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Fifty Shades of Grey banned in Maryland county

By Dave Rosenthal — Wed, 30 May 2012 21:00:00 GMT

"Fifty Shades of Grey" is selling millions of copies around the world, but it's been banned from libraries of Harford County, Maryland. E.L. James' trilogy , which has been dubbed "mommy porn," for its S&M scenes, is too hot for the county, a typical exurban community along Interstate 95 about a half-hour northeast of Baltimore.

Stieg Larsson's companion, Eva Gabrielsson, at Enoch Pratt

By Dave Rosenthal — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:18:00 GMT

Fans of Stieg Larsson's Millenium trilogy will get a closer look at the late author Wednesday, when long-time companion Eva Gabrielsson appears at the Enoch Pratt Free Library to discuss her book "There Are Things I Want You to Know."

Great Gatsby trailer promises greatness

By Dave Rosenthal — Wed, 23 May 2012 18:27:00 GMT

The trailer for "The Great Gatsby," Baz Luhrmann's new adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel, shows promise. (It certainly couldn't be as bad as the 1974 adaptation, which was flat and passion-less, despite a cast that include Robert Redford, Mia Farrow and Bruce Dern.)

Google Doodle lets you play all day

By Dave Rosenthal — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:36:00 GMT

Today's Goodle Doodle honors the birthday of Robert Moog, the engineering genius and music pioneer who brought us the synthesizer. It's one of those super-creative doodles, allowing you to play the mini-synthesizer, warping notes in various ways. You can even record your music.

What to Expect movie reviews

By Dave Rosenthal — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:41:00 GMT

The reviews are lukewarm at best for "What to Expect When You're Expecting," a movie loosely based on the hot-selling book series by Heidi Murkoff. Charming moms-to-be, including Anna Kendrick and Cameron Diaz, deal with the emotional and physical challenges of pregnancy, while their significant others, including Chris Rock, act boorish. Here are excerpts from reviews:

"Pooh house" for sale

By Dave Rosenthal — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:11:00 GMT

If you're in the market for a home with a literary heritage -- and have a few million dollars to spend -- check out this English estate that once was the home of Christopher Milne (1920-96), who was immortalized in the Winnie the Pooh books.

Book art for your wall

By Dave Rosenthal — Wed, 16 May 2012 20:16:00 GMT

I'm always interested in finding new ways to use books as art -- whether it's creating a spectrum from shelved books or recycling books as craft projects. Here's another: Litographs , colorful wall prints that incorporate the words of Moby Dick and other classics into designs.

Top baby names have literary theme

By Dave Rosenthal — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:40:00 GMT

Twilight continued its influence on the top baby names in 2011, as Jacob was the most popular name for boys, and Isabella was #2 for girls. Sophia captured the top spot for girls, according to the Social Security Administration -- a nod, perhaps to "Tom Jones"," or a twist on "Sophie's Choice"? Next year I have my money on variations of Katniss, Gale and Peeta.

Harry Potter novels available for loan via Kindle

By Dave Rosenthal — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:37:00 GMT

Harry Potter novels will be available through the Kindle Owners' Lending Library, Amazon said today, in announcing a deal with J.K. Rowling’s Pottermor e website. announced today.

Maurice Sendak dead at 83

By Dave Rosenthal — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:10:00 GMT

The death of Maurice Sendak , author of "Where the Wild Things Are" and other wonderful children's books, is a great loss for children's literature. His books, which included "In the Night Kitchen," "Alligators All Around," and the Little Bear books, were favorite reads for my children. Each one carried just the right tone of whimsy, and the illustrations had a classic beauty.

Madeleine Albright sheds light on long-hidden family secrets

By Dave Rosenthal — Mon, 07 May 2012 21:35:00 GMT

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will be at the Enoch Pratt library's main branch on Thursday to discuss her new memoir, "Prague Winter," which delves into a family background that had been shielded from her for decades.

The Free World -- 60-second review

By Dave Rosenthal — Mon, 07 May 2012 17:06:00 GMT

My book club, which focuses on works with a Jewish theme, is reading "The Free World" by David Bezmozgis. It was one of the better novels we've read, though it conntinued a common theme of a rootless people looking for a safe haven.

