech. He also did a little shopping. Here's how a Washington Post reporter described it:

Obama walked around the store in search of the children's/young adult section. Along the way he picked up "No Apology" by former GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney and "Courage and Consequence" by former Bush administration senior adviser Karl Rove.

"What do you think, guys?" Obama asked pool reporters, holding up a hardcover copy of each book before setting them back down. ...

A few minutes later, he stepped up to the cash register with two books for his daughters -- "Journey to the River Sea" by Eva Ibbotson and "The Secret of Zoom" by Lynne Jonell -- and pulled out a wad of cash.

I sure hope the books weren't meant to be given as presents for some distant birthday. But I guess Post reporters who cover the president don't worry about spoiler alerts.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Happy Friday, everybody! And here's hoping for another pretty weekend!

I plan to spend at least some of it reading Jane Yolen's "Foiled," a graphic novel from First Second Books. And actually, I've really been enjoying First Second's titles recently, including "Zeus," the first in a series of beautiful graphic novels introducing the Olympians (Percy Jackson Olympians, not Apollo Ohno Olympians), and another called "Booth," which tells the story of the most infamous presidential assassin.

But on to our winner! Congratulations, David! You've won "The Big Short," although unfortunately we don't have an extra Kindle to go with it. 

Next up: Jo Nesbo's "The Devil's Star." Nesbo, who has a pretty rockin' noir Web site, is one of the biggest crime fiction authors in Europe, earning accolades from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, The New York Times Book Review and many, many others.

So let us know what you're reading, and his latest Harry Hole mystery could be yours.

Posted by Nancy Knight at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

If you're a fan of the late Stieg Larsson's gripping crime novels, head over to the Charles Theatre on Sunday morning for a special showing and discussion of the adaptation of “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.” The final entry in the
Cinema Sunday series has had great reviews -- The Wall Street Journal called it “a stylish thriller with real complexity, people with interesting faces, a sensational actress cast as an ambisexual Goth hacker heroine ... . Joseph Schaub of the College of Notre Dame will introduce the film and discuss it with the audience afterward. Doors open and bagels are served at 9:45 a.m.; showtime is 10:30. Info: 410-727-3464 or cinemasundays.com. You can find more reviews, trailers and other information on book adaptations, including "Shutter Island," "Alice in Wonderland" and "Eat Pray Love" here.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Books to Movies
        

We're a little light on bookish movies this week, but here's an entertaining new trailer for "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," which is based on the graphic novels by Bryan Lee O'Malley (no relation to our guv, as far as I know).

The Manga-ish series has been a big hit, and the movie features slacker guitarist Scott who wants to win the heart of a girl. To do it, he has to defeat her seven ex-boyfriends. Not exactly Sword in the Stone material, but the trailer makes the challenge look like fun.

By the way, is Michael Cera the only guy in Hollywood who can play the meek, doe-eyed role? Reminds me of the way French films are cast -- has anyone EVER seen one that doesn't include Catherine Deneuve, Juliette Binoche or Audrey Tatou?

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 6:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Books to Movies
        

OK, Harry Potter fans, start your queues. The event you've been waiting for -- the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando – is scheduled for a June 18 grand opening. In announcing the date, the company also revealed details of the park's signature attractions: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

The attraction is described as "360-degree theme park experience and first-ever combination of live-action, advanced robotic technology and innovative filmmaking." Mark Woodbury, president of Universal Creative, said: “We have created an entirely new way to place our guests into the heart of one of the most compelling stories of our time. What we have done will forever change the theme park attraction experience.”

The attraction will introduce visitors to scenes such as Dumbledore’s office (shown here), while enveloping them in filmed action scenes that move with them through the ride. The full experience -- including the queue -- will take about an hour. Here's the premise for the ride: "As you venture through Hogwarts, you meet Harry, Ron and Hermione, who convince you to skip a planned lecture and follow them. ... Upon taking their advice you travel by Floo powder, and begin your adventure as you soar over Hogwarts, narrowly escape a dragon attack, have a close encounter with the Whomping Willow, get pulled into a Quidditch match and more."

Other attractions include the Hogwarts Express and Hogwarts Castle.

Have fun!

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (19)
        

Just when I thought that crazy celebrity advice books had reached a new low -- really, do we need a guide to become famous from Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt? -- Jennifer Love Hewitt takes it up a notch. Or down, depending on your view.

First of all, I want to make my early admiration clear. I adored "Love" in Kids Incorporated. Mickey Mouse Club can have their Britneys and their Christina Aguileras; between Hewitt and "Stacey" AKA Fergie, from the Black Eyed Peas, I just couldn't get enough.

So, from that sweet little girl, we've gone to "The Day I Shot Cupid: Hello, My Name is Jennifer Love Hewitt, and I'm a Love-aholic." As NPR's Linda Holmes mentions in her amazing outline of the book's highlights, Hewitt uses ALL CAPS, multiple exclamation points and Internet-ese such as "lol" in her relationship guide, which apparently doubles as a talk forum. She also advises women to get over a breakup by rebounding ASAP, but "he must be gorgeous or you'll feel worse."

Gee, thanks, Jen!

In another list, a format which Hewitt is a big fan of, she shares "What a Man Should Know," including "How to pick a diamond" and "To always have a coat for you. Just ... wow.

I think I will now scrub this latest literary blip from my memory, and watch old Kids Incorporated clips for the rest of the day to ease my pain.

Posted by Nancy Knight at 10:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

To be filed under: Read this, not that. Although the new health care bill represents significant reform and affects millions of Americans, not too many folks are likely to read the entire 2,409 pages. Even the name -- the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act -- is enough to put me to sleep.  Slogging through every convoluted sub-clause is best left to Hill staffers and D.C. lobbyists. Unless you enjoy passages such as this: PREMIUM TAX CREDITS.—Section 36B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as added by section 1401 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and amended by section 10105 of such Act, is amended ... in subsection (c)(2)(C) ... by striking ‘‘(b)(3)(A)(iii)’’ in clause and inserting ‘‘(b)(3)(A)(ii)’’.

On the other hand, if you're looking for 2,400 pages of material you could read:

-- Several imposing tomes (with much clearer language than the bill): Moby Dick, Ulysses and Gravity's Rainbow. A mere 2,279 total pages.

-- The Nobel Prize winning novels from 2003-09: Olive Kitteridge, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, The Road, March, Gilead, The Known World, and Middlesex. That's 2,487 pages.

-- The entire works of Dr. Seuss -- several times over.

The choice is yours.

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

Robert Culp, who teamed with Bill Cosby in the TV series "I Spy" and later starred (as Bob) in the movie "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice," died Wednesday after collapsing outside his Hollywood home, the AP reported. He was 79.

He'll be best remembered for the ground-breaking TV series, the first integrated show to feature a black lead actor. You may also recall some of his movie roles, including playing the U.S. president in the adaptation of John Grisham's "The Pelican Brief."

But you may not realize that he also had a career as an audiobook narrator. Here's an interview with Paul Kyriazi, who directed Culp as part of the cast for "Rock Star Rising." Sounds like he was a true pro in whatever he did.

R.I.P. Robert.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 6:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Obituaries
        

Fans of Kathryn Stockett's book "The Help," a surprise best seller, will be happy to know that filming on the movie adaptation could start this summer. There's a lot of interplay between books and movies these days. The recent Oscar awards were loaded with adaptations, and book sales have been getting a big boost from movies. As for "The Help" adaptation, People has already helped with the casting call, suggesting this lineup: Claire Danes as Skeeter, Oprah Winfrey as Aibileen, Anne Hathaway as Hilly and Mo'Nique as Minny.

How can I link a novel about Southern race relations with a reality series about summer debauchery? Easy -- my household includes one big fan of both works. My daughter will be thrilled (or at least amused) by the announcement that two cast members from MTV's "Jersey Shore" show have written a book, "Never Fall in Love at the Jersey Shore," which is scheduled for an early July release. I expect Jenni "Jwoww" Farley and Ronnie Ortiz-Magroin to provide an inside look at the Shore lifestyle -- a combination of hair gel, bar fights, Italian pride and GTL. If you haven't seen the show, it's hard to explain -- this recap of the finale from the Reality Check blog may help. But you can expect to see the book all over the O.C. beaches this summer.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Books to Movies
        

Author: Steve Hockensmith

Synopsis: Sure, we all know that zombies have overrun England. But how did it all begin? And when did Elizabeth Bennett learn how to handle a throwing star? And that's where "Dawn of the Dreadfuls" comes in.

