tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86769285864209133672009-07-06T19:10:31.382-04:00The Inkwell Bookstore BlogYour second (maybe third?) choice for daily book news, reviews, praise &amp; slander.The Inkwell Bookstorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609687997535147041noreply@blogger.comBlogger983125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676928586420913367.post-69148359409794228352009-07-06T12:17:00.007-04:002009-07-06T19:10:31.614-04:00Adaptation News(for those who just like to watch)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://www.tastedigitalmedia.com/profile/photo/119/thumb/Where-The-Wild-Things-Are_476x357.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="https://www.tastedigitalmedia.com/profile/photo/119/thumb/Where-The-Wild-Things-Are_476x357.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Cuz I can barely make it through a week -- never mind an Adaptation News -- without mentioning <span style="font-style: italic;">Where The Wild Things Are</span>: <a href="http://weloveyouso.com/2009/07/the-record-on-shawn-records/" target="_blank">A set of behind the scenes photographs</a>.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51-az5Os7sL._SL75_SS50_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51-az5Os7sL._SL75_SS50_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Director Chris Columbus is hoping to repeat some of his <span style="font-style: italic;">Harry Potter</span> success with the upcoming adaptation of <span style="font-style: italic;">Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief</span>. But in order to do so, <a href="http://www.reelzchannel.com/movie-news/3725/director-talks-changes-for-percy-jackson-and-the-lightning-thief-movie" target="_blank">he's gonna have to make some story changes</a>.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.harry-potter-collection.com/images/ron_weasley_small.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://www.harry-potter-collection.com/images/ron_weasley_small.png" alt="" border="0" /></a>Bloody hell, Harry! Rupert Grint -- a.k.a. Ron Weasley in the <span style="font-style: italic;">Harry Potter</span> films -- <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090704/en_afp/entertainmentbritainfilmliteraturepotterhealthflu_20090704174311" target="_blank">had the swine flu</a>. According to the actor's publicists, Grint has already recovered, and will be on hand for the latest <span style="font-style: italic;">Potter</span> film's premier in England this Tuesday.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41534%2BldoyL._SL75_SS50_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41534%2BldoyL._SL75_SS50_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">I Killed Adolf Hitler</span> <a href="http://splashpage.mtv.com/2009/06/22/jasons-i-killed-adolf-hitler-optioned-for-adaptation/" target="_blank">has been optioned for film development</a>, but its author/artist, Jason, isn't holding his breath. “If it happens, it happens,” the one-named Norwegian wunderkind said. “It just seems like a small miracle every time a good movie is made, especially in Hollywood.”<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/417qVB1S0ZL._SL75_SS50_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/417qVB1S0ZL._SL75_SS50_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>French film making legend Jean-Luc Goddard is considering <a href="http://www.forward.com/articles/107985/" target="_blank">an adaptation of Daniel Mendelsohn’s memoir, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million</span></a>. <span style="font-style: italic;">The Lost</span> is an account of Mendelsohn’s research into the wartime fate of six of his relatives. (Please-oh-please don't cast Roberto Benigni!)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://content-1.powells.com/cgi-bin/imageDB.cgi?isbn=9780393332148&amp;t=40"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://content-1.powells.com/cgi-bin/imageDB.cgi?isbn=9780393332148&amp;t=40" alt="" border="0" /></a>This one's not about a film adaptation, but a real-life application of a pre-existing film adaptation. Warning: It's pretty f**ked up. <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1197265/The-real-Talented-Mr-Ripley-Conman-jailed-life-bludgeoning-gay-lover-death.html?ITO=1490" target="_blank">The Daily Mail reports</a>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">"A devious conman who modeled himself on Matt Damon’s high-living killer in </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Talented Mr Ripley</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> was yesterday jailed for life for murdering his gay lover...even then his friends had no idea how far he would take his interest in Tom Ripley, the conman turned killer in </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Talented Mr Ripley</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">, the 1999 adaptation of the Patricia Highsmith novel of the same name. ‘Glenn watched the film and went on and on about how much he loved it and thought there was something of Mr. Ripley in him,’ said one. ‘None of us realised how capable he was of doing what he did.’"</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8676928586420913367-6914835940979422835?l=inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com'/></div>The Inkwell Bookstorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609687997535147041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676928586420913367.post-63974720494141361992009-07-06T08:00:00.004-04:002009-07-06T09:23:58.055-04:00Book News, In Brief<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/06/22/best_of_2009_so_far_thumb_50X50.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/06/22/best_of_2009_so_far_thumb_50X50.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The Millions Book Blog claims that 2009's numerous notable new releases have made it "a great year for readers," then raises the ante, promising '<a href="http://www.themillions.com/2009/07/most-anticipated-rounding-out-2009-epic.html" target="_blank">the best is yet to come</a>'.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mortgagedealsdirect.co.uk/i/Home.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://www.mortgagedealsdirect.co.uk/i/Home.png" alt="" border="0" /></a>Judging by Main Street, Falmouth's less-than-stellar retail sales this past 4th of July weekend, the NYTimes' round-up of <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/books/review/Vanderbilt-t.html?ref=books" target="_blank">mortgage crisis book reviews</a> seems like a pertinent piece to plug.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.imhosted.com/images/icon_pricetag.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://www.imhosted.com/images/icon_pricetag.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>Semi-related -- as it was one of our <a href="http://inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com/2009/07/top-10-annoying-customer-questions-from.html" target="_blank">Top 10 Most Annoying Customer Questions from the 4th of July Weekend</a> -- The Bookshop Blog asks, "<a href="http://bookshopblog.com/2009/07/02/does-your-bookshop-have-a-firm-pricing-policy/" target="_blank">Does Your Bookshop Have A Firm Pricing Policy?</a>" (Note to penny-pinchers hoping for a sympathetic post: This ain't it.)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2012obama.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/republican-elephant1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://2012obama.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/republican-elephant1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Just when I was starting to think that controversy was the key to big book sales, <a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6668797.html?desc=topstory" target="_blank">South Carolina governor Mark Sanford looses his book deal</a> due to his headline-making extra-martial affair. So what will this conservative approach to Conservative's book contracts mean for <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/12/sarah-palin-book-deal-mem_n_202658.html" target="_blank">th</a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/12/sarah-palin-book-deal-mem_n_202658.html" target="_blank">e Sarah Palin memoir</a>(<a href="http://inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com/2009/07/palins-autobiography-tweaked-to.html" target="_blank">s</a>)? The polar opposite, apparently. <a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/behind_the_deal/harper_sarah_palins_memoir_will_be_huge_120735.asp?c=rss" target="_blank">According to MediaBistro.com</a>, less than 24 hours after the Alaskan governor's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng8uu_kpeRQ&amp;eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcnblogs.com%2Fthehotblog%2F&amp;feature=player_embedded">surreal resignation speech</a>, HarperCollins director of publicity Tina Andreadis was quoted as crowing, "We think the book will be huge. Even though she's stepping down, people will want to hear her story. This is her opportunity to tell her own story her own way."