For Your Consideration…
The incomparable Midori Snyder, award-winning novelist and co-editor of THE mythic arts website, Endicott Studio, published an incredibly interesting post the other day concerning The Literary Tattoo. I recommend a detour at this point to read that post before returning here.
I have certainly considered getting a tattoo in the past and if I ever did so the idea of some reference to a beloved book is a great one. In her post she highlighted a project that takes the literary tattoo to another level.
Skin is a project by author Shelley Jackson. From her site:
“Writer Shelley Jackson invites participants in a new work entitled “Skin.” Each participant must agree to have one word of the story tattooed upon his or her body. The text will be published nowhere else, and the author will not permit it to be summarized, quoted, described, set to music, or adapted for film, theater, television or any other medium. The full text will be known only to participants, who may, but need not choose to establish communication with one another.”
Images above are taken from her site. This work is a 2,095 word short story. I find myself in awe once again at the creativity of the human mind. What an interesting idea.
This really got me to thinking. Would I agree to participate in this kind of project for an author and/or book that I particularly love. And for me the answer was a resounding ‘yes’! In fact I mentioned in the comments of Midori Snyder’s post that if Neil Gaiman was taking volunteers to do a similar project with Stardust or Neverwhere, or even an as yet unwritten story, I don’t think I would hesitate for a moment to sign up. I already feel like so many of us are a part of that global community, but imagine being a part of something like this.
What about you? What are your thoughts on this project and if you would be willing to do this sort of thing what story/author would you get inked to be a part of?
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For Your Consideration…
It is no secret that the educational system in America, and perhaps elsewhere, is in need of a drastic overhaul. Discussions spring up all over the internet regarding required reading in schools, how children should be taught, etc. They are interesting discussions that provide for a wide range of opinions and proffered solutions. Listening to NPR today I heard this interview with a father whose new book, The Film Club, describes how he decided to take the education of his son in an entirely different direction.
From the interview:
“When David Gilmour’s 16-year-old son Jesse was failing out of school, Gilmour offered him a deal: Jesse could drop out of school, but only if he watched three movies a week with his dad. David and Jesse Gilmour tell their story of unconventional home-schooling in a new memoir, Film Club.
Gilmour describes the three years of watching movies with his son as “a magic time that a father doesn’t usually get to have so late in a teenage boy’s life … A lucky break for both of us.”
I can already hear the collective groans of educators everywhere! Before you judge too harshly, take the time to listen to the archived interview. At the very least, if you are a lover of film, you will find these two gentlemen to be kindred spirits.
And Neal Conan is just a fantastic interviewer with a great radio voice. Talk of the Nation should be on your radar for regular listening.
What are your thoughts either on this specific idea or on education in general? Is there room in the American educational system, or in the educational system of your country, for a more individualized approach to learning? Does anyone have examples of ways schools are already doing this? I would be very interested in hearing about them.
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For Your Consideration…
Speaking of NPR, you really ought to spend a little more of your time listening to this interview, from the program Fresh Air, with author and co-founder of Hard Case Crime, Charles Ardai.
Edgar Award-winning author and editor Charles Ardai teamed with Max Allan Collins (writer of the acclaimed graphic novel Road to Perdition among other works) to “bring…back into print the best work of the pulp era and by introducing readers to new work by some of today’s most powerful writers and artists”.
From the Hard Case Crime website:
“From World War II through the 1960s, paperback crime novels were one of the fastest-selling categories in book publishing. Millions of readers snapped up hundreds of millions of books by well-known authors like Erle Stanley Gardner and Mickey Spillane, as well as by promising young writers like Lawrence Block, Elmore Leonard, and Donald Westlake. Today, Block, Leonard, and Westlake still make the bestseller lists with each new hardcover — but the pulp novels that first captured the public’s imagination weren’t hardcovers. They were paperbacks you could fit in your back pocket, with jaw-dropping cover paintings and bare-knuckled prose that grabbed you by the collar with the first sentence and held you until the last page. No one’s published books like that in years.
Until now. ”
Terry Gross conducted a fascinating interview with Charles Ardai, who has written for Hard Case Crime under the anagram pseudonym Richard Aleas. In the interview he talks at length about his own creation, John Blake, and answers questions about Hard Case Crime and how now appears to be the time for a resurgence of this brand of pulp noir fiction. It was a fantastic interview in which Ardai discusses how he managed to get contemporary pulp artist Glen Orbik and legendary illustrator Robert McGinnis, among others, to recreate pulp era art for the covers of their books. (An aside: feel free to go back and visit, or revisit, my old Friday Favorite post about Robert McGinnis).