Review: I loved "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies." But if you're like me, you were more than a little disappointed to miss the part where the Bennett girls went from genteel English ladies to fearless warriors. It was almost like watching "Karate Kid" without any "Wax on, Wax off." In other words, a tad bit unsatisfying.

But with this prequel, you get all the sprints, dand-baithaks and fly-skinning action, experiencing the girls' transformation first-hand. And while their trainer, Master Hawksworth, is no Mr. Miyagi, he is a tough-as-nails martial artist.

Don't you worry, though, there's still plenty of time left for balls, mixed-up romance and tiffs with the unapproving neighbors. And I must say, Mrs. Bennett's hysteria over having the girls married off isn't quite as ridiculous in this situation -- she simply wants one of them to marry rich enough that they can all be carried away from the zombie apocalypse.

My favorite part? That would be the book's dedication: "For Jane. We kid because we love."

If you liked: Seth Grahame-Smith's "P&P&Z," or "Jesus Hates Zombies, featuring Abraham Lincoln Hates Werewolves," by Stephen Lindsay, you can't go wrong with this book.

You should avoid this if: Reimaginings of classic stories and characters do not leave you amused. You know who you are.

Posted by Nancy Knight at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Durn. I was really looking forward to the Battle of the E-readers, with the Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble nook confronting the newest challenger on the evolutionary ladder: Apple's full-color, multi-function iPad, which comes out April 3. But Amazon showed off an interesting flanking maneuver this week, releasing some details of its Kindle app for the iPad and other tablet computers. The app -- which is similar to the iPhone app but still being refined -- circumvents Apple's digital bookstore, allowing users to buy from Amazon while using an iPad or other tablet. As Amazon's promotional page says: "Get the best reading experience available on your tablet computer including the iPad. No Kindle required."

That sounds weird coming from Amazon, doesn't it? I can't see Patton being so accommodating. But Amazon -- and Barnes & Noble -- expect the iPad to give e-book sales a significant boost. And if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Here's what some other tech bloggers are saying:

Ars Technica -- The bad news is that neither Amazon nor Barnes & Noble will have their apps ready at launch, however; both plan to test their respective apps on actual iPad hardware before releasing them to the public. The good news is that users that already have e-books from those stores will soon be able to read them on the iPad ... .

ZDNet -- Back in November I outlined several problems with the Kindle and Kindle development and gave it three years. Now I think that estimate of the Kindle’s lifespan might be an overestimate. The Kindle is toast.

PC World -- The point is, our content shouldn't be locked to any single device. For e-books to take off, we need content and hardware to become totally uncoupled. Amazon's Kindle Apps for Tablet Computers is, at least, a step in the right direction.

Electronista -- Creating the app is consistent with Amazon's approach of making the Kindle store available on as many devices as possible, including Macs, Windows PCs and the BlackBerry, but nonetheless represents an unusual step to cater to a device that most expect will be the Kindle's most direct competition. Amazon is currently believed to be waging a book rights war with Apple in a bid to prevent Apple from having a comparable library ... .

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Over on the Charm City Moms blog, Liz Atwood is crying for help in getting her two sons to read. She says, "I always wonder why it’s such a chore to get my boys to read a book. The other day I stumbled on a Web site at a Texas library advertising a tween/parent book club. What a marvelous idea, I thought. I would love to find a book my kids and I could read and talk about together. The book the club was reading was “A Wrinkle in Time.” I never read that, but my older son did and declared it the “worst book ever.” " Now she and her younger son are on a forced march through "A Swiss Family Robinson."

One great source is the Age 30+...A Lifetime in Book blog, which includes Heather's Mom & Son Book Club. I'd also suggest a couple of series: Rick Riorden's Percy Jackson, or Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl. I wish the classics held up better in this video game era -- when I was a kid I was enthralled by Aesop's Fables. But at least Percy Jackson can be a bridge to Greek mythology. Other suggestions to keep peace in the Atwood home? Post them here or at Charm City Moms. Liz and mothers everywhere thank you.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

Laura Lippman's blogging about her spring cleaning project, which gives us a peek at her pat-rack tendencies (not to be confused with Rat Pack tendencies). She's also offering fans a chance to vote on what gets tossed; thanks to Reading Local: Baltimore for the tip. By the way, her latest novel, "I'd Know You Anywhere," is scheduled for a mid-August release. Here's what her office includes:

-- index cards used for "To the Power of Three," connected by seven shades of curling ribbon.

-- every computer she's ever used, except "a really problematic laptop that was left in the trunk of my Toyota when I traded it in for a new car eight years ago."

-- a thank you note from Stephen Sondheim.

-- a CBS News contract to co-host "a kiddie version of Charles Kuralt's Going Places." (And the TV Guide with a listing for the show's pilot.)

-- favorite clippings from her years as a Baltimore Sun reporter.

-- press badges from the Republican National Convention 1988 and Pope John Paul II's 1987 visit to San Antonio.

I'm aghast -- how could she throw out any of that great stuff? As someone who still has his baseball cards from the 1962 N.Y. Mets, I'd keep it all. 

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Combine the words "free" and "pastry," and you've got me salivating. Tomorrow, Starbucks holds its Free Pastry Day -- until 10:30 a.m. you get a free pastry when you buy a "hand-crafted, brewed or iced beverage." Take this coupon with you, or visit the company website on your smartphone to show a digital version to the barista. Not a bad way to relax while you're reading. I'll be the guy at the downtown Charles Street store, ordering up a hot chocolate and scone.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 7:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

If you were a fan of Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat Pray Love" -- and millions were -- you've got to be excited by the movie adaptation that stars Julia Roberts. Judging by the trailer, there will be plenty of gorgeous scenery -- from Italian cities to Balinese fields -- in the post-divorce odyssey. And Roberts has the talent to carry off Gilbert's complicated personality, including the humorous nature that made her writing so enjoyable. I liked the book's "Eat" section, but found it hard to get into the others. So it will be interesting to see how meditation and other esoteric moments translate into film. (That is, if my wife pulls me into the theater to see it. But having dragged her to see The Hurt Locker last weekend, I probably owe her one.) The release date is August 13.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 6:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

While we're on the topic, the Washington Post had an interesting story yesterday, asking prominent residents about the books they most enjoyed reading to their children. Michelle Obama picked "Where the Wild Things Are" and Diane Rehm, "Peter Rabbit."

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Books to Movies
        

"Cocaine," "addict" and "doctor" are not words that go well together. But somehow William Stewart Halsted was able to overcome decades of dependence on coke and morphine to become a giant in medicine -- one of the "Big Four" who made Johns Hopkins a world-class hospital and med school. “Genius on the Edge: The Bizarre Double Life of Dr. William Stewart Halsted” examines the life of Hopkins’ first chief of surgery, and The Baltimore Sun has taken a look at the book and author Dr. Gerald Imber. Here's an excerpt from  Michael Sragow's article:

Alongside doctors William Henry Welch, Howard A. Kelly and William Osler, Halsted became one of the Hopkins “Big Four” — a group that revolutionized hospital and medical school standards and protocols, turning Baltimore into a center of medical progress. Halsted was personally responsible for innovations in many critical procedures, including hernia repair and radical mastectomy.

He still spent prolonged, solitary vacations in Europe relieving his hunger for cocaine. But in Welch he found a loyal protector and confidant. “The pattern was established,” Imber writes. “Halsted isolated and far from home, indulging his habit, confessing to Welch, and then dosing himself with morphine and resuming life as usual in Baltimore.” ...

For Imber, the real story “was that Halsted operated at a time when all these things that I took for granted as a surgeon 50 years later didn’t exist. It was inconceivable to me that before Halsted no one had ever removed a gall stone, or that surgeons weren’t using routinely wearing gloves. It was hard to believe that sterility in the operating room was an issue right into the 20th century.”

