Readers sent in some interesting bookish New Year's resolutions, most of them suitably high-minded. My first resolution is NOT literary: To get off the couch and lose some of the pounds that have accumulated during the holidays. After that, I resolve to read more books from foreign lands -- especially Asia. Recommendations are welcome. Here's what others resolved:

To read (and comprehend) Ayn Rand's Fountainhead -- Lynne

To read more "real" books than my wife does on her Kindle -- steve in seoul

To reread some of the Classics I loved when I was young! -- Sheila K.

To savor the pleasure of reading like I did when I was a kid -- Sarah

To refrain from commenting on other people's reading choices. (With difficulty at times ...) -- Dahlink

To read 100 books -- Elise

To stop checking so many books out of the library at the same time that I can't get them all read before they're due back -- Eve

To read less "trashy" books -- po

To read more nonfiction books -- Keely

Great resolutions, all. Good luck!

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

A former soldier has returned a book to Baltimore's Enoch Pratt Free Library -- 65 years after checking it out, library officials today.

The Pratt received "Sound and Symbol in Chinese," this week with a letter from John J. Wolfe of St. Louis, according to a news release. He said that while recuperating from surgery at Fort Meade in 1946, he visited the library with other soldiers. “Since it appeared at the time that we were about to be shipped out to the Far East theater, it seemed to me a good idea to learn a little about their languages,” he said in his letter. “While perusing your stacks, I came across a book titled Sound and Symbol in Chinese that looked as though it might be useful.”

Sixty-five years later, he found the book and decided to return it.

“Better late than never,” said Pratt CEO Carla Hayden. “We are so delighted that Mr. Wolfe took the time and effort to return the book even if it was 65 years late. In this case we have decided to waive the late fee because the smiles he has given us are worth more than the fines that would have accumulated. We thank Mr. Wolfe for his service to this country.”

The book is still in pristine condition, the library said, and has the original date due card in the back.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 3:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

I imagine a lot of folks are playing with new iPads, Kindles and other e-readers this week, getting familiar with a world of digital books, magazines and newspapers. I'm one of them.

A bright, shiny iPad was one of my presents this year, and I've enjoyed it as both a computer and reading device. Last week, while waiting for a relative at a doctor's office, I knocked off several P.G. Wodehouse stories as well as Poe's "Gold Bug." (I've also spent a few minutes here and there playing Angry Birds, but that's another story.)

As a journalist, much of my time is spent checking out newspapers and magazines, and I have to say that the iPad versions seem very first-generation. They're designed to be cleaner than the standard web versions, but are a little too bland for my taste. No doubt that will change quickly, as designers adapt to the technology.

The amount of free literature is truly stunning, and my digital bookshelf already include lots of Poe, Twain and Austen. (This could be the year I finally tackle "Pride and Prejudice"!) And the ease of downloading the text is remarkable. Still, the older works don't take advantage of the iPad's technology, unless you count being able to look at line drawings. To get the full effect, I'll need to actually BUY some books. I've resisted that because I get so many review copies. But maybe in 2011 ...

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

I'm back from a long Christmas weekend, which included watching part of the "Sound of Music," and in a twisted bit of karma, I find that Agathe von Trapp has died.

Agathe, the oldest daughter in the Austrian family that inspired the movie classic, lived in the Baltimore area for many years. She was 97.

Late in life, she wrote about her singing family in "Memories Before and After the Sound of Music: An Autobiography." Booklist called it a must-read for fans, adding that it was  "sugar-sweet but never saccharine"

p.s. If you're a fan of the movie and have never seen this flash mob performance of "Do Re Mi" in Antwerp's stunning train station, treat yourself today.

Here's more from the Booklist review: From the seasoned perspective of her eighty-nine years, Agathe, the eldest von Trapp family daughter paints a rose-hued portrait of life before and after the highly fictionalized Broadway and Hollywood account of her famous family’s story. Though diehard Sound of Music fans may be disappointed to learn that the von Trapps’ “escape” from Austria—they simply boarded a train to Italy—was much less dramatic than the memorable Technicolor climb over the mountains depicted in the movie, their hearts will still be blessed with the sound of music that resonates throughout the pages of this charming, family-friendly memoir.

