“If God had meant us to walk around naked, he would never have invented the wicker chair.” –Erma Bombeck
I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that I was intrigued by the title of a blog that I recently ran across while searching for something totally unrelated. I couldn’t resist. I pointed my cursor and clicked on, The Naked Truth: Authors Who Write in the Buff. It may be more than you ever wanted to learn about some of the world’s famous authors, but I thought I’d share it with you because it made me laugh.
According to the article, Victor Hugo used nudity as a cure for writer’s block by having his servant take away all his clothes, leaving him with only pen and paper so he’d have nothing to do but write. Ernest Hemingway wrote standing up in the nude with his typewriter about waist height; D. H. Lawrence liked to climb trees in the nude before coming down to write; and Edmond Rostand wrote nude in the bathtub to keep from being interrupted by his friends. The only female on the list was Agatha Christie, who, it seems, liked to write anywhere in the nude.
For more details about these writers and several others I didn’t mention, you need to read the blog.
I can’t see myself taking up this rather unusual writing habit. Then again—the next time I encounter a supreme case of writer’s block…
How do you feel about baring it all in the pursuit of writing?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Erma Bombeck, Victor Hugo, Hemingway, D. H. Lawrence, Rostand, Agatha Christie, writer's block
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
A Change in Trends
“Nothing is permanent but change.” - Heraclitus
There has been talk on blogs, including my own, about the inability of independent bookstores to compete against chain stores. Therefore, I was taken by surprise when I read on Boston.com that an independent store, Brookline Booksmith, welcomed patrons of a nearby Barnes and Noble store that had recently gone out of business.
According to the article, Unchained Success, “Booksmith is not the only independent bookstore proving surprisingly sturdy in a stormy economy. Other small booksellers are withstanding the downturn with the same combination of community involvement, personalized service, events, e-commerce, and such extras as cafés or gifts or used books, that enabled them to survive the onset of megachains and Amazon.com.
"There's a standard line that the independents are collapsing and they're all going to disappear soon. I think that's a little dated," said John Mutter, editor of the online newsletter Shelf Awareness, which tracks the book industry. "Most of the independents that are left are much stronger than the group as a whole before."
There was also good news in the article about the general book business during this serious recession. “Nationwide, sales in bookstores of all types fare better than in many businesses. The Census Bureau reports that bookstore sales in January 2009 were virtually unchanged from January 2008, compared with an 8 percent decline in total retail and food service sales. The big chains did not share that good news. Barnes & Noble's store sales dropped 5 percent last quarter compared with 2007, capping a year that CEO Steve Riggio called "the most challenging year that the company and the industry have ever experienced." Fourth-quarter sales in Borders superstores plunged 15 percent, and the chain closed 112 of its Waldenbooks locations in 2008.”
I hate to hear of any bookstore closing, but I am pleased to know that folks are still shopping for books and that maybe the independent bookstore won’t become obsolete after all.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Heraclitus, Barnes and Noble, Booksmith, Amazon, Boston.com,
There has been talk on blogs, including my own, about the inability of independent bookstores to compete against chain stores. Therefore, I was taken by surprise when I read on Boston.com that an independent store, Brookline Booksmith, welcomed patrons of a nearby Barnes and Noble store that had recently gone out of business.
According to the article, Unchained Success, “Booksmith is not the only independent bookstore proving surprisingly sturdy in a stormy economy. Other small booksellers are withstanding the downturn with the same combination of community involvement, personalized service, events, e-commerce, and such extras as cafés or gifts or used books, that enabled them to survive the onset of megachains and Amazon.com.
"There's a standard line that the independents are collapsing and they're all going to disappear soon. I think that's a little dated," said John Mutter, editor of the online newsletter Shelf Awareness, which tracks the book industry. "Most of the independents that are left are much stronger than the group as a whole before."
There was also good news in the article about the general book business during this serious recession. “Nationwide, sales in bookstores of all types fare better than in many businesses. The Census Bureau reports that bookstore sales in January 2009 were virtually unchanged from January 2008, compared with an 8 percent decline in total retail and food service sales. The big chains did not share that good news. Barnes & Noble's store sales dropped 5 percent last quarter compared with 2007, capping a year that CEO Steve Riggio called "the most challenging year that the company and the industry have ever experienced." Fourth-quarter sales in Borders superstores plunged 15 percent, and the chain closed 112 of its Waldenbooks locations in 2008.”