According to Imber, Halsted was part of the medical avant-garde inside and out of the operating room. He instituted a structured surgical residency and developed the science of experimental surgery. “Before Halsted, someone would think of an operation, try it in the operating room, and if the patient lived, do it again and if a couple of patients died, do something else. He insisted everything be done scientifically, in the dog lab, proven with animals, before it had any place in the operating room. That is a phenomenal leap from trial and error to science.”

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

What lurks in the brain of Jeff Kinney, creator of the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series? With the Wimpy Kid movie out today -- you can get a sampling of reviews here -- the Baltimore Sun's Michael Sragow interviewed Kinney about the events that have inspired his writing and the movie. Kinney was born on Andrews Air Force Base and attended the University of Maryland, so even though he now lives in Massachusetts, we'll count him as a Marylander. Here's an excerpt from Sragow's article: 

He started the Wimpy Kid series back in 1998. (The first book came out in 2007.) He felt as if he was giving voice to a silent minority. "When I was in junior high, I remember feeling that they just tucked us away, they were just trying to hide us from society as we made that transition between childhood and teenagerhood - or is it teendom? It felt so strange to me that there were six or seven years of elementary school and two years of junior high, then four years of college. It just felt like something was up."

Kinney says he had a "really pretty typical childhood experience" as he grew up in Fort Washington, Md., and accumulated raw material for his books. "The stories that interest me [or strike me funny] are stories that fiction writers couldn't make up." For example, when his brother was in elementary school, one of the kids in a talent show "just roller-skated in a circle to a Bon Jovi song, for like three and a half minutes....I take moments like that and fictionalize them and make them serve my story."

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Books to Movies
        

Happy Friday, y'all!

I woke up to the sound of riverboats and seabirds and warmth. Warmth! Just heavenly.

Anyway, I've got Savannah to go enjoy, so I'll make this entry a rather short one, if you don't mind.

First, I have to recommend Holly Black's new collection of short stories, "The Poison Eaters," to you. Black's urban coming-of-age stories are just about perfect, and this batch feels more like a Grimm Brothers revival than your typical teen angst fare. There are vampires, werewolves, elves and fairies -- and if you've already fallen in love with a few of Black's characters, they make appearances, too.

In other words: I liked it very, very much.

On to the prizes! Congratulations, Erica Meadows, you've won Ian McEwan's "Solar." We hope you enjoy it!

And for next week: The already controversial "The Big Short," by Michael Lewis. And if that's not enough to raise your eyebrows, maybe this Gawker piece that outlines his tendency to take ideas from college students' thesis projects will. On the other hand, maybe you don't care at all, and just want to enjoy a good book.

So tell us what you're reading, and it could be yours!

Posted by Nancy Knight at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)
        

Fess Parker, best known for his role as Davy Crockett -- and for making coonskin caps wildly popular with kids of the Baby Boom era -- died today at age 85. In the 1950s, Parker helped create a lucrative movie, TV and music franchise based on the life of the "king of the wild frontier." I was a huge fan -- I think I still have a coonskin cap tucked away in a closet. And to this day, my parents love to recount the story of young Dave getting lost at a Connecticut beach while wearing the distinctive cap (and probably toting a toy rifle). When a crowd gathered and someone asked my name, I simply said, "Davy Crockett." Rest in Peace, Fess.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 5:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

This week's bookish movie, "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," was born from the phenomenally successful YA series by University of Maryland alum Jeff Kinney. (Fear the Turtle! Beat Houston! Sorry, a sudden attack of March Madness) The books, which recount the trials of middle schooler Greg Heffley, have sold millions upon millions -- the most recent, "Dog Days," had an initial press run last fall of four million. (Are there that many wimps in America?) Kinney calls himself a "failed cartoonist" (he drew a strip called Igdoof in college and had hoped to syndicate it), but he certainly has built a winning franchise. All four of the Wimpy Kid books are in the top 35 of USA Today's best seller list, and they're sure to climb after the movie opens Friday -- possibly even dislodging some of the "Percy Jackson" books. Here are some early movie reviews:

Chicago Tribune -- Any good episode of "Malcolm in the Middle" or "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide" had the stuff this film doesn't: the cleverly hyperbolic touch that takes the audience a step or two away from comic realism, fruitfully.

Variety -- [I]it's an enjoyable ride -- albeit one infused with enough gross-out moments to make you feel relieved you've left middle school far behind.

Roger Ebert -- It isn't as good as "A Christmas Story," as few movies are, but it deserves a place in the same sentence. Here is a family movie you don't need a family to enjoy.

Village Voice -- Diary of a Wimpy Kid is sweet and funny at either end, but in between, it sags with endless repetition of gross bodily functions and Greg's torment at the hands of larger, angrier, or more popular kids—in that order.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 4:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Books to Movies
        

When we last left you on the series "Authors Behaving Badly," we noted the factual issues being scrutnized in Charles Pellegrino's "The Last Train from Hiroshima." Now The Miami New Times has raised questions about to Gerald Posner's "Miami Babylon," and he has acknowledged lifting sections of the non-fiction book from another writer.

Posner left his job as investigative reporter for The Daily Beast this year after similar accusations about his reporting there. At the time, he said the problem arose because he had shifted from the slow pace of writing books to the "warp speed" of a web publication. So what's his excuse for the similarities between "Miami Babylon" and Frank Owen's "Clubland"? In an AP report, he basically says "I forgot" -- the fall-back defense for any plagiarist. It may be true in his case, but someone with his experience ought to know better.

I speak occasionally to college journalism students, and this one of the simplest lessons I give them: attribute, attribute, attribute. Years ago, reporters felt sheepish about quoting other sources. If your article wasn't 100 percent new material, it was a bit embarrassing. But in the Internet era, aggregating information and linking to other sources is standard procedure. Sloppy note-taking is no excuse -- at warp speed or book speed.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 1:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

As e-books gain popularity, many wonder what's in store for our public libraries. Well, Baltimore's Enoch Pratt Free Library is participating in a program that solidifies its place as a community center, and not just a spot to borrow books. As as article in The Baltimore Sun notes today, two branch libraries are helping to improve the food choices of inner city residents who live in "food deserts," without easy access to supermarkets. Here's an excerpt from the article:

The Virtual Supermarket Project offers laptops so residents can order groceries online from Santoni's Super Market and pick them up the next day at the Orleans Street or Washington Village branch libraries. The libraries are in areas targeted by the Health Department for their scarcity of grocery stores and nutritious food options. In the neighborhood surrounding the Orleans Street library, there's a Burger King, a cluster of corner stores and carryouts, but not a single supermarket within walking distance. The city is using $60,000 in federal stimulus money to fund the program for the next six months.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

As noted on the MobyLives blog, folks who own Kindles and other e-readers are using Amazon's reader review function to slam books that are not released promptly in a digital format. One victim: Michael Lewis' "The Big Short." His examination of the 2008 financial meltdown has been well-received in the New York Times, Washington Post and other MSM, but of the 79 reviews posted on Amazon by Wednesday afternoon, 43 were single stars.

Some of the reviews are substantive, charging that Lewis previously championed the risky financial instruments that he now criticizes. But most simply slammed the publisher's decision to hold back on the e-book. Rodney Rowland said, "Why is the publisher being so greedy as to not release a version for the Kindle? This book gets 1 star from me because I can't even read it." A. Valentine added, "I would love to read "The Big Short" on my Kindle for $9.99. As a recent Kindle owner, I'm never buying a non e-book again. I enjoy reading Lewis's work, but his publisher needs to get with the program."

The grass roots protest mirrors the criticism leveled on Read Street recently by guest poster Gail Farrelly. She warned that some publishers are so worried about preserving short-term profits that they've crafted e-book policies -- such as delayed releases and high prices -- that will alienate readers. Looks like it's time for publishers to re-evaluate, before the peasants storm the castle.

By the way, we'll be giving away a copy of "The Big Short" on Friday, so come back to Read Street if you're interested.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 9:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)
        

I'm heading down to Savannah tomorrow for an extended weekend, and I've got quite the pile of books going with me: James Elliott's "Strange Fatality: The Battle of Stoney Creek, 1813;" "The Poison Eaters," by Holly Black; and "Lost States: True Stories of Texlahoma, Transylvania, and Other States that Never Made It."