Agathe dishes no dirt; in fact, her recollections of her beloved Mamá, Papá, stepmother, and fairy-tale-like childhood in Austria, are all refreshingly positive and upbeat. A gentle patriarch, unlike the strict disciplinarian portrayed in both the stage and film versions, Georg von Trapp, oversaw the musical education of all his children after the death of his first wife. After immigrating to the U.S. and embarking on their collective musical career as the Trapp Family Singers, the close-knit bonds forged in their Tyrolean childhoods never frayed. Though less fantastical, Agathe’s homespun recollections, illustrated with her own sketches and family photos, is a must-read for diehard Sound of Music fans. Sugar-sweet but never saccharine.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 2:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

This week for Freebie Friday, you have a chance to win, "The Lake of Dreams," a novel by Kim Edwards, who also wrote the best-seller, "The Memory Keeper's Daughter." Here's how she describes the new book: Set in the beautiful Finger Lakes area of upstate New York, this novel is the story of Lucy Jarrett and her discovery of a hidden past, glimpsed first through fragments of old letters and traces left in stained glass windows. Lucy’s quest through the artifacts of history brings her face to face with the dynamics she fled the summer after her father drowned; it compels her to make an inward journey, too, one that will alter her understanding of herself and change the course of her life.

As for last week's contest, Joann is the winner of Diane Rehm's memoir, "Life with Maxie." Congratulations to Joann, who said her favorite animal-themed book is "Watership Down" by Richard Adams, and noted that Sawyer (her dog? cat? rabbit?) votes for it too. As soon as I get back from a short Christmas bereak, I'll send it out.

For a chance to win "The Lake of Dreams," leave a comment answering this question: What is your reading resolution for 2011?

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 7:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: Freebie Friday
        

I hope folks have a nice Christmas Eve this year, and I also hope Santa is very good to you this year. I'll be working most of the day, making sure your holiday Baltimore Sun is sparkling and up-to-date.

But I do hope to get out in time for some celebratory egg nog, and maybe a reading of Clement Clarke Moore's classic, "The NIght Before Christmas." The poem, written in the early 19th Century, has defined much of the imagery surrounding St. Nick. (And, of course it also has triggered an authorship controversy -- this is America, after all.)

More likely, the evening will involve wrapping presents in front of a holiday classic such as "Scrooged" or "A Christmas Story."

But if you love the classics, it doesn't get any better than this:

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap, When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Judging by the "True Grit" trailer, the do-over will have even more of a dark, gritty feeling that the John Wayne original.

The Coen brothers' movie is an adaptaion of the acclaimed 1968 novel by Charles Portis. He's been compared to Mark Twain for the distinctive, American voice that he brings to the book. His other works include "The Dog of the South," "Gringos" and "Norwood."

In "True Grit," lawman Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn echoes other Sam Spade and other tough, hard-drinking, cynical heros. And young heroine Mattie Ross may be one of the most engaging, rough-hewn youngsters since Addie Loggins in Paper Moon.

The new adaptation is scheduled for a Dec 22 release, and though it's not your typical holiday fare, it looks like a winner.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 3:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Filmmakers are shooting "The Raven," a new movie about Baltimore's most celebrated author, Edgar Allan Poe, but don't expect to see star John Cusack wandering around the city. To cut costs, the movie is being filmed in Europe, notable Belgrade and Budapest. Nothing at Baltimore's Poe House, the neighborhood where he died, or his gravesite? Heresy!

Baltimore Sun reporters Mary Carole McCauley and Michael Sragow note that the fictionalized movie, scheduled for a 2011 release, is set during the last five days of Poe's life — a period when he disappeared before turning up dazed and incoherent. He died shortly thereafter.

The film begins with Poe's return to Baltimore for the second and final time, according to the Sun article. A serial killer is terrorizing the local citizens, and it is apparent that he is being inspired by Poe's stories. Initially, the novelist is a suspect. After he clears his name — and after his fiancee is kidnapped — the author works with a Baltimore police inspector to solve the crimes.