<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">And now a couple of quick follow-ups to news stories mentioned here in the past few weeks:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.43places.com/consuming/28982s50.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://media.43places.com/consuming/28982s50.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Remember that 'anonymously written' YA series that James Frey was publicly shopping around last week? <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/books/review/Vanderbilt-t.html?ref=books" target="_blank">It sold to HarperCollins.</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a4.vox.com/6a00e398be17e2000100e398bf73240004-50si"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://a4.vox.com/6a00e398be17e2000100e398bf73240004-50si" alt="" border="0" /></a>Remember J.D. Salinger's <span style="font-style: italic;">Catcher in the Rye</span> copyright suit? He won. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/books/02salinger.html?_r=1&amp;ref=books" target="_blank">Publication of the un-official follow-up has been banned in the U.S.A.</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8676928586420913367-6397472049414136199?l=inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com'/></div>The Inkwell Bookstorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609687997535147041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676928586420913367.post-85046679603582629232009-07-05T11:26:00.013-04:002009-07-05T12:59:18.158-04:00Top 10 Annoying Customer Questions from the 4th of July Weekend<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.nataliedee.com/071405/ping.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 440px; height: 170px;" src="http://www.nataliedee.com/071405/ping.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>10. Do you have a bathroom?<br />(Almost always asked of an employee standing beside the 'Bathroom is for Customers Only' sign.)<br /><br />9. How much would this be on Amazon?<br /><br />8. Do you have (insert name of random Right-Wing tome) in stock?<br />(Answer: Yes or no, depending.)<br />Oh, I already have it. I just wanted to make sure your store carried it.<br /><br />7. I bet you sold a lot of Micheal Jackson books this week, huh?<br /><br />6. I know your sign says, 'Bathroom is for Customers Only,' but I bought a bookmark/attended a free wine &amp; cheese event/fell asleep in one of your reading chairs last year...?<br /><br />5. Where's a good, cheap seafood restaurant?<br /><br />4. Are these priced as marked?<br /><br />3. Last year, you had free coffee and cookies. Do you still have those?<br /><br />2. I know your sign says, 'Bathroom is for Customers Only,' but this is for a child...?<br /><br />1. When does your 'End of Summer' sale begin?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Image swiped from </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.nataliedee.com/071405/ping.jpg">nataliedee.com</a></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8676928586420913367-8504667960358262923?l=inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com'/></div>The Inkwell Bookstorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609687997535147041noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676928586420913367.post-17287659250020249902009-07-02T13:56:00.007-04:002009-07-03T19:02:15.673-04:00Detective Comics' Delectable Covers<a onblur="http://heavyink.com/images/covers/APR09/MAPR090152.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 190px; height: 280px;" src="http://heavyink.com/images/covers/APR09/MAPR090152.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://heavyink.com/images/covers/MAY09/MMAY090134.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 190px; height: 280px;" src="http://heavyink.com/images/covers/MAY09/MMAY090134.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://heavyink.com/images/covers/JUN09/MJUN090148.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 190px; height: 280px;" src="http://heavyink.com/images/covers/JUN09/MJUN090148.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/files/2009/06/dtc-cv857-197x300.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 190px; height: 280px;" src="http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/files/2009/06/dtc-cv857-197x300.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The covers to <span style="font-style: italic;">Detective Comics</span> #854-857. All art by J.H. Williams III<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update!<br />My main man, A. Tannenbaum, wrote a great review of issue #854 in the comments section of our Livejournal page. Never one to let a good post slip past, I promptly cut and pasted it in the comments section here. I spend my day trawling comics reviews online, and this is easily in the top 5 I've read for this book.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">(Note: In the review, you'll come across a lot of seemingly random references to Jaime Hernandez' </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Locas </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">stories. This is because (1.) this was the work that caused us to first meet online, and (2.) dude loves the Terry character.)<br />Enjoy!<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8676928586420913367-1728765925002024990?l=inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com'/></div>The Inkwell Bookstorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609687997535147041noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676928586420913367.post-63034823647393857082009-07-02T11:04:00.011-04:002009-07-02T13:06:39.127-04:00Palin Plays To Fan Base's Faith-Based Fetishes, Tweaks Autobiography<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.thisislondon.co.uk/i/pix/2008/10/a-wink-and-sarah-palins-a-winner-415x275.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 415px; height: 275px;" src="http://i.thisislondon.co.uk/i/pix/2008/10/a-wink-and-sarah-palins-a-winner-415x275.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>You can accuse Sarah Palin of a lot of things (like...say...<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/archive/236/blog/w/sybil_adelman_sage/diagnosing_sarah_palin_9582.html" target="_blank">this</a>, <a href="http://www.laprogressive.com/2008/09/05/alaskans-speak-in-a-frightened-whisper-palin-is-%E2%80%9Cracist-sexist-vindictive-and-mean%E2%80%9D/" target="_blank">this</a>, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/us/politics/14palin.html?pagewanted=all" target="_blank">this</a>, <a href="http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/137975/fans_of_sarah_palin_now_see_her_as_a_%27clownish,_vindictive_amateur%27/" target="_blank">this</a> and <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2009/08/sarah-palin200908" target="_blank">this</a>), but Alaska's holier-than-thou homegirl is definitely not clueless as to her fan base's faith-based fetishes. That's why, in a stroke of brilliance I'm leery to label 'inspired,' she's releasing two separate versions of her upcoming memoir -- the regular one, published by HarperCollins, and a special, 'Now with 20% more God' edition being released by Christian publisher, Zondervan.<br />Via <a href="http://www.usnews.com/blogs/god-and-country/2009/07/01/sarah-palin-plans-special-edition-of-forthcoming-memoir-for-christian-readers.html" target="_blank">here</a> &amp; <a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6668704.html?desc=topstory" target="_blank">here</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8676928586420913367-6303482364739385708?l=inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com'/></div>The Inkwell Bookstorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609687997535147041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676928586420913367.post-85278631754066844692009-07-02T09:07:00.006-04:002009-07-02T09:57:05.766-04:00A Random Selection of Book News & Links<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.vuma.ac.za/drupal/files/images-articles/paragraph.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://www.vuma.ac.za/drupal/files/images-articles/paragraph.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>They were the best of lines, they were the worst of lines. The Guardian UK picks <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2009/jul/01/best-worst-opening-sentences" target="_blank">the best and worst opening sentences</a>.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://origin2.foxnews.com/images/462704/0_42_oprah_50.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://origin2.foxnews.com/images/462704/0_42_oprah_50.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Oprah, indie, indie, Oprah. The Galleycat's got good news for publishing's red-headed stepchildren: <a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/bookselling/indie_books_top_oprah_winfreys_summer_list_120514.asp" target="_blank">Indie books top Oprah's Summer Reading List</a>.