I couldn't decide which of these two bookcases to post, so lucky you - it's a bonus Bookcase Wednesday!
March 31, 2010
March 30, 2010
New Booklicious contributor Sarah Milner has a secret. It's not that she's an unabashed Austen fan. It's not that she ranks her iPhone as one of the five most important things in her life. It's that as a mother, a wife, an employee, and double-majoring undergrad, she's likely hiding a Superwoman cape in her closet. That she manages to write for Booklicious, too, implies she's probably also got Hermione's time turner stashed away.
Peter Hedges of About a Boy
and Dan in Real Life
fame is back with his first novel since writing 1991’s What's Eating Gilbert Grape
, and the eager anticipation surrounding The Heights
(Dutton) was right on the mark. The novel centers on a couple in Brooklyn who are struggling to make it financially and living in the smallest apartment of a swanky, upscale neighborhood, The Heights.
Hedges paints Kate and Tim’s lives incredibly accurately. Due to his painstaking detail, the story ends up being so honest that at times, reading is borderline painful. Their small apartment, in which some rooms do triple duty (“our living room/dining room/toy room”), the two small kids running around needing constant love and attention, (“Never enough. Never enough. A parent can never, ever do enough”) and the fact that Tim had yet to complete his dissertation were so personal to my own life that there were moments I thought Peter Hedges had spied on my family and translated it into this fabulous piece of work.
and Dan in Real Life fame is back with his first novel since writing 1991’s What's Eating Gilbert Grape, and the eager anticipation surrounding The Heights (Dutton) was right on the mark. The novel centers on a couple in Brooklyn who are struggling to make it financially and living in the smallest apartment of a swanky, upscale neighborhood, The Heights.Hedges paints Kate and Tim’s lives incredibly accurately. Due to his painstaking detail, the story ends up being so honest that at times, reading is borderline painful. Their small apartment, in which some rooms do triple duty (“our living room/dining room/toy room”), the two small kids running around needing constant love and attention, (“Never enough. Never enough. A parent can never, ever do enough”) and the fact that Tim had yet to complete his dissertation were so personal to my own life that there were moments I thought Peter Hedges had spied on my family and translated it into this fabulous piece of work.
LOLcats just went highbrow.
LOLerature takes the polarizing web-speak and applies it to books and authors. Although the hilarity is decreased due to the lack of perfectly pitched kitty pics, there are some posts that are definitely snort worthy. My favorites after the jump.
March 29, 2010
Today, I'm switching perspective from those who read to those who write (not that the two are mutually exclusive, of course!). If you're writing a book - and it seems like all the cool kids are nowadays - you might want to take a peek at the Guardian's list of rules for writing fiction. They've created the list using the wise words of some pretty darn famous authors - Roddy Doyle, Margaret Atwood, Neil Gaiman, for example - so if anyone knows how to write a successful contemporary novel, it's these guys, and each has their own must-follow pieces of advice. Some are funny - get an accountant, work on a computer disconnected to the internet - some serious - write a book you'd like to read, write every day. All are interesting.
March 26, 2010
*Actor Christopher Lee reads Jabberwocky. Watch it, love it, watch it again.
*In less classy news, some of the cast members of Jersey Shore are releasing a book that teaches readers how to live the authentic Jersey Shore life. Huh, I didn't realize that involved reading.
*Two reasons I wish I were a kid again: 1. Instead of crappy plastic toys, Cheerios is placing copies of 1 Zany Zoo in cereal boxes. The book, by Lori Degman, was the winning entry in the 2008 Cheerios New Author Contest. 2. LeVar Burton has hinted via Twitter that Reading Rainbow is returning to the airwaves.
*A first edition of The Wind in the Willows sold at auction on Tuesday for nearly $50,000. I have got to move into a more lucrative career field...
*Jeff Howe over at Crowdsourcing wants to harness the power of Twitter for awesome book good by getting as many people as possible to read the same book at the same time. Basically, it'd be the world's biggest book club. Can you imagine?
March 25, 2010
The London Review of Books is Britain's most esteemed literary magazine. Published fortnightly, it features essays, reviews and the most outrageous personal ads ever set in type. The following is a selection from the latest issue.
*Mule seeks ponytail for games of pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey.
*Reformed trapeze-performing reprobate (F39) seeks creative, sane(ish), trampy-looking (but non-smelling) boy for sober fun!
*Gravy is my biggest weakness. M, 34.