But I'm definitely lacking something with Southern appeal. Sure, I read "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" years ago, and really enjoyed it, but I'm looking for your suggestions.

What books should I pick up on my way down South?

Posted by Nancy Knight at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

James Joyce might be too heavy for your taste -- a bit like drinking Guinness in the morning. But there are lots of other Irish authors to choose from. According to Ireland's Independent, the #1 book of the decade was John Boyne's "Boy in the Striped Pyjamas," the YA novel about a German boy at a World War II concentration camp. (Love that European spelling.)

Other possibilities: "'Brooklyn" by Colm Toibin

"Let The Great World Spin" by Colum McCann

"The Sea" by John Banville, or his latest, "The Infinities"

'"The Gathering" by Anne Enright

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Finally, somebody gets the future of the e-book. It's not just about price and ease of access -- it's about content. David Baldacci, taking a hint from material commonly found on DVDs, will provide one of the first examples on April 20, with an enhanced e-book version of "Deliver Us from Evil." His publisher, Grand Central, plans to provide a look at how books are written, with audio, video and photos explaining his creative process as well as an ending that he discarded.

Baldacci said in Publishers Weekly that readers often want to know where he gets his ideas, what his work day is like and how he researches his books. The enhanced e-book will sell for $15.99 and will be released simultaneously with the hardcover that lists for $27.99 (but which Amazon is discounting to $15.11), PW said.

This is the way e-books should evolve. I'm reading a new bio of Willie Mays, and would love to see outtakes of the author's interviews with the San Francisco Giants' slugger. Even better: a video of Mays making his famous, over-the-shoulder catch in the 1954 World Series -- why make me go to YouTube for it? The sooner authors and publishers start adding this new content to e-books, the better off they'll be.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

I thought I had heard everything by now, but the frenzy over Raj Patel, the academic and author of "The Value of Nothing," has me flummoxed. Patel apparently been tabbed by some followers of a New Age religious group as their Messiah.

The group, Share International, hasn't yet given Patel a Messiah ID card. But hints dropped by the group's leader point to the economist, who has writtten extensively about problems in global markets and food distribution.

As for Patel, who's a visiting scholar at the University of California Berkeley? He considers his quirky fame "bogus."

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

I got a chance to see the new 3D version of Alice in Wonderland yesterday, and I can understand why the critics were lukewarm about the movie, which is a sort of sequel to the Lewis Carroll tales. The grownup Alice takes a bit of getting used to, and the backstory -- whether she's going to marry a rich twit -- was so thin that it didn't provide any suspense at all. I wish her character was more developed; as it is, she doesn't really come alive until about half-way through the movie. Luckily, there are plenty of interesting, manic characters surrounding her, including Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen and Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter. Add the animated Cheshire Cat, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, and a talking bloodhound, and there's plenty to entertain you.

For another take on Alice, here's a look at a new version of the classic, illustrated by artist Camilla Rose Garcia. Alice and the other characters have a spindly, Goth-like feel, which may appeal to the same readers who like the reimagining of the Jane Austen novels.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

Since I know you're seriously looking forward to the "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" prequel (well, I am, anyway), here's a little book trailer for your Monday afternoon. I don't suggest eating while viewing, however.

"Last year, our 'Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters' trailer was voted best book video of 2009 by Amazon and the Huffington Post," Melissa Monachello from Quirk Books told me. "I think we have another winner on our hands."

The book comes out March 23, but I'll be reading it while I'm in Savannah this weekend, with a full report for you on Monday.

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

"Beware the Ides of March" is a great quote. It's short, has an ominous tone and a sense of the supernatural. Unfortunately, it's also greatly misunderstood. Most people know it's related somehow to Shakespeare. But what the heck is an Ide anyway, and where can I buy one?

So here's a primer: -- The quote comes from Act I, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar," as the Roman leader stands amid a crowd and hears a warning from a seer. (When I read this I can't help picturing a beleaguered U.S. president slouching towards his helicopter, as brash TV reporter Sam Donaldson shouts out questions about some embarrassing scandal.) Here's the exchange:

Caesar: Who is it in the press that calls on me?

I hear a tongue shriller than all the music

Cry "Caesar!" Speak, Caesar is turn'd to hear.

Soothsayer: Beware the ides of March.

-- What does it portend? This is the day in 44 B.C. that Caesar will be assassinated by conspirators including Brutus and Cassius. Caesar shrugs off the warning and heads off on his political business. If only recliners, TVs and DVDs had been invented then.

-- So what's an Ide? It's a term of the ancient Roman calendar, signifying a division based on the moon's phases. It falls on the 15th of March, May, July and October, but on the 13th of the other months.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 9:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

I'm looking forward to Sunday night's opening episode of HBO's "The Pacific,"; a 10-part mini-series about U.S. Marines in World War II. The series by Stephen Spielberg and Tom Hanks is a companion of sorts to "Band of Brothers," the incredible series about Easy Company soldiers in Europe.   "The Pacific" features the tales of Robert Leckie, John Basilone and Eugene Sledge as they battle Japanese forces.

For more about the brutal campaign, which often gets overshadowed by the fighting against the Nazis, you can read the companion publication, "The Pacific" by historian Hugh Ambrose, the son of WWII expert Stephen Ambrose. Better yet, pick up Sledge's memoir "With the Old Breed" or Leckie's "Helmet for My Pillow." If you have other suggestions, let me know -- I need to read more about this part of the war.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 4:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

Happy Friday, Read Streeters! Sure, it's a bit damp, but the upside? The last of Snowmeggedon has officially been washed away from my yard, and that's cause for celebration, in my book.

Speaking of my book, I just received an advanced copy of Maggie Stiefvater's "Linger," the second in a series about a supernatural love affair that will, in the words of the School Library Journal, "give Bella and Edward a run for their money."

Bring on the angst, baby!

And as for the winner of "The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson," that would be Joann! Congratulations, and I hope you enjoy it!

Next up, we've got the latest from the author of "Atonement," Ian McEwan. Reading reviews of McEwan's work, he's compared to everyone from Austen to Woolf, so if some of the world's greatest writers are your cup of tea, you might want to read this one.

"Solar" follows Nobel Prize-winning physicist Michael Beard, who finds both his career and love life on the downward trajectory, until he's given a chance to save the world from an environmental disaster -- and possibly his marriage, too.

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

Posted by Nancy Knight at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (22)
        

Our latest look at bookish art from the recent American Craft Council show in Baltimore features Vermont artist David Montgomery. He says his Travelogues "are constructed of wood and plastic, with resin miniature books and birds, and a vintage postcard as the interior image. The exterior pages you see are from a 1906 large-print edition of Ralph Waldo Emerson's 1860 essays entitled 'The Conduct of Life;' the chapters include Power, Beauty, Wealth, Worship, Behaviour, Culture, Fate, and Illusions. I ordinarily prefer to rescue and repair old books and ephemera I find, but the cover was already missing from this one when I found it at an outdoor sale, and I feel the books-within-a-meta-book was a satisfying way of saving and savouring this venerable item." Here's a Q&A with Montgomery:

How long have you been working with books? Only for four or five years, since I embarked on a craft career. Some of my first Aviary shadowboxes contained pages from an old, trade paperback edition of "As You Like It."

What is it about books that connects with you – and with buyers? A book, by its nature, is experienced almost entirely in the imagination. It can take a reader to places and times far from the everyday world, or show the mundane world in a new light. These are things I try to do in my own work, but I usually do it visually rather than with words. These Travelogue pieces are more of a hybrid of word and picture, which I hope gives them multiple levels of meaning--- and pleasure.

Name a favorite books. Why did you like it? "The Coldest Winter," the late David Halberstam's comprehensively detailed history of the Korean war; a very big, and relatively recent event which no one seems to talk about. Unlike its cousins in conflict--- the first and second World Wars or Vietnam--- the war in Korea sometimes seems to have been wiped from our collective memory in this country, which for me made this account feel like an imaginary story of something out of legend, like reading science fiction or an "alternate history" novel. The author is also generous with insights into the causes and consequences of the war, so, like any good novel, it helped me understand a little more about our lives today--- the politics and personal motivations of the past are always mirrored in the present.

