May it bring you peace, happiness, health and lots of reading.
12.31.2004
12.28.2004
Happy Holidays
BookADay has a holiday present for you: the return of the comments.
Now's the time to e-mail your best books 2004 list to us (bookaday at gmail dot com).
Enjoy your reading.
Now's the time to e-mail your best books 2004 list to us (bookaday at gmail dot com).
Enjoy your reading.
12.22.2004
Court Suspends Book Ban
I love reporting stories about book bans being overturned.
Here's one from overseas.
The full hearing is expected next month. But, for now, the argument that a ban on books is a denial of basic human rights holds up in court.
BBC NEWS Court suspends Ahmadiyya book ban
Here's one from overseas.
The full hearing is expected next month. But, for now, the argument that a ban on books is a denial of basic human rights holds up in court.
BBC NEWS Court suspends Ahmadiyya book ban
12.16.2004
Government Eases Rules on Writers in Sanctioned Nations
I believe books can change the world.
The New York Times: Government Eases Rules on Writers in Sanctioned Nations
The New York Times: Government Eases Rules on Writers in Sanctioned Nations
The Perfect Mix of Books and Technology
LeapFrog teamed up with the government to provide talking books for Afghani women, over 80% who cannot read.
These books will inform the women on basic health information, such as preventing disease, first aid, diet, pregnancy and childcare.
USATODAY.com - Health agency provides talking books for Afghan women.
This is a great start.
These books will inform the women on basic health information, such as preventing disease, first aid, diet, pregnancy and childcare.
USATODAY.com - Health agency provides talking books for Afghan women.
This is a great start.
12.15.2004
Google and The Library
Everyone's written about it, so you probably have already heard, but Google is planning to digitize and make searchable the library collections from Harvard, Stanford, University of Michigan, Oxford and New York Public Library.
Here's the story from the Washington Post:
Google to Digitize Some Library Collections (washingtonpost.com)
The search giant is also planning on expanding into the publishing arena, with Google Print. Their goal is to put all kinds of books within Washington search queries, giving searchers the ability to read portions of (and, if the book has no copyright, all of) books online.
Here's the story from the Washington Post:
Google to Digitize Some Library Collections (washingtonpost.com)
The search giant is also planning on expanding into the publishing arena, with Google Print. Their goal is to put all kinds of books within Washington search queries, giving searchers the ability to read portions of (and, if the book has no copyright, all of) books online.
12.10.2004
Circular Logic
Here we go.
I don't normally do this. We're a book review and book publishing site. Rarely, do I take you to other book review sites. I'm doing that now.
Charles Taylor wrote a good review for Salon .
His review is about Nick Hornby's new book hornby">Nick Hornby's The Polysyllabic Spree.
Here's where it gets interesting. Hornby's book is a collection of columns he wrote for the literary journal, The Believer. The column topics? Book reviews.
Thanks to Shane for pointing me to the circular logic. Read Shane's brand new book review in the BookADay Book Reviews section.
I don't normally do this. We're a book review and book publishing site. Rarely, do I take you to other book review sites. I'm doing that now.
Charles Taylor wrote a good review for Salon .
His review is about Nick Hornby's new book hornby">Nick Hornby's The Polysyllabic Spree.
Here's where it gets interesting. Hornby's book is a collection of columns he wrote for the literary journal, The Believer. The column topics? Book reviews.
Thanks to Shane for pointing me to the circular logic. Read Shane's brand new book review in the BookADay Book Reviews section.
Circular Logic
Here we go.
I don't normally do this. We're a book review and book publishing site. Rarely, do I take you to other book review sites. I'm doing that now.
Charles Taylor wrote a good review for Salon .
His review is about Nick Hornby's new book Nick Hornby's The Polysyllabic Spree.
Here's where it gets interesting. Hornby's book is a collection of columns he wrote for the literary journal, The Believer. The column topics? Book reviews.
Thanks to Shane for pointing me to the circular logic. Read Shane's brand new book review in the BookADay Book Reviews section.
I don't normally do this. We're a book review and book publishing site. Rarely, do I take you to other book review sites. I'm doing that now.
Charles Taylor wrote a good review for Salon .
His review is about Nick Hornby's new book Nick Hornby's The Polysyllabic Spree.
Here's where it gets interesting. Hornby's book is a collection of columns he wrote for the literary journal, The Believer. The column topics? Book reviews.
Thanks to Shane for pointing me to the circular logic. Read Shane's brand new book review in the BookADay Book Reviews section.
12.09.2004
Why Don't We Just Dig A Big Hole And Bury 'Em?
Alabama Representative Gerald Allen is trying to get all books that even refer to homosexuality banned. I'm not talking erotic fiction here. I'm talking about any book. The bill proposes that in order to save our children from "the homosexual agenda", all books with any mention of homosexuality would be removed from public libraries and schools (including universities).