The circumstances surrounding Poe's death in Baltimore have always been unclear. He died Oct. 7, 1849, at Church Hospital, a building that has been converted to housing for the Washington Hill neighborhood. Here's how the Sun wrote about the event: DEATH OF EDGAR A. POE -- We regret to learn that Edgar A. Poe, Esq., the distinguished American poet, scholar and critic, died in this city yesterday morning, after an illness of four or five days. This announcement, coming so sudden and unexpected, will cause poignant regret among all who admire genius, and have sympathies for the frailties too often attending it. Mr. Poe, we believe, was a native of this state, though reared by a foster father at Richmond, Va., where he lately spent some time on a visit. He was in the 38th year of his age.

For more Read Street postings, including those marking the 200th anniversary of his birth, check out our Edgar Allan Poe section.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Edgar Allan Poe
        

This week for Freebie Friday, you can win "Life with Maxie," by NPR talk show host Diane Rehm.

It's a heart-warming look at Rehm's life, through the story of Maxie, her long-haired Chihuahua. And the compact size makes it suitable as a gift or stocking-stuffer.

For a chance to win the book, leave a comment answering this question: What is your favorite book about an animal? I think I'd pick "Seabiscuit" by Laura Hillenbrand.

Meanwhile, congratulations to Cowgirl, who wins Sarah Palin's "America by Heart." She said she reads politcians' biographies "to learn more about the person, how they become successful. If they have an interesting story, it doesn't matter if I agree with their politics."

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Freebie Friday
        

This is not our usual Friday adaptation post, but I wanted to check out some movie reviews for Tron: Legacy because the  franchise has spawned so many print spinoffs. Among them, "Tron" by Brian Daley (1982), "The Art of Tron" by Michael Bonifer, "Tron: Betrayal" by Jai Nitz, and the Legacy series. So here are some excerpts from reviews:

New York Times -- There’s more than a touch of Zeus in Kevin’s white beard and Olympian digs, but, much like Icarus, no one in “Tron: Legacy” gets to soar too high.

Roger Ebert -- Since the Tron universe exists entirely within chips, don't bother yourself about where the physical body of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) has been for the last two decades; it must surely have been somewhere, because we can see that it has aged. ... Joseph Kosinski's "Tron: Legacy" steps nimbly over such obstacles and hits the ground running, in a 3-D sound-and light show that plays to the eyes and ears more than the mind.

Time -- Tron: Legacy ... activated my couch potato impulses. I wanted to loll in my chair enjoying its dark cinematography, punctuated by aesthetically appealing neon, while Daft Punk's strangely soothing electronica washed over me. The movie is like visiting Satan's spa.

Tribune -- This is one of those big-budget projects destined to split audiences (a good thing, always). ... "TRON: Legacy" comes to life when Sam, played by a too-cool-for-school Garrett Hedlund, learns the ways of the Lightcycles and the perilous joys of racing on "ribbons of light." Here, we get the sweep and simple excitement we need. Elsewhere, we get exposition more sluggish than the stuff we had to wade through in the second and third "Matrix" movies, and a strained, opaque brand of intellectual-property mythology that might mean tons to ardent fans of the first "Tron," but less to others.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Books to Movies
        

The Baltimore Sun is giving away one of Amazon's portable e-book readers to one reader, chosen at random, who signs up for its business text alerts. But hurry -- the contest ends at noon Dec. 17 (that's tomorrow).

People can opt in by texting BUSINESS to 70701 get breaking business news (no more than two messages per day!) sent to their mobile device. The messages include mobile-friendly links to stories on mobile.baltimoresun.com.

Already signed up for business text alerts? Don't worry, you're automatically registered for the contest. For complete contest rules, go to /kindlerules.

Posted by Carla Correa at 12:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Bob Feller, the Iowa farmboy who became a hard-throwing pitching legend for the Cleveland Indians, has died at age 92.

