Poring over the Guardian's 1000 novels everyone must read list last week was one of those exercises that left many of us sighing, Marvell-like, "Had we but world enough and time …" The imperative in the series title created a thousand little trade-offs in the head: no, dammit, I still haven't read Vanity Fair, but I did get through Mark Z Danielewski's House of Leaves on a Barbados beach as I was about to turn 40.
It all evoked once again the unanswerable question so often put to readers: "Where on earth do you find the time?" The worry is that the answer might involve some kind of guilty confession. People who genuinely can't find the time to read are not necessarily unequal to the task; more likely they're bringing up children, working late, or cleaning the windows instead of lolling on the sofa turning pages.
Where did I find time to read Middlemarch last year, or the three ... Read more »
Around our neighbourhood at the moment there are a lot of kids sitting exams. Inevitably, the conversation at the kitchen table has been turning to what they're reading. The recent award of the Newbery medal (a major prize) to Neil Gaiman for his children's page-turner The Graveyard Book makes this subject extra topical.
This is a blog by Librarian who lives in New York. I really enjoy books, reading, and everything that has to do with books. I am not just interested in librarianship, I am also interested in all aspect of publishing and bookselling, include bookstores, book conventions, conferences, small presses, and many aspects of the publishing indusry. You might say, I am obsessed with books and everything that surrounds them. I don't just like your average everyday novel or bestseller. I also like graphic novels, coffee table books, science fiction books, science fiction art books, fantasy books, books on social networking, and books on clean technology. Sometimes I go off on a tangent like clean technology, green economics, and renewable energy. I am fascinated by the idea of a clean technology future and like to worldbuild what it might look like. I am not so much interested in the environment, but a future with clean air, clean technology, and a positive, healthy, vibrant world. I am strong be
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A Library clerk ('drone') writes about interesting, unusual and noteworthy books which have recently passed under my scanner. I don't so much 'review' books as 'present' them-- I tell you just enough to give you a sense of what the book is like and if it would interest you.
For all books discussed, I provide links to Worldcat, an international meta-search engine for public libraries so you can check it out as well as links to Powell's Bookstore in Portland Oregon if you would prefer to buy books from an ethical, responsible bookseller that genuinely cares about readers and authors.
There is also a lively comments section where you are encouraged to discuss the featured books or any ideas or concerns you have. And The Thin Red Line is a Do Follow blog-- if you leave a comment it will improve your stats.
