Hello, everyone! Another Monday is here bringing a new week, I've been reading some interesting news and I enjoy very much the funny books theme. But, for the time being, let's see what happened in the literary world the previous week.
- The 2014 Nebula Awards Winners have been announced by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Among the winners are Jeff VanderMeer for his novel Annihilation and Nancy Kress for her novella Yesterday's Kin. Also, the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction was awarded to Ali Smith for her sixth novel How to be Both. You can watch the winner announcement here.
- One of the things that have divided the literary world is the distinction between literary and genre fiction. In this talk, authors Neil Gaiman and Kazuo Ishiguro, try to find the answer why, by talking about the politics of storytelling.
- Ursula K. Le Guin posted recently on Book View Cafe, asking all of the readers to stop buying books from Amazon. She argues that Amazon takes no risks, that's why it's ideal book is a safe commodity. Does Amazon really influence the way the books are written and which books are read?
- A library in Japan, in order to promote the establishment, has planned a book dominoes event, where they will try to break the world record. But this has caused controversy because some believe it is disrespectful towards the books. The event will be held on July 12th.
- The past week the internet was full of the news that a fourth Fifty Shades of Grey book will be published from the point of view of Christian Grey. The book is due on June 18th, Christian's birthday.
- A first edition of The Hobbit with a Tolkien's elvish inscription was sold for the record price of £137,000. The first estimate was only £50,000-£70,000.
- Georgette Heyer has been honoured with an English Heritage blue plaque at her birthplace, in Wimbledon. Famous fans and family gathered to honour the queen of Regency romances.
- A group of scientists, drawn to The Lord of the Rings, make thorough scientific studies about the conditions and races in Middle Earth. Some of the studies include if there is higher Oxygen content and the mental illness of Gollum.
- Readers and experts have voted the most evil child book characters of all time. The list was compiled by the online bookshop Abebooks.
- This week's Reading Book Post has two quizzes. With the first you can find out in which dystopian world you would survive. I got Panem. The second informs you of your age depending on your literary tastes. According to this quiz, I'm a teen.
Nice post!!
ReplyDeleteAnd yaa the fourth book in Fifty Shades! Grey!- So, have you read this series? And are you excited for the fourth book?
Thank you!
DeleteI haven't read the Fifty Shades trilogy, I fear that I'll be disappointed. I might read this fourth, from the POV of Christian. Generally, the books I've read with BDSM were the ones of Marquis de Sade and Hotel Iris by Yoko Ogawa.
I will gladly read Good Omens again. In fact it may be a good time to read Good Omens again. I once did a funny book theme too; it was everything on my reading list for about three years right after college.
ReplyDeleteI'll be happy to hear what you think about Good Omens when I finally write the review :)
DeleteFunny books it's a nice theme, especially after the Japanese theme, in which all of the books were emotional roller-coasters!
I DNF 1st book of Shades of Gray series. I am surprised the series has a lot of fans to warrant a movie adaptation. And now a 4th book! Maybe BDSM is just not my interest?
ReplyDeleteI took the first test and I got The Divergent World.
Visiting your blog is becoming my weekly habit. Awesome roundup of bookish news! :)
I'm not quite sure on how much BDSM it actually has. Anyway, I might pick up this fourth purely out of curiosity.
DeleteThank you so much for your kind comment :)
I took both tests. The results say I am in my 20's and I would survive in the Divergent world. Considering I would be Erudite and I am actually on my 20's, I'd like to think both of the results are true. Thanks for sharing the quizzes. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's great! I'm 25 and I got a teen, but that's a good thing :)
DeleteOhh great article and great articles mentioned.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine that the book domino event is getting controversy. On the one hand it would be amazing if they would do it (hopefully with different sizes), but on the other hand, I feel sorry for the books.
Most of the evil kids list have unknown characters to me, it is interesting they didn't add some characters, though given what we learn, I can imagine Malfoy not making it.
For the quizzes: I got The Society (Matched). For the other one: I am apparently in my 40s according to that. :D
Thank you :)
DeleteI find this domino fascinating! I mean, how could it harm the books? Plus the library this is taking place is so beautiful! I wish there was a library like that where I live.
I knew some of the children characters, but not all of them. The Stephen King characters are really evil.
Hm, I'd love to have a signed book by Tolkien, especially such a rare edition of The Hobbit, but SO MUCH MONEY! Think of all the books you could buy with it! :)
ReplyDeleteAh, I haven't heard about the 50 Shades news yet... Interesting, to say the least :)
A Tolkien's first edition is a dream, although it would cost a lot.
DeleteIt's interesting because Christian Grey would get some character development. :)