Amazon has launched a cool feature to track America’s purchase habits of political books this election season. Click around to follow each state’s reading interests, and see the changes from 2004 to 2008. Out of the top ten partisan political books selling nationally through Amazon, Barack Obama appears on five book covers, John McCain none, Sarah Palin one, and Joe Biden none. Make of that what you will.

Litquake’s star-packed opening night at the Herbst Theatre, in conjunction with Porchlight Storytelling, features some keen minds telling tales about the prospect of getting suckered. Up from Los Angeles to tell stories are Alternadad author Neal Pollack and poet Amber Tamblyn, also known for acting in TV and films like The Grudge 2, and those ones about the traveling pants. Every Porchlight show at Litquake has sold out, and this one promises to hit big. Tickets are now available at City Box Office!

Since this is a Litquake blog, nearly all items here eventually circle round to the Bay Area literary scene. Starting in November, Amber begins shooting a new TV police show written and produced by former San Francisco writer Noah Hawley. The Unusuals debuts on ABC next year, and will be set and shot in New York. Hawley also continues to write dark satirical novels — his newest, The Punch, was published this summer by Chronicle Books.

Congratulations to Oakland author Maxine Hong Kingston, who this week received a National Book Award medal for “distinguished contribution to American letters.” Maxine will formally be presented with the award on November 19 at the 59th National Book Awards Ceremony and Benefit Dinner at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

And finally, tragedy struck the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center library in Fremont, Ohio this week, when thieves made off with two rare books valued at $130,000. Police have charged three people with the crime, but the books have yet to be recovered. It is not known whether the crooks were simply fans of America’s 19th president and his legacy, or part of a more sinister international Rutherford B. Hayes stolen goods syndicate.