For those of us in the United States, today is Independence Day. Our friend Paul posted this quote today on his blog, PK in the Terrarium, and it's so fitting, I thought I'd "borrow" it to share with you here."The only way to make a library safe is to lock people out of it. As long as they are allowed to read the books 'any old time they have a mind to,' libraries will remain the nurseries of heresy and independence of thought. They will, in fact, preserve that freedom which is a far more important part of our lives than any ideology or orthodoxy, the freedom that dissolves orthodoxies and inspires solutions to the ever-changing challenges of the future. I hope that your library and mine will continue in this way to be dangerous for many years to come."
-- Edmund S. Morgan, in the essay "Dangerous Books" (reprinted in his splendid new book American Heroes)
Now I'm off to the beach.
Image credit: sunsurfr via Flickr
July 4, 2009
Independence Day
July 1, 2009
Where to Discuss the Beowulf on the Beach Reading Challenge
So many of you have left comments about the books you've chosen for the Beowulf on the Beach Reading Challenge. I'm impressed at all of the reading that has already occurred and is being planned for the rest of the Summer. At the urging of a BOTNS listener, I've set up a couple places for you to discuss your reads.
Goodreads - I've set up a folder for any discussion threads on particular books. I've started a thread on Moby Dick already. For more info check out this post.
Facebook - Unfortunately, Facebook doesn't allow you to group certian topics in a folder like Goodreads does, so check out this post to see how to format new topics.
and now, without further ado, here's this week's video!
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Books on the Nightstand Podcast, Episode #34: Our Listeners Sound Off About Audiobooks!
Books on the Nightstand, Episode 34 (31:25)
(You can listen by using the player above. If you're using Internet Explorer, click twice to listen. If your browser does not support javascript, you won't see the player; click the link below the player to listen, or right-click to download the episode. If you are receiving this post by email and cannot see the player at the bottom of the message, please visit http://www.booksonthenightstand.com to listen)
It's finally here. Our long-promised and long-awaited audiobooks episode. We turn the podcast over to you, our listeners and we really want to thank everyone who called in and left us a message:
- Heidi Estrin who writes the great Book of Life podcast
asks the question: does listening to an audiobook count as reading the book? - Carla Thompson, one of our Goodfriends from Goodreads describes herself as a "blind audio reader and... a book junkie." Narrators are very important to Carla as are detail-filled and fast-paced stories.
- Tanya shares several of her favorite audios and raves about all of the narrators.
- Melissa Klug also loved the narrator of The Thirteenth Tale, an audio Tanya recommended
- Heather Elia, from the Colgate Bookstore, called in with two older titles that still entertain.
- Stanley Hadsell, manager and buyer at Market Block Books recommended The Graveyard Book to me a few months ago. I loved it so much and I'm glad he called in with that recommendation!
- Julie from Minneapolis recommends Barbara Kingsolver reading her own book Prodigal Summer.
- Hope from Australia buys her audios from Audible.com and raves about the versions of several wonderful books she's found there. [Note: We're unsure if those same versions will be available in other countries] Other ways online to get your audios are Emusic.com and Librivox.org.
Ann and I throw in our two cents throughout and recommend several of our favorites along the way.
This call-in format worked so well, we're opening it up to another topic, one suggested by Melissa on Goodreads: Is there a book that you hated when it was assigned in school, but loved when you read it later in life? Call our voicemail line at (206) 350-2068 to share your story.
NOTE: Michael misremembered... John Irving does not read The World According to Garp. Sorry if he got anyone's hopes up!
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June 28, 2009
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo -- what are you waiting for?
I've been remiss in informing you of an important publishing development, and I'm sorry. Many moons ago, I told you about The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Books on the Nightstand podcast episode #12). Here in the United States, it's just been published in paperback.
And it's not just a paperback -- instead, it's in two different paperback versions. There's the larger format trade paperback version, and the smaller, more portable, mass market edition.
Whatever your flavor preference, if you enjoy intelligent mysteries or thrillers, particular those with an international setting, you owe it to yourself to read The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. It's one of the best mysteries I've read in a very long time. And more importantly, the sequel, The Girl Who Played With Fire, is even better. Since that book will be published on July 28th, you have almost a month to read the first book before curling up with the second.
Set in Sweden, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo involves a crusading journalist, financial intrigue, corruption, family history, the disappearance of a young girl, an eccentric business baron, computer hacking, and Lisbeth Salander, the strongest female character I've read in ages -- a modern day Pippi Longstocking that you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley if you'd made her angry.
The backstory to the publication is as fascinating as the novel. The author, Stieg Larsson, died of a heart attack shortly after completing the 3rd book in the series, and just after the first was published in Sweden. It went on to become an international publishing phenomenon, and he was not around to see it. Further drama is currently playing out in the battle for Larsson's estate, which has been denied to his partner of 30 years because they never married, Larsson left no will, and under Swedish law she cannot inherit.
