Anne Rice, who was artfully crafting vampires before they became the darlings of teenybopper culture, made a surprising announcement this week: She quit being a Christian. Rice noted on her site and on Facebook that she remained committed to Christ, but was fed up with organized religion's opposition to homosexuality, feminism and abortion, among other things.

Among the groups she pointedly took issue with: the ultra-conservative Westboro Baptist, which has disrupted funerals for slain servicemen in Maryland and other states. She called Christianity "quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous." (Wow. If I didn't know better, I'd swear she was part of the Jewish media conspiracy.)

The announcement isn't surprising for its tenor. Rice is a thoughtful author, and free to express her feelings about religion. In one post, she quoted Gandhi: “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

Still, Rice runs a huge risk in alienating publishers, bookstore owners and readers with such a public declaration on a private matter. What, you say, conservative Christians aren't likely to read vampire novels? How then to explain Stephenie Meyer, the Mormon who penned the phenomenally popular Twilight series. Rice faces some serious blowback, and you have to admire her courage to take a stand. You can read some of the heated reaction at the Sun's In Good Faith blog.

If you want to read some of her postings on the topic, go to the jump:

Since some of you mentioned the Westboro Baptist Church in comments below, I thought I'd publish this recent news story about them. This is chilling. I wish I could say this is inexplicable. But it's not. That's the horror. Given the history of Christianity, this is not inexplicable at all. -- Tuesday at 11:56am

Gandhi famously said: “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” When does a word (Christian)become unusable? When does it become so burdened with history and horror that it cannot be evoked without destructive controversy? -- Tuesday at 3:14pm

For those who care, and I understand if you don't: Today I quit being a Christian. I'm out. I remain committed to Christ as always but not to being "Christian" or to being part of Christianity. It's simply impossible for me to "belong" to this quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous group. For ten years, I've tried. I've failed. I'm an outsider. My conscience will allow nothing else. -- Wednesday at 10:36am

As I said below, I quit being a Christian. I'm out. In the name of Christ, I refuse to be anti-gay. I refuse to be anti-feminist. I refuse to be anti-artificial birth control. I refuse to be anti-Democrat. I refuse to be anti-secular humanism. I refuse to be anti-science. I refuse to be anti-life. In the name of Christ, I quit Christianity and being Christian. Amen. -- Wednesday at 10:41am

My faith in Christ is central to my life. My conversion from a pessimistic atheist lost in a world I didn't understand, to an optimistic believer in a universe created and sustained by a loving God is crucial to me. But following Christ does not mean following His followers. Christ is infinitely more important than C...hristianity and always will be, no matter what Christianity is, has been, or might become. -- 22 hours ago

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

This weekend, don't be alarmed if you're walking around the Inner Harbor and bump up against a character from Bleach, Death Note or other favorites of the anime world. The annual Otakon event is in town, a celebration of Japanese and East Asian pop culture, with an emphasis on music, movies, fashion and, of course, comics.

The gathering, which has been held in Baltimore since 1999, is expected to attract more than 35,000 people, including many costumed as favorite characters. (Pictured here, from the 2006 Otakon, is Countess Camilla of "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust.") For more on the three-day event, which begins today, here's a primer from The Baltimore Sun, including info on weaponry, cosplay and personal hygiene for costumed characters.

Baltimore Sun photo by Amy Davis

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Lately, I've been doing my part to keep an open mind about a certain genre that I've never cared for: mystery novels. In fact, the only mystery I've really enjoyed is Josephine Tey's "The Daughter of Time" -- and it can be argued that it's more of a historical novel than a mystery.

So right now I'm reading "The Vanishing of Katharina Linden," by Helen Grant. It began with a woman combusting, and I'm enjoying the details of life in a small German town. The story is narrated by a young girl who's been ostrasized by her peers, and then begins to look into the disappearance of a classmate, suspecting something supernatural. Who knows, maybe this will be the turning point in my relationship with mysteries?

But onto our winner! Congratulations, Carol Wong, you've won "Villain." We hope you enjoy it.

Our next giveaway is a Depression-era novel by Michael Byers. "Percival's Planet," which received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, was inspired by the true story of the discovery of Pluto. (And 2010 is the 80th anniversary of the discovery!) While Pluto may be too small to be a planet anymore, this novel's interpretation of discoverer Clyde Tombaugh is quite the epic.

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

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

Amazon has announced new, cheaper versions of the Kindle -- another step in the relentless price-cutting of e-readers. A model equipped qith 3G technology sells for $189, and a Wi-Fi only version sells for $139.

Among the upgrades: The new Kindle's body is 21 percent smaller and 15 percent lighter. The battery lasts for a month and storage space has doubled, to 3,500 books, according to the company.

Remember, about five weeks ago, a Kindle (not the new version) would have set you back $259, so the new models represent a dramatic shift for Amazon. The Wi-Fi version undercuts the price of a similar nook from Barnes & Noble by $10 -- though I wouldn't be surprised to see a quick, corresponding price cut from B&N. Borders' no frills Libre is still a cut below, priced at $120.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 1:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

The Census Bureau alerted me to an important birthday: This week 75 years ago, Penguin brought out the first modern paperback. The idea came from British publishing exec Allen Lane, who was seeking a respite from a Depression-era revenue slump. The cheap, convenient, color-coded format caught on with readers and within months Penguin books were selling in the millions. Today, half of the books bought each year are softcover, the Census Bureau says.

Here's how Penguin's corporate history describes Lane's epiphany: "After a weekend visiting Agatha Christie in Devon, he found himself on a platform at Exeter station searching its bookstall for something to read on his journey back to London, but discovered only popular magazines and reprints of Victorian novels.

"Appalled by the selection on offer, Lane decided that good quality contemporary fiction should be made available at an attractive price and sold not just in traditional bookshops, but also in railway stations, tobacconists and chain stores. He also wanted a 'dignified but flippant' symbol for his new business. His secretary suggested a Penguin and another employee was sent to London Zoo to make some sketches. ...

"The first Penguin paperbacks appeared in the summer of 1935 and included works by Ernest Hemingway, André Maurois and Agatha Christie. They were colour coded (orange for fiction, blue for biography, green for crime) and cost just sixpence, the same price as a packet of cigarettes."