On the Banned Books List: the works of William Shakespeare, those psychology or biology textbooks, Greek classics like The Iliad, or even The Bible, which under Allen's prospective rules, does mention homosexuality, so should therefore be banned. But, where to put all these books? Representative Allen has the answer.
"I guess we dig a big hole and dump them in and bury them," he said.
Well, at least he was smart enough to suggest a solution other than burning them.
Seriously, I don't care what side of the aisle you sit on. This ideology comes from ignorance, hatred and fear. In endangers our society, one built on the freedom of speech (which includes the freedom of speech you don't agree with). It endangers readers everywhere by not giving us the ability to educate ourselves and find the answers that are right for us.
If you have as many problems with these forms of bigotry as I do, drop Rep. Allen a little note:
Gerald Allen
Room 531
11 S. Union Street
Montgomery, AL 36130
Or, call him: 205.556.5310.
While I doubt he'll hear you out, I have a hunch he has a nice big hole to store your letter... and his answering machine.
On the Banned Books List: the works of William Shakespeare, those psychology or biology textbooks, Greek classics like The Iliad, or even The Bible, which under Allen's prospective rules, does mention homosexuality, so should therefore be banned. But, where to put all these books? Representative Allen has the answer.
"I guess we dig a big hole and dump them in and bury them," he said.
Well, at least he was smart enough to suggest a solution other than burning them.
Seriously, I don't care what side of the aisle you sit on. This ideology comes from ignorance, hatred and fear. In endangers our society, one built on the freedom of speech (which includes the freedom of speech you don't agree with). It endangers readers everywhere by not giving us the ability to educate ourselves and find the answers that are right for us.
If you have as many problems with these forms of bigotry as I do, drop Rep. Allen a little note:
Gerald Allen
Room 531
11 S. Union Street
Montgomery, AL 36130
Or, call him: 205.556.5310.
While I doubt he'll hear you out, I have a hunch he has a nice big hole to store your letter... and his answering machine.
12.08.2004
12.07.2004
When An Indi Publisher Isn't
I received an email earlier this week from an author who is published with a house that has been getting a lot of bad press lately.
Publisher's Weekly has been writing a lot about Publish America for the last few weeks. (Here's an abbreviated story that summarizes PW's claims.) Message rings, blogs, boards and writers from all over the web are converging en masse on this publishing company.
Here's a couple:
Predators and Editors (these guys have been watching Publish America for quite some time)
Absolute Write
AuthorLink
Making Light
Point counterpoint:
Publish America, Yes or No?
Truth be told, PA's website does feel "me thinks thou dost protest too much". On a factsheet of 12, they spend half of it talking about how they're not a vanity or POD press. In addition, they mention they only edit for grammar and mechanics, not content. This seems to have the same business model of a vanity press--one where the authors are prickly about anyone touching the editorial direction of their work.
Also, they seem to capitalize on a culture of fear and loyalty-- fear that the authors will never be published, and, once they accept a book, reminding the authors how lucky they are to be published. But, it seems the authors can sense this and want more.
A Google search will lead you to a lot of criticism, including the Maryland (where PA is based) Attorney General's current investigation. Authors are even considering a class action lawsuit. Allegedly, Publish America attempts to silence its detractors, including Predators and Editors.
My three concerns:
1. The allegation that Publish America capitalizes on people's hopes and fears and dupes them into signing bad contracts (not to say than major publishing companies don't do this--I know many first time authors who have gotten themselves into quite a pickle).
2. The allegations that they don't edit or proofread. I can forgive bad plots and rudimentary writing. What I cannot forgive is sloppiness. A good editor is necessary for every book. A publishing house that does not edit and allows tangents to go unchecked is unacceptable and irresponsible.
3. Larger publishing houses, major bookstores and a big percentage of the media blacklists PA authors (and most self-published authors, as well) due to the low quality of the books.
This leads me back to the author who wrote me. I worry about him. The book seems promising and I would like to review it, in spite of the allegations surrounding the publishing company. But, I am concerned. The controversy around Publish America has caused part of me to doubt whether books from this company will be run-away ego trips, contributing to the further blacklisting of PA authors. The other part of me genuinely wants this author to be the exception rather than the rule with a fantastic book that the major players won't cover because of the imprint he chose, defeating the blacklisting. A third part is worried that because I'm writing this, PA won't return my calls even if I do request a review copy. A fourth part, and probably the part I'm leaning to the most (I know, I know, a lot of parts) , suggests I request the review copy and put it on my ever expanding list of to-reads, judging the book simply by what's in between its covers. I'm going to try and do that.
