Monthly Archives: October 2006

Julien Gracq's 'Reading Writing' Reviewed

Posted on October 25, 2006 by Aurel

The Most Intimidating Book of All Time

Julien Gracq is smarter than all of us.

In France, he is famous—if not the most famous writer in the country, certainly one of the most respected. (They still brag about how he refused the Prix de Goncourt in the early 1950s. That’s France for you!) Here, however, we only have access to a few of his novels, including the meticulous and sexy The Opposing Shore. Turtle Point Press is aiming to change all that with this book, a collection of his writings about other writers, and how to read them, and about writing itself.

If this all sounds just a little too highfalutin for you, then you will not like this book a whole lot. In fact, there are a lot of things that might keep you away from this book. If you are unfamiliar or uninterested in the last 200 years of French literature and poetry, then most of Reading Writing will sound like alien gibberish. On the other hand, if you have read even a little bit of Flaubert or Valéry, then you will be in heaven.

(Read the full article here)

Posted in Articles, Authors, Newly Released Books, Reading |

Writing Prizes in Danger as ACE Halts Involvement

Posted on October 24, 2006 by Aurel

Three of UK theatre’s most prestigious new writing accolades are facing uncertain futures after Arts Council England decided to end its association with the John Whiting, Meyer-Whitworth and Children’s Awards following the restructuring of its national office.Both the John Whiting and the Children’s Awards will lose their funding of £6,000 each from next year, while ACE will also stop administering all three awards. The Meyer-Whitworth is not currently funded by ACE, but is administered by the organisation and receives its prize money from the Royal National Theatre Foundation – this cash will remain.

In the case of the Whiting award, the decision will end an association which dates back more than 40 years to 1965, when it was founded by the arts council in memory of the playwright John Whiting. Former winners include Tom Stoppard, Wole Soyinka, Edward Bond, David Lan, David Edgar and Tanika Gupta.

Read the full article here

Posted in Articles, Awards |

NEA Launches 'The Big Read'

Posted on October 23, 2006 by Aurel

The National Endowment for the Arts has launched a nationwide program to help bring reading back to the forefront of American Culture.

“The Big Read answers a big need. Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America, a 2004 report by the National Endowment for the Arts, found that not only is literary reading in America declining rapidly among all groups, but that the rate of decline has accelerated, especially among the young. The concerned citizen in search of good news about American literary culture would study the pages of this report in vain.”

“The Big Read aims to address this crisis squarely and effectively. It provides citizens with the opportunity to read and discuss a single book within their communities. The initiative includes innovative reading programs in selected cities and towns, comprehensive resources for discussing classic literature, an ambitious national publicity campaign, and an extensive Web site providing comprehensive information on authors and their works.”

“Each community event lasts approximately one month and includes a kick-off event to launch the program locally, ideally attended by the mayor and other local luminaries; major events devoted specifically to the book (panel discussions, author reading, and the like); events using the book as a point of departure (film screenings, theatrical readings, and so forth); and book discussions in diverse locations and aimed at a wide range of audiences.”

(More from the Official Site)

Posted in Education, Reading, Resources, Websites |

Cappuccino and a Kids Book, Please.

Posted on October 23, 2006 by Aurel

More on Starbucks, Bookseller Extraordinaire:

“It’s not the typical kindergartener who starts his day with a cappuccino, but Starbucks and Random House Audio Group have teamed to offer youngsters their own delicious pick-me-up, resuscitating the Rabbit Ears line of classic children’s audiobooks, beginning with The Velveteen Rabbit and The Night Before Christmas. The former, penned by Margery Williams, read by Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep, with musical accompaniment by renowned New Age pianist George Winston, will be available exclusively in Starbucks’ 5,200 U.S. locations beginning August 29. Christmas, read by Streep with traditional holiday carols performed by Mark O’Connor, Christ Church Cathedral Church, and The Edwin Hawkins Singers, will follow November 7.

“Audiobooks are something that teachers and librarians have used with children for many, many years,” says Amanda D’Acierno, director, publicity and marketing at Random House Audio. “Audiobooks help readers of every level, from struggling readers to the most advanced readers. Your listening comprehension is so far ahead of your reading comprehension in children. So Starbucks’ putting these books in every store, it’s a way for us to reach not only the teachers and librarians, but also, directly, all of the parents who go in and out of Starbucks every day. We think that’s a good thing for young readers.”

Read the Full Article from Pages Magazine

Posted in Articles, Booksellers, Events |

The 2006 National Book Award Finalists Named

Posted on October 23, 2006 by Aurel

On October 11, 2006 at City Lights Books in San Francisco, CA, poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti announced the finalists for the 2006 National Book Awards. The shortlists of five titles in four categories were chosen from a record number of 1,259 entries, submitted by publishers. Sponsored and presented by the National Book Foundation, the award seeks to recognize books of exceptional merit written by Americans, and is the country’s preeminent literary prize.

