Literary Links: Barnes & Noble Gets Wi-Fi + Editing Palin

Girl gone mild in Carlene Bauer’s Not That Kind of Girl: “If life maneuvers received scores for technical difficulty, Bauer would be competing for gold.” [via Daily Beast]

Flash fiction at your fingertips: give it a whirl at NameYourTale.com. [via GalleyCat]

For one month, from July 4 to August 4, access 2 million e-book titles at the World eBook Fair, courtesy of the World Public Library. [via Genre Reviews]

Editing Sarah Palin: Wayne Lawson, executive literary editor at Vanity Fair, took the red pen to Palin’s resignation speech. [via Inkwell Bookstore]

What’s in a prize? Should readers read what’s on the Booker Prize list, or choose for themselves? Do other prize lists offer better suggestions? [via Stuck in a Book]

Barnes & Noble to catch up with the times: the chain will soon be offering free in-store wi-fi access through AT&T. [via Publishers Weekly]

Book trailers are becoming more and more mainstream. Watch the trailer for So Punk Rock (and Other Ways to Disappoint Your Mother). [via Flux Now]

--Rachel Frier

Literary Links: Sucky Mags + Booker Prizes

Surely women’s magazines can come up with better reading material than the same article over and over and over again, right? Right? [via Jezebel]

Katharine Donelson works her way through Proust’s In Search of Lost Time (aka Remembrance of Things Past), 50 pages at a time. [via Blog Critic]

The Long List for the 2009 Man Booker Prize has been announced! [via Daily Beast]

Feeling artsy? Create your own debut YA book cover. [via 100 Scope Notes]

What gets your reading? Jane considers compelling incipit lines. [via Dear Author]

Help raise awareness of spec fic: if you’re a genre reviewer, join the Book Reviewer's Linkup Meme. [via Grasping for the Wind]

As if there wasn’t enough Harry Potter fiddle faddle, now you can play the Hogwarts House Cup Challenge game in your own home. [via Books and Other Thoughts]

Calling all would-be orators: now you, too, can devise the perfect Best Man wedding speech! Just use this handy flowchart. [via Holy Taco]

--Rachel Frier

Photo: Jezebel

Literary Links: 'Virgin Suicides' Sweet 16 + Tricky Cover Art

A discussion on race and cover art, and publisher’s decisions based on apparent market preference. [via Justine Larbalestier]

Michael Chabon: skeptical. [via Bookslut]

Meet Joshua Henkin, the author who joined 175 book clubs. [via Three Guys One Book]

Toronto’s Fringe Festival is a celebration of drama. [via The Millions]

Jeffrey Eugenides’ The Virgin Suicides celebrates its Sweet 16, and is still just as controversial as ever. [via The Daily Beast]

Legal decisions that have nothing to do with books apparently have a lot to do with books. [via Pimp My Novel]

Who knew? Teens read, too. Check out these awesome reviews of today’s most exciting teen lit! [via Teens Read Too]

Retirement plans for writers. [via Editor Unleashed]

--Rachel Frier

Photo: Ain't That a Shame

Literary Links: Dan Brown + 'Twilight'

Whether you’re a fan or not, there’s no denying the popularity of film adaptations of beloved books. Here’s a list of several. [via Booktender]

A list of must-reads to prepare yourself for Dan Brown’s Lost Symbol, coming out later this year. [via Libraryland Roundup]

Apparently publishers are afraid of Dan Brown’s popularity: They are rushing books into print early to avoid competition. [via Telegraph]

Publishers, affected by the economic downturn, may be denying the advances they are supposed to offer their authors. [via Dear Author]

The summer fiction issue of The Atlantic is now available, with some exciting reads by renowned authors. [via Nonsuch Book]

Some library patrons really know what they want. [via Love the Liberry]

International Thriller Writers announces their 2009 Thriller Award winners! [via Bookbitch]

Looking for free books? Try one of the many book giveaways at the blogs listed here. [via Ms. Bookish]

The much-beloved Twilight series is now being made into graphic novels. Check out the Asian flair artwork! [via Maw Books]

