Zooba's the original "Netflix for books"
...but nice try, Bookswim! (via Galleycat)
The blog of Zooba.com. A blog written by and for book lovers concerning pop culture, politics, news, and--of course--books!
May 16, 2007
March 30, 2007
Sometimes brown is green
There's green, and then there's green!
The Cai Lun paper and bookmaking blog points to Elephant Poo Poo Paper, which, like last year's Snakes on a Plane, one would think is a metaphor but is indeed not. Check out the Poo-tique™ for adorable paper products made from, ahem, repurposed fibers.
If this company also made toilet paper, that would just blow my mind.
March 19, 2007
Insiders discuss the London literary scene
New York Magazine asks publishing insiders about the London literary scene. "We do have an absurd celebrity culture where stars sell s---loads," says English author Nick Hornby. "It’s completely out of control."
March 14, 2007
McSweeney's: No more lifetime subscriptions
Gawker reports that Dave Eggers's highbrow satire magazine McSweeney's wants to rescind their lifetime subscriptions offer.
Specifically, the mag's letter to lifetime subscribers says, "You know, move on."
Ouch.
Maybe they're just being ironic?
March 05, 2007
Book abuse
Books owned by The New York Times's Ben Schott tend to "fall down the stairs." (via The New York Times)February 26, 2007
What do Freakonomics and the Dalai Lama have in common?
The New York Times points out that both Freakonomics and the Dalai Lama's Art of Happiness are "among the books to stay for the longest period of time on the New York Times bestseller list without ever making it to number 1." (via Freakonomics blog)
...Making Freakonomics the Kate Winslet of the bestseller list.
What, too soon?
February 20, 2007
How to write a book blurb
Who knew? Those who write book blurbs don't even read the books they're blurbing!
Say it ain't so, Penguin Books UK!
February 14, 2007
Because Valentine's Day still isn't over...
Check out The Love Calculator! A naysayer, are you? Plug in literary figures for frighteningly accurate results!
And get Pride and Prejudice from Zooba.
Crichton on YouTube: Amateur vs. professional video
Check out a video book report on Michael Crichton's Prey created by, oh, say, a high school student. Then check out the professional video for Next created by a marketing team.
It seems the student has become the teacher.
Get the book State of Fear from Zooba.
October 18, 2006
This is why they're professional authors and not professional musicians
It's time you saw your favorite authors in a whole new light (or at all, really).
The Rock Bottom Remainders, a band composed of Dave Barry, Ridley Pearson, Stephen King, Scott Turow, Amy Tan, James McBride, Mitch Albom, Roy Blount, Jr., Matt Groening, Kathi Kamen Goldmark and Greg Iles might be the most talented band you'll ever encounter.
Just not at music. Still, they have a great sense of humor, as evidenced by the quotes on their website, and this video clip of the band playing the 2006 Festival of Books.
Rock on, famous people.
(Warning: video resolution... not that great)
October 17, 2006
Joyce Carol Oates story angers Joyce Carol Oates
Joyce Carol Oates, author of The Falls and personal favorite Where I've Been and Where I'm Going, has drawn some heat from The College of New Jersey.
Her new story, Landfill, is partially based on the life and death of a CNJ student.
The International Herald Tribune reports:
Matt Golden, a college spokesman, said that Oates has the right to write whatever she wants, but the story has nevertheless caused some pain. "There are also people who were close to John and were loved ones who might have a difficult time with the story," he said.
Oates response was a TEENSY bit overboard. She likened her critics to Muslim fundamentalists who issues a fatwa for Salman Rushdie after the publication of his Satanic Verses.
Classy! And I mean, the parallel is really so obvious. I'm surprised no one pointed it out before.
August 31, 2006
Munchy business
The Scream has been found. Story not interesting enough, you say? Why not throw an ex-soldier, would-be priest and current undercover cop into the mix? Yeah, that should do it.
Susie Bright + Quills commentary
Spike Magazine has an interesting link to erotica writer Susie Bright's interview of Melinda Gebbie & Alan Moore, whose book Lost Girls has been building quite the buzz (we talked about it here).
Other comments by Susie offer some interesting insight into the fate of the book business. More after the jump...