*I’m tired of sexually propositioning attractive young men in airport bathrooms. What I’d like now is a handsome blonde filly to 35. Military legend (58, retired). Hampshire.
*I’d sooner indulge my dangerous hi-fibre diet obsession than contribute yet another churlish whimsy to this column. Yet I am alone, and need to smell a lady’s head. Man, 54.
*I am the Frida Kahlo of both personal adverts and sandwich artistry. Woman, 48. Mad as a balloon.
*There’s usually an atmosphere of dread when I show up at a party. Not so the next one, when you accompany me as both my groom to be and my designated driver. Easily drunk, garrulous F, 41, prone to molesting the teenage sons of suburban dinner party hosts and crying over the petit fours. WLTM sober expert in public apology to 50.
*Male seeks woman to read The Hobbit with, Humans and Elves only, no Goblins please.
*Celibacy sucks; let's get it licked. James, 46.
March 24, 2010
I am so tickled by this shelving - it's just plain fun. It's called T.SHELF and is made by J1studio in Los Angeles. It's made to order and customized to fit a specific space, so if someone out there actually has one of these in their home, you should send me photos - I'd love to see how it works in a real, lived-in space. More photos at J1studio's website.
March 23, 2010
Part of me thinks the idea of book wallpaper and prints is quirky and kind of fun, the other part of me is screaming "They charge what for a PICTURE of books?!" And yeah, it's pretty bonkers when you think about it. Check out Anthropologie's book wallpaper, for example. It's a hand-screenprinted wallpaper featuring two tall stacks of books; nice enough. The kicker, though? If you look closely, you can see that it's one small pile of books copied and pasted to create taller stacks. Are there really people out there who'd pay $198 for a picture of duplicated books? Seems nutty. Here's another example that's probably even costlier, seeing as prices are missing.
And here's an artist who sells prints of other people's bookshelves. I understand the concept:
"For a while, I've been documenting people's bookshelves as a form of portraiture; you can actually learn a lot about folks by their books' covers. Now, I'm working on a series of "ideal" bookshelves: sets of favorites — mine or someone else's — amalgamated in a picture, even if they don't usually live on shelves anywhere near each other."
But what I don't understand is how there can be a market for this. Why put up a picture of Joe Bloggs' book collection when you can, oh, I don't know, have your own? Smells a bit hipsterlicious to me.
March 22, 2010
Thanks to some dodgy fast food this Sunday, I'm really not up to a full-blown post today. So here are my apologies (sorry!) and an article about a newly released collection of letters from the Bloomsbury group that reveal friends' reactions to Virginia Woolf's suicide.
Victoria from Kansas City! The Randomizer has spoken, and so you'll be receiving a fabulous custom calendar from Much Ado About You. Congratulations!
March 19, 2010
*Are you a female writer working on a book but short on the requisite money and room of one's own? Well, one writers' charity is offering to come to your rescue. Intrigued? Read the rules here, an analysis of the scheme here.
*It's my belief that books are like cockroaches; they'll stick around no matter what. I offer some supporting evidence: in February, one e-book was downloaded for every four mobile game apps, down from one e-book to six game apps in October, and e-books are the biggest content category in the App Store. In short, people heart books, in every way.
*I tweeted about this on Tuesday, but I think news this momentous deserves more attention: there's a new play attributed to Shakespeare. Cue the flurry of new leather-bound anthologies!
*The New York Times has a fantastic article about vocabulary size. You should read it. (It's written by the guy who read the O.E.D.
Yes, the whole thing. In one year.)March 18, 2010
Now, this is one "cell" I wouldn't mind being locked up in. The work of Slovakian artist Matej Kren, the Book Cell is an octagonal building made entirely of books installed in Lisboa's Modern Art Center. Kren built the eight-sided framework, filled it with books and then removed the frame. Et voila! A completely kick-ass structure. Read more about it and drool over additional photos here.
March 17, 2010
I've featured a lot of massive bookcases recently, so I thought I'd shake things up a bit this week. This bookcase is small but immensely fun and reminds Mr. Booklicious of a used bookshop in our neighborhood that's stuffed with towering piles of books stacked on yet more books. The result is impressive - but a bit worrying. This bookcase is like a safe version of that effect. :) I like that it's order masquerading as chaos. Makes sense when you learn that it's in the apartment of an artist.
