Dave Callanan is a full-contact reader. A quick glance at him immersed in a book will always reveal the title's genre. He grins broadly with comedies, furrows his brow at dramas, and nervously bites his lip during thrillers. It's no surprise that even on a crowded bus, the seat next to Dave is rarely taken.
Senior Books Editor and Omnivoracious stalwart Tom Nissley was a guest on FOX Business News this morning to discuss red vs. blue books, candidate titles, and our 2008 Election Store. We're incredibly proud of Tom's performance, but more than a bit nervous that we may soon lose him to his own network TV gig.
Check out the video here or by clicking the image below.
 |
Way to go, Tom!
 |
Proving that the highway to fire and brimstone is cobbled with good intentions, the gap between my intent to blog and actual frequency of blogging has grown larger in recent weeks. My reasons are plenty, but each can be distilled down to petulant whining about my schedule. I know I need to blog more, but where do I find the time?
Today's mail delivery may have provided a solution. In a moment of pure serendipity, I cracked open my first package to find a copy of The Experts' Guide to Doing Things Faster: 100 Ways to Make Life More Efficient. Now we're cooking!
While there isn't a specific chapter on blogging (perhaps a second edition is in order?), I thumbed through helpful wisdom on improving gas mileage, falling asleep, and dog training before I found my quarry: advice on achieving success. Seeing how "unsuccessful" best describes my current Omni state, I'm hopeful that the secret to stellar blogging is now mine. (Watch out, Nissley!)
Tip #1: Fuel Up With Passion
LET'S DO THIS, OMNIVORACIOUS READERS! (check)
Tip #2: Stay Focused
Moved a stack of books I'm dying to crack open this weekend to the floor and resisted the urge to make an afternoon coffee run. (check)
Tip #3: Eliminate Distractions
Asked my officemate, colleague and resident raconteur Brad Parsons to go for a stroll while I write this post. Unfortunately, this angered him, but it appears that he is refusing to speak to me. (check)
Tip #4: Don't Look Back
I'm no longer acknowledging fact that I once blogged about a monkey who got lost in an airport. (check)
Tip #5: Be Impatient
I'm not spell checking this post. Nor am I attempting to verify that it even makes sense. (check)
(OK...maybe I should have stopped at #4)
The jury may be out on the success of this post, but anyone looking to streamline their own life should give The Experts' Guide to Doing Things Faster a gander. I mean, where else can you find banking advice from Richard Branson alongside relationship wisdom from former Golden Girl Rue McClanahan? Answer: nowhere.
-Dave
|
Want to talk pressure? Try blogging about a world-renown composition guide cherished by millions. There's absolutely no margin for error, as the thin area between my palms and keyboard is sure to become humid while I second-guess the grammar and punctuation in this post.
(Aggh! Should there have been a comma after "humid?")
OK...maybe this was a bad idea.
Nerves may prevent me from providing an adequate review of the October 25 release of The Elements of Style: 50th Anniversary Edition, but I thankfully have a Plan B. Read what far braver souls have to say about Strunk and White's invaluable gift to writing. --Dave
“If you have any young friends who aspire to become writers, the second
greatest favor you can do them is to present them with copies of The Elements of Style. The first greatest, of course, is to shoot them now, while they’re happy.”
—Dorothy Parker
“For writers of all kinds and sizes the world begins and ends with Strunk and White’s The
Elements of Style. Only something to actually write about trumps the
list of what is required to put words together in some kind of coherent
way. I treasure its presence in my life and salute its fifty years of
glory and accomplishment.”
—Jim Lehrer
 |
The Amazon editors and writers you read on Omni every day aren't the only ones reading hungrily around here. One of our book buyers, Alex Carr, is back to provide a rundown of the recently released comic, Ghost World: Special Edition.
On Friday, August 29, Fantagraphics Books in Seattle celebrated the 10th anniversary publication of Daniel Clowes’ Ghost World by holding an exhibition of the artist’s work. Clowes was on hand to talk to fans, sign miscellany, and usher in the release of Fantatgraphics’ Ghost World: Special Edition.
