From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Cold Stone is giving away 3-ounce servings of a special flavor to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Kate, age 11, wanted to be a part of the world's largest ice cream social, so she whipped up a recipe for caramel apple ice cream mixed with chocolate shavings, graham cracker pie crust and apple pie filling.

On the way home from work, I may stop in Charles Village at my favorite block in Baltimore -- it has a Chipotle and a Cold Stone. Who could ask for more?

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 6:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Tony Curtis, a movie star and father of actress Jamie Lee Curtis, has died. Curtis' memoir, American Prince, outlined the rise to stardom from his childhood in New York City, where he came into the world as Bernard Schwartz. (It was co-authored with Peter Golenbock, known best for several books about baseball.) Despite a brutal Noo Yawk accent, he became a Hollywood icon, appearing in more than 140 films, including "Spartacus," "The Defiant Ones" and "Some Like it Hot."

He also was a famous womanizer (not such princely behanior), as the memoir brutally notes, and was married six times. Jamie Lee Curtis was born to first wife Janet Leigh; some subsequent marriages were to much younger women. According to his Reuters obit, Curtis was once quoted as saying, "I wouldn't be seen dead with a woman old enough to be my wife."

Rest in peace, Tony.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

The whole world is celebrating National Coffee Day today -- the whole world except me. I'm one of the few people who has never tried a cup of coffee.

It's not the taste I object to. I like coffee ice cream and coffee-flavored candy. I'm a big fan of Starbucks' Java Chip Frappuccino (only 440 calories!). And I've never been know to walk away from a slice of coffee cake.

But somehow, I've avoided the real thing. Instead, I drink tea -- Earl Grey, especially -- while enduring stares and jokes from my overly caffeinated friends. Maybe it's my way of recalling childhood days when I was treated to tea lightened by a generous portion of milk. Maybe it's a bit of rebellion against the masses. Or maybe it's a way to avoid the horrendous Yom Kuppur headaches that coffee drinkers suffer if they fast.

Whatever the reason, it's an acquired taste that I've never acquired. So while folks in Baltimore enjoy a cup at the places on this map, I'm missing out on today's promotions, including the Dunkin Donuts contest that offers the winner a trip Costa Rica and five years of free coffee. I'll just enjoy my tea.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 1:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)
        

For those of you who haven't visited Charm City Current yet, we've got a couple of recent entries that should interest you book lovers.

First of all, please go over and welcome Celeste Sollod, author of Baltimore Books. So far, she's covered One Maryland, One Book, both the National and Baltimore Book festivals and the Enoch Pratt Free Library's ever-changing children's programs.

As a former New York City publicist, she's got a great perspective on books and literary culture, and I look forward to hearing more from her.

And photography blogger Danielle Scruggs will have her work presented at Busboys and Poets tonight in a show called "Hard Times Require Furious Dancing." The show's title and art are inspired by Alice Walker's latest release, a book of poetry.

Each piece in the show was based on a poem from Walker's book, and if they're all as impressive as Scruggs' work, it's going to be a great show. The reception will be held from 6-8 p.m., but the show will be on display till Jan. 9 for those of you who can't make it out to D.C. tonight.

Posted by Nancy Knight at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Read Street is ever-vigilant in exposing the vigilantes who try to ban or challenge library books, so we welcome another Banned Books Week.

The American Library Association sponsors the event each year to highlight the nagging issue. Publishers, authors and others are holding their own events. Random House, for example, has a Facebook page on the issue. The Harford County Library has developed a quiz to test your acceptance of these controversial books. And The Baltimore Sun has an interesting photo gallery of banned or challenged books, including "My Friend Flicka," which made the list because it used the word "bitch" in referring to a female dog.

So enjoy the week, and take this opportunity for a bit of literary subversiveness.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Baltimore readers get a treat tonight -- a reading at MICA by Gary Shteyngart, the author of "Super Sad True Love Story" and one of the nation's funniest writers. He recently was featured in The New Yorker's 20 under 40 fiction issue.

Shteyngart's latest book, a peek at America's future, is ostensibly about an ill-fated romance between a shlumpy guy and a pretty young thing. But it's really about an ill-fated romance between immigrants and America. It's a cutting look our fascination with technology, personal grooming and high living.

I liked Shteyngart's "Absurdistan," and enjoyed "Love Story" even more -- I recently chose it for the next read of my book club. Both have echoes of one of my favorite books, "A Confederacy of Dunces." And, as my kids used to say when they were young, "Love Story" made me "happy/sad."

Shteyngart will appear at 7 p.m. in MICA's Main Building, 1300 W. Mount Royal Ave.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 9:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

There's nothing like a juicy love story to boost book sales, so Terry McMillan's confessional on Oprah is perfectly timed. How can you beat this story line: "Can she forgive her gay ex-husband?"

McMillan, the author of the popular "Waiting to Exhale," recently released a new novel, "Getting to Happy." Her appearance today on Oprah is sure to spark interest in the book.

Here, in a nutshell, is McMillan's story: At age 43, she met 20-year-old Jonathan Plummer in Jamaica. They married in 1998 and six years later, he told her that he was gay. A bitter, bitter divorce followed, as well as a 2005 confrontation on Oprah and a lawsuit that was later dropped. Now McMillan says she has come to terms with her ex-husband and is "ducky."

Good for her. I know artists are supposed to suffer, but I'm glad she has moved on with her life.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 9:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

Carter became ill aboard the flight and was rushed to MetroHealth Medical Center, where he was reported to be resting comfortably, according to news reports.