[via Skona hem]
March 16, 2010
Karen Parkinson, Booklicious’ newest contributor, is a woman of many talents. She studied physics at the University of Illinois, during which time she made diamonds for superconductors, thereby winning the award for coolest undergrad story. She spent the last year working in Ecuador for nonprofit organization Rostro de Cristo, cuddling orphans and eating pigeons. She will be studying public policy this fall at an as-yet-undecided university.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
, (Crown, Feb. 2010) by Rebecca Skloot, is the story of the famous HeLa cell line, the first immortal cell line grown in labs. The author writes two parallel stories – that of the cells, and that of the woman from whom the cells were harvested, as well as her descendants.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
, (Crown, Feb. 2010) by Rebecca Skloot, is the story of the famous HeLa cell line, the first immortal cell line grown in labs. The author writes two parallel stories – that of the cells, and that of the woman from whom the cells were harvested, as well as her descendants. Skloot begins by explaining her personal connection to HeLa cells, about how, when she was first presented with them, she immediately became intrigued as to the origin of those cells and the woman behind the science. From there, the book becomes the story of her personal journey to bring this information to light, to discover who the donor, Henrietta Lacks, was, and to gain information about her and her family. One of the most prevalent stories in the book is her effort to win the trust of Lacks' descendants, to gain access to her medical records and permission to print all she found. Skloot communicated her dedication to writing the book very well, but that story quickly became the focus. The work that Skloot did as research, the characters that she encountered and the stories she heard were all very interesting but ended up detracting from the story of Henrietta Lacks. Ironically, I found Lacks herself to be a minor character in the book.
Winter might be almost over, but the season of zombies is still going strong. Quirk Books just released the new book trailer for the prequel Jane Austen never thought of - Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls.
From Quirk: "Readers will witness the birth of a heroine in Dawn of the Dreadfuls--a thrilling prequel set four years before the horrific events of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. As our story opens, the Bennet sisters are enjoying a peaceful life in the English countryside. They idle away the days reading, gardening and daydreaming about future husbands - until a funeral at the local parish goes strangely and horribly awry."
So, who's thinking about picking this one up?
March 15, 2010
Happy Monday, book lovers! I hope you're in the mood for some free stuff, because that's what I'm offering up today. Emmy from Much Ado About You is generously giving away one of her fabulous medium personalized planners to one lucky reader. Making things even better, Emmy can design the planner to start at any time, so it can cover any 12-month period you specify.
How to enter:
How to enter:
*Visit Emmy's lovely Etsy store at www.muchadoaboutyou.etsy.com and take a peek at her collection.
*Email giveaways [at] bookliciousblog [dot] com. With Much Ado About You in the subject line, let me know which of the designs is your favorite, and also include your name and mailing address.
You have through this Friday, March 19, to enter, and the giveaway's open to all, regardless of location. The winner will be announced next Monday, March 22. Good luck!
March 12, 2010
*Former Disney teen queen Hilary Duff has inked a multi-book deal with Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. The first in the series, Elixir, is to be released in October. My first question: Why is she writing books? My husband's more intriguing question: What if she turns out to be good? Hmmm...do I dare check out the book when it's released?
*In other publishing news, Sarah Palin is writing her second book, this one celebrating "American virtues and strengths." HarperCollins said the new book would "include selections from classic and contemporary readings that have inspired [Palin], as well as portraits of some of the extraordinary men and women she admires and who embody her love of country, faith, and family". Sounds like it should be titled Chicken Soup for the Hockey Mom Soul.
*Book dealer Lux Mentis Booksellers is selling one of the few pieces of non naked lady-related Hugh Hefner history that exists - a collection of cartoons the Playboy founder drew as a teenager and sent to a friend. Asking price? $250,000.
*Quirk Books, the publisher behind Pride and Prejuice and Zombies, has acquired a new manuscript to add to its, well, quirky lineup. Night of the Living Trekkies is "Galaxy Quest meets Dawn of the Dead when all hell breaks loose at a Star Trek convention - and the world's only hope for survival rests in the hands of some very determined fanboys!" A new book about Star Trek? Don't tell my husband.
*More details have emerged about Apple's new eBook Store - check out Forbes.com for the lowdown.
*Here's a tournament for those of us who think pigskin is what covers our bacon and believe basketball shorts to be one of the most unflattering pieces of clothing ever made. The Tournament of Books is a month-long single-elimination matchup that pits books against one another.Oh. Yeah. Read more about this genius idea here.
March 11, 2010
This video is a fascinating look at what goes into the making of a book cover, and the best part is seeing the six hours of designing fly by in two minutes.