Feller captured America's attention because he came right out of high schoo and confounded major leaguers, striking out 17 Athletics in 1936. He missed nearly four full seasons in his prime to fight in World War II, but still managed to win 266 games in 18 seasons — all with the Indians KNown as "Rabid Robert," he had 2,581 strikeouts, and pitched three no-hitters.

As we head into winter, it's a great time to pick up one of Feller's books to remind ourselves of warmer times. If you're not a Feller fan, I'd recommend a couple of other recent bios about baseball icons: "Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy" by Jane Leavy and "Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend" by James S. Hirsch.

R.I.P. Rapid Robert.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

I'd hate to play poker with Tom Clancy, who, based on his penthouse spending spree, seems to be an "all-in" type of guy.

The Baltimore Sun's Jamie Smith Hopkins reported today that the novelist has increased the size of his home at the Ritz-Carlton Residences in Baltimore -- from three penthouse condos to six. He bought the additional properties this fall for almost $2.2 million, a fraction of what he paid per square foot just last year. That increases his square footage from about 12,000 to just over 17,000.

Just how big is that? Jamie provided some interesting comparisons in her story and post on the Real Estate Wonk blog: It's equivalent of seven average-sized new U.S. houses. And it's big enough to hold a fire station with 12 trucks, an arena-league football field or a Las Vegas nightclub.

Based on my high school math skills, he would need 42,700 copies of his latest thriller, "Dead or Alive," to cover the floor of his manse.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The Golden Globe nominations for 2011 were released today, and they feature a number of literary adaptations, including "Alice in Wonderland."

"The King's Speech" led all contenders with seven nominations, including best drama. Its the story of speech therapist Lionel Logue, who helped the tongue-tied Duke of York overcome his problems and become kingly material. To continue our seasonal festivities, I'll give away a copy of the book by Mark Logue and Peter Conradi. For a chance to win, just leave a comment about your favorite to win best motion picture, drama, category: Black Swan, The Fighter, Inception, The King's Speech or The Social Network.

Other bookish nominees include the HBO series "Boardwalk Empire," which was adapted from Nelson Johnson's book of the same name. It's up for best TV series, drama.

Nominees in the category for best TV movie or mini-series include "The Pacific," which drew from Eugene Sledge's memoir "With the Old Breed" and Robert Leckie's "Helmet for My Pillow." Nominee "Temple Grandin," drew from the memoir "Thinking in Pictures."

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Here's some helpful reading for the N.Y. Jets coach who tripped a Miami Dolphins player in yesterday's game. (As a long-time Jets fan, I hate to see the team sullied by an incident reminiscent of Woody Hayes.) "I made a mistake that showed a total lapse in judgment," strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi said in a statement. Well, while he repents, maybe he can read a few pages in "Liam Wins the Game, Sometimes: A Story About Losing With Grace" by Jane Whelen Banks or "Winning Isn't Everything!" by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos. A book report would be nice, too.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 4:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Gary Shteygart's "Super Sad True Love Story" has been on many lists of the best books of 2010, including this one from Michiko Kakutani of the New York Times. And I would rate it at the top of the list for my reads this year. So I felt secure recommending it for my book club, and was sure that folks would love his quirky sense of humor. (No better example than this hilarious promotional video.)

Wrong.

When we met last night at Marie Louise Bistro, I discovered that several club members had stopped reading half-way through the book. "I got his point by then so I stopped," said one. Others, expecting a straightforward novel, were put off by the semi-scifi nature of his writing. My wife never finished either, though she never gave a reason other than: "I couldn't get into it."

I don't know how often this happens in book clubs, and I realize that I haven't finished some books that other members have loved. (But they weren't as good as this one.) Oh well, at least we had a nice dinner of coq au vin and other bistro food.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 3:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Good news from Washington on the sale of  Politics and Prose, the venerable indepedent bookstore.

The Washington Post reports today that six serious bidders have emerged from the more than 50 offers made on the store. Among them, the Post says, "is a local consortium of investors that includes outgoing editor of the New Republic Franklin Foer; XM Satellite radio founder Hugh Panero; Jeffrey Goldberg, a national correspondent for the Atlantic; and Rafe Sagalyn, a literary agent."