The original, 80-page graphic novel is pure Clowes, and in an age of revisiting best-left-preserved stories and turning them into “special editions,” it’s hard not to feel squeamish lifting a juiced-up 230+-page hardcover. Would Enid and Rebecca, the oft-imitated (see also: Juno) and cynical-to-a-fault main characters accept such a retread? Clowes and Fantagraphics wisely dispel any fears with a cover graphic of Enid exclaiming “Look at us—we’re totally special!”
The main theme of two best friends growing up and apart as adulthood looms is left untouched, while the surrounding details bloom. Fantagraphics and Clowes have assembled seemingly every fringe supplemental involving the graphic novel ‘s journey from pencils to feature film, beginning with a new introduction by Clowes and a two-page Where Are They Now? piece that dishes up ambiguity on the ultimate fate of Enid and Rebecca. Original sketches, photo references, gags, throwaways, rarely-seen strips, jackets, rejected cover designs, original art with overlays, and more follow the story’s end.
What follows next is the 100+ page, Oscar-nominated screenplay by Clowes and Terry Zwigoff, complete with its own introduction, strip, annotations, and further esoterica. Watch for Clowes’ pen-and-ink rendition of Christina Ricci in the role of Enid before Thora Birch made it her own in the 2001 film (which also featured an early Scarlett Johansson as Rebecca).
Also on hand at the exhibition were a limited number of signed prints from page 79 of Ghost World, available for purchase. The exhibition runs through Oct. 7, 2008, but if you miss it, the special print can be viewed here. Taken out of context and enlarged, it reminds readers why the everyday glimpse into the lives of two coming-of-age characters has resonated for ten years, and why it will continue to haunt thanks to the very fine film and newly-released, special edition graphic novel.
- Alex Carr
 |
I have come to accept that I am lacking in many areas, but one deficiency that really salts my wound is a complete and utter inability to deliver a decent Christopher Walken impression.
Seriously - it's really bad.
And I know it.
Happily, my colleague Brad Thomas Parsons (who owns a spot-on Walken mimic himself) is aware of my plight and lent me a copy of the upcoming Christopher Walken: A to Z: The Man - The Movies - The Legend. While it doesn't provide voice lessons for perfecting your Vincenzo Coccotti or Max Zorin, it is an indispensable text for any Walken fan. The cover itself is worthy of placement on your mantle.
Not only does Christopher Walken: A to Z provide alphabetically-organized listings of his film and TV roles, but it also contains the famed author's sharp opinions on topics such as bungee jumping ("I mean, I look at someone bungee jumping and I think: 'There goes another [expletive deleted].'") and cooking ("I make a tremendous duck. You have to steam a duck first. I don't think many people do that."). There's even an entry for Walken's strange rallying cry of "Coleslaw for everyone!"
Much to the chagrin of those around me, Christopher Walken: A to Z will remain within arms-reach for the foreseeable future. After all, I have an impression to perfect.
- Dave
 |
 |
 |
 |
It all started so harmlessly...
A few weeks ago, Daphne suggested I stray from my nonfiction comfort zone and check out Pulp writer Charlie Huston. Crime thrillers have never been my cup o' tea, but I recently read (and loved) John Connolly's The Reapers, so I figured I'd give Huston a shot. She lent me a copy of Caught Stealing and that was that.
Or so I thought.
Less than a month later, I've come to the realization that I'm now a Charlie Huston addict. Not just because I've torn through the entire Hank Thompson trilogy (Caught Stealing, Six Bad Things, A Dangerous Man) AND the stand-alone The Shotgun Rule, but because of the crazed way I devoured each title.
The need to satisfy my Huston fix gave birth to duplicitous behavior, as I literally couldn't put these books down. Their action-packed narratives made it impossible to find a stopping point, as Huston refuses to ease off the gas until the final page has turned.
As a result, here's just a sampling of what I've resorted to over the past week alone thanks to Charlie Huston:
And I'm not even bringing up the planned-but-not-executed "I'm going for a jog" scheme.
Thankfully, I've broken this vicious cycle and am back on track with a fantastic bio on Roald Dahl, but that doesn't stop me from sneaking glances at the copy of Already Dead on my bookshelf.
Maybe just one chapter before calling it a night tonight?
