Book Talk Book Talk (December 03, 2003)

THE DICKENS YOU SAY . . . "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" may be the most famous opening line in English literature. So begins "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens, and so begins Stanford University's second annual "Discovering Dickens" community reading project. Last year, more than 7,000 people signed up to receive chapters from "Great Expectations" in 18 weekly installments, just as Dickens published them in weekly magazines almost 150 years ago. People from 46 states and 22 countries participated in the community read, with the Weekly also publishing the first installments. Between now and Dec. 15, people can sign up for the second community read, receiving chapters from Dickens' novel of the French Revolution. The community reading project, which begins Jan. 9, will include actor Marco Barricelli reciting an installment of "A Tale of Two Cities" in Stanford's Dinkelspiel Auditorium on March 28, 2004, and culminate with a panel discussion at the Arrillaga Community Center on Community Day, April 4, 2004. To participate, sign up online at http://dickens.stanford.edu, or enroll via e-mail at discoveringdickens@stanford.edu, or call (650) 724-9588. The first 5,000 people who sign up will receive paper copies of the chapters.

CENTURY OF ORWELL . . . Stanford University will host a George Orwell Centennial Program at 7 p.m. tonight, Dec. 3, at Annenberg Auditorium. Free, but limited seating.

KID STUFF . . . Children's storyteller Diane Ferlotte will read at 7 p.m. tonight, Dec. 3, at Palo Alto's Mitchell Park Library.

CHICKEN SOUP STUFF . . . Michael Greers of Palo Alto is one of 11 California writers who contributed to "Chicken Soup of the Ocean Lover's Soul," all about the power of the ocean to change our lives.

OF LOCAL NOTE . . . Palo Alto author Jacqui Stewart will sign copies of her book "The Glaciers' Treasure Trove: A Field Guide to the Lake Michigan Riveria" at 4:30-6 p.m. Dec. 4 at Main Street Café and Books, Los Altos. Proceeds from the event will benefit the East Palo Alto Kids Foundation.
Items for Book Talk may be sent by the last Wednesday of the month to Don Kazak, Title Pages editor, Palo Alto Weekly, P.O. Box 1610, Palo Alto CA 94302, or e-mailed to dkazak@paweekly.com

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