feedJenny Bent
So a lot of people seem to be landing on my websiteblog whilst searching for information on "Jenny Bent." This likely has to do with her recent departure from Trident Media Group, and the establishment of her own agency: The Bent Agency.
If you're looking for Jenny because you need a top-notch agent for your book, I don't blame you. She's smart, enthusiastic, and wickedly good at what she does.
If you're interested, Jenny also has a blog, and you can follow her on Twitter.
Bent on Books | Jenny Bent at Twitter
In a Tree
If your son climbs into a tree to sit in the crook of a branch and read (right now I think he's reading Tales To Give You Goosebumps by R.L. Stine, having just finished Peter Pan) should you:
- Double check your insurance to see that it covers falling out of trees in the neighbors yard whilst reading cliche spooky stories.
- Ignore him. He'll come home eventually.
- Shake the tree until he falls out. There must be something more constructive for him to do.
- Make a statement that begins "why, when I was your age..." then follow with just about anything. He won't hear you anyway.
- Take his picture.
- Double check every five minutes or so to see that he's still there. It may be that you yourself are in the middle of a goosebumps tale, in which case he is likely to become a squirrel or nut any moment, even if he happens to be up in a maple tree.
- Write about him. It's what you seem to be good at.
- Pick up a book yourself. But don't go into the tree. Sit on the porch with a lemonade or a beer or a cosmopolitan.
- Use the Wii until he comes back inside. If he asks what you were doing, lie. Tell him you were checking the weather forecast. Do not, under any circumstances, admit to plying My Sims.
- Make coffee. That's what you were going to do anyway.
Question of the Month: Books and Film and Save the Cat
I'm stealing Sue Henderson's Question of the Month for y'all to answer, because I'm curious about what y'all would like to see on the biggish-type screen:
What book would you love to see made into a movie, and who would you cast in it?
[From litpark » Question of the Month: Books and Film]
Remember, no cheating and no wagering. And bless you.
Hey, I'm Getting a Review Copy
...from Librarything, of the book you see over there hanging at the right. This one: Double or Nothing: How Two Friends Risked It All to Buy One of Las Vegas' Legendary Casinos by Tom Breitling, Cal Fussman
So, cool. I'll let you know if it's any darn good.
Ugh. I'm tired.
Labels: books
Updates from Liberty
Last Friday I made my Liberty Elementary and Junior High debut, to much acclaim an hoopla.
Also? I got a bunch of new books to add to my "kids recommendations from the road." I give them to you here, and ask only that you use them wisely. and share them with your friends, if you must, but don't be so foolish as to not read any of these books. They are, after all, recommended by kids.
Kids like you
Now go read
Labels: books, recommendations
Elevenses } Books Clicked
Labels: books, elevenses, smartlinks
Thanks to Moscow
After having come back from my final visit to Moscow, Idaho, the Kid Recommendation list is getting pretty full. Or fuller, anyway. Full enough to say, "Hey, look, a collection of books to choose from."
Okay, so mostly this is a personal list, something I can call on to find something to read for me and my own kids, but maybe you'll find something on it too. And when you do, you can write to me and let me know: bainbooks@gmail.com.
Thanks again to Moscow for having me down. I had a fabulous time of it, and probably learned a thing or two. I don't know yet what I learned, but I'm sure I learned something. Maybe that the fringe is not the hunted thing.
Blessings.
Labels: books, children's books, recommendations
Blogging Widget for Patry Francis
Here's a little bluemark/smartlink Blogging Widget goodness for all y'all who might be blogging for Patry Francis tomorrow (Jan. 29). Just click the "Grab" button and you can style up a storm for your widget, then grab the javascript for your own site goodness.
Why do I love the smartlink? Because you click it and you get all the links you could ever want to all the booksites in the universe, including the amazon and the bn and the goodreads and the librarything and the google and the whatever... and if they don't have it, the folks at Adaptive Blue are likely ready to make it so. Just drop 'em a line.