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://profile.ak.facebook.com/object2/1079/54/q10580512006_8497.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://profile.ak.facebook.com/object2/1079/54/q10580512006_8497.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Since I was a slacker and skipped this week's Monday Menagerie, allow me point you in the direction of <a href="http://superpunch.blogspot.com/2009/07/philip-k-dick-book-cover-gallery.html" target="_blank">Super Punch's super cool Philip K. Dick gallery</a>. (It has Lego spinners!)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://profile.ak.facebook.com/v229/1930/63/q1665721728_9897.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://profile.ak.facebook.com/v229/1930/63/q1665721728_9897.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>How well do you know your polish born, British educated novelists? How about your So-Cal reality stars turned ghost-written memoirists? The Daily Beast has paired some excerpts from Joseph Conrad's <span style="font-style: italic;">Heart of Darkness</span> and Lauren Conrad's <span style="font-style: italic;">L.A. Candy</span>, and is <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-06-26/joseph-conrad-vs-lauren-conrad/" target="_blank">daring you to tell the difference</a>. <a href="http://twitter.com/meaghankoci" target="_blank">Via</a>.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://profile.ak.facebook.com/v223/1130/103/q1141779742_612.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://profile.ak.facebook.com/v223/1130/103/q1141779742_612.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Richard '<span style="font-style: italic;">The God Delusion</span>' Dawkins has put up the cash to fund an <a href="http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/49759,news,quest-edwin-kagin-samantha-stein-richard-dawkins-funds-atheist-children-summer-camp" target="_blank">atheist summer camp for kids</a>. In addition to the swimming, canoeing, and potato sack racing, Camp Quest will offer classes in "rational skepticism, moral philosophy, ethics and evolution." Dawkins hasn't met many kids, has he?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8676928586420913367-8527863175406684469?l=inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com'/></div>The Inkwell Bookstorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609687997535147041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676928586420913367.post-40221271370621649702009-07-01T11:58:00.002-04:002009-07-01T17:34:47.033-04:00The Catch-Phrases Comics Created<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://mattwisdom.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/linus.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 265px;" src="http://mattwisdom.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/linus.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Neatorama has posted a list of common phrases that were coined in comics. To find out which strips spawned 'security blanket,' 'We have met the enemy and he is us,' and 'the heebie-jeebies,' <a href="http://www.neatorama.com/2009/06/26/comic-origins-of-phrases/" target="_blank">click here</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8676928586420913367-4022127137062164970?l=inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com'/></div>The Inkwell Bookstorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609687997535147041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676928586420913367.post-64479317465764097062009-07-01T09:22:00.004-04:002009-07-01T11:47:59.491-04:00Book News, In Brief<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://stereogum.com/mt-static/support/uploads/hipster-1-774600-1_1_50x50.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://stereogum.com/mt-static/support/uploads/hipster-1-774600-1_1_50x50.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The Guardian UK has a pop-ed piece on <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/jun/28/history-starkey-historians-writers" target="_blank">the next generation of history writers</a>, those baby-faced biographers who claim, "The greatest of all crimes is dullness," and, "the secret to making history compelling is to pick quirky subjects." If you just felt a pang of distress, it's official: You're old.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.cs.cmu.edu/%7Echuck/icons/robot_icn.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://www.cs.cmu.edu/%7Echuck/icons/robot_icn.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>Boston.com has <a href="http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2009/06/29/vermont_bookstore_thriving_on_experiment_with_self_publishing/" target="_blank">streaming video of the Espresso Book Machine in action</a>. The footage, used to promote the mechanical monolith housed at Manchester Center, VT's The Northshire Bookstore, is cool and all, but someone's gotta streamline that thing toute de suite. It's about as sexy as a 1970's xerox machine.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://stereogum.com/mt-static/support/uploads/hipster-1-774600-1_1_50x50.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://stereogum.com/mt-static/support/uploads/hipster-1-774600-1_1_50x50.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Good news for bloggers like <del>me</del> you: The blog-to-book bubble has yet to burst! Gawker reports that "two blogs, Texts From Last Night and Look at this Fucking Hipster, scored contracts at Penguin's Gotham Books imprint" this week, calling them "the latest in an endless series of such deals," before providing <a href="http://gawker.com/5305024/exploiting-the-blog+to+book-bubble-a-guide" target="_blank">a simple, five step method for ensuring your own one-book contract</a>.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.toltec.k12.az.us/tax.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://www.toltec.k12.az.us/tax.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Less than a week after <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124603593605261787.html" target="_blank">dropping its North Carolina affiliates</a> to avoid paying state taxes, <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124630810805070105.html?mg=com-wsj">Amazon </a><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124630810805070105.html?mg=com-wsj" target="_blank">has kicked its Rhode Island affiliates to the curb</a> for the exact same reason. So who are the forlorn affiliates blaming for this blatant, greed-inspired break-up? <a href="http://confederateyankee.mu.nu/archives/289027.php" target="_blank">State legislators</a>, <a href="http://www.conservativenc.com/index.php/home/9-featured/798-nc-democrats-tax-plan-costing-jobs" target="_blank">the Democrats</a>, <a href="http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/6498259.html" target="_blank">RI's not-so-secret slave name</a> -- hell, pretty much everyone <span style="font-style: italic;">but</span> Amazon.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8676928586420913367-6447931746576409706?l=inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com'/></div>The Inkwell Bookstorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609687997535147041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676928586420913367.post-51361630472397726852009-06-30T13:00:00.010-04:002009-06-30T16:42:08.782-04:00School Board Lists 'Cannibalism' As Part Of "Liberal Agenda"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://6.media.tumblr.com/9wVzBPz3Flros43dl4bMjm7Ho1_250.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 300px;" src="http://6.media.tumblr.com/9wVzBPz3Flros43dl4bMjm7Ho1_250.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The School Board of Campbell High School in Litchfield, New Hampshire has removed four short stories from the 'Love/Gender/Family' curriculum of one of its English classes. According to the <a href="http://ncacblog.wordpress.com/2009/06/30/litchfield-teacher-resigns-amid-short-story-controversy/#more-3224">National Coalition Against Censorship</a>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">"A number of parents objected earlier this month to four stories by Ernest Hemingway, David Sedaris, Stephen King, and Laura Lippman because of their themes of abortion, homosexuality, cannibalism, and drug use, respectively."</span> Even better, Litchfield's panicked parents have labeled these topics as being part of the "liberal agenda" -- as if every Obama voter has 'pro-choice,' 'legalize it,' 'I love my gay honor roll student student,' and 'I ate your honor roll student' bumper stickers plastered all over their Prius. <a href="http://twitter.com/farleys">Via</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update:</span> In response to this act of censorship, Campbell High's English department head, Kathleen Reilly, has resigned. Good idea, Kathleen. That school board sounds like a bunch of reactionary zombies, anyway.