What have you read lately that you’d recommend? Rob Gifford's "China Road." It combines two of my favorite subjects: China and travel. China is so big, and changing so quickly, that it's impossible to understand the whole, but this book paints fascinating vignettes of far-away places.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

This week's bookish movie is "Green Zone," the war-time thriller drawn from "Imperial Life in the Emerald City." I say "drawn from" because the book's author, former Washington Post reporter Rajiv Chandrasakaran, analyzed the Americans' idealistic but misguided policies in occupied Iraq. I don't recall Matt Damon in that account. The Hollywood version features Damon at his Bourne best, searching out conspiracies and dodging bullets. (You can read other reviews of book adaptations such as Shutter Island and The Ghost Writer here.) Some reviews:

Chicago Tribune -- To me, it's too soon, or perhaps just too depressing, to turn recent, tragic and grimly well-documented geopolitical events ... that did not reflect well on America's place and purpose in the world into simplified, thriller-friendly material. "Green Zone" is partly real and partly, increasingly, fantastic and outlandish in its wishful thinking.

New Yorker -- “Green Zone” approaches every human activity as if preparing to defibrillate. ... This pathological wish to thrill delivers diminishing returns.

Roger Ebert -- Yes, the film is fiction, employs farfetched coincidences and improbably places one man at the center of all the action. It is a thriller, not a documentary. ... The bottom line is: This is one hell of a thriller.

Village Voice -- From the opening frenzy of hopped-up shock-and-awe panic among the Iraqi leadership to the frantic final chopper chase through the back alleys of downtown Baghdad, the movie is nonstop havoc. You catch your breath only to have the wind knocked out by the mirage of the carefree scene around the Green Zone swimming pool.

Associated Press -- Their thriller about the futile search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq is a visual and visceral knockout that's utterly deflated by a story as common, coarse and unappetizing as Army field rations.

Entertainment Weekly -- Green Zone is a strangely dated, foolishly grandiose, simplistically angry fictional war-zone thriller about how one patriot blows the lid off America's missteps in Iraq.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Books to Movies, Reviews
        

It's tough to predict how well Apple's iPad will sell -- and whether it will overtake Amazon's Kindle, Barnes & Noble's nook and other e-readers. But there certainly is a lot of curiosity on-line, judging by this week's Yahoo! searches. With Apple starting to take pre-orders on Friday, iPad searches have been running six times higher than those for Kindle and 14 times higher for the nook. Here's some info from Yahoo! on the searches:

-- Men made 60 percent of iPad searches (while women made 68 pecent of Kindle searches).

-- The top regions searching for the iPad are San Diego, Albany, and Los Angeles. (Top regions searching for the Kindle are New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.)

-- Searches for iPhone and “new iphone 2010 4g” are nearly 2.5 times higher than iPad searches.

-- In the Baltimore/Washington area, iPad searches are up 38 percent, and searches are 13 times higher than for the Kindle.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 6:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

As I think I've mentioned before, Hark! a Vagrant is one of my favorite Web comics. And lately, it's been particularly entertaining for booklovers with the author, Kate Beaton, illustrating her own interpretation of Edward Gorey's book covers.

So at this point, she's not only judging a book by its cover, she's predicting the entire plot. And it's hilarious.

There have been three sets of comics so far, each featuring a handfull of Gorey covers, and a comic describing what the book is about, based on those sometimes-wacky designs. My favorite? "True Tales from the Annals of Crime and Rascality," by St. Clair McKelway. Because rascality? That's a great word.

Of course, all three collections are pretty great on their own. I hope we never run out of Gorey covers!

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

Hey publishers, "Listen to readers!"

I'm annoyed at the way some mainstream publishers are treating e-book readers. For example, by delaying the release of e-books, in the hope that this will increase hard copy sales. I doubt that this controlling tactic will work. Often a reader may want the e-book, not a print book. If the e-book isn't available in a timely fashion (a wait could be like being back in school and serving that dreaded detention!), the reader may decide to borrow the print version from a library. Or just forget about that particular book and turn to something else. Either way, it's a lost sale for the publisher.

I buy a ton of books, both print books and e-books, but I refuse to be pressured into buying an individual book in a format that I don't want. I hate bullying, and I'm not the only reader who feels that way.

Now let's talk price. To think about increasing a $9.99 e-book to $12.99 or $14.99 is ridiculous. Yet that is what is being predicted these days. In a depressed economy, what other industry would threaten increases of 30 to 50 percent?

Then there's the issue of turning off the text-to-speech function (the computerized voice that "reads" the book aloud) of the Kindle. A number of publishers have chosen to do that on their e-books. Very sad. Another blow to readers. This means that these books are inaccessible to the blind and people with a host of other disabilities. These are far from professionally produced audio books. This is the 21st century, when people should be able to "read" (for their own use) purchased books any way they want. There are tons of readers like me who feel strongly about supporting our fellow readers/listeners on this issue. It's unconscionable that corporate greed is denying the rights of our most vulnerable citizens.

There is a silver lining here though. The behavior of mainstream publishers is leading to an interesting development -- an opening for small press books. Many smaller publishers are offering text-to-speech on the Kindle, quality products, and reasonable prices. Good for them. More and more, the people who are on the Kindle Discussion Forums on Amazon are recommending small press books to each other. Three cheers for capitalism, which provides lots of buying choices and empowers the customer! ny company that doesn't serve us well will soon be history.

Publishers, before it's too late, listen to readers.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

In the latest installment of our art series, here's a look New Jersey artisan Steven B. Levine, who crafts beautiful books from wood. They can have hidden drawers or engraved titles, and can be arranged in stacks or as shelves. (Here art links to previous posts for Jim Rosenau, Carol Owen and Val Lucas.)

What is it about books that connects with you – and with buyers? Since I'm a book seller, you may be surprised to learn that reading is not my passion. Instead, I'm a lifelong artisan/woodworker who channels his vitality and creativity through his hands. When I read (or stare out the window or watch a movie), I often see something that sparks my imagination and drives me right into the workshop--if not physically, then mentally. Sometimes I'm not even sure what little thing it is that causes the inspiration. Over the years I have learned to use a plain piece of paper as a bookmark when I read, just in case I want to jot down a thought that may lead me somewhere with my craft.

How long have you been working with books? After more than thirty years as a professional woodworker, the idea to make boxes that resemble books came to me about five or six years ago. I'm really not sure of the impetus. The book boxes were an immediate success at craft shows, appealing to readers and wood lovers alike. Their popularity escalated when I added classic titles to the spines. Within a day of introducing the titled books, my customers started asking if I could engrave their own favorites. Yes, of course, I replied. And the business grew. A few years ago I recall a gentleman asking me to craft a custom-titled book as a surprise gift for his friend, who had just found a publisher for his novel. The book was called "On the Mantel." Or maybe the title was "On the Mantle." The gentleman wasn't sure. So he ordered one of each to be on the safe side!

Name a favorite book. For a while now, my wife and daughter have been encouraging me to pick up the Harry Potter series, which they loved, because they know I like science fiction. (They see fantasy as a related genre.) I discovered that if you can get past the first one or two volumes, which are child-centered, the characters get older and deeper, and the plot gets sophisticated, complicated, and dark. One nice thing about reading a series which has been around for a while is that you don't have to wait a year or two for the next volume!

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

I've noticed that Marvel Comics has been making headlines lately, and not all of it has been good.

First, the bad news.

Amazon was having an apparent sale on hardcover Marvel graphic novels, offering $125 products for $14.99. Naturally, lots of fans responded, and then it was discovered that, actually, it was a mistake.

But instead of just canceling all the orders, or sticking customers with the exponentially higher price, the company said they would try to honor the orders -- selling at least one copy of each of the ordered books to the appropriate customers.

That is, until they sold out of the Marvel titles.

So now, Amazon is offering $25 gift cards to those inconvenienced readers. If you've been affected by the pseudo-slashed prices, Amazon should be contacting you soon. And let us know how your experience goes!

