It's been a long time coming, but Wonder Woman finally has a new wardrobe. The DC comics superheroine has tossed off the star-spangled outfit that she has worn since 1941. Her new look -- dark leggings, a studded denim jacket and heeled boots -- might be something from the closet of Lisbeth Salander, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" (but in a size zero).

On the DC Comics site, writer J. Water Straczynski noted Wonder Woman's need for a restyling: "What woman only wears one outfit for 70 years? What woman doesn’t accessorize? And more to the point, as many women have lamented over the years…how does she fight in that thing?"

Artist Jim Lee created the new costume, which replaces the red-white-and-blue themed bustier and knee-length boots. Here's how he described it: "Visually, the character seems edgier than before but stylish enough to warrant a second, albeit cautious, glance. The jacket and boots confirm the costume’s functionality and the open, thinner tiara and shaped bracelets reveal a lighter, even youthful, bent to the Amazonian Princess."

I'll miss the classic costume, which I'm sure fueled lots of adolescent dreams. But the new look seems less like one concocted by a bunch of cheerleader-obsessed guys, and a lot less encumbered by World War II-era patriotic themes. It's a whole lot more appropriate to the 21st Century woman, that's for sure.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 4:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (29)
        

Disney Book Group announced today its plans for a middle-grade baseball series written by Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr. and Kevin Cowherd of The Baltimore Sun. The series will feature characters from a Babe Ruth League team named the Orioles, Disney said in a news release.

"Hothead," the first book in the series, is scheduled for an early 2011 release. It features tempermental third baseman Connor Sullivan, who was inspired by Cal’s experience as a young player, Disney said. Additional books will follow every year.

Ripken said in the release, “Connor is a character that I was able to help develop with Kevin based on my experiences as a kid who struggled with his emotions. I hope that the kids reading it find it to be fun and take away a few lessons from it.”

Here's how the book is described on its Amazon page: Connor Sullivan is an All-Star third baseman on his Babe Ruth League team, the Orioles. He can hit and field with the best of them, but he's got one big problem: his temper. When he strikes out or makes an error, he's a walking Mt. Vesuvius, slamming batting helmets and throwing gloves. His teammates are starting to avoid him, even his best friend Jason. His coach is ready to kick him off the team.

To make matters worse, things aren't much better at home. His dad is having trouble finding a new job after being laid off. Money is tight. Connor's dream of attending the prestigious Brooks Robinson Baseball Camp this summer seems like just that now - a dream.

When the sports editor of the school paper threatens to do a big story on his tantrums - complete with embarassing photos - Connor realizes he has to clean up his act. But can he do it in time to regain his teammates' trust and help the Orioles win the championship against the best team in the league?

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

Or maybe my expectations have finally been lowered enough.

Don't get me wrong, the third installment of this series won't be winning any awards. But it was far more entertaining than either of its predecessors, thanks mostly to some intense fight scenes between the evil vampire army and Bella's werewolf friends.

Watching (and hearing) the vampires get torn apart like icicles was strangely satisfying, chilling and best of all not bloody.

The movie begins with a scene that's not in the book -- a young boy is attacked in the streets of Seattle by an unknown vampire. This is, of course, the genesis of the army vindictive Victoria creates to avenge Edward's killing of her mate, James, way back in the first movie.

Remember that one? With the bad acting? Yeah, that acting hasn't gotten any better, in case you were wondering.

While showing some of the action in Seattle, most of the mystery from the book "Eclipse" is lost -- but I found it ridiculous that no one thought that Victoria might be behind the city serial killings in the first place.

So by avoiding a slavish devotion to the source material, I found I was able to enjoy this movie for the nice bit of fluff it's intended to be.

Likewise, I find I like many of the supporting cast a lot more in their movie forms: Jasper is soulful (watching his backstory is a really nice touch that I didn't enjoy much in the book itself), Charlie is less obtuse and Rosalie has purpose, rather than simply being a mindless foil for Bella.

And for the record, I'm totally Team Charlie. He's hands down the coolest guy in Forks, and he never even brandishes that gun in his holster. He intimidates vampires and werewolves alike with the sheer strength of his steely gaze.

And, yeah, maybe the mustache helps. (Here are Eclipse reviews from the New York Times, Los Angeles Times and others.)

But the best part about catching "Eclipse" at the Maryland Science Center's midnight showing in all its IMAX glory was simply the audience reaction.

These are some dedicated fans, and some even more dedicated parents. I saw some amazing homemade memorabilia, including shirts and even an intricate bracelet. We had quite a few sparkly vampires, sporting fangs and fake blood, obviously.

There was even a very young girl sitting behind me in the 400-seat auditorium dressed in her pink pajamas and a matching sparkly pink headband. And she didn't fidget or cry once.

Such is the magic of "Twilight."

"Eclipse" is an anomoly in another way, as well. While it clearly sets up the next installment, you don't spend the entire movie waiting for something to happen. More than one mid-series movie has fallen prey to the set-up role, rushing through exposition and character development so that the players are all in the right place when things actually get moving in the next movie.

In fact, "New Moon" was a big snorefest for me for exactly that reason.

Whether you're on Team Edward or Team Jacob, the sold-out crowd seemed to appreciate one thing equally: Taylor Lautner's supernaturally toned torso. Whenever he showed up sans shirt, which was nearly all of his scenes, the place went wild. Only Edward's marriage proposal before the big fight came close to rivaling those pecs.

But really, while comparing a vampire's physique to that of a werewolf? Well, there's really no competition.

Sorry, vamps.

Posted by Nancy Knight at 3:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Tabloids are having a great time with the arrests of 11 people allegedly linked to a Russian spy ring. "Moscow on the Hudson" screamed  the N.Y. Daily News front page, and its competitor, the Post, hyped Anna Chapman, the so-called Mata Hari "with a masters in economics, an online real-estate business ... and a Victoria's Secret body." But so far, revelations about the group are pretty tepid, and their marching orders -- to learn about a wide range of topics, including nuclear weapons, U.S. arms control positions ... the last presidential election, Congress and the political parties, sound like assignments for a Political Science 101 term paper.

If that's the most danger the ring represented, I'm happy to have sultry spies skulking about again, sweducing diplomats and exchanging documents at train stations. It's great for literature. Life just hasn't been the same since the Cold War was put on defrost. The gripping spy novels of John Le Carre, including "The Honourable Schoolboy," drew their power from East-West tensions. So did the works of Graham Greene, Ken Follett and Frederick Forsyth. (Not to mention Ian Fleming and his James Bond character.)

There's plenty of tension in the world these days, but the inter-twined themes of politics, religion and race make for messier plot lines. I'm hoping the New York bust -- complete with alleged skullduggery at a Barnes & Noble -- sparks a renaissance in Spy vs. Spy thrillers.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Nancy is headed to the Maryland Science Center tonight for the release of Eclipse, the latest movie adaptation from Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series. (Nancy says she's not a Twi-hard, but I think she harbors a secret crush for Edward.) She'll be tweeting from the show, so if you want wall-to-wall coverage check in with ReadStreet on Twitter. Meanwhile, here's a look at the fans who turned out for a local Twilight marathon and excerpts from Eclipse movie reviews:

New York Times -- If there is a bit more humor on display here ... there is also more violence, and, true to the film’s title, a deeper intimation of darkness. What there isn’t, as usual, is much in the way of good acting, with the decisive and impressive exception of Ms. Stewart, who can carry a close-up about as well as anyone in movies today.