If you have any trouble with the widget, don't hesitate to contact the folks at Adaptive Blue. They are very responsive and helpful and will likely send flowers.
Okay. Maybe they won't send flowers. But I'm not gonna say that they absolutely won't send flowers. Just that I don't know if they will or they won't. You know what I mean?
Blessings.
Labels: blessings, blogging, books, smartlinks
The Tales of Beedle the Bard
My question, I suppose, is this. If you order The Tales of Beedle the Bard (from Sotheby's in London, you see), and you choose super saver shipping, will it arrive by Christmas?
« ...Amazon has purchased J.K. Rowling’s The Tales of Beedle the Bard at an auction held by Sotheby’s in London. »
Furthermore, if you spend more than one million nine hundred thousand pounds, do you get free shipping?
Important questions, I should think... but I see no answers forthcoming. Sadly, we may never know.
Meanwhile, it's a winter wonderland outside my house. I'm trying to figure out how I can convince the dog to go out and shovel the walk, then move the trash out to the corner. Maybe if I turn it into a game? Pretend the trash is a small group of sheep?
She's too clever for me, that dog.
Blessings.
Labels: Amazon.com, booklinks, books, Harry Potter, HP7
Two New Facebook Groups for Your Facebook Grouping Empleasurement
We Are the Cat People on Facebook
The groups are public. Feel free to join us. And also? You have to join Facebook. But you probably already knew/did that.
Blessings.
Labels: booklinks, books, facebook
Enviably Odd Book Title | Foreskin's Lament
I don't think I can properly comment on why this book title is "enviable."
Let's just say that's a fantastic title, shall we? And move on from there? And also... well,.. how many book titles actually use the word "foreskin"? I mean, come on... that takes guts (if not an actual foreskin).
Move along now. Nothing to see here.
Labels: books, Enviably Odd Book Title
Personalized and Inscribed Copy of Terry Bain's Books Direct from Terry
Get a copy, Makes a great gift. As always. And write your local Random House to convince them to publish it in paperback.Get You Are a Dog Now / $16 (add $4 shipping)
Get We Are the Cat Now / $16 (add $4 shipping)
Labels: books
Happy Birthday C.S. Lewis
Blessings, and thanks for Narnia, as well as many other things, such as Mere Christianity.
My favorite story about C.S. Lewis is the one where he claims to have become a Christian while walking to the zoo with his brother. As he set out for the zoo, he was not a Christian. By the time he reached the zoo, he was a Christian. He relates this story himself, and it very nearly seems to undermine almost everything he ever said about Christianity. Except if you know anything about his writings about Christianity, you know that he was unquestionably serious. More serious than you're likely to be able to imagine without walking to the zoo.
Blessings.
Axis of Apologist
flickr
Labels: birthdays, blessings, books, children's books, Christianity
Enviably Odd Book Title ‡ Last Night at the Lobster
I heard a delicious review of Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan today on NPR, and I'm ready to put it in my cart.
But first I'm gonna add it to my wish list, because Christmas is coming, they say, and sometimes people buy gifts for other people and stuff like that, so one never knows. A guy could get lucky.
Have you read the Lobster? Did you love it? Hate it. Feel oddly ticklish when holding it in your hands with your eyes closed while wearing a plaid beret?
Do tell.
Axis of Lobster
Labels: axis, booklinks, books, Enviably Odd Book Title
New York Times Gets Down on it for the 100 Notable Books of the Year 2007 (That's This Year for those of You Keeping Track at Home)
As I said in the title, "New York Times Gets Down on it for the 100 Notable Books of the Year 2007 (That's This Year for those of You Keeping Track at Home)"... um, but I already said that, so saying it again is just repetitive.
And that's what I intend to be, apparently. Also, though I can't say that I agree with all the books on the list, it's at least worth having a look, because there are some books on there I probably would have forgotten about. Not Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (obviously), but The Abstinence Teacher, Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography, and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. Those had fallen off my radar for some reason, and now they're back on. And that's a good thing.
[link 100 Notable Books of the Year - 2007 - New York Times]
Blessings.
