Book News, In Brief

Would you stand in line for four hours just to have your great-grandmother's mildew covered copy of Uncle Tom's Cabin appraised at $1.99? The creators of a proposed "Antiques Roadshow for books, just books" hope so.


Award-winning author Margaret Atwood has joined the blogosphere. While Atwood currently shies away from talking about her cat's eccentricities, the new shoes she just bought, and/or her favorite sex scenes from this week's True Blood, give her time. She'll learn.


A new line of audiobooks "dedicated to famous 20th century books" will feature celebrity readers and academic audio commentary. The first release is Bette Friedan's The Feminine Mystique read by actress Parker "Party Girl" Posey, with additional audio analysis by Naomi "The Beauty Myth" Wolf. (TMI fun fact: I've had threesome fantasies involving this same duo!)


The English book dealer accused of stealing a Shakespeare portfolio valued at $2.5 million made his first appearance in court this past Friday. According to the Washington Times, "The defendant, Raymond Scott, arrived at the courthouse in a horse-drawn carriage, accompanied by a bagpipe player and wearing a tartan kilt." Please let CourtTV cover this case.


One small setback for Anna Nichole Smith's manager, Howard K. Stern, is one giant step for gay rights. This past Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Denny Chin ruled that Stern could sue an Anna Nichole Smith biographer Rita Cosby for defamation -- but not over gay sex claims. The reason? Because homosexuality is no longer viewed as "contemptible." Allow me to repeat that for all the Far Right Republicans and holier than thou evangelicals in the audience: No. Longer. Contemptible. By law!