How about you? Would you read a self-published book? A book from a dubious publisher? A book from an imprint you hate? Let me know.
Publisher's Weekly has been writing a lot about Publish America for the last few weeks. (Here's an abbreviated story that summarizes PW's claims.) Message rings, blogs, boards and writers from all over the web are converging en masse on this publishing company.
Here's a couple:
Predators and Editors (these guys have been watching Publish America for quite some time)
Absolute Write
AuthorLink
Making Light
Point counterpoint:
Publish America, Yes or No?
Truth be told, PA's website does feel "me thinks thou dost protest too much". On a factsheet of 12, they spend half of it talking about how they're not a vanity or POD press. In addition, they mention they only edit for grammar and mechanics, not content. This seems to have the same business model of a vanity press--one where the authors are prickly about anyone touching the editorial direction of their work.
Also, they seem to capitalize on a culture of fear and loyalty-- fear that the authors will never be published, and, once they accept a book, reminding the authors how lucky they are to be published. But, it seems the authors can sense this and want more.
A Google search will lead you to a lot of criticism, including the Maryland (where PA is based) Attorney General's current investigation. Authors are even considering a class action lawsuit. Allegedly, Publish America attempts to silence its detractors, including Predators and Editors.
My three concerns:
1. The allegation that Publish America capitalizes on people's hopes and fears and dupes them into signing bad contracts (not to say than major publishing companies don't do this--I know many first time authors who have gotten themselves into quite a pickle).
2. The allegations that they don't edit or proofread. I can forgive bad plots and rudimentary writing. What I cannot forgive is sloppiness. A good editor is necessary for every book. A publishing house that does not edit and allows tangents to go unchecked is unacceptable and irresponsible.
3. Larger publishing houses, major bookstores and a big percentage of the media blacklists PA authors (and most self-published authors, as well) due to the low quality of the books.
This leads me back to the author who wrote me. I worry about him. The book seems promising and I would like to review it, in spite of the allegations surrounding the publishing company. But, I am concerned. The controversy around Publish America has caused part of me to doubt whether books from this company will be run-away ego trips, contributing to the further blacklisting of PA authors. The other part of me genuinely wants this author to be the exception rather than the rule with a fantastic book that the major players won't cover because of the imprint he chose, defeating the blacklisting. A third part is worried that because I'm writing this, PA won't return my calls even if I do request a review copy. A fourth part, and probably the part I'm leaning to the most (I know, I know, a lot of parts) , suggests I request the review copy and put it on my ever expanding list of to-reads, judging the book simply by what's in between its covers. I'm going to try and do that.
How about you? Would you read a self-published book? A book from a dubious publisher? A book from an imprint you hate? Let me know.
12.06.2004
Indi Books: Call To Publishers
I've been reading a lot of Indi books lately (for you Muggles, that's books published by a smaller independent publisher).
While it's sometime hit or miss, I've been enjoying them.
Over Thanksgiving, I finished The Race by Dave Shields (Three Story Press, 2004). Although not a book I would normally pick up, it was a compelling read. It's the story of one man's bicycle journey through the Tour de France. The main character, who is riding for the European team because he was kicked off the American team, overcomes a lot of obstacles to ride to his peak performance. Shields plays with time using flashbacks as the mind wanders through the mileage accumulated on the tour. This is book about the journey and it's done very well.
Reading this and other Indi books has gotten me to thinking, how does one start a publishing company? Is it as simple as hanging your metaphorical shingle over your desk, designing a logo, grabbing something worth publishing and going? Here's a call to Indi publishers--email me at bookaday @ gmail.com and let me know how you started. What were your triumphs and tragedies and what compelled you to start. Depending on the response, I'll either print the emails or do some interviews.
Also, if there's anyone out there that can fix my comments, please let me know. I've thrown up my hands in exhaustion.
While it's sometime hit or miss, I've been enjoying them.
Over Thanksgiving, I finished The Race by Dave Shields (Three Story Press, 2004). Although not a book I would normally pick up, it was a compelling read. It's the story of one man's bicycle journey through the Tour de France. The main character, who is riding for the European team because he was kicked off the American team, overcomes a lot of obstacles to ride to his peak performance. Shields plays with time using flashbacks as the mind wanders through the mileage accumulated on the tour. This is book about the journey and it's done very well.
Reading this and other Indi books has gotten me to thinking, how does one start a publishing company? Is it as simple as hanging your metaphorical shingle over your desk, designing a logo, grabbing something worth publishing and going? Here's a call to Indi publishers--email me at bookaday @ gmail.com and let me know how you started. What were your triumphs and tragedies and what compelled you to start. Depending on the response, I'll either print the emails or do some interviews.
Also, if there's anyone out there that can fix my comments, please let me know. I've thrown up my hands in exhaustion.
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