--Rachel Frier

Photo: Impawards.com

Literary Links: Literature Ink + Nerdy Beers

John Christie offers the most comprehensive list of book-related beer names ever compiled. [via Brews & Books]

Mark Sarvas completes his interview series with Joseph O’Neill, author of Netherland. [via Mark Sarvas]

When forming the indie band Harry and the Potters, Joe and Paul DeGeorge were probably not aware that they were creating what a Time magazine article calls a new genre of music. [via John Green]

“Your body is not MySpace!” Molly Lambert argues against literary tattoos. [via This Recording]

Get your PoMo on with this annotated list of 61 essential postmodern reads. [via Jacket Copy]

“Middle-aged women want to read books about sex more than anything else, new research has found.” They also read cookbooks. [via Marie Claire]

In an average year, an average American spends an average of $118 on reading materials… and $457 on alcoholic drinks. [via Visual Economics]

No more Madam Librarian: in front of a sell-out audience, these librarians go wild in competition for the Golden Bookcart. [via NPR]

Glen Binger interviews Brand Scott Gorrell regarding his collection of poetry, During My Nervous Breakdown I Want To Have A Biographer Present. [via Broad Set Writing Collective]

Following a copyright infringement case, Amazon has had to pull copies of Orwell’s 1984 from readers’ Kindle devices. Big Brother is watching. [via Fashion Piranha]

--Rachel Frier

Photo: This Recording

Literary Links: Fired from the Canon + Twitter Novels

Since one lifetime’s all you’ve got, and you probably don’t want to spend all of it reading the books on today’s Must-Read lists, here’s a new list for you: books that should be fired from the canon. [via The Second Pass]

Playwright, author, and doctor Anton Chekhov lived a fascinating, if brief, life. Check out this photo-journey of his home and its breathtaking surroundings. [via ros360]

The Boston Globe provides a list of audio-books that are perfectly suited for a little light summer listening. [via Largehearted Boy]

Rubbing elbows with literary stars: MsSpentyouth tells the story of the time Al Franken turned her in for child neglect. [via Daily Kos]

What is it that makes some authors perfect fodder for Internet cults? [via Bookslut]

In celebration of its 60th anniversary, the National Book Foundation is celebrating the 77 novels that have won its fiction award. Check out the funny math: 77 awards in 60 years? [via Jacket Copy]

The first full-length novel has been published via Twitter, just in time for Bastille Day. [via The French Rev]

All the phun happens in Phoenix: “David Irving's Book Tour Hits Phoenix Diner, Anarchists Protest Gathering of Neo-Nazis.” [via Feathered Bastard]

Calling all language nerds: Learning Spanish? Check out today’s news, delivered in slowly spoken Spanish podcasts. [via News in Slow Spanish]

--Rachel Frier

Photo: The Second Pass

Literary Links: Obama Books + Annoying (Bookstore) Customers

Apparently reading our president’s books is a threat to national security. [via Read Street]

Attention all geeks-in-training: Click here to learn how to geek out about P. G. Wodehouse. [via A.V. Club]

“Behold I do not give lectures or a little charity,/ When I give I give my pants.” ~ Walt Whitman [via Vowel Movers]

15 lengthy novels worth reading. “It is possible to find longer novels but we thought it would be unkind to recommend L. Ron Hubbard books or horrendously lengthy self-published beasts.” [via AbeBooks]

July 4th weekend proved rife with annoying customers: “Top 10 Annoying Customer Questions from the 4th of July Weekend.” [via Inkwell Bookstore]

Everyman’s access, via the Internet, to the rare book market has caused severe deflation—a “curse for sellers.” [via Seattle P.I.]