This year’s winners will be announced at the National Book Foundation Benefit Dinner, to be held in Manhatten on November 15 and hosted by writer Fran Lebowitz. Each winner will receive $10,000 and a bronze statue, and each finalist a bronze medal and a $1000 cash award.
(more…)

Posted in Awards |

The Book Sense National Bestseller List – October 15, 2006

Posted on October 23, 2006 by Aurel
Published Thursday, October 19, 2006 (for the sales week ended Sunday, October 15,2006). Based on reporting from many hundreds of independent bookstores with Book Sense across the United States.

 

———————————————————-
Debuts for the week:
Hardcover Fiction
#3-ECHO PARK by Michael Connelly (0316734950)
#5-ACT OF TREASON by Vince Flynn (0743270371)
#15-ONE GOOD TURN by Kate Atkinson (0316154849)
Hardcover Nonfiction
#2-THE INNOCENT MAN by John Grisham (0385517238)
#6-AGELESS by Suzanne Somers (0307237249)
#9-BLOOD AND THUNDER by Hampton Sides (0385507771)
#13-WHY WE WANT YOU TO BE RICH by Robert Kiyosaki, Donald Trump (1933914025)
#15-I LIKE YOU by Amy Sedaris (0446578843)
Paperback Fiction
#4-THE INHERITANCE OF LOSS by Kiran Desai (0802142818)
#6-THE LIGHTHOUSE by P.D. James (0307275736)
Paperback Nonfiction
#6- BAD PRESIDENT by R.D. Rosen, et al. ( 0761146202)
#8-1491 by Charles C. Mann (1400032059)
#10-Istanbul by Orhan Pamuk (1400033888)
#11-THE RIVER OF DOUBT by Candice Millard (0767913736)
Children’s Illustrated
#15-YOUR PERSONAL PENGUIN by Sandra Boynton (0761143726)
Children’s Fiction Series
The End (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 13, 0064410161)
———————————————————-
(more…)

Posted in Booksellers, Reading, Resources |

Now in Stores: THE COLLECTORS by David Baldacci

Posted on October 23, 2006 by Aurel
 

THE COLLECTORS by David Baldacci (Thriller)
Reviewed by Kate Ayers
In this sequel to David Baldacci’s 2005 thriller, THE CAMEL CLUB, a quartet of self-appointed government watchdogs uncovers a ring of killer opportunists when one of them discovers a body. When they learn of a connection to another death, the stakes become higher — a matter of their lives. 

-Click here to read an excerpt from THE COLLECTORS.
Click here to read a review of THE COLLECTORS.  

 
Posted in Authors, Book Release, Newly Released Books |

Book Review: Philip Gerard's Creative Nonfiction

Posted on October 23, 2006 by Aurel

Creative Nonfiction: Researching and Crafting Stories of Real Life
Author: Philip Gerard
Publisher: Story Press
ISBN: 1-884910-07-6
Review: According to Philip Gerard, in his book Creative Nonfiction, there are five hallmarks of creative nonfiction that get your story read and purchased by editors and read and remembered by readers. The writer’s foundations are the plot and subplot, or what the nonfiction writer calls the apparent subject and the deeper subject. On these foundations, the timely and immediate story snapshot offered in the headlines is deepened and cultivated, broadening and filling out the larger story.

Gerard identifies the third hallmark as narrative, “it always tells a good story.” There is also the quality of reflection—how we got to this spot—similar in scope to flashbacks in fiction. In the case of creative nonfiction however, the writer makes connections between the subject at hand and his own reading, writing, and life experience. (more…)

Posted in Authors, Book Release |

The WD Poetry Awards Call for Entries

Posted on October 23, 2006 by Aurel

We’re pleased to announce the only WD competition exclusively for poets, the Writer’s Digest Poetry Awards! Regardless of style—rhyming, free verse, haiku and more—if your poems are 32 lines or fewer, we want them all. Submit your entries by the December 20, 2006 deadline … and your words could be worth cold hard cash!

First Place: $500
Second Place: $250
Third Place: $100
Fourth Through Tenth Place: $25
Eleventh Through Twenty-Fifth Place: $50 gift certificate to Writer’s Digest Books

Plus, the names and poem titles of all First- through Tenth-Place winners will be printed in the August issue of Writer’s Digest, and all winners will receive a copy of the 2007 Poet’s Market.

Click here for guidelines and to enter online!

Posted in Awards, Contests, Poetry |

Call for Entries: The Nickelodeon Writing Fellowship

Posted on October 23, 2006 by Aurel

Nickelodeon is offering writing fellowships in live action and animated television to culturally and ethnically diverse, new writers. Participants will have hands-on experience writing spec scripts and pitching story ideas.

The program, developed to broaden Nickelodeon’s outreach efforts, provides a salaried position for up to one year. The ’07 – ’08 cycle is tentatively scheduled to begin in October 2007.

The next submission period runs from January 2 – February 28, 2007. Applications and submission guidelines are available on our website at www.nickwriting.com.

Posted in Awards, Contests |