Ed King by David Guterson. (Knopf, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Ed King

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

David Guterson joins me now. The bestselling author is in town as part of the Cherie Smith Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver Jewish Book Festival. He’s also just published his latest novel, Ed King. It’s described as a story of destiny, desire and destruction, reimagining Sophocles’s Oedipus Rex. We’ll get him to tell us more about this book. Mr. Guterson is the author of the novels East of the Mountains, The Other, Our Lady of the Forest, and Snow Falling on Cedars, which won the PEN/Faulkner Award. He’s also written a short story collection The Country Ahead of Us, the Country Behind, and Family Matters: Why Homeschooling Makes Sense. He lives in Washington State, where Ed King is set. It’s published by Knopf. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, David Guterson; Good morning, Mr. Guterson.

Me & Lee: How I Came to Know, Love, and Lose Lee Harvey Oswald by Judyth Vary Baker. (Trine Day, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Me & Lee

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

It’s nearly fifty years now since the assassination of John F. Kennedy. This past week, Lee Harvey Oswald would have turned 72. His lover, Judyth Vary Baker, has been in Canada this week to do a series of interviews about Oswald, their relationship and the undercover plot that brought them together which resulted in the murder of Kennedy in Dallas, Texas, November 22nd 1963. Ms. Baker has written a book, Me & Lee: How I Came to Know, Love, and Lose Lee Harvey Oswald, and after its publication some time ago, she is finally talking about what’s in the book, and about Oswald, all in an effort to reconsider, and rehabilitate his place in history. We’ll get Ms. Baker to tell us about what Oswald was doing, how he got set up, and how he eventually met his own demise some days after the assassination at the hands of Jack Ruby. Since the assassination Judyth Vary Baker has lived a quiet life outside the public eye living overseas in the midst of death threats. She joins me from Montreal today. The book is available from www.meandlee.com, as well Amazon and Chapters are selling it on their websites. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Judyth Vary Baker; Good morning, Ms. Baker.

The Magician King by Lev Grossman. (Viking, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Magician King

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

Lev Grossman joins me now. He is in town appearing at the Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival. He’s the author of the bestselling novels Codex and The Magicians. His new book is The Magician King, which is a sequel to the New York Times bestseller The Magicians, which came out in 2009. In The Magician King we return to the magical land of Fillory, where Quentin and his friends now run the place. They’re bored however and through some doing, they’re brought back to his parents house in Chesterton, Massachusetts. We see both worlds, the magical and fantastic, and the sort of suburban America that we’re more familiar with. We’ll get Mr. Grossman to tell us more about this book, writing it, the worlds of fantasy and fiction that seem to be mainstream nowadays. Lev Grossman is a well-known cultural commentator and a senior writer and critic at Time magazine. His website is at www.levgrossman.com, and the website for the book is at www.themagicianking.com. The book is published by Viking. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Lev Grossman; Good morning, Mr. Grossman.

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin by Erik Larson. (Crown, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: In the Garden of Beasts

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

A marvellous book out now is In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin. It takes us to 1933 Germany. The Nazis have just come to power, and Adolf Hitler is completing his first full year as chancellor. The unlikely ambassador to Germany from the United States is a mild-mannered academic, William E. Dodd. He and his family move to Berlin, and it’s through them that we see Germany as it was. Hindsight is always 20/20, but in this book, which reads like a novel, we see life as it were as Hitler tightens his grip on power. We see the gathering storm as Jewish persecution mounts and attacks on Americans occur, as well we see the reaction from Dodd, the American State Department, and their contemporaries. We also see the charmed life lead by his daughter Martha, who is fascinated and entranced by the ‘New Germany,’ which leads to romance with figures within the Nazi regime. Erik Larson joins me from Toronto now. He is the award winning author of six books including the critically acclaimed and bestselling Isaac’s Storm, Thunderstruck and The Devil in the White City, which was a number one bestseller on the New York Times list. This book, published by Crown, is this week also number one on the Times list. The website for more is at www.eriklarsonbooks.com. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Erik Larsen; Good morning, Mr. Larsen.

Be Different: Adventures of a Free-Range Aspergian by John Elder Robison. (Doubleday, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Be Different

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

Asperger’s syndrome and Aspergians are given a view and a voice in a new book. The author is John Elder Robison, and he joins me from Toronto this morning. His new book is called Be Different: Adventures of a Free-Range Aspergian. In it he talks about his own experiences, offers advice to those who are essentially different not disabled, all the while giving the reader a greater understanding of what Asperger’s is and its place in the Autism spectrum. It’s a compelling book, candid and often humorous. John Elder Robison was diagnosed with Asperger’s in adulthood, he wrote about it in his previous book, a bestseller, Look Me in the Eye. He blogs for Psychology Today and is an adjunct professor at Elms College in Massachusetts. His website for more is at www.johnrobison.com. Be Different is published by Doubleday. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, John Elder Robison; Good morning, Mr. Robison.

Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later by Francine Pascal. (St. Martin’s Press, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Sweet Valley Confidential

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at THECOMMENTARY.CA.