Despite the fact that readers are already paying for texts accessed through the Kindle, Amazon has applied for patents to technology that will embed ads. [via Fast Company]

The PC-police are soooo going to get this kid: American History as explained by an 8-year-old. [via College Humor]

--Rachel Frier

Photo: Babble.com

Literary Links: Crazypants Authors + Wince-Worthy Words

And the drama continues: An Open Letter to [reviewer] Roberta Silman re: The Day Alice Hoffman Went Crazypants. [via Hipster Book Club]

Rob Walker’s latest project puts a literary spin on eBay selling. [via Core 77]

A challenge to submit contenders for the title of “The Most Awesomely Bad SFF Cover in the World.” [via Orbit Books]

Are you a re-reader, or do you take books for only a single stroll around the block? [via Newsweek]

Questioning the possible methodology of Borders’ new UK dating site: “Did you enjoy, Mark, 34, of Swindon? Then you should try Gareth, 36, of Slough.” [via Bookslut]

Play around with Wordle: make a web cloud of any piece of text. Here’s one for Catherynne M. Valente’s latest work. [via Wordle]

A group of poets has come up with a list of their most wince-worthy words: “Pulchritude” because it is “stuffed to the brim with a brutally latinate cudgel of barbaric consonants.” [via Guardian]

Looking for a new and interesting way to share the reading experience online? An innovative collaborative reading experience. [via Book Glutton]

--Rachel Frier

Photo: Newsweek

Literary Links: Lauren Conrad vs. Joseph Conrad + Un-bad Author Photos

Test your wits! Can you distinguish between the writing of Joseph Conrad and Lauren Conrad? [via The Daily Beast]

Koji Suzuki, the Tokyo-based writer and creator of the horror novels The Ring, among others, brings us a new publishing medium: toilet paper. [via The Moment]

Silver Jews frontman David Berman has released a book of freehand cartoons called The Portable February. See excerpts here. [via Pitchfork]

“Sarah Palin memoir: Now with 25 percent more God!” Sarah Palin will release two versions of her memoir, one for Christians and one for everyone else. [via Quil and Quire]

Looking for the latest outdated children’s books? Your list right here. [via Bookslut]

In an attempt at justifying censorship, the School Board of Campbell High School in Litchfield, New Hampshire seems to have listed cannibalism as part of the “Liberal Agenda.” [via Inkwell Bookstore]

Ready to publish your novel? Then you’ll need to follow this important advice on ways to take a bad author photo. [via Salt Publishing]

Nick Mamatas considers the joy of re-discovering lost books and authors, in relation to author John Fante. [via The Smart Set]

--Rachel Frier

Photo: The Daily Beast

Literary Links: C-SPAN Parodies + Wizard Sex

Considering sex in recent Harry Potter movies… and whether such behavior is warranted or even desired. [via Entertainment Weekly]

Ever come across a particularly outdated title in your local library, and wonder who’s keeping an eye on the collection? Enter Mary and Holly. [via Awful Library Books]

If Internet jargon is a bit too technical for you, check out the Circolwyrde Wordhord, a glossary of computer language in Old English. [via Carl T. Berkhout]

Larry Hughes offers a delicious parody of recent book-world news on his list of “Things I’d Like to See This Weekend on C-SPAN’s “Book TV’” [via Book Flack]

Looking for some avant-garde poetry? Look no further than the videos posted on the site of the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival. [via Bookslut]

Jonathan Bethem, author of Motherless Brooklyn and The Fortress of Solitude, selects his favorite New York moments in fiction. [via Newsweek]

Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Golden Plunger Awards considers the ever-evolving English language… and some phrases that just don’t make no sense. [via Neatorama]

Shocking news: Following his recent shenanigans with his Argentine lover, Mark Sanford’s publishers have killed his book deal on A Southern Gentleman’s Guide To Being Conservative. [via Wonkette]

--Rachel Frier

Photo: iWatchStuff

Literary Links: Journo Confessions + Optical Ineptitude

Women’s confessional journalism: dangerous to readers? [via Jezebel]

In a related discussion, Latoya Peterson reviews the inherent misogyny in most women’s self-help dating guides. [via Jezebel]

Into mythology? Check out Madame Yevonde’s gallery was of the Edwardian era’s socialites dressed up as goddesses, Gorgons, witches, and mortals. [via HERSTORY]