Los Angeles Times -- "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" is back with all of the lethal and loving bite it was meant to have: The kiss of the vampire is cooler, the werewolf is hotter, the battles are bigger and the choices are, as everyone with a pulse (and a few without) knows by now, life-changing.

USA Today -- While director David Slade's unnerving psychological drama Hard Candy (2005) was fascinating in its unpredictability, he is hampered here by Meyer's leaden plot, adapted like the previous ones by Melissa Rosenberg. Early scenes have a gritty tension, but the rest of the movie, with its slow pacing and lackluster cinematography, doesn't live up to that initial promise.

Hollywood Reporter -- It took three films, but "The Twilight Saga" finally nails just the right tone in "Eclipse," a film that neatly balances the teenage operatic passions from Stephenie Meyer's novels with the movies' supernatural trappings. Where the first film leaned heavily on camp and the second faltered through caution and slickness, "Eclipse" moves confidently into the heart of the matter -- a love triangle that causes a young woman to realize choices lead to consequences that cannot be reversed.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 5:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: Books to Movies
        

"Scout, Atticus & Boo" is based on Mary McDonagh Murphy's documentary, which marks the 50th anniversary of Harper Lee's classic. Here you can read interviews with writers including Wally Lamb, James Patterson, Richard Russo and Scott Turow. Oprah Winfrey also weighs in, revealing that "To Kill a Mockingbird" may have been a spark for her book club.

Here's an excerpt: "I remember reading this book and then going to class and not being able to shut up about it. I read it in eighth or ninth grade, and I was trying to push the book off on other kids. So it makes sense to me that now I have a book club, because I have been doing that since probably this book."

Her favorite character: Scout.

To enter to win a 50th anniversary edition of "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Scout, Atticus & Boo," drop a comment about your favorite character or scene in this Read Street post.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

One of the defining characteristics of a good book is its ability to transport a reader to another place and time. Whether it's a fantastical world, historical fiction or edge-of-your-seat thriller, the settings and characters become real to you, whether for a moment or the rest of your life.

Sometimes, you may only want to stay for that moment. And at other times, you find yourself wishing you could literally go. That's probably why the Harry Potter theme park is such a smashing success already!

And that got me thinking: Of all the books I've read, which parties would I want to attend?

The ball at Netherfield would be great for the drama -- Jane and Bingley falling in love, Elizabeth and Darcy willfully misunderstanding each other, Mary performing to the mortification of her family -- that's comic gold. Of course, I don't know any of the dances, so that could get a bit dull.

Then there are the house parties from "The Great Gatsby." Booze and beautiful people everywhere, and everyone saying such beautiful, yet meaningless, things. Even Bella and Edward's wedding would be a sight to see. Where else would you get vampires and werewolves among lace and champagne?

So which parties would you want to recreate?

(Photo by VinnyPrime on stock.xchng)

Posted by Nancy Knight at 1:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The death of Sen. Robert C. Byrd, 92, has robbed us of a long-time authority on the history of constitutional goverment. In speeches, essays and books, he drew connections between Roman history and the way our government was evolving.

As an AP story noted: Renowned for carrying a copy of the U.S. Constitution in his left shirt pocket to brandish at colleagues and constituents, Byrd had a deep commitment to history. A master of Senate rules, he was by turns protective and disruptive of procedure, slowing debate with long, florid orations that invoked Greek philosophers, Roman generals and the Founding Fathers.

Among his books were a memoir, "Robert C. Byrd: Child of the Appalachian Coalfields," and more weighty tomes, including "The Senate of the Roman Republic." Byrd, who jealously guarded the powers of Congress, also weighed in with a tough critique of President George W. Bush in "Losing America: Confronting a Reckless and Arrogant Presidency."

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 1:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Obituaries
        

On July 11, we'll mark the 50th anniversary of "To Kill a Mockingbird," Harper Lee's classic about race relations, class conflict, lost innocence and justice denied.

 To help celebrate the occasion, we're giving away HarperCollins' anniversary edition of the novel, as well as "Scout, Atticus & Boo," a collection of essays by such luminaries as Wally Lamb, James McBride, Oprah Winfrey, James Patterson, Richard Russo and Scott Turow.

We'll give away two pairs of the books. To enter to win, just post a comment about your favorite character in TKAM, or about why the book has remained so important after a half-century. We'lll draw the two winners on Friday. And while you wait for the results, check out this anniversary website, which lists events, book club resources and other resources.

And thanks to HarperCollins for supplying the books for our giveawy. 

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (25)
        

Harry Potter mania knows no bounds. The gazillion-page books weren't enough to satisfy die-hard fans. They also needed movies. And a theme park.

Well, now they have something else to celebrate all things Potter: an AirTran jet that touts the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The discount carrier has adorned its planes with other images, including those of Elton John, auto racer Danica Patrick and The Baltimore Ravens logo.

So touting the new Universal theme park dedicated to Harry Potterr is a logical step. (Though I still like Southwest's Shamu plane the best.)

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Happy Friday, Read Streeters!

The weather is hot and sticky, so I say we all just hang out inside and read for a while. You know, where the air conditioning and ceiling fans are. Right now, I'm enjoying Kristin Cashore's "Fire," -- which is the name of the heroine, not the condition of anyone in the book -- and it's the perfect way to escape reality. For those who've read "Graceling," it's set in the same world, but with completely different characters to sweep you away.

Cashore's doing some interesting things in this book regarding how difficult it can be as a woman in the world. Fire's father -- like herself -- had the active ability to control minds, as well as the passive ability to drive people crazy with just her appearance. And throughout the book, comments are made about how much more difficult it is for her, as a woman, to deal with those abilities. So a large subtext to the action of the book is Fire proving herself to, well, herself! And everyone around her. It helps that she knows how to handle a bow and arrow, as well as a solid moral compass.

But anyway, on to the winning of new books!

Congratulations, Barry, you've won Pat Benatar's "Between a Heart and a Rock Place." We hope you enjoy it, possibly to some appropriately rockin' tunes.

And next up, we've got Nora Roberts' latest release, "The Search." I like to think of it as a romance with a rescue dogs and a serial killer or two thrown in to spice things up.

So if you're in the mood to add this to your summer reading list, let us know what you're reading right now, and it could be yours.

Posted by Nancy Knight at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

Thousands of "Twi-hards" jammed Los Angeles this week for a chance to see the premiere of Eclipse, the latest movie adaptation in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series. And last night, the dream came true for the lucky ones who got a peek at the stars -- and at the movie. They came from Seattle and Dallas and Scranton, camping in a special tent city erected for the event, according to an AP report.

Amanda Belcher, 27, a mom from Scranton, Pa., who took a week off work at a public affairs agency to camp out for the premiere said the experience was worth it. "It's a great way to bring people together," Belcher said. "It's like intense friendship building."

The millions of other Twilight fans will have to wait until June 30 for the movie's general release. Here in Baltimore, the Maryland Science Center's iMax theater will be among the venues. In the meantime, some cities are offering free showings of Twilight and New Moon, the first two movies in the series, on June 26. You can check here for a list of cities. Nothing in Baltimore, but true Twi-hards willl think nothing of driving to Washington or Philly for the event.

