some book links

Sorry for the lack of updates--the new Murakami book is long! Have some book-related links to make up for it.

The Millions on Dumas.

The NYT on Lynda Barry!

harry potter, etc

Sorry for the lack of posting--I'm reading a long and kind of slow book, and I'm not going to be done with it tonight either. To tide you over in the meantime, here are some links! (I've posted these on Twitter already, but what the hey, here they are again in case you missed them.)

On the literary merits of Harry Potter.

Speaking of HP, the whole Pottermore thing gets announced tomorrow--but was it leaked?

Literature Map is cool--type in an author's name and it'll pull up similar authors--the closer they are to the original author's name, the more likely someone is to like both of them.

link roundup!

New Audubon Park song, omg!!! New album is out this month and the release show is the 28th at 506!

Kenyon grads on DFW's 2005 commencement speech there.

This is my favorite part of the pencil-necked/Neil Gaiman kerfuffle.

Similarly, I've been enjoying Jillian Tamaki's (she of the embroidered book covers) webcomic about a school of mutant-powered teens--this one is a highlight.

And also speaking of webcomics: First Second is serializing its upcoming graphic novel Americus--please go read it from the beginning--it's been one of my favorite things for a while now and I need to spread the love more.

links, etc

Here's a long piece on the major Haggadot in American culture (I grew up using the Maxwell House one, myself).

Check out this comic by two Americans who were in Cairo during the uprisings--the first seven pages are up so far.

I think I need this.

Sorry for the delay in book postings; the book I'm currently reading started off strong but I don't like it at all anymore. But I'm almost 3/4 of the way in and it seems like I should finish it. Also, I've been really busy playing Angry Birds and other games on my new iPod Touch, which eats into reading time but is totally worth it.

DFW

I have been busy having a life this week--it was my birthday!--and have not had time for reading. So, here are two articles about David Foster Wallace and his new book to tide you over.

DFW's editor talks about editing/assembling The Pale King.

And here are some authors discussing DFW and the book.

I haven't read it yet--I'm waiting for the Kindle edition to come out.

links, etc

I love Aaron Renier's stuff, but he is dead wrong--Matilda would LOVE an e-reader.

And don't forget to check in on The Tournament of Books.

Hey, the NYT finally noticed the e-book battle between HarperCollins and libraries.

You know, I've been thinking about YA paranormal romances lately--spurred by my disappointment at Demonglass and its sudden turn toward the cliched (in the first one, it seemed like the usual romance wouldn't happen, which is why I liked it so much) and I think I'm annoyed by how many heroines and the guy they're dating end up as like Destined Loves. I know high school romance is crazy and it feels like the world revolves around the guy you like, but sometimes I'd just like to see something a little more realistic (note: I am totally okay with the end of the Jessica Darling books, because it feels earned).

Sorry for the slow posting lately. I just haven't had the time to read as much.

links

Sorry for the lack of posting. I've been trying to make my way through Scruples as well as the Walking Dead books and haven't managed to finish a book in days! So here, have some links:

A new, Joss Whedon-less Buffy movie? Huh.

I can't wait for the Community Christmas episode!

How to dress like a Mad Man.

You can give Kindle books as gifts now! Hint hint!

The NYT graphic novel gift guide has some really good books (Scott Pilgrim, the Outfit) and some terrible ones (The Night Bookmobile, Superman: Earth One).

Are we running out of chocolate???? NOOOOOOOOOO!!!

link roundup!

The Scott Pilgrim DVD comes out in November! YAY!!

The latest Love and Rockets came out yesterday, and I agree that it's Jaime's best work to date (unfortunately, Beto is still exploring being weird, which drags things down a bit).

Here, read an interview with Superchunk. Though I do find it odd that this interview emphasizes Laura being a mom, but doesn't mention Mac's kids at all.

A UNC professor studies college student slang. And I have no idea what a dorm storm is.

Marvelcats!