Labels: booklinks, books, New York Times
Enviably Odd Book Title: The End of California
Okay. It could just be that I have a thing about California, but it could also be that this is just a completely odd and beautiful title.
Also? Piggly Wiggly on the cover of your book? That is totally awesome (though the paperback doesn't have the same cover, regrettably).
Axis of California
Labels: Amazon.com, booklinks, books, Enviably Odd Book Title
Kindle Your Books
Are you ready to read your books on a wireless, screen-reader device thingie? Amazon.com thinks you are, and they're willing to bet you'll pay four hundred bucks for it. And they're calling it Kindle. I'm not so sure about the four hundred bucks part. Though you know what? If I had an extra four hundred (or maybe an extra four hundred thousand), I might consider it.
Somehow, I don't think this has the same appeal as an iPhone, or an iPod Touch... but it's still appealing, and I like to look at it longingly, anyway.
Labels: books, electronics, kindle
Hey Sherman
Shout out congratulations to Spokane author (though he lives in Seattle now) Sherman Alexie on winning the National Book Award for Young People.
Once upon a time I had an argument-by-letter with Mr. Alexie, but this ain't about me... and it's likely neither of us are the same person anymore, so it hardly matters. Furthermore, I really wanna read that book of his that won. And you do too: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.
Labels: books
Meet My My Dæmon Euthalius
Have you read The Golden Compass? You oughter.
Overstock.com Book Clearance
Okay, so every once in awhile I remind myself that it's a good idea to check out Overstock.com for incredibly good prices on books. And today I got an email that was simply titled "Book Clearance," and that always gets my attention, even though I'm pretty sure instead of reducing their prices any further, Overstock is just reminding me that their prices are always "clearance" prices (though that's not what it says... I just assume this because the prices look the same as they always do to me... which means really really low). So I'll link a few examples below for your examining pleasure.
Do enjoy. With blessings. This Friday.
Labels: books, bookstores
Frank Herbert's Birthday Is Today
I would title this "Happy Birthday Frank Herbert," but the man is dead, so that hardly seems appropriate.
In any case, Dune remains one of the strangest damn books I've ever read, and one of the most powerfully engaging and moving and fabulous. If you haven't read Dune, you should, even if you are too far above science fiction (with your head in the clouds) to read it.
Also? Mr. Herbert was born in Tacoma. It takes some doing to become a best-selling novelist from Tacoma. And that may be enough right there for me (and you) to mention it.
[link Frank Herbert - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]
Labels: author, birthdays, books
funny dog book - Google Search
Here's a fun project. And it won't take long. Visit your favorite Google. Type "funny dog book" into that form thingie search box. Then click the "I'm feeling lucky" button (if you wish... I won't force you, you know, but if you don't then it kind of is beside the point of this whole episodic episode).
Did you click it?
The button?
Is that or is that not the coolest thing ever (for me the coolest thing... for you, I don't know, maybe Pomegranate flavored vodka is the coolest thing... but for me, this is coolest or one of the coolest or nearly the utmost coolest, I promise)?
Okay. Carry on with whatever else you were doing. I have held you captive long enough.
[link funny dog book]Labels: booklinks, books, dog, dog book
DogTrain | Sandra Boynton
Honestly, if you know what's good for you, you will read (and listen to) more Sandra Boynton.
Get yourself a kid to read aloud (and listen with) if you feel strange sitting in bed with a book meant for toddlers. But also, if you have to do that, get a grip. Don't take yourself so seriously. Listen to some nonsense.