Ben Greenman, non-fiction editor of The New Yorker, discusses his new book Please Step Back. [via Broad Set Writing Collective]

Atlanta writer Blake Butler extrapolates on the concept of “heart” in fiction. [via HTML Giant]

Persepolis 2.0: The award-winning Persepolis, a cartoon chronicling the Iranian revolution and its aftermath, has been updated to reflect recent events following the election. [via Guardian]

Children’s author Jacqueline Woodson shares her belief in the empowerment that can be found in literature. [via Teaching Books]

“D'oh! on a Grecian Urn:” Art Scheck considers the painful, but highly satisfying, process of teaching poetry in higher education. [via Chronicle]

Denzy Senna speaks out about coming of age as the product of a doomed biracial marriage, and about “optical ineptitude” when it comes to race. [via Double X]

--Rachel Frier

Photo: Jezebel

Literary Links: Bookseller Brawls + Old-School Personal Ads

Amazon and Barnes & Noble go head to head offering e-text reader applications. [via GalleyCat]

In a shining new example of celebrities gone wild, Alice Hoffman flipped out over a negative review of her new book. Now she has offered a half-hearted apology. [via Bookslut]

Forget e-Harmony—check out these 19^th-century personal ads, the subject of Pam Epstein’s history dissertation. [via Très Sugar]

The US market it soon to be graced with the presence of the Book Depository, a company that ships books around the world for free. [via Dear Author]

Though this post is written toward booksellers, it announces an important opportunity for all readers and book-lovers: Support Literacy Every Day. [via Book Shop Blog]

At the intersection of music and reading: What music makes you think of sci-fi or fantasy? [via Tor]

Larry at OF Blog of the Fallen reviews trends in blogging, and considers whether some book blogs are headed down a reader-unfriendly path. [via Aidan Moher]

Curious about the history of children’s picture books? Check out this interactive timeline! [via Imaginary Lands]

--Rachel Frier

Photo: Galley Cat

Literary Links: Mijac in Paperback; Cursing in Kiddie Lit

In memory of a lost loved pop star: The R.I.P. Menagerie of Michael Jackson Book Covers. [via Inkwell Bookstore]

Looking for a book recommendation? Consider the source (and then check out BookSeer.com). [via Book Ninja]

Do the publishing industry’s low starting salaries limit the literature produced? Willing Davidson thinks so, and notes class division in the industry as well. [via Galleycat]

Jay Walker explains why billions of people are trying to learn English—“the world’s second language.” [via TED]

Allegations of plagiarism are old news… and new news, apparently. This time, Chris Anderson’s in the dog house. [via Smart Bitches]

Bella Pagan reviews the inaugural David Gemmell Legend Award for Fantasy. [via Orbit]

In an interesting twist on literary sales, the BBC poetry series leads to a sudden and unexpected spike in copies of poetry volumes--like Sylvia Plath. [via Galleycat]

Children's author Lenore Look discusses the difficulties of using appropriate cursing in children’s books. [via Bookslut]

E-reading is not without its drama and difficulty. Choosing a device, finding a power source, keeping the publishing industry on its feet—so much to fret about! [via Dear Author]

--Rachel Frier

Photos: Inkwell Bookstore, Cita en Hawaii

Literary Links: Bad Advice + Flawed Kindles

Spend enough time in the self-help section of the bookstore, and you might come across the 24,504 Worst Pieces of Advice Ever Published. [via Cracked]

A group of artists called INK has manufactured 40 books that previously existed only in the literary worlds of other books. [via Bookslut]

Shared Worlds recently picked their top five real fantasy/sci-fi cities. Is your city on the list? [via Inkwell Bookstore]

A notable flaw in the Amazon Kindle download system: Some texts have a limited number of downloads, and that number varies from text to text. [via Gear Diary]

Sadly, not everyone can be a winner. Fuse covers the list of books that didn't quite make the Top 100 Picture Book Poll. [via Bookshelves of Doom]

--Rachel Frier

Photo: Cracked

Literary Links: Books on Bodies

Inspired by Esquire magazine cover featuring Bar Refaeli, check out some favorite literary quotes written on half-naked hunks! [via Lemondrop]