I hate to hear of any bookstore closing, but I am pleased to know that folks are still shopping for books and that maybe the independent bookstore won’t become obsolete after all.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Heraclitus, Barnes and Noble, Booksmith, Amazon, Boston.com,
Friday, April 24, 2009
Ghostwriting
“Honesty is the best policy.” - Shakespeare
At a recent Gulf Coast Writers Association meeting, the speaker, Chris Angermann, editor-in-chief of New Chapter Publishing, mentioned that about 30% of the books on the New York Times Best Seller list were ghostwritten. I found this figure shocking and I’ve been thinking about the business of ghostwriting since.
I knew ghostwriting was fairly common in non-fiction books but was surprised to learn that the practice was also used in fiction writing. I understand that a well-known author or a celebrity name sells books and selling books makes money. But does that make it right? It simply doesn’t seem honest to me to take credit for something that someone else wrote.
It’s also hard for me to distinguish the difference between a person paying someone to write a book for them and a student paying someone to write a term paper. However, the pretend ‘author’ receives accolades and a nice royalty check while the student is kicked out of school.
On the positive side, I understand that some people with good stories to tell may not be good writers or some good writers may lack for ideas. A ghostwriter probably receives a nice fee and is not expected to participate in promoting which has its appeal as well.
I have no qualms with teaming up. I only wonder if a book clearly stated, “idea by Big Celebrity Name as written by John Doe,” would really sell fewer copies than one with just the celebrity name. In other words, would sharing the credit be a bad thing?
This blog is not to judge ghostwriters or the people who employ them. Quite the contrary. I’d love to hear their views on the subject. I’m keeping an open mind because I feel I’m missing important points on both sides of the argument of whether the practice is right or wrong.
What are your feelings on ghostwriting?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Shakespeare, ghostwriting, Gulf Coast Writers, Chris Angermann, New Chapter Publishing,
At a recent Gulf Coast Writers Association meeting, the speaker, Chris Angermann, editor-in-chief of New Chapter Publishing, mentioned that about 30% of the books on the New York Times Best Seller list were ghostwritten. I found this figure shocking and I’ve been thinking about the business of ghostwriting since.
I knew ghostwriting was fairly common in non-fiction books but was surprised to learn that the practice was also used in fiction writing. I understand that a well-known author or a celebrity name sells books and selling books makes money. But does that make it right? It simply doesn’t seem honest to me to take credit for something that someone else wrote.
It’s also hard for me to distinguish the difference between a person paying someone to write a book for them and a student paying someone to write a term paper. However, the pretend ‘author’ receives accolades and a nice royalty check while the student is kicked out of school.
On the positive side, I understand that some people with good stories to tell may not be good writers or some good writers may lack for ideas. A ghostwriter probably receives a nice fee and is not expected to participate in promoting which has its appeal as well.
I have no qualms with teaming up. I only wonder if a book clearly stated, “idea by Big Celebrity Name as written by John Doe,” would really sell fewer copies than one with just the celebrity name. In other words, would sharing the credit be a bad thing?
This blog is not to judge ghostwriters or the people who employ them. Quite the contrary. I’d love to hear their views on the subject. I’m keeping an open mind because I feel I’m missing important points on both sides of the argument of whether the practice is right or wrong.
What are your feelings on ghostwriting?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Shakespeare, ghostwriting, Gulf Coast Writers, Chris Angermann, New Chapter Publishing,
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
The Pulitzer for Fiction
“Actors, politicians, and writers—all of us are but creatures of the hour. Long-lasting fame comes to but few.” – Louis L’Amour
Congratulations to the 2009 Pulitzer Winner for fiction, announced on the 20th, Olive Kitteridge, by Elizabeth Strout.
I suppose all authors at one time or another dream of receiving some sort of book award. A prestigious award such as the Pulitzer, would be a meaningful acknowledgment of the hard labor that goes into creating a book, instantly boosting the author to fame and immortality. However, according to a recent article, And The Pulitzer For Forgotten Fiction Goes To... on NPR.org that scenario is not necessarily the case.
Sure we all remember Gone with the Wind and The Grapes of Wrath. But do you recall His Family by Ernest Poole, Lamb in His Bosom by Caroline Miller, The Edge of Sadness by Edwin O'Connor, or any of the other books on NPR’s “… Unscientific List Of Least-Known Fiction Winners?”
The article asks… “Were these books great in their time, but only in their time? Were the Pulitzer jurors simply out to lunch? Or maybe the literary pickings are just slim some years.”
I admit, I have not read or even heard about the books on their list. But, I think the fault may be mine and not that of the books or the authors. And, perhaps the books that are remembered, like Gone with The Wind, reached immortality with the aid of Hollywood.
Only time will tell if this year’s winner, Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout, ends up on the remembered or forgotten list.