This week, let's tip back a pint -- or a cup of tea -- to honor Mr. Lane.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Folks at the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve in Georgia are basking in the glow of their new, semi-striped  arrival: a four-day-old zedonk, which is a rare cross between a zebra and a donkey. For readers, this may be one of the oddest concoctions since A.A. Milne introduced the elusive heffalump and woozle to Winnie the Pooh stories.

Such donkey/zebra mixes go by several names, including zebronkey, zonkey, zebadonk, zebrass or Golden Zebra, according to QueryHorse.com, which has photos of other examples.

My favorite cross-breed in fiction has to be Pegasus, the winged horse. It always managed to look graceful, despite the odd combo of legs and wings.

p.s. While we're on the topic of crossbreeding, I want to register a pet peeve -- the naming of dogs. I understand the Labradoodle (Labrador and Poodle). But what's with the Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever and Poodle)?  There is no "D" in Retriever, so someone is going far afield simply to avoid the word poodle. And as a former owner of a standard poodle, I object, strenuously.

Photo from Associated Press

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 1:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)
        

Mark David Chapman's latest bid for parole in the 1980 slaying of John Lennon recalls one of the most bizarre incidents in American literary history. Chapman, who gunned down Lennon on New York's west side, said he was driven to the crime by reading J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye" and was arrested after the shooting as he held the book.

Chapman, a former mental patient who had tried to legally change his name to Holden Caulfield, had penned "This is my statement" inside the book, Newsweek notes. He later explained in a handwritten letter to The New York Times that "this extraordinary book holds many answers" and that "all of my efforts will be devoted toward" getting people to read it.

"Catcher" is one of my favorite books, and of course, it's about as far from a shoot-'em-up as you could imagine. Holden is a typical disenchanted, overwhelmed, angst-ridden preppie. He hates the phonies around him and dreams of protecting the innocence he sees in kids. Wandering the streets of New York, he searches for the answers that teens have sought forever. How that relates to a violent murder is a mystery to me.

Chapman, who has been denied parole on several occasions, is scheduled to be interviewed by two members of New York's parole board during the week of August 9, according to news reports.

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

Amazon announced today that Stieg Larsson is the first million-selling author for the Kindle, beating out other giants such as Stephenie Meyer, Stephen King and Dan Brown.

Larsson's rise was propelled by this summer's blockbuster, "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest," the final volume in his Millenium trilogy. The Swedish noir thrillers feature computer hacker and all-around bad girl Lisbeth Salander (film actress Noomi Rapace shown here) and investigative journalist Mikael Blomqvist. The intriguing pair has made Larsson the first member of the new "Kindle Million Club."

All of the books in Larsson's series -- the others are "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" and "The Girl Who Played with Fire" -- are listed among the top 10 bestselling Kindle books of all time, Amazon said. With an English-language film remake headed our way -- starring Daniel Craig, according to the Hollywood Reporter -- interest in the books will grow even stronger. And if the squabbling over the late author's missing manuscript ever ends, Larsson is likely to have a fourth book on that list.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 2:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

It should surprise no one that Atomic Books has been listed as a necessary stop in a worldwide geek road trip. The shop is filled with many a fanboy's desires, including rare comics, toys, apparel and an odd lunchbox or two.

Other stops include the "Star Wars hotel" in Tunisia; Digital Media City in Seoul, Korea; and the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland.

Lucky for you, Atomic Books is right off The Avenue in Hampden, so you can leave the passport at home.

And if that's not enough of an excuse to head down there, here's another: On Friday, Atomic is hosting Smile, Hon, You're in Baltimore's release party for their latest zine, "Waste." More than 24 contributors share their stories, photos and poems about trash, refuse and the like in Charm City. It's as consistently shocking and hilarious as ever, including a delightful ode to dumpster diving by Hanna Badalova.

So here's the deal: Tell us what you love best about our wonderfully weird city, and why geeks worldwide should visit us for more than just the great Atomic Books, and you could win a copy of "Waste."

My vote is for AVAM. You don't get much weirder than that!

Posted by Nancy Knight at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

I was shocked to hear that a Los Angeles gallery is touting a rare find: 65 glass negatives purchased at a garage sale for a mere $45 and said to be the long-lost work of photographer Ansel Adams. I've always been a big fan of Adams -- who must rank in the top 10 for coffee table books -- especially his iconic shots of national parks such as Grand Tetons (shown here) and Yosemite.

The David W. Streets Gallery says its experts have confirmed the authenticity of the negatives, which were thought to have been destroyed in a fire in Adams darkroom. The gallery, which is unveiling its findings today, estimates the value of the find at $200 million.

If the analysis holds up, it will be a great addition to Adams' legacy -- and a thrill for all of his fans. (I predict it will also lead to a 2,000% increase in garage sale shoppers. Or is the proper term yard sale? Or tag sale?)

p.s. If you're an Adams fan, you would have loved the recent Corcoran Gallery show of Eadweard Muybridge photographs, including shots of Yosemite. The show has moved on, but you can capture some of its flavor in a video at the Washington museum's website.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Movie director Oliver Stone, hyping his latest movie, has buffed up a time-worn conspiracy theory in an interview in England's Sunday Times: Jewish domination of the media. According to reports of the interview, he also minimizes Hitler's role in World War II and glosses over the Holocaust.

(Really, how does this guy ever get out of bed? He sees shadowy figures and conspiracies everywhere he turns. Doesn't he worry that JFK's real assassin is working with the CIA and Wall Street to kill him before he exposes their plot for world domination?)

Well, now that Stone has outed me, I guess it's time to 'fess up. I admit that Read Street is yet another means for the Jewish media conspiracy to dominate world opinion, by influencing what people read. Undoutedly, posts about my Jewish-themed book club, author Shalom Auslander and books such as Annie's Ghosts have led many readers to side with Israel in recent controversies, if not emigrate to a kibbutz. I get goosebumps thinking about the legions of Read Streeters who are buying Israel bonds, sending money to plant trees in the desert or enlisting in the IDF. 

