Image: FlavorWire
The Book Booth is a weekly feature at The Political Carnival, relating news, notes, and reflections from the world of books and publishing. @SeattleDan, along with his wife, @SeattleTammy, are operators of both an on-line bookstore here, as well as a brick and mortar storefront mini-store in Hoquiam, WA at 706 Simpson Ave (Route 101 South). Both have been in the book business since shortly after the Creation, or close to 6000 years now.
It's not often my little town gets national news attention, but it managed this week. We had, as it turns out, over eight inches of rain over a twenty-four period, causing much flooding and mudslides that move some houses off their foundations and other precariously perched. SeattleTammy and I were lucky. We had some minor basement flooding. But driving around town, there was mud everywhere and standing water that the drainage system could not handle. I've never quite seen anything like it. I wanted to thank everyone who expressed concern over the past week and assure all that we are fine. Tired, but fine.
Well, 2015 is upon us. And it looks like we'll be getting some great books published this year. The Millions has this preview of up-coming titles, including works by Mo Yan and Thomas McGuane, among many others. Browse these!
New Books in 2015
For the folks among you who prefer visual stimulation, Bustle notes the following film adaptations that will be released this year. Yeah, we have our 50 Shades of Gray, but The Martian looks very interesting, as do some of the others.
Books Adapted to Film - Read 'Em First!
In the It's about Time department, it seems that novelist (and perennial possible Nobel Prize winner), Haruki Murakami is about to embark on an advice column. A sort of Dear Abby for his readers.
Haruki Murakama As Dear Abby
Perhaps it is a career path that T.S. Eliot should have chosen. Flavorwire offered up some Eliot quotations for those who need inspiration and enlightenment. And don't take any wooden nickels! Buy low, sell high!
Let Us Go Then, You and I...
The studies continue that show that, in fact, reading is very, very good for you. The BBC recently had this article on how we read ourselves "happy". H/T to Lucian for sending this onto me. Read books, be happy, to paraphrase Mr. McFerrin.
If you are needing a laugh, take a look at this letter E.B. White wrote to an officious bureaucrat concerning his pet dachshund. And H/T to my friend Naka Oh for passing this along.
E.B.White
And if you enjoyed Adam Mansbach's Go the F**k to Sleep, you just may be amused by some Russian nursery rhymes guaranteed to make you laugh. Or feel suicidal. This book looks like a lot of fun.
Russian Optimism
It was recently the anniversary of the birth of fantasist J.R.R. Tolkien, who would have celebrated his 123rd birthday on January 3rd. Over at HuffPo, Todd Van Lulling came up with five things you may not have known about him. Though I'm sure my good friend John Miller knows these things, don't you, John?
The Little Known J.R.R. Tolkien
The fascination with pulp fiction continues. Last week we included a link to a New Yorker article on old mass markets. This week Wendy Smith at The Daily Beast has this appreciation of these cheap classics.
Classics as Mass Market Paperbacks - Pulp Fiction!
Finally, if you are looking for a short read this weekend, author Sarah Gerard had these picks of the best short novels. And I concur with her choices of Joseph Conrad and Denis Johnson. Take a look here.
Looking for a short read? You've come to the right place.
So what books are you looking forward to reading this year? And what book is on top of your to be read pile? Let us know and try to have a warm and dry weekend.
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