Jun
29
The Book Is Not Enough
June 29, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Since when did our reading entertainment need to be supplemented with extra entertainment? Are books so boring and plain that they must be interactive and instantly downloadable or have bar codes on their spines linking them to our cell phones for access to extra content located in cyberspace? The only digital enhancement to books that [...]
Jun
24
Viral Fiddling
June 24, 2009 | Leave a Comment
A few moons ago I posted about a modern phenomenon I call DIGITAL FIDGETING. I am honored to see that the concept has taken wings and is flapping about in the book blogosphere, viral-style, as every young meme should. First, my friend and local mama/bookblogger Marla cited LiveWires for a piece she wrote for her [...]
Jun
22
Are you lost in the e-Dust? Click here for help.
June 22, 2009 | Leave a Comment
You know you’ve found a great columnist to follow when each column is as fun to consume as a really snappy novel. My favorite columnist, Mark Morford (Notes & Errata), tells us in his biting, snarky and brilliant tone “How to stay relevant” in our “Technofreaky whipsaw culture” if you feel like it’s leaving you [...]
Jun
18
11 Steps
June 18, 2009 | Leave a Comment
From Boston.com: “Wired editor Chris Anderson, who was promoting his new book, “Free,” quipped that the book is a “format” with “long battery life” and “high screen resolution.” Anderson, who came to prominence with “The Long Tail,” his book about selling less of more online, suggested books will survive in various forms. How those forms [...]
Jun
16
Selling books is harsh.
June 16, 2009 | Leave a Comment
“Selling books is harsh.” That’s what booksellers are saying and I don’t doubt it. Just this past weekend I went into one of my favorite book stores in search of a specific book (BONK), was directed to it, picked it up, carried it around the store for 10 minutes, and then did not actually buy [...]
Jun
11
Book News Digest
June 11, 2009 | Leave a Comment
In recent book news: 1. Google Inc. said it plans to launch a program that will let publishers sell digital versions of their books directly to consumers, a step that would thrust the Internet search giant into competition with e-commerce leader Amazon.com Inc. Google aims to build a “digital book ecosystem” to allow partner publishers [...]
Jun
9
The National Book Festival
June 9, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Forget the fact that the Prez is so cool he can address multiple nations in their perfectly pronounced native languages, he is also a reader. It’s a nice change from, you know, that last guy. News from the Library of Congress President, Mrs. Obama to be Honorary Chairs of National Book Festival President Barack Obama [...]
Jun
4
Arts & Crafts.
June 4, 2009 | Leave a Comment
I’m feeling crafty this week. I’ve begun growing my own lettuce and repairing, however clumsily, several old sweaters that I would normally throw in the Salvation Army pile. In celebration of this new crafty version of myself (I hope it survives beyond the fluke stage), here are a couple of book related creative inspirations… For [...]
Jun
1
Story
June 1, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Ultimately it boils down to Story. Even the poems I’ve loved are more than just words strung together – they are dense bites of stories. A good song, even if instrumental, will feel as if we have descended into a story. Humans are hardwired for narrative and plot, and books are only part of the [...]