Welcome back for another book news round-up.
- Should authors censor their own works at bookstore readings? A Framingham, MA bookstore asked Jennifer Weiner to avoid curses and sex-related words when she gave a reading of her new book, Best Friends Forever. Weiner did comply with the bookstore’s request, but the question remains: if the author’s audience is aware of the book’s content (and fine with it), should the author be asked to hold back?
- Reclusive author Thomas Pynchon has released a new book. Inherent Vice is Pynchon’s latest offering and it’s been getting rave reviews from journalists and bloggers across the country.
- It’s the best of both worlds: books and ice cream. There’s a Facebook group trying to get Ben & Jerry’s to make a librarian-inspired ice cream flavor. Suggestions include “Gooey Decimal System” and “Rocky Read.”
- It seems even Dumbledore’s expertise extends beyond the grave. The non-profit Harry Potter Alliance uses examples from the popular book series to inspire their social activism. Members are encouraged to ask themselves: “What would Dumbledore do?“
- Don’t blame the dog! This time, the Kindle ate his homework. A 17-year-old high school student is suing Amazon.com for the lose of the notes he made in his Kindle. The student was one of the many customers who had their copies of 1984 deleted from their Kindles, which also affected the electronic notes he had made for a summer reading assignment.
- SAT prep just got a whole lot cooler. Instead of slogging through boring vocabulary drills, students can now just read Twilight. A new book, Defining Twilight takes readers through Bella and Edward’s story while highlight 600 words that might been found on SAT tests. Romance and vocab – it’s a match made in vampire-human heaven.
- Apple.com is showing the new trailer for the film adaptation of Alice Sebold’s best-seller, The Lovely Bones. If the movie can live up to the book and the trailer, it should be a great adaptation.
- Lastly, director Peter Berg is pondering a new film adaption of Frank Herbert’s beloved sci-fi classic Dune. The 1984 film version, with “actor” Sting, didn’t go well at the box office, but has a cult-like status among avid fans. And in 2000, the Sci-Fi television channel made a fairly well-received mini-series. Personally, given the scope and breadth of Herbert’s world, I think yet another adaptation isn’t the wisest idea.
