By Mark Shanahan & Meredith Goldstein, Globe Staff | June 30, 2009
Local author Alice Hoffman, best known for film-adapted novel “Practical Magic,’’ has taken down the angry Twitter posts she wrote about a Globe freelance critic who recently reviewed her new book, “The Story Sisters,’’ less favorably than Hoffman (inset) would have liked. Hoffman called critic Roberta Silman a “moron’’ and said, via Twitter, “Now any idiot can be a critic. Writers used to review writers. My second novel was reviewed by [Anne ] Tyler. So who is Roberta Silman?’’ To answer Hoffman’s question, Silman has published a collection of short stories, three novels, and she’s shopping a forth. Her first short story was published in the New Yorker in 1973. Silman told us yesterday that she was surprised by Hoffman’s reaction to her review, mainly because it wasn’t very negative. “She called me a moron, which my children are going to love,’’ Silman said. “I can’t even say I was upset. I was more amused than upset.’’ Silman said that despite Hoffman’s Twitter callout to fellow writers to bash Silman for the review, she’s received only notes of support from other scribes. Hoffman, who declined to be interviewed about the Twittergate, did send us a statement. “. . . in the heat of the moment I responded strongly and wish I hadn’t. I’m sorry if I offended anyone,’’ the statement said. “Reviewers are entitled to their opinions - that’s the name of the game in publishing. I hope my readers understand that I certainly didn’t mean to hurt anyone and I’m truly sorry if I did.’’ For the record, Silman is not on Twitter.
Huey’s a swinger
It’s no surprise that Huey Lewis likes golf - remember “Fore!’’? - but it’s a bit surprising that the West Coast rocker knows so much about East Coast links. After his Saturday show at the South Shore Music Circus, the 58-year-old Lewis told us he loves coming to Boston because of the great greens around town. Lewis said he spent a day last week golfing with family at the Myopia Hunt Club in Hamilton. “We’ll play wherever they invite us. We play at The Country Club in Brookline, in Winchester . . . Winchesta,’’ he said, faking a Boston accent. Worth mentioning is that Lewis didn’t play “The Heart of Rock and Roll’’ Saturday. According to his manager, Huey’s had enough of the song. We can’t blame him.
Buffett’s new record
With his two shows at the Comcast Center, Jimmy Buffett has now played the amphitheater formerly known as Great Woods 51 times. (Yes, that’s a record for a single artist). But that’ll be it for awhile. Chatting backstage, Buffett said he won’t be doing his traditional Labor Day shows in Mansfield this year because the Deutsche Bank Golf Championship has reserved the venue that weekend. All is not lost, however. The man from “Margaritaville’’ said he may be in Nantucket this summer, and could drop by the Chicken Box club.
Sonsie the hot spot
Orioles “Iron Man’’ Cal Ripken Jr. was among several familiar faces at Sonsie over the weekend. Others included actor Luke Wilson and the “Grown Ups’’ gang Kevin James, Adam Sandler, and Rob Schneider.
She's everywhere!
Doyenne Doris Yaffe was unmasked at her 80th birthday party, as guests donned special Doris masks and purple boas courtesy of the party’s sponsor, the soon-to-open W Boston.
New Edition in chorus
Members of Boston’s own New Edition - including Ralph Tresvant, Johnny Gill, and Bobby Brown - were among a number of celebs who honored Michael Jackson at the BET Awards on Sunday. New Edition’s Michael Bivins told us that he found out about Jackson’s death as he was packing to fly to Los Angeles for the awards show.
Honeymoon tweet
Newlyweds John Henry and Linda Pizzuti are tweeting from their honeymoon. The twosome, who will tour South Africa and visit AIDS research facilities, sent messages to the masses during a stopover in Dakar yesterday. “15 min delay bc the President of Senegal is boarding his plane. Very official ceremony for his boarding process,’’ Pizzuti wrote. Meanwhile, Henry tweeted: “Just landed in Dakar. Taking the Red Sox flag through Africa. A plane full of Red Sox hats!’’
And they're off to Lenox
On the steps of Symphony Hall, the BSO yesterday began its relay run from Boston to Tanglewood. The run publicizes the opening of the ’09 Tanglewood season, which takes place Friday. Pops conductor Keith Lockhart fired a starter’s pistol and BSO life trustee Jack Cogan, bassist Todd Seeber, and staffer Stephanie Smith hit the road for the first leg of the relay.