Check out this fascinating article on the trial over Kafka's papers. I think this about sums it up:

Etgar Keret, a best-selling Israeli short-story writer who considers Kafka to be his greatest influence, proposes that Brod had no idea that Hoffe would sit on the papers for so long. “Half of us are married to people who say, ‘I’m just going to buy a pack of cigarettes,’ and never return,” he told me. “I think this is the literary version of that, with this Hoffe chick.” Keret characterizes Brod as “a good judge of texts, for sure, but a very bad judge of human characters.” If Brod could see what was happening now, Keret says, he would be “horrified.” Kafka, on the other hand, might be O.K. with it: “The next best thing to having your stuff burned, if you’re ambivalent, is giving it to some guy who gives it to some lady who gives it to her daughters who keep it in an apartment full of cats, right?”

more stuff i've shared

I haven't posted a link round-up in forever, but here are a few noteworthy things I've shared on Google reader:

I love this bad review of Still Missing (scroll down a bit to see my comments).

Suzanne Collins talks about the books she loves. I am SO EXCITED for Mockingjay to come out. Less than two weeks! And Collins has great taste in books.

Here's an interview with Edgar Wright. I am also SO EXCITED for the Scott Pilgrim movie, which I get to see tomorrow! In the meantime, check out the interactive trailer, where factoids pop up when you click on stuff, and here's the trailer recreated with panels from the books!

Did you know that Brian from The Broken West (one of my favorite bands) guested on Mad Men this past week? Now you do.

Speaking of awesome tv shows--check out the trailer for the upcoming season of VENTURE BROS!!!

links and the like

Gothamites are stupid.

New Ben and Jerry's flavors for spring! I'm excited to try Boston Cream Pie. (BTW, today is Free Cone Day, if you feel like waiting in a really long line for ice cream.)

There's a new Shel Silverstein book coming out next year. I always hated the Giving Tree--it's depressing as hell--but liked his poems.

If you missed girl scout cookie season like I did, you can make your own!. If you're really ambitious, I mean. I'll stick to snickerdoodles.

links and whatnot

Links to stuff I've shared on Google Reader (and now, Google Buzz):

Part 1 of an interview w/ Jim Rugg, who had an awesome signing Saturday at Chapel Hill Comics (and is from Pittsburgh!). He rules.

Sweet Valley High: The sequel??

I am eagerly awaiting the Powers tv show.

links, links, and more links

It's been a while since I did a link round-up:

Gift ideas for cupcake lovers! I'll take any and all of these. ;)

I found this Guardian article on Harry Potter's nude scenes in the final movie to be weird--b/c both of those scenes are in the book! (Though at King's Cross, clothes appear for him to put on.) (Oh, and I just saw that the article was updated to say what I just said, so never mind.)

Speaking of Harry Potter, I sooo want to hear the audiobooks as narrated by Stephen Fry.

Lisa Loeb is launching an eyewear line!

And finally, here's an interview with the little girl who sings in Love Actually (and who is also the voice of one of my favorite cartoon characters. Yes, I watch cartoons. So?).

links and stuff

People love Kindles!! I love mine a LOT.

I found this article on falling out of love with Murakami to be pretty interesting. A few months ago, I took Hardboiled Wonderland on a trip and read half on the plane--but I never bothered finishing my reread. And that's my favorite Murakami! It's been sitting on my coffee table since September.

Here's an interview with an amazing book designer.

I really miss Ecto Cooler. I had this in my lunchbox every day as a kid.

How to use an apostrophe.

stuff

A tribute to Betsy-Tacy! I love that series and own them all! Sometimes I toy with writing an article on them (there are surprisingly few in academia), but who has the time?

Are these the best books of the 2000s (so far)?

Troop Beverly Hills is still one of my favorite movies from the past 20 years. I always sing the "It's Cookie Time" song.

Awesome Lego lantern.

stuff!

Edith Wharton rules!

Conversely, Holden Caulfield is lame. (I've never liked him.)

I'm sure you all have seen Buffy vs Edward Cullen, but it's hilarious and awesome.