The Connecticut Avenue store has used its location in the nation's capital -- and its loyal customer base -- to attract A-list authors. Former President Jimmy Carter held a reading there last month, signing copies of "White House Diary."

Hey, it's the holiday season, so in honor of the store, I'm going to give away a copy of "White House Diary" today. Just leave a comment if you want a chance to win it.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

This week for Freebie Friday, you have a chance to win "America by Heart," the latest from Tea Party favorite and former GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

This might not be the most popular book in Maryland, which is among the bluest of states. But there's no doubting Palin's charisma, or her appeal across much of America. This book hasn't matched the huge sales of her first, "Going Rogue," but it's high on best-seller lists. Even if you don't like her brand of politics, you've got to be curious about her personally. (And hey, if you have a true-blue Dem in your life, this would be the perfect gag gift for a Christmas grab-bag.)

For a chance to win "America by Heart," leave a comment about what you're reading, and answer this question: When you read biographies or other books about politics, are they always from the party or point of view you identfy with? Or do you read about those people you might not vote for?

By the way, congratulations to Eve, the winner of last week's Freebie Friday giveaway: "As Always, Julia," a collection of letters between Julia Child and her literary agent.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)
        

This week's book-to-movie adaptation is "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader," which is based on the series by C.S. Lewis. Lucy, Edmund and Eustace are magically pulled into a painting of a ship, and wind up on the Dawn Treader, whose captain, the King of Narnia, is searching for seven lost lords. Judging from the reviews, this is the Sarah Palin of movies: You love it or hate it. Here are some review excerpts:

Washington Post -- It's great to be back in Narnia. ... [I]t isn't every kid's movie that wrestles with the subject of faith in a higher power, or sin, or the afterlife. And it isn't every kid's film that can do it so entertainingly. Sure, that's heavy stuff if you're looking for it. But it doesn't spoil the great, great fun to be had in Narnia - or the magical spell it casts - if you're not.

Los Angeles Times -- Oh, there are sword fights aplenty (as bloodless as ever), but instead of a real story, we are left clinging to individual moments. There are funny ones — the one-footed dwarfs (big foot, tiny bodies, lots of hopping); poignant ones — the magic dragon desperate to undo the spell; sort of scary ones — a ghastly sea serpent whose belly is the beast; and flat ones (too many to mention).

Roger Ebert -- The characters have characteristics rather than personalities, and little self-consciousness. They spring to the service of the plot, which, not particularly coherent, boils down to one damn thing after another. Still, this is a rip-snorting adventure fantasy for families, especially the younger members who are not insistent on continuity.

Time -- The film is not objectionable, just perfunctory — a decorous succession of adventure clichés with a cast of performers who should seek treatment for charisma deficiency. Dawn Treader, the name of the ship in the story, should here be rechristened Yawn Treader.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Books to Movies
        

What better way to ring in the holidays -- a time for peace on Earth -- than a vicious contest that pits Baltimore Raven Ray Lewis, Olympic champion Michael Phelps and author Anne Tyler, among others? That's the aim of Celebrity Smackdown, an annual contest that determines the most popular local celebrity in Baltimore.

Besides Tyler, the local celeb list includes authors such as David Simon ("Homicide" and "The Corner") and Laura Lippman ("I’d Know You Anywhere" and the Tess Monaghan novels).

Many of the other celebs, including Phelps, Olympic skater Dorothy Hamill and movie director John Waters, have written books, but they fall short of being an author with a capital "A".

So if you're a book-lover, make sure to vote -- and ensure that Baltimore is known for more than athletes. Consider each bookish vote a victory for the English majors who were terrorized by jocks in school.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Elizabeth Edwards' five-year battle with cancer has ended; she died today, her family said. As we noted yesterday, Edwards, 61, used her prominence to craft two touching books about her battle: 2010 book, "Resilience: Reflections on the Burdens and Gifts of Facing Life's Adversities" (2010) and "Saving Graces: Finding Solace and Strength from Friends and Strangers" (2007). She did it all while coping with an affair by her politician husband, John. She'll be missed.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 5:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Oprah's latest book club pick, which reaches waaaay back to Charles Dickens, may bring a new audience to his works.

