The Book Itself Is Gentle

Here’s a book I was waiting for to come out in paperback and — presto! — it has now been done: Al Gore’s Assault on Reason, a national bestseller in hardcover. Not sure about you, but I am tired of important policy debates being washed away by discussions of nearly anything but the merits of the issue at hand.

Here’s what Publishers Weekly had to say about the book in a rarely issued “starred” review: “As scathing as it is meticulous, Gore’s treatise on reason juggernauts its way through the Bush administration, never even needing to include the controversial nature of Bush’s presidential elections. He identifies the growing concentration of power in the executive branch virtually ignored by mainstream media. Drawing on the great political philosophers of history and his lengthy career in government, Gore contends that the loss of a genuine public forum in the age of radio and television has led to the decay of democracy. He delivers a serious critique of the United States tempered by hope and faith in the restoration of checks and balances.”

As you can see by the accompanying photograph, they now have paperback copies on display down at the old neighborhood bookstore.

‘College Admissions’ Author Visiting RCB

I remember when I applied to college. Man, that wasn’t a fun exercise. So many decisions … so many forms … so many decisions.

If you’re involved in the application process — as a student, parent or staffer at one of the two esteemed colleges in our comely community — you might want to know that help is available. And that help is coming to town.

Author and educational consultant Steven Roy Goodman will appear at River City Books at 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 13, to talk about his book College Admissions Together: It Takes a Family.

What I like about “College Admissions Together” is that it is more than a practical how-to-get-into-college book. Yes, it does explain key aspects of today’s college admissions process for both parents and students. But it is also a guide to healthy family relationships during the college admissions process. Goodman and co-author Andrea Leiman, a family psychologist, help parents recognize what makes the college admissions process a potential danger zone for families. They answer difficult questions, such as how parents can stay involved while allowing children to make more choices.

I should also note that the event is, of course, free and the public is invited to attend. Also, the book is on sale for 15 percent off through the event. I hope to see you there!

May Staff Picks Available

Twenty-five percent off. Who doesn’t like a great book that’s 25 percent off?

Let me flip the question around: Don’t you think Mom would like a great book for Mother’s Day? Of course she would! And do you think she’s going to care that you picked it up for one-quarter off? No way! Besides, she’s not going to know anyway.

So here’s how you make that happen: stop by the old neighborhood bookstore and browse their newly minted May staff selections. These are new books that booksellers like enough to recommend to the world. There are novels, books of poetry, biographies, works of American history, narrative nonfiction, and several books for the kiddies.

And did I mention they are 25 percent off? Of course I did! What do I look like? Don’t answer that!

Your ‘Host’ Will Be With You Shortly

In case you hadn’t heard — of course I have you covered, man — there’s quite a bit of buzz in the book world right now as Stephanie Meyer, the author of the “Twilight” series of national No. 1 bestsellers, has just delivered her first novel for adults: The Host, which is now on sale down at the old neighborhood bookstore.

“The Host,” according to the publisher promo copy, is “a gripping story of love and betrayal in a future with the fate of humanity at stake.”

Here’s the full summary:

Don’t Forget …

As I mentioned the other day — it bears repeating — the River City Books fiction book club is meeting at 7 p.m. tonight in the store’s downstairs meeting area to discuss “When Madeline Was Young.” Author and bestselling novelist Jane Hamilton will attend!

The club is free and open to all. Participants receive discounts on selected books.

Bye, Harry

I have shocking news to report: There are no Harry Potter titles on the New York Times bestseller list for the first time since 1998.

Not To Overlook Sci-Fi Fans

Speaking of awards, I thought sci-fi fans would want to know that Richard Morgan’s novel Black Man, “a science fiction thriller, which follows a black, genetically-modified assassin, or Variant Thirteen, in pursuit of a serial killer,” has won the 2008 Arthur C. Clarke award for science fiction.

No Mystery to Me

As a raven, you know I am going to follow the annual winners of the Edgar Allan Poe Awards, sponsored by the Mystery Writers of America, which were just announced:

Best Novel: Down River by John Hart (St. Martin’s Minotaur)

Best First Novel by an American Author: In the Woods by Tana French (Viking)

Best Paperback Original: Queenpin by Megan Abbott (S&S)

Best Fact Crime: Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy by Vincent Bugliosi (Norton)

Best Critical/Biographical: Arthur Conan Doyle: A Life in Letters by Jon Lellenberg, Daniel Stashower and Charles Foley (Penguin Press)

Best Short Story: “The Golden Gopher” in Los Angeles Noir by Susan Straight (Akashic Books)

Best Juvenile: The Night Tourist by Katherine Marsh (Hyperion Books for Young Readers)

Best Young Adult: Rat Life by Tedd Arnold (Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin)

Read the Book, Talk to the Author

I know this happens to me. I am reading a great book and I slap my forehead: I wish I could ask the author a question about a plot detail or a character trait.

Members of the River City Books fiction book club will have that precise chance during this month’s meeting. When the club convenes at 7 p.m., Tuesday (May 6) in the store’s cozy downstairs meeting area to discuss When Madeline Was Young author Jane Hamilton — the same Jane Hamilton who has written national bestsellers and Oprah picks — will be among them!

Remember, the book club’s monthly meetings are free and open to the public. Participants receive 20 percent off selected titles.

New members welcome. Is there a better time to join?

She Can Also Levitate From A Seated Position

I think it’s pretty safe to assume the rules don’t apply to Jhumpa Lahiri. For starters, she won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction as a first-time author (Interpreter of Maladies). Now she just published a new collection of short stories (Unaccustomed Earth) that hit No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list in the first week. Short stories don’t hit number one. They just don’t.

Maybe she’s a good writer — ya think? I know I loved “Interpreter” and will definitely check out the new book very soon. Though I don’t expect she’ll have to come down to “Earth” anytime soon. She can pretty much do what she wants to, apparently.

Check out Lahiri’s books at River City Books or, of course, you can go online.