Carter, 85, was scheduled to appear at a book signing at the Joseph-Beth Booksellers at Legacy Village this afternoon. That event has been canceled, and Carter is expected to resume the book tour later this week.

Let's hope the illness is not serious, and that he can recover fully.

Carter has two Washington-area stops on Sept. 29 on his book tour: At 12:30 p.m. that day, he'll visit the Politics & Prose shop and at 7 p.m. he'll appear at the Smithsonian Associates Program at George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 2:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Just last Friday, I was planning a trip to Tampa, and my computer had windows open to the websites of Southwest Airlines and AirTran. And today, Southwest announced that it's buying its discount rival for $1 billion-plus. Kharmic moment? Coincidence? Message from the gods? Who knows?

Members of my family have been loyal Southwest fliers for years. It helps that Baltimore is a huge hub, prices are low, and service is exceptional. I'm also partial to the company because the guy who built it, long-time CEO Herb Kelleher, went to my alma mater, Wesleyan University.

I think he'd make a fascinating biography. It's too bad that the media has showered so much attention on a company like Facebook, while a great story goes untold. I know jets aren't as sexy as social media (despite the hot pants that Southwest flight attendants wore in the airline's early days). But his funny, renegade spirit makes a great character for a book. If you want to read about the company and its customer-focused ethos, here are some options:

-- Nuts! Southwest Airlines' Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success by Kevin and Jackie Freiberg 

-- The Southwest Airlines Way by Jody Hoffer Gittell --

-- Lessons in Loyalty: How Southwest Airlines Does It -- An Insider's View by Lorraine Grubbs-West

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 8:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Hope folks were able to get to the Baltimore Book Festival this weekend -- or at least follow our tweets (see the previous post below). the weather was bizarre -- it ranged from sweltering Friday to cool Sunday. And the crowds were, as always, steady.

I was a little scared to be on the book blogging panel that started at the same time as the Baltimore Ravens kickoff. But Mount Vernon Square was far from deserted. It was a lesson about Baltimore's cultural diversity and strength: There are plenty of people who live very, very happy lives without pro football.

The Baltimore Sun's Julie Bykowicz had a nice wrapup of Sunday's events, including the blogging panel (shown here). I'll provide a bit more later today.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

Nancy's strolling around Mount Vernon place on the opening day of the Baltimore Book Festival. You can join the conversation all weekend -- just use the #bookfestival hashtag.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 1:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Happy Friday, and especially happy Baltimore Book Festival, everybody! I'll be there for a couple of hours today, and then again on Sunday for Dave's panel. So if you see us there, please do say hello!

And Warren St. John, author of this year's One Maryland One Book, will also be there. If you have read, or plan to read, "Outcasts United," there is a book discussion tomorrow morning at 10:15, and St. John himself will speak at noon Sunday. And today, we're giving away two copies of his book about refugees from Liberia, Sudan, Iraq and Afghanistan coming together over a youth soccer team in a small southern town.

When I'm not seeking out a few of my own favorite authors at the festival this weekend -- Ree Drummond, Holly Black and Scott Westerfeld -- I'll be reading a spooky little book by Clare B. Dunkle titled "The House of Dead Maids." It's a prequel to Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights" and gives an account of Heathcliff's dark past that "doomed" his future. I'm not a huge fan of the Brontes, but if anyone can attempt to explain why Heathcliff and Cathy were so spectacularly awful to each other and everyone else, I'll give it a shot.

But of course we have a winner to announce! Congratulations, Kris T., you've won "Fall of Giants!"

Now, let us know what you're reading!

Posted by Nancy Knight at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Eddie Fisher, one of those who grew famous -- and infamous -- from pop culture fame, has died at 82. He was a swoon-inducing singer in the 1950's and married America's sweetheart, Debbie Reynolds, but then dropped her for the sultry actress, Elizabeth Taylor. The scandal surrounding that marriage -- and the drugs and other bad behavior -- ruined his singing career. He even lost Liz, to actor Richard Burton.

Fisher chronicled his stormy life in two tell-all autobiographies -- "Eddie: My Life, My Loves" (1984) and "Been There, Done That" (2001). He grew up poor in Philly, but rode his golden voice to stardom, with songs such as "Thinking of You," ''Oh, My Pa-pa," and ''I'm Yours." (You can get a flavor from the YouTube videos of his TV show: "Coke Time.") Then came Debbie -- and Liz, the widow of best friend Mike Todd.

But that ill-fated marriage to Reynolds did produce something great: Carrie Fisher, who went on to play Princess Leia in the Star Wars movies and then became the best-selling author of "Postcards From the Edge" and other books.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 8:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

In case you need more reasons to go to this weekend's Baltimore Book Festival -- besides my panel on book blogging -- here are 10 from b.

Number 1, says b, is the focus on "books about food. We like both, of course. But we love this section featuring celeb chefs, authors and food demos.

"Highlights include Gertrude's owner John Shields discussing his work "Coastal Cooking" (noon Friday); bartending vet Ray Foley serving his "Ultimate Little Martini Book" (5:30 p.m. Friday); and Daphne Oz, who'll present her "Dorm Room Diet" (1:30 p.m. Sunday). Daphne's the daughter of Oprah fave Dr. Mehmet Oz, so if you'll attend you will be just two degrees away from the Big O."

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

For your viewing pleasure this morning, the new trailer for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," whose posters carry the ominous line: "It all ends here."

Well, not exactly. The seventh and final last book in the Harry Potter series has been divided into two parts, with Part 1 opening in theaters in November. A synopsis from IMDb: Voldemort's power is growing stronger. He now has control over the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts. Harry, Ron, and Hermione decide to finish Dumbledore's work and find the rest of the Horcruxes to defeat the Dark Lord. But little hope remains for them, so everything they do must go as planned.