*Sigh*
--Dave
 |
The Amazon editors and writers you read on Omni every day aren't the only ones reading hungrily around here. Today one of our book buyers, Alex Carr, sits in to give us a rundown on the recently released comic, The Umbrella Academy:
There’s a Secret Invasion going on in the comics industry, but it has nothing to do with Skrulls or multiple Earths. The once-quiet (and continuity-heavy) superhero genre is now overrun by celebrities. Buffy creator Joss Whedon recently finished a twenty-four issue stint on Astonishing X-Men, The O.C. and Grey’s Anatomy’s Alan Heinberg revamped Wonder Woman, and bestselling author Brad Meltzer recast The Justice League of America. With superhero film adaptations filling the seats at the superplex, comics aren’t quite as exclusive (or reclusive) anymore.
Gerard Way, the frontman for My Chemical Romance, is the latest entry in the name-in-lights trend of comic writers, as he’s recently published a six issue mini-series for Dark Horse Comics titled The Umbrella Academy.
(Cue massive eye rolling from comics fans)
However, celebrity be damned, Way does have some legit comic cred.
Comics guru and industry living legend Grant Morrison hailed The Umbrella Academy as “An ultraviolet psychedelic sherbet bomb of wit and ideas. The superheroes of the 21st century are here at last…” And then, of course, there are the covers by Eisner award-winning artist James Jean, whose work on Fables lends a monthly air of sophistication to comic racks. Not to mention that before My Chemical Romance, Way worked as an intern for DC Comics.
Way begins The Umbrella Academy by introducing us to a team of seven oddly super-powered children who battle against a berserk Eiffel Tower manned by a zombie-robot Gustave Eiffel. And it only gets weirder. Just as Way seems to carve a comfortable niche, the story jumps ahead 20 years, where the children—well, most of them—are now re-introduced as adults and have split apart.
As the narrative flashes between the adventures of the children and their reluctant world-saving adult counterparts, Way’s wit is matched by artwork from Gabriel Ba, whose artwork on the trippy spy thriller Casanova made him an easy choice for this series. Ba manages to make the unbelievable look unbelievably good: angry robots, psychotic orchestras, kid ninjas, chimpanzee butlers, etc. It has the potential for the bombastic, but the tight scripting and clean artwork (love those colors by Dave Stewart) allow for a few quiet beats as well, especially between team leader Spaceboy and The Rumor (who has possibly the coolest power yet: the power of suggestion).
By the collection’s end, Way has barely unraveled even a hint of the threads he has in place, but Dark Horse promises a second series will begin before the end of 2008. Here’s to hoping Gerard Way does quit his day job in favor of more issues for this dynamic new series.
--Alex Carr
 |
Forty years ago this month, Senator Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated after delivering a speech at the now-infamous Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. My own mother still winces at the memory of June 6, 1968, as the pain of "losing Bobby" still weighs heavy on her heart.
In The Last Campaign, New York Times® bestselling author Thurston Clarke tackles RFK’s historic bid for the 1968 Presidency with an engaging and thoughtful narrative that reveals the humanity of a candidate driven to heal the wounds of his troubled nation.
I caught up with Clarke over email this week to get his perspective on Kennedy’s legacy, motivation, and present-day impact on American politics.
Amazon.com: He was a Presidential candidate for less than 100 days - why does the name Bobby Kennedy continue to resonate today?
Clarke: The fact that he was the brother of a beloved and martyred president, and that he was also assassinated are of course important factors. But I think Bobby Kennedy continues to be relevant because he tackled issues such as race, poverty, and an ill-advised and unpopular war that remain relevant. And not only did he address these issues but he addressed them with an honesty and passion that no other president or politician has equaled since 1968.
In a bizarre P.T.Barnum-meets-D.B.Cooper advertising stunt, an Indonesian writer marked the release of his latest book by dumping 100 million rupiah (about $10,700) out of an airplane.
"I want to create a rain of money in Jakarta," author and motivational speaker Tung Desem Waringin said. "It's a little bit crazy, but it's marketing."
No word if this book tour will be expanded to more cities, but I'll be keeping my eye on the Seattle sky this week.
