Orange Prize

Berkeley writer Anita Amirrezvani’s first novel The Blood of Flowers, has been nominated for an Orange Prize, a British award that honors fiction written by women.

I heard Anita read this summer at the Squaw Valley Community of Writers, and her book about a young Iranian carpet weaver is beautifully written. It also has one of the most beautiful covers I have ever seen.

Julia Flynn Siler's book, The House of Mondavi, has been nominated for a James Beard Award.

The new Cody's Books opened this weekend on Shattuck Avenue in downtown Berkeley. David Hadju inaugarated the new store. Eric Alterman speaks on March 25th. Let us hope this is the final move and the new location works.

Don't forget that Jon Carroll and Leah Garchik will interview one another tonight at Berkeley Rep in a benefit for Park Day School.