I don’t know why it surprised me when people I’d ask about Sweet Valley High immediately recognised it and many loved the series. The popular series of novels for teens has from the 1980s to the early part of the last decade have been selling well as well as beloved. There were over 152 books as part of the series, as well as a spin-off series of novels, and a television show. The creator of the Sweet Valley series Francine Pascal joins me now. She takes us back to the idyllic Sweet Valley in a new book, Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later. The storyline is brought up-to-date as we see the iconic identical twins, Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield all grown up now in their late 20s, dealing with seemingly adult issues of love, sisterhood, relationships, betrayal and careers. We’ll ask Ms. Pascal about the new book, the series and more. The book is published by St. Martin’s Press. The website for more is at www.sweetvalleytenyearslater.com. Francine Pascal other than creating the Sweet Valley series, has also written several best-selling books, as well as adult novels and a work of non-fiction, The Strange Case of Patty Hearst. She collaborated on the Broadway musical George M!, and has revised the musicals Carnival and Mack and Mabel. She sits on the advisory board of the American Theatre Wing. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program in New York City, Francine Pascal; Good morning, Ms. Pascal.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at THECOMMENTARY.CA.

In recent weeks, in Tunisia and Egypt, we’ve heard angry mobs calling for their dictators to flee. We’ve seen regime change in those two countries, and we’re watching now to see if Libya is next. A lot of people have been drawing comparisons to the People’s Power Revolution in the Philippines which occurred 25 years ago this week. Joining me now to look back at what happened then, as well as to look at what’s going on now is Phil Bronstein. There’s no one better, as in 1986 he was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for his work covering the Philippines. At the time he was a reporter for the San Francisco Examiner, and was covering the revolution with his photographer Kim Komenich. I’ll ask Mr. Bronstein about what it was like in the Philippines 25 years ago, what it was like being in the crucible of a revolution, the end of a dictatorship, the fleeing of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos, the rise of Corazon Aquino and her installation as president. We’ll look back too at the assassination of Ninoy Aquino and how that event in 1983 marked the beginning of the end for Marcos, and the road to EDSA, a popular name for the revolution taken from the Manila thoroughfare where millions gathered 25 years ago this week. Phil Bronstein is executive vice president and editor-at-large of the San Francisco Chronicle. His blog, Bronstein At Large can be found on the Chronicle’s website, www.sfgate.com. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Phil Bronstein; Good morning, Mr. Bronstein.

The Solution: Conquer Your Fear, Control Your Future by Lucinda Bassett. (Sterling, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Solution

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at THECOMMENTARY.CA.

Anxiety and stress are prescribed a remedy in a new book The Solution: Conquer Your Fear, Control Your Future. Its author Lucinda Bassett joins me now. Some 40 million North Americans suffer with anxiety, and 200 million say stress in their lives is a problem. Stress of course leads to ailments that lead to death. In this book you read about some well-known and not-so well known people, you hear their stories and experiences, and you get started on dealing with your own issues. There’s a 21 day program in this book that will help focus your life, help you see what you want, and perhaps help you get it. You’ll also understand your emotions with Ms. Bassett’s ideas on how to harness those insecure and uncertain feelings for good. Better health, more energy, and positive thinking is the goal, and we’ll get Lucinda Bassett to tell us more about this book. She’s had to deal with this herself, and her story will prove instructive. Lucinda Bassett is the president of the Midwest Center for Stress and Anxiety. She has appeared on many radio and television programs including Oprah, The View, Live with Regis and Kelly and Robert Schuller’s Hour of Power. Her previous books include the bestsellers From Panic to Power, and Life Without Limits. The Solution is published by Sterling. The websites for more are www.lucindabassett.com and www.midwestcenter.com. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Lucinda Bassett; Good morning, Ms. Bassett.

Growing Up Jung: Coming of Age as the Son of Two Shrinks by Micah Toub. (Doubleday, 2010) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Growing Up Jung

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line; In Vancouver, at THECOMMENTARY.CA.

A great new book out is Growing Up Jung: Coming of Age as the Son of Two Shrinks. It’s from the Globe and Mail columnist Micah Toub, who writes a personal memoir, that’s often funny, sometimes challenging, and deeply personal. As the son of two psychologists, we see the confusions and dysfunctions worked out, worked over, and discussed in this book. Everything from sexual confusion and dysfunction, the dynamic between a parent and a child, a mother and a son, a father and a son, a father and a daughter, as well as the teachings of Jung are illustrated and explained in a way that make this book incredibly engaging. www.micahtoub.com is the website for more. Growing Up Jung is published in Canada by Doubleday, and Norton in the United States. In Vancouver this day, please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Micah Toub; Good morning, Mr. Toub.

The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century by Dr. Dickson Despommier. (Thomas Dunne Book, 2010) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Vertical Farm

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. In Vancouver, this is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

Dr. Dickson Despommier joins me now. He is the author of a new book, a fascinating one, The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century. It’s a provocative, yet thoughtful book showing us how we could have our own local food source, especially if we live in an urban centre. With food in short supply, the same with water and energy, Dr. Despommier thinks we should build up. Now, scientists, architects and people around the globe are getting hip to the idea that these specially designed buildings can grow not only food, thanks to hydroponics and aeroponics, but they can be sources of employment and because of their locations, they would also reduce dependence on fossil fuels in terms of getting the food to people. Dr. Dickson Despommier spent thirty eight years as a professor of microbiology and public health in environmental health sciences at Columbia University. He has won numerous awards, and he’s been featured in countless national and international media outlets, both print and broadcast. It’s a Thomas Dunne Book, which is an imprint of St. Martin’s Press. The website for more is www.verticalfarm.com. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Dickson Despommier; Good morning, Dr. Despommier.