(cover by Glen Orbik)
Contrary to their expectations, Hard Case Crime is about to publish their 50th novel. As a nod to that milestone they decided that Charles Ardai would write a novel, called Fifty-to-One, that is 50 chapters long. Each chapter will be named after the title of a previously published Hard Case Crime book. It is admittedly a gimmick and yet Ardai is attempting to write a serious crime noir novel with a dash of humor. I find the concept quite interesting and will definitely be picking up a copy of this when it comes out.
I am not sure I really have a true question to ask with this one. I just find pulp fiction art so cool and the idea of this small press publisher (ties into the recent Book Week post) so entertaining that I wanted to include this interview in today’s post.
Anyone out there a fan of noir or pulp fiction? Has anyone, besides me, picked up any of the Hard Case Crime novels either to read or to collect the cover art or both? Why do you think this type of fiction is managing to find a successful comeback now, in today’s climate?
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And finally,
For Your Consideration…
Book Porn. For virgins to the terminology this phrase was coined or appropriated by, I assume, book bloggers, and for the purposes of this post is defined as “pictures of one’s more recent book purchases that act as evidence of one’s lack of self-control and succumbing to temptation.” This definition can also be expanded to include “books received as gifts, books won in various contests or giveaways, free review copies of books, or books that magically appear from another dimension to a specially chosen individual destined to save humanity from chaos and destruction”.
The purpose of Book Porn is to “promote a shared love of books, to publicly acknowledge the generosity of others, to comply with step one of Booklover’s Anonymous which is to admit that you have a problem, and to encourage others to take a look at one’s books as there may be something there that may entice someone else into making a book purchase, thus spreading book addiction across the whole wide world”.
Okay, so that is what Book Porn means to me anyway. Chris over at Stuff As Dreams was mentioning the other day that we as a community of Book Bloggers have gotten away from posting our dirty pictures as of late and that he would like to see a return to form. Many of us have tried to exercise a modicum of self-control since the beginning of 2008 and it could be deduced that the lack of recent Book Porn posts means that we are all being very good indeed. The reality is more likely that we are all embarrassed and are trying to cover our sins.
I am calling you out.
Here are mine:
The graphic novel collection of Zombies vs. Robots vs. Amazons. I really enjoy this series by Chris Ryall and Ashley Wood. Although this series at times pushes the limits of my tastes, by and large I do enjoy it and I am a big fan of Wood’s art. Plus these are enormously oversized hardbacks and are a joy to look at.
The latest Hellboy graphic novel and the recently released Volume One of the Absolute-type reprinting of Mike Mignola’s Hellboy series. The stories in this volume are among my favorite and this edition is gorgeous. Review will be coming up soon.
Comic book creator Mike Allred and his colorist wife Laura Allred put out some of the most eye-catching art in comics today. Allred is back working with his signature creation, Madman, and was also the feature of the indescribably well done Modern Masters art series. A review of these are coming up soon as well.
The Adventures of Landgon St. Ives is a review copy that Subterranean Press sent me. Though I won’t count it now I have a nice collectible version of this coming when it gets released later this year. I am a big fan of James Blaylock’s work and I look forward to reading this. In the Cities of Coin and Spice was a whim purchase because of the fantastic cover and cover blurbs. I have heard great things about this series and am anxious to get started with it.
These were all bargain purchases from a recent comic book convention here in town. I got this brand new Roy Krenkel art book for half off. It was well worth the $12. I paid a couple of bucks each for these Frank Frazetta-cover illustrated versions of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ classics. Roy Krenkel is an amazing artist and I am anxious to get into this and share my findings with you in a Friday Favorite or book review.
More previously ordered books from ye olde comic shoppe. Two books, one a graphic novel and the other prose, represent the two greatest sword and sorcery literary characters ever.
This delightful looking Orient Express book sports an interesting cover that I really like and it was a gift from my dear friend Pat.
And last but not least is Brian Froud’s World of Faeirie.
Here come the justifications: they were dirt cheap, I got them on sale, I had ordered them months ago, blah, blah, blah.
I really have been good despite how this looks. There Chris, I hope you’re happy! 😉
What do you think of Book Porn posts? Do you find recommendations based on what others around you are showing you in image format on their sites? Do you enjoy posting pics of the books you purchase? Are there any negatives to Book Porn?
I hope you have enjoyed all the items placed before you For Your Consideration. Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!
First of all, I’m drooling all over my keyboard looking at your Hellboy volumes. Wishing I could open them up and take a good, deep look. I got a kick of the “ordered them months ago” excuse. Works for me!