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8676928586420913367-5136163047239772685?l=inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com'/></div>The Inkwell Bookstorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609687997535147041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676928586420913367.post-88023760051206036712009-06-30T12:24:00.002-04:002009-06-30T12:59:18.868-04:00SF Books That Launched Their Own Genres<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/io9/2009/06/frankenstein_1__01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 295px;" src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/io9/2009/06/frankenstein_1__01.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Everyone knows the legacies left by <span style="font-style: italic;">Frankenstein</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Starship Troopers</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Neuromancer</span> (gothic SF, military SF and cyberpunk, respectively), but can you name the genres spawned by <span style="font-style: italic;">Infernal Devices</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">On The Beach</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Consider Phlebas</span>? <a href="http://io9.com/5302367/science-fiction-books-that-launched-their-own-genres" target="_blank">Head to IO9 for those and more</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8676928586420913367-8802376005120603671?l=inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com'/></div>The Inkwell Bookstorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609687997535147041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676928586420913367.post-17979075729611804802009-06-30T09:19:00.004-04:002009-06-30T10:08:29.882-04:00Tuesday's Tips for Flailing Writers: Links!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.freewebs.com/hyrulianreligion/link_evo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 420px; height: 125px;" src="http://www.freewebs.com/hyrulianreligion/link_evo.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The LATimes provides practical advice for memoirists in '<a href="http://www.latimes.com/features/books/la-ca-marion-winik21-2009jun21,0,1213081.story" target="_blank">The Pitfalls of Recall</a>.'<br /><br /><br />If you only click one tip today, make it this one. The Rejecter defines '<a href="http://rejecter.blogspot.com/2009/06/infamous-synopsis.html" target="_blank">The Infamous Synopsis</a>.'<br /><br /><br />Google: It's unreliable, highly fallible and according to The Guardian UK, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/jun/27/kamila-shamsie-author-author" target="_blank">a writer's best friend</a>.<br /><br /><br />Contemplating a new project? The Tripping Muse suggests you <a href="http://www.trippingthemuse.com/archives/pitch-your-idea-to-yourself" target="_blank">pitch your idea to yourself</a> first.<br /><br /><br />As a new author with a look-at-me complex, which web presence is right for you? The Book Publicity Blog breaks down <a href="http://yodiwan.wordpress.com/2009/06/25/what-kind-of-web-presence-is-right-for-an-author/" target="_blank">the pros &amp; cons of writer websites, social networking profiles and blogs</a>.<br /><br /><br />Last but not least: Everybody uses office supplies for personal projects, but if you're xeroxing copies of your erotic/horror screenplay, you may want to double-check to <a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/news/erotic_horror_screenplay?utm_source=a-section" target="_blank">make sure you don't leave a copy in the copy room</a>. For everyone's sake.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8676928586420913367-1797907572961180480?l=inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com'/></div>The Inkwell Bookstorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609687997535147041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676928586420913367.post-16112655254358486812009-06-29T17:12:00.004-04:002009-06-29T17:37:53.314-04:00Persepolis...Re-Mixed<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.spreadpersepolis.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 440px; height: 285px;" src="http://www.spreadpersepolis.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/022.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Two artists identifying themselves only as Payman &amp; Sina have "re-mixed" the imagery from Marjane Satrapi's hit comic to reflect the current, post-election, Iranian situation -- and it's good!<br /><a href="http://www.spreadpersepolis.com/" target="_blank">Click here</a> to read.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(Thanks to <a href="http://blog.newsarama.com/" target="_blank">Newsarama</a> for the tip and image.)</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8676928586420913367-1611265525435848681?l=inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com'/></div>The Inkwell Bookstorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609687997535147041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676928586420913367.post-81332326404490908372009-06-29T14:00:00.002-04:002009-06-29T16:35:36.413-04:00Book Review:Mercier and Camier by Samuel Beckett<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3208/2523552579_2072f2ebca_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 139px; height: 226px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3208/2523552579_2072f2ebca_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><i>Mercier and Camier</i> was my first reading of Beckett, and it threw me for a loop. I knew he was a well-respected author who played with writing conventions, but I didn’t expect to be as amused as I was, nor did I expect such a literary experience based on two oddball, directionless stragglers. To exaggerate a bit, nothing at all happens in the book in the most glorious way. The two of them are convinced they have a destination or objective, yet they seem to wander about aimlessly. Their banter is the main thing that amuses me; the phrasing used is “off” just enough from what we might actually say, which makes for some head-scratching and chuckling. Just one example of many is when Camier asks, “Do you feel like singing?” and Mercier replies, “Not to my knowledge.” What? I chuckled, and then wondered what possibly could cause Mercier not to know whether he feels like singing. Little absurdities tucked away throughout the text draw the reader in, and yet give one pause to think about any possible deeper levels they may imply. Whether or not more meaning actually lies in waiting is another matter, and feels like part of the exploration the reader goes on. In that sense, we as readers/observers may have more direction than Mercier and Camier.<br /><br />Some darker themes arise (likely due to main characters’ vagabond natures): futility, violence, illness – mental and physical, lewdness, drunkenness, rudeness, and a few others which escape me. Interestingly, these don’t bog down the story for me, nor do they make it too difficult a read. There are some books where I can barely read the text due to the rough subject matter. Only one or two passages in Mercier and Camier come anywhere near making me want to stop reading; however the episodic nature of the book keeps the pace moving which makes the scenes all the more fleeting.<br /><br />I found it interesting I felt barely attached to the characters; usually it’s important to me that the author cares for the characters in some way, leading me to care. It’s not entirely clear to me in Mercier and Camier how Beckett may care for them, though the style of writing he employs and his non-traditional approach to the story may preclude the need for care of characters. He makes us complicit in the unraveling of the story, and allows us to see things from the narrator’s perspective (sometimes sarcastic and even acerbic) while rarely focusing on the characters’ perspective. I like feeling like I’m in league with Beckett, watching things happen. It may seem odd to say after all this that, while these two characters do exist in their own little world, their world is firmly entrenched in ours, with all the ethical and moral obligations intact. Their rejection of our world and their unwitting creation of their very own is one of many reasons why this book interested me. Their rejection of the usual social mores does not distance them from the reader any more than the narrator wishes, which I like; I wouldn’t want to feel totally removed from main characters.<br /><br />I’ve enjoyed all the big words Beckett employs, which force the reader to refer to a dictionary for elucidation (even if I didn’t devote myself to looking up every one). These polysyllabic words give the characters a mad professor type of feel to them, which has a delicious tension with how absurd their banter and actions are.<br /><br />While not an easy or even straightforward book, <i>Mercier and Camier</i> is a rewarding meander. And it’s brief—a novella—which makes it well worth the Beckett-curious reader’s time.