Have you read any of the books mentioned? Do you have any forgotten books to add to the list? Why do you think some award winning books are never forgotten while others are?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: L’Amour, Pulitzer, Olive Kitteridge, Elizabeth Strout, NPR, Gone With the Wind, Grapes of Wrath, forgotten fiction,
Congratulations to the 2009 Pulitzer Winner for fiction, announced on the 20th, Olive Kitteridge, by Elizabeth Strout.
I suppose all authors at one time or another dream of receiving some sort of book award. A prestigious award such as the Pulitzer, would be a meaningful acknowledgment of the hard labor that goes into creating a book, instantly boosting the author to fame and immortality. However, according to a recent article, And The Pulitzer For Forgotten Fiction Goes To... on NPR.org that scenario is not necessarily the case.
Sure we all remember Gone with the Wind and The Grapes of Wrath. But do you recall His Family by Ernest Poole, Lamb in His Bosom by Caroline Miller, The Edge of Sadness by Edwin O'Connor, or any of the other books on NPR’s “… Unscientific List Of Least-Known Fiction Winners?”
The article asks… “Were these books great in their time, but only in their time? Were the Pulitzer jurors simply out to lunch? Or maybe the literary pickings are just slim some years.”
I admit, I have not read or even heard about the books on their list. But, I think the fault may be mine and not that of the books or the authors. And, perhaps the books that are remembered, like Gone with The Wind, reached immortality with the aid of Hollywood.
Only time will tell if this year’s winner, Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout, ends up on the remembered or forgotten list.
Have you read any of the books mentioned? Do you have any forgotten books to add to the list? Why do you think some award winning books are never forgotten while others are?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: L’Amour, Pulitzer, Olive Kitteridge, Elizabeth Strout, NPR, Gone With the Wind, Grapes of Wrath, forgotten fiction,
Monday, April 20, 2009
Book Covers
“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” –American proverb
This proverb was probably easy to follow prior to the 1900’s. In the 1820’s, book jackets were originally designed to protect cloth bound covers and were meant to be discarded. For the first couple of decades of the 20th century, book covers were frequently decorated with stamped floral or scroll designs. It was not until the 1920s that the modern book jacket became a staple of the publishing world. For more history on book jackets, plus photos of covers from 1920 through 1950’s visit Pictorial Covers:An Exhibition of American Book Jackets, 1920-1950.
Recently I ran across the blog of Henry Sene Yee who designs book covers. As today is the 10th anniversary of the Columbine High School shootings, I thought it might be an appropriate time to share the blog on how he came up with an suitable cover for the book, simply titled Columbine.
Although written in 2007, there is another interesting article at Esquire.com on how Chip Kidd, art director at Alfred A. Knopf, designed covers for Martin Amis, Cormac McCarthy and John Updike. There’s more on Chip Kidd’s cover art at Time.com.
Vanity Fair lists what they rank as the top 25 book covers.
A list of favorite covers of 2008 can be found at Book Design Review.
Have you ever bought a book based on the cover alone? Do you have a favorite book cover of all time?
Thanks for dropping by.
Tags: book covers, Columbine, Vanity Fair, Knopf,
This proverb was probably easy to follow prior to the 1900’s. In the 1820’s, book jackets were originally designed to protect cloth bound covers and were meant to be discarded. For the first couple of decades of the 20th century, book covers were frequently decorated with stamped floral or scroll designs. It was not until the 1920s that the modern book jacket became a staple of the publishing world. For more history on book jackets, plus photos of covers from 1920 through 1950’s visit Pictorial Covers:An Exhibition of American Book Jackets, 1920-1950.
Recently I ran across the blog of Henry Sene Yee who designs book covers. As today is the 10th anniversary of the Columbine High School shootings, I thought it might be an appropriate time to share the blog on how he came up with an suitable cover for the book, simply titled Columbine.
Although written in 2007, there is another interesting article at Esquire.com on how Chip Kidd, art director at Alfred A. Knopf, designed covers for Martin Amis, Cormac McCarthy and John Updike. There’s more on Chip Kidd’s cover art at Time.com.
Vanity Fair lists what they rank as the top 25 book covers.
A list of favorite covers of 2008 can be found at Book Design Review.
Have you ever bought a book based on the cover alone? Do you have a favorite book cover of all time?
Thanks for dropping by.
Tags: book covers, Columbine, Vanity Fair, Knopf,
Friday, April 17, 2009
Eponyms
“Before employing a fine word, make a place for it.” –Joseph Joubert
Eponyms are words based on or derived from a person’s name. DailyWritingTips has compiled a fun list, 30 Words Inspired by 29 People and an Elephant. These are eponyms that are not based on a person’s name but on “…physical features, manner of dress, writing style, profession, or behavior–associated with specific people (and one elephant).”