--Dave
|
I'll be pouring myself a vodka martini this evening in honor of the 100th birthday of author Ian Fleming. Best known as the creator of superspy James Bond, Fleming's work has spawned a multi-billion dollar industry in print and film that shows no sign of slowing down.
Yet it was nerves, not profits, that motivated the former British Intelligence officer to begin his debut novel in 1953.
"I was just on the edge of getting married, and I was frenzied at the prospect of this great step in my life after having being a bachelor for so long. I merely wanted to take my mind off the agony, so I decided to sit down and write a book."
The result of this anxious exercise was Casino Royale, and fifty-five years later, the world is still enthralled with 007. Although Fleming wrote only twelve novels before his death in 1964, the series has expanded to thirty-six titles (including the latest, Devil May Care, which hits bookshelves today) and twenty-two films that have made James Bond a cultural icon.
While many have speculated that Bond was a self-portrait, Fleming dismissed such talk with a laugh. "I certainly haven't got his guts," he told an interviewer in 1963, "nor his very lively appetite."
 |
I've never understood why the 1990's sketch comedy series, The State, lasted just two seasons on MTV. According to the good folks at Wikipedia, the show was never canceled, but an ill-advised move to another network doomed the comedic troupe. Still, if Reno 911 was made into a movie, The State certainly had more left in the tank. What gives?
*steps off soapbox*
My Custom Van hits bookshelves on July 15th.
--Dave
|
Pioneer. Felon. Genius. Con man. These titles (and many more) have been draped on the shoulders of legendary surf icon Miki Dora for decades. Yet very few ever got close enough to get a clear picture of who Dora really was. Hitting bookshelves today, David Rensin's All for a Few Perfect Waves offers a rare and engaging look at the life and times of an elusive figure known famously as "Da Cat." Armed with hundreds of interviews and meticulous research, Rensin tackles the man, the myth, and the legend of Miki Dora.
I recently chatted over email with Rensin about his pursuit of a man once dubbed "The Black Knight of Surfing."
Amazon.com: Miki has been compared to everyone from Jesus to James Dean. After reading All for a Few Perfect Waves, I found my own comparison:
he was the Tyler Durden of surfing. Akin to the Fight Club character, surfers
cannot always condone Dora’s antics, but we quietly support his pursuit for
point-break perfection. Do you agree?
Rensin: I agree. Miki, like Durden, was that sage of harsh
reality who made his own way, and the hell with the rest of you. Like Durden he
was not completely a loner, and was willing to bring along new initiates if
they attracted him with their own inner search. Often while writing the book, I
kept thinking about Fight Club and how the rule never to talk about Fight Club
was Miki’s rule for himself. Many of Durden’s aphorisms apply as well to Miki:
"The things you own end up owning you." "It’s only after we’ve
lost everything that we’re free to do anything." And my favorite,
"Fight Club exists only when Fight Club begins and when it ends." Or,
as Miki famously said: "When there’s surf I’m totally committed. When
there’s none, it doesn’t exist."
After a not-so-brief hiatus, we're back with author/newsmaker television appearances you might want to check out this week.
Tuesday, March 11th
The Martha Stewart Show
Michael Pollan, author of In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto and guest Omnivoracious blogger
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Grover Norquist, author of Leave Us Alone: Getting the Government's Hands Off Our Money, Our Guns, Our Lives
The Colbert Report
Geraldo Rivera, author of His Panic: Why Americans Fear Hispanics in the U.S.
Wednesday, March 12th
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Ronald Kessler, author of The Terrorist Watch: Inside the Desperate Race to Stop the Next Attack
The Colbert Report
Dr. Laura Schlessinger, author of Stop Whining, Start Living
Thursday, March 13th
The Colbert Report
Sudhir Venkatesh, author of Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets
--Dave
Tom's currently on vacation, so I'm taking a crack at Reviewing the Reviewers this week. But fear not: he will be back in Omnivoracious action before long.
--Dave
New York Times:
Washington Post:
Los Angeles Times:
New York Sun:
Globe & Mail:
Times Literary Supplement:
The New Yorker:
Mark Siegel, friend and advisor of the late Benazir Bhutto, discussed the last days and legacy of the former Pakistani prime minister on Wednesday's Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
Regarding her return to Pakistan last fall, Siegel asserted that Bhutto was neither afraid nor ignorant of the dangers she faced by coming out of exile.
