'That Old Cape Magic'
By Richard Russo
Reviewed by Geoff Nicholson

'The Philosophical Baby: What Children's Minds Tell Us About Truth, Love, and the Meaning of Life'
By Alison Gopnik
Reviewed by Mark Sloan

'The Battle for America 2008: The Story of an Extraordinary Election'
By Dan Balz and Haynes Johnson
Reviewed by Michael S. Roth

'It Feels So Good When I Stop'
By Joe Pernice
Reviewed by Jacob Molyneux

'Speed Shrinking'
By Susan Shapiro
Reviewed by Meredith Maran

'Heart of Dryness: How the Last Bushmen Can Help Us Endure the Coming Age of Permanent Drought'
By James G. Workman
Reviewed by Alan Snitow

'Delhi Noir'
Edited by Hirsh Sawhney
Reviewed by Terry Hong

Books Around The Bay Here's your guide to local independent bookstores. Plus: Find them on this map.

The City in words
This map of S.F. is composed of some of the very words - from novels, poems and essays - that animate our city.

Top Shelf
This week's recommendations of recent books comes from Mrs. Dalloway's, in Berkeley.

Fresh Ink
What's Bill Clinton reading?; "The Diary of Anne Frank" to be adapted into a film; and more.

Three Panel Book Review
Lisa Brown's artistic takes on books. This week: "Olive Kitteridge."

Taking on anorexia
Lisa Himmel and her mother, food writer Sheila Himmel, share all in "Hungry: A Mother and Daughter Fight Anorexia."

The big O Mara Altman had quite the time researching her memoir, "Thanks for Coming: One Young Woman's Quest for an Orgasm."

This chimp's life
The purported autobiography of a movie-star chimpanzee is among the contenders for the Booker Prize.

On writing, wanderlust "Wanderlust" author Rebecca Solnit talks mottos, regrets and lessons learned.

E. Lynn Harris Dies
The bestselling author was a pioneer of gay black fiction. He died at the age of 54.

Redefining obscene Paul Krassner says true obscenity is now evolving into its proper definition.

S.F. International Poetry Festival
The four-day gala that brings together 27 poets from 21 countries.

Bound by fog Fog creeps into many a novel set in S.F. Here's a look at why »?

The best in comic books
Here's a sample of the best graphic storytelling available in hardcover and trade paperback.

Politics on two wheels Reporter Jeff Mapes' new book, "Pedaling Revolution," chronicles the rise of urban bicycling.

Clueing readers in
The promotion for Dan Brown's new thriller will itself be a bit of a puzzle.

Forgiving pages After a car accident, Holly Payne wrote the driver responsible a book about forgiveness.