I was familiar with the origins of a few of the words, such as casanova, C-section, and luddite, but most of the words had stories attached that I had not heard before such as:
bowdlerize - “remove sexually offensive words or passages from a written work before publishing it.” From Thomas Bowdler (1754-1825) who published an edition of Shakespeare that left out such things as the porter scene in Macbeth. As preposterous as the idea may seem now, it was a boon to women who had previously been deterred from reading the plays by their parents, husbands, or dread of social disapproval.
boycott - “refuse to do business with with someone.” From Charles C. Boycott (1832-1897), the Irish land agent for an absentee landlord. Boycott refused to conform to land reforms supported by the Irish Land League. The League acted against Boycott by preventing his access to stores, postal service and other economic necessities. Boycotting is an important tool in campaigns of passive resistance to unjust social conditions.
cardigan - “style of sweater that opens at the front.” From James Thomas Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan who is said to have worn a knitted waistcoat to keep warm on campaign. He was one of the commanders in the field on the day of the fatal Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War.
Click here for the full list and to find out which word was based on an elephant.
One of my favorite eponyms is the word ‘blurb.’ This word came from a book cover designed by humorist Gelett Burgess in 1907. On the cover of his book, Are You a Bromide?, was a picture of a female he called Miss Belinda Blurb, along with accompanying ad text. You can read more about this and see a picture of Miss Blurb at Sentence First.
Do you have a favorite eponym story?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Joubert, eponyms, Bowdler, Boycott, Cardigan, Blurb, Burgess, Belinda Blurb,
Eponyms are words based on or derived from a person’s name. DailyWritingTips has compiled a fun list, 30 Words Inspired by 29 People and an Elephant. These are eponyms that are not based on a person’s name but on “…physical features, manner of dress, writing style, profession, or behavior–associated with specific people (and one elephant).”
I was familiar with the origins of a few of the words, such as casanova, C-section, and luddite, but most of the words had stories attached that I had not heard before such as:
bowdlerize - “remove sexually offensive words or passages from a written work before publishing it.” From Thomas Bowdler (1754-1825) who published an edition of Shakespeare that left out such things as the porter scene in Macbeth. As preposterous as the idea may seem now, it was a boon to women who had previously been deterred from reading the plays by their parents, husbands, or dread of social disapproval.
boycott - “refuse to do business with with someone.” From Charles C. Boycott (1832-1897), the Irish land agent for an absentee landlord. Boycott refused to conform to land reforms supported by the Irish Land League. The League acted against Boycott by preventing his access to stores, postal service and other economic necessities. Boycotting is an important tool in campaigns of passive resistance to unjust social conditions.
cardigan - “style of sweater that opens at the front.” From James Thomas Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan who is said to have worn a knitted waistcoat to keep warm on campaign. He was one of the commanders in the field on the day of the fatal Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War.
Click here for the full list and to find out which word was based on an elephant.
One of my favorite eponyms is the word ‘blurb.’ This word came from a book cover designed by humorist Gelett Burgess in 1907. On the cover of his book, Are You a Bromide?, was a picture of a female he called Miss Belinda Blurb, along with accompanying ad text. You can read more about this and see a picture of Miss Blurb at Sentence First.
Do you have a favorite eponym story?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Joubert, eponyms, Bowdler, Boycott, Cardigan, Blurb, Burgess, Belinda Blurb,
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
History Changers
“History is the only laboratory we have in which to test the consequences of thought.”- Etienne Gilson
At OnlineBestColleges.com I ran across an article, 25 Librarians Who Changed History. It’s not that a librarian changed history that I found so interesting, it’s the eclectic group of people who were librarians at one time or another.
For instance did you know Benjamin Franklin was a librarian? He and his philosophy group, Junto, organized the "Articles of Agreement," which set up The Library Company, the nation’s first library. He was their second librarian.
Mao Zedong was an assistant librarian at Peking University. The chief librarian at Peking University was a Marxist who succeeded in converting Mao to communism.
Before her distinguished political career, Golda Meir worked as a librarian.
J. Edgar Hoover, director of the FBI, went to night school at George Washington University and supported himself by working at the Library of Congress as a messenger, cataloguer and clerk.
Spy, writer, diplomat and lover, Giacomo Casanova, worked as a librarian for the Count of Waldstein in Dux, Bohemia.
Visit OnLineBestColleges.com for more information on these people as well as the complete list, including John Buckley, Pope Pius XI and Lewis Carroll.
You may want to remember the names of your local librarians as you might see them on a future list of history changers.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Gilson, famous librarians, Casanova, J. Edgar Hoover, Meir, Zedong, Benjamin Franklin, The Library Company,
At OnlineBestColleges.com I ran across an article, 25 Librarians Who Changed History. It’s not that a librarian changed history that I found so interesting, it’s the eclectic group of people who were librarians at one time or another.