I've spoken to so many people over the past year who have loved this book, and it truly is a phenomenon. If you have nothing on your reading list (hah!), take a trip to your local bookstore and check it out. Chances are good that someone at the bookstore has read it, too, so you can get a second opinion.
June 25, 2009
Reading Challenge Update... How are YOU Doing?
Okay, I admit it. I'm probably not going to get through four classics this Summer. I think I was a little ambitious in my planning. Work reading is taking up the bulk of my time right now. I'm still reading Moby Dick when I've got a spare moment, and will be taking it with me on vacation (to the beach) next weekend. But it looks like I'll be sticking to the true letter of the reading challenge rules and reading at least ONE book from Beowulf on the Beach. (Though I'd really still love to get to Great Expectations this summer...)
All that being said, I know I'm not alone. For one thing, I keep asking Ann how she's doing with War and Peace and, oddly, she always changes the subject. And then, there's this article from The New Yorker's Book Bench column, which says that most people's major summer reading projects are destined to fail.
What about the rest of you? Use the comments section below to let me know how goes the challenge.
In the meantime, here's this week's video of Jack reading a favorite line, this time from King Lear.
[If you click through to the New Yorker article you'll notice that I "borrowed" the image they used to illustrate their column. It was just too perfect to pass up! Thanks so much to Joseph Robertson for taking such a great photo and for posting it on flickr!)
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June 21, 2009
Summer Begins, Reading Continues!
Today is the first day of Summer (and Father's Day, Happy FD to all the Dads out there!), so I come to you bearing lists. Ann and I already gave you our Summer picks on the last podcast, and of course, we'll continue to recommend books throughout the Summer. Several sites around the internet have posted their picks for warm weather reading. Here are a few that have lists
and more:
NPR - In addition to recommendations from Independent Booksellers, NPR critic Alan Cheuse and uber-librarian Nancy Pearl, you can also vote for the Best Beach Books ever. There's even a printable list of all of the titles from all the lists.
The Washington Post - The Post asked several authors which fictional character they'd most like to hang out with on the beach. Of course we get timeless answers like Captain Ahab, Scout Finch and Mr. Darcy, but Geraldine Brooks picked Almondine, the dog from The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. So who would I pick? Without thinking too long or hard about it, I'd have to say Logan Mountstuart, from William Boyd's Any Human Heart. He lived such an interesting life, there would be so much to talk about!
Oprah - Love her or not, she gets people reading books and talking about them, and that's good in my opinion. The current issue of her magazine has a lot of book recommendations, as does her website (I'm not sure if the lists overlap or are different). A diverse selection of titles is ensured by such categories as 25 Books You Can't Put Down, 5 You Must Read at Least Once, and 20 Tantalizing Beach Reads (which includes The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti, one of my faves from last year). There's also a section where you can submit questions for some of the authors on the lists.
Have you found a great list of Summer reads, either online or in print? Share it with us in the comments section below!
photo credit: blhphotography
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June 17, 2009
Books on the Nightstand Podcast, Episode #33: Books for your Beach Bag
Books on the Nightstand, Episode 33 (25:51)
(You can listen by using the player above. If you're using Internet Explorer, click twice to listen. If your browser does not support javascript, you won't see the player; click the link below the player to listen, or right-click to download the episode. If you are receiving this post by email and cannot see the player at the bottom of the message, please visit http://www.booksonthenightstand.com to listen)
Ann's back and gives us her impression of Book Expo America, where she saw several educational panels (and was even part of one!). Social Media, blogs and vlogs were the talk of the show as booksellers and publishers were educated by some of the best in these endeavors, including Chris Brogan, author of the forthcoming Trust Agents, and Gary Vaynerchuk, author of the forthcoming Crush It!
In segment two, we talk about great books for your summer vacation plans (when you're not reading classics for the Beowulf on the Beach Reading Challenge, of course!). We've already talked about most of our recent faves, so we go back a little further. Michael recommends The Alienist by Caleb Carr, a thrilling, gruesome historical mystery, first published fifteen years ago, and ripe for rediscovery! Michael also raves about His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik, the first book in the Temeraire series which re-imagines the Napoleonic Wars as fought by pilots on dragons. This series has a wonderful Patrick O'Brian feel about it, and is perfect for anyone who wants a little fantasy with their history. Ann Recommends The Summer Guest by Justin Cronin, the perfect summer novel, which examines the meaning of family and the stories that make up a person's past. Set at a remote fishing camp in Maine, this is a book that you will want to read in the hammock with a cool glass of lemonade in your hand. Ann also loves The Giant's House by Elizabeth McCracken, a love story starring a lonely, curmudgeonly librarian and the tallest boy in the world. One of Ann's favorite books ever, the story of these two misfits who find each other is a smart, funny and poignant choice for a summer novel.
