A Book Patrol exclusive: Scratch n' Sniff this image for“A combination of grassy notes with a tang of acids anda hint of vanilla over an underlying mustiness."I don’t know about you, but when I have difficulty falling asleep at night, I reach for the latest issue of Analytical Chemistry. Take it from me, counting volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is far more effective than counting sheep.A recent issue, however, jumped out of my hands, conked me on the noggin, and made my nostrils itch.“A combination of grassy notes with a tang of acids and a hint of vanilla over...
New ILAB Website Makes Unofficial Debut
The International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB)’s website redesign is now live on the Internet.In an open letter to visitors, ILAB President, Adrian Harrington, said:“After eight years with essentially the same website, we at ILAB have decided to give it a whole new look, with greatly improved and deeper content. It will have a far greater selection of what the ILAB website has always provided: the best rare books in the World, supplied by the World’s best rare booksellers. Over the coming months you will see a great variety of news articles, bookseller interviews and scholarly pieces being added to...
Harlequin Goes Soft On Hard-Boiled
Those who know Harlequin Books only as a major publisher of romance novels will be startled to learn that it has a shady past: It once issued pulp-noir in the murky post-WWII era.Last October they reissued six titles from their Top Secret vault as their Mini-Series Vintage Collection. Hats off.The series’ genesis was as a hip art project in celebration of Harlequin’s 60th Anniversary. The assignment, according to Executive Editor Marsha Zinberg in Harlequin's blog, was to piggy-back onto the success of a recent a 60th Anniversary art exhibition featuring vintage paperback covers from Harlequin's origins and “choose six books...
Jonathan Littell Wins 2009 Bad Sex in Fiction Award
U.S. writer Jonathan Littell has now added Literary Review's Bad Sex in Fiction award to the honors bestowed upon his 900-page novel, The Kindly Ones, an international best-seller and recent winner of the Goncourt prize, France's highest honor to the author of "the best and most imaginative prose work of the year." The winner was announced last night in London.The awards were established by the editors to “gently dissuade authors and publishers from including unconvincing, perfunctory, embarrassing or redundant passages of a sexual nature in otherwise sound literary novels.” They are annually awarded to the author who produces the worst,...
Reading Is No Bed of Roses On This Bed
If you thought the Tempurpedic™ mattress was the last word on healthy and comfortable rest, the Swedish have produced a sharp alternative based upon an old, tried and true style of torturous relaxation.Welcome back the bed of nails, 21st century-style.Power-napping at the office. Note that books can be propped upfor reading by carefully inserting them within the spikes.Caution: Always take care when turning pages.Those who enjoy reading while reclining, particularly at bedtime, may find that the new nail beds require a period of adjustment before curling up with a good book can begin. Words on the page assaulting the eyes...