For instance did you know Benjamin Franklin was a librarian? He and his philosophy group, Junto, organized the "Articles of Agreement," which set up The Library Company, the nation’s first library. He was their second librarian.
Mao Zedong was an assistant librarian at Peking University. The chief librarian at Peking University was a Marxist who succeeded in converting Mao to communism.
Before her distinguished political career, Golda Meir worked as a librarian.
J. Edgar Hoover, director of the FBI, went to night school at George Washington University and supported himself by working at the Library of Congress as a messenger, cataloguer and clerk.
Spy, writer, diplomat and lover, Giacomo Casanova, worked as a librarian for the Count of Waldstein in Dux, Bohemia.
Visit OnLineBestColleges.com for more information on these people as well as the complete list, including John Buckley, Pope Pius XI and Lewis Carroll.
You may want to remember the names of your local librarians as you might see them on a future list of history changers.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Gilson, famous librarians, Casanova, J. Edgar Hoover, Meir, Zedong, Benjamin Franklin, The Library Company,
Monday, April 13, 2009
Literary References
“Man is a creature who lives not upon bread alone, but primarily by catchwords.” –Robert Louis Stevenson
I ran across an interesting list on 11points.com, 11 Literary References People Make Without Realizing It. I thought I’d share a few of my favorites:
Women: Can't live with them, can't live without them. I would assume that few, if any, people realize that this isn't a quote from "I Love Lucy" or a Borscht Belt comedian... it's actually from "Lysistrata", a Greek comedy written by Aristophanes... back in 411 B.C.The translations vary, but the most commonly accepted one is "These impossible women! How they do get around us! How true the saying: 'Can't live with them, or without them.'"
***
Siren song. When we talk about women luring us in through their sweet, sweet voices (like, for instance, my mysterious and inexplicable love of Kelly Clarkson), we talk about their siren song.Which, of course, is a reference to the sirens of Greek mythology, most notably mentioned during the non-boring portion of Homer's "Odyssey".(He also popularized "cyclops." There you go. This entry is a two-for-one. I should go register 12points.com now.)
***
Yahoo. We know it either as a way to describe an idiot or as the Betamax of search engines. But... yahoo is really a term that was coined by Jonathan Swift in "Gulliver's Travels".In the book, Gulliver ends up in a country ruled by horses... where they boss around deformed, brutish, primitive humans, called Yahoos. That's how the term yahoo entered the cultural lexicon as a way to describe low-brow humans. And, apparently, the guys who founded Yahoo.com picked that name because they felt the word yahoo described the unsophisticated, undeveloped Internet at that time.
***
Blood on my hands. This comes from "Macbeth". Little tip for future games of Trivial Pursuit: Anytime there's any Shakespeare quote about blood, it's probably from "Macbeth". That play was blood CRAZY, man. It's like Shakespeare's "Saw 2".
Thanks for stopping by.
I ran across an interesting list on 11points.com, 11 Literary References People Make Without Realizing It. I thought I’d share a few of my favorites:
Women: Can't live with them, can't live without them. I would assume that few, if any, people realize that this isn't a quote from "I Love Lucy" or a Borscht Belt comedian... it's actually from "Lysistrata", a Greek comedy written by Aristophanes... back in 411 B.C.The translations vary, but the most commonly accepted one is "These impossible women! How they do get around us! How true the saying: 'Can't live with them, or without them.'"
***
Siren song. When we talk about women luring us in through their sweet, sweet voices (like, for instance, my mysterious and inexplicable love of Kelly Clarkson), we talk about their siren song.Which, of course, is a reference to the sirens of Greek mythology, most notably mentioned during the non-boring portion of Homer's "Odyssey".(He also popularized "cyclops." There you go. This entry is a two-for-one. I should go register 12points.com now.)
***
Yahoo. We know it either as a way to describe an idiot or as the Betamax of search engines. But... yahoo is really a term that was coined by Jonathan Swift in "Gulliver's Travels".In the book, Gulliver ends up in a country ruled by horses... where they boss around deformed, brutish, primitive humans, called Yahoos. That's how the term yahoo entered the cultural lexicon as a way to describe low-brow humans. And, apparently, the guys who founded Yahoo.com picked that name because they felt the word yahoo described the unsophisticated, undeveloped Internet at that time.
***
Blood on my hands. This comes from "Macbeth". Little tip for future games of Trivial Pursuit: Anytime there's any Shakespeare quote about blood, it's probably from "Macbeth". That play was blood CRAZY, man. It's like Shakespeare's "Saw 2".
