The blog is going away but the reviews are not. You can find them here in the online print edition.
Home > ATLarts > Archives > 2008 > August > 04
Monday, August 4, 2008
“Save Our Bookstore”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Running an independent bookstore is never easy, but things seemed to be going well for Wordsmiths Books in Decatur. The bookstore has hosted well-attended appearances by such big names as Amy Sedaris, Ani Difranco and Final Fantasy.
Nevertheless, the bookstore’s marketing director, Russ Marshalek, says the store is just two weeks away from possible closure. He’s planning a benefit weekend and asking for your donations.
The reason: debt accumulated from paying rent at the store’s previous location on East Trinity St. (it was about 3 times higher than at its current store on N. McDonough St., Marshalek says) and a recent big-name author event “that required a massive up-front investment that didn’t pan out,” according to store owner Zachary Steele.
Wordsmiths isn’t saying which author, but Marshalek says it definitely wasn’t the weekend’s “Breaking Dawn” event for Stephenie Meyer’s latest novel.
To read more about the bookstore’s fundraising campaign, see Steele’s blog.
Permalink | Comments (11) | Post your comment | Categories: Books
What are the “Moscow Rules?”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
According to author Daniel Silva, the Moscow Rules are real. During the Cold War, the CIA created a set of operating rules for dealing with tough situations, and anyone stationed in Moscow knew they were by definition in a tough situation.
Assume every telephone is tapped and every room is bugged.
Don’t look back. You are never completely alone.
Heck, you didn’t have to be a CIA agent to think that way. I was in Moscow as a college student during the Brezhnev years, and I was given some pointed advice to assume that I was being followed and could be approached by someone to get me to break some laws. Fortunately I was more interested in drinking vodka and seeing sights than in smuggling in blue jeans.
Anyway, Daniel Silva. “Moscow Rules” is the title of his new book, but it’s not set in the Cold War. His hero Gabriel Allon — art restorer and Israeli intelligence officer — is back and up to his neck again.
And Silva is in Atlanta to talk about and sign “Moscow Rules.” He’ll be at the Marcus Jewish Community Center at 7:30 tonight (Aug. 4). Maybe someone should follow him.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Books