Meanwhile, Marvel's got better PR coming in the form of Gelaskins. This company makes skins for all kinds of devices -- laptops, iPods, BlackBerries -- in eye-catching designs. Their latest line is Marvel inspired, with Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain America, and of course the Astonishing X-Men featured on your iPhone and laptop.

So far, there's been no confusion on pricing there. Enjoy, comics fans!

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

Catching up on my reading, I noticed a clever New York Times essay comparing old school collectors, who reveled in the feel and smell of each book, to e-book readers who can make an acquisition in a single click. (It's a topic I missed in my post 10 Reasons to Hate the Kindles, a list created in the pre-nook, pre-iPad era.) Reading these NYT essays is tricky. New York writers often slather their words in a smooth coating of irony, so it's tough to decipher what a writer really means in her heart of hearts. But reading between the lines (and interpreting the Rohrshach-like coffee stains on the pages) I've come to believe Virginia Heffernan was subconsciously delivering a warning about the health dangers of e-books.

-- When she writes "I have literally no memory of opting to get any of these [books] on Amazon" she means that e-books may cause short-term memory loss.

-- When she writes "I will try to think of my books as Sèvres china," she exposes the hallucinatory effect of staring at a e-reader's ghostly screen.

-- And when she writes "Most of these books were bought impulsively," she warns of the gender-bending impact of e-readers. Soon, women will start grocery shopping like men, buying jars of half-sour pickles, lime-flavored tortilla chips and high-fat, chocolate chip ice cream.

So be warned.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

For today's look at bookish art, we visit with Val Lucas, a Baltimore artist. Her bowerbox press has great cards (including a Poe-inspired Raven) and journals. Here's a Q&A with Val (and here are previous features on artists Jim Rosenau and Carol Owen):

How long have you been working with books and/or paper? I started learning about bookbinding while I was interning at Pyramid Atlantic in 2005. Since then I've taken a few classes and experimented with binding on my own. I've always been working on paper, it seems -- drawing since I was a kid, papermaking classes and printmaking in college, and now a combination of everything.

What is it about books that connects with you – and with buyers? Books are such an intimate thing- you hold it in your hand, close to you, and really only you can see what's in the book. I've always loved books, and collected different versions of my favorites just for a new cover. I think the tangible nature of the book is something that a lot of people still connect with, as a little private moment during the day.

Name a favorite book. Why did you like it? Of all time? "Dune" by Frank Herbert. Science fiction epic at its best. It's a story that I can re-read over and over again, and it feels like visiting old friends (old friends caught up in a planet-changing war, but still).

What have you read lately that you’d recommend? Right now I'm reading "The Book on the Bookshelf" by Henry Petroski. It's an interesting history of how books were treated throughout history, and methods of storing them (as I contemplate building a bookshelf for my print-related books). I'm also reading Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle again, just for fun.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

In part two of our Book Art Week, we're featuring Carol Owen, a North Carolinian who crafts dreamy reinventions of books. Her creations, which she calls "altered books," have the "found-object" and Victorian feel of Joseph Cornell's boxes. I'd love to see her version of Alice in Wonderland. Here's our Q&A with Carol:

How long have you been working with books and/or paper? I’ve been working with paper for a long time. I made my own paper for several years, and created wall pieces with it. And with the shrine Spirit Houses I do, I use handmade Japanese rice paper, and collage with various papers.

What is it about books that connects with you – and with buyers? I got into altered books about 5 or 6 years ago. I’ve always had a love of books, since I was a child. And with the altered books, people are fascinated with holding a book in their hands and turning pages to reveal the art work.

Name a favorite book, and tell us why you liked it. Nick Bantock’s books, specifically the Gryphon and Sabine series, started me on my fascination with altered books. And I collect Robert Sabuda’s pop-up books.

What have you read lately that you’d recommend? I’m in a book club (actually, I’m in two book clubs!), and my favorite read lately was The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. It really grabs your heart.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

When I glanced at the cover of Melissa Febos' "Whip Smart," I thought it was a biography of Eddie Arcaro or one of the other jockeys who once competed on the track at Pimlico. Not exactly. Febos describes a life in New York City (where else?) as a dominatrix, a lucrative job that helped to finance a drug problem.

In just 10 years, she says she managed to graduate from The New School University, punch a clock for four years as a professional dominatrix, and receive an MFA in writing from Sarah Lawrence College -- all while feeding a drug habit. She must be Type A and an over-achiever. She says her memoir is about personal transformation, and "a kind of a love story."

But this is obviously not your typical book club selection, and judging from the first few pages, I wouldn't recommend reading it before breakfast. Still, if you're interested, you can hear more about the book in this interview with NPR's Terry Gross. Or you can read an excerpt on Amazon -- after you've had your Cheerios and coffee.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 7:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

At the recent American Craft Council show in Baltimore, I had a great time searching for items that reflected a love of books. And there were plenty sandwiched among the jewelry, home decorations and other crafts. Each day this week, we'll feature one of the artists, who range from California to good old Baltimore. First up is Jim Rosenau, who specializes in the creative reuse of books at his Berkeley studio, This Into That. I really liked the sense of humor reflected in the titles chosen for his shelves. Here's a Q&A with Jim:

How long have you been working with books and/or paper? I made my first bookcase from a set of discarded encyclopedias in early 2002. But it took years to get the guts to do so. I was raised better. My father was a publisher as was my mother's father. One weekends, we worshipped at the library. So I sat on the idea for years before making the first piece.

What is it about books that connects with you – and with buyers? Buyers appreciate both the appearance of my pieces and the word play I manage to wrest from book titles. They bring their own nostalgic feelings for the sort of material I select and their passion for the subjects I produce. Each of my pieces has a theme, based on the book titles, often by misconstruing the meaning of the titles. I suspect this is self-evident when you look at my site. Personally, much of what I know about the world I learned from reading since I skipped college and jumped right into life after high school.

Name a favorite book. Why did you like it? Speaking now about books as lumber, I judge them by their spines, not their covers. Much of it is visual but these are great just for the unintentional humor in the titles: "Behold, I Come Quickly" (published by the LDS church in 1994!), "The Ethics of Homicide," "Obese Humans and Rats." I could go on. I keep about 5,000 books in order to have good choices for my art.

What have you read lately that you’d recommend? Much of my reading is literary non-fiction, your McPhees, Kidders, Ted Conover and the like. But I read lots of lay science books, esp. biology. Last year, these two really stood out: "Your Inner Fish," a fascinating look at anatomy and paleontology, and "Eating the Sun," a dense but readable treatment of photosynthesis.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Congratulations to all the Oscar winners whose characters were adapted from books. I think they should be required to acknowledge the original author while they're speechifying and holding their statues. (I do like how the movie "Precious" built in the title of the adapted work.) Well, if they won't do it, I'll do it. Among the big winners were:
-- Best Actor: Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart," from the book by Thomas Cobb.
-- Best Actress: Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side," from the book by Michael Lewis.
-- Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique, "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire". (Geoffrey Fletcher also won for best adapted screenplay.)

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 8:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Here's a sneak peek at the Hogwarts Express, a feature of the new Harry Potter theme park attraction being built at Universal Orlando Resort.

The steam engine and Hogsmeade Station are part of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, scheduled to open this spring. It will feature Hogwarts Castle and other themed rides, shops and a restaurant.

 Photo: Kevin Kolczynski, Universal Orlando Resort

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 3:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Happy Friday, everybody!

And especially to Suzanne, who has won "Little Billy's Letters." Congratulations, and I hope you enjoy this particular brand of humor.

I'm still deep into "Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter," and it's keeping me highly entertained. However, I realize that supernatural creatures mixed with historical figures isn't everyone's cup of tea.

So, this week's giveaway is Jerome Charyn's novel, "The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson." This reimagining of the 19th-century poet's life contains no monsters, but a woman whose life was dedicated to creation and imagination -- without making her creations her entire life. Instead of prim and repressed, Charyn has created a heroine with both a sense of humor and a purpose.

So tell us what you're reading, and this book could be yours!