Sure, the blog has other entires, on topics from Stephenie Meyer to Oprah, from the Kindle to the iPad, from "To Kill a Mockingbird" to "The Lost Symbol." But those are just clever sleights of hand designed to hide the real conspiracy, which only becomes visible through Oliver Stone sunglasses. Oliver, you caught me, fair and square.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 5:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (22)
        

I'm back, refreshed, from a week-long vacation in Yellowstone and Grand Tetons national parks. My reading suffered a bit, due to excessive outdoors activity. Lots of hiking and wildlife-spotting: moose, bison, elk and bears. All in temperatures that ranged from the 50s to 80s. It was a nice break from the mayhem and heat here in Baltimore.

I did squeeze in some reading related to my vacation. Much of it was from local newspapers, including reports of two mountain climbers killed in the Tetons while we were there -- a sobering reminder of the dangers of Mother Nature. There was also a report of a middle-aged woman being charged by a bison while -- a sobering reminder about the dangers of paunchy, overly curious tourists.

I did wrap up "Work Song," by Ivan Doig, one of the best books I've read lately. I started "Free Fire" by C.J. Box, a compelling murder mystery that takes place in Yellowstone -- thanks for the recommendation, Robin! And I re-read a few chapters of John Krakauer's "Under the Banner of Heaven," folllowing our stop at the Mormon temple in Salt Lake City.

Now it's back to the real world, and life in sweltering Baltimore. At least I'll get more reading done. It's too darn hot to do much outside.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 2:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

In what's becoming a weekly feature, here's another hilarious literary-inspired viral video. The fake trailer combines Austen's favorite heroines -- Lizzy Bennett, Emma Woodhouse, the Dashwood sisters -- with Chuck Palahniuk's Tyler Durden. But don't worry: Even if you've never read Austen or "Fight Club," it's not spoiling anything that you haven't already seen in a few movie trailers.

And in this movie, I think I'd actually like Fanny Price!

Posted by Nancy Knight at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Happy Friday, all!

I'm mixing up genres a bit with this next giveaway, with some modern Japanese noir. On top of having a chilling cover, "Villain" has gotten rave reviews from both Booklist and Publishers Weekly. It's a mystery novel that examines the death of a young saleswoman and the lives of her troubled father, her grandmother who is hounded by local gangsters, the man suspected of her murder and the woman who meets him online and falls in love.

According to "The Wall Street Journal," if you loved Stieg Larsson's "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," you'll want to read this one.

I'm sticking with history myself, lately. I've picked up "The Classical World: An Epic History from Homer to Hadrian," which examines both 5th and 6th century Greece and the Roman Empire.

What? I like that kind of thing!

Anyway, on to our winner! Congratulations, missmargaret, you've won "Becoming Queen Victoria." I hope you enjoy it!

Now tell us what you're reading, and you could be our next winner.

Posted by Nancy Knight at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

Gail Farrelly, who's been gracious enough to help us out while Dave traipses across the country, shares the story of Randy Kearse, an enterprising NYC author.

"Take the 'A' Train," advises the famous jazz tune.  Reformed drug dealer and author Randy Kearse, 45, may not take the 'A' train; but he does take other subway trains in New York City on a long journey.  The journey to sell his self-published books -- selling he does, right on the trains! -- about turning one's life around.   

In his "New York Times" article, "Author Whose Bookstore Is the No. 2 (or 4, or 5)," Trymaine Lee talks about Kearse, his survival and flourishing after 13 and a half years in prison, and his innovative sales techniques on the subway.  Kearse says that, in the past three years, he's sold 14,000 of his self-published books at $10 each.  And Lee reports that Kearse "has also sold about 4,000 copies of a 750-page, 10,000-entry dictionary of urban slang termsStreet Talk, through Barricade Books of Fort Lee, N.J. ..." 

 Two of Kearse's titles are:  "Incarceration to Incorporation" and  "Your Game Plan: How to Use Incarceration as a Stepping Stone for Success."  In 2007, Kearse appeared on "The Colbert Report." According to Lee, he "held his own in banter with the host over whether inmates should ever be returned to society." Impressive.

Lee describes a recent outing by Kearse, an outing in which he sold about 10 books in an hour: "Two buyers asked that he autograph the books for a brother or boyfriend in prison. Another bought a copy for a grandson. One young man gripped Mr. Kearse’s hand tightly, said that he had read the book and thanked him."  

Kearse's sales quota is 35 books a day.  He says, “If I don’t hit that number, I’m staying out until I do. Overtime.” A good work ethic, no?  According to Kearse, “What I’m doing now is the same thing, same concept, as when I was hustling; it was just illegal business that I was doing then.”

I admire this author's energy, talent, self-sufficiency, and sales success.  I just hope he doesn't get into trouble for selling on the subway.  Lee does say in the article that New York City Transit prohibits selling or panhandling on the subway. Uh-oh.

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

As a Kindle owner, I get a little skittish with my reader when it gets near water, sand or over-excited pets. So when I heard about M-Edge, a Maryland-based company that specializes in accessories for the device, and their Guardian, I was intrigued.

Also, a little scared to test it out on my own Kindle, but these are the things I do for you people.

So rather than bore you with a long explanation of how it works, here are a few photos of my very own baby -- named Evil Book-Eating Machine, V.1 -- taking a bath. It was heart-stopping, but everything came out just fine. And I'm now thinking that the perfect band name would be "Steinbeck in the Sink."

Of course, the Guardian isn't designed to be a full-time Kindle cover.

And it's a good thing, because if you want to put your Kindle into sleep mode, or if you set it down and try to turn it back on, it's pretty much impossible.

But considering the Guardian saved my Kindle from taking a big long drink, I'm not complaining that the sliding mechanism is covered with some rather thick plastic.

The Guardian isn't exactly a lightweight, but it's still quite comfortable to hold, and anyway -- we're going for protection and readability over flexibility and comfort.

So all you beach bums, you can finally bring your Kindle to the ocean with no reservations. Just don't try to take it scuba-diving, as the device isn't guaranteed to protect the Kindle under more than 3 feet of water.

Just don't ask me who would actually take a Kindle scuba diving in the first place.

Posted by Nancy Knight at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

And so we begin my two-parter review of M-Edge accessories for the Kindle. When I first bought my e-reader, I didn't pay much attention to covers, stands, screen protectors or booklights. I was too busy drooling over my new toy.

Of course, I purchased the basic cover offered by Amazon. I wasn't crazy or anything. But making my Kindle pretty? Meh.

