Square Pegs

By my count, a lot of books with direct or peripheral connections to the upcoming presidential election will be released this year (I’d give an accurate count, but, well, I’m still too lazy). There are going to be a lot of partisan tomes and quite a few well-researched items. And I’m pretty sure that Bob Woodward will fall into the latter group — as he has for decades. Making this denial from the White House all the more interesting. It’s not like Woodward suffers from Jayson Blair Syndrome, right? As an avid political news junkie (what else can you do […]

As an enthusiastic fan of The Young Sherlock Holmes (did that kid ever act in anything else), I can’t help but think stories about the young James Bond have great potential. Or maybe I’m just a cheap date. It’s really hard to tell sometimes. Hmmm, reading the story closer makes me worry a little: no martinis. Must be some of that politically correct garbage. Still, it’s a concept I can support until I can’t support it any longer. Bond is back – as a teenage agent

Is your bookclub on top of the latest trends (if only…mine spends its time trying to find ways to avoid the inevitable reading of The Nicomachean Ethics; yeah, there’s a title that’ll keep me up past my bedtime)? I’m sure Reading Group Choices isn’t the only resource for bookclubs (or people who want to pretend they’re in one), but, hey, it’s living proof if the neverending power of The DaVinci Code. On a side note, I think the discussion questions are a nice touch — alas, by the time my group gets around to discussing the book, we’ve already had

It is my never humble opinion that if a whole genre of books about young men trying to figure out their place in the world…wait, isn’t that pretty much all we’ve been exposed to for centuries? Well, now the women have struck back with mixed results. Sure, if I never read about another New York editorial assistant with a tyrant boss again it will be too soon, but I do so love books that (unlike some current trends in romance) assume a woman has a) problems, b) a weird relationship with food and/or her mother, and c) a hard time

It turns out that I’m the only special interest group out there without her (his, whatever) own book expo. That’s okay; I’m pretty lazy and I’m sure setting up all those booths and cocktail parties is a lot of effort. But, clearly, the thought of hard work doesn’t faze the organizers of the second annual Pink Ink: The Queer Book Expo. To be held June 12 at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center in New York. Hey, look at this: turns out there’s such a thing as Lesbian pulp fiction. I really need to get out more. PINK

Bob Woodward, noted journalist and author, will appear on 60 Minutes this Sunday, April 18. Promoting his new book (yeah, I know it’s a serious news program; call me a cynic) Plan of Attack, he’ll be answering hard hitting questions about the Bush Administration’s build up the Iraq War. I know they’re hard hitting because they’re posted on the CBS News website. I’m sure they’ll mention it during the broadcast, but Woodward’s publisher, Simon & Schuster is a division of Viacom, as is CBS. Journalist Shares War Secrets

There are some who refuse to start any of the books from Neal Stephenson’s Baroque Trilogy until all three are released. Because I know who you are, I find myself perplexed — these books are 800 pages long. Trust me, the book will be out before you finish Quicksilver. Anyway, Book 2, or, if you prefer proper names The Confusion, hits stores this week. Another aggressively thick book from an author who has finally figured out that the way to solve his ending problem is to…well, just keep going. For you SoCal dwellers, Neal will be doing a “solo appearance”

I’m pretty sure it’s a fluke, but, on at least one list, The DaVinci Code has been edged out by another title (never fear Dan Brown fans, your work has not been in vain — he still has two books in the top five). Glorious Appearing from the “Left Behind” series has overtaken the top spot on the Publisher’s Weekly charts, and it’s moving up fast on the BookSense list. I guess this is what happens when everyone in the world already has a copy of DaVinci. And what would a bestseller be without a little controversy? Like its predecessor

Culture. Academics. Playboy. Yeah, I put them together in sentences all the time. But Rush & Malloy are quoting Hugh Hefner (who is, apparently, still alive) about an upcoming book titled Mr. Playboy: Hugh Hefner and the Fantasy Life of America. Seriously, it sounds like it’s going to have words and stuff. Oh wait…I worry for nothing. Hugh still plans to write his memoirs. Can he beat Barbara Walters on the interesting scale? My feeling is if you’ve read about one blonde and siliconed chick, you’ve read about them all. In other news, it turns out the premiere party for

Usually this sort of media flurry means someone has a new book coming out. Lo and behold, she does (Can You Keep A Secret?). And it turns out that our intrepid author has kept more than a few herself. Sophie isn’t her real first name, Kinsella isn’t her real last name (the shock, the horror!). And she doesn’t know where Ohio is — while this unfortunate incident has presumably been rectified, I can say with confidence that I don’t know either. And not to suggest a certain lack of creativity among headlines writers, but: Secrets of a chick-lit queen Confessions