I've noted before that I object to the trend of splitting books into two movies -- "Stephenie Meyer's "Breaking Dawn," for example. It makes perfect sense for the movie makers, who want to sell as many tickets as possible and to extend a franchise as long as possible. And die-hard fans tend to love the idea, too. But it discourages the average moviegoers -- like me -- from seeing even one part. And really, if Scarlett O'Hara's tale can be told in one sitting, can't we do the same with Harry?

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 9:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Bob Woodward's latest exploration of the presidency -- "Obama's Wars" -- won't be released until Monday, but it's already drawing notice for revelations about policy on Afghanistan.

A story in today's Washington Post (Woodward's employer), notes that the book focuses "on the strategy review, and the dissension, distrust and infighting that consumed Obama's national security team as it was locked in a fierce and emotional struggle over the direction, goals, timetable, troop levels and the chances of success" in the Afghanistan war. The book notes battles with former military commanders -- and with Gen. David H. Petraeus, now the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan.

The New York Times highlighted policy disagreements and the in-fighting that involved officials in the White House and military. It also focused on the book's revelations, including reports that the C.I.A. has a 3,000-man “covert army” in Afghanistan and that United States has intelligence showing that President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan has taken medication for manic depression.

Woodward has been granted remarkable access by both Republican and Democratic presidents, and his books serve as primers for the cut-throat politics that infects Washington. It's more than a little scary at times, as we watch the divisions among folks who should be on the same team.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 2:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

Yes, this is a book. Yes, I am buying it today. Fans of Justine Larbalestier, Holly Black, Cassandra Clare, Scott Westerfeld and Libba Bray will be joining me.

And for the record, unicorns would totally win.

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

Ten years ago, the residents of Charles Village decided to start their own library, after their neighborhood branch was closed. And the Village Learning Place has been going strong ever since. So strong, in fact, that they're now expanding!

The library, which now has more than 18,000 books available for lending and public access to the Internet, wants to provide more services to the community, including programs for early childhood and high school students, in an attempt to promote lifelong learning. And they're trying to raise $1 million to do it.

That's where the Dewey Donation System comes in.

Dewey is run by author Pamela Ribon and Television Without Pity co-founder David T. Cole. According to the Dewey site, in 2003 Pamie asked her blog readers to donate books to the Oakland Public Library. The drive was so successful -- with hundreds of books donated -- that nearly every year since, Dewey has raised funds and donated books to a library or organization in need.

With this year's drive, the philanthropists are doing their part. Dewey has raised 626 books and $3,258 in just two weeks, according to Ribon.

"This is the seventh year of our book drive, and even though times are hard for everybody, people are still supporting our grassroots fundraisers because our readers love books and libraries," Ribon said in an e-mail. "The ultimate goal would be to help the VLP reach their budgetary goal this year of $1 million. ... All we can do is help as much as we can and hope it makes a big difference."

There are multiple ways for you to make your mark, too. You can donate money via PayPal, credit card or check -- with every dollar matched by an anonymous local foundation; you can buy books from the VLP's Amazon Wishlists; or you can buy books to donate at The Ivy, which is offering a 15 percent discount to donors and free delivery.

And in case you're wondering what's in it for you? Try this video of Ribon's mom rocking out to Rock Band, thanks to a donation challenge made and met on Monday. You've never heard The Beatles like this.

Posted by Nancy Knight at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

When I'm not working or reading, you can usually find me biking -- and that's why I was distressed to hear that Natasha Pettigrew, a Maryland Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate, has died from injuries sustained in a bike-car collision.

The young woman was hit by an SUV early Sunday morning, while training for a triathlon, according to the Washington Post. Today, word came that she had died. Pettigrew wasn't going to win this election, but she had a promising future as an athlete, political candidate and law student. "We'll never know what great things could have come from this bright young woman, Green Party co-chair Karen Jennings said in a statement.

Unfortunately, this sort of accident seems more and more common, as cars get bigger and the number of bikers grows. In fact, in Baltimore County on Saturday, there will be a fund-raiser -- Larry's Ride -- for Larry Bensky, who was killed this spring while riding. He left behind a wife and two young children.

So please, next time you're on the road -- on a bike or in a car -- be careful.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 3:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)
        

We've all heard the praise for a popular book: can't put it down! Well, do publishers ever worry about the fallout from such best-sellers? What happens when one of these books gets in the hands of a bus driver on duty?

Transit officials in Portland, Ore., have disciplined a bus driver after a passenger took cell-phone video that seems to show him reading while driving on Interstate 5, the Oregonian reports. The driver's lawyer says the Kindle was simply resting on the dashboard, and the driver was not reading at all. (The video isn't conclusive to me, but everyone seems to be overlooking the fact that the guy was driving WITH HIS ELBOWS!

Maybe this is a lesson for us all. Next time you board a bus -- or plane! -- check what the pilot is carrying. It shouldn't be something that would him/her to sleep. But if it's a Dan Brown novel, or some other page-turner, watch out.

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

For book lovers, the Baltimore Book Festival has to be one of the best weekends of the year. For three days -- this Friday to Sunday -- everything about books is celebrated in Mount Vernon Square. You can hear writers talk about their craft, watch cookbook authors whip up their favorite recipes, and -- of course -- buy books.