"She knew about...the dangers. She also thought it was her responsibility to put Pakistan first [in order] to fight for democracy. It was that simple. Pakistan before her own personal happiness, before her kids, before her family. She hoped for the best, she prayed for the best, but she also planned for the worst."
For the entire interview, check out the clip here.
--Dave
While Tom revealed a thoughtful wisdom behind his rationale for multiple memoirs, I can only offer up a simple excuse: I talk too much.
Here are my contributions to Not Quite What I Was Planning:
How'd I get here?
Simple mind, simple pleasures, complex path
Homage to fatherhood
Landed a dream job: Ben's Dad
Why I love the written word
Can't believe I just said that
As an Irish-American
I think I'm a walking stereotype
(or "They're always after me Lucky Charms")
--Dave
Earlier today, talk show host and FOB (Friend of Books) Oprah Winfrey announced that Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose is her latest Oprah’s Book Club® pick. A #1 New York Times bestseller, A New Earth
is a life-affirming look at how to achieve peace and purpose in your everyday life. "Being able to share this material with you is a gift and a part of the fulfillment of my life’s purpose,” she told her Oprah audience on Wednesday. "It was an awakening for me that I want for you, too."
Most notably, her enthusiasm has also spawned a new endeavor, as she and Tolle will host a weekly A New Earth online discussion with readers starting March 3. Comprising ten sessions corresponding with each of the book's ten chapters, this free interactive classroom is a first for Oprah's Book Club® and a new way for members to connect.
To pre-register for the class, log on to www.oprah.com/anewearth.
|
As we remember the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today, it's comforting to know that his legacy has been preserved for future generations thanks to the thousands of incredible books on his life and dream of equality. Like many Americans, I first learned about Dr. King thanks to grade school curriculum, but don't believe I was properly introduced to this great leader until I read Let the Trumpet Sound by Stephen B. Oates. In my opinion, few titles better capture the anguish, fortitude, and significance of the Civil Rights movement in our country's history. Oates masterfully describes Dr. King as a very real and very driven leader who is guided by an unshakable belief in liberty, justice, and the notion of a world in which "little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers." Simply put, it is a timeless read that reminds us that even a single voice of change can alter the course of history.
--Dave
Here's what we'll be reading this Saturday and Sunday in Seattle:
Tom
Memo to the President Elect by Madeleine Albright
Release Date: January 8, 2008
We're going to be interviewing her for an Amazon Wire podcast in a couple of weeks.
BTP
The River Cottage Cookbook by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
Release Date: May 2008
HFW's River Cottage Meat Book was my favorite cookbook of the year and I just received a galley of the US version of his 2001 River Cottage Cookbook, coming this spring. There's as much quality reading as there is cooking with his books--I hope to do a little of both this weekend.
Anne
Libra
by Don DeLillo
Customer Rating: 4 stars out of 5 (1 review)
I was talking to a friend (and huge DeLillo fan) about the musical "Assassins" recently. We ended up on the topic of Oswald and JFK and before I knew it, Libra was tucked away in my bag, with the claim that it’s far and away DeLillo’s best. So far, so good.
Dave
Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman by Yvon Chouinard
Customer Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (45 reviews)
I'm a big fan of how Patagonia is run, as founder Yvon Chouinard stayed true to his beliefs while building a global brand.
Lauren
Borkmann's Point: An Inspector Van Veeteren Mystery by Hakan Nesser
Customer Rating: 4 stars out of 5 (15 reviews)
It's a mystery worth recommending.
Mari
In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan
Release Date: January 1, 2008
Daphne
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
Release Date: May 6, 2008
The publisher is calling this “Meyer’s first novel for adults,” which is a little weird, considering that I’m an adult and I devoured her Twilight series (did anyone else find Eclipse terribly disappointing?). Aaaaanyway, I’m looking forward to it.
Anyone familiar with author A.J. Jacobs knows that the guy doesn't do anything half-speed. He documented his quest to read all 44 million words of the Encyclopedia Britannica with The Know-It-All, and recently spent a full year living in strict accordance with Biblical teachings for his latest work, The Year of Living Biblically.
