Well, here goes: Book reviews will return next week. There, I said it, it’s done. I’ve made the commitment and I’m not going to let you or myself down.
So, whether or not you’ve noticed I haven’t exactly made it to very many book events myself of late. I’ve been busy, what can I say? That certainly shouldn’t be precluding you from making it to any of the numerous events happening this week. I mean it. Get there.
Monday, July 26th
@ 7pm
- Frank Bruni, author of Born Round: The Secret History of a Full-time Eater will be appearing and presumably signing books at Books, Inc. in Berkeley. I’m guessing that you don’t know who Frank Bruni is, and if you do feel free to call me naive, but Bruni was the chief food critic at the New York Times for the past five years. The book is his memoir and appears to be filled with humor, sadness and will most likely induce your sympathy. Seems as though his path to Chief was a long and difficult one. In one of his wisest moment, prior to the final publishing of the book Mr. Bruni left his top post at the Times, after all, once everyone knows who he is there is no telling what could happen.
Wednesday, July 28th
@ 7pm
- Harold Jaffe, author, will be signing copies of his book Anti-Twitter at Books, Inc. in Berkeley. Is there any surprise that there is a book out there title Anti-Twitter? There are haters everywhere right? Actually though, Jaffe’s book isn’t so much a knock on Twitter as it is a new use for it. Jaffe has taken 150 news stories and condensed each of them into 50 word stories that pull the most vital information to provide the reader with the “inner core” of each story. Oh, that and to prove “that brief need not = dumbed-down.”
Wednesday, July 28th & Thursday, July 29th
@ 6pm & 1pm
- Jennifer Weiner, author, will be at Book Passage in San Francisco (on Wednesday) and in Corte Madera (on Thursday) singing copies of her latest novel Fly Away Home. For those of you like me who recognize this name as the name of a movie you are not mistaken. Yet, I was pleased to discover, once I did some research and found out that the movie was about a father, daughter and a bunch of orphaned geese that the book and movie have nothing in common. Instead of dealing with Geese, Ms. Weiner’s book deals with a family of women who seek refuge in a beach house after it is revealed that their Senator father/husband has had an affair. Yeah, not my kind or reading, but perhaps it is yours.
Saturday, July 31st
@ 10am
- Oscar Villalon, former San Francisco Chronicle Book Editor, will be at Book Passage in Corte Madera providing those with $60 an opportunity to learn how to write book reviews. Imagine that. Naturally, I won’t be there. I’m quite proud of my abilities and don’t really think $60 will get me very far. But I do like Mr. Villalon so this may be a good opportunity for those of you out there that want to give me some sort of competition.
Saturday, July 31st
@ 730pm
- Tony O’Neill, author, will be at Booksmith signing copies of his latest work Sick City. I don’t know who Mr. O’Neill is but from what little I’ve read in finding out about this event he sounds like an author that I should be reading. Sick City is about a sex tape, dopers and some good wholesome trouble. Sounds pretty good right? Well… I guess that’s for us to find out.