Do you have a favorite literary reference?
Thanks for stopping by.
Friday, April 10, 2009
What Makes a Book a Classic?
“A classic is a book that has never finished saying what it has to say.” – Italo Calvino
Monday my post was about classic book titles that had been changed by the editor or publisher. Writing that blog lead me to wonder if those books would have become classics with their original titles.
Defining when novels becomes classics, by Liz Foley, Vintage Classics Editorial Director at the Man Booker Prize site, states, “It’s usually accepted that to be considered a classic a book has to achieve a level of critical and popular success that endures for many years. However, even this is a tricky standard to be rigid about – Moby-Dick, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Frankenstein are just a few of the works we happily refer to as classics today which were poorly reviewed when they were first published. It’s also true that the length of time a book has to wait to achieve classic status seems to vary: many people would consider Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee or Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie to be classics even though both of these were published relatively recently.”
According to Literary Analysis: what makes a book a classic, “For a book to become a classic, it must have a timeless theme, one that all people of all eras are able to relate to. Classics also may have an element of novelty; they are the first time a certain writing technique has been experimented with or the first time an author has discussed an important theme.”
“A classic usually expresses some artistic quality—an expression of life, truth, and beauty,” according to A Classic - Defining the Term by Ester Lombardi at About.com.
After reading the above articles, I believe books like War and Peace and The Great Gatsby would have become classics regardless of their title. What do you think? In your opinion, what makes a book a classic?
Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to join me for a discussion and book signing at Barnes and Noble, 4010 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Fl., on April 11th from 1:00 to 4:00 PM.
Tags: Calvino, classics, War and Peace, The Great Gatsby, Moby-Dick,
Monday my post was about classic book titles that had been changed by the editor or publisher. Writing that blog lead me to wonder if those books would have become classics with their original titles.
Defining when novels becomes classics, by Liz Foley, Vintage Classics Editorial Director at the Man Booker Prize site, states, “It’s usually accepted that to be considered a classic a book has to achieve a level of critical and popular success that endures for many years. However, even this is a tricky standard to be rigid about – Moby-Dick, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Frankenstein are just a few of the works we happily refer to as classics today which were poorly reviewed when they were first published. It’s also true that the length of time a book has to wait to achieve classic status seems to vary: many people would consider Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee or Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie to be classics even though both of these were published relatively recently.”
According to Literary Analysis: what makes a book a classic, “For a book to become a classic, it must have a timeless theme, one that all people of all eras are able to relate to. Classics also may have an element of novelty; they are the first time a certain writing technique has been experimented with or the first time an author has discussed an important theme.”
“A classic usually expresses some artistic quality—an expression of life, truth, and beauty,” according to A Classic - Defining the Term by Ester Lombardi at About.com.
After reading the above articles, I believe books like War and Peace and The Great Gatsby would have become classics regardless of their title. What do you think? In your opinion, what makes a book a classic?
Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to join me for a discussion and book signing at Barnes and Noble, 4010 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Fl., on April 11th from 1:00 to 4:00 PM.
Tags: Calvino, classics, War and Peace, The Great Gatsby, Moby-Dick,
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Midwest Book Review
“The applause of a single human being is of great consequence.” – Samuel Johnson
Funny how good news comes at the time when needed most. After a hectic few weeks, I found myself wondering if what I really want or need at this time in my life is to sit back, prop my feet up, and take it easy. I was truly tempted to say, “Yes! That’s exactly what I want to do!”
However, before I had the chance to act upon the impulse, I received unexpected encouragement, persuading me to continue my efforts to market my first book and finish my second. The source was a Midwest Book Review of The Ride that ended by saying “…The Ride is exciting reading, sure to please.” They also posted their 5-star review on Amazon.com.
For those that don’t know the Midwest Book Review began in 1976 and is a highly regarded book reviewer source. They receive an average of 1500 books a month. Of those only around 450 are reviewed and of those some reviews are never published for a variety of reasons. I feel fortunate that The Ride was selected to be reviewed and proud that it received good marks.
My determination to keep on keeping on is not only kindled by the Midwest Book Review. Every review that readers have been kind enough to post or send to me as well as other support I receive on so many levels, serves as a reminder that I really am enjoying my ‘ride’ through life and I don’t want to change a thing.
What keeps you from giving up on your dream when life turns chaotic?
Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to join me for a discussion and book signing at Barnes and Noble, 4010 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Fl. on April 11th from 1:00 to 4:00 PM.
