Book blogging

This is the post I was going to write before I went over to check out the BAFAB contest, once I'd written about the Week and posted the polygon. It's about book matters on the blogs. Hope I'll have the time to write it...

Jenny D at Light Reading links to a review of a book called You'll Never Nanny in this Town Again. The review is by Caitlin Flanagan -- yes, that Caitlin Flanagan, who doesn't believe women who are mothers should go to work and pay for childcare, and writes about it while paying someone to look after her children....you get the picture. Jenny says that the essay (review) is "thoughtful and engaging", and the best thing of Flanagan's she's read.

John Baker discusses the "Emotional life of weblogs" (via Seedlings and Sprouts) -- in a session of the emotional life of aforementioned weblogs, people were asked "What was the most serious thing we ever blogged? (While I was thinking of my own answer to this question, Terry answered the question). “On April 15 I found my wife dead on the bathroom floor. We were married 18 months. She was 41.” The first thing he did after he got home from the hospital, was to blog about it." John asks how we choose what goes into our blogs.

I was going to mention a few things from the Saturday Times "summer reading" books supplement, but Crimeficreader got there before me, so do go to her blog to see what is there. J. Kingston Pierce of the Rap Sheet blog hasn't been asked to give a summer reading list by anyone, so does it at this post. Back to The Times, which apart from its summer lists, features a good, readable interview with Lee Child, author of the Jack Reacher novels, as well as an article by Anthony Thornton, author of The Libertines: bound together, about how he marketed his novel on MySpace and the Internet without any money. Steve Clackson links to a similar sort of post on his blog Sand Storm. Incidentally, Crimeficreader, who for the record does not actually like strawberry Angel Delight, has also recently posted an excellent review of Nirvana Bites by Debi Alper.

I don't much like memes, but there is a more interesting one than most over at A Book a Week about women writers (or female writers perhaps I should say -- not). The list is on the blog; the task is to make the one's you've read bold and the one's you've been meaning to read italic. What you do when you've completed your list, I am not sure.....feel bad about all those books you meant to read but haven't, maybe.

Kim at Reading Matters has an informative post discussing Anita Shreve, in preparation for her Anita Shreve reading discussion. Kim asks: "If you've taken up my mini reading challenge (or even if you haven't) I'd love to know what you think about Anita Shreve's work. What books have you read? What did you like or dislike about them? Do you plan on reading more by her in the near future? Would you recommend her to other book lovers?" My answer to the last two questions is yes. I haven't managed to complete the mini-reading challenge (to read a book by Anita Shreve and comment on Kim's blog about it) since I posted about it a week or two ago, but on the other hand I have read several of her books. I have to admit, though, that I've failed again, though my intentions were good. Kim's latest post at time of writing is an excellent review of John Banville's The Sea -- she likes the book very much.

Skint Writer has taken a quick break from his publishing enterprise to post about some new links he has added to his blog recently.

Amy, who always finds little treasure troves on the Internet, posts about a fascinating site that lists bestselling books from 1900 to 1998.

In We are not Alone, Booksquare writes a passionate "defence" of blogging - less of a defence, perhaps, and more of a mission statement for bloggers. "The blog is your glass of wine at the party. It’s something to hold on to, contemplate, sip, refill, overdo, ignore." We can certainly do without them, but they are an enhancement to life.

At Critical Mass, Rebecca Skoot posts the NBCC's tips for successful book reviewing. NBCC stands for National Book Critics Circle (no apostrophe), and Critical Mass is the blog of what they call their board of directors. I'd better read the tips, then.

Tim Coates continues his amazing campaign on behalf of true book lovers in the UK -- trying to get libraries to collaborate and use the power of the Internet to cut costs and stock more books, instead of spending their money on silly things. More power to him, but you have to wonder when you read things like the Love Libraries wine list. As Tim says, "will somebody please take these people and drop them down the North Pole?" Tim has also recently posted (among a spate of great posts) about the reason for his blog, and how libraries can be run as they are in Bloggington on Sea. If you have any interest in the UK population having access to books, and a place in which to read them in peace, please do read Tim's posting(s).

Finally, Minx, who has some beautiful pictures and poetry on her lovely blog. Just the thing for the end of a long, hot day -- some high creative power to recharge your batteries.

Comments

[crimeficreader]

Er, how does the library wine list relate to libraries, per se? It certainly encourages people to visit M&S, Maison-du-Vin, a wine trader and a vineyard or two, but LIBRARIES?
A library members and wine party, card admittance only?
The mind boggles. Not sure if it's my mind or someone else's though. Perhaps due to too much vino?
Having said that, a new book releases, members and wine party, with an entrance fee to break even on the booze bought, might get more people through the doors and/or reading more...

[Maxine]

Yes, Crimefic, you've hit the nail on the head alright, this is just what Tim is laying seige to. He wants things like a universal library "card" that you can use anywhere, and internet loan management for the reader, etc. Then the running of the libraries will be cheaper than constant reinventing the wheel and more books can be purchased.
Unfortunately, that means dismantling a few empires, and that is never easy.

[Minx]

Thanks for the plug Maxine!