Luckily, the folks at M-Edge, which is based in Odenton, did think of all those things. Led by president Patrick Mish, who holds a PhD in engineering from Virginia Tech and formerly worked at Northrop Grumman.

I had the pleasure of testing their e-Luminator 2 booklight, Halsea jacket and the Guardian, a floating waterproof case. But for the purposes of keeping this post short and sweet, I'll focus on the first two today, and the Guardian tomorrow.

First of all, the designs offered by M-Edge are quite beautiful and varied. There are brightly colored jackets for the more casual use, understated leather sleeves for a more professional look and bags designed specifically to carry your nook, Kindle, iPad or Sony reader -- along with a wallet, chapstick and other little necessities.

I tested the Halsea jacket, made of laminated canvas and leather with a magnetic closure. It was a breeze to place my Kindle into the jacket, with four secure loops that fit snugly. (Getting the device OUT of the basic Amazon cover is always scary, and I was glad to have another alternative.)

The Halsea is pretty lightweight, and also include a pen loop and two folders -- one for papers, another for business cards -- in case you want to take a few notes the old-fashioned way while reading.

The booklight is doing its part to make my marriage go more smoothly. It's bright enough, with both a low and high setting, to illuminate the Kindle screen, but doesn't bother anyone else who might be trying to sleep in bed, instead of read. The base of the light slips easily between the Kindle and the cover, stays put and does its job. It is a bit tricky to turn the light off one-handed, thanks to the dual setting, but that's a small price for me to pay for the convenience. Just make sure you have Triple A batteries to power it.

Posted by Nancy Knight at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

My daughter recently graduated from college, which means that she is experiencing the angst of real life. She and her friends are dealing with the details of adult life, such as applying for credit cards and looking for apartments. They're also facing larger issues such as the uncertain job market.

She has taken this all pretty much in stride. But one thing has thown her -- having a friend invite her to join a book club. Suddenly, it seemed, she was middle aged. And there was little I could do to console her. Noting that I was in a book club only made the problem worse, of course. So I just gave her an application to AARP, and told her to keep it handy.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 6:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Amazon's Kindle is having a good year.

According to a press release, the e-book reader is not only the most popular item on Amazon.com -- and has been for two years now -- but the e-books have begun outselling traditional hardcovers. For the past month, 180 e-books are sold on the site for every 100 hardcovers. And that doesn't even include all of the free books that readers like me and Gail Farrelly pick up nearly every day.

Amazon's CEO, Jeff Bezos, says the lowered price of the device should be credited. “We’ve reached a tipping point with the new price of Kindle — the growth rate of Kindle device unit sales has tripled since we lowered the price from $259 to $189,” he said in the press release.

And while you're spending the big bucks on the device, and augmenting your digital library, you're going to want a few accessories to keep your baby safe. (Is it weird to refer to my Kindle as "Baby?" Oh well.) Tomorrow I'll post a review of a few such accessories by Maryland-based company M-Edge.

But for those purists out there, I wouldn't worry yet. The same release brags that authors such as Stephenie Meyer, James Patterson and Charlaine Harris have each sold more than 500,000 e-books. Considering the tens of millions of books each of these authors has sold in total, that's just a drop in the ocean.

Posted by Nancy Knight at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Summary: A young Filipino writer, confronted by the apparent suicide of his mentor, searches for the rumored masterwork that has been left behind.

Review: Syjuco has crafted a story within a story, within a story. He speaks to the reader with several different voices, and solving the mystery of the masterwork -- and of the sometimes conflicting perspectives is part of the fun. Syjuco also layers the story with interesting touches of the history and culture of the Phillipines, and his ear for humor and conversation quickens the pace.

Read this if: You're interested in a complex story, well-told.

Skip this if: You're looking for na simple, beach read.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 7:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

,p>On our flight west, as we headed to Yellowstone, I was pleasantly surprised to see the reading chosen by our Southwest flight attendants. One was reading Stieg Larsson's "The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo," and the other had Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged." Hardly the sort of books that can be consumed in bite-sized spurts between handing out peanuts and sodas. But they were soldiering through. It would be interesting to know how many BWI-LAX flights are needed to digest those weighty tomes.

I have enough trouble concentrating on flights, amid all the crying kids and cockpit announcements. On the next flight, I'll have to get some instruction from the experts at Southwest.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Happy Friday, everybody! It looks like it's going to be another scorcher for Artscape weekend, so maybe you'd rather laze about with a book and a cool drink instead? I know I will.

And I actually just got on the bandwagon and picked up "The Lost City of Z," by David Grann. Yeah, I know I'm a few years behind, but there are so many books out there to be read!

For instance, John will have Olivia Munn's "Suck It, Wonder Woman," to enjoy, as he is this week's winner. Congratulations, John!

Our next book is historical, rather than fantastical: Kate Williams' "Becoming Queen Victoria." The book begins with the life of Princess Charlotte, the woman who was meant to become queen before her death during childbirth meant the crown passed to Victoria.

By starting so early in the young woman's life, Williams is able to give a full account of the intrigue surrounding the battle for succession, and how the country reacted to the uncertain times.

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

Posted by Nancy Knight at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)
        

My entries are a bit spotty these days, because I'm preparing for a trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. (I see Nancy has been filling the void with some cheesecake photos of half-naked guys, no doubt driving page views through the roof.)

Whenever I'm on vacation, I bring some reading that fits the theme, and this year, I chose the perfect accompaniment: "Work Song." Ivan Doig has written other great novels about the old west, including "The Whistling Season" and "Dancing at the Rascal Flats." His new book about copper miners in Butte, Mont., is another winner, with exceptional writing. Here's how the protagonist describes the boomtown: "Downtown Butte, set into the lower slope of the Hill like the till in a cash register, was as busy as the streets could hold. One moment we had to dodge bowler-hatted Rotarians congregating for luncheon fellowship, and step aside for a covey of nuns the next."

Just one problem: I'm whipping through the book, and will need another (or two) by the time I hit the parks. So if you have suggestions, please let me know.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

For those of you who have yet to enjoy the humor (and abs) of Old Spice's new posterboy, Isaiah Mustafa, do I have a treat for you. As well as being ridiculously good looking, the man is on the record as pro-words, and therefore pro-books and libraries.