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Review by Wendell "<a href="http://scutopus.com/news.html" target="_blank">Scutopus</a>" Edwards</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8676928586420913367-8133232640449090837?l=inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com'/></div>The Inkwell Bookstorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609687997535147041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676928586420913367.post-5053839710787679652009-06-29T12:00:00.007-04:002009-06-29T17:28:29.800-04:00The Smell of Books -- In A Can!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.prismdurosport.com/images/cans-all.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 380px; height: 380px;" src="http://media.prismdurosport.com/images/cans-all.jpeg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Even funnier than the photo is the pitch: "An aerosol e-book enhancer." <a href="http://smellofbooks.com/" target="_blank">Click here</a> for more info.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Via: <a href="http://kimbooktu.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Kimbooktu</a></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8676928586420913367-505383971078767965?l=inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com'/></div>The Inkwell Bookstorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609687997535147041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676928586420913367.post-66052193685987956182009-06-29T09:36:00.002-04:002009-06-29T09:59:28.942-04:00Book News, In Brief<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.oxfamireland.org/images-common/icon_recycle.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://www.oxfamireland.org/images-common/icon_recycle.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>Here's a disingenuous way to keep old books current -- by <a href="http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2009/06/28/hemingways_a_moveable_feast_goes_back_into_oven/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+Book+reviews" target="_blank">re-editing and re-releasing them</a> ad infinitum. Lord knows it's worked for the Bible all these years.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/119702468/politicsprose300dpi_normal.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/119702468/politicsprose300dpi_normal.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>To quote the <a href="https://twitter.com/bookavore" target="_blank">bookavore</a>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">"</span><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">This look at real numbers for another bookstore is rare and fascinating, esp as it's Politics &amp; Prose."</span></span> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2009/06/27/ST2009062702615.html" target="_blank">Click here</a> to read The Washington Post's profile of Politics &amp; Prose Bookstore &amp; Coffeehouse.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.fubar.com/imgs/happy_birthday.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://www.fubar.com/imgs/happy_birthday.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>Happy birthday, Aaron's Books! Those of you who have never been to Lancaster County's premier indie should head on over to their blog, where they've posted <a href="http://aaronsbookslititz.blogspot.com/2009/06/and-how-long-have-you-been-here.html" target="_blank">a photo-heavy post</a> highlighting the ups and downs of their five year expansion and evolution.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a1.vox.com/6a00e398a57fcf000200e398a575810001-50si"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://a1.vox.com/6a00e398a57fcf000200e398a575810001-50si" alt="" border="0" /></a>Fresh off his <a href="http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1897924,00.html" target="_blank">Oprah apology</a>, James Frey is ready to release <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/27/books/27alien.html?_r=1&amp;partner=rss&amp;emc=rss" target="_blank">two YA novels</a> -- one of which is the proposed first volume of a six book series. While no one would doubt Frey's hyperactive imagination, I can't help but wonder if this is a waste of his twisted genius. I mean, I really liked <span style="font-style: italic;">A Million Little Pieces</span>. Why not write a sequel to that? You know it'd garner hella headlines...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.adiumxtras.com/images/thumbs/hal9000_3_7192_3034_thumb.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://www.adiumxtras.com/images/thumbs/hal9000_3_7192_3034_thumb.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Thursday's Guardian UK <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2009/jun/25/book-recommendations-book-seer" target="_blank">reviewed online, automated book recommendations</a>, attacking the whack (LibraryThing picks Jane Austen novels for folks enjoying Ray Bradbury books) and commending the competent (The evil A points Bradbury fans toward Alan Moore), before ending with a question that made the whole article moot: <span style="font-weight: bold;">When you've finished a book, do you really want to read something similar? </span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8676928586420913367-6605219368598795618?l=inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com'/></div>The Inkwell Bookstorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609687997535147041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676928586420913367.post-25751048218654957552009-06-26T10:41:00.008-04:002009-06-26T11:29:31.575-04:00The R.I.P. Menagerie:Michael Jackson Book Covers<a onblur="http://www.michael-jackson-trader.com/items/books/pic/moonwalk.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 255px;" src="http://www.michael-jackson-trader.com/items/books/pic/moonwalk.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_p4ezu5pagUI/ShVmO9Wn6NI/AAAAAAAAAXs/7Xd-CJG_Syc/s400/Michael+Jackson+-+The+Magic+And+The+Madness.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 255px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_p4ezu5pagUI/ShVmO9Wn6NI/AAAAAAAAAXs/7Xd-CJG_Syc/s400/Michael+Jackson+-+The+Magic+And+The+Madness.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Moonwalk</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> by Michael Jackson.</span><br />The book that started it all.<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Michael Jackson: The Magic and the Madness</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> by J. Randy Taraborrelli.</span><br />Cool title, crap cover.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/16400000/16402084.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 255px;" src="http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/16400000/16402084.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mjfriendship.de/de/images/stories/b_19.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 255px;" src="http://www.mjfriendship.de/de/images/stories/b_19.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br />On Michael Jackson</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> by Margo Jefferson.</span><br />Crap title, cool cover.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Jacko, His Rise and Fall: The Social and Sexual History of Michael Jackson</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> by Darwin Porter.</span><br />A <span style="font-style: italic;">Ulysses </span>for MJ gossip fiends. It makes Michael out to be a sort of Leopold Bloom, moonwalking in and out of the lives of every star in the celebrity universe.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.arcanabooks.com/bookimages/009945.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 255px;" src="http://www.arcanabooks.com/bookimages/009945.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a-DvX6RDg5E/SkTlb_v_v1I/AAAAAAAAAQk/RM2Ajy-dn1w/s1600-h/captain_eo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 230px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a-DvX6RDg5E/SkTlb_v_v1I/AAAAAAAAAQk/RM2Ajy-dn1w/s200/captain_eo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351654526354964306" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br />Michael Jackson Was My Lover: The Secret Diary of Jordie Chandler</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> by Victor M. Gutierrez.</span><br />This is easily the most lurid of the bunch, and with a used price tag of $140, also the most expensive. The first time I read about this book was in an interview with writer/director, John Waters. Waters claims to have given out dozens of these things as Christmas presents over the years. He's never even sent me a card.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Captain EO: The Official 3-D Comic Book Adaptation of the George Lucas 3-D Musical Motion Picture Directed By Francis Ford Coppola</span><br />Would you believe that after all that, they had the nerve not to list the comic's writer or artist on the cover? The hubris!