Lauren Panepinto, creative director for Orbit Books, is the woman in front of that screen. Read about her process here.
March 10, 2010
March 09, 2010
Here's an incredible story for you. I've been meaning to post it for a while but am easily distracted by shiny bookcases and cool new book paraphernalia, so it's been stuck in my to-post file for longer than I intended.
Helene Hegemann has done what most writers only dream of. Her first novel, Axolotl Roadkill, is a bestseller that received rave reviews from critics and readers alike, and she is now a finalist for a major literary prize. Pretty good for a 17 year old.
Unfortunately, as with most modern-day fairy tales, it's a bit too good.
A blogger discovered that large portions - in one case even an entire page - of Hegemann's novel had been lifted from a different, lesser-known work. Outrage naturally followed and grew when Hegemann's book was shortlisted for a $20,000 prize, with one jury member admitting that the plagiarism charges were known to the judging panel.
I'm flabbergasted. Not just by Hegemann's sheer cheek in stealing someone's work and her smug spouting of pseudo-intellectual crap, but also by the people who continue to support and even champion her. I, quite frankly, think it's disgusting. James Frey was forced to adopt a string of pseudonyms under which to write after his Pieces
debacle, yet this girl continues to receive ever more adulation. What gives? [via the NYT]
March 08, 2010
This weekend, with its 50-degree temperatures and a sighting of snowdrops next to my apartment building, gave me hope that spring is indeed near. I have to say, it's about time. I'm not the only one mentally hurrying the season along, judging from a spring-themed literary quiz the Guardian posted today. If you're feeling brave, see how well you know your spring references. (I scored 7 out of 10 and will happily take a gentleman's - or gentlewoman's - C.)
Today's post will be a late arrival, so check back in after dinner for your daily helping of Bookliciousness. In the meantime, check out The Fug Girls for a hilarious and spot-on recap of all things Oscar.
March 05, 2010
*Lindsay Lohan is writing a book. "I write a lot and it's very therapeutic for me because then I can see what's happening on paper," she tells Britain's OK! magazine. "I've started writing a book. It's going to take a while, all my life experiences. I started writing it a year ago. There's a lot to put down, you know?" Um, honey? What you're writing is called a diary. And Anne Frank pretty much has it covered.
*This blurb is for my friend Kayce. Flashlight Worthy has a list of the 10 out-of-print children's books worth overpaying for. Heck yes.
*What's next on director Tim Burton's weird and wacky plate? Why, the film adaptation of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
, of course. Watch the book trailer here.
, of course. Watch the book trailer here.*Nerd it up this weekend by making your own classic-lit movie with xtranormal. Thanks, Jacket Copy!
*What happens when a voracious reader cuts off all book contact for a week? Find out if she lives or dies here.
Now, this post is another Alice-related bit, but it's also so much more. So even if you're not interested in more Alice, don't jump ship just yet. I think you'll find it worth your time.
March 04, 2010
I surmise that it would be pretty difficult to find someone in the English-speaking (or English-reading) world who hasn't heard of Alice in Wonderland. The stories, the illustrations, the screen adaptations - it's a tale we all know in one form or another. But did you know it's not the original? That Carroll/Dodgson's muse, little Alice Liddell, was introduced to a different version of the world that has grown so beloved?
March 03, 2010
The sky's the limit when it comes to book storage - in this case, literally. The father of one of Apartment Therapy's bloggers came up with the idea of storing books in rafters after spending time in the tight quarters of a boat. For those of you lucky enough to have beams, you can nail painted boards of plywood to them, creating nifty, out-of-the-way shelving. Don't you just love it?
March 02, 2010
In honor of Friday's release of Alice in Wonderland, I'm creating some Wonderland-themed posts this week, and here's the first. I think these pieces are absolutely Wonderland-worthy - they certainly wouldn't go in every home, but they'd look amazing in the right space. The first bookcase is by designer Vincent Leman; the second by David Coddaire. Starting at about a grand, they're rather pricey, but you can't deny they offer some serious bang for your buck. Things get curiouser and curiouser after the jump - and check out more of David's work here and Leman's here.
March 01, 2010
I spotted these on Craigslist this weekend and couldn't resist. I've been looking for a small table for our library, and I think it must be fate that these funny little tables popped up. I think they'll be a deliciously quirky addition to our apartment. And making them doubly awesome, the cover of each table/book swings open. The largest table is Moby Dick (quite appropriate), the second is The Brothers Karamazov, and the smallest table is modeled after The Golden Treasury.
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