- Tantrum Spin Doctors LISTEN
- Thus Quacked Zarathustra The O.K. Chorale LISTEN
- Dog Train Blues Traveler LISTEN
- Sneakers Mark Lanegan LISTEN
- Cow Planet Billy J. Kramer LISTEN
- Boring Song Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme LISTEN
- Pots and Pans The Bacon Brothers with Mickey Hart LISTEN
- I Need a Nap Weird Al Yankovic & Kate Winslet LISTEN
- Evermore Alison Krauss LISTEN
- Cow Planet episode 2 Billy J. Kramer LISTEN
- Penguin Lament John Ondrasik of Five For Fighting LISTEN
- (Don't Give Me That) Broccoli The Phenomenauts LISTEN
- Dragonfire Rob Hyman & Eric Bazilian LISTEN
- Cow Planet episode 3 Billy J. Kramer & Mootopia LISTEN
- Wave Bye-Bye Doshie Luther LISTEN
- Rock to Sleep 54 Hootie & the Blowfish LISTEN
- Dog Train Midnight Jam John Popper & Brendan Hill LISTEN
Labels: books, children's books
Sherman Writes a Kids Book
And it's set in Spokane.
And he's talking to Renee Montagne on NPR about the book.
[link NPR : Author Sherman Alexie Targets Young Readers]
I'm thinking I want to read this. I've had my arguments with Mr. Alexie in the past, most of them in my own head. Maybe it's time to set them aside and just read a book.
Blessings.
Labels: author, books, local author, Spokane
Enviably Odd Book Title | Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates
Okay. I admit it. I can't really decide on this one. It's either a brilliant title, or completely ridiculous.
Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates? Do I want a book with that title, or do I just want to giggle and move on? Will it get me to pull it off the shelf and look to see what's inside?
Okay. Yes. It will. I'll look to see what's inside. But if what's inside doesn't satisfy, I might just move on. Quickly. To something else odd and intriguing.
Maybe this is why it's so difficult for me to find a book to buy.
Labels: books, Enviably Odd Book Title
Ick (I Did[not] It) {or Something]
This "book" continues to annoy me in every way.
No wait. "Annoy" is too shallow and pesky a word. The book sickens me. Everything from the "concept" of "how I would have killed them had I killed them" to the Goldman family's assumption that this is a confession... to the carrying out of that promise (of confession) so boldly on the cover of the book. It's not a book. It's a circus. And it's number two on Amazon.com right now. Makes me wish there was another Harry Potter book coming out as an antidote. And when I'm wishing for that, the world must be in a right state, Guv'na.
Enviably Odd Book Title | The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible: Books | A. J. Jacobs
I love the title, and almost love the idea. If I didn't think the idea was so ridiculous. Which I do.
Unfortunately I think even a humorous book in this mode will further the idea that the Bible is a recipe book upon which one is intended to lead their life. And you know what? I'm out of baking powder.
Labels: books, Enviably Odd Book Title
All I Need to Know about Filmmaking I Learned from the Toxic Avenger
Labels: books, Enviably Odd Book Title
Enviably Odd Book Title | Cooking With Dogs by Karen Dowell
I wish I could cook with dogs. They are simply too present, and want too much of what is being cooked. How can they ever be satisfied?
The answer, of course, is that they can't be satisfied. Not by us. But they will try. And we will try to satisfy them. And we will come as close as we can. And it will be enough.
Labels: booklinks, books, Enviably Odd Book Title
Buy a Friend a Book Week
So.
This October 1st to 7th is Buy A Friend A Book Week. --[From Buy A Friend A Book Week - lifehack.org]
What book will you buy your friend? Or will you ignore this week just like you ignore all the others? You know, international sit on your stoop and make a face like a chimp week? Or laugh out loud at your neighbor sitting on the stoop and what is that she's doing week? Gimme some suggestions. Maybe I'll buy a book.
Fortunately for me, I don't have many friends. Also fortunately for me, this isn't what I thought it was when I first read it. Namely, "Buy a Friend a Book a Week." That could get pricey, you know?
Searching for Books
There are lots of sites where you can search for the best price for books, but not all of them are particularly enjoyable to look at once you get there.
If price is what interests you most in a book (and sometimes this certainly is the case), you might try booksprice.com. It's decently attractive, and it's zippy (meaning that it's fast).
Try a search or two: booksprice.com
I also use bookfinder.com, especially if I'm looking for something I don't think I'll actually find. A lot of the small used or antiquarian bookstores list with them, so you'll find stuff you don't find anywhere else.