Oprah billed the choice as "A Date with Dickens" in picking both "At Tale of Two Cities" and "Great Expectations." In announcing the choice -- #65 for her club -- she said she was going "old school." And she had a confession for her audience: "Normally I only choose books that I have read, but I must shamefully admit to you all that I have never read Dickens." (I'd like to have a chat with her high school English teachers!)

Penguin has combined the two books into a single paperback for Oprah's book club. But you can also get the books online for free at various websites, including iBooks and literaturepage.com. No less a talent than Jonathan Franzen, who was appearing on her show, praised her choice, calling TOTC "a "total page-turner." I don't think I'll have the time to knock out "Great Expectations" (I've read TOTC) this holiday season. But I can see re-reading another Dickens classic, "A Christmas Carol," as a treat.

Oprah also made a broad pitch for reading. She said, "Books do matter. We're still going to be holding books in our hands for years to come."

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 4:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Reports from North Carolina say that Elizabeth Edwards may have only weeks to live before succumbing to cancer -- a chilling outlook for a courageous woman who has had to confront her husband's philandering as well as disease.

Edwards, the wife of former Democratic presidential candidate John, resisted the temptation to complain about her problems. In her 2010 book, "Resilience: Reflections on the Burdens and Gifts of Facing Life's Adversities," she frankly explored the challenges she faced. It followed another well-received book, "Saving Graces: Finding Solace and Strength from Friends and Strangers" (2007).

Such books can be inspirational -- just recall "Tuesdays with Morrie" and "The Last Lecture." A book with a more satisfying ending was "It's Not about the Bike," which detailed Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong's fight against cancer. Such books are wildly popular not because they offer us the hope of beating a horrid disease, but because they offer us a chance to glimpse real bravery in those who have confronted death in a dignified way.

Add Elizabeth Edwards to that list.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 7:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Sad news to hear that Don Meredith, the former Dallas Cowboys quaterback and one of the early stars of the Monday Night Football franchise, has died at age 72.

To anyone who grew up watching football in the '60s and beyond, Meredith was a somewhat tragic figure. He brought the Cowboys to prominence, but could never quite get them to the top -- that lofty spot was guarded by the Packers. Still, "Dandy Don" was admired for his love of life. He also was a good foil for his successor as Cowboys quarterback, the straight-laced U.S. Naval Academy grad Roger Staubach, who would lead the team to Super Bowl championships. After retiring from the game, Meredith was a familiar face as part of the MNF team. He's shown here flanked by Howard Cosell and Frank Gifford.

To read more about Meredith, try these books:

-- America's Team: The Authorized History of the Dallas Cowboys by Jeff Sullivan

-- The Dallas Cowboys: 50 Years of Football by the editors of Sports Illustrated

-- Cowboys Chronicles: A Complete History of the Dallas Cowboys by Marty Strasen

-- Cowboys Have Always Been My Heroes: The Definitive Oral History of America's Team by Peter Golenbock

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 1:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Google ebooks launched today, and the search giant's long-awaited entry into the world of digital books holds the promise of freeing us from the tyranny of proprietary devices. As is fitting for the company that wants to gobble up the online world, its eBookstore is huge -- with more than three million offerings stored in the digital cloud.

Amazon's Kindle dominates the e-reader market, but competition has intensified thanks to Barnes & Noble's Nook, Apple's iPad and other devices. But moving a digital book from one device to another was a problem.

Google wants to open up a broader market by promising to sell fully portable e-books that can be used on your phone, laptop, tablet and desktop, as this cute animation shows. Google says you can read its offerings on any browser with JavaScript, on Android and iPhone smartphones, and on dozens of other devices, including the Nook and Sony Readers.