Save the date! ThrillerFest 2009 is coming to NYC July 8-11. [via Thriller Writers]

Looking for free reads online? Take a look at this list, for starters. [via Genre Reviews]

Calling all dog lovers! Join the Dog Days of Summer contest. [via Literate Housewife]

From Book magazine, a list of the 100 best characters since 1900. [via Stuck in a Book]

--Rachel Frier

Photo: Lemondrop

Literary Links: Vocab Workouts, Online Novels + Writing Tips

Beef up your vocabulary—see which weighty words from the New York Times are looked up most frequently by other readers. [via Bookslut]

Read chapter one of The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, an on-line novel with new chapter updates every Monday!

[via Catherynne M. Valente]

A good opening line will immediately enthrall a reader… but a bad one can leave her rolling on the floor in a fit of giggles. [via John Wright]

Can you spot which of the seven types of bookstore customers you are? [via Rocket Bomber]

Apparently Dell publishers are making a killing marketing through Twitter, to the tune of approximately $3 million in sales! [via Dear Author]

--Rachel Frier

Photo: Images.com

Literary Links: More Summer Reading + A Scavenger Hunt

Author of Twenty Boy Summer hosts an awesome 20 Things in 20 Days Scavenger Hunt! [via Sara Hockler]

Celebrate a Shakespearean Summer and take the challenge to read three of Shakespeare’s plays this summer. [via Livs Book Reviews]

Looking for some good summer reading? Check out this massive book giveaway. [via Book Dads]

Want to be entertained by some witty repartee while looking for a book for younger readers? Look no further. [via Mother Reader]

“So what if there was a TOB/Battle of the Books for the books with less star power?” [via YA Fabulous]

--Rachel Frier

Literary Links: Hipster Bookworms; Marilyn Monroe's Hardback

The Hipster Book Club, and the general hip-ness of reading. Prepare to be amused. [via Book Patrol]

Years after her death, Marilyn Monroe-themed book covers are still hot. [via Caustic Cover Critic]

Dickens' Little Dorrit's available any which way you want: on the Kindle, iPhone, paperback, and audibook. [via So Many Books]

At DoubleX, Rachel Cusk promotes The Last Supper: A Summer in Italy, her memoir of moving to Italy. She also discusses her two memoirs and her novels. [via Double X]

Jessa Crispin of Bookslut offers her thoughts on Rachel Cusk’s book promotion and interviews. [via Bookslut]

--Rachel Frier

Literary Links

BookingMama recently conducted a charming interview with Paula Froelich, author of the novel Mercury in Retrograde as well as the New York Post Page Six gossip column. [via Booking Mama]

Looking for something to do this Saturday? If you’re local to Washington, DC, sign up for the Neo-Indie Arts Festival – they’re still recruiting artists! [via Neo-Indie Arts Festival]

In the wake of BookExpo America 2009, TheRumpus.net has posted a comical list of inappropriate Expo behaviors: “How To Be Inappropriate: A BookExpo America Guide.” [via The Rumpus]

My Friend Amy has posted a very interesting (post-BEA) discussion about social media, blogging, and “control” in the writing/publishing community. [via My Friend Amy]

Dogs of Babel gets recommended, again. [via Find Your Next Book Here]

-- Rachel Frier

Photo courtesy of Gawker.

Literary Links

What with the release of Breaking Dawn last year and the latest installment of the Twilight movie series due out later this year, vampire stories remain all the rage. LoveVampires.com reviews some of the other books in the vampire genre.

The Smexybooks blog links to a transcript of a chat with JR Ward, revealing tons of juicy tidbits about her upcoming novel!

Supernatural Summer is hosting an awesome giveaway, with lots of goodies!

Lori Devoti at Romancing the Blog reviews the differences between urban fantasy and paranormal romance.

SciFiGuy offers a list of Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, and SF&F book releases for June 2009.

-- Rachel Frier

Photo courtesy of Buddy TV.