Dozens of authors will speak about their books. Among them: Wes Moore, "The Other Wes Moore"; Ree Drummond, "The Pioneer Woman Cooks"; and The View's Sherri Shepherd, "Permission Slips." Warren St. John, whose book "Outcasts United" is the 2010 choice for the One Maryland One Book statewide reading program programs will also be there.

If you get a chance, stop by the panel on "The Wonderful World of Book Blogging," at 1 p.m. Sunday on the Festival Stage. I'll be there with five other book bloggers -- Heather Johnson, Nicole Bonia, Candace Levy,  
Serena M. Agusto-Cox, and Celeste Sollod -- discussing how social media has changed publishing forever.

Hope to see you there.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Sometimes, you don't want to have to lug "War and Peace" "Little Women" and "Don Quixote" around just to prove your love, right? Well now, you don't have to.

At Charms4You, you can buy silver charms of eight different books -- including "Pride and Prejudice" of course. At $25 a pop, you might not want to collect them all, but they'd make a sweet gift for your own little bibliophile.

Is there anything you can't find on Etsy?

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

You'll be hearing a lot about "Waiting for Superman" this week, as the documentary about saving American's public schools is released around the nation Friday. The film chronicles the challenges faced by several students, including Anthony, a Washington, D.C., fifth grader; Francisco, a Bronx first-grader; and Emily, a Silicon Valley eighth-grader.

A companion book expands on the theme, with essays from thinkers such as Bill and Melinda Gates, Geoffrey Canada, leader of the Harlem Children's Zone, and D.C. schools chief Michelle Rhee.

It's a compelling story line, and unfortunately one that has been with us for years -- as you can see from the many works of Jonathan Kozol, beginning with "Death at an Early Age" in 1967. Today, there's hope, as thousands of bright, young Americans are taking on the challenge through Teach for America and other organizations. I know two recent college grads who are teaching in Louisiana -- one in New Orleans and the other in the countryside -- and it's both saddening and inspiring to listen to them describe their work. Maybe they are exactly the kind of supermen and superwomen we need.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 4:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

If you tuned into HBO's "Boardwalk Empire" last night, you got a glancing, fictionalized swipe at American history, including such vivid characters as Enoch "Nucky" Thompson and Arnold Rothstein. The show, adapted from Nelson Johnson's book ) of the same name, stars Steve Buscemi as Thompson -- based on the real-life Nucky Johnson, the Atlantic City political boss who engineered the resort's rise to wickedness and financial riches during Prohibition. (Here's a sample chapter on Nucky via Plexus Publishing, and a bit more on the author from the Los Angeles Times.)

The show also showcased the era's memorable leaders of organnized crime. Among them, Al Capone, who ran the rackets in Chicago, and Rothstein, who bankrolled the scheme to have the Chicago White Sox throw the 1919 World Series (for more, read "Eight Men Out" by Eliot Asinof).

The first episode began slowly, as each of the main characters was introduced. But Buscemi showed a nice combination of toughness, villainy and wistfulness -- sort of an American Corleone. He's a genius at making these combinations seem natural. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 9:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Happy Friday, everyone! I hope yours is going better than mine, which involved a flat tire right before a trip to the Eastern Shore. It's going to be a long day before I get to my weekend.

But I am looking forward to seeing what looks to be a delightfully cheesy movie that riffs off of Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter:" "Easy A." You may recognize lead actress Emma Stone from "Zombieland," which you KNOW I enjoyed. While the plot doesn't follow Hawthorne's lead precisely -- We're dealing with a high school girl who's tormented by the popular kids for her false reputation, and chooses to flaunt the "A" on her corseted tops -- I look forward to teasing out the similar motifs of judgement, punishment and the many facets of love.

Speaking of love, how much does John love Rolad Dahl? A lot, I hope, because he's won "Storyteller: The Authorized Biographyof Roald Dahl." Congratulations, and we hope you enjoy it!

Next up, we've got Ken Follett's latest, "Fall of Giants." The historical novel is the first of a planned trilogy, and will follow the paths of five inter-related families and their struggles through World War I, the Russian Revolution and women's suffrage. The Century trilogy will continue to follow these families through the 20th century.

So tell us what you're reading, and "Fall of Giants" could be yours!

Posted by Nancy Knight at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)
        

Here's hoping you can take advantage of the Constitution Day events and activities that mark the 223rd anniversary of the historic document's signing.

In Washington, where the original is located, the National Archives has a full day of celebration, and the first 223 participants get a piece of birthday cake!

In Philadelphia, where the document was signed, you can visit the National Constitution Center, and party even more. And eat more cake! I visited about a year ago, and admit that the exhibits, combined with the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, gave me the chills -- in a good way.

The document really is a marvel for balancing the powers of government, avoiding a monarch-like executive but not letting the more populist legislature dominate, either. Maybe it's a tribute to the Founding Fathers that the tension between those branches of government -- and the judiciary -- still exist today.

Even if you can't travel to Washington, Philadelphia or one of the other cities with events, the websites of the Archives, the Constitution Center and the National Park Service (including this great digital facsimile of the document) have plenty of activities to help you mark the day. So take a few moments to recall the significance of the document that begins, "We the people ... "

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

So I may have been a bit harsh on Dave on Friday. After all, I'm sure he's not the only one who's never read a single Roald Dahl book.

But because he's so wonderful, he put aside our differences, and left something magical at my desk: "Masterpuppet Theatre: The World of Shakespeare at Your Fingertips.

Not only does this pack include 60 finger puppets, such as Bottom in both human and ass forms, Ophelia and the Bard himself, but 12 backgrounds and a folio with scenes from 18 of Shakespeare's plays.

And there's a robot named 2B-R02B. Come on, that's clever!

