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In an exciting announcement, a spokesperson for “Masterpiece” from PBS said that starting next year, the decades-old beloved series will cease covering classic works of literature and instead focus on today’s new classics — graphic novels.

“To tell you the truth, we’re completely bored with the classics,” said Cholmondeley Rodriguez, spokesperson for WHAH, the heretofore unknown PBS station in Poughkeepsie. “All those bonnets, carriages, and British accents? They don’t fit with today’s consumer’s needs.”

What does fit with those needs, Rodriguez says, are graphic novels. “We want to introduce the faster storytelling pace of modern graphic novels. We’re working on a completely authentic version of Watchmen right now. None of that Zack Snyder superficial stuff. We didn’t simply build an Owlmobile; we went back in time to make sure we constructed it only of materials that Alan Moore could have envisioned during the 1980s.”

Projects in development include Hellboy, starring Hugh Laurie; The Dark Tower, starring Colin Firth; and The Sandman, starring Derek Jacoby. All female characters will be portrayed by Helen Mirren. 

There has been much jockeying for the coveted position of “Masterpiece!!! Graphix” host. Rodriguez admits that great consideration was given to Neil Gaiman, but the host will be Michael Palin. “He’s still under contract for an unfinished series about soccer hooliganism and its effects on Cotswolds gardens, so he’s cheap,” says Rodriguez.

Happy April Fool’s Day from Bethanne!

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Our dear old friend the British Brigadier has come to stay for just one night before he’s off to some conference of spies somewhere. The Brigadier does funny stuff, so for many years whenever I spoke to his lovely wife and asked after his whereabouts, I knew if she replied “He’s upstairs” that that meant I simply didn’t want to know.

I’ll be whisking our friend off to his embassy shortly, but as we sat around the breakfast table with our coffee and toast, he mentioned he’d like to send the younger Mini Maven a copy of Conn Iggulden’s The Dangerous Book for Boys as a gift. I told him that she does already have The Daring Book for Girls, in case he would like to save his Euros. 

“Oh, nooooo,” he said (it was more like “Och nauw,” since he’s Scottish, but I’ve promised not to make too much sport of his foreign tongue). “The book for boys is much, much better. Did you know that they’ve got a guide to recognizing freshwater fish and also a list of the kings and queens of England?”

Uh, no, we didn’t. And, um, how exciting?

“Ahhhhh,” said the Brigadier. “But hidden between those pages is a spread of information about how to build a detonator. In a book for children! When I am explaining about the basics (Ed. note: “The basics” !!!!), as I’m handing round different explosives, I bring out a copy of The Dangerous Book for Boys and open it up to show them the directions. Iggulden gives such clear instructions on booby traps that it’s better than any military manual.”

HarperCollins, what hath thou wrought? 

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This is going to be a quick post that I’ll add to later, as I’m late for a meeting (cue me going “AAAACK!” like Andy Samberg imitating the Cathy comic on Saturday Night Live).

Our Book of the Week is truly wonderful. Seal Woman by Solveig Eggerz from Ghost Road Press is the story of a young German woman whose World War II circumstances force her to start a new life. She answers an ad in the newspaper from Iceland, and winds up as the second wife of a man whose hard, lonely existence as a farmer is softened only by the presence of “the old woman,” who may or may not be his mother.

Eggerz, an Icelander whose knowledge of Germany comes from several years in which she lived in that country, has crafted a dreamy yet stark portrait of a human’s transition from one world to another. I truly engaged with this book and with Charlotte, and I believe many readers of this site will, too. 

We’ve got ten copies of Seal Woman to give away to ten random winners from the first 30 who post and tell us about the toughest transition you’ve ever made. Was it from single person to spouse? From student to master? Unpublished writer to published author? Perhaps from woman to mother? Whatever your own transformation was, tell us below — and perhaps you’ll receive your own copy of Eggerz’s novel. Thanks, as always, for reading and commenting!

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You can probably guess what I’m going to say: Now read the book!!!

We all know that “Slumdog Millionaire” swept the Oscars, and Slumdog Fever seems to be sweeping America, too: The strains of the film’s final song, “Jai Ho,” are all over the airwaves right now. (By the way, did you know that “Jai Ho” means “May you be victorious?” Yeah, me neither, until I read it here.)

When I was interviewing Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni the other night, we touched on “Slumdog,” since Divakaruni sits on the board of Pratham, a charity that brings books, teachers, and literacy materials to India’s worst slums, including the one that the adorable little child actors run through in the movie. Divakaruni said “Remember when those children were fighting over The Three Musketeers? It’s so hard to have your own books and your own stories in a place like that.”

That’s why I believe if you loved “Slumdog Millionaire,” you owe it to yourself and to Jamal to read the book on which it’s based: Q&A by Vikas Swarup. But I’ll warn you: You won’t find some of your favorite scenes, there. 

