WRESTLER’S TRAGEDY … Billed as “the story that inspired a motion picture,” “Foxcatcher” (Dutton, Penguin Group) tells the story of wrestler Dave Schult’z quest for Olympic gold — and his eventual murder. Written by Palo Alto High School grad Mark Schultz (with David Thomas), the story hits the big screens this weekend. The Schultz brothers, both Olympic gold-medal winners in wrestling, were at the peak of their athletic careers when Mark was shot by John du Pont in 1996.
BOOK LAUNCH … Donald McPhail, Paly class of ’58 and a Mountain View resident, has written “The Millionaires Cruise,” a work of historical fiction based on the 1929 cruise of the SS Malolo. The luxury ship carried 325 millionaires, just 30 days before the stock-market crash. Proceeds from book sales will go to the Hanna Boys Center in Sonoma. The indie publication is available at Kepler’s and Books, Inc.
EMBRACE HUMILITY … Peninsula Arts & Letters will present An Evening with Tim Shriver: Discovering What Matters Most on Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at Kepler’s Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. The son of Eunice Kennedy and Sargent Shriver, founders of the Special Olympics, Shriver is chairman of the Special Olympics and will be contributing proceeds from the book, “Fully Alive: Discovering What Matters Most,” to the Special Olympics. Tickets are $10-$30, available at brownpapertickets.com/event/876197.
IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS … Palo Alto author Caryn Yacowitz has written a Hanukkah book with a twist. “I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Dreidel,” illustrated by David Slonim and published by Arthur A. Levine Books, Scholastic, is a parody of a folksong, designated for ages 3 to 8 years. The author will be doing multimedia presentations at Kepler’s Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, at 11 a.m. on Dec. 6; at The Reading Bug, 785 Laurel St., San Carlos, at 11 a.m. on Dec. 7; and at Linden Tree Books, 265 State St., Los Altos, at 2 p.m. on Dec. 7. Info: carynyacowitz.com
BOOK SIGNING … Los Gatos author Tiffany Papageorge will be signing the Mom’s Choice “Gold” winner, “My Yellow Balloon” (Minoan Moon Publishing; illustrated by Erwin Madrid), on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 11 a.m. at Linden Tree Books, 265 State St., Los Altos. The children’s book deals with the loss resulting from a move, divorce or death. Info: myyellowballoon.com
BESOTTED WITH SPOTTEDS … Local author Linda Gray Sexton has written “Bespotted: My family’s love affair with thirty-eight Dalmatians,” a memoir focusing on the many Dalmatians her family has known. The book deals with the dogs who supported her through divorce and depression, as well as her entry into the world of professional breeding and showing. Info: amazon.com and local bookstores
FOR THE BIRDS … Michele Raffin has penned “The Birds of Pandemonium: Life Among the Exotic & the Endangered,” which tells the tale of Pandemonium Aviaries, a bird sanctuary in Los Altos Hills that now cares for 350 birds. In telling about individual birds, she calls attention to what’s at stake for the endangered species. Published by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, the book includes 16 pages of color photos of the birds. Info: amazon.com and local bookstores
SCI-FI CAPERS … Portola Valley author Carolyn A. (Cary) Neeper has just released two books of sci fi, published by Penscript Publishing House, San Jose. “The View Beyond Earth,” first published by Charles Scribner’s Sons in 1975, joins “The Webs of Varok” and the newly released “The Alien Effect,” with two more expected in 2015 to complete the series. Info: penscript-publishing.com
Items for Book Talk may be sent to Associate Editor Carol Blitzer, Palo Alto Weekly, P.O Box 1610, Palo Alto, CA 93202 or emailed to cblitzer@paweekly.com.