"I'm handsome. You're pretty. Let's eat peanut butter. ... All of these simple statements and requests would never be possible to communicate if it wasn't for the words stored in books that are available for free en masse at libraries," he explains.

Rock on, Old Spice guy.

Posted by Nancy Knight at 2:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

 Here's one of our favorite guest bloggers, Gail Farrelly, to talk about one of her favorite perks of being a Kindle owner: the free e-books!

"The best things in life are free" is what the song says.  And for me, one of the best things about the Kindle is free books. The free books are available, not only to those who own the Kindle device, but also to those who've downloaded the free Kindle applications (for example, Kindle for PC), although Amazon does point out, "If you are a non-U.S. customer, book availability may vary."

Don't we all love bargains? And what could be a better bargain than a free book?  I hold free books to the same standard as any other book I read.  If I don't like them after about 50 pages, I stop reading.  In the case of being disappointed by a free book, I figure that it has cost me time, but it's nice to know that it hasn't cost me money too!  It's a good way to try a new author or genre. 

When Kensington offered "Death of a Trophy Wife" by Laura Levine free on the Kindle a while ago, it was  surprising, since it was a new hardback.  But I guess it was a good marketing technique.  It's a light, cozy mystery which I really enjoyed, and I've since purchased several of the earlier books in the series. 

I've noticed that a number of formerly free books then show up on the best-sellers "paid" list, so it seems that in these cases the publicity did exactly what it's supposed to do:  generate sales.  

The trick is that often the free offers are available for only a short time, so you have to move fast.  That makes it more fun though.  It's like being in a store when some terrific short-term specials are announced.  Although there are numerous ways to find out about the freebies, I think the best source of information is the Kindle Discussion Forum, where fans post the information. 

Or you may want to scroll down on the Amazon Kindle Books page.  On the right-hand side, there are links to:  Top 100 Paid Best-sellers, Top 100 Free Best-sellers, and "See all" (a comparison of the paid and unpaid "Top 100" lists).  There are some fun comparisons.  For example, right now, No. 6 on the paid list is "Private" by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro; No. 6 on the free list is Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."  

Another good page on Amazon is the list of resources for free books, which covers books from Amazon as well as from other sources

It's exciting that that the modern technique of e-publishing is leading to the downloading of so many classics. As of this writing, books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Lewis Carroll, Jane Austen, and Robert Louis Stevenson are all in the "top 10" of the free downloads.  You go, guys!

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

Almost every day, Read Street is spammed by far-flung marketers hawking all sorts of merchandise, from cheap loans to bootleg movies to LED lights. The offers are disguised as comments, but not very well -- the broken English is a large-scale intimation.

So we consign the comments to the junk file, depriving you, dear readers, of some laughs. I usually get a good five-minute chuckle trying to figure out how these thesaurus-loving practitioners, no doubt toiling in a digital sweatshop in a distant land, came up with their words. Some recent examples:

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Wow! Very good content, the analysis depth, so I understand! Like the authors way of thinking, and writing style! Compliment, ha ha! Thanks again for the selfless sharing of, I have learned a lot!

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

I write like
H. P. Lovecraft

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Ever wondered which famous author you most write like? Well, I bet you are now.

Luckily, there's a Web site that can tell you. Just paste a few paragraphs of your own writing into the box, and I Write Like will analyze your word choice and writing style to determine who you most write like.

The site is pretty bare -- no images and not even an explanation or excerpt of the author's work to give you a better idea of how you're alike. But I'm going to take a comparison to H.P. Lovecraft as a compliment, thanks very much.

Other available authors include Chuck Palahniuk, Vladimir Nabokov, Edgar Allan Poe and Stephen King, who is Dave's writing twin, according to the site.

So who do you write like?

Posted by Nancy Knight at 1:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

I've never been a Yankees fan (Mets and Red Sox, thank you), but I came up short this morning when I heard that George Steinbrenner had died at age 80. He was an over-sized figure in baseball for decades, and had an impact that went far beyond the Bronx. He seemed immortal, in a way. With a willingness to spend big and a demand for championships, he and his New York-sized wallet did as much to change the game as anyone.

There was never any shortage of words spilled in newspaper columns over Steinbrenner. But if you want a longer view, here are some books to consider, all by respected baseball writers:

Steinbrenner: The Last Lion of Baseball by Bill Madden

George: The Poor Little Rich Boy Who Built the Yankee Empire by Peter Golenbock

October Men: Reggie Jackson, George Steinbrenner, Billy Martin, and the Yankees' Miraculous Finish in 1978 by Roger Kahn

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Amid the phenomenal success of the late Stieg Larsson's Millenium trilogy -- including the summer blockbuster "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" -- the literary world has speculated about a fourth novel. According to the Associated Press, the Swedish author had written 320 pages, including a beginning and an end, on his laptop when he died at age 50 in 2004.

The AP says that only two people know about the manuscript's content: longtime partner Eva Gabrielsson, who has said she has the laptop (and later denied having it), and a friend who received an e-mail about the book from Larsson less than a month before his death.

The whole matter is clouded by Swedish inheritance law, which cuts Gabrielsson out of a very, very lucrative estate because she and Larsson were not married. She and his heirs continue to negotiate.

I bet Mikael Blomkvist could track down the elusive laptop, and Lisbeth Salander would kick some butt to get it. Short of that, here's my prediction: After Larsson's heirs give Gabrielsson a cut of the estate, the mysterious manuscript emerges. She or another writer finishes the novel, which receives poor to mediocre reviews. But it is a huge best-seller, and everyone walks away with another pile of kronor.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency -- the military's R&D arm, which developed the basics for the Internet -- has turned to the world of comics for two of its latest projects.

You'll need to have taken a lot more science classes than I did to decipher the aim of the projects. I enjoy reading about science, especially as explained by authors such as John McPhee in his geology series, but the more abstract concepts leave me bewildered. (Though I do have an idea for a time machine that I'll tell you about some other time. I swear it could work.)

Here's how the projects are described: (BaTMAN) "could develop an understanding of the relationship between biological systems and the spatial-temporal universe through the application of advanced principles from the physical sciences. In defining the relationship, one aim of this line of research is to transform biology from a descriptive to a predictive field of science." RoBIN, meanwhile, "seeks to apply the critical control features of biological networks to build unique models for adaptable networks, and create a dynamic biologically-inspired network of scientists and other experts for crisis response and complex decision support."