As noted earlier, "Breaking Dawn," the final book in Meyer's series, will be released as two movies -- a decision I disagree with.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 8:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Books to Movies
        

We had a great turnout last night at the Enoch Pratt's Northwood branch, as a group of scholars (with little ol' me) discussed "To Kill a Mockingbird" on the 50th anniversary of its publication. Thanks to all who braved the mid-90s heat to join the conversation. Our discussion touched a wide range of themes, from strong female characters to Jim Crow-era legal challenges to Gothic themes.

Sherrilyn Ifill, University of Maryland law professor and author of "On the Courthouse Lawn: Confronting the Legacy of Lynching in the 21st Century" analyzed Atticus Finch's courtroom performance and that of other civil rights lawyers. Brian Norman, director of African and African American studies at Loyola University Maryland and author of "Neo-Segregation Narratives: Jim Crow in Post-Civil Rights American Literature," noted the book's relationship to other segregation narratives and its Gothic elements. And Jadi Omowale, writer, publisher, and teacher at the Community College of Baltimore County, delivered a spirited reading of a prose poem that could form the basis of a TKAM sequel.

It was an hour and a half of pure literary love. That sort of conversation is always a great way to spend an evening -- whether it's hot or not.

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

For those who believe in a cosmic symmetry, this is perfect. Genealogists say that Robert Pattinson, who plays vampire Edward Cullen in the Twilight movies, is a distant relative of Vlad the Impaler, the AP reports. Fans of Bram Stoker will recall that the blood-thirsty Vlad Dracul, was the likely inspiration for the classic horror novel, Dracula. Vlad, a 15th Century ruler in Transylvania, had a habit of impaling his Turkish enemies, criminals and those who lost the remote control at his castle.

Researchers at Ancestry.com discovered that Pattinson and Vlad are connected through their relationship to the British royal family. Prince William and Prince Harry are Pattinson's distant cousins; Vlad the Impaler was their distant uncle. Stephenie Meyer, author of the Twilight series, also is connected to the prince's lineage and therefore to Dracula, according to the report.

Those princes really get around, don't they?

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Here's further proof that the market for e-readers is splitting in two -- with companies such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble dropping prices to reach cost-conscious consumers and others (namely Apple) heading for the high ground.

Apple said Tuesday that it had sold three million iPads in just 80 days -- a symbolic time frame for anyone fond of Jules Verne and the intrepid Phileas Fogg. Of course, Apple's tablet computer is much more than an e-reader, and its price -- $499 and up -- reflects that.

Meanwhile, in the latest price break for low-end e-readers, Borders is sweetening the purchase of its $149.99 Kobo with this package: a $20 gift card and double Borders Bucks that can be used for a future purchase. (Borders is also taking orders for the Libre e-reader, which sells for $119.99.)

In a news release, Borders said, "According to consumer research conducted by the Boston Consulting Group, high prices continue to be a barrier to eReader adoption, despite significant interest in purchasing over the next few years. The same research has identified the consumer sweet spot for eReader cost between $100 and $150."

What's your sweet spot?

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

Clearly, I can't imagine a life without reading. I've done it all my life, for school, pleasure and used it for what I consider basic life skills, such as driving and grocery shopping. But it's estimated that about 700,000 Maryland residents lack those skills.

And so, to combat illiteracy, the Enoch Pratt Library has partnered with Baltimore Reads and Dyslexia Tutoring Program to bring a literacy conference to the Central Library today, which will be open till 12:30 p.m.

The keynote speaker is U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary Brenda Dann-Messier, whose primary focus has been adult literacy initiatives and work force development. Other featured events include Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and City Council President Jack Young signing the Declaration for the Right to Literacy, a scroll that has traveled the country collecting signatures, and will be presented to President Barack Obama.

The conference, titled "Why Can't Grandma Read? Intergenerational Illiteracy in Baltimore," will focus heavily on adult reading skills, which among other things could strengthen participants' chances at employment.

"At the Pratt, we've tried to address the problem by promoting early reading and literacy to infants and teens with a variety of programs,” Carla Hayden, CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, said in a press release. "Now we're hoping to open more opportunities to adults as well because you're never too young or too old to learn."

If you're interested in attending, the cost is either $20, or the donation of a book for the Baltimore Reads Book Bank.

Posted by Nancy Knight at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Wednesday evening, I'll be moderating a discussion on "To Kill a Mockingbird," which marks its 50th anniversary this year.

We'll examine the lessons, impact and appeal of Harper Lee's timeless novel -- the only one she wrote. The event, organized by the Enoch Pratt Free Library, will be held at the Northwood branch at 6:30.

If you can make it, please say hello. But even if you can't, just leave a question or comment here and I'll forward it to the panel.

On the panel are Sherrilyn Ifill, University of Maryland law professor and author of "On the Courthouse Lawn: Confronting the Legacy of Lynching in the 21st Century"; Brian Norman, director of African and African American studies at Loyola University Maryland and author of "Neo-Segregation Narratives: Jim Crow in Post-Civil Rights American Literature"; and Jadi Omowale, writer, publisher, and teacher at the Community College of Baltimore County.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 4:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

In the latest big-screen adaptation of a crime-fighting comic character, the Green Hornet is heading our way in January. Here's the trailer of the movie, which stars Seth Rogen and Cameron Diaz.

These days, almost every celebrity seems to have a multimedia platform: TV, movie, book, website, etc. But the Green Hornet was among the first multimedia stars. The story of Britt Reid, the media mogul turned crime-fighter, unfolded as a radio serial in the 1930s, and over the decades was featured in books, comics and TV. In addition to Reid, the new movie will include other memorable characters, including trusted assistants Kato (I can't help but smile, thinking of Inspector Clouseau wrestling with his houseboy, Cato) and Lenore "Casey" Case. If nothing else, it should make for some bonding between the generations.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

How low can you go? Amazon and Barnes & Noble are dropping prices of their e-book readers as new competitors emerge. Amazon slashed the Kindle's price from $259 to $189. Barnes & Noble, meanwhile, cut the nook's price to $199, and introduced a stripped-down model that only offers Wi-Fi Internet access for $149, the Wall Street Journal reported.

We noted earlier this month that the Libre, being sold by Borders, threatened to break out of the pack of e-readers with its low, low price: $119.99. But the market leaders are wisely fighting back. As they assess the economics of  digitization, they may be taking a lesson from companies who make shaving products: Give away the razors for a low price, and make your money on the blades. That's likely to continue as new devices emerge.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 5:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Summer's the time to hit the road, and when I travel, I like to get in the mood with a book. Even better is one that can deliver some laughs.  Here are 10 books that will provide great reading -- and smiles -- before your plane leaves the runway. (Even if you're just headed to Ocean City, these books will help pass the time between mini-golf and boardwalk strolls.)

1. "In a Sunburned Country" by Bill Bryson for your trip to Australia

2. "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole for New Orleans

3. "Under the Tuscan Sun" by Frances Mayes for Italy

4. "Life with Jeeves" by P.G. Wodehouse for England

5. "God Knows" by Joseph Heller for Israel

6. "Travels with Alice" by Calvin Trillin

7. "Innocents Abroad" by Mark Twain for Europe and the Holy Land

8. "Absurdistan" by Gary Shteyngart for the former Soviet Union

9. "Westward Ha!" by S.J. Perelman for the world

10. "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams for all the rest

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

Hope everyone had a happy Father's Day. I got a chance to stroll through some of Washington's great museums -- is there another city in the world where so much art is available for free? In addition to the National Gallery of Art and the Corcoran, my daughter and I stopped at the Renwick for a poignant exhibition called "The Art of Gaman: Arts and Crafts from the Japanese American Internment Camps 1942-1946."

