The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows The Lace Reader: A Novel by Brunonia Barry The Gargoyle: A Novel by Andrew DavidsonThe 19th Wife: A Novel by David EbershoffThe Seamstress: A Novel by Frances De Pontes Peebles What Happened to Anna K.: A Novel by Irina ReynIodine: A Novel by Haven KimmelThe Likeness: A Novel by Tana FrenchAwesome by Jack PendarvisBikeman: An Epic Poem by Thomas F. Flynn The Little Book: A Novel by Selden EdwardsThe Spirit of the Place by Samuel ShemThe Mercy Rule: A Novel by Perri KlassWaiter Rant: Thanks […]
Archives for July 2008
David Morrell's Graphic "Knockout"
The AP enthuses over the author’s stand-alone comic-book miniseries Captain America: The Chosen, from Marvel. Morrell says in the afterword he wanted to “dramatize the burden of being a superhero in today’s troubled world, especially a superhero named after the United States.” The wire calls it a “poignant, yet uplifting, story with psychological dimensions that transcends the genre.”AP
Chicago's Afrocentric Books to Close
Desiree Sanders, 41, founder and president of Chicago’s Afrocentric Bookstore, says: “The last year has not been good for us as far as customers. It is with much regret that I complete the process of closing our doors after 18 years of service to the Black community. I know by closing I am leaving a void in the Black community but the economics to stay open just aren’t there anymore.”Chicago Reader In Philadelphia, Molly’s Bookstore is selling off inventory and will close. Owner Molly Russakoff says: “The whole nature of the business changed from a laid-back, sociable job to a […]
Australian Import/Copyright Fight: Sounds Like a Losing Battle
In Australia, booksellers and a government commission are seeking to remove the country’s restrictions that give Australian publishers 30 days after the release of book elsewhere in the world to issue an Australian edition (which protects territorial rights and blocks the importing of editions from other countries). The industry response, as the Australian puts it: “The Australian Publishers Association and the Australian Society of Authors are organising a grassroots campaign to educate the public that cheap books will come at a cost to the local industry.”Australian
Latest Textbook Trick: Slightly Customized Books Defy Used Sales
No wonder students rebel against textbook publishers. The latest twist, described in today’s WSJ, is for publishing companies to produce slightly customized books–like a special edition of “A Writer’s Reference” that puts the University of Alabama’s name on the cover and includes a 32-page section describing the school’s writing program (taken right from the school’s web site.) There’s no value added for the student, but the university gets a $3 a book royalty (from over 4,000 copies) from publisher Bedford/St. Martin’s, and the publisher inhibits resale into the open used book market. (If it makes you feel any better, Professor […]
USA Today's Q2 Bestsellers
Randy Pausch’s LAST LECTURE was No. 1 and Eckhart Tolle stayed at No. 2–but Stephenie Meyer took four of the next five slots, and BREAKING DAWN, the fourth in the Twilight series, doesn’t land until August 2. (A Twilight film is set for December.)USAT