Books on the Nightstand - Latest Comments

Re: BOTNS #231: Unlikeable Characters

Chad Aaron Sayban — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:42:43 -0000

I can't wait to read A Constellation of Vital Phenomena. Just waiting for my signed copy from Odyssey Books to arrive. It sounds like a great one!

Re: BOTNS #231: Unlikeable Characters

Tom McAllister — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:59:19 -0000

Thanks for the link to Book Fight, Ann!

Re: My week in short stories #19

Robin — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:17:03 -0000

Ann: Really look forward to this post each week. Thank you. Enjoyed “Jack of Coins” by Christopher Rowe, a good recommendation. Figured out I need to read my daily short story early in the morning, as the day disappears too quickly. It is also too dangerous to read them at night, as I would be tempted to read "just one more story".

Re: My week in short stories #18

Zoe Elkaim — Sat, 18 May 2013 17:12:40 -0000

I can't find the Nebula Awards compendium that Scott was talking about on the related podcast... any suggestions? Thanks.

Re: My week in short stories #18

linjen — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:44:31 -0000

In response to the observation that Denis Johnson’s “Emergency.” had a reference to a Drive In movie theater that would not be relevant to children in a few years.....imagine if authors had to write works that did not reference any artifacts of the past. These references give the readers a chance to discuss those memories with our children and other readers. I believe our reading experience to be the richer for those "artifacts".

Re: BOTNS #229: Books Into Movies, Movies on to Books

Darlene — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:01:49 -0000

I have never considered myself a book snob, but I know I would never buy a book with a movie tie-in cover. When I buy a book, it is usually one that is from an author I love or a book that I know I will read over and over. It would seem odd to have a treasured book in my collection with a picture of Brad Pitt or Jennifer Lawrence, etc. on the cover. I consider those books for more casual readers. I certainly would not judge anyone that I saw purchasing or reading a book with a movie cover, it is just not something I would purchase.
With that being said, I just downloaded from my library the new audiobook of World War Z "featuring an all-star cast." (insert embarrassed face emoticon here!)

Re: May Short Story Read-Along, and an invitation…

AnnKingman — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:07:33 -0000

Oh, sorry about the formatting!

Is this complete, other than the formatting? I'm not sure if Disqus has a character or line limit.

Re: May Short Story Read-Along, and an invitation…

Xtian Paula — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:04:40 -0000

So all the formatting I put into this just won't show up here. Picture the list format on a Word document. Sorry for this.

Re: May Short Story Read-Along, and an invitation…

Xtian Paula — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:03:05 -0000

Here we go!
Staircase

1. Floss.
A. See metal cap on molar fall out.
i. Make appt w/ Dr. Khal,
ii. or, better yet, find new dentist to avoid run-in w/ X
2. Squeeze last bit of toothpaste for 2 min.
A. Suck teeth at myself for procrastinating.
i. Debate whether to see a shrink for 3 min.
3. Gargle & spit.
A. Forget 2ai as you see the time.
4. Trip on stairs.
A. Why did I forget to call the repairman yester?
i. If he’s such a big help, why can’t Chris make the call?
B. Forget to notice warm sensation.
5. Grab keys from hook.
A. Should I leave them?
i. Con: I’ll be locked out.
ii. Pro: Will force me to call repairman about stair.
1. He wasn’t helpful with drain in kitchen, so maybe ask Annie
for recomms?
A. Forget spat over her husband.
6. Feed cat.
A. Can finally stop meowing!
i. Whoever thought cats were cute never met Toby.
B. Is he getting fat?
i. New formula?
ii. Make my own?
1. When will I find time?
a. Tmrw is neighborhood watch mtg,
b. Thurs’s dinner w/ Annie,
c. And Fri’s opera night.
i. Sat maybe?
--> Keep buying cat chow.
iii. Chg Toby’s feeding times.
7. Lock doors.
8. Wave to Mr. Sanchez across street.
A. Forgot to mow his lawn last wk. Dammit!
9. Get in car.
A. Start engine.
i. Why do I feel so dizzy?
1. Look down

Re: BOTNS #230: Paula McLain and Nichole Bernier from Booktopia Vermont

Debbie — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:16:34 -0000

Both talks were just as good the 2nd time around!

Re: BOTNS #225: Author Stalking

Joanne in Canada — Tue, 14 May 2013 21:27:19 -0000

Does anyone know how you can select the dates in LibraryThing Local? I want to check for events in San Francisco for a week in June, but don't see any way to change the range of dates.

Re: BOTNS #229: Books Into Movies, Movies on to Books

kategreen — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:07:19 -0000

Just listened to this episode this morning, but wanted to let you know that I will always buy a regular cover and avoid a movie tie in. I have only bought one recently for one of my kids. It was the Michael Oher book The Blind Side as I thought the movie would entice him to read the book. Sadly he didn't watch or read

Re: May Short Story Read-Along, and an invitation…

Paula Cappa — Mon, 13 May 2013 10:55:17 -0000

Having your short story read aloud is a very different experience and really does enhance the art of writing. I'm happy to report that one of my short stories is being narrated May 14 as a podcast on Every Day Fiction. "Abasteron House" is literary darkness (a prequel to my novel Night Sea Journey, Tale of Supernatural). The narrator is Folly Blaine and she does a wonderful dramatic reading. This was a first for me, to have my story read aloud. While I've read the story aloud for myself in order to "hear" where the strengths and weaknesses are for rewriting, having it dramatically read aloud creates a whole new dimension. Podcasts are divine!

Re: My week in short stories #18

Jodi Paloni — Mon, 13 May 2013 09:56:20 -0000

"Normal People Don't Live Like This" is on my top ten list for linked story collections published in the last ten years. I read most of these stories two or three times. I'm so pleased to hear that a new book is coming soon. A favorite of mine from this collection is titled, "Rana Fegrina." Since Landis is getting some attention in these comments, I am posting a link to an interview she gave at The Rumpus. http://therumpus.net/2011/11/t...