Gaman is a Japanese word that means to bear the seemingly unbearable with dignity and patience, the museum notes. The show honors a creative spirit that could not be crushed by the racially charged policies that pushed more than 100,000 people of Japanese descent -- including those who were American citizens -- from the west coast to inland internment camps. Camp residents (prisoners, actually) used scrap wood, toothpicks, seeds, paper flyers and other materials to create chairs, jewelry, sculpture and paintings.

The show is a sobering reminder of government gone mad -- and a testament to man's creative spirit. Well worth a visit before it leaves on Jan. 30. The museum has scheduled many lectures and other related events, including a July 17 showing of "Snow Falling on Cedars," the movie adaptation of David Guterson's masterful book.

The exhibition is organized by San Francisco-based author and guest curator Delphine Hirasuna, and is based on her 2005 book, The Art of Gaman.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 8:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Here's a gift idea for anyone seeking to upgrade a Kindle: a Moleskine cover. The distinctive, black-clad bindings recall the note- and sketchbooks of van Gogh, Picasso and Hemingway. And the new Kindle version, released this week, is designed to merge the old and new worlds.

I admit, attaching a notepad to a device that allows readers to save passages and take notes digitally does seem a bit belt-and-suspenders. (Though it's certainly beneficial if you're an artist.) But the Moleskine style exudes cool, and that's great for Kindle owners -- especially those suffering from iPad envy.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 1:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Jose Saramago, the Portuguese author who won the Nobel prize for literature in 1998, has died at age 87, his publisher said today.

Saramago was known for his looping, surreal style and characters. And his elevation to Nobel prize-winner recalls the political nature of that award. Saramago, a staunch Communist, was cast aside when the political tides changed in Portugal in the mid-1970s -- a move that led to his career as a novelist. As he wrote for his Nobel autobiography: "Unemployed again and bearing in mind the political situation we were undergoing, without the faintest possibility of finding a job, I decided to devote myself to literature: it was about time to find out what I was worth as a writer."

Among the notable works that followed were “The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis,” "Blindness" and “Baltasar and Blimunda.” But he also thrust himself into political situations occasionally. In 2002, he said an Israeli blockade of Ramallah was "in the spirit of Auschwitz," a statement that infuriated many Jews.

The New York Times' obit included this 2008 assessment from critic James Wood: “Jose Saramago was both an avant-gardist and a traditionalist. His long blocks of unbroken prose, lacking conventional markers like paragraph breaks and quotation marks, could look forbidding and modernist; but his frequent habit of handing over the narration in his novels to a kind of ‘village chorus’ and what seem like peasant simplicities, allowed Saramago great flexibility.”

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Obituaries
        

What if you ran a "cozy, free-spirited, hippie-style" bookstore" that just happened to have the same name as a conservative political movement whose icons include Sarah Palin (shown here at a Boston rally)? Sounds like the premise for a TV sitcom. But for the owner of the Tea Party Bookshop in Salem, Ore., it wasn't funny.

After being buffeted with calls and visits from folks looking for info about the Tea Party Express movement, the owner is changing the shop's name to Tigress Books. "We will be the same great STORE ... but without any of the political connotations inadvertantly caused by our name," the website says.

Owner JoAnne Kohler told Willamettelive.com, "I believe in the political process even if I don't agree with the message behind the Tea Party. To be honest, if the name had been adopted by radical eco-terrorists, I would have made the same decision." She said the new name "stems from a blessing by a Tibetan Buddhist, Lama Karma, in Portland," and that store’s books will focus on personal growth and transformation, positive living and green living.

Not exactly the Tea Party Express platform. Let's wish the Tigress luck.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Bookstores
        

Happy Friday, everyone!

I'm heading up to Boston for the official kick-off of wedding season, and I hope your weekend plans are just as pleasant.

Of course, I also have to read Stephenie Meyer's Eclipse to keep up with the movie's release later this month, so it won't all be pleasant, I suppose. The things I do for you people!

(But when I need a break from emo vampires, I will be lucky enough to re-read "To Kill a Mockingbird" in preparation for a Pratt Library panel with writers Sherrilyn Ifill Brian Norman and Jadi Omowale. Not bad.)

Anyway, we've got a "World Cup Companion" to give away! Congratulations, John! It looks like your soccer-themed reading will continue. Enjoy!

Next up, Pat Benatar's new memoir, "Between a Heart and a Rock Place." Benatar takes the reader from the 1970s New York club scene to the studio with her professional and personal partner Neil "Spyder" Giraldo, all the while explaining how and why she did things her way to become a rock 'n' roll icon.

As a twist on our weekly theme, leave a comment with the name of a favorite biography (if you're not big on bios, just let us know what you're reading this week), and prepare to rock out!

Posted by Nancy Knight at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

Now that Stieg Larsson's crime trilogy has ended with "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest," publishers on both sides of the Atlantic are scrambling to find an heir to his spot on best seller lists. Larsson, who died in 2004, left a powerful legacy in the characters Mikael Blomqvist and Lisbeth Salander. And just as Stephenie Meyer's success led to a flood of vampire novels, Larsson's popularity has led publishers to tout more Scandinavian crime novels.

The Washington Post highlighted several best-selling authors who fit the bill: Camilla Läckberg, a Swede who she makes her American debut this week; Norwegian Jo Nesbø, whose works are published in 40 languages; and Sweden's Henning Mankell, the Wallender creator (and participant in the ill-fated Palestinian aid flotilla).

The New York Times also weighed in on the scramble. It quoted Dave Callanan, a senior editor for books at Amazon.com, on the Scandinavian noir style: “Their protagonists are aggressive, but more subdued than in American crime fiction. They’ve had their jobs tramped all over them. There’s a slight cynicism to them.” That sounds a lot like Philip Marlowe -- with more herring and more snow.

Among the books being touted in fall catalogs, the Times noted, are “Hypothermia,” by Icelandic author Arnaldur Indridason and “Between Summer’s Longing and Winter’s End” by Leif G. W. Persson.

We'll see who emerges as the Larsson heir.

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

Here's a twist on the usual Freebie Friday, which offers Read Streeters a chance to win a recently published book each week.

Over on the Charm City Moms blog, you can win an old school version of "Winnie-the-Pooh." All you have to do is leave a comment recalling a favorite passage or scene from children's literature.

I can remember many evenings reading A.A. Milne's stories to my children, and a favorite scene was Pooh hanging from a baloon while trying to take honey from a hole in a tree.

I seem to recall that we had a well-worn hardcover book of stories, as well as a pop-up book. Maybe that's why it stands out -- in addition to being a charming tale of adventure gone wrong.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 9:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

Rob Reiner, the director who made one of my all-time favorite movies, "When Harry Met Sally," has turned his attention to an adaptation of "Flipped." (And anyone who knew me as a kid can recognize the geeky clothes in this trailer.)

