The Book Babes radio show on WMNF-FM 88.5 in Tampa went live for the first time this month, with Margo in the Tampa studio and Ellen via telephone from Portland, Ore. Now archived at wmnf.org, the show included a taped interview by Margo with Gail Caldwell, author of the recently released memoir, "Let's Take the Long Way Home," but the rest of the program was in real time, complete with first-time glitches, interaction with listeners via email and a book giveaway. Here are the books mentioned during the show:
MEMOIR OF A FRIENDSHIP
"Let's Take the Long Way Home," by Gail Caldwell (Random House)
Former Boston Globe book editor Gail Caldwell and fellow writer Caroline Knapp shared a love of writing, dogs, rowing and Cambridge. And then Caroline died of cancer and they shared that, too. Caldwell writes about all that sharing with amazing grace.
BOOK GIVEAWAY
Congratulations to Susan Close of Sarasota who won a copy of "On the Road: The Scroll Edition" (Penguin) for knowing that Jack Kerouac died on October 21, 1969 at St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Alas, no one correctly answered the second book giveaway question: Who is the Kenosha Kid in Thomas Pynchon's "Gravity's Rainbow" (Penguin)? The answer: "The Kenosha Kid" referred to in that novel is Orson Welles, named after his place of birth, Kenosha, Wis.PRESIDENTIAL BOOKS
It's not a presidential election year, but that hasn't stopped the flow this fall of books on (and, in two case, by) POTUS, from Washington to Obama. As usual though there's a shocking lack of titles about Millard Fillmore.
GEORGE WASHINGTON
"Washington: A Life," by Ron Chernow, due out from Penguin Press in October. Another book on Washington? This one is said to reveal the more personal side of the country's first and tallest president.
JOHN ADAMS
"The First Family: Abigail and John Adams," by Joseph Ellis, due out in October by Knopf: This biography by the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian is based on the copious correspondence between the famous couple, who met when John was 24 and Abigail was only 15.
FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT TO GEORGE BUSH
"American Caesars: Lives of the Presidents from Franklin D. Roosevelt to George W. Bush," by Nigel Hamilton, due out from Yale University Press in September: Hamilton offers short bios and an evaluation of the contributions of the presidents who led the United States from its ascendancy as a world power.
"The White House Diary," by Jimmy Carter, due out in September by Farrar, Straus & Giroux: Carter has finally released excerpts from the diary he kept while president.
GEORGE BUSH
"Decision Points," by George W. Bush, due out from Crown in November: Beginning with the 2000 elections, Bush outlines the crucial moments of his presidency in a book that the publisher says will shatter the idea of a conventional political biography.
BARACK OBAMA
"Untitled on Obama Administration," by Bob Woodward, due out in September by Simon & Schuster. Woodward hasn't even revealed the title, but his take on Obama certainly will be a best seller.
ON THE BOOK BABES' NIGHTSTANDS
Ellen:
"Stubborn Twig: Three Generations in the Life of a Japanese American Family," by Lauren Kessler (Oregon State University Press) -- This work of nonfiction was first published in the 1980s and tells the story of one family, the Yasuis, whose members were sent to internment camps during WW II. Min Yasui wa a leader in the fight for reparations.
Margo:
"The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest," by Stieg Larsson (Knopf) -- The third book in Larsson's trilogy again stars Lisbeth Salander, the world's most intriguing hacker.
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