Book Tidbits 9

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More interesting stuff I found online:

  • Right on the heels of my guest blogger's review of a young adult novel with a teenage homosexual superhero, I read this news article about a group seeking the right to burn a gay teen novel, Francesca Lia Block's Baby Be Bop. I didn't think one could "sue for the right to burn" a book, nor that burning books was still an option in today's world. I mean, would you seriously burn a book even if you hated it? Brings to mind a very lucid quote I read recently:
    If you resist reading what you disagree with, how will you ever acquire deeper insights into what you believe? The things most worth reading are precisely those that challenge our convictions. ~Author Unknown
  • Ever heard of the novel "The High-Bouncing Lover"? What about "Baa! Baa! Black Sheep"? No? I'd say, thank God for that. Those two were the working titles of The Great Gatsby and Gone With The Wind, respectively. Robert McCrum reveals what goes into coming up with a book title in this article. Lots of fascinating insider info and trivia tidbits. And, apparently, I'm not alone in wondering why Flannery O'Connor named her short story "Everything that rises must converge."

Comments

Peter S. said…
Hi Honey! The bookstore I was telling you about is in St. Francis Square. It's called, ummm, St. Francis Bookstore. Check out the books on their lower level too.
June 15, 2009 at 9:49 PM
Anonymous said…
I disapprove of burning books, but I respect the right to do so. As long as you buy them first!

The advantage of protests like book burnings is that they bring attention to the so called objectionable books. I might never have heard of Baby Be-Bop, and now it is on my radar :-).
June 16, 2009 at 3:43 AM
fantaghiro23 said…
@Peter - Thanks! Will be sure to check it out.

@bookingit - Exactly. Negative publicity is still publicity.:)
June 16, 2009 at 4:13 AM
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