I'm totally into this Tooth Fairy kit.

Seriously, why are they remaking Red Dawn? That movie is terrible. I mean, sure, it's fun to yell "WOLVERINES!!!!!!" but really, is that enough to base a movie on?

Art Spiegelman has a comic in the Washington Post about the St Louis, a famous ship full of Jewish refugees that the US refused to let enter the country and sent back to Europe just in time for the Holocaust. Nice one, America!

links links and more links

This clip is almost ten minutes long but so worth watching--Mark-Paul Gosselaar in character as Zack Morris on Jimmy Fallon. Man, did that bring me back.

The Muppet Show comic book is pretty awesome. There are three issues out so far, plus a special Robin Hood issue.

I'm excited that a panel of teens gave Blonde Roots an alternative Orange prize. I reviewed it for LJ and really enjoyed it.

Apparently Nextbook is now Tablet Magazine. I just noticed I haven't gotten any Nextbook content through Google Reader since September--sad that I never realized, or indicative of their lack of good content before the change? Or do I just assume everything I'm interested in will come via RSS?

stuff 'n' stuff

The Hater on why vampire boyfriends are lame made me giggle. Also, Twilight is Brad Meltzer's guilty pleasure read. (I've never read anything by Meltzer--the plot of Book of Lies seemed interesting, but then I saw it on sale in the supermarket and book snobbery prevailed.

Martha Stewart's cupcake book comes out tomorrow! Her cookie one is one of my all-time favorites.

And I meant to post about this last week--I certainly spent enough time being excited about it on the phone w/ my mom--but it's never too late for awesome news like the newest American Girl doll being Jewish. Nine year old me is thrilled!! And thirty year old me still kind of wants one, haha.

fun and exciting things i've shared

Link round-up time!

The NY Times did a profile of Charlaine Harris. I'm hoping she wraps up the Sookie Stackhouse series soon, b/c she was clearly spinning her wheels with the last two books (read: they were terrible).

The Boston Police will warn you when the zombies come.

Interesting legal case: the creators of Emily the Strange are suing the writer and artist the original Emily art is clearly based on (suing to remove any claims they may have on the Emily character). My largely uneducated take: while the author/artist of Rosamond clearly deserve some sort of credit for the original design, the Emily empire has gone far beyond that and has nothing to do with their art. Or something. Still, the Emily people are kind of being jerkwads about it.

I was psyched that the popwatch blog was into Being Erica. I loved this show (not just 'cause it was all so Jewish) and can't wait to see season 2.

some stuff i've shared

Jodi Picoult attacks "poorly written" Da Vinci Code. I LOVE when authors get really mad that other authors outsell them. And frankly, Picoult has no room to talk. The last chapter of My Sister's Keeper is easily the worst thing I've ever read. I still get angry when I think about it. Yes, actually angry.

This Epicurious app for the iPhone/iTouch actually makes me want one! Seriously, that website has so many great recipes--everything from Gourmet and Bon Appetit from the most recent issues to like years back, plus other mags and cookbooks. It'd be so cool to be in the supermarket and have the recipe and the ingredients right in your purse! I mean, you can just write them down like I do, but eh, holding a pen is hard.

And speaking of recipes, here are Sara Foster's favorite cookbooks. Mmmm, Foster's Market.

And yay, Love is a Four-Letter Word is getting raves! It's so exciting to know the editor and a contributor--you guys are gonna be famous!!

hey

I haven't read a book in a week--can you believe that? It has to be some kind of record. I keep starting books, but having to put them down before I get into them, and then not caring enough to pick them back up. I think it's the heat (my a/c is broken).

So here's a few interesting links to tide you over:


Doesn't this carrot cake sound delicious? I don't have the patience to chop dates into a paste, so may try it with some extra banana and just throw a few dried chopped dates in for flavor.

A bunch of artists drew Kitty Pryde (my favorite superhero) for charity.

And--awesome Ms Pac-man cupcakes!