I caught up with A.J. for an Amazon Wire Podcast to chat about religion, spirituality, and what he keeps under his sink at home. (Hint: it isn't Drain-O) Read excerpts from our conversation below or click here to listen to the entire interview.
Amazon.com: Did this project change your perspective on religion and spirituality?
Jacobs: It did. It's interesting because I expected to get a good amount of rebuking, but I think that people saw that I went in there with an open mind, just trying to understand the Bible and religion.
I grew up in a very secular home with no religion at all, so I was starting from zero. I found there were things about religion that I really loved; things like the sense of gratefulness that it brings. The Bible talks a lot about thankfulness, and I now try to be thankful for the hundred good things that go right every day instead of focusing on the bad things.
Amazon.com: What was the spark that prompted this massive undertaking?
Jacobs: I didn't think there was anything bigger than the encyclopedia, but then I realized that there is one thing bigger. (laughs) It happened because of my incredibly secular background. I had assumed that religion would wither away and we'd all be worshiping at the altar of science...but of course, I was spectacularly mistaken. So I wanted to know if I missing something by not having any spirituality in my life. Was I like a guy who went through life without hearing Beethoven or falling in love? Or was half the world massively deluded? That was the motivation of why I decided to dive in. I love to live things, so I wanted to immerse myself and get into the mindset--and sandals--of my forefathers.
Amazon.com: Lewis Black once stated that the God described in the Old Testament is far angrier than the New Testament version. He suspects that having a son might have mellowed Him out. What did you see as the biggest difference between the two versions?
Jacobs: Since I was relatively new to the Bible, I was surprised by the Old Testament God. He's wrathful, but at other times, He's incredibly compassionate. He's not a one-dimensional figure at all.
One of the interesting things to me is that he grows throughout the Old Testament. He evolves, sort of matures, and becomes kinder. It’s a fascinating and complex book.
Check out the titles the Amazon Books Team will be devouring this Thanksgiving weekend.
Tom:
How the Dead Dream by Lydia Millet
Release Date: January 25, 2008
Great first line:
"His first idol was Andrew Jackson."
Mari:
In prepping for Thanksgiving and beyond, I’m vacillating between
the simple:
Seriously Simple Holidays: Recipes and Ideas to Celebrate the Season by Diane Rossen Worthington
and
the sumptuous:
Williams-Sonoma Holiday Entertaining by Chuck Williams
Dave:
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
Customer Rating: 4 stars out of 5 (1,019 reviews)
Critical acclaim aside, I must admit that I'm tackling this title due largely to the fact that I can't get enough of the soundtrack by Eddie Vedder.
BTP:
Things I've Learned from Women Who've Dumped Me, edited by Ben Karlin
Release Date: February 4, 2008
I have been dying to read this and a galley landed in this week's mail--perfect timing for a long holiday weekend. A lineup of writers and comedians share their "life lessons" in essays ranging from "You Too Will Get Crushed" to "A Dog Is No Reason to Stay Together" to "There's a Fine Line Between Trying Too Hard and a Horrific Shame Spiral."
Based on your feedback, this weekly post has been expanded with more info on the titles that occupy the Saturdays and Sundays of the Amazon Books Team.
Happy reading!
Tom:
Lush Life by Richard Price
Customer Rating: 4 stars out of 5 (30 Amazon Vine reviews)
Release Date: March 4, 2008
Sorry, it's not out until March, but it's time for us to start thinking about 2008 and I can't keep myself from devouring this one.
Mari:
Born Standing Up by Steve Martin
Release Date: November 20th, 2007
Dave:
Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant by Daniel Tammet
Customer Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (102 reviews)
Currently available
Since finishing Musicophilia, I've been on a bit of a neurology kick and Tammet's story is amazing.
BTP:
The Thing About Life Is That One Day You'll Be Dead by David Shields
Release Date: February 8th, 2008
The unbridled joy that famously marked "The Crocodile Hunter" is being remembered today, as fans across the globe celebrate the first International Steve Irwin Day. I myself have donned the celebrated khakis (although I wussed out on the shorts due to the fact that it's 42 degrees this morning) in honor of a man who's passion for nature influenced millions.