Public education. When my son’s first grade teacher told me she couldn’t teach my son anything else (in February) I flipped. She went on to explain that he has mastered all the expected skills and her time would be better spent on the kids who are struggling, to be in compliance with No Child Left Behind. The worksheets my son is doing are mindless busywork, half of them word searches. But then, the pay off socially, is almost worth it for my son. He sees things in very strict rule sets. For him to learn that not everyone follows his rules, but he can work around it, is priceless. And not something easily taught here at home.
Nearly 2/3 of that first grade class are reading below grade level. Whether they are not getting the practice at home, or the teacher is just too tired to teach, I don’t know. But my son is suffering the effects of mediocrity and catering to the lowest common denominator.
The kids who need help aren’t getting it. The kids who need something a bit more aren’t getting it. And I have been filling the gap for both. I spent hours a week teaching in-depth reading to several of the highest risk readers. With a little one on one time, they really excelled.
Between homework and reading at night, my son spends 7-8.5 hours a day in structured learning time. Which is a bit much for first grader, but that’s what it takes to complete the busywork/homework for a grade,and then actually learn something with me.
If there’s a solution, I’m so mired in my present predicament I can’t see it. All I can do at the moment is supplement worthwhile learning for my own kids.
Wow…that’s a lot to consider!
No tattoo, but definitely would participate in something like the Skin project.
Love book porn. And yes, it does make me go buy more books, but not nearly so much as blogger’s reviews do.
Though NPR is the only station we ever listen to, we rarely catch Fresh Air because of the time it’s on here. But I listen to Talk of the Nation quite a bit. Unfortunately, I missed that interview, and want to thank you very much for the link! I know I’ll find it fascinating. I hate getting political, but I have to agree with Rachael above…NCLB, while a wonderful idea in theory is so incredibly flawed. It’s dumbing down the country…gifted programs are being cut to have the money to put at meeting mandates, and teachers have no time left for helping the kids who need more of a challenge. Obviously, that’s a generalization, and some schools do a better job than others. But NCLB left Annie so far behind, there was nothing to do but pull her out of school. And it’s been so wonderful…and eye-opening! Discovering all the incredible ways that learning occurs. I think Gilmour’s idea was brilliant, and I can’t wait to hear the interview, and probably read the book as well.
wow… that’s a lot of “considering” lol.. I already have a tattoo so I’d probably go along with something there.
As for the schooling thing.. one of my sons was always in what they called “gifted classes” where they put kids who were ahead of the rest of the class. As much as not leaving any kid behind is necessary, you can’t hold the more intelligent kids back either… it’s bad that all schools aren’t set up for all that’s really needed
bookporn: or: how I blew my wad ! hehehe.. gotta love it!
before I forget Coin and Spice is book 2 of that series.. fyi, but I have a feeling you know that) It’s always so cool to see the art work on the actual books when you own the artists books. (I have a number of Frazetta books..all ancient.. but they hold those pictures you show of Burrows books and many more) I would love to own a Froud book.. but I want The World of the Dark Crystal: The Collector’s Edition .. someday I’ll get it. Money being tight, when there is choices to be made about books, many times if I have X amount I know I can spend I will try to get as many of the books I want as I can rather than “just one” for the same price…I think it’s called, trying to justify the money spent lol
Book porn is a good thing.. makes me smile because we all know how it feels to make those purchases! “Joy with a touch of guilt around the edges” ! heh..
In quick consideration, I would say that yes, if someone were doing a project like Snyder’s and it involved The Chronicles of Narnia, I would definitely be in. In fact, perhaps I should consider a tattoo of Aslan or Tumnus anyway . . .
As for the film club, I honestly believe, as a teacher, that if we don’t get creative with our students we’re going to lose them. These folks are visual learners, whether we like that or not, and while I certainly want them to read – and try all kinds of educational bribes to get them to do so – we have to reach them somehow or risk blinding ignorance all around.
Your other two topics – I’m not much into the noir stuff – although it look great.
And I just can’t confess book porn yet – I’ll have to do my own post about that soon. Thanks for the chance to think.
I would definitely do the tattoo for a favorite author…my son thought it was a bit obnoxious – what if you got the word “the”, “a” and then one that was a bit more graphic. If I didn’t get an interesting word I guess I would want the tattoo to be smaller and maybe inconspicuous. I just bought my first Neil Gaiman book a few weeks ago(saw you mention him) and had kept stumbling upon his name just about everywhere else I went online. I bought Neverwhere and was told I should read American Gods. My son had to read Sandman-Season of Mists for his films study class at school.
Funny that you mentioned tattoos…my hubby just asked me if I wanted one for Mother’s Day – of course I said yes. It will be number 4 and it will be my first one that isn’t hidden. While I’m at it I think I will get one other small one, too.
