©1998, ProMotion, inc.
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BQ:
Our best guess: "In the Shadow of a Rainbow: The True Story of a Friendship Between Man and Wolf" by Robert Franklin Leslie (W.W. Norton, $9.95, 0393303926; $11, 0393314529).
A side point: we are tired of buffing up BQs which come by e-mail with the most broken-down grammar and punctuation imaginable. This Internet is big trouble, mark our words. We're going to end up with sentences like "f u cn rd ths u cn gt a gd jb w gd pay."
BQ:
Not only does this sound like Koko the chimp breaking through the language barrier, it has to do with an O.J. Simpson book. We answer it only with the greatest reluctance and because of our steadfast defense of the First Amendment.
The book is "O.J.: The Last Word," published last November by St. Martin's Press. And the author is Gerry Spence, not gery spense.
BQ:
"Murder on the Prowl: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery" by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown will be published in April by Bantam.
We understand that Jan Karon is working away on the next heartwarming novel about the small town of Mitford, North Carolina. In the meantime, she is also, much to her fans' delight, publishing a book for young adults. This month, Karon will deliver her first children's book, a tale of the selfless acts of a sprightly nonagenarian. "Miss Fannie's Hat" (Augsburg Fortress), illustrated by Toni Goffe, is the story of 99-year-old Miss Fannie who donates her very favorite hat -- the famous pink straw with roses -- to help raise money in the church auction. Readers young and old will be enchanted with Miss Fannie and discover the wonderful truths about trust and faith and the rewards of unselfish love -- the usual tawdry Jan Karon themes.
BQ:
Great news -- this month Philomel Books will publish "The Long Patrol," a new volume in the phenomenally popular Redwall series for young adults. Its very British, very funny author will be touring the U.S. in March.
Readers ages eight and up have come to love this series, which features a world of heroic woodland creatures and an ongoing battle between the peaceful mice of Redwall Abbey and the evil rat vermin who challenge them. Parents, too, have been known to get caught up in these tales; Jacques' wonderful humor and broad sense of adventure make the Redwall books great fun.
BQ:
OK, so the Eight Ball is still coming in cloudy on the Flashman question -- we are still rooting around to find out if MacDonald Fraser left one final adventure for his caddish/hilarious Victorian rogue whose travels led him across the globe.
In the meantime, you may get a nice dose of Fraser with a new, non-Flashman novel coming in April, "Black Ajax" (Carroll & Graf). It's the story of a freed slave from New Orleans who is brought to England to fight Britain's undefeated boxer. Like much of Fraser's work, this novel draws on history but is very much fiction.
BQ:
Ah, the Tales of the City. What a fabulous, all-consuming series: a late-twentieth-century serial about the eccentric, endearing inhabitants of 28 Barbary Lane. You read these books like you've never read anything before in your life. For the uninitiated, the six novels are "Tales of the City," "More Tales of the City," "Further Tales of the City," "Babycakes," "Significant Others," and "Sure of You."
As for his next book, here's the skinny from Maupin's partner, Terry Anderson: "Armistead is currently working on a new novel called 'Almost Anyone' to be published by HarperFlamingo some time later in the year. He's not talking about it too much at this point, but it's something of a departure for him -- a psychological suspense story. It's not a blood-and-guts horror novel nor is it a who-done-it mystery. He describes it as his 'Vertigo.' The writing of the book was somewhat delayed this past year because he spent the summer filming 'More Tales of the City' for Showtime and Channel Four."
BQ:
We thought the Apocalypse had already begun. At least, strange things have been happening at BookPage: disastrous typos, missing reviews, dirty coffee cups mysteriously multiplying in the break room.
As for the End Times, it's all a matter of scale. Yes and no. Depends on where you are with your Dianetics reading.
Re finding a good book: Oneida, you must be either looking too hard or not hard enough. We honestly believe that every single month of the year, at least ten good books find their way to the surface. All you need to do is get with it. If youčre reading this fine publication, youčre on the right track.
Tell us what's on your night table. Inquiring minds want to know.
Wondering what happened to your favorite author? Gosh, so are we. Ask away: Send your cards and letters to Burning Questions, 2501 21st Ave. South, Suite 5, Nashville, TN 37212. Or better yet, e-mail us at Burning_Questions@bookpage.com.
Sadly, personal replies are not possible. And if your question is too hard, we'll simply put it in our big file labeled "We dunno."
©1998, ProMotion, inc.