Around the Interwebs
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- You know what never fails to make me want to read a book desperately? Seeing one of my favourite authors recommend it. Margo Lanagan calls Kate Forsyth’s Bitter Greens “a big, glorious read, full of love, lust, pain, politics, blood red and blue, and some of the best frocks and the worst fleas ever”.
- Jeanne shared “Cemetery Nights”, a poem by Stephen Dobyns, and explained how “listening for a bark back” is an image that captures what many of us do when we blog.
- Iris’ How blogging sometimes makes me hesitant to read also captures some of my blogging related anxieties. Relevant to this post is Hank Green’s recent video, We’re All Scared, and also my own attempt to come to terms with these feelings, On Being Wrong.
- I can’t remember the last time I found responses to a book I have no intention of reading anytime soon so interesting: Practically Marzipan on The Casual Vacancy.
- Please Stop Telling Me This Story: in which Amy explains why she’s fed up with narratives in which a man is portrayed as a powerful woman’s weakness. Make sure you read the comments too, especially Jason’s.
- “E-Reading Isn’t Reading”: A GIF Response is too good not to share. Enough of these silly articles already.
- Finally, can you believe the holidays are almost here? Here’s a Christmas gift guide for bibliophiles from Reading Matters. (And if you need more suggestions, here’s the one I wrote last year.)
17 comments:
I love posts like this...culling through everything to give me the highlights. Otherwise I would never find them. I'm particular interesting in reading the gift guide!
Margo Lanagan's blurb sounds like she actually read the book, but so many of them don't that I've stopped trusting them! Not to mention the authors who blurb such an absurd amount of books one has to wonder...
Sandy: That's why I love link round-ups too. I'm so glad you found these helpful!
Jill: Haha, yes, I need more than a bland word like "Fascinating" on the front cover to be sold too. I should have clarified that what never fails to win me over is a longer recommendation (a review, a mention in a blog post, a couple of enthusiastic tweets) that feels spontaneous rather than one of those suspicious blurbs :P
Listening for a bark back . Lool. I want to hear the rooster "bark" high on the fence. And yes recommending a book is a reader killer. Stay frosty
Favourite authors recommendations are hard to pass up, right? I loved Iris's post, I think so many if not all of us can relate to it, and that she put it in words and posted it was rather inspiring.
Thanks so much for linking to my post Ana, I had some nice new thoughtful comments today that were no doubt your lovely readers!
I know what you mean about wanting to read the stuff an author you love endorses, I have bought many books this way!
Jason's comment on "Please Stop Telling Me This" is brilliant! I'll read the entire article tomorrow.
I love the Book Riot gift post, too. What's with all these people who equate being technology phobic to having a superior intellect?
Charlie: Yes, exactly. It's such a brave post.
Amy: Your post is awesome and deserves all the comments!
Stephanie: It's so bizarre, isn't it? I get that technological changes can be unsettling and that people need help breaking down barriers to access - but your failure to adapt is not some sort of badge of superiority, Mr.
I've noted Bitter Greens and I'm going to see if the library has it today :-)
Excellent, some links to poke around in on a quiet Friday at work :D
I've been pinning all those bookish tea things over at What the Dickens site - I want them all!! oh and the literary site....bookish things for Christmas! I love it. Thanks :-)
I am so grateful to you for collecting posts I wanted to read but hadn't seen yet, and for additional "barks back"! I was especially amused to see that the writer about The Casual Vacancy is going to talk about the fat-bashing in it soon.
Lots of interesting things happening around the web!!
Maree: I hope you find it at the library and that it turns out to be as awesome as it sounds :D
Susan: You're most welcome! They're all wonderful, aren't they?
Jeanne: I'm really looking forward to that post! And I'm glad people find these link round-ups useful :D
Kelly: The Internet never fails to be shiny :P
I loved going through these! Those bookish gifts are amazing, if only someone would get me some. Think I'll print out the list and leave it lying around.
And thanks for getting me to re-discover Amy's blog, I stopped reading for some reason and have no idea why.
Thanks for the links, Ana. I could only find Bitter Greens in Australia so will have to wait for the UK publication. Thank goodness for Book Depository!
Thank you for sharing my post. And the Hank Green video, which is exactly what I needed to hear :) I remember your post on being wrong and try to remember it every time I get scared. Actually, it very much influenced my not-qute-put-into-action blogging philosophy that I am a blogger to share & learn, not to profess opinions and stand by them. I don't always hold to that principle, which is why I am still scared at times, but I also feel a sigh of relaxation going through me every time I do remember.
And yes, favourite authors recommending books? It makes me very desperate to read the book right away. Although, as you and Jill said I need it to look spontaneous and thoughtful instead of just a few words telling you to but the book.
Joanna: I'm glad to have reintroduced you to Amy! She's the best.
Gavin: Indeed!
Iris: The Hank Green video helped me a lot, too. I'm really glad you found my post useful. I don't always manage to keep that in mind either, but remind ourselves from time to time helps.
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