Free Comic Book Day on Saturday

By Dave Rosenthal — Fri, 04 May 2012 17:07:00 GMT

There must be some sort of cosmic alignment this weekend, because just as "The Avengers" movie is released, Free Comic Book Day is upon us. I don't read comics often anymore, but I have fond memories of my parents buying a bunch for me and my sister for our two-hour family trips from Connecticut to New York. I was a super-hero fan; she leaned toward Archie. We sometimes read while curled up on the floor of the family's massive Chevrolet, in the pre-seatbelt days. (Don't try this at home.)

Avengers movie reviews

By Dave Rosenthal — Wed, 02 May 2012 16:42:00 GMT

Early reviews for "The Avengers" movie are in, and the adaptation of comic book super-heroes appears to promise non-stop action, surrounding sub-plots of intrugue. I always considered the Marvel grab bag as B-list superheroes, trailing well behind Batman and Superman. But the group, which includes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor and Captain America, has developed into movie powerhouse. Here are excerpts from some reviews of the movie, which will be widely released Friday.

May Day books

By Dave Rosenthal — Tue, 01 May 2012 05:10:00 GMT

May Day (May 1) seems a bit old-fashioned these days, as union membership is squeezed, but it recounts the bitter fight for organized labor in American and around the world. Much of that fight traces back to Baltimore in 1866, when trade union representatives created the National Labor Union, which advocated for an eight-hour workday. That issue became the centerpiece of May Day demonstrations in the United States and around the world, politicizing a day that had previously marked the coming of spring.

Barnes & Noble, Microsoft team up behind Nook

By Dave Rosenthal — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:49:00 GMT

Barnes & Noble has teamed up with Microsoft to create a powerful competitor to the Amazon Kindle -- setting up a mano a mano battle for dominance of the e-reader market. The deal is built around the Barnes & Noble Nook and related digital business.

Save the date: Baltimore Reads donation day

By Dave Rosenthal — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 01:51:00 GMT

Want to do a good deed -- and clean out those books lying around the house? Head to the parking lot of Poly-Western High School next Saturday, May 5, as Baltimore Reads holds its annual Books for Kids Day.

Testimony at Johns Edwards trial recalls The Politician

By Dave Rosenthal — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT

A storm of recriminations and denials followed the publication of "The Politician," but the testimony inJohn Edwards' criminal trial reads like the book's key chapters.

Edgar Allan Poe to get new statue in Boston

By Dave Rosenthal — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:40:00 GMT

Boston may be slipping ahead in the Edgar Allan Poe arms race -- the city is preparing for a new bronze statue to honor the great author, even as Baltimore struggles to preserve his former home.

Baltimore's Lia Purpura awarded Guggenheim fellowship

By Dave Rosenthal — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:09:00 GMT

Congratulations to Baltimore author Lia Purpura , winner of a prestigious Guggenheim fellowship.

Time 100: authors to watch

By Dave Rosenthal — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 21:03:00 GMT

The Time 100 Most Influential People in the World is, by and large, a grab-bag of politicos, entertainers and technology entrepreneurs. But it also gives a nod to the publishing world. Among the Time 100 are:

Pulitzer Prizes : No fiction winner

By Dave Rosenthal — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 20:42:00 GMT

The 2012 Pulitzer Prizes award today had a big gap -- there was no winner in the fiction category, which must have ticked off a whole lot of marketing execs. What will they do with all the "Winner of the Pulitzer Prize" stickers they had printed up for their covers?

Emancipation Day provides tax filing delay

By Dave Rosenthal — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:05:00 GMT

Thanks to a quirk in this year's income tax filing deadline , many Americans are getting a lesson in Civil War history today. The IRS pushed back the filing deadline because April 15 landed on Sunday and today is Emancipation Day , which marks the anniversary of the 1862 District of Columbia Emancipation Act .

Best books on the Titanic

By Dave Rosenthal — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

With the 100th anniversary of the Titanic, there should be a renewed interest in "A Night to Remember," Baltimorean Walter Lord's recreation of the ship's sinking. It is a classic in the dramatiuc retelling of an historical event, and you could draw a straight line to more recent books such as Sebastian Junger's "A Perfect Storm" or Jon Krakauer's "Into Thin Air." From the first pages, Lord evokes the gentility of the steamship era, and pulls readers into the unfolding disaster.

Save the date: CityLit Festival this Saturday

By Dave Rosenthal — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:55:00 GMT

Make sure you take a break Saturday from your weeding, planting and other household chores to stop by the CityLit Festival at the Enoch Pratt Free Library. It's one of Baltimore's best literary events, and the schedule is always packed with an entertaining list of speakers. The headliner this year is Walter Isaacson, biographer Steve Jobs, the late Apple CEO.