Archive for December 3rd, 2008

Art Spiegelman Writing for Kids

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

Jack in the Box by Art Spiegelman

While he has certainly worked in children’s media before, it can be argued that Art Spiegelman has traditionally done much to dispel the myth that a graphic novel is the same as a comic, and that all of the above are “kid stuff”. His writing and art have never shied away from controversial topics, such as the September 11th attacks in his 2004 publication In the Shadow of No Towers and the impact of the Holocaust on its survivors in his most famous work Maus.

Now, however, it seems the graphic guru is happily setting his sights to kid stuff for a change, after all. Claiming the standard “See Spot Run” starters leave children disinterested and underengaged, he is creating a series of his own primersto start kids off on the right foot with reading, and appreciating language and art. The latest in the series, Jack in the Box, features the toy of the same name (which gave me the nervous sweats as a child).

“It’s a matter of thinking that kids, because they’re not experienced in the world, they’re somehow stupid. It’s a Victorian notion that their minds are innocent, and they are, but they’re also hungry,” he said.

Good! You go, Art Spiegelman.

In the Shadow of No Towers by Art Spiegelman The Complete Maus: A Survivor’s Tale by Art Spiegelman

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The Journal Hosting Webchat With Val McDermid

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

Val McDermid & Robson GreenA couple of years ago, I was distracted from housework one Saturday afternoon by a show on the TV called Wire in the Blood. Now I admit that I am easily distracted from domestic chores and I do have a bit of a soft spot for the starring actor, Robson Green but it is a genuinely good series.  (It’s now up to Series 6 so obviously I can’t be that far off.)

Unfortunately, that particular network is no longer running the program and I have to get on with my household duties. But I haven’t given up hope that it shall reappear somewhere, sometime on Canadian TV.

I’ll confess that I never considered the books behind the series instead.

That was until I was reminded the other day about the books by the news that The Journal (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) is hosting a Culture Webchat with the author, Val McDermid this Thursday (December 4) and that got me thinking about reading the books rather than just watching the show.  The Journal is hosting ‘live blog’ on the night so that you can watch it in real-time, and if you’re so inclined, send questions directly to Val McDermid. If you can’t participate live, you can also email your questions in ahead of time.

Curious about the title Wire in the Blood? McDermid’s website gives this insight:

The phrase “the wire in the blood” comes from T.S. Eliot’s “Four Quartets“. - “The trilling wire in the blood/sings below inveterate scars/appeasing long-forgotten wars.”
As for the meaning..
In an interview Robson Green said the phrase “wire in the blood” was taken to mean a genetic kink, something impure and unusual in the blood, that leads to the kind of psychosis Hill might deal with.
Val McDermid says: ‘Who knows what Eliot really meant by that line? Robson’s explanation is as good as any… For myself, I’ve always taken it to be a metaphor for the thrill of adrenaline surging through the bloodstream. But we’ll never know for sure”.

Wire in the Blood unites a university clinical psychologist, Dr. Anthony “Tony” Valentine Hill, with a tough female Detective Inspector.  The two work together to “get into” the deranged minds of murderers and to ultimately capture the criminal.

While there is a book titled Wire in the Blood, The Mermaids Singing is Val McDermid’s first novel featuring Dr. Tony Hill.

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AbeBooks.co.uk Bestsellers for November 2008

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

AbeBooks.co.uk top 10 bestsellers for November 2008

1. Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama
2. Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart by Bret Hart
3. A Champion’s Mind by Pete Sampras
4. On the Beach by Nevil Shute
5. Have You Seen The Crocodile? By Colin West
6. Once Upon a Time in the North by Philip Pullman
7. Epicenter by Joel Rosenberg
8. The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
9. Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
10. The Morville Hours by Katherine Swift

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AbeBooks most expensive sales for November 2008

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

AbeBooks top 10 most expensive sales for November 2008

1. Goslar Gospels - $7,470
Limited facsimile edition of 300 copies published in 1990. A replica of one of the most exquisite books from the 13th century. Bound in leather with 30 biblical scenes.

2. Edge Chronicles by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell - $7,000
A complete set of the children’s fantasy series containing Beyond the Deepwoods, Stormchaser, Midnight Over Sanctaphrax, Cloud Wolf, Curse of the Gloamglozer, Last of the Sky Pirates, Vox, and Freeglader. All titles are first UK editions with signatures of Stewart and Riddell.