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">R.I.P. MJ. Your <span style="font-style: italic;">Off The Wall</span> album will always be one of my favorite records to sing along to while I'm in the shower.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8676928586420913367-2575104821865495755?l=inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com'/></div>The Inkwell Bookstorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609687997535147041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676928586420913367.post-9442873869611914772009-06-26T09:05:00.005-04:002009-06-26T11:28:27.443-04:00Cuz Friday Night Is For Sexin':Hot & Heavy Comic Book News<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.buddytv.com/articles/Image/Comicon/costume3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 151px;" src="http://www.buddytv.com/articles/Image/Comicon/costume3.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>You know comics have <del>crossed over</del> obtained marginal mainstream acceptance when <a href="http://penthousemagazine.com/features/geek-love/" target="_blank">Penthouse Magazine is profiling funnybook conventions</a>. And with promising pull-quotes like <span style="font-weight: bold;">"The big cons...all have VIP parties with open bars, which can lubricate the social interaction for sure. You’re not going to go home with Jessica Alba in her fuck-tastic Fantastic Four garb, but as Vic Holtreman of ScreenRant.com notes, “There’s a lot of hitting on people and flirting,"</span> you can expect a lot more <a href="http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/05/28/san-diego-no-room-at-the-inn-or-anywhere-else/" target="_blank">sell-out crowds</a>. (And a lot less Jessica Alba.)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://th01.deviantart.com/fs16/150/f/2007/193/b/7/Vampi_by_Bruce_Timm_by_Groovygoddess.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 151px;" src="http://th01.deviantart.com/fs16/150/f/2007/193/b/7/Vampi_by_Bruce_Timm_by_Groovygoddess.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>In honor of <span style="font-style: italic;">Vampirella</span>'s 40th birthday, the classic cheesecake/horror comic is being <a href="http://blog.newsarama.com/2009/06/24/ignition-do-you-believe-in-199-comics/" target="_blank">re-launched and re-priced</a>. <span style="font-style: italic;">Vampirella: The Second Coming</span> is a four part monthly mini-series set to begin in September, with a ridiculously low price of only $1.99 per issue. When asked to comment, an <a href="http://inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">unnamed bookstore blogger</a> said, <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Eff '</span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freakonomics" target="_blank">freakonomics</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">,' this is <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=freaky%20deaky" target="_blank">freaky-deaky</a>-onomics. Not only will the new series sell more, benefiting all of us in the book industry, but seemingly unrelated companies like Jurgens and Kleenex will also see a boost in their business."</span> Eww...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.majorspoilers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03a/dcjune09/02batman/.thumbs/.DTC-Cv854.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 151px;" src="http://www.majorspoilers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03a/dcjune09/02batman/.thumbs/.DTC-Cv854.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Well, this is the week that DC did it. <span style="font-style: italic;">Detective Comics #854</span> -- normally the home of Batman -- saw the debut of a new Batwoman, and get this -- she's totally gay. I'll leave the tawdry details to <a href="http://everydayislikewednesday.blogspot.com/2009/06/weekly-haul-june-24th.html" target="_blank">J. Caleb Mozzocco</a>: <span style="font-weight: bold;">"It’s basically a cookie cutter sort of street-level, vigilante-style comic book scripting. In this particular story, Batwoman could just as easily be Batman or Daredevil, Catwoman or Nightwing. Which is actually kind of cool, given that she is a lesbian. This comic is literally about a superhero who just happens to be a lesbian, and you can’t ask for more from that in terms of diversity and quality in the DCU or DC’s line of books set there."</span> Wait, what? This sounds tasteful...dignified...and dare I say it? <span style="font-style: italic;">Mature</span>. Goddammit, this book doesn't belong in this post at all!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >For more info on The Inkwell's pick for Comic Book of the Week, </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Detective Comics #854</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >, click <a href="http://joglikescomics.blogspot.com/2009/06/silent-detective.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.comicbookbin.com/Detective_Comics_854.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Both links feature great examples of the book's gorgeous art.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8676928586420913367-944287386961191477?l=inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com'/></div>The Inkwell Bookstorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609687997535147041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676928586420913367.post-53347828152210355592009-06-25T15:07:00.004-04:002009-06-25T16:28:01.098-04:00Smiley Faced Covers from Recent Releases<a onblur="http://badmoneyadvice.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/oblivious.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 255px;" src="http://badmoneyadvice.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/oblivious.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.indiebound.com/186/917/9780767917186.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 255px;" src="http://images.indiebound.com/186/917/9780767917186.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Oblivious Investing: Building Wealth by Ignoring the Noise </span>by Mike Piper.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left</span> by Jonah Goldberg.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.heatherbrewer.com/bleedingink/uploaded_images/TenthGradeBleeds-747050.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 255px;" src="http://www.heatherbrewer.com/bleedingink/uploaded_images/TenthGradeBleeds-747050.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.fleen.com/uploads/2009/06/smile_cover_web-214x300.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 255px;" src="http://www.fleen.com/uploads/2009/06/smile_cover_web-214x300.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Tenth Grade Bleeds</span> by Heather Brewer.<br />Coming in February of 2010, <span style="font-style: italic;">Smile</span> by Raina Telgemeier. It's the pen and ink collection of Telemeier's <a href="http://www.webcomicsnation.com/raina/">"dental drama" webcomic</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cache.reelzchannel.com/assets/content/article/watchmenCoverA.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 255px;" src="http://cache.reelzchannel.com/assets/content/article/watchmenCoverA.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/19440000/19440594.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 255px;" src="http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/19440000/19440594.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Okay, so these last two aren't exactly recent, but they're so damned genius I had to include 'em anyway.<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Watchmen</span> by Alan Moore &amp; Dave Gibbons.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Against Happiness: In Praise of Melancholy</span> by Eric G. Wilson.<br /><br />Now wipe that smug smile off of your face and get back to work!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8676928586420913367-5334782815221035559?l=inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com'/></div>The Inkwell Bookstorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609687997535147041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676928586420913367.post-27551002979589131632009-06-25T11:28:00.009-04:002009-06-25T14:20:42.681-04:00It's Nice To Know That Desperate Dames Will Put Up With A Little Paunch<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >(Or: Recommended Viewing: A Romance Novel's Cover Shoot)</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2453/3638159731_7a7e45212e.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 440px; height: 330px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2453/3638159731_7a7e45212e.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>2009's 'Mr. Romance,' Charles Paz, gives the gals a peek at his 6/09 cover shoot for Connie Mason's <span style="font-style: italic;">The Lord of Devil Isle</span> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rtbookreviews/sets/72157619846383767/show/" target="_blank">here</a>. Seriously, though -- dude is dreamy.