The novel about young love between mismatched schoolmates was written by popular YA author Wendelin Van Draanen, who already has crafted a sequel called "Confessions of a Serial Kisser." She's a prolific author who also created the Sammy Keyes mysteries, including "Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief," which won the 1999 Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Children’s Mystery. She and her husband also have a program called Exercise the Right to Read, to boost literacy. Not bad for a former high school computer teacher.

The movie is scheduled for release on August 6.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

For all you "Twilight" fans, gearing up for the latest installment of the movie franchise, you may want to get your tickets to the Maryland Science Center's midnight showing on June 30th now.

You haven't really seen Edward woo Bella till you've seen it in IMAX, after all.

I'm not talking IMAX-branded theaters, that never fail to disappoint me once I walk in the theater. The Science Center has the five-story screen and 38-speaker surround sound system to make you feel like vampires and werewolves are swooping in all around you, like ninjas. You know, romantic undead and super hairy ninjas who want to bring you flowers and take you home to their bloodthirsty mothers. Of course, the larger-than-life adventure also translates into larger-than-life longing eyes of doom. I'm just warning you.

General admission tickets for "Twilight: Eclipse" are $14, $13 for seniors and members of the military (What?! Not ALL "Twilight" fans are 12 years old!), and $12 for Science Center members. So what are you waiting for?

Posted by Nancy Knight at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Happy Bloomsday, everyone! The Sheridan libraries of Johns Hopkins University will join the international celebration of James Joyce's "Ulysses" with readings Wednesday at -- where else? -- The James Joyce pub and restaurant in Harbor East.

The readings start at 5 p.m., though the pub will offer $4 glasses of James Joyce Amber all day. So lubricate your tongue -- and other bodily parts -- to help celebrate the convoluted classic that takes place in Dublin on June 16, 1904.

In other Ulysses news, Apple said Tuesday that it was mistaken in restricting iPad images for apps for Robert Berry's comic book edition, which contains nudity. The AP reported that the developers of that book and a graphic treatment of "The Importance of Being Earnest” had been allowed to  use the original artwork.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Gotta love the "can-do" spirit of Gary Brooks Faulkner, the American who has been detained in northern Pakistan as he allegedly tried to cross into Afghanistan to kill Osama bin Laden.

Sounds like a "Tea Party" version of the years-long manhunt: Give individuals the power that the government has held onto for so long.

The construction worker was armed with a pistol and a 40-inch sword, and was carrying "Christian literature," according to an AP report.

No word on the title. Maybe Faulkner went a bit too far in answering the question posed on the cover of "The Purpose Driven Life": What on Earth am I here for?

Or maybe the book was: What Would Jesus Do to Snag Osama? Or The Shack that Sheltered a Terrorist?

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 1:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

With the countdown continuing to Friday's official grand opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, I thought you'd like a look inside.

The Orlando Sentinel has put together some interesting 360-degree views of attractions at the park, which is part of the Universal complex in Orlando. You can get a sense of Hogwarts Castle, the Owlery and even the butterbeer cart.

There's also a photo gallery -- with a mere 160 photos -- that will take you into the park. You can even see Emma Watson and the other Harry Potter film stars as they toured the park last month.

That should be enough to tide you over until you can visit the park -- though the depth of interest that muggles have in Harry Potter never ceases to amaze me.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Jimmy Dean, who died Sunday, will be known best for his country music hits (who can forget the haunting words "Big John, Big Bad John") and his meat products.

I'd also nominate his memoir for best subtitle: "Thirty Years of Sausage, Fifty Years of Ham." It could be my own memoir. The book recounts Dean's rise in the worlds of music and business, with the down-home humor that he displayed on TV and stage appearances.

A Maryland note: Dean's 1960s-era TV show prominently featured Rowlf the Dog, the first Muppet to reach national stardom. Rowlf (who also starred in commercials for Baltimore-based Esskay meats) was designed by UMd. grad Jim Henson. We all know where Henson and the Muppets went from there.

p.s. I love the computer-generated ads on Google. When you search for Dean's memoir, you get this offer: Buy 30 years of sausage at Amazon! Qualified orders over $25 ship free.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 4:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Ever wonder what ultra high net worth individuals are reading on the beaches of Nantucket and Maui? For 11 years, J.P. Morgan's private banking division has developed a Summer Reading List, 10 nonfiction books designed to tap "into today's compelling issues, personalities and cultural highlights."

As you might expect, the list includes several business-oriented books, including "The Facebook Effect: The Inside Story of the Company that is Connecting the World" and "BlackBerry: The Inside Story of Research in Motion." (Big year for inside stories, it seems.) But there are more eclectic selections, as well, including Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong by Terry Teachout, one of my favorites from the past year. Judging from the list, the super-rich spend their spare time listening to jazz and reading Twain, collecting historic photos and vintage wines, and eating Pad Thai.

Books purchased through the program's site on Barnes & Noble generate commissions that are donated to Room to Read, an international literacy nonprofit.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

This week Harry Potter fans finally get a chance for their dream vacation: the opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park in Orlando. The park has opened on a limited basis in recent weeks, for special tours, but the grand opening is Friday, June 18.

The New York Times offered an entertaining look at the Universal park on a press tour. Too bad the reporter wasn't prepared for the full extent on Harry-mania. He almost was trampled by fans rushing to the theme park's highlight: a ride called Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

You can read more comprehensive coverage at the Orlando Sentinel. (Update: Here's a link to photos of the Harry Potter theme park.) Meanwhile, some fifth graders from Centreville Elementary School in Virginia will be getting a free trip to the park; they were among the winners in a contest. Here's a look at their contest video.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 7:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

OK, I have a confession. I can't stand soccer. I've tried, and I jhave discovered I just don't have the patience. Maybe it's because I'm an ignorant American -- and really, I guess the rest of the globe can't all be wrong -- but the World Cup just doesn't do it for me.

HOWEVER. We do have a copy of ESPN's "World Cup Companion: Everything You Need to Know About the Planet's Biggest Sports Event," by David Hirshey and Roger Bennett, with a foreward by Steve Nash, and I know there have got to be a lot of you who would like to get your hands on this book. It is quite beautiful, if you're into that kind of thing.

Meanwhile, I'll be reading Bill Bryson's "At Home." It's due out in October, and I'm looking forward to reading about the history of everyday objects that he finds in his Victorian home. As a huge fan of "A Short History of Nearly Everything," I know he'll make even the most mudane household objects fascinating.

Yeah, I know, it's pretty much the exact opposite of the World Cup. Sue me.

Anyway, we do have a winner for Jennifer Egan's "A Visit from the Goon Squad." Congratulations, Steve Rafferty! We do hope you enjoy it.

So everyone else, tell us what you're reading, and you could win the entire history of the World Cup, in a book.

Posted by Nancy Knight at 12:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Freebie Friday
        

It's official: "Breaking Dawn," the final installment of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series will be adapted for the big screen -- but as TWO movies, not one. The first part of Breaking Dawn is scheduled for release on November 18, 2011, says distributor Summit Entertainment, according to Reuters. There is no release date for part two.

The decision has been hinted at, as studio execs noted the complexity of the 756-page book. I think that's bull. Maybe the two-parter is a financial decision -- a way to parse out the Twilight saga for more millions of dollars (as if Meyer and the others connected to the franchise needed that). But certainly if the Harry Potter books can be adapted, if Doctor Zhivago and Les Miserables can be adapted, so can Breaking Dawn.

