October 17, 2013
The National Book Foundation announced the shortlist of finalists for this year’s National Book Awards. The award ceremony will be held on November 20. The finalists for fiction include: The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner; The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiria; The Good Lord Bird by James McBride; Bleeding Edge by Thomas Pynchon; and Tenth of December […]
October 17, 2013
McDonald’s plans to hand out 20 million books (instead of toys) in Happy Meals that will be especially written for them. The books will emphasize positive messages about food and eating well. The goal is to encourage quality family time. (Could it possibly increase sales?) Another project, the release of interactive digital books, places a […]
October 16, 2013
The Reading Agency, a British charity with a mission “to inspire more people to read more,” asked author Neil Gaiman to give their second annual lecture on the future of reading and libraries. Mr. Gaiman strongly believes that library closures are “like stopping the vaccination programmes,” and that “libraries are about freedom. Freedom to read, freedom of ideas, freedom of communication. […]
October 16, 2013
28-year old New Zealand author Eleanor Catton won the Man Booker Prize on Tuesday for her 848-page novel The Luminaries. She is the youngest winner of the prestigious literary prize, and the second New Zealander (Keri Hulme won in 1985 for The Bone People) and will receive 50,000 pounds or about $80,000. A murder mystery […]
October 15, 2013
Business Insider has an interactive map of The Most Famous Book Set in Every State. Now “most famous” doesn’t necessarily equal “best” and there are some lively debates occurring in the comments section. Representing Illinois is Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle. What do you think? Heather N.
October 15, 2013
Starting today Oct. 15 the Chicago Poetry Foundation is asking Chicagoans to submit their favorite poem. This is not a contest, so you won’t win any prizes. But Five entries will be chosen to participate in a video that will be featured during National Poetry Month in April 2014. You can submit your poem by […]
October 14, 2013
Prolific and beloved author Alexander McCall Smith will be speaking next month in Oak Park and Glen View over two days. Recent titles at EPL: The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection, The Uncommon Appeal of Clouds, and Trains and Lovers. The author of four popular series has another career as Professor of Medical Law at the […]
October 14, 2013
I see this as an educational tool. This online library of fashion design videos serve as a course in sewing. Assembled by FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) instructor Francesca Sterlacci, a viewer will gain an education, though not a degree, through careful watching and practice. The goal is to make accessible the expertise of design professionals […]
October 14, 2013
Cuban-American novelist Oscar Hijuelos who who the Pulitzer Prize for his 1989 novel The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love, died of a heart attack on Saturday. He won international acclaim for his novel and was the first Latino writer to receive the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. The story of the Castillo brothers who travel […]
October 10, 2013
Scott Lynch’s long-awaited and long-delayed third volume in his Gentlemen Bastards series is finally out! The Republic of Thieves hit the shelves on October 8. Fans familiar with the series will need no encouragement to rush right out to discover what the Gentlemen Bastards have gotten themselves into this time. For those unacquainted with these […]
