AbeBooks' Reading Copy

If you are looking for something foolish and bookish for April 1st may we suggest Salesman’s Dummy (sometimes known as Publishers’ Dummies). These were samples of books which were produced for the sales departments of publishing firms so that they could show potential buyers what a forthcoming release might look like and help convince them [...]

USA Today reminds us Twilight author Stephenie Meyer is a bookselling superstar this morning. She’s been in our part of the world, Vancouver, and talking about her intentions for the future. Meyer keeps a pretty low profile to avoid be swarmed by the Twi-hordes, so this interview makes interesting reading. •On an as-yet-untitled book she [...]

The NY Times reports (I’m not linking to them because the link will die when its paywall goes up, adios NY Times) that the final typescript of the last four chapters of Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind has turned up in the Pequot Library in Connecticut. The novel celebrates its 75th anniversary in May. [...]

Among the shortlisted finalists nominated for this year’s Man Booker International Prize is one of my favourite authors, Rohinton Mistry. Originally from India, the Canadian author is best known for his 1995 novel A Fine Balance. Also on the shortlist was spy-novelist John Le Carre, best known for his books The Constant Gardener and The [...]

The Alcuin Society, a Vancouver based group who promote a wider appreciation of books and reading and to support excellence in book design and production, have announced the winners of their annual Book Design Awards. The winning books will be exhibited in Germany at the Frankfurt and Leipzig Book Fairs, and, in Canada, in every [...]

The Guardian asks some authors to name the books they’d most like to pass on to the next generation. A rather convoluted way of asking ‘what’s your favourite book?’ The wonderful Michael Morpurgo chooses The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono.

Here’s me again, this time talking about The 100-Mile Diet by Alisa Smith and J.B. Mackinnon. I gave this book to my better half and then a few months later ‘borrowed’ it back. The authors live in Vancouver and we’re located within their 100-mile radius of that city so it was very relevant to me. [...]

Tomorrow is the final day to enter our Tree of Codes contest. Entering is easy – just tell me about your favorite tactile book, the book you have most enjoyed touching. We have received lots of entries and I’m going to share one with you. It’s from a lady called Karen in California. When I [...]

The Daily Telegraph takes the michael. 20 The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson Its set-up is almost as protracted as the dull protagonist’s endless cups of coffee. Then it suddenly descends into graphic sexual violence. Sweden’s most overrated export since Ikea. 21 Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert Eat, pray, love, wallow, [...]

Diana Wynne Jones, the famous children’s fantasy and science fiction author, has died at the age of 76. The Guardian has an obituary. Signed copies of her books are moderately priced. Her intelligent and beautifully written fantasies are of seminal importance for their bridging of the gap between “traditional” children’s fantasy, as written by CS [...]