Send this story Print this story

Adjust text size

Book Talk

UPCOMING READINGS ... at the Stanford Bookstore, 519 Lasuen Mall, Stanford, include: Dick Burns, "Live or Die: A Stroke of Good Luck" (April 14, 6 p.m.); Richard Meyer, "Jin Yan: The Rudolph Valentino of Shanghai" (April 16, 5 p.m.); and Bernard Von Bothmer, "Framing the Sixties: The Use and Abuse of a Decade from Ronald Reagan to George W. Bush" (April 20, 6 p.m.) Information: Call 650-329-1217 or visit www.stanfordbookstore.com.

PALO ALTO HISTORY ... Matt Bowling's "Nice Day for a Stroll: A Walk Through Palo Alto's History" was recently published by the Palo Alto Historical Association. The book begins with the train station, then offers tidbits on University Avenue buildings and neighboring Professorville sites. Highlights include Silicon Valley landmarks, such as incubator locations for Paypal and Google, where the Grateful Dead got its start, the Ramona Street Architectural District and more. The book can be purchased for $10 at the historian's desk at the Main Library, 1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto, or online at paloaltohistory.com.

EARLY LOS ALTOS ... Don McDonald will talk about his new book, "The Early History of Los Altos and Los Altos Hills, " which features images from the Los Altos History Museum, at a book signing and reception on Sunday, April 11, at 3:30 p.m. at the Los Altos Library, 51 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos. Information: Visit www.losaltoshistory.org.

SUPPORT BREAKFAST ... Award-winning author Mark Salzman will talk about his latest book, "True Notebooks: A Writer's Year at Juvenile Hall," on Thursday, May 6 from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 4290 El Camino Real, Palo Alto. Cost is $75 for the 7th Annual Circle of Support Breakfast, which benefits Family & Children Services. Salzman is the author of "Iron & Silk," "Laying Awake" and "True Notebooks." Information: Call 650-543-5423 or visit www.fcservices.org.

MORE READINGS ... at Keplers, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park: Kon and Arlene Balin, "Born Stateless: A Young Man's Story 1823-1957" (Sunday, April 11, 2 p.m.); Sue Miller, "The Lake Shore Limited: A Novel" (Monday, April 12, 7:30 p.m.); Robin Black, "If I Loved You, I Would Tell You This: Stories" (Tuesday, April 13, 7:30 p.m.); Charlotte Jacobs, M.D., "Henry Kaplan and the Story of Hodgkin's Disease" (Wednesday, April 14, 7:30 p.m.); Andrew Clements, "We the Children: Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School" (Thursday, April 15, 6 p.m.); J. Kirk Boyd, "2048: Humanity's Agreement to Live Together" (Thursday, April 15, 7:30 p.m.); Katherine Howe, "The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane" (Friday, April 16, noon); Christopher Moore, "Bite Me: A Love Story" (Friday, April 16, 7:30 p.m.); T.J. Stiles, "The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt" (Friday, April 16, 4:30 p.m.); Ayelet Waldman, "Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace" (Tuesday, April 20, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.); Terry McDermott, "101 Theory Drive: A Neuroscientist's Quest for Memory" (Tuesday, April 20, 7:30 p.m.); Anne Lamott, "Imperfect Birds" (Wednesday, April 21, 7:30 p.m.); Roxana Saberi, "Between Two Worlds: My Life and Captivity in Iran" (Wednesday, April 21, 6:30 p.m.); Jeffrey Zaslow, "The Girls from Ames: A Story of Women and a Forty-Year Friendship" (Wednesday, April 21, 7 p.m.); Paul Davies, "The Eerie Silence: Renewing Our Search for Alien Intelligence" (Thursday, April 22, 7:30 p.m.); Andre Aciman, "Eight White Nights" (Monday, April 26, 7:30 p.m.); Megan Whalen Turner, "A Conspiracy of Kings" (Tuesday, April 27, 5:30 p.m.); Lisa Shannon, "A Thousand Sisters: My Journey into the Worst Place on Earth to Be a Woman" (Tuesday, April 27, 7:30 p.m.); Katie Crouch, "Men and Dogs" (Wednesday, April 28, 7:30 p.m.); Ridley Pearson, "Kingdom Keepers III: Disney in Shadows" (Thursday, April 29, 6 p.m.). Information: Visit www.keplers.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 e-mailed to cblitzer@paweekly.com by the last Friday of the month.