If you visit the official site, you can also download a stage floor to give that extra dimension of authenticity to your show.

As you can see, I'm currently in the middle of a production in which Bottom and Cleopatra are attacked by a bear. It's going to be amazing.

Now I just need to find people to entertain who are easily amused ...

Posted by Nancy Knight at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Michaele Salahi, one of the alleged White House-party-crashers, dropped a small bomb in her new book, revealing that she has multiple sclerosis.

I know, I know, you're asking why you'd care about a woman who seems made for reality TV (she's featured on "Real Housewives of D.C.") and our instant-celebrity society. But believe me, this story will gather steam, as the 44-year-old woman often portrayed as a social climber becomes a more sympathetic character. And you won't be able to avoid her at the grocery store checkout counter tabloids and magazines for the next month. So consider this a pop culture primer.

"Cirque Du Salahi: Be Careful Who You Trust" (grammar sticklers are cringing) tells the story of Michaele and her husband, Tareq.

The northern Virginia couple got lots of media attention for turning up -- apparently univited -- at a White House state dinner. She says she was diagnosed with MS when she was 28, according to an AP report on the book.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 7:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

With the news that television journalist Edwin Newman has died comes the realization that we have lost another friend and protector of the English language. Earlier this year, James J. Kilpatrick ("The Writer's Art") passed on. The two of them walked the walk (spoke the speak?) in promoting simple, proper usage. Fortunately, their writings will live on.

Newman, a fixture on NBC newscasts, began writing books in the 1970s, taking on the linguistic excesses of Watergate, sportscasters, academics and bureaucrats with wit and indignation, his AP obit notes. Both "Strictly Speaking" and "A Civil Tongue" were best sellers.

"A civil tongue ... means to me a language that is not bogged down in jargon, not puffed up with false dignity, not studded with trick phrases that have lost their meaning," he wrote.

"It is direct, specific, concrete, vigorous, colorful, subtle and imaginative when it should be, and as lucid and eloquent as we are able to make it. It is something to revel in and enjoy."

Words to live -- and write -- by. R.I.P. Edwin.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 6:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

President Barack Obama, no stranger to best-seller lists, will release a children's book, "Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters," on Nov. 16.

The 40-page book, which will have a $17.99 list price, is illustrated by Loren Long. It includes a "tribute to thirteen groundbreaking Americans and the ideals that have shaped our nation," publisher Random House says. "From the artistry of Georgia O'Keeffe, to the courage of Jackie Robinson, to the patriotism of George Washington, President Obama sees the traits of these heroes within his own children, and within all of America’s children."

Publishing has been a lucrative sideline for Obama the politician. His federal tax return for 2009 showed that royalties from "Dreams from My Father" totaled about $3.3 million, and those from "The Audacity of Hope" totaled $2.3 million. By comparison, his salary as president was $400,000.

Random House says the book "celebrates the characteristics that unite all Americans, from our nation’s founders to generations to come. It is about the potential within each of us to pursue our dreams and forge our own paths."

Good luck uniting Americans on anything these days -- especially in the wake of the election. And it's worth noting that George W. Bush's memoir, "Decision Points," will be released just a week earlier, on Nov. 9.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 4:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

I'm not sure how to explain my strange Monday night, which I spent simultaneously watching the Baltimore Ravens game on TV and reading "Sarah," a new biography of the 19th Century French actress Sarah Bernhardt.

Maybe I've become the ultimate multi-tasker. I've conditioned my brain to expect different impulses, lurching suddenly between, say, Todd Heap's incredible diving catch and the inner workings of Paris theaters. (That could be a carry-over from work, where I tend to be doing four things at once. For example, there are nine screens open on my computer right now.)

Maybe I have adult-onset ADHD, or have been taught by society that I can't relax for a few minutes -- watching the game or reading a book. Even the few minutes during commercials -- and the seconds between Ravens plays -- demand to be filled with some sort of activity. A cell phone, laptop, magazine or book can fill the ga

I've always enjoyed spending an hour or so alone with a book, in a quiet place. But this multi-tasking seems to be happening more and more lately. Don't know whether others have the same experience, but it's a bit unsettling for me.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

We all know that books can bring people together, whether it be in a book club, a classroom or catching the eye of someone reading your favorite book on public transit. But now a new website offers to match you with the love of your life, based completely on your mutual love of books.

Alikewise.com allows you to create a profile, specifying your gender and the gender of your preferred mate (woman seeking men, man seeking women, man seeking women & men), an age range and a book or author that you love.

For instance, I ran a search looking for men who like "Jane Austen," and there were more than 50 matches, worldwide. Of course, my guess is that they're just listing what they know women will like. However, the guy who came up as a fan of "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies"? I'll take that at face value.

Which got me thinking -- which books do I want my loved ones to love? I mean, sure, "Animal Farm" is a good book, but what kind of person lists it on a dating website in the hopes of finding the perfect match? Do you list books you enjoy, or admire, or that you feel reflect your own thoughts, morals and interests?

See, I LOVE Oscar Wilde. But if I list him, would I be expected to be that witty all the time? And what about my soft spot for the Hunger Games trilogy? Katniss is a hardcore killer, while whine for three days after tweaking a muscle.

So what books would you use to catch the perfect mate?

(Photo by leovdworp on stock.xchng)

Posted by Nancy Knight at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Amid the silly celebrity tell-all books comes one that promises a more valuable lesson: "Rock What You've Got," by Katherine Schwarzenegger. The book, due out Tuesday, is the first by the daughter of action-star-turned- California-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver. She hopes to encourage young girls to avoid an unhealthy fixation on their weight and looks.

