Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Hunger Games Webcomic from Tor.com
The tweet linked to a post on Tor.com, sharing Faith's comic:
The forthcoming film version of The Hunger Games has produced a lot of excitement, but its suprising density for a young adult trilogy has also produced a lot of reflection. In Faith Erin Hicks’s case, this reflection is very, very personal. (Contains spoilers for the end of the series.)
Faith Erin Hicks is the author and illustrator of a number of webcomics, including Demonology 101 and Zombies Calling. Her comic Friends With Boys is now available as a graphic novel from First Second.
Be sure to check out her other comics on Tor.com, as well, including her fantastic tribute on A Wrinkle in Time (“Punch of love!”) and Aliens.
See the original post HERE
In The Hunger Games, all of this violence is done for sport, not to end some kind of conflict or eventually better the world (NOT saying war does that, but for some, that's how it's viewed!).
Sad on so many levels.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Reading Nooks Rock
I wish I could find more places in NYC to sit and read like that but that are even more relaxing, comfortable, and unrushed. I need a little NYC reading nook, if you will. I've found a few cafes I enjoy, but they aren't quite reading areas.
Truth be told, I became very jealous when I saw a post on Stylist.com about what makes a great reading area and the accompanying slideshow of some of the best reading spaces:
There's nothing more relaxing than curling up in a blanket with a good book. And though you can immerse yourself in story anywhere, maximize your reading experience in a calm, quiet and relaxing space. A home library would be a wonderful and ideal place for your literary endeavors, and you wouldn't need a card for instant membership. Instead, look to the walls around your home and the comfortable seating you already own to design the perfect reading space. Here are a few tips to remember when planning a literary escape.
Comfy accoutrements. To let go and fully immerse yourself in a story, you need to be comfortable. And whether that's on your bed, sitting on the couch or lying on the floor, make sure you have enough cushions or pillows. If you're relaxing on an expansive couch or armchair, make sure there's a side or coffee table nearby to place any beverages. Also, you may want to choose a color palette that is serene and subtle. It can be hard to focus when the sequence pillows and fuchsia walls keep drawing your eyes.
Bring in light. Reading tiny text is already straining your eyes, so don't make it worse with a dimly lit room. Choose an area next to a window to get as much natural lighting as possible. If dark moody rooms are more your style, install hanging pendant lights over your armchair or place table lamps on a side table. The extra lighting will make for a much more enjoyable experience.
Search for silence. If you can help it, avoid creating a reading space around your TV or computer. Constant sound and pretty moving pictures can be tempting when you're trying to concentrate.
And, finally, flip through the slideshow below to see 16 stunning libraries and reading areas that are inspiring us lately, ranging from the ultra modern and minimal to the cozy and charming.
See the original post HERE
Friday, March 9, 2012
Guest Blogger, Gloria Loman: Government Drama. Again.
GalleyCat sums up the sitch:
According to a bombshell report in the Wall Street Journal, the Department of Justice could sue Apple and five major publishers for breaking antitrust laws with agency model pricing for eBooks.
A number of civil lawsuits have also been filed against Apple, Simon & Schuster, Hachette Book Group, Penguin Group (USA), Macmillan and HarperCollins for allegedly colluding to fix eBook prices in 2010. Some of these publishers have already spoken with the DOJ in hopes of striking a settlement before the case ever reached court.
Here’s more from the article: “William Lynch, chief executive of Barnes & Noble, gave a deposition to the Justice Department in which he testified that abandoning the agency pricing model would effectively result in a single player gaining even more market share than it has today, according to people familiar with the testimony. A spokeswoman for Barnes & Noble declined to comment.”
If you want to explore some of the legal issues behind the potential suit, consumer rights firm Hagens Berman filed the first agency model lawsuit in 2011–alleging that the agency model for eBook pricing is “in violation of a variety of federal and state antitrust laws, the Sherman Act, the Cartwright Act and the Unfair Competition Act.”
In court filings, the firm speculated that damages “could total tens of millions of dollars.”Read the original post HERE
Now, let me just say...what the??
Ridiculous, if you ask me (not that anyone ever actually does. I offer my two cents pro bono!). If the book biz as a whole agrees that changes need to be made to agency models or pricing models of any kind, then maybe there's a good reason for it. Maybe the reason such big players are on the same side of this e-book issue is because it's what's best for the industry.
I know, I know, there's more at play here than e-book prices. It comes down to whose selling the e-books and a possible monopoly situation (or at least that's this critic's understanding). And I can see how some people might think publishers and Apple are in "cahoots" but really, let's think about it for a second people. Apple doesn't hold all the e-book cards in the business. Have you heard of a little company called Amazon? Seriously. A new pricing structure industry-wide will change things for all players, not just one.
I see it the way the pubs do, in this case, when they "told investigators that the shift to agency pricing enhanced competition in the industry by allowing more electronic booksellers to thrive" (WSJ).
That's the important piece here, people. Books. Selling more books so the industry can thrive as one.
Just let people read their damn books in peace. The pros will figure out what's best for this changing market. Let's cut the government drama.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Judy Blume Moves to the 21st Century, E-book style
Like many women my age, I've read my share of her books. My mom awkwardly gave me a copy of Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret when I was ten, to prepare me for "womanhood." It was kind of a cop out in a way, but I'd probably do the same to my daughter, if I ever have one. Why? Because it did actually help. I still have it on my shelf at home, in fact. I learned a lot from Judy Blume. As have likely millions of girls. There's even a book of essays out there called Everything I Need to Know About Being a Girl, I Learned from Judy Blume.