Geesh – book porn! I’m addicted. If it wasn’t for posts, blogs, and the rampant amount of it before my eyes on the web I’d be saving myself a lot of money! 🙂 But then I suppose I wouldn’t be having so much fun! 🙂
I’m afraid i have nothing good to say about the quality of education in the state of Arkansas. Most of the world has the “illiterate hillbilly, bare-foot and pregnant view” of my great state and that seems to be what they are aiming for by gearing classes to lowest common denominator. It’s sad, everyone always wants to know “where i’m from?” because i neither speak or sound like an Arkansan, (except for the lady in the bathroom stall in Cody, Wyoming who was out of toilet paper ^_^ she pegged me as Southeast Missouri after about 5 words. I’m actually Northeast Arkansas) I was suitably impressed!
ahhh, pulp fiction, my dirty little secret. Except that i got the hard-boiled crime novels taken away from me, and elderly friend of my grandparents let me choose a book out of a box, and i chose “Kitten with a Whip” with a lurid blue cover, i was so proud of it! Then my mom shrieked and took it away. Never did get that bloody book back, gonna have to go look for it. I grew up reading Doc Savage, The Shadow and The Avenger pulps, still have most of them, and absolutely adored them. I’ve also collected all the old Edgar Rice Burroughs Pellucidar novels (like your book-porn photos) in the old pulp format, (which are now too decrepit to read) and the newer paperbacks with the fabulous Frazetta artwork!
Sorry, no tattoos, i’ve been threatened to be disowned by my mother if i every get one. Book Porn, oh my, i’ve got a stack of about 25 novels on the edge of the table right now. ^_^ So, happy to hear that Mike Allred has gone back to Madman, that was one of the comic books i always picked up, along with Hellboy. Completely off-subject, so looking forward to the new movie this summer & saw Iron Man at the Friday matinee and think that it’s probably Marvel’s best movie to date. (now ducking from all the SpiderMan fans)
anyhoo, there’s my 2 cents worth! Cheers, later
That article was really interesting! I just love tattoos even though the only one I have is something I did myself when I was a teenager and I keep telling myself I’ll get it covered someday. I’m not sure I would let someone (even one of my favorite authors) ink anything onto me but I guess it would depend on what it is.
Education in general just isn’t so great anymore. School itself is dangerous (a month ago a class of 10 year olds plotted to kill their teacher not too far from where my little brother goes to school) and when I was in school, I had to teach myself in a few classes because the teachers were more interested in being friends with their students than teaching.
I have the Colorado Kid but only because it was by Stephen King did I pick it up. I wasn’t aware that there were actually more books like it though.
Lol! I did a book porn post of something a fellow blogger sent me yesterday.
Oh, I’d totally get inked for a story…especially anything LOTR!
I don’t think I could do it… all I can think of when it comes to tattoos is how silly they’ll look when I’m 90. 🙂
Love the new blog look!
Heather: That is why you put it on your butt so you don’t have to look at it! 😉
Janet: Lord of the Rings would certainly be one I would consider as well.
Ladytink: I will be checking out your book porn post!!! I remember hearing about that plot…that kind of stuff is just ridiculous.
Susan Gist Taylor: Arkansas certainly does have its negative stereotypes. I used to live in Tulsa, OK and heard them much more frequently than I do now in the Kansas City area. That book you picked up as a child sounds hilarious. I am always glad to hear of others who love pulp fiction. I have such nostalgic feelings for these eventhough they were before my time. It sounds like you have a wonderful collection of books and could really do some great book porn pics with them!
I too am glad Allred started up Madman again. You should look into picking up the Modern Masters book on him. They are inexpensive (less than $15) and are full of pages of artwork and a long, intense and in-depth interview covering areas of his life and art. The Modern Masters series are incredibly well done. I agree with your assessment of Iron Man and am glad you enjoyed it. Are you reading BPRD as well? I really enjoy that series too. The Hellboy movie this summer looks like it is going to be fantastic.
Kristen: Cool for you. I hope you enjoy your Mother’s Day gift. I’m not sure it would matter to me what word I got, even an ‘a’ or ‘the’ in the kind of classic type face would be cool if it was a part of a larger story. What I think would make it really interesting is if some symbol would be tattooed next to it that tied into the story…for example with LOTR it could be elven script or a ring or one of the interesting designs from the film like the tree of Gondor. You’ll have to let me know what you think of Neverwhere and of American Gods. Cool for your son, I love hearing about when people study Gaiman for school. He might be really interested in listening to that Film Club interview as they discuss films throughout and it was very interesting.