Tags: Samule Johnson, The Ride, Midwest Book Review, Amazon, book review,
Funny how good news comes at the time when needed most. After a hectic few weeks, I found myself wondering if what I really want or need at this time in my life is to sit back, prop my feet up, and take it easy. I was truly tempted to say, “Yes! That’s exactly what I want to do!”
However, before I had the chance to act upon the impulse, I received unexpected encouragement, persuading me to continue my efforts to market my first book and finish my second. The source was a Midwest Book Review of The Ride that ended by saying “…The Ride is exciting reading, sure to please.” They also posted their 5-star review on Amazon.com.
For those that don’t know the Midwest Book Review began in 1976 and is a highly regarded book reviewer source. They receive an average of 1500 books a month. Of those only around 450 are reviewed and of those some reviews are never published for a variety of reasons. I feel fortunate that The Ride was selected to be reviewed and proud that it received good marks.
My determination to keep on keeping on is not only kindled by the Midwest Book Review. Every review that readers have been kind enough to post or send to me as well as other support I receive on so many levels, serves as a reminder that I really am enjoying my ‘ride’ through life and I don’t want to change a thing.
What keeps you from giving up on your dream when life turns chaotic?
Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to join me for a discussion and book signing at Barnes and Noble, 4010 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Fl. on April 11th from 1:00 to 4:00 PM.
Tags: Samule Johnson, The Ride, Midwest Book Review, Amazon, book review,
Monday, April 6, 2009
Choosing a Book Title
“Lost illusion is the undisclosed title of every novel.” –Andre Maurois
Coming up with a name for a novel is not an easy task. I selected The Ride for several reasons. It describes the book in a literal and figurative manner; the protagonist is taken for a ride in more ways than one; and, I hope the reader comes away with the basic premise that life should be one fun trip.
ArcheBooks kept my title. However, often the name of a novel is changed by publishers. John Mullen has a list of 10 great novels with terrible original titles. Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice was first submitted as “First Impressions.” War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy was “All’s Well that Ends Well.” The Great Gatsby could have been “Trimalchio on West Egg” or, (according to the Rinzler article) “Under the Red, White and Blue.”
Mullen’s list says that Stephen King changed the title of one of his books to Dreamcatchers at his wife’s insistence. She feared the original name, “Cancer,” would bring bad luck.
In the article, Choosing a Title for Your Book, Alan Rinzler offers some helpful suggestions such as: Less in better; More can also be better; and, Avoid clichés. But my favorite was the last suggestion which was, “Ignore all of the above.”
For fun you can hop over to Lulu for their Titlescorer to find out the percentage for a certain title to become a best seller. The Ride came up at 26.5% which sounds like pretty good odds to me.
Is it the cover art, the title or both that entices you to pick up a book when wandering through a book store?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: The Ride, ArcheBooks, Tolstoy, Stephen King, The Great Gatsby, choosing a title,
Coming up with a name for a novel is not an easy task. I selected The Ride for several reasons. It describes the book in a literal and figurative manner; the protagonist is taken for a ride in more ways than one; and, I hope the reader comes away with the basic premise that life should be one fun trip.
ArcheBooks kept my title. However, often the name of a novel is changed by publishers. John Mullen has a list of 10 great novels with terrible original titles. Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice was first submitted as “First Impressions.” War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy was “All’s Well that Ends Well.” The Great Gatsby could have been “Trimalchio on West Egg” or, (according to the Rinzler article) “Under the Red, White and Blue.”
Mullen’s list says that Stephen King changed the title of one of his books to Dreamcatchers at his wife’s insistence. She feared the original name, “Cancer,” would bring bad luck.
In the article, Choosing a Title for Your Book, Alan Rinzler offers some helpful suggestions such as: Less in better; More can also be better; and, Avoid clichés. But my favorite was the last suggestion which was, “Ignore all of the above.”
For fun you can hop over to Lulu for their Titlescorer to find out the percentage for a certain title to become a best seller. The Ride came up at 26.5% which sounds like pretty good odds to me.
Is it the cover art, the title or both that entices you to pick up a book when wandering through a book store?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: The Ride, ArcheBooks, Tolstoy, Stephen King, The Great Gatsby, choosing a title,
Friday, April 3, 2009
Books People Lie About
“And, after all, what is a lie? Tis but the truth in masquerade.” – Lord Byron
An article in the Telegraph.co.uk, Two-thirds lie about reading a book, said that two-thirds of the people surveyed by an anonymous questionnaire admitted to declaring that they’ve read a book they haven’t actually read.
The number one book in the top ten books people lie about surprised me. The book is 1984 by George Orwell. If you are going to stretch the truth about your reading selections, I can almost understand such entries as the number 2 and 3 books listed which are War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy and Ulysses by James Joyce. But there’s something a bit ironic, and…well, wrong to lie about reading the Bible (#4 on the list).
