"It is by no means an irrational fancy, in a future existence, we shall look upon what we think our present existence, as a dream . . ."1) THE RAVEN . . . James Patterson, the bestselling author of the 21st century, has partnered with one of the greatest writers of the 19th century to produce the last book in the Maximum Ride series, Nevermore (9780316101844) 17.99. In this final installment, we join the human-avian hybrids Max, Fang, Dylan, and their lost love Lenore after their wild ride to prevent Armageddon by the diabolically named Doomsday Group. Angel, one member of the flock, is missing, but she is later found perched upon a bust of Pallas by Dr. Martinez, cryptically repeating over and over again, "Nevermore." I don't want to give away any more spoilers, so I'll leave it at that. You can expect the first movie of the Maximum Ride series, Angel Experiment, in movie theatres in May 2013. And as James Patterson would say, "Never poor!"
--Edgar Allan Poe
2) THE TELL-TALE HEART . . . I used to sing John Lennon's Imagine aloud whenever someone ordered Jonah Lehrer's Imagine (9780547386072) 26.00, but alas, nevermore. Mr. Lehrer has been caught fabricating quotes from Bob Dylan in his latest book, and the publisher is withdrawing this title from the market. I'm sure I've misheard some of Dylan's lyrics over the years, but his response to these allegations was very succinct, "Mmmunbe derpa son summi braxon de teway." Also, it was mentioned that Mr. Lehrer had been overly creative with quotes in his earlier works, so he appears to be a serial fabricator and has resigned as staff writer at the New Yorker. To my untrained eye, his problem appears to be a natural compulsion, which should make Daniel Smith's Monkey Mind (9781439177303) 25.00 a required read for him. Mr. Smith has an anxiety disorder, but I believe that it falls under the same purview as an obsessive-compulsive. His title has picked up in the past few days, and it is blurbed by professional blurber A.J. Jacobs, so bestsellerdom can't be far behind. "Villains" I shrieked, "dissemble no more! I admit the deed! -- tear up the planks! -- here, here! -- it is the beating of his hideous heart!"
3) THE PREMATURE BURIAL . . . I was saddened to learn that Gore Vidal passed away. I'm sure the adjective 'cantakerous' will be featured in most of his obituaries. But he was a darn good writer. At least thirty years ago, I read his novel Burr, and I still have a soft spot in my heart for our second Vice-President. I then read Julian, which was about Julian the Apostate, and I have been fascinated with the Roman Empire ever since. And who can forget him in the movie Bob Roberts as the incumbent Democrat senator from Pennsylvania? Boy, that movie was spot on. Alas, it looks like all of the great writers from my youth are moving on. Who, I ask, 'Will replace them?' E.L. James?
Odds & Sods
We have a whole new passel of regional oriented books in stock this week. The new Postcard History title from Arcadia is called Straits of Mackinac (9780738591896) 21.99. by Madeline Okerman Adie. Arcadia has also published a book entitled Hessel, Cedarville, and Les Cheneaux Islands (9780738582863) 21.99 by Deborah Gouin, which covers the history of the area along the southern coast of the Upper Peninnsula. Finally, History Press has released Stephen Wilber's Canoeing the Boundary Waters (9781609497323) 19.99. This title is not so much a guide book as the reminiscences of a man who grew up there . . .
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