Monday Round-Up

Patrick — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:15:14 +0000

It’s a busy day in the book world, and not just because the Pulitzer Prize is announced today. Here’s a few things to keep track of:

The publishing industry is safe for another year: Dan Brown’s new book, The Lost Symbol, will be released in September. According to “sources,” the book is about the end of the Mayan calendar. I eagerly await Tod Goldberg’s reaction.
Speaking of Tod Goldberg, click over to read his excellent and frequently hilarious annotated guide to the LA Times Festival of Books. For example: “I’m seriously thinking of skipping my own panel to hear Mary Gaitskill. I have a thing for her. And by “thing” I mean I’d wear a suit made from her hair and skin. I hope that doesn’t creep her out. Aimee, Gioconda and Dylan are great as well, I just wouldn’t wear their flesh as an outfit, which I think they appreciate.”
J.G. Ballard and James D. Huston both passed away yesterday. There are many excellent eulogies of both authors online today, including this excellent post from ballardian.com.
Last week it was Amazon, but maybe we ought to be worried about Google books, too. “I like Google…But no one, not Google, not Santa Claus, should have this kind of leverage over the entire world of literature. It’s abominable. No one benefits when markets consolidate into a single monopoly gatekeeper — not even the gatekeeper, who is apt to lose its edge without competition to keep it sharp.”
It is the 10 year anniversary of the Columbine killings. I will use this opportunity to plug Dave Cullen’s book Columbine, which every bookseller I know raves about. You can read some of Cullen’s work on Slate today, as well (excerpt).
And finally, Indiebound has just launched an iPhone app. I’ve used, and it looks and works very well. Install it (it’s free), use it, love it.

Vromans Bookstore Blog » Tod Goldberg

Monday Round-Up