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(Thanks to <a href="http://superpunch.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Super Punch</a> for the tip!)</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8676928586420913367-2755100297958913163?l=inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com'/></div>The Inkwell Bookstorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609687997535147041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676928586420913367.post-37928313426171798692009-06-25T08:43:00.002-04:002009-06-25T09:30:34.135-04:00Book News, In Brief<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cm1.theinsider.com/media/0/50/99/cheney_012908_fresh.50.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 48px; height: 48px;" src="http://cm1.theinsider.com/media/0/50/99/cheney_012908_fresh.50.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Secretive shadow lord <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/books/24cheney.html?_r=1&amp;partner=rss&amp;emc=rss" target="_blank">Dick Cheney has signed a six figure deal with Simon &amp; Schuster for a tell-all</a>, and no one but me seems to see the irony.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.kaboodle.com/hi/img/a/0/0/b/c/AAAACsPZu_IAAAAAAAvGlg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 48px; height: 48px;" src="http://www.kaboodle.com/hi/img/a/0/0/b/c/AAAACsPZu_IAAAAAAAvGlg.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Cuz we pride ourselves in putting the 'ink' in 'kink': From Ernest Hemingway to Anaïs Nin, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/jun/23/ewan-morrison-menage-trois" target="_blank">novelist Ewan Morrison picks the best literary threesomes</a>.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/240533256/book_pile_normal.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 48px; height: 48px;" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/240533256/book_pile_normal.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>Reacting to the news that there were <a href="http://www.bowker.com/index.php/press-releases/563-bowker-reports-us-book-production-declines-3-in-2008-but-qon-demandq-publishing-more-than-doubles" target="_blank">3% fewer books published in 2008 than in 2007</a> (275,232 titles as compared to 284,370), The Green Apple Core asks, <a href="http://thegreenapplecore.blogspot.com/2009/06/how-many-works-of-fiction-do-you-need.html" target="_blank">How Many Works Of Fiction Do YOU Need?</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.hlth.qut.edu.au/psyc/graphics/kavanagh_lecture_thumbnail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 48px; height: 48px;" src="http://www.hlth.qut.edu.au/psyc/graphics/kavanagh_lecture_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The Guardian UK has an article analyzing <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/jun/24/live-books-talks-performance-gladwell" target="_blank">the rise of sell-out crowds at academic lectures</a>. How much do you wanna bet it has something to do with everyday interactions being reduced to <a href="http://twitter.com/Inkwell_Bkstr" target="_blank">uninteresting, uninspired Tweets</a>?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8676928586420913367-3792831342617179869?l=inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com'/></div>The Inkwell Bookstorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609687997535147041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676928586420913367.post-21812434227082702062009-06-24T17:18:00.004-04:002009-06-24T17:37:48.425-04:00Neil Gaiman B*tch-Slaps DC<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Technology/Pix/pictures/2009/2/11/1234364356722/Neil-Gaiman-001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 440px; height: 260px;" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Technology/Pix/pictures/2009/2/11/1234364356722/Neil-Gaiman-001.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>In <a href="http://jam.canoe.ca/Books/2009/06/22/9890516-ca.html" target="_blank">an interview with Jam.canoe.com</a>, Mr. Gaiman explained the dearth of new <span style="font-style: italic;">Sandman</span> stories for the series' 20th anniversary like this:<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />“I wanted to do a 20th anniversary story and it broke mostly because DC Comics would have loved me to do a 20th anniversary story at the same terms that were agreed upon in 1987 when I was a 26-year-old unknown. And my thought was, ‘You know what guys, it really doesn’t work like that.’ I wasn’t going to do a deal at the same terms we had in 1987 and they were not willing to do any better than that.”</span><br />Nicely done, DC. I guess there's no reason to pay <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Gaiman#Awards" target="_blank">an award winning writer</a> to return to his most memorable creation when you've got <span style="font-style: italic;">The Real World</span>'s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judd_Winick" target="_blank">Judd Winick</a> on staff.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(Thanks to <a href="http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/" target="_blank">Robot 6</a> for the tip!)</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8676928586420913367-2181243422708270206?l=inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com'/></div>The Inkwell Bookstorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609687997535147041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676928586420913367.post-47460829369778837872009-06-24T14:00:00.003-04:002009-06-24T17:40:36.050-04:002 Lists, 2 Links<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/uk-marketing/wishlist/Wishlist-50._V261188125_.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/uk-marketing/wishlist/Wishlist-50._V261188125_.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>Boston.com lists <a href="http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2008/08/24/journalemismem/" target="_blank">New England's Top 10 Literary Magazines</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a-DvX6RDg5E/Sj_6qC9OACI/AAAAAAAAAQU/3C4D53pL6M8/s1600-h/linkspazzing.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a-DvX6RDg5E/Sj_6qC9OACI/AAAAAAAAAQU/3C4D53pL6M8/s200/linkspazzing.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350270482594529314" border="0" /></a>The Australian <a href="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25645499-5001986,00.html" target="_blank">proposes a moratorium on critical literary readings</a>. -- for a year or five.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/uk-marketing/wishlist/Wishlist-50._V261188125_.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/uk-marketing/wishlist/Wishlist-50._V261188125_.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>The CBC lists the <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/arts/books/story/2009/05/19/f-best-poets-canada.html" target="_blank">10 Best Canadian Poets</a>. Pardon my presumption, but I'm adding an eleventh: Bullwinkle.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a-DvX6RDg5E/Sj_6qC9OACI/AAAAAAAAAQU/3C4D53pL6M8/s1600-h/linkspazzing.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a-DvX6RDg5E/Sj_6qC9OACI/AAAAAAAAAQU/3C4D53pL6M8/s200/linkspazzing.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350270482594529314" border="0" /></a>Dave Eggers <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/jun/21/1" target="_blank">picks his favorite films</a>, and it feels like he's pulling a <span style="font-style: italic;">Single White Female</span> on me. <span style="font-style: italic;">Ruby In Paradise</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Before Night Falls </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">Do The Right Thing</span> are in my Top 9, too!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8676928586420913367-4746082936977883787?l=inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com'/></div>The Inkwell Bookstorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609687997535147041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676928586420913367.post-70860555264482199652009-06-24T12:00:00.003-04:002009-06-25T23:03:41.027-04:00Humorous Excerpts from Recent Comics Reviews<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://heavyink.com/images/covers/APR09/MAPR090767.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 151px;" src="http://heavyink.com/images/covers/APR09/MAPR090767.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>From Nina Stone's review of Garth Ennis &amp; co.'s <span style="font-style: italic;">Herogasm</span> #2:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Each panel has as much sex, inappropriate behavior and grossness as can possibly be squeezed in. It's HILARIOUS! It's the </span><em style="font-weight: bold;">Where's Waldo</em><span style="font-weight: bold;"> of getting it on. It's Richard Scarry's </span><em style="font-weight: bold;">Busytown Penthouse Letters</em><span style="font-weight: bold;">. Do I care about the plot? No. Do I want to know what happens next? Not really. All I want is to see pictures of more obscene stuff, because it's funny.