Bill of Wrongs: The Executive Branch’s Assault on America’s Fundamental Rights (Random House $24.95) is Molly Ivins’ last collaboration with Lou Dubose. From the introduction, they write, “To all the daring, courageous, or just plain stubborn ‘ordinary’ Americans who have ever gotten up on their hind legs, and said, “Well, that’s not right, that’s not fair’: This book is dedicated to you.” She is missed.The ever witty and erudite Bill Bryson has penned Shakespeare: The World as Stage (Atlas Book/HarperCollins $19.95) and examines the life of the Bard. It is another in the Eminent Lives series, edited by famed biographer James Atlas.
Steve Martin and Roz Chast have produced a fine and funny children’s book, The Alphabet from A to Y with Bonus Letter Z! (Flying Dolphin Press $17.95). It is a very funny book, with text by Martin (“Amiable Amy, Alice, and Andie Ate all the anchovy sandwiches handy”), illustrations and captions by Chast. All 26 letters are included, and as they say, each and every one a Star!.
New in paperbacks include Diane Setterfield’s novel The Thirteenth Tale (Washington Square Press $15.00), and features a Reading Club Guide. Tammy's favorite book of last year is now out in paperback: The Book of Lost Things, by John Connolly (Washington Square Press, $15.00). (This is a book I'm going to re-read every year.~Tammy) The Willow Field (Vintage $14.95) is William Kittredge’s first novel, and is the story of thousand mile drive and Rossie Benasco’s coming of age. And for food lovers everywhere, The United States of Arugula: The Sun-Dried, Cold-Pressed, Dark-Roasted, Extra Virgin Story of the American Food Revolution (Broadway Books $14.95) where David Kamp describes how American chefs have transformed our perceptions with cooking.