Let's just hope -- for the sake of our country -- that the scientists have in mind DC Comics' rough-and-tumble superheroes , not the campy duo (shown here) played by Adam West and Burt Ward.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 9:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

July 11 is the official anniversary date for "To Kill a Mockingbird," the classic American novel by Harper Lee. It's a great day to recall Boo, Scout, Atticus and the other characters that made the multi-layered story come alive. Wherever Lee is today, I hope she's tipping back a flute of champagne -- and maybe dusting off another manuscript. I'd love to see her produce another novel, even if it's been five decades coming.

By the way, I extended the deadline for our "To Kill a Mockingbird" giveaway, so it would coincide with the anniversary date. So you still have a chance to win HarperCollins' special edition of the novel,
as well as "Scout, Atticus & Boo," a collection of essays by such literary luminaries as Wally Lamb, 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. I'll pick a winner Monday -- really.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 9:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)
        

Finny "is the rare authentic coming-of-age novel. The protagonist matures without losing her sparkle. Her view of people changes as she adds new facets to the prism of her consciousness. The supporting characters also grow in unlikely and often heartening ways. Earl uses his gift for building up his friends and family to become a fiction writer. His father, a narcoleptic pianist, ultimately makes his condition part of a crowd-pleasing concert act.

"Kramon says he wanted the book’s atmosphere to be 'full of possibility.' And he knew he could root this sense of imminence in the story’s Maryland locales. 'There was just a feeling of both loneliness and beauty to the landscape there,' says Kramon — making it just the right place for an individualistic heroine to start spreading her wings. The 'spaciousness' that Kramon finds in Baltimore County gives Finny room to escape her sometimes claustrophobic family. And the area’s open-ended ambience aids the novelist’s quest to layer humor with high drama. 'Having comedy next to tragedy,' he muses, 'to me that emphasizes both.' "

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Reviews
        

In the category of authors behaving despicably: Children's author K.P. Bath was sentenced yesterday to six years in prison for possession of child pornography according to news reports. Bath, 51, is the author of several books, including "The Secret of Castle Cant" and "Escape from Castle Cant."

According to the Portland Oregonian, federal agents searching for the illegal material found what appeared to be a manuscript, possibly the book "Flip Side," which was scheduled for release last fall. His publisher, Little, Brown, abandoned the book last year, when the allegations against him were made public.

The case -- which makes for sordid reading -- was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse, the federal prosecutor's office in Portland said.

Here's an excerpt from his bio on goodreads, which describes work in a factory, followed by degrees in English and creative writing: Penniless and alone, he turned to his pen. The result was his first novel, The Secret of Castle Cant. The book found a following among the better sort of child, and spawned a sequel, Escape from Castle Cant. With the purchase of a ukulele Bath entered a period of contented productivity. He now lives with his cat, Sam Underfoot, in Portland, Oregon.

Correction: He now lives behind bars.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 2:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

In the latest salvo in the digital reading wars, Borders is making a push against competitors such as Amazon's Kindle and Barnes & Noble's nook, by offering five free ebooks. Anyone who downloads a free Borders application today through Wednesday, July 14, can choose titles that include "Frankenstein: Prodigal Son," by Dean Koontz, "One Shot" by Lee Child, "Julia's Kitchen Wisdom" by Julia Child and "Master your Metabolism" by Jillian Michaels.

The offer follows the launch of the Borders-branded digital store, powered by Kobo, and the release of Borders' BlackBerry, Android, iPad and iPhone ebook apps. The app is also available for desktop comuters.

"We're committed to giving our customers the best possible value in digital books, independent of the device ... " Borders CEO Mike Edwards said in a news release. "To thank our customers for their continued loyalty to the Borders brand, we want to provide them a sample of the great content available on Borders.com."

The competition among ebook retailers is good news for consumers. Just recently, we've seen Amazon drop the Kindle price from $259 to $189, and Barnes & Noble respond with its own deals. At some point, there's likely to be a shakeout, and some competitors will drop out. But for now, the deals are sweet and getting sweeter.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

I'm on my way to North Carolina for an extended weekend of books, mountains and Scottish men throwing trees. I know you're jealous. Well, of the books, anyway.

First on my list is China Mieville's "Kraken." I was quite impressed with his "The City & The City" last year, and I'm hoping that this one keeps the streak going. After that, I'm itching to read Jennifer Lynn Barnes' "Raised by Wolves," which follows a girl who is, as the title suggests, raised by wolves. Werewolves, that is.

 And Kathy Perantie, you will be reading "Corduroy Mansions." Congratulations!

On to the next giveaway! Just in case no one's been paying attention to the Wonder Woman kerfuffle, I thought this week would be the perfect time to give away Olivia Munn's new memoir, "Suck It Wonder Woman: The Misadventures of a Hollywood Geek."

Munn is best known as the co-host of "Attack of the Show!" but she recently appeared on The Daily Show. The actress/model/author/comedian is also working on her own magazine. And apparently she's a fan of the old costume.

You know the drill: Tell us what you're reading!

Posted by Nancy Knight at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Don't know where your money is on the Lebron James sweepstakes. I bet a buck that he'll sign with my N.Y. Knicks, though I'm guessing like everyone else in the world. The contract he'll demand is staggering -- on the order of $100 million, which would make him nearly as rich as literary superstars such as James Patterson or J.K. Rowling. And he doesn't have to go on endless author's tours.

As his televised announcement nears and the frenzy peaks, I have a suggestion: Instead of engaging in all the talk show speculation, consider spending some quiet time reading about him. You might consider the King James Bible -- whoops, wrong King James. Better yet, try "Shooting Stars," which chronicles James' pre-NBA basketball life with a group of friends in Akron. It was written with Buzz Bissinger of "Friday Night Lights" fame. An excerpt from the N.Y. Times review: "Inasmuch as James set out to celebrate the triumphs of five stalwart friends, 'Shooting Stars' is at times affecting. But as a fresh take on James as the Chosen One, or as a cautionary tale about the commercialization of young athletes, it’s more tenuous."

