One of the largest collections of John Updike material in private hands has hit the market.The collection, which was amassed over a 30 year period consists of:126 Signed works,267 “A” items representing almost 90% of his primary publication titles,Extensive “B” items and numerous other appearances, including a 29 year (1980-2009) run of his “New Yorker” work.Two signed letters from Updike and multiple uncorrected proofs.Highlights of the collection include: Dance of the Solids, inscribed.Earthworm, first and second state.Lovelorn Astronomer.The Angels.Bath After Sailing.Rabbit, Run, First Edition.A Rabbit Omnibus, twvo volumes signed.Chaste Planet, signed.Couples, first edition review copyDog’s Death, framed and signed.Carpentered Hen.Flying...
High School Locker Is Banned Books Library
A U.S. student at an unnamed private school has created an illegal lending library in the locker adjacent to hers to serve the interest of fellow students in books banned from the student curriculum by zealous school officials.Anxious that she may be subverting her future success in life by current criminal activity and seeking guidance from the wise, she posted her dilemma on Yahoo! Answers:“Is it OK to run an illegal library from my locker at school?“Let me explain.“I go to a private school that is rather strict. Recently, the principal and school teacher council released a (very long) list...
Meet Ninomiya-kun, the Book-Reading Robot
It is 1 meter tall and weighs in at 25 kilograms, it is the brainchild of Kitakyushu National College of Technology and Shanghai Jiao Tong University.He "reads by training its camera eyes on printed materials placed on a special book stand. Character recognition software installed on a computer in the robot’s backpack translates the text into spoken words, which are produced by a voice synthesizer"Here it is reading some fairy tales:After a little more tweaking "the robot will be ready to read books to children and the elderly for a living"Now that is one glorified audiobook. Shouldn't it be reading...
On Spines and Memories
"Scan your bookshelves. Consider the spines. Connect one to a specific memory. It's easy."This is how, noted designer and creative director of Marquand Books, Ed Marquand kicks off his short essay On Spines and Memories, the first volume in a new series by Marquand Editions.On how important a spine's design is to the whole of the book Marquand says "The spine becomes the most familiar part of a book after it is slid into a bookcase, but it is often designed in haste"The series will feature essays from writers, publishers, curators and the like and will focus on the various...
Kindle Sighting
The picture above shows a book reader existing peacefully with a Kindle reader while they ride the bus.With all the hype surrounding the Kindle I have yet to see one in public and this is one of the first images I've seen of one out in the world. And to boot it was taken on mass transit. Is mass acceptance far behind?Image via Narisa Spaulding (@narisas) of SeattleThanks to @emersonsalon for the lead