Wherever you buy books, enjoy yourself, won't you?
Blessings.
UPDATE: The folks at booksprice.com say there will never be advertising on the site. One hundred percent of their revenue will come from affiliate links, should you decide to make a purchase after using their search utility to find the book you want.
Labels: booklinks, books, bookstores
flathead 0004.jpg
tags: terry » bain » terrybain » flickr » flickrphoto » photo » bainbooks » books » picture » swicki
Labels: bainbooks, books, flickr, flickrphoto, photo, picture, Swicki, terry, terrybain
Gonzaga University Visiting Writers Series
My friend Tod Marshall is the director of this writers series at Gonzaga University. If y'all live 'round the Spokane region, you should come check it out, because that's one hell of a line-up. Herman Asarnow. Donald Revell. Joy Harjo. Bharati Mukherjee. Robert Hass. Check it out. Pass it on. Mark your calendars. Listen up.
tags: terry » bain » terrybain » flickr » flickrphoto » photo » bainbooks » books » picture » swicki
Labels: bainbooks, books, flickr, photo, picture, Swicki, terry, terrybain
Hey Folks, It's All Over by Roy Kesey
Here's a book you're going to want soon. It's Roy, you know, and Roy is as Roy does.
I have no idea what that means, but I know it means you will want to read these stories, because Roy's stories are unusual and startling and powerful and unusual. Also, full of good words.
Blessings.
Labels: book, booklinks, books
O.J. Goldman Book Un-Un-Published
I'm thinking they should retitle the O.J. Book to If I Did (Of Course He Did, Why Else Would He Write This Book, and of Course the Goldman Family Deserves to Profit of the Retelling of His Confession to Murder, Why Wouldn't They) It.I fail to see how turning O.J.'s book into the Goldman Family's book changes it into anything but an opportunistic, trashy scrap of murder-pr0n, but I'm willing to let you tell me how I'm wrong, if I'm wrong:
Bloomberg.com: Muse: "Beaufort Books said late yesterday that it will publish O.J. Simpson's "If I Did It" after acquiring the rights to the controversial title. The book is a supposedly hypothetical account of how Simpson, a former football star, might have murdered his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald L. Goldman in 1994. It was originally backed by editor Judith Regan and scheduled for publication last November by News Corp.'s HarperCollins."Here's what I know. If he did it? Then we are having the wrong discussion. Because the discussion ought to be about how he did it and still gets to play golf during the week.
Don't kid yourself into thinking it can't happen again. It happens somewhere new every freaking day.
Labels: author, book, books, writing
Buy Two Random House Paperbacks at Amazon.com and Get the Third Free
Right now if you Buy two Random House paperbacks at Amazon.com, you get the third free
... 
...which is not a terrible deal, you know, because Random House has some good books in paper. So go look at that page and come back and tell me what you bought. Or what you didn't buy but almost bought. Or what you would have bought but you thought maybe you'd better go to an independent bookseller even though it's going to cost you more because otherwise that indie might not be there tomorrow. Moving right along.
Labels: Amazon.com, booklinks, books
What's Wrong, Little Pookie?
There's a new book lurking from the best darn toddler-book writer/illustrator ever...
Sandra Boynton makes those little board books so well that I don't mind reading them the six thousandth time, and there's definitely something to be said for that, because toddlers thrive on repetition.
There's only one question to be answered, then, yes? And that is, "What's wrong, little Pookie?"
Labels: books
Harry Potter Study Hall
Tim over at Librarything reports being on a plane that was like, well, here's the quote for you:
LibraryThing: Harry Potter and the Period of Quiet: "The plane was like Harry Potter study hall."(I don't know why I insist on using an exact quote, except I'm too lazy to type, then double check, then make sure, then whatever... though not apparently too lazy to type this really long explanation).
Have you been stuck in Harry Potter Study Hall? Where have you been that you've seen the most books with noses ginormous orange books?