James must be responsible for killing more trees than last year's forest fires, because the list of biographies goes on and on. Among them: "Lebron James: The Making of an MVP" by Terry Pluto and Brian Windhorst, "King James: Believe the Hype" by Ryan Jones, and "LeBron James: The Rise of a Star" by David Lee Morgan Jr.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 6:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Many of the Emmy nonimees announced today -- including Glee and Lost -- have literary aspirations. Few shows are directly adapted from books, but can it be long before we get a mini-series based on "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies"? Some literary notes from the nominees:

-- Glee, the musical comedy about high school misfits, won 19 nominations (pictured here is the "Power of Madonna" episode). It will soon be adapted to a YA series, with the first book, "Glee: The Beginning," by Sophia Lowell scheduled for a September release.

-- Lost, which also received multiple nominations, has often intrigued and confounded viewers with literary references. Some, such as Walker's Percy's "Lancelot," were obscure; others, including "A Wrinkle in Time," were more mainstream. Entertainment Weekly put together an interesting slide show of the books.

-- The Pacific, which earned 24 nominations, has a companion book by Hugh Ambrose. Better yet, pick up one of the memoirs that formed a foundation for the series: Eugene Sledge's "With the Old Breed" or Robert Leckie's "Helmet for My Pillow."

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

A quick update on yesterday's post about Manson Family follower Leslie Van Houten, the convicted killer seeking parole after four decades in prison. A California parole board Tuesday rejected her bid to be released, the Los Angeles Times reports. As we noted, Van Houten was one of the subjects profiled in John Waters' new book "Role Models," and the film director has called for her release. Van Houten, 60, was convicted in the 1969 killings of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, and has sought parole more than a dozen times.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

It's always nice to see pop culture drawing connections to literary icons, and H.G. Wells is the latest to get that boost. A new episode of "Warehouse 13" this week on the Syfy network pitted Wells against the heroes who guard a secret government warehouse that contains dangerously powerful historical artifacts.

Wells fits perfectly into pop culture's "steampunk" ethos -- a fascination that mixes Victorian times, wheezing machinery and science fiction. The prolific Wells authored forward-looking masterpieces such as "The Time Machine" and "The War of the Worlds." His fictional inventions were all noisy, whirring, steam-powered, Industrial Revolution charm -- totally unlike today's sleek, silent, computerized machinery.

I hope Wells' fantastic works get a new charge from "Warehouse 13," just as Jane Austen has been rediscovered by many young readers through "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies."

In literature, it seems, what goes around, comes around.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 9:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Stephen King isn't satisfied with selling zillions of books. He isn't satisfied with several decades of movie adaptations, from "Carrie" in 1976 to "The Mist" in 2007. He isn't satisfied with an income that must rival that of the rest of the state of Maine.

No, he wants to be King. An empire-type King.

King (shown here with some loyal subjects and his Minister of Defense) wants his fans to help develop a virtual empire that he can rule over. Here's how he describes it on his website: "After 36 years (give or take) of writing stories, I find myself hungry—not for food, but for power. I’ve decided to build a virtual empire, but I need your help. Please pitch in and help me feed my insatiable appetite for grandiosity."

He's seeking captioned photos of places that would fit neatly in Kinglandia, Stephenistan or whatever it might be called. (He's mad, I tell you! MAD!) That could be an antique shop called Needful Things or a Steve’s Used Cars, he says. For my part, I offer up the King's Contrivance, one of the villages that make up Columbia, Md. King will be happy to know that streets in the village take their names from "The Folk Songs of North America," as well as the works of Carl Sandburg and Emily Dickinson.

If you have other suggestions, let me know. And send a photo if you can.

p.s. Just in case you thought this new project might distract King from taking swipes at Stephenie Meyer, check out the sample photos he provides on his website. One photo, of the doors of a Fire King furnace, is captioned: "What a great place to burn a copy of Twilight.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Federal Hill booklovers have something to get excited about: Their neighborhood independent bookstore is being featured in The Huffington Post's "Your Favorite Indie Bookstore" competition.

Here's what fan mrszeytinoglu had to say about The Book Escape:

"This beloved bookstore is located in the Federal Hill neighborhood of Baltimore, MD. They carry new and used books and will search for a book (even out of print) for you as well as take trade-ins. The small knowledgeable and friendly staff as well as the cozy environment make this a treat for a long afternoon of browsing."

The competition is fierce, with bookstores including The Strand, the Tattered Cover and Politics & Prose in the running. So show your Charm City pride and vote for The Book Escape. While you're at it, go visit the store and see what all the fuss is about.

Posted by Nancy Knight at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Fans of John Waters' "Role Models" might be interested in today's action from a California parole board, which is hearing 60-year-old Leslie Van Houten's bid to be freed. (Update on Van Houten's hearing -- and denial.)

Over many years, Waters interviewed Van Houten -- impisoned since 1969 for her role in two Manson family murders -- and wrote about those conversations in his book, while supporting her release. As he told the Baltimore Sun: “She’s very intelligent. She takes the most severe criticism and owns up to her guilt and tries to deal with it in the best way she possibly can. ‘I’m not trying to get away with anything,’ she says, and she’s not.”

Waters has also noted his fascination with Charles Manson's "family," and the way they influenced his film-making. An excerpt: "Sexy, scary, brain-dead, and dangerous, this gang of hippy lunatics gave new meaning to "folie à famille", group madness and insanity as long as the same people are together and united. It was an amazing thing to see in person. Heavily influenced, and actually jealous of their notoriety, I went back to Baltimore and made Pink Flamingos which I wrote, directed and dedicated to the "Manson girls", "Sadie, Katie and Les".

Van Houten was convicted of murder and conspiracy for her role in the slayings of Leno and Rosemary La Bianca, who were stabbed to death one night after Manson's followers killed actress Sharon Tate and four others, an AP report notes. Van Houten, then 19, did not participate in the Tate killings but went along the next night when the La Biancas were slain in their home. In court, she confessed to joining in stabbing Rosemary La Bianca after she was dead.

To his credit, Waters does not dismiss the personal tragedy left behind by Van Houten and other Manson followers. The Sun story noted that despite his support for Van Houten's parole, he emphasizes his respect for the LaBianca family: "Whatever they say, they’re not wrong, it can’t be wrong, because it’s personal, it’s their family. I am talking from the view of society, the law, and what is fair. And that’s a very different thing. If they ask, 'Where’s the parole for my mother?,' I can’t answer that question.”