I know that die-hard fans will want every word, every phrase of Meyer's prose included in the movie -- just witness the vitriol that followed the adaptation of Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief." But that limits an adaptation to a simple formula: take book, add handsome actors and special effects. I'd rather challenge the director to develop a fresh, compelling interpretaton of the book. Give us more creative spark, not just the same thing in a different package. If fans want the comprehensive story, they always can re-read the book.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (29)
        

I got a sneek peek at a new book about the late John Wooden, the legendary UCLA basketball coach who died last week. "The Wisdom of Wooden: My Century On and Off the Court" is rich in photos -- taken from high school yearbooks, posters, family albums and Sports Illustrated. Here is Wooden, the player, dribbling to promote his Purdue All-Stars. Wooden, the coaching genius, schooling Lew Alcindor. And Wooden, the family man, with wife Nellie.

The text is devoted primarily to inspirational sayings that guided Wooden -- and that he used to motivate players. There are no great insights here: Be True to Yourself, Make Friendship a Fine Art, Be Prepared, etc. It made me wonder what intangibles were hidden beneath those bromides.

Still, the book is enjoyable for rekindling memories from the days of high-black Chucks and for recalling one man's disproportionate contribution to college athletics. In an era when many coaches seem compelled to tout their own greatness, it's refreshing to recall his quiet leadership. 

The release of "The Wisdom of Wooden," originally scheduled for August, is being moved forward to early July.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Say it ain't so. Owners of Politics and Prose, the Washington, D.C., indie bookstore that seems to have hosted every author since Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, is up for sale. Carla Cohen and Barbara Meade, who are both 74, are simply too tired to keep running the store, the Washington Post reports.

I'm sure the co-owners deserve a break. Just keeping up with the frantic pace of author appearances -- about one a day -- would wear me out. Readings at the Connecticut Avenue store have included those by promising first-timers such as Ariel Sabar (which I attended) to giants such as JK Rowling, Alice Walker and Rick Riordan. Meanwhile, competition is increasing from e-tailers such as Amazon, major bookstore chains and big box stores.

Here's what the co-owners had to say on their site: "We want to reaffirm that Politics & Prose is still thriving, ending the fiscal year with record sales; but we are looking to a successor from a younger generation to take our flourishing business in some new directions while assuring that Politics & Prose maintains its core commitments to excellence in literature and community involvement." I hope they can find someone to continue their legacy.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Bookstores
        

We're going to be seeing a lot of this face in the coming months, as Republican Carly Fiorina battles to win Democrat Barbara Boxer's Senate seat in California. Fiorina's memoir, "Tough Choices," details her rise to the top of Hewlett-Packard, and her fall, which she describes as a betrayal. It also includes personal reflections, such as childhood fears that her parents would die, and the realization that her business career had robbed her of freedom, spontaneity and joy.

Boxer, meanwhile, has recounted her own childhood expectations -- husband, children and a quiet life -- in "Nine and Counting," a book about female senators. She also has written novels about Washington politics, including "Blind Trust" and "A Time to Run."

So both candidates have some literary chops. My guess is that Rrepublican and Democratic operatives will be poring over the pages to find ammo for the campaign.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

June's a busy month for those who love reading, and here are a few special events to mark on your calendar:

On June 22, the CityLit Project celebrates the launch of CityLit Press at Langermann’s, 2400 Boston Street. There will be readings by writers involved with the press' first two books: "City Sages: Baltimore" and "Mountain, Log, Salt, and Stone." For $40 you get hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine and nonalcoholic beverages. Information: 410-274-5691 or info@citylitproject.org

On June 23, the Enoch Pratt Free Library is partnering with Baltimore Reads and Dyslexia Tutoring Program for Literacy Day in Baltimore, a conference aimed at eradicating intergenerational illiteracy, addressing the learning differences that challenge low-literacy adults and promoting lifelong reading and learning. “Why Can’t Grandma Read?" will be held from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Central Library, 400 Cathedral Street, and the cost is $20 per person or the donation of a book for Baltimore Reads’ Book Bank. Advance registration is requested at http://literacybaltimore.org/

On June 26, celebrate the newest issue of the Smartish Pace poetry journal at a launch party that includes bands, food and drinks. It's free for subscribers, $10 for others. At Whole Gallery, 405 W. Franklin Street.

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

Tonight I'll be draping some black around the little yellow pouch in my den, to mark the death of Abraham Nathanson, who helped create the popular word game Bananagrams.

The game -- sort of Scrabble on speed -- is great for word freaks. It has given my family hours and hours of entertainment -- and led to some intense battles here and with relatives in Connecticut, Colorado and California. (Hey -- did you pick another letter tile on that last peel? No, you can't win by spelling "teeth" as "t-e-a-t-h".) It was named “Game of the Year” in 2009 by the Toy Industry Association.

Nathanson, who lived in Rhode Island, was a graphic designer, photographer, children's book author and illustrator, according to the AP. He and other family members created the game four years ago, and the yellow pouch has become a familiar sight in many homes. He died Sunday at age 80, after battling cancer.

Rest in peace, Abraham.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 8:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Obituaries
        

For all you steampunk fans, "Android Karenina" is now in bookstores. Love and robots -- what's stopping you?

Posted by Nancy Knight at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Let's face facts: As soon as the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies iPhone app was announced, everyone knew I was going to buy it. You might even call it "a truth universally acknowledged," you know, if you were in to that kind of thing.

Bottom line: It is lots of fun. For $2.99, you get a 12-chapter zombie-, ninja- and sometimes zombified-ninja-fight game. Also, you get to thwack both Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Wickham around. Talk about satisfying.

For those who've played PSP games, the format will be familiar. The storyline is given by a bunch of talking heads, and each character has approximately three facial expressions: happy, sad or ENRAGED WITH ZOMBIE LUST! At the beginning of each chapter (yes, just like a book), the scene is set. And then the fighting begins.

The controls are necessarily rudimentary: Use one hand to control the Elizabeth Bennett's (and one time, Darcy's) movement, the other to control fight moves. After slashing the undead to your heart's content, you clear the level of zombies, picking up coins along the way, and then it's Tea Time!

Tea Time is where you upgrade your health and fighting techniques using the money you've collected throughout the game. Kung-fu moves include the Tiger Strike, Seven-Starred Fist and Dance of Blades, and each is deployed with a different combination of finger swipes and jabs.

It took what amounts to an hour and a half for me to play the entire game, and that includes the 10 minutes I spent flummoxed because the application kept crashing at the 10th chapter. After restarting my phone, however, the game was back on track. (I've heard others complain of the same problem, with mixed results. Apparently, I was one of the lucky ones that could get to the end.)

All that being said, I'm not sure that the game has a lot of value past the first play-through. Much like the book it's based on, PP&Z's novelty wears off after the first run-through. But for zombie fans, it would be worth showing off to your like-minded friends. And waiting in line is a lot less frustrating when there are zombies to be slaughtered.

(Images courtesy of freeverse.com)

Posted by Nancy Knight at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Count on ABC's new TV series "Pretty Little Liars," to give new, explosive life to the popular YA books by Sara Shepard. She says her eight-book series about deceit and death in Rosewood, Penn., was inspired by her upbringing in Philly's tony suburbs. (Though the Main Line never produced as much drama as this cross between "Gossip Girl" and "Blue Velvet.")