"I want girls to read this and feel that it's OK to be themselves -- and to understand that every girl can be beautiful no matter what size and shape she is," she said in a news release about the book. "You don't have to look like you're on a billboard to feel beautiful. I really wanted to correct girls' perception of that."

I like that message, even though I cringe whenever it's delivered by those who grew up with the benefits of money, privilege and good genes. Still, there's no doubting that all kids feel pressured from peers and society -- no matter how rich or poor. The University of Southern California junior also promises to provide an inside look at her own upbringing, including her sense of awkwardness among the Kennedys -- her mother's side of the family.

"I never thought I would write a book," she said in the release. "But my fuel came from research and information on the growing number of girls who feel so much pressure to be thin -- and how young all of this is starting. My goal is to let girls know they're not alone when they're going through this and to spread the word about what young girls are going through today. Society needs to know about the kind of pressure that is put on girls. We have to change it in some way."

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 6:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Carla Hayden, CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, recently gave The Baltimore Sun a peek at her office and the brown, wraparound desk where she works.

The large desk holds the books of authors appearing at the library, as well as items from her collection of paperweights and mugs (with messages such as "Go for it").

My favorite: the librarian action figure, sold by the American Library Association, in a "shush-ing" pose.

Sloan Brown's article is in today's Sun, and here's a photo gallery of the desk. Enjoy!

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Kevin McCarthy, who acted on stage, in the movies and on television for seven decades, has died at age 96. He was best known for his starring role as the panicked doctor who tried to warn the world about the alien "pod people" in the 1956 science-fiction classic "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," the Los Angeles Times obit noted. (Shown here in a scene with Dana Wynter.) Some speculated that the film was a veiled slap at Sen. Joseph McCarthy and his hunt for Communists, but the actor rejected that notion. He said years later that it was "about the onset of a kind of life where the corporate people are trying to tell you how to live, what to do, how to behave."

But McCarthy also starred in much deeper fare, including Arthur MIller's "Death of a Salesman," where he played son Biff on stage and screen.

He and sister Mary were orphaned after their parents died in the 1918 flu epidemic. While he took to acting, she became a well-known novelist, essayist and critic. Among her works were the best-selling novel "The Group," about the post-Vassar lives of eight members of the Class of '33. She died in 1989.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 9:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, redefined life for Americans, but the Great American Novel about that day has yet to be written. Even though the resulting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan -- and the Bush presidency -- have generated enough books to fill a small library, the triggering event may be too big for an author to capture. Or it may just be too soon.

But if you want to recall the horror of that day -- and its aftermath -- here are some novels and non-fiction to get you started:

"September 11, 2001: A collection of newspaper front pages selected by the Poynter Institute" -- A simple, yet wrenching sampling of newspaper coverage, including headlines that range from "HORROR!" to "DEVASTATION" to "BASTARDS!"

"The Looming Tower" by Lawrence Wright. "Wright, a New Yorker writer, brings exhaustive research and delightful prose to one of the best books yet on the history of terrorism." -- Publisher Weekly

"The Reluctant Fundamentalist" by Mohsin Hamid. A chilling, fictional look inside the mind of a would-be terrorist.

"Falling Man" by Don DLillo. "This novel is a return to DeLillo's best work. No other writer could encompass 9/11 quite like DeLillo does here..." -- Publishers Weekly

"American Ground: Unbuilding the World Trade Center by William Langewiesche. "Langewiesche had unrestricted access to Manhattan's Ground Zero during the post-September 11 cleanup, and his triptych of articles (originally published in the Atlantic Monthly) takes readers through what became known to its denizens as the Pile, from the moment of destruction to the departure of the last truckload of rubble from the ruins a little less than nine months later." -- Publishers Weekly

"A Country Called Amreeka: Arab Roots, American Stories" by Alia Malek. Vignettes about the trials that Arab-Americans have faced over the decades.

"Perfect Soldiers: The Hijackers: Who They Were, Why They Did It" by Terry McDermott. "Even though most of the hijackers responsible for 9/11 remain murky figures, the important few whose lives and personalities McDermott carefully examines illustrate just who these people were and why they did what they did, on a level that official government reports never approached." -- Bookmarks

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

These September 11 pictures, including a somber William Harris holding a sub-machine gun in front of the Baltimore police headquarters, are a stark reminder of how our lives changed that morning in 2001.

We reacted with shock, horror and prayer. One book, about a pet goat, became instantly famous -- President George W. Bush was reading it with some Florida schoolchildren when he heard news of the World Trade Center attack.

But once the planes hit -- in New York, northern Virginia and Pennsylvania -- few people were in the mood for reading -- unless it was the Bible.

I'll have more on September 11 in the morning, as we recap interesting novels and non-fiction books about the day. So come back, but in the meantime, use these pictures from September 11 to remember the day

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Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 6:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

For all the craziness surrounding the Quran burning by the Dove World Outreach Center, this is my favorite reaction: A Baltimore restaurateur is offering a half-off special to diners who bring a holy book to dinner.

As noted on The Baltimore Sun's Dining@Large blog, Riccardo Bosio (pictured at left) of Sotto Sopra is making the offer "in the name of religious reconciliation." Diners who bring their own holy book on Sept. 11 will get discounted entrees. He said in an email: "The table is a sacred place, where people of diversity can share and discuss beliefs, their daily joys, disappointments and dreams. ... Come to the table, start a discussion, bring family, friends - lets all break bread together and celebrate our freedoms."

