Posts Tagged: ‘Books’

December 11, 2012

Mark Twain: On Film, 1909

There is something amazing – and a little creepy – about seeing Mark Twain on film. Paris Review:

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was first published on December 10, 1884, in England. It remains one of the most-challenged American novels. In its honor, a 1909 Edison film of Mark Twain, taken at his home, Stormfield, in Connecticut.

Happy Birthday (yesterday, anyway), Huckleberry Finn. First edition cover:

Bonus Twain quote, from his 1897 travelogue, Following the Equator, and, more specifically, from the chapter epigraphs under the heading “Pudd’nhead Wilson’s New Calendar” and “The Pudd’nhead Maxims”:

THE PUDD’NHEAD MAXIMS

THESE WISDOMS ARE FOR THE LURING OF YOUTH
TOWARD HIGH MORAL ALTITUDES. THE AUTHOR
DID NOT GATHER THEM FROM PRACTICE, BUT
FROM OBSERVATION. TO BE GOOD IS NOBLE;
BUT TO SHOW OTHERS HOW TO BE GOOD
IS NOBLER, AND NO TROUBLE.
 

The quote (finally):

“Everyone is a moon, and has a dark side, which he never shows to anybody.”

Extra Bonus: Random found on the internet essay on Twain.

 

Posted by Thom

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December 6, 2012

Welcome to Book Mountain

We know you like books, because, well, you’re here. We also you like weird stuff, because, well, you’re here. Behold, Book Mountain!

Click to View Video

No, it’s not Disneyland’s latest mountain-themed attraction but literary hounds might consider it the Happiest Place on Earth. You won’t find any bobsleds or animatronic animals at Bibliotheek Spijkenisse, the new public library located outside of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, but you will find books. Lots of ‘em.

Dubbed “Book Mountain” by its creators at the Dutch design firm MVRDV, this temple of tomes features over 70,000 titles and what could be the world’s biggest bookcase. The library opened earlier this fall.

It’s an architectural marvel that’s drawn headlines from around the world. On the outside, the library looks like a glass pyramid. Inside, bookworms can search for works across five floors or grab a cup of coffee in a cafe located on the apex.

Posted by BRI

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October 2, 2012

Best Bathroom Library Ever


Uncle John started panting like a dog when he saw these.

These were taken by photographer Joshua Simpson—and are published here with his permission. (Thank you very much, Joshua!)

They show the bathroom/library in the New York City apartment of author Michael Cunningham, best known for his Pulitzer Prize winning 1988 novel The Hours.

Hey! We can think of a book that would look perfect in there…

Posted by Thom

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September 22, 2012

Bookbinding Tutorial With Pics

This is so cool. We found this wandering ’round the intertubes the other day, and got in contact with the guy who made it, artist James Darrow. He gave us permission to post it here. (Thank you, Mr. Darrow!) It is just so nicely done, very understandable, and besides giving you a how-to for what would be a very special gift for someone—even yourself—it has the added bonus of giving you the basics on how books are made. We approve!

Take it away, James:

There’s more at the link (and don’t worry about the name – deviantArt is just a site for artists to sell their work, and it’s suitable for all ages), including thorough information on the materials and tools used.

Thank you once again, James Darrow.

Posted by Thom

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July 8, 2012

Congratulations, John Scalzi

Author, blogger, philosopher, TV smart guy, and pie-eater Mr. John Scalzi has earned himself a very nice writeup in the New York Times for his latest book, Redshirts.

Something is terribly funky about the starship Intrepid.

New crew members come to realize that on the frequent “away missions,” some lowly ensign always seems to die a horrible and oddly hackneyed death. By Borgovian land worms. Longranian ice sharks. That kind of thing.

Anyone who grew up on “Star Trek” or its descendants can figure out what’s going on in “Redshirts.” That is, until things get even funkier.

Which is to say that this is a John Scalzi novel, and a reader must expect the unexpected, including a surprising emotional punch as the story unfolds, reconfigures and steps outside itself. Cory Doctorow, an author of science fiction and a friend of Mr. Scalzi’s, called it “a deeply sneaky book — in the best way.”

Sounds good to us!

John has written articles for the BRI many times over the years, we are pleased to say, and he was the sole author of Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Book of the Dumb. So we were very happy to to see him make the “paper of record,” as he notes – congratulations! Can’t wait to read the book!

Note: If you’re not a regular reader of John’s blog – Whatever – or his Twitter feed – well you can be now.

Posted by Thom

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July 7, 2012

“Gabriel García Márquez’s writing career ended by dementia”

A very sad story from The Guardian:

The Nobel prizewinning author Gabriel García Márquez is suffering from senile dementia and can longer write, his brother has revealed.

Jaime García Márquez told students in Cartagena, Colombia, that his older brother, affectionately know as Gabo, calls him on the telephone to ask basic questions.