Posted by Nancy Knight at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)
        

Ever since Apple showed off its iPad and the iBooks feature, I've been intrigued by the potential for enhancing our reading experience. The iPad seems to be the first e-reader that can take digital books to the next level -- beyond simple electronic text. This week, Penguin Books’ CEO John Makinson offered a sampling of the future at a conference in London (thanks to PaidContent for capturing the presentation on video). These examples begin to stretch the idea of a "book," though the kid-oriented examples mimic learning software that has been around for years. I was more impressed by the potential shown in a GPS-enhanced Paris travel guide, and the star chart.

Some other suggestions: Give me an enhanced version of James S. Hirsch's new bio "Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend" that includes video of his over-the-shoulder catch and his sweet swing. For "The Politician," I'd love to see a video sequence of John Edwards squirming under the questioning of reporters -- and his outright lies. And for "Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong," how about letting author Terry Teachout and a group of musicians deconstruct some of Satchmo's most famous songs.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

Apple has delayed the launch of the iPad, which promises to greatly expand the functionality of e-readers. The tablet, originally scheduled for worldwide release in March, will hit U.S. stores on April 3, according to the AP. Apple said Friday that Wi-Fi models will go on sale first; iPads that can connect to Wi-Fi and 3G cellular networks will go on sale in late April. The iPad, which features a touch screen similar to the iPhone, will cost between $499 and $829, depending on the features included.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

The Oscar for Best Picture will be awarded Sunday, and to get in the mood, here's a quiz on the nominees' literary heritage. Many of the top movies were adapted from books -- reaffirming the enormous creativity and storytelling power found on the printed page. For our quiz, match each movie title to the author of the book from which it was adapted. (No Googling!) Leave your answers as a comment; we'll send one lucky winner a paperback of "Crazy Heart" -- another great adaptation that got three nominations.

MOVIES

1. The Blind Side (Best picture)

2. An Education (Best picture)

3. Up in the Air (Best picture)

4. Precious (Best picture)

5. Julie and Julia (Best Actress)

6. Crazy Heart (Best Actor)

AUTHORS

a. Walter Kim

b. Michael Lewis

c. Thomas Cobb

d. Sapphire

e. Julie Powell 

f. Lynn Barber

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

You may have wondered: Whose hands are oh-so-gently cradling the apple on the iconic "Twilight" cover? Serious Twi-fans already know. But I confess, I didn't -- until I came across this Slate photo gallery of famous hand models.

The models' sleek, manicured digits have been used for advertisements hawking Palmolive soap, Pillsbury pie crust and Amazon's Kindle. And, of course, for Stephenie Meyer's tale of vampires, werewolves and Bella. So check out the gallery, and get acquainted with the Kimbra, Mia and other famous hand models. (And ask: Who washes the dishes and does the gardening in their homes?)

p.s. Thanks to Amazon's Omnivoracious blog for tipping me off to the photo gallery.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

This week's literary movie, "Alice in Wonderland," is one that I can safely see -- without having to worry about the ending being spoiled. It will be interesting to see how Disney has captured the zaniness of Lewis Carroll's classic rabbit-meets-girl tale. Here's a taste from the trailer. I've always been a big fan of the 1951 animated version -- with the great Ed Wynn as the loopy voice of the Mad Hatter and a screenplay originally adapted (and rejected by Disney) by Aldous Huxley. For cartoon characters, can you beat the now-you-see-it, now-you-don't Cheshire Cat? Let's see whether director Tim Burton can top that. Here are some "Alice" reviews (and here are reviews of "Shutter Island," "Percy Jackson" and other book-to-movie adaptations):

Los Angeles Times -- Given the strength of Burton's imagination, it's not surprising that many of these creatures are engaging, especially if, like that rabbit, they are voiced by top British actors. ... Rather less satisfying is the script's notion that the creatures spend much of their time bickering as to whether this Alice is the same person who came down the rabbit hole a decade earlier ... .

New York Times -- Dark and sometimes grim, this isn’t your great-grandmother’s Alice or that of Uncle Walt, who was disappointed with the 1951 Disney version of “Alice in Wonderland.

Variety -- Quite like what one would expect from such a match of filmmaker and material and also something less, this "Alice in Wonderland" has its moments of delight, humor and bedazzlement. But it also becomes more ordinary as it goes along, building to a generic battle climax ... .

Entertainment Weekly -- Burton's Disneyfied 3-D Alice in Wonderland, written by the girl-power specialist Linda Woolverton (Beauty and the Beast), is a strange brew indeed: murky, diffuse, and meandering, set not in a Wonderland that pops with demented life but in a world called Underland that's like a joyless, bombed-out version of Wonderland.

Associated Press -- Burton's film is not lacking whimsy. Much of its design is wonderfully imaginative-surely the biggest draw of the movie. ... There are elegant moments -- the overhead shot of Alice shrinking into the billows of her dress, or the great, big slobbering tongue of the beastly Bandersnatch. The incredibly tweaky March Hare (voiced by Paul Whitehouse) is also a joy.

Village Voice -- Like more than one recent movie, Alice seems a trailer for a Wonderland computer game — and it is. The final battle is clearly designed for gaming.

New York -- If you can get past the craven concessions to formula, though, it’s rather underful—I mean, wonderful. Taking his cues from John Tenniel’s famous illustrations, Burton indulges his delight in disproportion. Nothing and no one in Underland quite fits, least of all our heroine, who becomes very small, then very big, then teensy enough to hide inside the Mad Hatter’s hat, then vastly out of scale with the court of the Red Queen, where she’s greeted as a visiting giantess.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Books to Movies
        

Science blogger Amanda Barry, who has researched biochemistry, microbiology, crop and soil science, and many more disciplines for the past 15 years, plans to honor a different woman in science every week this month.

Her first honoree is Henrietta Lacks, a local woman whose cancerous cells have become a powerful tool for scientists in the more than 50 years since they were first collected. Thanks to Rebecca Skloot's book, "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks," Barry says Johns Hopkins is more likely to officially honor the woman who contributed so much to their research.

"According to Skloot, there has never been an official effort by Johns Hopkins to honor Henrietta Lacks and her biological contribution to science. With the amazing press Skloot’s book has generated, I have a feeling this may change soon."

So kudos to Skloot, and here's hoping Leeks' family will finally see her recognized for the amazing contribution she has made to modern medicine.

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

Many of you remember my absolute delight over "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies." Well, the author of that delightful mashup of Regency-era manners and brain-eating monsters, Seth Grahame-Smith, has now given us "Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter."

This second novel is a similar premise from the first -- legions of the undead plopped in the middle of a familiar story -- and so it might be easy to dismiss him as one-note. But in actuality this book is much different.

It begins with a first-person narrative introduction, written by Grahame-Smith as a character in his own book, explaining how he came across Abraham Lincoln's journals, and why he's writing a book based on them. Then the book becomes a biography of sorts, detailing the heretofore unknown history of Lincoln's battles with vampires.

And so I'm tempted to analyze the deeper meaning: By making John Wilkes Booth a vampire (as seen in the AWESOME book trailer above), is the author saying the South was a parasitic presence, causing the turmoil of the Civil War in the first place? Or is it a comment on the inhumanity of war: It was so horrible, clearly the people responsible for such suffering had inhuman qualities in them, making the entire situation more bareable in hindsight?

Or maybe it's just a fun dalliance into the world of monster stories. Either way, I'm enjoying the read, and I hope to meet the author in person when he stops by the Smithsonian on Tuesday, March 9th.

Posted by Nancy Knight at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

I'm all for a bargain -- in fact, just yesterday I ordered the value meal at The Sun's cafeteria: for $4.50 you get a grilled chicken sandwich, Coke and fries, plus a discount coupon on your next cholesterol test.

Here's another good deal: In homor of Read Across America Day, Walmart is hoilding a month-long promotion, discounting its Top 500 children's books by as much as 40 percent. That includes Eric Carle's classic, "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," for $5.80, a 42 percent saving. And shipping is free.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Today's Baltimore Sun has a story about Judith Jones, the long-time book editor who has worked with such chefs as James Beard, Julia Child and Jacques Pépin. She visited the Charlestown retirement community recently to talk about her new book, "The Pleasures of Cooking for One."

