Book Club Connection by Susan LoTempio

See the film at a book store near you

There's a cool story in the New York Times today about an independent bookstore that's planning a series of short films featuring authors.

  Which leads me to wonder: Will films now replace the traditional author tour and book signing?

  According to the Times, in-store book readings by authors attract fewer and fewer attendees, and sending authors out on tour can't be cheap for penny-pinching book publishers.

So, Powell's Books of Portland, Ore., is having a film made about Ian McEwan, who has declined to do bookstore appearances in the US to promote his new novel, "On Chesil Beach," according to the Times story. The book will be published on June 5.

The film is 23 minutes long and contains an interview with McEwan plus commentary from fans and critics, the Times reports.

The film will actually debut June 1 at the BookExpo America in Manhattan, and will eventually land on Powell's Web site - www.Powells.com - for all the world to see.

I wonder how fast the Big Book Guys - Barnes & Noble and Borders - will pick up on the idea. Soon you may be able to grab a latte and a scone at the cafe in one of the mega bookstores, on your way to the movie shown at the back of the store. That would be followed, of course, by an in-store book discussion.

What a brave new literary world.

Happy birthday, Mr. Roth

  Philip Roth turns 74 today, and this prolific author seems to have lived several lives since he was born on March 19, 1933.

  Roth has had a couple of marriages, was hooked on pain medication, had a nervous breakdown and despite all that  (or, perhaps, because of it), is one of the most celebrated writers of his time.

One of Roth's novels will be The Book Club's pick for April, and while you'll have to wait until Tuesday, April 3 to find out what it is, here's a list of some of his most famous works: "Portnoy's Complaint," "Goodbye, Columbus," "The Great American Novel," "American Pastoral," 'The Human Stain" and "The Plot Against America" (among many, many others).

Roth was not above using his writing to exact personal revenge. He was once married to English actress Claire Bloom, who wrote a scathing memoir about their relationship called "Leaving a Doll's House." Roth was furious about her book and in his novel "I Married a Communist," based the character Eve Frame, an aging movie queen, on Bloom.

Note to Nora Ephron

  Nora, if I may be so bold to call you by your first name, what were you thinking?

We here in Buffalo are pretty darn upset that you canceled your appearance at UB. You were invited as a distinguished speaker, but I consider you distinguished no more.

  What are all the hundreds of women who bought tickets to see you on March 28 going to do that night? (I suppose neck surgery is one option.)

But, seriously, when you make a commitment to come to Buffalo, we expect you to keep it. The excuse that you had to start work on your new movie project doesn't cut it here. And whatever that movie is, don't expect one woman in Buffalo to go see it, even if it stars Tom Hanks. Our grudges are long and deep when someone turns their back on us.

Nora, you've jeopardized any chance that our Book Club will feature one of your books. "Heartburn" and "Crazy Salad" have been crossed off the list. And even though your newest, "I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman," has been on the best-seller lists for a gazillion weeks, I don't find it funny anymore. Actually, it reads kind of hollow.

Sort of like your promise to come to Buffalo.