But you may find that some of the book’s scenes become your favorites. 

Has anyone else read Q&A? Did you prefer it, or the movie? I’d love to hear from you.

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I try to maintain a relatively neutral stance about our Books of the Week; after all, I’m not reviewing them. I’m interviewing their authors! However, I do choose the authors who appear on this site, and I do tend to choose authors whose work I am interested in, regardless of my critical views on that work.

Sometimes I don’t know anything about an author, however: We get a recommendation, or a request, and I have to read a book first and decide if it’s the right kind of material for “Author, Author!” This was the case with James Mathews, whose short-story collection Last Known Position was published by University of North Texas Press (not my usual source for literary fiction). I knew two things when I started reading: One, that Mathews’ work had won the prestigious Katherine Anne Porter Prize for short fiction; Two, that Mathews had been in the U.S. Air Force.

By the time I finished reading, I was sure of one thing: Mathews is a truly gifted writer. His deft plots are told in voices so unassuming that they lull the reader into suspending disbelief, only to have the stories’ coldly cynical twists slap them back into reality. Except it’s not reality; it’s fiction… Shudder. 

I’ll got out on a limb and say I believe you’ll love these stories, and I’ve got ten copies of Last Known Position to give away. Randomly, natch. We’ll select ten comments at random from the first 30 left answering this question: What was the last short story you read OR Who is your favorite short-story writer?

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It’s another one of those “Why didn’t I think of this?” moments, and this one goes out to all of our “Masterpiece Classic” fans here at WETA/PBS. Every woman I know loves Jane Austen. Every man I know loves zombies. Seth Grahame-Smith evidently understands this at a deep level, since he has become Jane Austen’s co-author on the stunning new novel Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

Have you ever seen a cover that makes you want to run out and buy the book like this one does? How could you resists the Regency maiden’s visage scraped down to the bone at jawline? This is intrigue that goes way beyond the lucite platform heels and Sharpie eyebrows of celebrity sites; this is the kind of narrative that cannot be created by a single author. 

In other words, it takes a mashup to create the silliest literary juxtaposition ever — and I can’t wait to read it! The author credits? “JANE AUSTEN is the author of Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, Mansfield Park, and other masterpieces of English literature. SETH GRAHAME-SMITH is the author of How to Survive a Horror Movie and The Big Book of Porn. He lives in Los Angeles.” (With Seth’s credits, he might want to take a look at my husband’s latest brainstorm…)

Tell me, would you read a novel that is billed as “The Classic Regency Romance, Now with Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem?” All I can think of is what will come next: War and Peace and Fava Beans with Chianti? The Canterbury Tales Serial-Killer Pilgrims? Wuthering Heights of Psychotic Madness?

Oh, wait; that last one is a tautology. 

Although I’m recommending this as the most romantic book possible for both sexes, it is sadly not available for purchase until May 13, from Quirk Books. Three months to wait! 

But not for everyone: I’m going to wheedle a copy for myself from Quirk today, and I’ll award that copy (lightly pre-owned!) to the commenter who leaves me the most creative literary mashup in these comments. Heck, if I get a lot of creative entries, I’ll find a way to get more copies of this soon-to-be-masterpiece. Because I love you all on this Valentine’s Day weekend.

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Recently author Stephen Hess told me that Barack Obama has the potential to be “our most literary president since Lincoln.” This is not a toss-off remark, nor a mere reference to Lincoln’s considerable rhetorical gifts. Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, was an autodidact whose reading habits and material shaped his heart and mind. When we remember him as one of our greatest leaders, we should not ignore this (I’ll be ranting more about the importance of reading next week).

Here is a list, properly annotated, of books scholars know or have reason to believe that Lincoln read. It’s a wonderful list in so many respects, ranging from poetry to scripture to speeches to history to novels and much more. It’s shorter than a modern president’s list might be, but the important caveat is not only that books were more precious and harder to come by in the 19th century, but that Lincoln (especially in his early years, when he had very little money for extras) read deeply. He didn’t skim texts; he learned them, and thought about them, and tested their ideas against his inner compass. 

Next week, in honor of Abraham Lincoln’s February birthday celebration, WETA will be airing two special Lincoln programs: The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln from The American Experience, and Looking for Lincoln with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. 

Early next week I’d like to put together the Ultimate Abraham Lincoln Bookshelf — books about President Lincoln. I’d like to see your picks now, so I can include them.

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The Stupor Super Bowl is finished. (I kid, I kid; I actually watched this year and jumped out of my seat screaming when the Cardinals made their 4th-quarter touchdown…alas…) But doesn’t that mean you have more time for reading, now?

You’ll definitely want to make some time for David Baldacci’s latest novel Divine Justice. It’s got a few of his creepiest characters yet, as well as some amazing Camel Club adventures. If you want to learn more, you’ll have to wait for our Wednesday video interview.

