January 2009

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The Future of Reading

January 20, 2009 in publishing by Claire | 2 comments

The National Endowment for the Arts Says We’re Reading More

Everyone’s seen this story: for the first time in  twenty-five years, the decline in reading in America appears to have been reversed.  According to the NEA’s statistics, reading is on the rise.  (If, by some crazy chance, you haven’t heard about this yet, you can read the NY Times’ coverage of it here.)  Since many people have spent a lot of time lately moaning about how our national computer addiction is going to destroy reading as we know it, this news comes as a welcome surprise to those of us who love books.

In a recent Wall Street Journal piece, novelist Ann Patchett (Bel Canto) discusses the new statistics at great length and makes a plea for us all to continue the trend by reading, encouraging others to read, and by support ing our local libraries.  Patchett says she wasn’t surprised to hear that people are reading more: after all, this younger generation has grown up on Harry Potter and, as she puts it,  ”They came of age attending midnight release parties at their local bookstores and then faking mysterious illnesses the next day for the absolute necessity of staying in bed to read. ” Read the rest of this entry »

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Without a Doubt, it will be Nominated for the Oscar for Best Writing Adapted Screenplay

January 18, 2009 in film by Kim | No comments

As a reminder, Claire and I are going to guess which screenplay will win the Oscar for Best Writing Adapted Screenplay.  I’ve written about “Revolutionary Road,” which is a contender in my opinion, and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” which I think belongs in Best Writing Original Screenplay.  For those of you who missed the moment on the Golden Globes, “Slumdog Millionaire” won the writing award, along with every other non-acting award.  The nominees for all of the Oscars will be announced on January 22nd, and I’m positive “Doubt” will be on the list for Best Writing Adapted Screenplay.

John Patrick Shanly wrote both the play and the screenplay for “Doubt.”   In the preface to the play, Mr. Shanley writes what I have so long advocated, that it is through the struggle of doubt that we learn what we truly believe, that we test the mettle of what we’ve accepted as truth.  I wish I could remember the name of the famous theologian who answered the woman to who told him “I’ve been a Christian all of my life and I”ve never doubted” by saying “Then, madam, you are no Christian.”  Mr. Shanley states, “Doubt requires more courage than conviction does, and more energy; because conviction is a resting place and doubt is infinite–it is a passionate exercise.”  Read the rest of this entry »

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Recommended Reading for the Inauguration

January 17, 2009 in book review, humor, recommended reading by Kim | No comments

You’re thinking I’m going to recommend The Audacity of Hope or Dreams from My Father, but I’m the only passionate Democrat left who hasn’t read them.  Or maybe Team of Rivals or one of the other books about Lincoln, but I’m going to save those options for his 200th birthday next month.  Or maybe one of the stack of books about the Obama candidacy, but it’s too soon for me to believe there is real reflection on the part of the authors.  No, in light of the barrage of terrible news we are receiving about the economy and foreign affairs, and wanting to keep in touch with the euphoria for Tuesday, I chose  So You Want to be President? by John Warner. 

It’s not easy for a book to make me laugh out loud.  Usually when I’m reading a “funny” book I note in my head “this part is the funny part,”  occasionally I smirk, and every now and then I chuckle.  I can count how many times a book has made me laugh out loud.  Annie Lamont has a scene about going to the beach with thin teenagers and how her thighs feel so large she names them.  I could hardly breathe I laughed so hard.  I love listening to David Sedaris, when he’s reading I’ve had to pull over so I don’t get in a car accident.  But when I read him, not so much.  By the fifth page of So You Want to be President? I was laughing out loud.

This book is the civics class you wish you had; however, it’s rated upper PG-13 or lower R, so probably there’s a problem assigning it in school.  The first section of the book tests whether or not the reader is a Democrat or Republican.  These tests always worry me, what if I’m secretly not a believer in the Read the rest of this entry »

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Murder One Closes, but who holds the Dagger?

January 17, 2009 in bookstore, mystery by Kim | No comments

Last week The Guardian ran an article about the closing of Murder One, a crime thriller bookstore in London.  The writer described the perfect bookstore,

Inclusive and without snobbery, Murder One amply demonstrated that the best bookshops are places not just of commerce, but of community; places that make feel you belong. It’s the kind of store that bibliophiles dream about: well-stocked, well-staffed and shabby enough to lose days browsing within. It’s just unfortunate that such shops don’t have enough paying customers to keep them afloat, or that these customers visit all too infrequently – something of which I’m certainly guilty.

He asks the question that all of us who love independent bookstores are asking, are we going to just wring our hands about the loss of another wonderful store or are we going to support them and shop in them so that they survive?  It’s all up to us.

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How an Idea becomes a Book

January 16, 2009 in publishing by Kim | 1 comment

The digital marketing team at MacmillanUSA prepared a Happy New Year message that describes how a book is published.  “From the Typewriter to to the Bookstore:  A Publishing Story” is funny.  My favorite part is when blogging, a higher art form, is described as more lucrative that writing books. 

Maybe next year these clever people will figure how to set this to music and pitch it to Schoolhouse Rock.

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