If you live in some distant town -- like Gainesville, Fla., the home of the Rev. Terry Jones' Holy Bonfire -- you're out of luck. But if you're near Baltimore, this is a great deal at a great restaurant. I dined there recently with my wife and some friends during restaurant week, and it was a big hit (except for that one-hour wait).A plate of Bistecca di Manzo Alla Griglia Con Burro Aromatizzato sure beats toasted Qurans.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 1:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

You guys, Dave has NEVER read a Roald Dahl book.

I know.

So instead of asking you to tell us what you're reading this week, I request that you tell Dave about your favorite Roald Dahl book and why he should pick it up, because honestly! In return, you'll be entered to win "Storyteller: The Authorized Biography of Roald Dahl," by Donald Sturrock.

My favorite was "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," because how could the description of all those candies not thrill you as a child?

Oh, right, and we need a winner for "Madame Bovary." Congratulations, Nancy Johnston (no relation, we swear!), you're this week's winner! We hope you enjoy this classic.

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

I'm not sure what made Pastor Terry Jones and the Dove World Outreach Center decide to cancel plans for a Quran burning on Sept. 11. But I say: Hallelujah!

He certainly wasn't moved by the charged commentary aimed at him here on Read Street. Or by my rabbi's cautionary Rosh Hashanah sermon, noting that Muslims seem to have replaced Jews as "the other" group eyed warily by Western society -- and urging Jews to reject that fear. I doubt it was the FBI visits or the criticism from President Obama. Or even the near-unanimous vilification directed at Jones and his Dove World Outreach Center. But maybe, just maybe, it was the sense that no one was going to come to his party, as Fox News and others decided not to broadcast it.

If Pastor Terry Jones is giving up his 15 minutes of fame (or infamy), it must be because he has a shot at 30 minutes. Just picture the small-town pastor riding into New York City, trying to broker a deal to move the proposed mosque near the Ground Zero. Talk about your dream photo op! Now that's worth swapping marshmallows for Qurans at the next bonfire.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 5:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)
        

Things might get a little quiet on Read Street later today, as I start the observance of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. We'll be kicking off the year 5771 at sundown tonight, and a part of the celebration, a symbol of a sweet new year, is a plate of apples and honey.

The 10-day holiday season has a more somber bookend: Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. But today a happy celebration begins with services, food -- what else? -- and a greeting: L'shanah tovah, which means "for a good year."

Even this holiday is a bit sobering, because of the presence of uniformed and off-duty police around the synagogues in Baltimore. That probably seems bizarre for folks who don't live in the Pikesville/Owings Mills area -- ever see police stationed outside a church on Easter? Though I can't recall a serious anti-Semitic incident on the High Holy Days, security is always a serious concern. And in an era when plenty of folks seem to delight in whipping others into a frenzy -- see Koran burning -- people can be excused for being a bit jittery.

I may also take some time during the holiday to make a dent in the latest choice for my Jewish book club: "The Informers" by Juan Gabriel Vasquez.

Happy New Year!

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

You all know how I feel about burning (or banning) books -- about the same as tossing puppies off a bridge -- and that's just one of the reasons I cringe at the move by the Dove World Outreach Center to sponsor a Koran-burning on September 11.

The whole publicity stunt has a bizarre "1984" feel to it. The Florida church uses an image of a white dove, but it's stance toward Islam seems anything but peaceful. It questions whether Mohammad even existed, saying there is "no conclusive account about what he said or did," while basing its absolutist faith on "the truth of the Bible." And even as the church calls for burning religious books, it describes the event as a symbol of freedom of speech.

Ironically, the planned event falls in the same month that the American Library Association sponsors Banned Books Week  to highlight the issue nationwide. Many classics, including "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Catcher in the Rye," have faced removal from library bookshelves in the United States within the past year. During Banned Books Week, Sept. 25 – Oct. 2, participants will read from banned or challenged books and will discuss the impact censorship has on civil liberties, the association says.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 4:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (31)
        

Fans of hometown girl Laura Lippman will have a reason to celebrate tonight: The mystery author will be at the Johns Hopkins Barnes & Noble tonight to sign her new book, "I'd Know You Anywhere."

As a stop in her "Great American BOOB Tour," this might be your last shot to see Lippman until October, when she travels to Massachusetts and then Tennessee. (For those who are confused, the name is an acronym for Bethany Beach; Oxford, MD; Oxford, Mass.; and Baltimore.)

But Lippman has also asked that her readers help her decide which library to speak at next, by way of an essay contest: 

"Write an essay about your hometown library and why I should visit. It can be personal -- an anecdote about how you learned to write your name in order to get your libary card there, or how you curled up on the window seat in the children's room to read a beloved book on a snowy day. ... I'll pick my favorite essay and will then visit, completely at my own expense, at a mutually agreeable date within the next year."

It sounds like somebody's going to be a hero to their local librarian!

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

Pity the poor bookstore workers. They're under seige from digital alternatives and mass merchandisers, and all the while they have to deal with customers who ask crazy questions. The British independent booksellers association ran a contest, "Overheard in a Bookshop," this summer to highlight some unusual questions and comments. We should all read them and hope that none sounds too familiar. Here are some of my favorites:

The customer who bought Douglas Adams' "The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy" but returned a half-hour later, demanding her money back. She complained that there wasn't any information about the countries her daughter planned to visit via Eurorail.

The customer who noticed a copy of "Great Expectations" and said: “Look, they bring books out on all the TV programmes now.”

The customer who asked, “Can you tell me if Anne Frank wrote any other books?”

The customer who approached the counter holding a copy of David Copperfield and asked: “Did Charles Dickens write any shorter versions of his books?”