One gaping hole is the Kindle, and Google notes wistfully, "Currently, Google eBooks are not compatible with Amazon Kindle devices, though we are open to supporting them in the future." (The Kindle has made its own play for transferability, with apps that can be used on an iPad, BlackBerry and other devices.)

For the moment, even digital freedom has its limits.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

I joined the iPad generation yesterday, and spent way too much time last night fooling around with it. (Even to the point of ignoring much of the live action in the Ravens/Steelers game.)

I watched a LOT of videos (would we even need the iPad if YouTube didn't exist?). I listened to some music -- Michael Buble was the lead-off hitter. And I started filling out my bookshelf on iBooks.

I haven't bought any books yet -- it's had to justify with all the review copies I get. I'm going to save my nickels for books that take advantage of multi-media approaches to story-telling, or for magazines that Virgin and others are developing for the iPad. If you have recommendations, let me know. (Here's a cool sampling of the first cover for Virgin's "Project," from crunchgear.)

I did download a fair number of free classics, including "Pride and Prejudice" -- I have yet to read it, but promised my erstwhile blogging partner Nancy I would. It was very nice to see a long list of freebies by P.G. Wodehouse, one of my favorites. It was like going to a new reataurant and seeing a favorite dish on the menu.

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

Congratulations to Kathy, a fellow Francophile and blogger, who won last week's Freebie Friday giveaway of Laura Hillenbrand's "Unbroken."

This week you have a chance to win "As Always, Julia," a fascinating collection of inter-continental letters between Julia Child and Avis DeVoto, her friend and unofficial literary agent.

The book builds on the Child-mania triggered by the book and movie Julie & Julia. The letters touch on many topics, including politics (McCarthyism) and travel, but the most interesting -- of course -- provide insight into Child's budding cookbook career and her time in the kitchen. I was drawn in by the letters even though I'm no cook -- on Thanksgiving, I ruined an old family recipe by using two tablespoons of salt instead of sugar. (You'd think that someone would have invented a dark red or deep blue salt by now, so innocents like me would be able to avoid these mistakes.) I was also struck by the length of their letters. In this era of bite-sized emails, texts and tweets, it's easy to forget how rewarding it once was to receive a thoughtful, well-written, multi-page letter.

For chance to win, leave a comment about what you're reading and answer this question: What was the best book you read in 2010?

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 2:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: Freebie Friday
        

Today through Sunday, you have a chance to pick up bookish bargains at the Enoch Pratt library's annual book sale. The event, held at the central branch at 400 Cathedral St., offers tens of thousands of new and used books, CDs, DVDs, magazines, photographs and more.

“Every year, a long line of patrons wrap around the Central Library excited to run through the doors and dive into the book sale,” Dr. Carla Hayden, the library's CEO, said in a statement. “It’s a great deal and the best price anywhere for shoppers on a tight budget this holiday season.”

Here's a partial price list for eager shoppers: hardbacks, $1; paperbacks, 50 cents; music/CDs, $2; DVDs, $2; magazines, 25 cents; records (single disc), $1.

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

This week's book-to-movie adaptation, "I Love You Phillip Morris," is receiving great reviews -- especially for the performance of its star, Jim Carrey. The movie -- and book by Steve McVicker -- tell the true story of con man Steven Russell, who used his considerable intellect and chutzpah to break out of the Texas prison system four times. (The title refers to his love for a fellow convict, played in the movie by Ewan McGregor.) Some excerpts from reviews:

Rolling Stone -- OK, the movie, written and directed by John Requa and Glen Ficara of Bad Santa fame, is all over the place. But it's also outrageously funny.

Entertainment Weekly -- [ILYPM] pulls off ingenious schemes of its own: It dramatizes a highly unusual relationship — that's an understatement — between two men in which homosexual love and sex, ardently enacted on screen in a finely tuned tour-de-force interplay between two movie stars, is just another piece of the story. And it sustains a tone of compassionate hilarity in which oversize romantic gestures coexist with gigantic scams.

