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There has been a lot of  TV hoopla surrounding the ‘exclusive’ interviews with Ruth Madoff and her youngest son Andrew as part off the promotion for a new book Truth and Consequences: Life Inside the Madoff Family by Laurie Sandell.  Bernie Madoff, of course, is the financier convicted of running a 50 billion dollar Ponzi scheme which led to his oldest son, Mark, committing sucide.  What you might not know is that Mark Madoff’s widow, Stephanie Madoff Mack,  has written her own book The End of Normal which was released last month to much less fanfare.  Below is part one of an interview Mack did with Robin Roberts when she appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America.  I could only find the link to the second part of that interview which I have provided for you  here.

Madoff’d, v. To get ripped off in a particularly offensive fashion. Sample sentence: “Oh man, that cab driver totally Madoff’d me. I gave him a $20 and he only gave me change for a $10.”

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Harry Markopolos, the Boston derivatives analyst that tried to warn the SEC about Madoff’s Ponzi scheme, appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart last night to promote his book NO ONE WOULD LISTEN: A true financial thriller.  What I find incredable is that no one at the SEC has been fired over the Madoff mess.  Unbelievable!

Narrow Dog To Indian River by Terry Darlington  -  funny memoir of traveling the 1,150-mile Intracoastal Waterway from Virginia to the Gulf of Mexico in a narrowboat with wife Virginia and dog, Jim.  What makes it even better is that the Darlingtons are British and in their seventies.

Getting Stoned With Savages by J. Maarten Troost – hilarious memoir of  ditching his job and moving with his wife to the clothing optional islands of Fiji and Vanuatu.  Lots of misadventures revolving around the Kava eating natives, giant centipedes, earthquakes and government coups.

Travels In A Thin Country: A Journey Through Chile by Sara Wheeler – Pearl calls Wheeler fearless, as she travels solo and experiences a place through the hospitality of people she meets along the way.

New Regency has set (Edward Zwick) to direct “In the Heart of the Sea,” the fact-based tale of Nantucket whaling ship the Essex, which was stalked and ultimately destroyed by a sperm whale in 1820. Stranded thousands of miles from home, the crew struggled to survive; they were lost at sea for 90 days. Eight were rescued.

Universal is developing a reimagining of the Melville novel.  Hmmmm.

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For romantic fiction fans, there are three great reads that revolve in and around the 17 century Dutch art world. All introduce female protagonists that sit as models for pensive male artists who seem to paint pictures of intriguing women. “Tulip Fever” by Deborah Moggach, “Girl In Hyacinth Blue” by Susan Vreeland and “Girl With A Pearl Earring” by Tracey Chevalier.

“Niccolo Rising” by historical fiction writer Dorothy Dunnett is the first volume of Dunnet’s five-book House of Niccolo series about the madcap adventures of young men in the wealthy dye and trading house business of 15th century Bruge.

Biography fans can choose between the poignant “The Diary of A Young Girl” by Anne Frank or “Lust For Living” by Irving Stone, a fictionalized biography of the life of artist Vincent Van Gogh and/or it’s companion piece “Dear Theo”.

One last suggestion for those kids on tour with you is “Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates” by Mary Mapes Dodge.

Let’s get going and start reading!