Re: My week in short stories #18

SEY — Mon, 13 May 2013 09:49:12 -0000

Really impressed Ann. I love short stories too and the past couple years have collected them too. Library Book Sales are great places to get them! I grab them when I want to feel I've accomplished reading something well written.

A listener suggestion - the Guardian (BBC) Books Podcast is great, even has music! Free downloads on I-tunes!

Re: My week in short stories #18

Mary Russell — Mon, 13 May 2013 09:25:09 -0000

You shouldn't have too much trouble getting a copy of Normal People Don't Live Like this at your library. There are copies in quite a few places (see http://www.worldcat.org/title/... If your local public library isn't one of these, they should be able to interlibrary loan the title for you.

Re: My week in short stories #18

Pamela Lear — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:24:39 -0000

Ann - - Just wanted to say how impressed I am that you have consistently stayed up to date with this project; I don't comment often, but do love the short story posts. I'm trying to get more of my book groups to read & discuss short stories! Thanks for the inspiration.

Re: My week in short stories #18

AnnKingman — Sun, 12 May 2013 21:53:54 -0000

Happy? Ecstatic! Thanks for the news .. I'll corner you next time I see you for all the details!

Re: My week in short stories #18

Juliet — Sun, 12 May 2013 20:34:09 -0000

Thanks so much for making sure I didn't miss that Jennifer Egan story. It's given me a bunch of ideas!

And also, you'll be happy to know (I'm guessing) that Soho has just signed Dylan Landis for her next book!

Re: BOTNS #229: Books Into Movies, Movies on to Books

Jaime Abbess — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:31:35 -0000

Hi Ann and Michael,
I really, really cannot stand movie tie-in covers. They drive me nuts. I see the book and the movie as two completely separate things, so when there is a movie tie-in cover it skews my emotions towards the book.
Also, I am not a big movie watcher. Sometimes, when I hear that a movie is coming out and getting accolades, I will search out the book first and may never see the movie.
I don't want to see (for example) Leo as Gatsby. I want to have my mind create that image and the tie-ins take that away from me.
ok, wah wah wah. I will take the movie tie-in if I absolutely have to, for example, Let the Right One In only showed the movie tie-in ... at least it was the Swedish version.

Re: BOTNS #229: Books Into Movies, Movies on to Books

Eric Kibler — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:16:32 -0000

I don't see as many movies as I did when I was younger. I guess as you get older you realize the brevity of the time you have left and focus on the stuff you like the most. For me, it's books and acting in plays. So if I see there's a movie out based on a book that I'm interested in, but haven't read, I won't see it. Not until I've read the book. The book is the dog and the movie is the tail. A book with a movie tie-in cover is a case of the tail wagging the dog. Maybe this is my prejudice talking, but when I see someone reading a movie tie-in cover, I think, "Oh, a tourist." Someone who liked a movie and thinks they might like reading the book version. A non-reader. A dabbler. Usually, you see these people at doctor's offices or airports. Places where waiting is enforced and someone has to put their mind to SOMETHING, so why not a book? Invariably, these people are five to ten pages into the book, and probably won't get any further.

Before I married my wife, we broke up for a while and she dated this other guy. She and I had had an argument over the movie "Hook". You remember, the Spielberg take on Captain Hook, starring Dustin Hoffman? I critiqued the film after we saw it in my own inimitable way. I savaged it, as a matter of fact. Amy-Anne had enjoyed it. Anyway, after we got back together, I found that the interim boyfriend had bought her a paperback copy of the novelization of "Hook", because he knew she liked the movie and that she liked to read books. Amy-Anne, of course, never read this book and recognized what a lame gesture it was. I think she'd come to realize she'd rather spend her time with someone more cerebral, if also more curmudgeonly.

Whenever I see a movie tie-in cover, I think of that guy, and of the reading "tourists". Yeah, I'm a snob. I'm that guy. I'm also the guy that scoffed when you started listening to R.E.M. with Automatic for the People. I'd been a fan since before they were popular. Since Murmur. I'm AUTHENTIC, you see, not some trendy bandwagon jumper.

As to Sedaris, I'm a fan. On our recent trip to Booktopia in Vermont, I lined up A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson and Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris, for the audio on the 19 hour round trip. I had already listened to these books as audio and loved them. Amy-Anne loved the Bryson, but could have done without the Sedaris. I think what put her off was the story of when, as a young man, he'd been sexually harassed by a customer of the home cleaning service he'd worked for. It was pretty graphic and distasteful. More so than I'd remembered. It was, dare I say, icky. That was the first audiobook recommendation I'd made to Amy-Anne that wasn't a hit. Still, I'm a fan, and will pick up the new one at some point.

Re: BOTNS #229: Books Into Movies, Movies on to Books

Carol Kubala — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:15:01 -0000

I'm a book cover snob...The Great Gatsby original is the one for me but if younger people will read it because it has a hipper cover, all the better.

Re: BOTNS #229: Books Into Movies, Movies on to Books

Callie — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:52:10 -0000

I looked it up and I don't think the new extended version of the audiobook will be available until May 14, at least according to the Random House Audio page. It is definitely on my list!

Re: My week in short stories #17: Edgar’s shorts

SuziQoregon — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:48:20 -0000

I love Carey's Unwritten series! I'll definitely have to check out this story!

Re: My week in short stories #17: Edgar’s shorts

Robin — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:38:33 -0000

Ann, thanks for this week's focus on mysteries. Not my usual genre, but read some of the stories nominated and rekindled a youthful fondness for mysteries. This was a fun week. What else ya got?