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In 1999, a few days before his wedding, Franz Wisner's betrothed backed out. He hosted the reception anyway, then returned to his job for more depressing news: He'd been demoted.
As Wisner explains on his Web site, www.honeymoonwithmybrother.com: "I decided to go on a scheduled Costa Rican honeymoon with my recently divorced brother, (photographer) Kurt. We swapped the champagne for beer. During the trip, I realized that having my life turned upside down might not be such a bad thing after all."
The brothers quit their jobs, sold their homes and in early 2000 took off on a two-year "honeymoon" of travel to 53 countries. Their journey ended in 2002, when the brothers came to Sacramento for their grandmother's 100th birthday party.
OAS_AD('Button20'); Franz Wisner devoted the next year to writing a memoir about their journey, "Honeymoon With My Brother" (St. Martin's, $12.95 paperback, 288 pages). Good news: Franz Wisner married someone else, the book became a best-seller and Sony Pictures bought the movie rights.
The Brothers Wisner will appear at these upcoming events:
* 7 p.m. Tuesday at Borders Books, 2339 Fair Oaks Blvd., (916) 564-0168.
* 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Avid Reader, 617 Second St., Davis, (530) 758-4040.
* 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Commonwealth Club, 595 Market St., San Francisco. The $20 nonmember ticket includes wine and hors d'oeuvres; (415) 597-6705 or www.commonwealthclub.org.
Trial attorney-turned-novelist Ayelet Waldman and her newest book, "Love and Other Impossible Pursuits" (Doubleday, $23.95, 352 pages), are The Bee Book Club's choices for February. She will give a presentation and host question-and-answer and book-signing sessions at 6 p.m. next Thursday at the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria, 828 I St. It's free and open to the public. Doors open at 5:15 p.m.; (916) 321-1128.
Upcoming author appearances include:
* Saul Williams for "The Dead Emcee Scrolls: The Lost Teachings of Hip Hop" (MTV, $12.95, 208 pages). Through "hip-hop diction and rhyme," Williams' book of poems and essays focuses on the history of the hip-hop genre. P.S.: Williams starred in the 1998 movie "Slam," about gang life behind prison walls.
Event: 4 p.m. today at Barnes & Noble, 1725 Arden Way, (916) 565-0644.
* Charlene Proctor for "Let Your Goddess Grow: Seven Spiritual Lessons on Female Power and Positive Thinking" (Goddess Network, $19.95, 269 pages): Using the book, Proctor's workshop will outline the steps of how to lead "a positive and balanced life."
Event: 6:30 tonight at the Learning Exchange, 1111 Howe Ave., (916) 929-9200; $57.
* Barbara Larsen for "Movement With Meaning: A Multisensory Program for Individuals With Early-Stage Alzheimer's Disease" (Health Professions Press, $29.95, 184 pages).
Larsen lends a hand to those with early-stage Alzheimer's disease, focusing on activities they are still capable of doing. The photographs and directions are a big help. She is an education and family consultant for the Del Oro Caregiver Resource Center.
Event: 3 p.m. Saturday at the Book Seller, 107 Mill St., Grass Valley, (530) 272-2131.
On Saturday, the El Dorado Hills Library will celebrate its grand opening with entertainment, games, tours and refreshments. One highlight will be the new self-check-out (and check-in) system. The party starts at 2 p.m. at 7455 Silva Valley Parkway, El Dorado Hills, (916) 939-3327.
Here's a minilibrary of good reads:
* "This Book of More Perfectly Useless Information," compiled by Mitchell Symons (Harper Entertainment, $14.95, 368 pages): You want trivia? Here it is. Did you know that an earthworm has five hearts? That actor Christopher Walken was an assistant lion tamer in a circus? Now you do.
* "Night" by Elie Wiesel (Hill & Wang, $9, 120 pages): This is the Nobel laureate's first-person memoir (from 1958) of surviving the Nazi death camps, reissued in a new translation, with a new preface by the author.
* "Literary Feasts: Inspired Eating From Classic Fiction" by Sean Brand (Atria, $18, 128 pages): With a dash of wit and a dollop of humor, Brand surveys the meals in books by the likes of Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare and Ian Fleming, and lays out the menus (but not the recipes).
* "My Boyfriend's Back" by Donna Hanover (Plume, $15, 304 pages): The paperback edition by New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's ex is just right for Valentine's Day. After her divorce, Hanover hooked up with and wed her former high school sweetie. She tells that tale, plus those of 50 other couples who did the same, along with a new introduction.
About the writer: The Bee's Allen Pierleoni can be reached at (916) 321-1128 or apierleoni@sacbee.com. Contact him with news of coming literary events that are open to the public. Unique content, exceptional value. SUBSCRIBE NOW! To see more of the Sacramento Bee, or to subscribe, go to http://www.sacbee.com Copyright 2004 Sacramento Bee. All Rights Reserved.