You may carry on now. There's nothing more to see. Harry, Ron & Hermione just apparated into a forest. A bit of splinching. And... well... damn, but I can't read ahead without my son. So nevermind. Do as you like. You're probably nearly finished by now.
Labels: books, Harry Potter
Starsky & Hutch Books
Someone came to Bain Books looking for "Starsky & Hutch Books."
We here at Bain Books headquarters know when we're being sent on a wild goose chase, but we decided to go looking anyway... because Starsky & Hutch Books is simply too good to pass up, that's why.
And found it we did. Though out of print. Though rather beat up looking. Though we are certain these books likely were meant to be purchased used and not new. Though used they are very nearly perfect.
And now you know about them too. And you will look for them at used bookstores. And you will begin a collection. The greatest collection of Starsky & Hutch paperback books that ever could have ever could have ever been considered.
And you will have us to thank.
And we will get this out of the way right here and now. Because we know it will come to this. Eventually. Here it is:
You're welcome.
Carry on.
Labels: books
The Big HP Slump
Why do I get the feeling that once the Harry Potter books come out, nobody buys anything else for awhile?
Probably because once the Harry Potter books come out, nobody buys anything else for awhile. Too busy with their noses buried in patronuses.
Expecto patronum, y'all.
Labels: books, Harry Potter
Who Dies in Deathly Hallows
A great number of people are finding my weblog searching with the text "Who Dies in Deathly Hallows"...
I should tell you, and will tell you... and can tell you... you will find no such information here. I suggest you look elsewhere. Like, you know, maybe you should read the book.
And blessings to you.
Labels: book, books, Harry Potter
Eight Point Three Million
In the first twenty four hours.
Bloomberg.com: U.S.: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,'' the seventh and final book in J.K. Rowling's best- selling children's series, sold a record 8.3 million copies in the U.S. on its first day..."Whatever. We've just passed the hundred page mark and our neighbor finished it in twenty-four hours. Of course, we won't be speaking to her for the next few weeks.
Blessings, you. And you and even you.
Labels: book, books, Harry Potter
The Ginormous List of New Words
I was just the other day giving my daughter some cred for using the word "ginormous" in a sentence, because she seems to love the longish and languish wordiness of makable words, and now I understand I'll have to give her some more cred and maybe some props because there it goes into the new Merriam-Webster wordtionary.
The Underwire - Wired Blogs: "Copy chiefs everywhere rejoice! The wordinistas at Merriam-Webster have finally added some much-deserved wordage to their fantabulous dictionary. Some of the highlights include 'ginormous,' 'sudoku,' 'DVR,' 'crunk,' and 'smackdowns.' "
Of course, just because it's not in a colonial dictionary doesn't mean it hasn't been in any of 'em (dictionaries, that is). For instance:
wordwatch: Ginormous is listed in both the Macquarie and the Oxford. The OED says this combination of “gigantic” and “enormous” was born in the middle of the 20th century – and, like you, I’ve been hearing it for years. But clearly it’s only just arrived in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
A ginormous welcome to all you new words. Now then, when does my Mac's spell checker stop underlining that word for me? Gotta open the dictionary, I think, and add that pronto.
R.A.B.
Regulus Black
But you didn't hear it from me.
You heard it from Wikipedia.
So it's obviously bad information.
Right?
Obviously.
Labels: books, Harry Potter
Bad Publishers Have More Fun (and Get More Bad Press)
Good lord. Sometimes the publishing biz is simply so ugly that it makes me want to toss it out with the dogbath water.
John Grogan does not want you to buy or read the forthcoming collection of his newspaper columns from Vanguard Press, Bad Dogs Have More Fun. The Marley & Me author is so unhappy about the book's publication that his agent has sent a letter to the publishing community distancing him from the project.If you wanted to strike a deal to sell a book, don't you think you would at least have a chat with the author of the articles you are attempting to sell... even if you owned the rights to said articles? I mean, it's utterly ridiculous. I can't imagine the sort of nerve it takes to do such a thing. They likely knew he wouldn't want them to do it, of course, so they went ahead without him. But still. Honestly. It's filthy, dirty, yucky.The September title, which pulls together pieces Grogan wrote at the Philadelphia Inquirer—the subtitle is Selected Writings on Animals, Family and Life by John Grogan for the Philadelphia Inquirer—came together without the author's approval or involvement. As such, Grogan's agent, Laurie Abkemeier of DeFiore and Company, today sent a letter to sales reps at Grogan's current publisher, HarperCollins, expressing Grogan's displeasure and explaining he will not be promoting or supporting the title in any way.