I never ceased to be amazed while watching Irwin gleefuly go into depth about the dynamics of an apex predator...while said apex predator loomed menacingly just a few feet (or sometimes inches) away. Considering I get skittish when one of my fellow editors dons a Lacoste shirt, Steve's up-close-and-personal techniques with wildlife always made him seem larger than life.
His wife and fellow naturalist, Terri, agrees, as she recounts in her recently released memoir, Steve and Me, that the moment she met her husband, she "wanted to build a big campfire, sit down with Steve next to it, and hear his stories all night long." As long no black mambas were brought for show-and-tell, I'd be game for that as well.
--Dave
Looking for reading inspiration? Check out a few reads that the Amazon Books Team will be dog-earing this weekend.
Ellington Boulevard by Adam Langer - BTP
Proust Was a Neuroscientist by Jonah Lehrer - Tom
The Elements of Cooking by Michael Ruhlman - Anne
Always by Nicola Griffith - Daphne
East Wind Melts the Ice by Liza Dalby - Lauren
Dog by Matthew Van Fleet and Brian Stanton* - Dave
*I'm hoping to start Schultz and Peanuts, but will most likely spend my weekend poring over Dog with my three month old son. He can't get enough of it!
It looks as if we have ourselves a writers strike this morning. I'm hoping for a quick resolution, as an intriguing range of authors were scheduled for TV appearances this week.
(NOTE: this list is moot until an agreement is reached. Until then, the below programs are re-run city.)
Monday, November 5th
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Karen Greenberg, author of The Torture Debate in America
The Colbert Report
David Levy, author of Love and Sex with Robots: The Evolution of Human-Robot Relationships
Tuesday, November 6th
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Lou Dobbs, author of Independents Day: Awakening the American Spirit
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Robert Reich, author of Supercapitalism: The Transformation of Business, Democracy, and Everyday Life
The Colbert Report
A.J. Jacobs, author of The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible
The Ellen Degeneres Show
Jenny McCarthy, author of Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism
The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson
Jenny McCarthy, author of Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism
Wednesday, November 7th
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Lou Dobbs, author of Independents Day: Awakening the American Spirit
The Colbert Report
Dave Isay, author of Listening Is an Act of Love: A Celebration of American Life from the StoryCorps Project
Thursday, November 8th
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
John Bolton, author of Surrender Is Not an Option: Defending America at the United Nations
--Dave
This week's author/newsmaker television appearances you might want to check out:
Monday, October 29th
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Michael J. Gerson, author of Heroic Conservatism: Why Republicans Need to Embrace America's Ideals (And Why They Deserve to Fail If They Don't)
Tuesday, October 30th
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Valerie Plame Wilson, author of Fair Game: My Life as a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House
The Colbert Report
J. Craig Venter, author of A Life Decoded: My Genome: My Life
Did I miss an appearance? Give me a shout in our Comments section and I'll be glad to investigate.
--Dave
Up late and looking for a good read? Here are a few titles the Amazon.com Books Team is reading this weekend.
The Wheelman by Duane Swierczynksi - Daphne
Strange As This Weather Has Been by Ann Pancake - Tom
The Dirt on Clean: An Unsanitized History by Katherine Ashenburg - Mari
The History of the Snowman by Bob Eckstein - Dave
Any of those look good? Give us a shout in our Comments title and we'll post more info next week.
--Dave
I must admit that I currently do not live up to our new books blog, Omnivoracious. While I devour books each week, my reading realm is hardly deserving of an "omni" prefix. I have nothing against other genres, but my selections always seem to gravitate towards nonfiction titles. True, I absolutely loved The Brief Wonderful Life of Oscar Wao, but it was merely an island of fiction amid an ocean of nonfiction.
Life after Wao has seen me consume The Year of Living Biblically by AJ Jacobs, The Day of Battle by Rick Atkinson, The World Without Us by Alan Weisman, 1776: The Illustrated Edition by David McCullough, The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman, and Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks. I honestly do want to broaden my fiction horizons, but with a bio on Charles Schulz and Alan Greenspan's memoir on deck---where does one find the time?
To quote the 20th century poet, Popeye, "I yam what I yam", and clearly what I yam is a nonfiction junkie.
--Dave
