FROM DUTTON'S BRENTWOOD BOOKS NEWSLETTER

Odds and ends

Man Booker book............Irish writer Anne Enright was awarded the 2007 Man Booker Prize this week for her novel The Gathering. In a field of shortlisted authors that boasted such heavy-weights as Ian McEwan (who won the 1998 prize for his novel Amsterdam), Enright's selection was a bit of a surprise. In fact, oddsmakers were divided between McEwan and Lloyd Jones, whose novel Mr. Pip was heavily favored until McEwan's backers rallied to take the lead going into the final day of betting. Still, the oddsmakers are rarely correct in anticipating the Booker recipient - the last front-runner to win was Yan Martel's Life of Pi five years. [Dutton's Brentwood reminds everyone to bet responsibly]. Though somewhat unexpected, Enright's victory is hardly undeserved. The New York Times' Liesl Schillenger said of Enright: "her prose often ravishes and sometimes repels: reading her can be like staring into the lustrous surface of a lake, trying to discern the dangers lurking beneath."

What a book-signing!...................

Hatchard's Bookshop in Picadilly, London hosted a remarkable signing featuring all six authors shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. Sales were, presumably, quite brisk. Following the signing, the authors made their way to the Man Booker Prize award dinner held nearby.

What a book-signing! (2)...........

Sixteen hundred Los Angeles schoolchildren were treated to the rare honor and pleasure of meeting Harry Potter's J.K. Rowling as she kicked off her U.S. book tour. Forty students from each of forty area schools were randomly chosen to attend the reading, which took place at the Kodak Theater. Rowling read, took questions, then patiently signed books for each of the attendees. The event was designed as a replacement for the usual sort of signing where, one suspects, the author would be besieged by unmanageable crowds. By all reports, the L.A. event was enjoyed by everyone - especially Rowling, who said she had missed the oppurtunity to meet with her young fans. She last toured the States in 2000.

Memo to Oprah: Pick me.........

Widely popular political satirist Stephen Colbert recently took the unusual step of graciously offering his new book, I Am America (And So Can You), to Oprah Winfrey as her next selection for the Oprah Book Club. Citing a "troubling" record of previous picks, Colbert promised to save the Book Club by appearing in person to promote the book. If you'd like to read (and/or sign) his petition, just follow this link.

Dutton's welcomes the maestro.........

Buskers are often a welcome and humane presence in the subway stations and streets of cities around the world, but when the busker is the concertmaster of the London Mozart Players and guest conductor for the London Philharmonic and the Royal Philharmonia, it is a special occasion.

That special occasion took place in the courtyard of Dutton's Brentwood on a Saturday afternoon in October, as David Juritz, the aforementioned violinist cum director, brought his charm, wit, intelligence and virtuosity, not to forget his violin, all in the service of his charity, Musequality. Before a quickly assembled group of enthusiastic auditors and music lovers, Maestro Juritz played selections from several of the Bach partitas and sonatas, and made his appeal for his music project and its beneficiaries, underpriviledged children who desire music education. Musequality, inspired by the Venezuelan program, El Sistema, already has a pilot program in Kampala Uganda that boasts of considerable success. Aside from the Bach selections, Maestro Juritz demonstrated his virtuosic prowess along with his dramatic dexterity in a self-accompanied reading of Munro Leaf"s classic, "The Story of Ferdinand the Bull."

It was a philosophical, social, artistic and financial success, as busker Juritz walked away with over $400 for his afternoon's labors. Those interested in Musequality and its work are encouraged to visit its website, and to check out the article that appeared in the New York Times of October 19.