Oh I relish the opportunity to use the word "yucky." So, thanks, Vanguard, for just that opportunity.
Labels: books
Authorid=57931
Just in case you need it (and I know you will, which is why I'm here to offer this free service of knowledge and information), my Random House author ID is 57931. Aren't you glad you asked?What do you mean, "I didn't ask?" You were about to ask. That's the thing. So thanks for about asking. And for taking the time to care. If we all just care a little more for one another and the numbers associated with each other, by gum, we can all just love more. Etc.
Insightfully Random House
Now that Random House has gone all widget-friendly (with a service they call "insight"), I totally want them to widgetize (er, insight-ize) my books (they are available and searchable on the RH website, but currently I can't widget them so that they can be pasted into pages like this here one by Mr. Katz that will have to serve as a lovely replacement for now so I can futz around with it). So. Random House? Please?...
Labels: booklinks, books, widgets
Enviably Odd Book Title / The Human Body, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
The Human Body, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Of course it's not the "The Human Body" portion of this title that I find odd, but the "Fearfully and Wonderfully Made" portion... and I'm tempted to want to take a looksee at this book to see what's up, knowing full well that my answer will be less than interesting (probabaly), but still wanting to know, and thus worth saving for future mashing and composting.
Labels: books, Enviably Odd Book Title
Enviably Odd Book Title / Pirhana to Scurfy and Other Stories
Ruth Rendell today, with an enviably odd book title.
I've also changed up my book linking and illustration thingie over there on the right (assuming you see a book linking and illustration thingie over there on the right) to make it a little more user friendly. Hopefully it is actually a little more user friendly. One never knows until users start being friendly back.
Blessings.
Labels: books, Enviably Odd Book Title
This Book Will Save Your Life / Enviably Odd Book Title
Labels: books, Enviably Odd Book Title
Enviably Odd Book Title: The Nimrod Flipout
For some reason, I have a love/hate relationship with the word/name "Nimrod." Therefore when I see the word, I'm immediately attracted to it, like flies to the spot just behind your ear, just out of reach but close enough so it seems you can feel the beat of the fly's wings as it buzzes closer then away, closer then away...
From Publishers Weekly
Keret, an Israeli writer who also writes children's books and collaborates with illustrators on graphic stories and novels, specializes in brainteasing short short stories reminiscent of the "Shouts and Murmurs" section of the New Yorker—30 are packed in this thin volume. A typical Keret situation is enacted in "Your Man": the narrator finds that his girlfriends inexplicably break up with him in the back of taxicabs while the radio always announces a caller from a certain address. He goes to the address, finds photos of his exes tacked to the wall and erupts in violence, with repercussions that give new meaning to masochism. Dogs play a role in Keret's stories similar to the sly role they assume in Thurber cartoons, hovering between the fantastic and the everyday, and sex is an obsession
Blessings and good wishes.
Labels: booklinks, books, Enviably Odd Book Title
Forgive Me by Amanda Eyre Ward
More good news. Amanda Eyre Ward's new novel, Forgive Me, comes out this week.
“In Ward’s cinematic third novel, FORGIVE ME, the Austin writer beautifully spans the physical and social divide between Cape Town, in the waning days of apartheid, and Cape Cod, where journalist Nadine Morgan wrestles with the all-consuming ambition that finds her both single and childless but desperately wanting to return as a reporter to South Africa…. Ward avoids glib answers, preferring to question the differences between perpetrators and victims--and ask who deserves to be forgiven.”—Texas MonthlySo I'll be looking forward to reading that soon. As will you, I'm certain. Yes? Good news always.