Here's a network summary of the story line: "Rosewood is a perfect little town. So quiet and pristine, you'd never guess it holds so many secrets. Some of the ugliest ones belong to the prettiest girls in town -- Aria, Spencer, Hanna and Emily, four estranged friends whose darkest secrets are about to unravel. One year ago, Alison, the Queen Bee of their group, disappeared and the girls swore they'd never tell what really happened that night. They thought their secrets would bond them together, but just the opposite is true."

"Wanted," the eighth and final book in Shepard's series, is being released today -- here's the first chapter. It will offer more insight into high school life, which Shepard developed with lots of research. "I definitely watched a lot of MTV," she said in a Philadelphia Inquirer profile. "The Hills and Laguna Beach. I also kept journals in high school. I still have them and I'm glad I kept them. I sometimes read entries like, 'Why doesn't he like me?' That's always fun, to know how I would have dealt with an issue at that age."

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

It was somehow fitting that veteran White House correspondent Helen Thomas resigned amid controversy (details on the Maryland Politics blog) -- though it's odd that the flap involved personal views rather than presidential policy. I couldn't imagine her walking away quietly from a beat she had covered aggressively since the days of John F. Kennedy.

Thomas resigned today in the wake of outrage over comments that Jews should leave Palestine and go "home" to places including Poland and Germany. Reports of the comments led Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda to drop her as graduation speaker, and the White House Correspondents Association to consider revoking her front-row seat in the briefing room.

Thomas' outspokenness was a hallmark of White House news conferences (not that other White House correspondents are wimps). And that same tenor comes out in her books, from "Front Row at the White House" to "Listen Up, Mr. President."

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 2:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)
        

David Markson, whose postmodern novels looped and whirled with seemingly random observations, has died, his agent and former wife said today. Markson's books such as "Wittgenstein's Mistress" are demanding reads, and often discarded conventions such as plot and character development.

Markson never drew a large popular following -- New York  Magazine once listed his works as The Best Novels You’ve Never Read. But his abstract experimentation drew reverence from fellow authors such as Anne Beattie the later David Foster Wallace.

Before he sought to redefine the novel, Markson was just another poor schmo who had to pay the bills, so he knocked out detective novels and a western spoof that was made into the Frank Sinatra film “Dirty Dingus Magee,” according to the AP.

For tributes and other commentary on Markson, check out Sarah Weinman's blog, Confesssions of an Idiosyncratic MInd.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Obituaries
        

It doesn't seem like it was that long ago that Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst were on the silver screen as Peter Parker and his lady love Mary Jane Watson.

After all, the third installment of the series came out a mere three years ago. But the ongoing glut of comic-book adaptations now includes a planned reboot of the Spider-Man series.

While the search is on for the next Spidey, the rumored shortlist is pretty uninspiring to me. There's the guy who played a creepy young Voldemort (that's right, your name has no power over me, Voldy!) in the Harry Potter series, and a grown up Billy Elliott. But besides just being rather dull, the list is also missing any minorities.

And as a traditionally white superhero, that's not necessarily a problem. But.

Why shouldn't Peter Parker be black? The defining characteristics of Parker include growing up in NYC with his aunt and uncle, crushing on the girl next door, taking photos for the daily paper and, oh yeah, getting bitten by a radioactive spider and developing superpowers.

So besides that last one, Parker's life sounds pretty universal to me.

That's where Community star Donald Glover comes in. As a Spider-man fan, he's been leading a campaign on Twitter, #Donald4Spiderman, for the past couple of weeks, and the accompanying Facebook group has thousands of followers. Just when I thought I didn't care about another Spider-man movie, the idea of this talented young nerd actor as the lead has got me pretty excited.

And, as io9 pointed out, we've already been denied a Captain America portrayed by Will Smith. So come on, throw all those nonwhite comic book fans a bone here. Let's see a superhero that a diverse crowd can relate to, and let Spider-man's skin tone just be another incidental part of the whole.

There are some who worry that casting a minority actor in the titular role of a $70-plus million film is too risky. Then again, reinventing the myths and legends we all grew up with has done wonders for the careers of Neil Gaiman, Gregory Maguire and Seth Grahame-Smith. 

And I really don't think we could get any worse than "Superman Returns," right?

(AFP/Getty photo)

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

Sad to hear about the passing of John Wooden, the legendary basketball coach who racked up 10 national championships at UCLA while producing enough great players to fill a Hall of Fame. As a teenager, I cheered for the underdogs and cringed at all the championships in L.A. I was watching happily from a bar in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. in 1974, when Notre Dame ended the team's 88-game win streak -- a record that will likely stand forever.

But I respected Wooden and a coach, and understand why his books could fill a whole shelf. Among them are "They Call Me Coach," "The Essential Wooden: A Lifetime of Lessons on Leaders and Leadership" and "My Personal Best : Life Lessons from an All-American Journey." (He may have set another record: for writing collaborators.) "A Game Plan for Life: The Power of Mentoring," was written with Don Yeager, who is collaborating with the Baltimore Ravens' Michael Oher on a memoir. They're a good place to get a sense of his genius for coaching and motivating.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 9:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Obituaries
        

The new feature starring Julia Roberts, which is scheduled for an Aug. 13 release, was originally given an R rating by the Classification and Ratings Administration. But director Ryan Murphy and producer Dede Gardner appealed, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The tactic worked, and the movie has now been classified with a less restrictive PG-13 rating for "brief strong language, some sexual references and male rear nudity."

That sounds appropriate -- the rating, not the male rear nudity. As I recall the book was long on desire and short on sex, and I can't imagine that Roberts would allow the movie to be tarted up.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 4:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

It may be hard to picture the literary heart that beats within comedic actor Russell Brand, (especially if you're checking out his abs, Nancy). His new movie, "Get Him to the Greek," (here's the trailer) opened this week and he again plays the role of spoiled actor Aldous Snow.

The guy's real life has been a mess -- addictions to heroin, sex, you name it -- so he has suffered enough for two or three writers. But somehow, Brand can make fun of his faults in an endearing way, rather than falling into full-blown piggishness. His turn as Snow in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" is a good example, and the theme is carried out in his memoir "My Booky Wook."

Here's an excerpt about his wanderings among "London's Hogarthian underbelly" as he searches for drugs: "It felt like gravity was pulling [Pearl] downwards. You could see this struggle reflected in every movement she made - as if she couldn't blink or turn her head without doing battle with Newton's implacable adversary. There was a picture of Pearl that they had on their wall. A charcoal drawing, I suspect from Leicester Square - not a caricature, a realistic one. The street artist had really captured the tragedy of Pearl as a character, so this thing that was meant to be a memento of a happy trip to the Trocadero was actually a haunting reminder of the family's terminal dilemma."

Clearly, there's some clever writing here, as well as plenty of the kind of "wink, wink, nudge, nudge" that you'd see in Monty Python skits. So maybe Brand, who seems to have been playing a role for his entire life, is more than the sum of his parts. Remember, he once traveled around the U.S. for a series that paid homage to Jack Kerouc's "On the Road." Anybody who reveres that classic can't be all bad.

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

Happy Friday, everybody!

We're well into summer reading season, and while I plan to sit down and make a list of my own suggestions next week, I thought I'd start with a book I just picked up that all the nerds should enjoy: Tom Bissell's "Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter."

