It’s HERE! The New Oprah Book Club Book!
September 23, 2008 by Bob
Worry not my dear friends, Oprah has saved you from complete fall hibernation mode with the announcement of the new Oprah Book Club book: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle written by first time author David Wroblewski.
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is, perhaps obviously, the story of a young man named Edgar Sawtelle! What is unique about this man is that he is mute and lives on a farm with his family in 1970s Wisconsin (clearly Wisconsin was the best place to grow-up in the Seventies: That ’70s Show takes place in WI, and Milwaukee’s Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley were popular in the ’70s). Getting back to Wroblewski’s tale, although Edgar is mute, he is able to communicate with the dogs that are bred on the family farm. Life is pretty great until Edgar’s uncle unexpectedly shows up at the farm, and Edgar’s father mysteriously dies. Edgar, determined to discover the truth about his father’s death, enlists his canine buds to help solve the mystery.
This mystery/coming-of-age tale is reminiscent of Hamlet, but told through a prose style of American literature greats like Hemingway or Fitzgerald. Wroblewski spent 10 years writing this book, and the care he took to craft each sentence is apparent
Oprah’s book club is the largest on the planet: 2 million readers and growing. Be sure to check out this 62nd book — it’s well worth the read.
A Pirate’s Life for ME!
September 19, 2008 by Bob
Ahoy me gentlemen o’ fortune and beauties,
Today be the 7th year since Dave Barry speak of the ‘International Talk Like a Pirate Day’ celebrated each year in September. Well, shiver me timbers, but TODAY is that day. Take out ye olde Jolly Rogers and booty of pirate things and celebrate this day in style.
First, ye start with the films: Pirates of the Caribbean on Blu-ray, and then there is The Ultimate Pirate Collection. Don’t forget Real Pirates of the Caribbean and Pirate Cinema Classics.
Aye! Maybe ye don’t have a DVD player aboard yer ship. Well me matey, there are plenty of books to entertain. The new book Pirate Life will help you get in touch with yer inner pirate, and The Pirate Primer looks at pirate talk, syntax and all!
Me favorite is Pirate Tattoos - these are temporary pirate designs perfect for yer one day a yaaaaaaar (read: year) that ye can be a pirate. Don’t know what to do? Check out The Great Pirate Activity Book for ideas on how to be a swashbucklin’ pirate.
Re-design yer ship using Stencil Pirates a book including tips and actual stencils on pirate art. And listen to music from the Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy while yer gettin’ in the spirit of ITLAPD (Int’l Talk Like a Pirate Day).
Yo ho ho me mateys, it’s time for me to walk thee plank.
David Foster Wallace, 1962-2008
September 14, 2008 by Danny
Green Revolution or Green Pollution?
September 12, 2008 by Romy
Lately I can’t help but sing the first few lines of Cheers theme song in my head:
“Making your way in the world today takes everything you’ve got. Taking a break from all your worries sure would help a lot. Wouldn’t you like to get away?”
It’s true — in our post-9/11-failing economy-limited resources-environmentally threatened world we live within wouldn’t it be great if we could all just get away? But, of course it’s not possible and with the release of Thomas L. Friedman’s new book, Hot, Flat and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution it looks like we’ve actually got a long way to go before we’re “in the green” so to speak.
Friedman is a New York Times columnist and has earned a number of Pulitzer prize awards for his work in journalism. This book will likely be noticed by the Pulitzer jury this year for its strikingly insightful theories on what Americans can do to help ensure our earth doesn’t implode.
Over population, oil, consumption and the usual list of suspects are to blame for the current environmental mess we’re in, but they will be our downfall if we continue to operate as blindly as before. Friedman is calling for a revolution — a Green Revolution. We have to start thinking critically about our actions and the way we want others (countries, citizens, etc.) to see America.
Whether or not Friedman’s book will actually garner the change he calls for (and not just be a book read by the already converted choir) is interesting to consider. Hard, Flat and Crowded works to add further “fuel” (phosphate-free fuel of course) to the fire of the upcoming election. Will the candidates speak directly to the issues he’s raising?
One other criticism is that for a book calling for a radical change in the way we live/have lived, it is not very radical in its execution. Dare we quote pop-culture guru pop-culture guru Marshall McLuhan’s “medium is the message” and ask Friedman how we are expected to change and be radical when the book itself is so stodgy and old-school. Is it printed on recycled paper? Who knows? Will this book end up in the pile of other books on environmental damage in 10 years? Probably.
Now, I’m not suggesting that Thomas Friedman’s book, Hot, Flat and Crowded is not worth reading. In fact - READ IT. You’ll probably end up talking about it somewhere, and if it makes you re-think and be conscience of your actions than Friedman has succeeded in his goal for writing this book.
I’m just saying: plant a tree in honor of the one it took to print the book.
The Final Countdown: Breaking Dawn Is Nearly Here
July 29, 2008 by Danny
Less than one week from now, you may hear a very loud and collective sigh of relief. Fans of the Twilight novel series will finally stop holding their breaths waiting for the fourth installment of this popular vampire-romance young adult fiction written by Stephenie Meyer. Breaking Dawn will be released August 2, 2008.
Recap: the previous three books have focused on protagonist Isabella (known as Bella) as she falls in love with a curious and mysterious young boy named Edward, who just happens to be a vampire. Don’t be scared: Edward is a new-wave vampire, he only drinks animal blood, not human. In the first book, Twilight, Bella and Edward start to develop their relationship amidst growing tension from other vampire clans.
The second novel in the series, New Moon, introduces the new and loveable character of Jacob Black, who was born a werewolf. Bella befriends Jacob and they become instant BFFs. More romantic drama with Edward, and more of the good stuff. I don’t want to give too much away.
Number three – Eclipse. Bella finds out that you can’t date a vampire and be BFFs with a werewolf – apart from popular belief. Not only are these books fun to read, they’re full of useful tips. I know now to never invite my vampire friends and werewolf friends to the same party! Stephenie Meyer was really looking out for me there! Anyway, Bella has to choose between her vampire lover and werewolf friend - I’m not going to tell you who she chose – but let’s just say the other person is reeeally upset.
AND NOW! The New Upcoming Release: Breaking Dawn
What to expect? It’s hard to say. One thing is for sure: the book will be a lot of fun to read. Meyer has been pretty tight-lipped about the latest installment, but we do know that the first chapter is entitled “Engagement” AKA somebody’s getting married!!
The coolest part of this series is that Stephenie Meyer’s includes playlists to go along with while you’re reading the series. Isn’t that dreamy!? Some of the artists in the playlists include: Muse, My Chemical Romance, Coldplay, Armor for Sleep and Travis, to name just a few.
