Total Boox is hoping to make its mark on the e-reading market by offering a new pay as you go model. Think of it as a toll both for e-books and as with most drivers these days you pay for your pass upfront. Here's how it works: If you read 10% of the book you pay 10% of the full retail price, etc. I'm not sure what to make of the tagline - Read Books Rather Than Buy Them - perhaps Buy The Words Not The Books is more appropriate. I'm also a bit skeptical regarding its direct to consumer application since for most books one...
In the Stacks: World War I propaganda posters at the Harry Ransom Center
War bonds. Feed the guns! Thomas, Bert, 1915 It was supposed to be the “the war to end war” but unfortunately it wasn't. And in addition to the horror of the battlefield (ten million men killed) WWI also featured a battle of propaganda. Thanks to its newly digitized collection of over 100 propaganda posters from WWI the Ransom Center gives us a front row seat to the battle to win the hearts and minds of the American people and its allies as well as the enemy attempts to do the same. Keep these off the U.S.A. Buy more liberty bonds. John Norton, ca. 1917 The...
Picturing the Record Collector: Dust & Grooves by Eilon Paz
Born out of his successful website of the same name photographer Eilon Paz has now collected a healthy sampling of his portraits of record collectors from around the world in his debut book; Dust and Grooves: Adventures in Record Collecting. 130 vinyl collectors are featured, each in the friendly confines of their record rooms. The first section of the books focuses on the visuals while the second part features 12 in-depth interviews which lets us in as to "what motivates record collectors to keep digging for more records." Joe Bussard: King of the 78s As to the success and important role...
The Most Challenged Books in our Schools and Libraries for 2013
At first glance you might think it was a list of some of the better selling books but these are the top 10 most frequently challenged books at American libraries and schools for 2013. The list is compiled by the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom and from the over 300 challenges across the country in 2013 these are the top 10. 1. Captain Underpants (series) by Dave Pilkey Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited for age group, violence 2. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence 3. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian...
Poetry from Portland – Part 2: Tavern Books
Founded by Carl Adamshick and Michael McGriff, Tavern Books is a publisher dedicated to "printing, promoting, and preserving works of literary vision." They are well aware that books are more than words and pay close attention to the design and printing in an effort to "create books that are exceptionally beautiful and a joy to hold. " They commission original artwork for every title they publish, and rightly believe that "the dialog between image and text is an essential, meaningful element of a reader’s experience." Both Adamshick and McGriff are accomplished poets in their own right who along with the Dickman twins, Michael...