It's half memoir of a video gamer, half critical report on the status of the industry today, and anyone who is curious about video games (or just flat-out loves them) will probably want to pick this one up. Also, it got a starred review from Publishers Weekly. So there's that.

Anyway, for those of you not at all interested in video games, we do have a book to giveaway today. So, congratulations Joann! You've won "Spice Dreams." I expect a report back on any delicious treats you make!

Next up: Jennifer Egan, author of "The Keep," is back with "A Visit from the Goon Squad." The novel follows the lives of a former punk rocker and current record executive and the young woman he hires. The characters' lives lead the reader far-flung places -- Naples, San Francisco, Africa -- and illustrates the effects that time and music have on lives.

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

Posted by Nancy Knight at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

The final volume in the Swedish crime trilogy by the late Stieg Larsson picks up the inter-woven stories of a muck-racking journalist and a slight, but almost superhuman, heroine. I came late to the party, jumping right into the last volume, before reading "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" or "The Girl Who Played with Fire." I wasn't disappointed, but at times I did seem to be sitting through the first few minutes of a TV series recap (previously on "24" ... ).

Synopsis: Journalist Mikael Blomqvist is on the trail of a conspiracy surrounding Lisbeth Salander, a pixieish hacker who leaves bodies strewn in her wake. The complex plot -- remember, he's capping two other books -- pits newspaper vs. magazine, media vs. government, and government vs. government. Not to mention cops and robbers -- there are plenty of both here.

Review: Larsson drives the novel with compelling characters and a generous helping of sub-plots. The book opens with Salander in the center of a gruesome scene that includes an ax, a homicidal motorcyclist and a Cold War-era spy. She's in mortal danger, and Blomqvist, her champion, is bent on saving her. Larsson weaves together the various sub-plots so the book has an almost constant momentum. There were some dead spots, and tighter editing could have removed the backstories of some tangential characters and the backgrounding on Swedish government. Readers who don't know Sweden intimately may also be put off by chase scenes that rattled off street names and neighborhoods -- the names didn't mean anything to me and I would have preferred colorful descriptions. Still, a bit of skimming will keep the story moving.

Read this if: You're looking for a fast-paced read that is a cut above the standard beach fare.

Avoid this if: You're not a conspiracy fan, and are unwilling to suspend disbelief that Salander could somehow be a combo of 24's Jack Bauer and Chloe O'Brian.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 4:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The countdown has begun for "The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner," an eagerly awaited novella by Stephenie Meyer to be released June 5. It's really just an appetizer for Twilight fans, who also get to savor the "Eclipse" movie on June 30. Bree is a newborn vampire first introduced in "Eclipse," and the novella chronicles the newborns' journey as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens.

As we noted on Read Street earlier, the Bree Tanner release has a couple of interesting twists. For each book sold in the first U.S. print run of 1.5 million copies, publisher Hachette will donate $1 of the $13.99 hardback cost to the American Red Cross International Response Fund. And on a dedicated website, starting at noon on June 7 until July 5, fans can read the book online for free in English.

USA Today has a Q&A from Meyer's U.K. publisher; here's an excerpt: Q: Bree only appears in a couple pages of Eclipse. What was it about the character that made you want to explore her story further? Meyer: In the beginning, I wasn't fascinated specifically by Bree — it was the newborns in general. While I was writing Eclipse, there was a lot going on behind the scenes, of course, things Bella didn't know about. Because I was focused on Bella, I couldn't delve too deeply into the newborns' story, however, there was always in my mind a general idea of what they were up to.

p.s. If you Twilight fans want to see something really creepy, check out the Corpse Flower.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 8:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

In this era of Twitter and Facebook, when any twist and turn in a celebrity relationship (even Al and Tipper!) can be broadcast worldwide by the nanosecond, there's little left to the imagination. Maybe that's why the love letters between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton seem so intriguing. Some of the letters from Burton are included in upcoming book "Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century," by Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger -- and excerpted in the July issue of Vanity Fair.

We all know their relationship was stormy -- to say the least. And the letters show that. In one, Burton writes, "You must know, of course, how much I love you. You must know, of course, how badly I treat you. But the fundamental and most vicious, swinish, murderous, and unchangeable fact is that we totally misunderstand each other."

While we're on the topic of letters of a certain age, I like the looks of "Letters to Jackie: Condolences from a Grieving Nation." It includes some of the letters sent to John F. Kennedy's widow after his assassination. It's by Ellen Fitzpatrick, who's featured in this CBS News video about the book.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 9:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

When I heard about the Corpse Flower, the latest attraction at the Huntington Library in California, it sounded like another crazy mashup -- like "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" or "Android Karenina." Just the sort of thing Nancy would love to plant in the backyard.

Actually Amorphophallus titanum is a gigantic plant native to the Sumatran rain forest; it can reach more than 6 feet in height when it blooms, opening to a diameter of 3–4 feet, according to the Huntington. The freaky plant already has grown nearly two feet since May 20, and the bloom is fast approaching. (Should we be worried that California's climate now resembles that of the Sumatran rain forest? Al Gore, where are you?)

But Titan Arum is best known for a horrible odor, which has led to the Corpse Flower handle.

The Huntington itself is best known for a remarkable collection of art and books. Among the latter are the Ellesmere manuscript of Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales," a copy of the Gutenberg Bible on vellum, and a first folio edition of William Shakespeare’s collected plays.

Baltimore Sun photo of Titan Arum at the U.S. Botanic Garden in 2003

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

Borders announced today an addition to the e-readers it will offer customers: the eBook Reader Pro from Aluratek. The Libre, selling for just $119.99, will be available at Borders.com in early July and at stores in August. Borders officials said they are keeping a "device neutral" approach to e-readers, and will offer up to 10 devices by the end of the year.

That's a very different strateegy from Amazon, Apple and Barnes & Noble, which are tethered to the Kindle, iPad and nook, respectively. Borders, you may recall, has begun taking orders for yet another e-reader, the Kobo, which will be released later this month and will cost $149.99.

Borders said the Libre offers digital music and photo albums, as well as a battery good for 24 hours of continuous use. "By offering eReading devices ... in the neighborhood of $100, we can introduce a population of readers to the joy of eReading who would not have considered buying devices at entry points of $250 to $500,” Borders Group Interim President Mike Edwards said in a news release.

Now the question is: Who will be the first to offer an e-reader for double-digits -- less than 100 bucks? It can't be that far away.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 2:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Henning Mankell, the popular Swedish author of the Wallander series ("The Man Who Smiled," "Firewall," etc.) was among the protestors ensnared in the ill-fated aid flotilla headed for Gaza. At least nine of the activists died when Israeli commandos tried to halt the ships Monday.

For years, Mankell has used profits from the Wallander mysteries (which also were adapted for a PBS series starring Kenneth Brannagh) and other works for aid programs in Africa, where he spends much of his time. Among them are Plan and SOS Childrens Villages.

But obviously the flotilla headed for Gaza was a much riskier -- and politically inflammatory -- campaign. "I think that when one talks about solidarity, one must always know that actions are what proves destiny," he told Swedish public radio last week. "It is with actions that we prove we are ready to support something we believe is important."

I enjoy reading novels that tackle social issues head on, or incorporate them in a sub-plot. But direct political activism is very risky for authors, so it will be interesting to see how Mankell's fans react to his involvement in the flotilla -- and how that translates to books sales. Will readers be turned off by his efforts -- or applaud them?

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)