“He has problems with his memory. Sometimes I cry because I feel like I’m losing him,” he said.

The 85-year-old Colombian writer won the Nobel prize in 1982 and is best known for novels including One Hundred Years of Solitude, Love in the Time of Cholera and Chronicle of a Death Foretold.

He has fought a long battle against lymphatic cancer which he contracted in 1999 and it is believed that the cancer treatment has accelerated his mental decline.

If you haven’t read it already – do yourself the great favor.

Posted by Thom

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June 27, 2012

Publisher Prints Books With Disappearing Ink

You’ve got two months to read them – or they’re blank:

Ad agency Draftcb has won gold at the Cannes PR Lions for an innovative publishing concept, using disappearing ink to print books that gradually fade away over the course of two months. Dubbed “The Book That Can’t Wait,” the format — an intriguing one in a world increasingly dominated by Kindles and Nooks — is being pioneered by independent Argentinian publishing house Eterna Cadencia, which is using it to promote new authors. As the promo video (below) points out, “if people don’t read their first books, they’ll never make it to a second.”

The specially-developed ink used in the books works via a chemical process, starting to disappear as it comes into contact with light and air.

Via.

Posted by Thom

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May 8, 2012

RIP, Maurice Sendak

*****

****

Posted by Thom

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December 14, 2011

EBooks and Mobile App Announcement!!!

For 25 years, millions of loyal fans have enjoyed Uncle John’s Bathroom Readers from the comfort of their thrones. Now, you can take these great books with you wherever you go, thanks to the release of nine classic titles in the eBook format, as well as a brand new Bathroom Reader app. Your favorite articles, strange facts, weird news, funny quotes and clever wordplay can be right at your fingertips. With article lengths ranging from pit stops to long-hauls, these books are the perfect addition to any eBook library.

Ready to Order

Check out these great titles, now available at on Kindle and iBooks—coming soon to Nook, Blio and other eBook retailers.

  • Uncle John’s Endlessly Engrossing Bathroom Reader
  • Uncle John’s Unsinkable Bathroom Reader
  • Uncle John’s Ahh-Inspiring Bathroom Reader
  • Uncle John’s Supremely Satisifying Bathroom Reader
  • Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Wonderful World of Odd
  • Uncle John’s Presents the Book of the Dumb
  • Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Golden Plunger
  • Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Plunges Into Texas
  • Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Tees Off on Golf

 

‘Appy Times Are Here Again

The all-new Bathroom Reader mobile app has finally arrived. Available for iPhones/iPads (version 2.0, new and improved!) and Android devices (brand new version 1.0), this app will give you a daily dose of the best of what Uncle John has to offer. You never know what’ll pop up: One day it might be a dumb crook, the next day, a popular myth from history debunked. With one click you can share your favorite Uncle John’s facts via email, Twitter, and Facebook. You can even enable push notifications to get daily facts or the weekly article sent directly to your home screen without having to open the app. And when you need a bit of bathroom humor, go ahead and squeeze the little yellow ducky—he’ll fart. (How many other apps can make you smarter and make fart noises?)

But that’s not all. The Bathroom Reader app provides you a direct link with Uncle John’s blog (which, if you haven’t seen it in a while, is really taking off). You’ll be instantly connected with the latest weird news stories from around the world. You’ll also be first in line to hear about new releases, sales, contests, giveaways, and whatever other weird stuff we come up with. (We cant’ stop ourselves sometimes.)

The Bathroom Reader app is available now and can be purchased on iTunes, The Android Market, and Amazon.com for $1.99. (And holy cow! What a great and affordable idea for a Christmas present! …)

Posted by BRI

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November 12, 2011

Porn Star Reads Kids’ Books at Elementary School

“Now children, this is called Pat The Bunny“:

Porn legend Sasha Grey was a guest reader at Emerson Elementary School in Compton, California earlier this month, joining first and third grade students in their Read Across America day. Grey certainly enjoyed the experience, tweeting, “Spent the am with Read Across America Compton, reading to the sweetest 1st & 3rd grade students @ Emerson Elementary!”

The problem, TMZ reports, is that parents aren’t happy — and that school officials, instead of addressing the issue, are claiming it never happened. Of course, it’d be silly for Grey to tweet about it if it hadn’t happened, and more importantly, TMZ has a photo of the event (as they always seem to do).

Other children’s book favored by porn stars everywhere: Pinkalicious; Where is Baby’s Belly-Button?; Kitten’s First Full Moon; Open the Barn Door, Find a Cow; The Very Hungry Caterpillar; and Sheep in a Jeep. (We don’t know what that last one means either. But it sounds naughty.)

And the #1 porn-ready kids’ book of all time:

Harold and the Purple Crayon.

We’re sorry.

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Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader’s HOLIDAY SALE – 30% of all books (here’s the latest!) – goes through December.

Posted by Thom

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