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (21)
        

Here in Baltimore, we're lucky to be surrounded with historic reminders of the Declaration of Independence, including the Washington's National Archives and Philadelphia's Independence Hall. The Archives offers a place to read the Declaration and learn about its history -- in person or online.
It may be too late to get to the Archives building for today's 10 a.m. reading of the document that gave us this stirring phrase: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
But there's still plenty of time to celebrate. The Archives will have extended hours through Monday. And on Thursday, Independence Hall will mark the 234th anniversary of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence, with a recreation of the event.
Have a happy 4th of July!

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 8:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

Got to thinking this morning about two powerful women in literature: Wonder Woman and Scout Finch. They've both been in the news latey -- Wonder Woman for her controversial new costume and Scout for the 50th anniversary of "To Kill a Mockingbird." Though Wonder Woman is really ripped and can knock out bad guys with one hand, you'd be hard-pressed to say she's braver than Scout, who helped defuse a lynch mob outside the Maycomb jail. And if you've been on Read Street this week, you'll notice few degrees of separation between the heroines.

-- Wonder Woman got a new costume this week, replacing one that has hung in her closet since 1941.

-- To get a professional opinion on Wonder Woman's new look, we called on Karmen Fox of Baltimore's Holly G Boutique.

-- The boutique draws its name from Holly Golightliy, the chic New Yorker in "Breakfast at Tiffany's."

-- "Breakfast at Tiffany's" was written by Truman Capote, who had a childhood friend named Harper Lee.

-- Lee wrote her masterpiece "To Kill a Mockingbird" in 1960, and won the Pulitzer Pirze.

-- Much of the novel's charm is its perspective, as Scout Finch looks back on events that shaped her family, her town and her time.

And don't forget, today is the last day to enter our giveaway for a 50th anniversary edition of TKAM and "Scout, Atticus & Boo."

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Happy Friday, everybody! I hope you have a fantastic Fourth of July weekend planned, or at the very least, some fireworks. Of course, if you plan to spend your holiday with a few good books, you won't see me complaining. (befgore you start partying, don't forget to enter for our two-book giveaway to mark the 50th anniversary of "To Kill a Mockingbird." It ends today.)

I'm in the middle of re-reading Ursula K. Le Guin's "Lavinia." As a mythology geek, as well as a Le Guin fan, it's heaven. If you haven't had a chance to read her take on the Aeneid through the eyes of Aeneas' Roman bride, please do check it out.

And now for our Nora Roberts winner! Congratulations, Donna Belanger! And enjoy your Roberts marathon!

Next up: Alexander McCall Smith's latest novel, "Corduroy Mansions." First off, look at that puppy. How can you say no to a book with such a cute little face on it? But if you're also interested in plot, you'll be happy to know that this book, which received a starred review from Booklist, looks to be the start to a whole new series. Set in London, it's full of a wide range of characters that you've come to expect from this prolific writer. First introduced on the Telegraph's website, Smith's work was favorably compared to Dickens' own serials. Plus, there's that smart pup. How can you go wrong?

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

Posted by Nancy Knight at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)
        

Baltimoreans can get a closer look at the legacy of Stieg Larsson, who has captivated millions with a Swedish crime trilogy that began with "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." As Baltimore Sun movie critic Michael Sragoiw notes, the Charles Theatre is offering free showings of "Millennium: The Story," a 52-minute French documentary about Larsson's thrillers. The film, which Sragow calls "rough-hewn" and "oddly charming," plays at 7 p.m. Monday and July 12 at the Charles, which has been showing the "Dragon Tattoo" movie for weeks.

Sragow says of the promotional tool: "With its serious-minded narrator speaking semi-broken English ... this film is heartening in several ways. It portrays readers walking the streets of Stockholm to see locations referenced in the books and to absorb what Larsson loved and hated about Sweden before he died of a coronary thrombosis at age 50, nine months before his first novel's publication.

"The documentary depicts Larsson as a fearless journalist and fiction writer who believed you couldn't 'wear a mask' when fighting racism, anti-Semitism and violence against women."

The other books in Larsson's series are "The Girl Who Played with Fire" and "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest," one of this summer's hottest reads.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 5:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

There's been a real split of opinion on the new Wonder Woman costume, which replaces the World War II-era version modeled here by Lynda Carter. So I asked Karmen Fox of Baltimore's Holly G Boutique and Nancy for their opinions. Two thumbs up, it seems.

Here's what Karmen had to say: "When I first saw the new Wonder Woman outfit, I was a bit nostalgic for the bright colors. I'm a fan of bright colors myself, but if you're going to make a big change - go big or go home. The more subdued colors and less campy outfit seem to be a nod to the realistic superhero that Christopher Nolan has portrayed in his Batman movies (I'm a huge fan and saw The Dark Knight three times in the theaters). I love that this outfit could work for a daytime to superhero mode without having to run to a phone booth to change. Why waste time switching outfits when danger's around the corner?

"I'm also glad to see she's exchanged the unbearably skimpy bustier and shorts combo for a more comfortable ensemble. Let's face it: If you're kicking bad guys' butts, comfort should be a top priority when choosing your crime-fighting wardrobe. And don't think for one second that her modern look makes her any less feminine: She's still embracing her girly side with her tiara, choker necklace and cuffs. Paring her ruby red feminine top with a military jacket also is a modern and chic look that is seen on the runways and in daily attire. I like this change, and I'm curious to see if they'll keep updating her wardrobe as the fashion scene changes."

Nancy's take: As a comics fan and wannabe superhero, I'm excited about the new Wonder Woman costume. As a full-time woman, I don't enjoy walking in high heels, much less running, jumping and kicking people in the face. So some sensible flats are in order. The pants provide a great asset that most barely-there skirts are missing, too: pockets! After all, where is Wonder Woman supposed to store her high tech gadgets -- ie iPhone -- while her hands are busy meting out justice? And did I mention how much I like the subtle touches to her tiara, the (HIGHER!) neckline and bracers that look like they actually could deflect something? Because I do!

And for a comprehensive discussion on Wonder Woman's look through the decades, Comics Alliance provides insight and a few laughs. Enjoy!

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)