press for party favors

Check out the PARTY FAVORS shout out in the Asbury Park Press (New Jersey):
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080720/ENT/807200316/1031

ACROSS THE TRANSOM
By DAVE WILLIAMS • Books Editor • July 20, 2008

Books that caught our eye in passing:

"Santa vs. Satan: The Official Compendium of Imaginary Fights," Jake Kalish, Three Rivers Press, $13.95. Think Batman vs. Superman is interesting to debate? Try Han Solo vs. Indiana Jones. Or Barbie vs. Ken. Or Aunt Jemima vs. Uncle Ben.

"The Man Who Forgot How to Read," Howard Engel, Thomas Dunne Books, $18.95. A novelist has a stroke that destroys his reading ability, starts over from scratch, and emerges triumphant (that's not a spoiler — he's the guy writing the book, so it's not hard to guess how it comes out).

"Party Favors," Nicole Sexton and Susan Johnston, Lyons Press, $24.95. GOP fundraiser Sexton's first novel (you know what they say about first novels) spins a yarn about a GOP fundraiser (told you so) and her adventures in Washington.

"Swan Peak," James Lee Burke, Simon & Schuster, $25.95. The cover says all you need to know: "A Dave Robicheaux Novel." New twist: the New Orleanian detective is in Montana this time out.

"Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys," edited by Melissa de la Cruz and Tom Dolby, Plume, $16 (paperback). A collection of essays described as a "literary celebration of one of the most important relationships in a straight girl's life — her gay best friend."

"The First Queen of England: The Myth of "Bloody Mary,' " Linda Porter, St. Martin's Press, $27.95. British scholar Porter tries to salvage the reputation of the monarch who (Porter says) paved the way for Elizabeth I's highly regarded reign.