Labels: books
Enviably Odd Book Title: Undead and Uneasy
Um...
Weddings are never easy. But when you're Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor, they can become downright deadly...In the days leading up to The Big Day, Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor seems to have a full house and the wedding guests have yet to arrive. Along with her human buddies, there's a ghost, a werewolf, and a Fiend crashing at her place. And though her fiancŽ, Vampire King Eric Sinclair, conveniently disappears when the conversation turns to seating charts and flower arrangements, he does manage to make his oh-so-sexy presence known at other moments.Cold feet are no surprise, especially with an undead groom. But when Sinclair truly goes missing-and not just to avoid wedding preparations-along with most of her friends and loved ones, Betsy is frantic. Alone and afraid for the fate of everyone she loves, Betsy can't trust anyone as she tries to find them and whoever is behind all the disappearances. And what happens next will shake the foundation of the vampire world forever.Okay. Maybe not as odd as Undead and Unpopular, but odd nontheless, and wonderfully so.
Labels: booklinks, books, Enviably Odd Book Title
Flight | Check it Out
Good lord, but the news business has gone all to hell.
Here's a quote from the books editor of the Rocky Mountain News regarding the seeming dismissal of the release of Sherman Alexie's new book, Flight, because it was published in trade paper rather than hardback.
In fact, she asked me about the line in question before it went to print. We agreed that it was highly unusual for a publisher to opt for paperback when it could inevitably sell copious hardbacks from a big-name author such as Alexie. I felt it was a reasonable guess, one that would have been hard to confirm. (No publisher in his right mind is going to admit that he was concerned with a book's quality and opted for paperback.)
As it turns out, we were wrong. And in a letter and phone interview, Alexie's publisher, Morgan Entrekin, filled me in on the facts — thankfully without any expletives.
Eek. Oh no, we could never get a publisher to tell us the history of a book and how it ended up being one way or another, and absolutely must be correct in our assumption that they published it this way because the novel was a disappointment.
Stupid. Just call the publisher. Find out if they have a different story or not. Please.
See, the not-so-apologetic editoral linked above, Ms. Thorn seems to believe the problem stems from the fact that they were wrong in their assumption. But no, this ain't true at all. The problem stems from the fact they made an assuption in the first place, that they made no attempt to verify that assumption, and that now, of course, it seems they are attempting to quel the blogosphere with derisive ire, even ending the editorial with the following:
And now, here's hoping we can all shake it off and get back to work. Note to blogosphere: fight finished.
Well, guess what. Fight ain't finished until I say it's finished.
I'll grant you that Mr. Alexie didn't happen to help his cause by the choice words he had for your darling newspaper. I would use entirely different choice words... such as careless and inaccurate and overtly defensive.
Oh hell, it's likely not a good idea for me to be a pain in the ass to any newspaper's books editor, but as I recall, I received such scant attention from the newspapers when my books came out that I'm probably not doing myself much of a disservice. The books section of almost every newspaper in the country is so miniscule that it takes a much higher prescription eyeglass than mine to even find it.
Where was I?
Oh yes. Um. Fight still ain't finished. Though I doubt very much this here post will mean much in the long run. In the short run it seems important to reinforce the appreciation I have for those reviewers and editors who <i>do</i> take the time to "check it out" before going to print.
I'll end there. Check it out. And have a great weekend.
Labels: blogs, books, newspapers
John Katz, author of The Dogs of Bedlam Farm, Says
A lot of action here today. I'm guessing we're getting closer to the release of the dog year movie. Or maybe there's another reason you're here? Maybe you let me know in the comments?
You Are a Dog should be the talk of every dog run in the U.S. With humor, and more bite than one might expect, Terry Bain helps us to see the world through the eyes of our dogs, and to look at their lives in fresh and insightful ways.--Jon Katz, author of A Dog Year, The New Work of Dogs, and The Dogs of Bedlam Farm Go: [You Are a Dog]
Labels: books, dog book, John Katz, movies