Truth.
Anyway, all that said, it made me smile today to hear the news on GalleyCat today that her books are finally coming out as e-books:
Random House Children’s Books is publishing 13 eBooks from children’s author Judy Blume. The first 10 books will be available on March 21st in the U.S. and Canada.With this digital age upon us and the growing popularity of e-reading, it's becoming more and more important to ensure that important books like these, books that can be so impactful and comforting while coming of age, are available in a variety of formats.This includes classic books like Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret; Deenie; Blubber; and Tiger Eyes. Later this year, Random House will release eBook editions of The One in the Middle Is the Green Kangaroo, Freckle Juice, and The Pain and the Great One, a picture book.
Blume had this quote in the release: “This is an exciting day for me. I’m happy that my readers, many of whom have been patiently waiting, will now be able to choose which format works best for them to enjoy their favorite books.”
Beverly Horowitz, VP & Publisher, Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers, stated: “Judy Blume’s voice has universal appeal. Her honest and witty books will continue to encourage reading, with an expanding reach in this format.”
See the original post HERE
While, sure, some of the things discussed will be outdated here in the 21st century--they were outdated even when I read them--the core concepts are the same. And if that can help even one girl be more confident about growing up, well then I say it's worth it. Bring on the Judy Blume e-books.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Beloved Children's Book author Jan Berenstain Dies, 88
One of my favorite things to read as a kid were the Berenstain Bears books. Heck, I still like to read them as an adult. To my little sisters, of course, but still.There is a book for nearly every life lesson and I found comfort in the pages whenever I was struggling--whether it be having a fight with my brother, getting in trouble sneaking too many sugar cubes, or not accepting the fact that I was going to have a sister and not be the baby anymore. The books were there.
Sadly, though, last week we lost one of the beloved authors of this timeless series. Jan Berenstain, 88, passed away a week ago last Friday (2/24) after suffering a stroke.
I know I'm a little late with this news, but I wanted to share it anyway, as I know I'm not the only one out there who was impacted by her contributions to children's literature.
The Associated Press reported on her death:
Jan Berenstain, who with her husband, Stan, wrote and illustrated the Berenstain Bears books that have charmed preschoolers and their parents for 50 years, has died. She was 88.
Berenstain, a longtime resident of Solebury in southeastern Pennsylvania, suffered a severe stroke on Thursday and died Friday without regaining consciousness, her son Mike Berenstain said.
The gentle tales of Mama Bear, Papa Bear, Brother Bear and Sister Bear were inspired by the Berenstain children, and later their grandchildren. The stories address children's common concerns and aim to offer guidance on subjects like dentist visits, peer pressure, a new sibling or summer camp.
The first Berenstain Bears book, "The Big Honey Hunt," was published in 1962. Over the years, more than 300 titles have been released in 23 languages — most recently in Arabic and Icelandic — and have become a rite of passage for generations of young readers.
"They say jokes don't travel well, but family humor does," said Jan Berenstain told The Associated Press in 2011. "Family values is what we're all about."
Stan and Jan Berenstain, both Philadelphia natives, were 18 when they met on their first day at art school in 1941.
They married in 1946, after Stan Berenstain returned home from serving as a medical illustrator at a stateside Army hospital during World War II. During that time, Jan Berenstain worked as a draftsman for the Army Corps of Engineers and as a riveter building Navy seaplanes.
Before their family of bear books was born, the young couple had already built a successful career in periodicals. A cartoon series they produced called "All in the Family" ran in McCall's and Good Housekeeping magazines for 35 years, and their art appeared in magazines including Collier's and The Saturday Evening Post.
Stan and Jan Berenstain created hundreds of books until Stan Berenstain's death in 2005 at the age of 82.
Mike Berenstain is an illustrator who collaborated on the books with his mother in recent years. His elder brother, writer Leo Berenstain, is involved with the business end of the family franchise.
The books in recent years have tackled modern subjects such as online safety and childhood obesity, and the bears (or their human helpers) answer children's emails and letters, but the goal is to tell enduring, universal stories. Perennial favorites cover challenges of getting kids to doing chores, defuse fears of the first day of school and teach values of kindness and generosity.
"It's wonderful to do something you love for so many years," Jan Berenstain told the AP in 2011. "Not everyone has that."
About 260 million copies of Berenstain Bears books have been held in the hands of children and their parents since the earliest books were published with the help of Theodor Geisel, a children's books editor at Random House better known as Dr. Seuss.
Mike Berenstain said his mother worked daily at her home studio in an idyllic part of Bucks County, north of Philadelphia, which served as inspiration for the books' setting. He said he will continue writing and illustrating future Berenstain books.
"Every day she was very productive," he said. "She was working on two books and had been doing illustrations until the day before she passed away."
Jan Berenstain is survived by her two sons and four grandchildren.
Read the re-posting in the SF Gate HERE
What is YOUR favorite "Berenstain Bears" book?(Mine is The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room.
Yay for organizing!)
Friday, March 2, 2012
SLIVER OF SHADOW Giveaway "winners" selected!
