Inside Jacket

This week for Freebie Friday, you have a chance to win "America by Heart," the latest from Tea Party favorite and former GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

This might not be the most popular book in Maryland, which is among the bluest of states. But there’s no doubting Palin’s charisma, or her appeal across much of America. This book hasn’t matched the huge sales of her first, "Going Rogue," but it’s high on best-seller lists. Even if you don’t like her brand of politics, you’ve got to be curious about her personally. (And hey, if you have a true-blue Dem in your life, this would be the perfect gag gift for a Christmas grab-bag.)

For a chance to win "America by Heart," leave a comment about what you’re reading, and answer this question: When you read biographies or other books about politics, are they always from the party or point of view you identfy with? Or do you read about those people you might not vote for?

By the way, congratulations to Eve, the winner of last week’s Freebie Friday giveaway: "As Always, Julia," a collection of letters between Julia Child and her literary agent.

What better way to ring in the holidays — a time for peace on Earth — than a vicious contest that pits Baltimore Raven Ray Lewis, Olympic champion Michael Phelps and author Anne Tyler, among others? That’s the aim of Celebrity Smackdown, an annual contest that determines the most popular local celebrity in Baltimore.

Besides Tyler, the local celeb list includes authors such as David Simon ("Homicide" and "The Corner") and Laura Lippman ("I’d Know You Anywhere" and the Tess Monaghan novels).

Many of the other celebs, including Phelps, Olympic skater Dorothy Hamill and movie director John Waters, have written books, but they fall short of being an author with a capital "A".

So if you’re a book-lover, make sure to vote — and ensure that Baltimore is known for more than athletes. Consider each bookish vote a victory for the English majors who were terrorized by jocks in school.

Vote, and vote often.

Elizabeth Edwards’ five-year battle with cancer has ended; she died today, her family said. As we noted yesterday, Edwards, 61, used her prominence to craft two touching books about her battle: 2010 book, “Resilience: Reflections on the Burdens and Gifts of Facing Life’s Adversities” (2010) and “Saving Graces: Finding Solace and Strength from Friends and Strangers” (2007). She did it all while coping with an affair by her politician husband, John. She’ll be missed.

Oprah’s latest book club pick, which reaches waaaay back to Charles Dickens, may bring a new audience to his works.

Oprah billed the choice as "A Date with Dickens" in picking both "At Tale of Two Cities" and "Great Expectations." In announcing the choice — #65 for her club — she said she was going "old school." And she had a confession for her audience: "Normally I only choose books that I have read, but I must shamefully admit to you all that I have never read Dickens." (I’d like to have a chat with her high school English teachers!)

Penguin has combined the two books into a single paperback for Oprah’s book club. But you can also get the books online for free at various websites, including iBooks and literaturepage.com. No less a talent than Jonathan Franzen, who was appearing on her show, praised her choice, calling TOTC "a "total page-turner." I don’t think I’ll have the time to knock out "Great Expectations" (I’ve read TOTC) this holiday season. But I can see re-reading another Dickens classic, "A Christmas Carol," as a treat.

Oprah also made a broad pitch for reading. She said, "Books do matter. We’re still going to be holding books in our hands for years to come."

Reports from North Carolina say that Elizabeth Edwards may have only weeks to live before succumbing to cancer — a chilling outlook for a courageous woman who has had to confront her husband’s philandering as well as disease.

Edwards, the wife of former Democratic presidential candidate John, resisted the temptation to complain about her problems. In her 2010 book, "Resilience: Reflections on the Burdens and Gifts of Facing Life’s Adversities," she frankly explored the challenges she faced. It followed another well-received book, "Saving Graces: Finding Solace and Strength from Friends and Strangers" (2007).

Such books can be inspirational — just recall "Tuesdays with Morrie" and "The Last Lecture." A book with a more satisfying ending was "It’s Not about the Bike," which detailed Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong’s fight against cancer. Such books are wildly popular not because they offer us the hope of beating a horrid disease, but because they offer us a chance to glimpse real bravery in those who have confronted death in a dignified way.

Add Elizabeth Edwards to that list.