However, today you enter to win a free copy — one of ten — today by leaving me a comment telling me who your favorite series author is. (So easy! I’m feeling generous and fatigued today…)

Do note our new giveaway rules, however.  In the interests of spreading the love, we’ll now be drawing our giveaway winners randomly from all the responses we receive.  So, you no longer have to be one of the first people to respond in order to win.  Good luck!

NB: The giveaway is now closed. We’ll post the lucky winners on Monday! Thanks, all, for visiting and commenting. Happy weekend reading!

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Some of you are probably like me, right now: simultaneously watching the Inaugural proceedings on while surfing the net for more news about them. So I understand if no one gets over here today. The books will keep!

I mixed things up a little this week because of this. I wanted as may people as possible to read my interview with Stephen Hess about his new book, What Do We Do Now? A Workbook for the President-Elect (Brookings). 

(Oooo, you’ll have to be patient with me for a moment. I’m watching the Obamas enter the White House for coffee with the Bushes. Michelle Obama brought them a gift — don’t you wish you knew what it was?)

We’ve got ten copies of What Do We Do Now? to give away to the first ten readers who respond with what President-Elect (very, very soon to be President) Obama might do to support literacy and/or the arts during his time in office. (After the economy, natch.)

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This week Stephen Hess, Senior Fellow Emeritus in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution and Distinguished Research Professor of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University (whew!) took some time to talk with me about his nineteenth book – which is, it is fair to say, quite a departure from Organizing the Presidency. This one is lighter in tone and topic: What Do We Do Now? A Workbook for the President-Elect (Brookings Institution Press, January 2009).

But while Hess’s new book may be lighter in tone and topic, it’s quite serious in its intent. Stephen Hess has been employed by, involved with, and an observer of presidential administrations since the Eisenhower administration (he began there as a speechwriter while still a twentysomething). He knows what happens during good presidential transitions and bad, and he’s got the stories to prove it. 

I asked Hess first why he chose to call this a “workbook” and not a “handbook.” He said “I started with a handbook in mind, but then it became kind of a literary conceit in my own mind. I thought, if I call this a ‘workbook’ I can throw in all of these exercises.” The exercises range from the straightforward (“What promises did you make?”) to the fun (“Pick a Presidential Portrait”).

The inauguration is just days away when I speak to Hess, so I asked him if he thought the “PEOTUS” (President-Elect of the United States) is ready. “There’s a lot of loose ends,” said Hess. “Suddenly he still has one cabinet appointment to make. However, this president has really found remarkable people and made very creative choices for his cabinet.”

Hess told me that the book had its beginnings last year when he thought about the upcoming election: “I realized that I had been involved, in one way or another, in every election/inaugration/transition since the late 1950s, and I started to draft my first chapter, ‘My Life in Transition’ so that readers could understand why I was writing the book. “

Of course, says Hess, “Coming in is more fun than going out, I can assure you!” His “Checklist for the President-Elect” reads like the elaborate timetable for the greatest event-planning situation ever – and that might not be too far off the mark. Obama has “beat my markers,” says Hess. “Clinton, for example, had one of the truly awful transitions – that may be good for Obama, since John Podesta has had 16 years of experience  to realize and analyze what went wrong and what to do differently this time.”

Hess believes that a key to a successful transition is “creating a plan to balance efficiency and creativity with work habits.” Does he think that Obama’s gym-rat habits will withstand the transition? He laughs, but admits that “Right now Obama has to be laser-like about the economy while there are lots of other things trying to force themselves onto his agenda. I think this is what happened to some extent with Bill Clinton. He was a very smart, very creative president who just kept moving around between all of the things that interested him and got truly sidetracked along the way. We shall see if that happens with Barack Obama. Our expectations are that it won’t.”

One of the reasons Hess wanted to set out all of these transition guidelines is that “It’s almost inconceivable, but conceive it: Presidents know so little about how government is really run, that after one of them has made a decision, he hardly knows what happens to it or why it doesn’t come out as he expected. The intereaction between the executive branch and the people who really run things – the high-level civil servatns – can be tainted with a lot of misunderstanding and suspicion, but it doesn’t have to be. I think President-Elect Obama is off on the right foot because he’s got a lot of people who are still relatively young coming back in, people who have great ideas, but experience, too.”

There are some goofs that can be made during presidential inaugurations (Hess says “Look at William Henry Harrison, who spoke for two hours in the freezing cold, got sick, and died a month into office – you can’t beat that in terms of idiocy”), but Hess doesn’t think that anything will upstage Barack Obama’s inaugural address. “Read Dreams from My Father. It’s a great book. It’s clear we are about to have a president who is our most literary stylist since Lincoln.”

Tomorrow: An Giveaway in Honor of the Inauguration

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