3. Narrative of a Journey to the Shores of the Arctic Ocean, in 1833, 1834, and 1835; Under the Command of Capt. Back, R. N. by Richard King - $5,995
Published in 1836 in full leather, this first edition describes the George Black Arctic expedition. Written by the chief surgeon and naturalist on board the vessel, this is an important companion work to Black’s account of the journey.

4. Cinq livres De l’imposture et tromperie des diables: des enchantements et sorcelleries, pris du latin de Jean Wier by Johann Weyer - $5,867
Five books on the attacks and deception of devils written by Weyer, who was a leading Dutch physician, occultist and demonologist. He was one of the first people to campaign against the persecution of witches. Published in 1570.

5. Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama - $5,500
Signed first edition of the 2004 reissue of the President-elect’s first book.

6. Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer - $4,000
A complete set of all four books from Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series. All books are first editions, first printings in fine condition. All copies are signed by the author.

7. Autograph of Sir. Joshua Reynolds - $3,764
A rare autograph from the 18th century portrait painter.

8. Wolf to the Slaughter by Ruth Rendell - $3,841
First edition in fine condition of the author’s scarcest book - signed and published in 1967

9. Encyclopedie Paris 1751-1772 by Diderot & d’Alembert - $3,911
The copy which was sold was a reproduction in 18 volumes bound in fine brown silk; includes 3000 original etchings of Paris with captions and more than 1,000 entries in French. This 1981 replica was limited to 3,000 copies. No more copies like this exist on AbeBooks, but here is the closest example.

10. Histoire Charmante De L’Adolescente Sucre D’Amour by Joseph Mardrus and Francois-Louis Schmied - $3,781
A 1927 limited pressing of only 150 copies of Mardrus’ work with illustrations by Swiss engraver François-Louis Schmied. Again copies of Sucre D’Amour illustrated by F.L. Schmied no longer exist on AbeBooks you can find the book itself, or other books illustrated by Schmied on the site

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AbeBooks Bestselling Signed Books - November 2008

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

AbeBooks’ top 10 bestselling signed books for November 2008
1. The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
2. A Mercy by Toni Morrison
3. The Widows of Eastwick by John Updike
4. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
5. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
6. Once Upon a Time in the North by Philip Pullman
7. Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama
8. A Most Wanted man by John Le Carre
9. Indignation by Philip Roth
10. Brisingr by Christopher Paolini

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AbeBooks.com Bestsellers for November 2008

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

AbeBooks.com Top 10 bestsellers for November 2008

1. The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
2. Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama
3. Barack Obama In His Own Words by Lisa Rogak
4. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
5. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
6. The Shack by William P. Young
7. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
8. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
9. The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
10. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

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Nostalgic Christmas Stories

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham.According to the Associated Press, it’s not just me feeling extra humbug this winter. Tough times all around are sending people in search of familiar warm-fuzzies to beat the blues and blahs. And what better way to get in the holiday spirit than by revisiting some of the stories about the holidays that made us feel best, both in childhood and even for grown-ups.

The mortgage meltdown, job squeeze and clash between rich and poor evoke long-popular holiday tales with ghostly clarity, offering messages of hope, faith and togetherness during an intensely uncertain year, says William J. Palmer, an English professor and Charles Dickens expert at Purdue University.

“The real reason that readers have always returned to `A Christmas Carol’ year after year since the 1840s is that it provides a way of reinvigorating the spirit of Christmas that everyone wants to feel during this season, no matter how hard the times or how bleak the economic outlook,” he said.

Some of the Christmas stories mentioned to help you believe in Santa again:

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus by Anonymous (really Francis Church, a Sun of New York staffer)
The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
It’s a Wonderful Life based on The Greatest Gift by Philip van Doren Stern
A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

Roast some chestnuts, curl up with cookies and eggnog, snooze in front of the fire, and read your holiday favourites - whatever it takes to hunker down and get through the long winter, warm and happy.

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Toni Morrison Interview

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

Toni Morrison’s new book A Mercy is currently one of the best selling signed books on AbeBooks, the New York Times has posted a nice long interview with her.

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Best book covers of the year

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

The New York Times has chosen some of the best book covers from 2008, and you can vote on your favourite.

Here are a few of my favourites:
Violence by Salvoj Zizek
Slavoj-Zizek-Violence
or Against Happiness by Eric Wilson
Against Happiness

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