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

Happy Friday, everyone -- and here's to a spectacular Labor Day weekend.

I'll be enjoying "Clockwork Angel" by Cassandra Clare, a prequel to her popular The Mortal Instruments series. Instead of modern-day New York City, this series is set in 19th-century London, where a teenaged Tessa searches for her missing brother. Instead, she finds that she is part of an ancient, magical world. And you know how much I enjoy steampunk!

But on to our winner: Congratulations, Janice, you've won "Washington." We hope you enjoy it, and what you learn about the first president of the United States.

Next up, we've got a new translation of Gustave Flaubert's "Madame Bovary." Lydia Davis, who won high praise for her translation of "Swann's Way," tackles the classic about the original desperate housewife, Emma Bovary.

So tell us what you're reading, and you could be our next winner!

Posted by Nancy Knight at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Cammie King Conlon, the former child actress who portrayed the doomed daughter of Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara in the movie "Gone With the Wind," has died at the age of 76. She died of lung cancer Wednesday morning at her Fort Bragg home on California's north coast, the Associated Press reported.

Conlon, who was cast in the role of Bonnie Blue Butler at age 4, also voiced the young doe Faline in Walt Disney's "Bambi" three years later. That was the end of her Hollywood career. "My mother decided she wanted me to have a normal childhood," she wrote on her blog. She often joked with interviewers that she had "peaked at 5."

But she will always be remembered as a key character in what may be the most impressive movie adaptation in history -- bringing Margaret Mitchell's novel to millions of fans.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 8:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Obituaries
        

If you're seeking shelter from Hurricane Earl this week, watching it head for the East Coast, you'll have time for some pretty good storm-related reading. Here are a few favorites to keep you occupied while the wind howls outside. (I admit that for all the devastation brought each year, the genre of hurricane novels seems relatively sparse.):

"The Perfect Storm" by Sebastian Junger. The tale of the ill-fated fishing boat Andrea Gail, which was caught in The Big One after leaving port in Glouscester, Mass. Great not only for its re-creation of the storm but also for its description of the hazards of commercial fishing.

"Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers. One of many looks back at the havoc caused by Katrina in New Orleans, and particularly appropriate on the five-year anniversary.

"Moby-Dick" by Herman Melville. The classic whaling/quest novel, cited by many but read by few.

While I'm at it, I might as well deliver a plug for Frank Herbert's "Dune," one of my favorite sci-fi novels. On the desert planet Arrakis there aren't any hurricanes, but the sandstorms can tear you to shreds.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 2:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

We've had plenty of time to settle down after all the big news from Comic-Con International in July, and now they're hitting us with some huge news.

First, for those serious comic book fans: We will now have two Batmans (Batmen?) at the same time. Bruce Wayne will return to don his cape again in November, and instead of taking up the sidekick mantle, or even Nightwing, Dick Grayson will continue to operate as Batman, as well.

Say what now?

As Batman expert (and major fanboy) Chris Sims explains it, this has never quite happened before. Sure, there have been others who've dressed up like Batman, but this will be two separate masked vigilantes, with Wayne franchising his vengeance. Grayson's character will head up in "Detective Comics," "Batman and Robin" and "Batman." Wayne will appear in "Batman, Inc." and "Batman, the Dark Knight."

What's the verdict, Batfans? Are you glad, mad or indifferent to the changes?

I'm holding off to see how things shape up -- but if they end up killing Grayson off to make room for Wayne in his original role, I won't be happy.

And on a slightly lighter, yet more socially aware note, Archie comics is bringing on its first gay character. Of course, it looks like the joke's on Veronica:

"Kevin arrives in Riverdale and immediately piques the interest of rich, spoiled Veronica. After Kevin and Jughead enjoy some homosocial bonding at a hamburger-eating contest, Jughead warns the new kid that Veronica isn't likely to stop pursuing him until he returns her flirtations. 'It's nothing against her. I'm gay,' Kevin explains nonchalantly ... ."

Something tells me Veronica's going to make it through, even if the plot does call on all of her friends to leave her in the dark for purely selfish reasons. Oh, Riverdale.

(Baltimore Sun photo by David Stuck)

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

To get a taste of the battle being fought over Barnes & Noble's future, I watched the 1987 movie "Wall Street," which features Michael Douglas as corporate raider Gordon Gekko. The high-flying days of corporate takeovers, proxy wars and poison pills are back again, and the bookstore company faces a determined foe in billionaire financier Ron Burkle.

Execs announced in August that they were exploring options that include putting the company up for sale. Meanwhile Burkle has been trying to increase his stake in the company, as the AP has reported. The battle is being fought on several fronts: the courts, Wall Street and press releases. And it ain't pretty. Burkle accuses B&N founder Leonard Riggio of poor management and self-dealing; Riggio raises the specter of a Gekko-like hostile takeover.

Here's a sampling from Burkle's Yucaipa Cos.: "The [Barnes & Noble] Board's false statements are in our view nothing more than a desperate attempt to distract you from the real issues. They don't want you to think about: the Company's poor performance; the years of Board-approved related party transactions from which the Riggio family has reaped over a billion dollars; and the fact that this Board is not willing to stand up to Leonard Riggio on your behalf and say 'enough is enough'! "

The real winner in all this? Amazon, Apple, Walmart and other companies trying to eat B&N's lunch. With B&N execs consumed by the takeover battle, how can they focus on the huge structural changes in the business, including the shift from paper to digital, and the rise of mass merchandisers? It's a very, very dangerous time to get distracted -- no matter who has control of the company.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 9:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)