Two of the reasons people stretch the truth about their reading habits were the desire to appear more sexually attractive and to impress people (particularly potential partners).
Another article in the same publication, Why bluffing about books is a civilized art, defended the practice by saying, “That's the thing about great books: most deserve their reputation. Just as hypocrisy is the tribute that vice pays to virtue, pretending to have read important books is more or less to take your hat off to their merits.” The article ends by saying, “But the great thing about knowing that there are books that you ought to have read is that one day you get round to reading them. It usually turns out they're worth it.”
Pierre Bayard has written a book titled, How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read, which leads me to believe that the number of people stretching the truth may be greater than the two-thirds discovered by the survey. Mr. Bayard, a French university literature professor, recommends bluffing freely and has divided his book into three sections; unfamiliar books, books that have been glanced at and books that have been read and forgotten. According to the article, “…These are coping strategies for a culture which has certain canonical texts which, as Bayard claims, ‘it's practically forbidden not to have read’…”
Have you ever exaggerated your reading list to include books you felt you should have read but haven’t gotten around to yet? If so, why?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Lord Byron, telegraph.co.uk, survey, Tags: lying, Bible, 1984, Tags: Tolstoy, James Joyce,
An article in the Telegraph.co.uk, Two-thirds lie about reading a book, said that two-thirds of the people surveyed by an anonymous questionnaire admitted to declaring that they’ve read a book they haven’t actually read.
The number one book in the top ten books people lie about surprised me. The book is 1984 by George Orwell. If you are going to stretch the truth about your reading selections, I can almost understand such entries as the number 2 and 3 books listed which are War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy and Ulysses by James Joyce. But there’s something a bit ironic, and…well, wrong to lie about reading the Bible (#4 on the list).
Two of the reasons people stretch the truth about their reading habits were the desire to appear more sexually attractive and to impress people (particularly potential partners).
Another article in the same publication, Why bluffing about books is a civilized art, defended the practice by saying, “That's the thing about great books: most deserve their reputation. Just as hypocrisy is the tribute that vice pays to virtue, pretending to have read important books is more or less to take your hat off to their merits.” The article ends by saying, “But the great thing about knowing that there are books that you ought to have read is that one day you get round to reading them. It usually turns out they're worth it.”
Pierre Bayard has written a book titled, How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read, which leads me to believe that the number of people stretching the truth may be greater than the two-thirds discovered by the survey. Mr. Bayard, a French university literature professor, recommends bluffing freely and has divided his book into three sections; unfamiliar books, books that have been glanced at and books that have been read and forgotten. According to the article, “…These are coping strategies for a culture which has certain canonical texts which, as Bayard claims, ‘it's practically forbidden not to have read’…”
Have you ever exaggerated your reading list to include books you felt you should have read but haven’t gotten around to yet? If so, why?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Lord Byron, telegraph.co.uk, survey, Tags: lying, Bible, 1984, Tags: Tolstoy, James Joyce,
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Between the Pages of Books
”I know every book of mine by its smell, and I have but to put my nose between the pages to be reminded of all sorts of things.” - George Robert Gissing
Between the pages of books on my shelves I have occasionally discovered an old receipt or shopping list. However, if you work in a bookstore that handles rare and used books, you may find items of a little more interest. Such is the case at forgottenbookmarks.com. The premise for this site is “…personal, funny, heartbreaking and weird things I find in those books.”
For instance, she’s found an old valentine in a book published in 1901, a handwritten recipe in a 1947 cookbook , and a postcard postmarked, July 1, 1941. Found in Look Homeward Erotica: The Kensington Ladies' Erotica Society, was a note that said “ Do not Remove from This Page!” The note was found on page 85, which, according to the blog, was “rather juicy.”
Have you found any ‘forgotten bookmarks’ between the pages of your books?
Tags: Gissing, bookmarks, rare and used books,
Between the pages of books on my shelves I have occasionally discovered an old receipt or shopping list. However, if you work in a bookstore that handles rare and used books, you may find items of a little more interest. Such is the case at forgottenbookmarks.com. The premise for this site is “…personal, funny, heartbreaking and weird things I find in those books.”
For instance, she’s found an old valentine in a book published in 1901, a handwritten recipe in a 1947 cookbook , and a postcard postmarked, July 1, 1941. Found in Look Homeward Erotica: The Kensington Ladies' Erotica Society, was a note that said “ Do not Remove from This Page!” The note was found on page 85, which, according to the blog, was “rather juicy.”
Have you found any ‘forgotten bookmarks’ between the pages of your books?
Tags: Gissing, bookmarks, rare and used books,
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