Huffington: Through the Looking Glass

Political conservative Arianna Huffington casts herself as a sort of “Alice in Wonderland” in a satirical romp through the White House in her latest book, “Greetings From the Lincoln Bedroom.”

Sure, says liberal comedian Al Franken in a book-jacket comment, “ ‘Greetings From the Lincoln Bedroom’ is like ‘Alice in Wonderland’ if Alice were beautiful, impertinent, Greek and evil.”

With a $300 donation to the Democratic National Committee--the result of a lost bet--the fictional Huffington is invited to spend a weekend in the Lincoln Bedroom with “unlimited access” to everything from Bill Clinton (“the Horndog-in-Chief, who lusts after everything that moves”) to a genial Al Gore (who is stored upright in a basement corner) to a jaded and bitter talking cat named Socks.

That’s not to mention the ladies-only tea party with Hillary, Maya Angelou, Madeline Albright, Madonna, a giggly intern and a Greek chorus of breast-feeding mothers.

The “frisky doyenne of the political right,” as Kirkus Reviews calls Huffington, will discuss her seventh book--and her first foray into fiction--at the Round Table West literary luncheon at noon Thursday at the Balboa Bay Club, 1221 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach.

Also on the bill: Adeline Yen Mah, author of “Falling Leaves: The True Story of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter,” and Betty Garrett, author of “Betty Garrett & Other Songs.”

Cost: $35. For reservation, call (213) 256-7977.

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Historian and biographer Carl Anthony will discuss presidents and their first ladies at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace, 19001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda.

Anthony is the author of the two-volume definitive history, “First Ladies”; a new biography of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, “As We Remember Her”; and the upcoming biography, “Florence Harding: The First Lady, the Jazz Age and the Death of America’s Most Scandalous President.” He also is guest curator of the Nixon Library’s upcoming special exhibit, “My Dearest Partner: Husbands and Wives in the White House.”

Admission: $5. To order tickets, call (714) 993-5075.

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Novelist John Rechy, author of “City of Night,” will read and discuss his works at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Room 135 at the Humanities Instructional Building at UC Irvine. Free. Co-sponsored by the Department of Spanish and Portuguese and PEN Orange County.

Also This Week

* Robert Greer, author of “The Devil’s Backbone,” will sign at noon today at Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin Ave., Orange. Greer also will sign at 1:30 p.m. today at Coffee, Tea & Mystery, 13232 Springdale St., Westminster.

* Charles Knief, author of “Sand Dollars,” will sign at 3:30 p.m. today at Coffee, Tea & Mystery, 13232 Springdale St., Westminster.

* Michael Byers, author of “The Coast of Good Intentions,” will read and sign at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Latitude 33, 311 Ocean Ave., Laguna Beach.

* Judith Sherven and James Sniechowski, authors of “The New Intimacy,” will speak and sign at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Borders Books, 25222 El Paseo, Mission Viejo.

* Mary Willis Walker, author of “All the Dead Lie Down,” will sign at 2 p.m. Saturday at Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin Ave., Orange.

* Martin Dugard, author of “Surviving the Toughest Race on Earth,” will sign at 7 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble, 13712 Jamboree Road, Irvine.

Send information about book-related events at least 10 days before event to: Dennis McLellan, O.C. Books & Authors, Life & Style, The Times, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626.