(A personal aside: This is a woman whose biography I would pay to read. She started her career translating the works of Sartre and Camus, had a role in the publication of Anne Frank's diary, and worked with great chefs. I'd read her story over a hundred quickie bios of entertainers and politicians.) Some excerpts from Rob Kasper's column:

Jones, whose husband, Evan, died in 1996, told the gray-haired crowd that she once thought that dining at home without her husband and family would seem “empty and sad.” But on the contrary, she found that making a good meal was a way of honoring the past. Jones, who works three days a week as an editor at Knopf in Manhattan, said the evening meal was often “the highlight of my day. I always light a candle and open some wine.”

She also offered words of encouragement for another group of solitary diners who were not in the audience — young singles — to try their hand at kitchen work. “For young people just starting off, what better way to learn than to learn on yourselves, you eat your mistakes and do it better the next time.” ...

She said the challenges of cooking for one — such as buying too many groceries — can be overcome by following strategies outlined in her book. The key, she said, is not to think of a meal as self-contained, but rather to regard cooking as an ongoing process of one dish leading to another. In other words, you have one serious cooking session, say on a Sunday afternoon, and then feast during the week on the reincarnations. Her book contains recipes that start with an initial dish, and then it offers recipes for subsequent meals made with leftovers.

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

Questions about Charles Pellegrino's "The Last Train from Hiroshima," a new non-fiction account of the atomic bombing, have led Henry Holt and Co. to halt publication. According to the Associated Press, the book had received strong reviews and had been optioned for a possible film by "Avatar" director James Cameron. But Holt, responding to questions from the AP, said that Pellegrino "was not able to answer" several concerns, including whether two men mentioned in the text actually existed.

The first questions popped up recently after Pellegrino acknowledged that one of his interview subjects had falsely claimed to be on a plane accompanying the Enola Gay. More questions arose about two men, Father Mattias and John MacQuitty, featured in the book. According to the AP, Pellegrino said MacQuitty was "a changed identity," which he had neglected to note in the book's acknowledgments section.

Oddly, though, the book was still featured on Holt's website this morning, with this description: "Last Train from Hiroshima" offers readers a stunning “you are there” time capsule, gracefully wrapped in elegant prose. Charles Pellegrino’s scientific authority and close relationship with the A-bomb’s survivors make his account the most gripping and authoritative ever written.

That doesn't quite match the tenor of a Holt's statement on the controversy: "The author of any work of non-fiction must stand behind its content. We must rely on our authors to answer questions that may arise as to the accuracy of their work and reliability of their sources. Unfortunately Mr. Pellegrino was not able to answer the additional questions that have arisen about his book to our satisfaction."

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Each year, the National Endowment for the arts marks March 2, the birthday of the late Theodor Geisel, or Dr. Seuss, with Read Across America Day. The program, which promotes activities in schools, libraries and other organizations, is designed to give kids a love of reading. It's also a good excuse to visit Seussville, where you can read about the Massachusetts-born author, recall his playful genius with a Quotemaker machine and play games such as One Fish, Two Fish Concentration. His books are timeless. I enjoyed them -- my favorite was "And To think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street" -- and so did my children. 

 Meanwhile, don't forget to recite the Reader's Oath, which has a Seuss-like ring:

I promise to read/Each day and each night.

I know it's the key/To growing up right.  

I'll read to myself,/I'll read to a crowd.

It makes no difference/If silent or loud.  

I'll read at my desk,/At home and at school,

On my bean bag or bed,/By the fire or pool.

Each book that I read/Puts smarts in my head,

'Cause brains grow more thoughts/The more they are fed.

So I take this oath/To make reading my way

Of feeding my brain/What it needs every day.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 7:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

The Maryland Humanities Council announced this afternoon that "Outcasts United" was selected for the 2010 One Maryland One Book community read. MHC executive director Phoebe Stein Davis said in a statement that the book “touches on issues critical to Marylanders such as immigration, community and diversity." I noted earlier today that the book -- about molding poor immigrants and refugees into a youth soccer team named the "Fugees" -- was my pick as well.

“I'm thrilled ... ,” author Warren St. John said in the statement. "'Outcasts United' is a story about the challenges and rewards of living in diverse communities, and shows the difference one person can make in the lives of many. It's a book that I hope will inspire debate and conversation about how to grapple with cultural changes that are occurring in communities across the country, including in Maryland. I look forward to being part of that conversation. Go Fugees!”

The 2010 OMOB program will start in the fall. We'll keep you posted about details.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 2:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Last month, The Consumerist sparked an interesting debate about ebooks, and why publishers and their customers don't see eye-to-eye about fair pricing of ebooks.

The debate came to a head when publishing expert Michael Cader wrote that, in a nutshell, people who can afford to buy ereaders can afford to buy ebooks at just about any price.

And that's the kind of mindset that makes me feel the publishing industry needs a smack over the collective head.

Following that argument to its logical conclusion, people who drive BMWs should pay more for gas than those who drive Hondas, and those with larger houses should pay more for the IKEA furniture they use to fill those homes.

In other words, it's a completely bogus manner of determining prices.

One of the reasons I bought my Kindle is because I buy a LOT of books. And it didn't take me long to figure out that books are cheaper in the ebook format. Therefore, I can save money in the long run, and buy many books.

Now, that's not to say there aren't some down sides. Just this weekend I bought another copy of "Neverwhere" because I realized that discussing it at my book club in the ebook version, as opposed to a paperback that I can skim through immediately, would be a pain. And while the portability of the Kindle, and its huge storage, has made it invaluable while traveling, don't think I haven't noticed the high incidence of typos and troublesome formatting.

And here's the salient point of The Consumerist article:

"Maybe a customer can pay more for a digital book, but why should he? Currently, nearly all the value of the ebook format comes from the device, not the publisher. Portability, frictionless purchasing experience, syncing across multiple registered devices--all of that is provided by the device and the retailer's back-end."

Hear, hear. 

(Photo by foxumon on stock.xchng)

Posted by Nancy Knight at 12:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

I can't figure out whether this should be filed under "Beginning of the End" or "Stroke of Genius," but a library in suburban PIttsburgh will soon start lending Kindles to some patrons. According to a story in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the Shaler North Hills Library bought nine Kindles at $259 each to test the concept. By using e-books, library officials hope to buy fewer copies of bestsellers and use the money for other materials. Seems to make sense. Still, I get stomach pains when I envision the shelves of the Pratt left empty except for Kindles, nooks and iPads.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

We're nearing the end of the selection process for the 2010 One Maryland, One Book program, a statewide read designed to spark conversations about issues such as race, identity and community. This year, the selection committee whittled down a list of about a dozen contenders to four finalists: "Tortilla Curtain" by T.C. Boyle, "Outcasts United" by Warren St. John, "How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez, and "The Beautiful Things that Heaven Bears" by Dinaw Mengestu.

It's a strong group, and any one of them could headline OMOB this fall. For a great read, I'd put "Tortilla Curtain" at the top of the list. Boyle's a fine writer, and I liked how he juxtaposed the lives of L.A. suburbanites with those of Mexicans who had crossed the border illegally. The suburbanites wail loudly about material goods, while the immigrants confront physical danger and fight for survival. At one point, he mirrors the reactions to a car theft and a sexual assault -- a powerful pairing.

The "Garcia Girls" was also well-written and very touching. It came at the immigration story from another side -- that of a wealthy family forced to leave the Dominican Republic because of political upheaval. Three sisters struggle with family life and American life in their own ways. Another enjoyable read.

"Beautiful Things" is the tale of an African immigrant who tries to carve out a life in Washington, D.C. I liked the story, which featured interwoven themes of African corruption and American class struggle, but I had a hard time connecting with the main character's melancholy mood.

In the end, I chose "Outcasts," the story of young Jordanian woman who moves to America, settles in the Atlanta area and starts several youth soccer teams for fellow immigrants. The writing is somewhat pedestrian, and I wished that there was more introspection about the woman's tough love approach to choaching kids. But the many conflicts are ripe for OMOB discussions: rich vs. poor, American vs. immigrant, African-American vs. African immigrant, immigrant vs. immigrant. And students will be able to identify with the young characters more readily.

As for the official selection, it should be announced soon.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Reviews