In This Week’s Trailer Park: Courtesans, Crazies & Cake!

For your viewing pleasure, three book trailers sure to titillate, mesmerize, and tickle your pickle.

First up, who doesn’t love a high-class Regency hooker? I know I do. Here’s the trailer for Claudia Dain’s new book, The Courtesan Chronicles.

This one really intrigued me because the serial killer is — gasp! — a woman! That’s almost unheard of in crime fiction, so Chelsea Cain’s Sweetheart certainly got my attention. And the trailer is pretty snazzy too.

One of my favorite books of this year is I Was Told There’d Be Cake by Sloane Crosley. Check out the wonderfully inventive and funny trailer…then read the book.

October 10, 2008 | Filed Under Trailer Park | 9 Comments 

And the Nobel Goes to…

Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio!

Earlier today, the French novelist, children’s writer, and essayist was announced as the recipient of the 2008 Nobel Prize for Literature. The prize is worth $1.43 million.

Le Clézio, though relatively unknown in the States, has long been considered one of France’s greatest living writers. He has written 40 books, which include an impressive selection of novels, commentary, and children’s books. Much of his work is inspired by his rather nomadic childhood, which was spent in places as diverse as Europe, Africa, Mexico, and Central America. Le Clézio, 68, is the 14th French writer to win the Nobel.

In recent weeks, the Nobel Prize for Literature has been the source of some controversy surrounding remarks made by the Academy’s permanent secretary, Horace Engdahl. Engdahl asserted that Europe was “the center of the literary world”, and American writers are “too isolated”, “insular”, and “sensitive to trends in their own mass culture” to be considered truly great artisans. Mr. Engdahl has obviously never visited my bookshelf, which includes a great big heap o’ kick-ass books by American writers.

He’s also obviously never visited the “Casual Encounters” section of Craig’s List. Now THAT’S American writing at its best! (I kid, I kid.)

Strangely-hot French president Nicolas Sarkozy called Le Clézio’s accomplishment “an honor for France, the French language and the French-speaking world.”

Mr. Le Clézio divides his time between Albuquerque, New Mexico, Mauritius, and Nice. His latest book is 2007’s Ballaciner.

 

Story Source  The New York Times, Yahoo  |  Image Source  Bibliothèque Delirium

October 9, 2008 | Filed Under Authors, Newsies | 7 Comments 

Former Simpsons Writer Wins Thurber Prize

Larry Doyle, a former writer and producer for one of the greatest television shows in history, The Simpsons, has been named the winner of the 2008 Thurber Prize for American Humor. The honor, named after author and illustrator James Thurber, was awarded to Doyle for his novel I Love You, Beth Cooper. Judge Firoozeh Dumas called the book “a hilarious yet painfully accurate account of high school in all its pimply glory.” Mr. Doyle was at the Algonquin Hotel reception Monday night to accept the award, which also comes with a $5000 purse. Well, not an actual purse, though that would be a cool prize too.

Also on the shortlist for this year’s Thurber Prize were Him Her Him Again The End of Him by Patricia Marx and Ant Farm, an essay collection by Simon Rich.

I Love You, Beth Cooper has already been adapted into a major motion picture. The film version, with Heroes star Hayden Panettiere, is slated to be released in early 2009.

Congratulations, Larry Doyle! And thanks for giving us some high-larious Simpsons lines over the years. 

Here’s one of my favorite Doyle-scripted moments from the show:

Moe: Yeah, hey, I’ve got a gift. As a child, I was bitten by the acting bug. Then it burrowed under my skin and laid eggs in my heart. Now those eggs are hatching and I… the feeling is indescribable. 

Homer: I know what you mean. Our dog had that. 

 

Story Source  Yahoo, Galleycat

October 8, 2008 | Filed Under Authors, Newsies | Leave a Comment 

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      WHAT IS A SNARK?




      The Snark is a creature created by Lewis Carroll in his poem "The Hunting of the Snark". To give a proper description of Snarks, one must look no further than Carroll himself, who summed them up in one word: Unimaginable.

      But this much we do know: some have feathers, some have whiskers. Snarks sleep a lot, yet they are an ambitious lot -- with very little sense of humor. They love bathing-machines and tend to bring them wherever they go; they are also handy for striking a light. Snarks live on a far-off island, a place filled with chasms and crags, and are constantly on the lookout for Snark-hunters. Their mortal enemies are hope, care, thimbles and forks.

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