All posts by Phil

Blogs, Socials, Publishing

Blogger Bags Book Deal

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I learned about the blog “Stuff White People Like” from Jared at Thinklings. Can’t say I would have clicked on a link to this blog if I had seen it in a list of 10 popular or interesting blogs from some reputable site, but I saw in the NY Times that the writer has received a book deal at $300k. The writer, Christian Lander, comments on this deal:

The combination of white people and books has been a pretty solid combo for the past few hundred years. So whenever a white person is given a chance to write a book, it’s considered a pretty big deal. This is especially true when it happens to someone who started a blog that they never expected to reach more than 100 people.

I gather this is site is inline with the white mascot joke seen in this remarkable line of products, though maybe it’s the reverse of that. Either way, Random House thinks Lander has something going for him, so bully for him.

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Fiction, Non-fiction

The Great Comic-Book Scare

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Terry Teachout reviews a history book on cultural splash some comic books made a while back. The book is The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How It Changed America, by David Hajdu. (via Abe Greenwald)

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Blogs, Socials, The Press

Journalists Admit Reliance on Blogs

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Silicon Alley Insider point to a survey that says Nearly 73% of respondents sometimes or always use blogs in their research. From the report:

Seventy percent of respondents say public opinion of journalists has gotten worse during the past five years, and 52% believe the general public has a “somewhat negative” opinion of journalists.

Nearly 73% of respondents sometimes or always use blogs in their research. The most often cited reason for using blogs was “to measure sentiment.”

Fiction

Narnia Book Contest: Favorite Lines

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I think my favorite scene from The Chronicles of Narnia, at least the one I repeat to myself most often, is one from The Horse and His Boy. Aslan says, “Have a care, Rabadash. The doom is nearer now: it is at the door: it has lifted the latch.”

But Rabadash replies, “Let the skies fall! Let the earth gape! Let blood and fire obliterate the world! But be sure I will never desist till I have dragged to my palace by her hair the barbarian queen, the daughter of dogs, the–”

“‘The hour has struck,'” said Aslan: and Rabadash saw, to his supreme horror, that everyone had begun to laugh.” They laugh because the evil prince has begun to morph into a donkey.

I’m often on the watch for a chance to say “Have a care, Rabadash,” to someone overzealous. It’s probably my prideful heart.

But what are your favorite lines from the Narnia stories? Let us know in the comments, and by doing so you may enter our giveaway drawing for one of two movie themed books. The larger of the two is seen below.

The Chronicles of Narnia with Prince Caspian cover This is a Prince Caspian movie cover on a large paperback of all seven books plus a newly designed Narnia Timeline fold-out. I wonder if the fold came from the illustration work done in Narnia Chronology. Of course, Narnia Chronology is a full book of Narnia trivia and details. The fold-out in this edition of The Chronicles of Narnia is a simple, illustrated timeline–a nice perk. We are giving away a paperback of this edition and a small paperback of the Prince Caspian novel with an insert of movie photos.

Commenting on this post will enter you in our contest unless you exempt yourself (Lars, you’re exempt). Multiple comments will not increase your chances. I’ll just make a list of everyone’s name and use a random number generator to pick who wins. You must include your email address with your comment so I can write you to ask for your mailing address.

I’ll announce a winner for Prince Caspian next Thursday, April 3. I’ll announce a winner for The Chronicles of Narnia paperback next Friday, April 4.

So what’s your favorite lines from Narnia? Something about Turkish Delight? “Beards and Bedsteads”? “And they call it a mine, heh, a mine!” I can’t remember what book that last one is from . . .

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Bookselling, Publishing

Book Industry News

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The publisher of Wired magazine is taking up the publishing role for The Atlantic magazine. Jay Lauf is moving from great success at Wired to “a smaller, less prosperous” magazine.

Scott Powers reports: “Borders books and Disney Publishing Worldwide are looking for a new fairy character — and the child who creates the fairy can win a stay in the exclusive Cinderella Suite in Walt Disney World’s Cinderella’s Castle.” Have you seen photos of that suite?! Wow. But who am I to talk? I’m sure you’ve stayed in nicer places.

Britain’s Orwell Prize for political writing has released its shortlist. Apparently, the judges are debating the question “Has the Left Stopped Thinking?”

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Blogs, Socials, Non-fiction

Back in the Saddle

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She’s on the road again. She’s back in the driver’s seat. She’s, uh, she has returned. Anyway, Sherry’s blogging again, and she points out an interesting book by Peter Kreeft, commented on Pascal’s Pensees. It’s called Christianity for Modern Pagans. Good thoughts.

Uncategorized

Literary Journals and Lit Blogs

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Dan Wickett is talking about new lit journals on his Emerging Writers Network, and his points out the closing of the Litblog Co-op. Perhaps people were too busy with other blogs, projects, and off-line things.

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Publishing

The Pop-Up Narnia

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Narnia ChronologyThey’ve made Narnia into a pop-up book with, NARNIA CHRONOLOGY: From the Archives of the Last King. I’m tempted to get this for my children as a Christmas present. It has “pop-ups, gatefolds, pull tabs,” illustrations, and other gimmicks to present the stories from start to finish.

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Blogs, Socials

What Use Blogging?

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“How use doth breed a habit in a man!” Valentine said, and blogging has become a habit for some of us through use. Maxine talks about her sucessful blogging experience on The Digitalist.

Many book authors are bloggers: I have had some fascinating online conversations with authors of books I have reviewed online, on all kinds of topics. When one has read a really gripping or involving book, this can be really rather a heady experience.

Publishing

Shakespeare Quartos Online

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A library in Oxford and one in Washington D.C. are collaborating to put online all 75 editions of William Shakespeare’s plays printed in the quarto format before the year 1641. These editions have been available only to scholars before, so this project will make them available to pseudo-scholars and failed intellectuals as well. You can brush up your Shakespeare now, if you like, with The Oxford Shakespeare on Bartleby.com.

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