</span><br />To read the whole review, <a href="http://www.factualopinion.com/the_factual_opinion/2009/06/herogasm_2.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://content-6.powells.com/cgi-bin/imageDB.cgi?isbn=9780307377326"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 161px;" src="http://content-6.powells.com/cgi-bin/imageDB.cgi?isbn=9780307377326" alt="" border="0" /></a>From Timothy Callahan's review of <span style="font-style: italic;">Entertainment Weekly</span>'s review of David Mazzucchelli's <span style="font-style: italic;">Asterios</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> Polyp</span>:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">In the grade-A review of Mazzucchelli's </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Asterios Polyp</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">, Sean Howe of </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">EW </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">mentions the "nearly subliminal color symbolism" in the book. The symbolism is anything but subliminal -- it's an essential detail that's commented upon within the text. That doesn't make it any less great, though. But it's like saying that the bat motif in Bruce Wayne's life is subliminal.</span><br />T0 read the whole review...oh, wait -- I just posted the whole review. Okay, so to read more of Callahan's writing, <a href="http://geniusboyfiremelon.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">click here</a>.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://marvel.com/i/content/st/26750new_storyimage7478324_thumb.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 151px;" src="http://marvel.com/i/content/st/26750new_storyimage7478324_thumb.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>From Tucker Stone's review of Milligan, Nord &amp; Strain's <span style="font-style: italic;">The Trial of Thor</span> #1:<br />(Note: This is one verbose, tangential sentence. Take a deep breath before attempting to read it, even if you're not planning on reading it aloud. Trust me, your brain's gonna need the oxygen.)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Although part of Thor's schtick is that he spends his time in a world somewhat removed from our own, where He-Man figures walk around wearing layered outfits mixing Viking/Mongolian Horde/Knights of the Round Table styles while talking about Thor as if they're little girls at a slumber party--seriously, all you need to complete that vision would be footie-pajamas and the line "he's so dreamy too"--Milligan delivers two relatively smart bits of humor amongst the Cary Nord bloodfest to keep the whole ship afloat.</span><br />To read the whole review, <a href="http://www.factualopinion.com/the_factual_opinion/2009/06/cotw62109.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8676928586420913367-7086055526448219965?l=inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com'/></div>The Inkwell Bookstorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609687997535147041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676928586420913367.post-70990004345086163732009-06-24T09:01:00.003-04:002009-06-24T18:33:40.734-04:00Book News, In Brief<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.foxnews.com/images/531266/2_47_kindle_dx_hands.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://www.foxnews.com/images/531266/2_47_kindle_dx_hands.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Analysts predict that <a href="http://paidcontent.org/article/419-analysts-kindle-book-price-hikes-are-coming/">Amazon is approaching an e-book price hike</a>. If the crystal balls are correct, the now normal $9.99 price tag is gonna be raised to $12.50 -- a.k.a. the price of your average trade paperback.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.portlandmercury.com/imager/stuff_white_people_like/b/square/831712/ebb0/books1-570.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://www.portlandmercury.com/imager/stuff_white_people_like/b/square/831712/ebb0/books1-570.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The New Yorker</span> has a new entry for Stuff White People Like: <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2009/06/workers-of-the-world-forced-to-buy-their-own-chains.html">Being able to break into the pu</a><a href="http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2009/06/workers-of-the-world-forced-to-buy-their-own-chains.html">blishing industry because their rich parents will support them while they work as unpaid interns</a>. While it's weird (and sorta hypocritical) that the publishing world's penchant for wealthy, White privilege is being taken to task in one of the world's wealthiest, Whitest magazines, at least it's finally being taken to task.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cm1.theinsider.com/media/0/90/69/hollywood-sign.50.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://cm1.theinsider.com/media/0/90/69/hollywood-sign.50.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>You know that expression, 'Those who can't do, teach'? That sh*t must be a yoga mantra in the Hollywood hills. First there's TV starlet Jennifer Love Hewitt. Less than a year after calling off her engagement to Scottish actor, Ross McCall, <a href="http://www.usmagazine.com/news/jennifer-love-hewitt-writing-relationship-book-2009186">Hewitt is writing a dating advice book</a>. Then there's 2007's Dad of the Year, Alec Baldwin. Less than two years after he attained internet infamy <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgj6NEk9xEw">by repeatedly calling his 11 year old daughter a pig</a>, <a href="http://www.playboy.com/articles/alec-baldwin-playboy-interview/index.html?page=2">Baldwin is publishing a parenting book</a>. What's next, a Michael Bay book on subtlety? A Bret Michaels book on dignity?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.sexoteric.com/postpic/icon/106/105955.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://images.sexoteric.com/postpic/icon/106/105955.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The first part is cliche, the second part, a miracle: A mom in NC bought her kids some used comic books at their local library fundraiser. One of the books, <span style="font-style: italic;">Batman Confidential</span> #18, contained a scene involving Batgirl and Catwoman wrestling naked (save their masks!) in "Gotham City's Hedonist Society." Okay, so that's pretty much par for the course, right? But here's where it gets good. Instead of calling the police or her priest or -- heaven forbid -- FOX News, <a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/local/story/790247.html">mom called the library and asked them to screen the books they're selling to kids a little more carefully</a>. Yes, you read that right. There was no book burning, no grandstanding, and no lawsuit seeking mental damages. There was just a reasonable response from a rightfully concerned parent. Like I said, a miracle.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(Thanks to <a href="http://www.tcj.com/journalista/">Journalista!</a> for the tip.)</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8676928586420913367-7099000434508616373?l=inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com'/></div>The Inkwell Bookstorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609687997535147041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676928586420913367.post-21698918612170681422009-06-23T15:34:00.008-04:002009-06-24T14:48:06.990-04:00Go, Look: Alltop News<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.netpaths.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/alltop6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.netpaths.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/alltop6.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>This is an all points bulletin to all our fellow news fiends: Check out <a href="http://alltop.com/" target="_blank">Alltop.com</a>. It's a not-so-new news feed aggregator which actually breaks the headlines/blog posts/newspaper articles down into themed sub-sections for you. Of particular note to Inkwell Irregulars will be Alltop's <a href="http://books.alltop.com/" target="_blank">Book News page</a> and <a href="http://writing.alltop.com/" target="_blank">Writing News page</a>...and judging from the wtf spelling in our comments section, their <a href="http://wine.alltop.com/" target="_blank">Wine News page</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8676928586420913367-2169891861217068142?l=inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com'/></div>The Inkwell Bookstorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01609687997535147041noreply@blogger.com0