Village Voice -- [I]n ILYPM, Carrey finds the perfect outlet for his manic energy: Id and libido are fused, with Steven driven by actual lust and the unwavering—and completely believable—determination to provide for his fragile boyfriend.

Associated Press -- Jim Carrey gets to show off the best of what he can do in "I Love You Phillip Morris," both the physical comedy he made his name on and the unexpected tenderness that has crept into his later, more dramatic work.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 8:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Books to Movies
        

Now that Russia and Qatar have been named to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, we get a better sense of the worldwide appeal of the sport. The fact that officials bestowed the honor on Qatar -- a country with little soccer success, little soccer infrastructure and a footprint smaller than my home state of Connecticut -- illustrates the sport's huge economic promise. The once-every-four-years tournament can cause stadiums and hotels to blossom, and fans to flock to an obscure nation.

To read more about soccer's global appeal, here are a few interesting books that you might consider:

-- Soccernomics: Why England Loses, Why Germany and Brazil Win, and Why the U.S., Japan, Australia, Turkey--and Even Iraq--Are Destined to Become the Kings of the World's Most Popular Sport, by Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski

-- The Ball is Round: A Global History of Soccer by David Goldblatt.

-- How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization by Franklin Foer

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Sundown marks the beginning of Hanukkah, or Chanukah, depending on the way you translate the Hebrew. (Potato, potahto; tomato, tomahto.)

The holiday commemorates a miracle of Biblical proportions -- when the Maccabees overthrew the Syrians, restored the Temple in Jerusalem and saw a one-day supply of oil last for eight days. That's why the holiday features a candle-filled menorah and foods fried in oil -- mainly jelly donuts and potato pancakes.

The holiday doesn't carry the religious heft of Yom Kippur or Rosh Hashanah, but in America it has gained prominence because it generally falls around Christmas time, as this NPR story notes. Little by little, gift-giving has become a staple of the holiday, though eight nights of presents is a bit of overkill. In our house, nightly gifts tended to to be simple, such as candy or band-aids.

So have a donut and, as Adam Sandler said, enjoy Eight Crazy Nights.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 12:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

Chanukah starts tonight and of course, the Christmas shopping frenzy has been bubbling for weeks. So what better time to start our bookish holiday gift guides? Today, New York writer Gail Farrelly  offers suggestions in a guest post -- if you've seen any other great gifts, let us know. Here's Gail:

If you're like me, you may enjoy shopping online. Relatively easy and stress free. But most of all, it's fun. Here are a few "bookish" gift suggestions from my online browsing.

A librarian in your life may like to have a Shhhh! T-Shirt. If that doesn't appeal, take a look at some of the other gifts available at The New York Public Library Shop. For example, there's The Library Lion ornament. And the Doodlebag is really cute for a toddler who is artistic or a writer-in-training, just as long as the budding genius knows enough not to eat, and choke on, the chalk, crayons, and other small parts of the gift.

Any bookish curmudgeons on your list? Have I got the gift for them: A "Go to Hell, I'm Reading" T-shirt available from Murder by the Book in Houston. See the above link for other T-shirts too, in addition to totes and mugs. Call in or email your orders.

If you have a soldier in the family, check out the recently released anthology, Murder to Mil-Spec, edited by Tony Burton of Wolfmont Press. It's a collection of a dozen military-related fiction crime stories. It's created quite a buzz at mystery websites. Sales of the book benefit the wonderful charity, Homes for our Troops. The book also comes in a Kindle version.

A mystery lover might like a subscription to The Strand Mystery Magazine. It's a wonderful magazine with short stories, interviews, book reviews, and other mystery features. I always buy this for my sister who passes the issues along to me after she's read them. A twofer, now that's the holiday sprit! On The Strand website, there are numerous other mystery-related gifts as well. For example, Sherlock Holmes umbrellas and key chains.

The New York Transit Museum Store has some terrific gifts, especially for native New Yorkers. I grew up in the Bronx, as did many of my friends, so this website is a real treasure trove for us. There's a vast choice of transit memorabilia: posters, shirts, stationery, etc.. You name it, they got it.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 5:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)