As always, we finish with two books we can't wait for you to read. Ann tells us about Trouble by Kate Christensen, an edgy summer read that some have compared to a darker Thelma & Louise, and Michael describes Fragment as "Jurassic Park meets The Ruins." For more information on Fragment, check out the author's website, which features concept sketches, field journal art from the characters and 3 creepy short videos.
and speaking of videos, here's another from Jack Murnighan, this time reading his favorite line from Beowulf itself:
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June 14, 2009
Trying to understand events in Iran
Like many of you, I was stunned by the events unfolding on Twitter this weekend in reaction to the Iranian election. I had heard little about it from the mainstream media, and it was only when I saw a rapidly escalating number of tweets about it that I learned something had gone horribly wrong with the election results. Watching the reports by students inside Iran who were actively protesting was something that I was heartened to see, although I was also afraid for them as well.
So now I have Iran on my mind. About a month ago, we published a book called CENSORING AN IRANIAN LOVE STORY by Shahriar Mandanipour. I read an excerpt of this several months ago and loved it; I am now determined to read more. Mandanipour was a prominent and controversial author in Iran, and this is his first novel written in English (he now lives in the United States). The novel is written in the form of a manuscript that has been through the Iranian government's board of censors. Passages are expurgated (lined out in the text) and the story, of a man and woman who cannot appear in public together because of the laws of the country, is written in such a manner that we see not only how difficult it is to carry on a romance, but how impossible it is for one to write about it. Though written as a novel, the truth of the situation comes through the pages in a way that sets the background for the events of the weekend. I am eager to read the rest of this novel.
For those of you who prefer to get an understanding through nonfiction, THE AYATOLLAH BEGS TO DIFFER is a book written from a unique perspective. The author, Hooman Majd, is an American-born grandson of an ayatollah. Majd has spent most of his life traveling back and forth between the U.S. and Iran, and when in Iran he passes for a native-born Iranian. Majd gives us an understanding of the Iranian people and culture that is both critical and appreciative. He obviously loves Iran but sees its faults, and he examines the political landscape through the lens of the many Iranian pasts. The book was published in September, 2008, so it is relatively current. A fierce supporter of former president Khatami, Majd also writes about his successor Ahmadinejad in a way that may provide us with some perspective on the events of this weekend. Reviews on this book have been excellent, and I expect that we will be seeing more of the author on the news shows to analyze the election happenings in Iran.
Lastly, the classic book for understanding the background of modern-day Iran: PERSEPOLIS by Marjane Satrapi. I cannot say enough about this amazing book. Yes, it's a "graphic novel", though it is a memoir. Don't let that put you off. Call it an illustrated memoir if that makes you feel less uneasy about the unfamiliar format. This is simply one of the most powerful books I've ever read both in terms of the art and narrative, and in terms of being able to suddenly understand exactly what happened in Iran and the impact that those events had on individuals, on families, on children, and on the world.
I hope that one or all of these books give you the information you may be looking for. Me, I'm going to go read, monitoring Twitter between chapters to see what is happening in the moment.
If you have other recommended books on the topic, please leave it in the comments. I'd love to have a comprehensive reading list.
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Censoring an Iranian Love Story by Shahriar Mandanipour, Knopf hardcover
The Ayatollah Begs to Differ: The Paradox of Modern Iran by Hooman Majd, Doubleday hardcover
Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi, Pantheon trade paperback
image credit: Steve Rhodes via Flickr
June 13, 2009
New York's Curious Garden
A few months ago, I told you all about a wonderful book I had bought for my son, a book we still read once or twice a week. I recently bought another copy of The Curious Garden as a birthday gift for a friend of my son. That very same day, I found out that The High Line in NYC, which was the basis for the story in the book, has been renovated, turned into a garden and is open to the public!
What a wonderful epilogue to this story. Next time I'm in New York, I know where I'll be heading!
[Definitely check out The High Line's website for more info and more photos!]
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June 10, 2009
BOTNS Readers, Meet Jack Murnighan
Hey, everyone! How's the reading challenge going? I'm about halfway through Moby Dick and am really enjoying it. It's taking longer than I expected because I'm following Jack's tip #2 for Reading Classics:
Read Slowly
Don't ever let a sentence go by without fully processing it. Too often we drift through paragraphs, sometimes focusing, sometimes not, but still letting our eyes run down the page. With books that merit the attention, slow-read every sentence, all the time. If you miss a line, turn around. Don't let anything escape.
Jack's got thirteen tips like this, featured at the back of Beowulf on the Beach. The first one ("Use a pen") took a little time for me to get used to... "Write in my book? No Way!" But now I'm noting great lines, things to look up, etc.
Jack was kind enough to record a bunch of videos for Books on the Nightstand. In each, he reads his choice for the best line from a classic. There will be at least fifteen videos in the series (though Jack may record more). We'll post one a week here on the blog, through Labor Day. Any extras will join the others on the BOTNS YouTube Channel.
p.s. To all of you who won a copy of Beowulf on the Beach, I finally put your copies in the mail today... sorry for the delay!
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