QUICK TAKES - Oct. 24, 2009

On the same day that Sarah Palin’s memoir is due to be released Nov. 17, another book about the former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate is scheduled to hit bookstores: a collection that looks to be critical of the high-profile Republican, subtitled, as it is, “Sarah Palin: An American Nightmare.”

The book covers are strikingly similar. So, too, the titles: Palin’s book is “Going Rogue,” a phrase taken from her deviation from John McCain’s views during the 2008 campaign. The other book is entitled “Going Rouge,” a phrase that seems to come from nowhere except a switch of the letters “u” and “g” from Palin’s title.

“Going Rouge,” which is being edited by two senior editors from the Nation, is being published by the young imprint OR Books. The company seems to be hoping to either catch the wave of enthusiasm greeting Palin’s book -- or to confuse Palin supporters into purchasing the Palin-unfriendly book.

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Carolyn Kellogg