June 27, 2012
…and think, and often exclaim with gusto, “Yesss! I know exactly what she means.” The prolific writer-director-producer-screenwriter-journalist died Tuesday at the age of 71. Her most recent books, I Feel Bad about My Neck (2007) and I Remember Nothing (2010) offered readers Ephron’s plaintive, thoughtful, and droll takes on memory, aging, marriage, and a diverse assortment of […]
June 26, 2012
Chicago Tribune columnist Barbara Brotman shares her challenges in finding the perfect summer vacation book in this only slightly tongue-in-cheek article from yesterday’s paper. When one has limited packing space and a desire for balance between a gripping page-turner and a book that allows for interludes of oceanside daydreaming (or mountain vista gazing), the quest […]
June 23, 2012
Until last week, Penguin was one of four major publishers that would not allow libraries to lend their e-books. Soon, however, Penguin Group and e-book distributor 3M will participate in a one-year pilot program with the New York and Brooklyn Public Libraries, two of the country’s largest library systems, to provide e-books to patrons. Penguin will make […]
June 23, 2012
According to a new study by the Pew Research Center, most Americans are unaware that e-books are available at their local library. An estimated 12% of e-book readers have borrowed a library e-book. Over half (56%) of patrons who attempted to borrow an e-book discovered it was not available at the library. To maximize profits, publishers have […]
June 23, 2012
This month for Poetry 365 we’re featuring the latest collection from virtuoso poet Albert Goldbarth. Author of over 25 volumes and the only two-time winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry, the prolific Chicago native is best known for a singular, sprawling style that mixes dense philosophical ideas with wildly energetic word play. In Everyday […]
June 22, 2012
Another subtle way technology has affected society: it’s not as easy as it used to be to see what your neighbor on the train is reading. Is this aspect of people watching kaput? Thoughtful article in the Tribune complete with a map of who’s reading what throughout the CTA system. Shira S.
June 22, 2012
According to this NYT article, The French are still going to bookstores. In fact, bookstores in Paris are thriving – and book sales are increasing! Owner of a small publishing house in Paris said “There are two things you don’t throw out in France — bread and books.” Besides their centuries-old reverence for the printed […]
June 21, 2012
A while back I noticed (you may have, as well) that many book covers were featuring feet, legs, and even shoes! I recall specifically The Paris Wife as one of these. Sure enough, there are observers out there who have compiled collections of book art to document this trend. See this link for a brief […]
June 14, 2012
Natasha Trethewey has just been named the 19th poet laureate by the Library of Congress. Creative writing professor at Atlanta’s Emory University, she’s the first Southerner appointed to the post since Robert Penn Warren in 1986 (the first poet laureate), and the first African American since Rita Dove in 1993. In 2007 she won the Pulitzer Prize […]
June 12, 2012
As an admitted Guy Noir fan, I had to share this bit with everyone. An excerpt of “Guy Noir and the Straight Skinny,” the newest book, is available online. How can you not like a hero who contends with the likes of “geezer gangster Joey Roast Beef”? The link has a few photos, too. Enjoy! […]