Andi: I think I would have a hard time being a teacher for a number of reasons not the least of which would be having to be stuck in a box as far as my teaching methods went. That interview is certainly a good one as you can tell that his son is very intelligent and the choices he is now making in his life indicate that he truly has gotten an education. My high school teachers combined film versions of the classics with the reading and I thought it was brilliant. It really opened up authors like Shakespeare and Dickens and others to me…helped me put the language and time periods in context and really went a long way towards developing my love of classic literature and period piece films.
Deslily: that would be a good Froud book to own, no doubt about it. ‘blew my wad’…you crack me up! I love it! I can certainly see the appeal to getting more bang for your buck when it comes to buying books. I know that you have an incredible collection of books and memorabilia Deslily. I would no doubt be drooling all over myself in your home.
Debi: I want to read the book as well. I don’t get to listen to either of those programs on NPR as much as I would like to but I am starting to get in the habit of listening to the archives online if I see something that interests me. I’m so glad they make that available. I thought of you when I listened to that interview knowing what you have done with Annie’s schooling. I feel for both the gifted and less gifted children. I don’t honestly believe that the NCLB initiative is giving lagging students a good education though. I would bet that many of them would also benefit from a more individualized and more creative approach to education. We need to invest heavily in our gifted students as well because of the importance that both gifted and ‘regular’ students have to our future as a nation.
Rachael: Got to use excuses when I can! It is weird with ordering things through the comic shop as you order them a minimum of 3 months in advance and it may be much longer before the books are actually published. You forget about them and all of a sudden they arrive and you’ve got to pay for them! 🙂 I am so sorry to hear about your issues with your son’s education. It is fortunate that you are the kind of parent who is involved but it is unfortunate that they system is so flawed that it cannot address the individual educational needs of children, especially as not all gifted or regular students have parents that can or will get involved with their educations. I think the NCLB plan’s heart is in the right place but it is only one step to solve a much greater problem. I am thankful that I am out of school and that my child is approaching college in a few years.
Just had to pop back to thank you again! I listened to the interview…it was fantastic! I want to get my hands on that book so badly now…bet it will be a great read. Wonder if I can sweet talk Rich into a trip to Barnes & Noble tonight. Annie gave me a gift card yesterday for Teacher Appreciation Day…another benefit of homeschooling 😉
Debi: Awww, that is so sweet. I definitely think your hubbie needs to take you to the bookstore for Teacher Appreciation Day as well! 🙂
Hi, thats an interesting idea for getting inked…I dont think I would do it though. A tattoo is such a permanent thing. I have a tiny one myself, and dont regret getting it, but when I got it, at that time in my life it was right for me. I dont think I’d ever get any more. I’ve seen some book character tatoos…like Dumbledore from H.P….. I would never do that! lol
I just finished reading Colorado Kid by S.K. I enjoyed it, it was my first time reading a Hard Case Crime novel.
About the educational system in our country, I think its not so great. The classes seem overcrowded and the kids arent learning enough, they are falling behind. I make sure to be up to date on my kids homework, always checking on what they are doing with schoolwork, yet some of the work they are being given to complete seems so easy and even simple. They do it, with no problem, its almost like they arent being challenged enough.
It would have to be a pretty cool character for me to want that tattooed on my skin forever. That is why I like the idea of a word or symbol better. That also explains one of the reasons I have never gotten inked myself. Too hard to decide.
Glad to hear that about Colorado Kid. Borders does a really nice job because they keep all the Hard Case Crime books in the exact same section of mystery so that all the titles are together to look at. I much prefer that rather than having to carry an author list with me to Barnes and Noble.
There certainly has to be a balance so that kids are challenged and growth is encouraged.
I would definitely get a tattoo that had to do with my favorite authors. The word has to be in a great font and interesting…
Book porn. Hm, that’s a good word for it. So far this year, I have “acquired” about 40 books. The limit was supposed to be 12, one book a month. I had to buy another bookcase to put them all in. Thanks to blogs, paperbackswap.com, powells, my Yahoo book groups, and amazon.com I can’t help but find out about great books. So my limit is now 60. That’s it, no more…
I have three kids and I do understand about supplementing a child’s education. Recently I was talking to my daughter’s old kindergarten teacher and she was telling me how out of a class of 20 students, only SIX knew their abcs, could identify their names, and write with a pencil. Only six. The teacher was so exhausted. I don’t know if some parents think that school is going to teach their children everything, (education and manners), but it’s starting to feel that way. But at the same time, it’s really not a surprise when education is not a priority in this country and picking up a book or magazine is something that “other” people do.
I’m a complete book whore, pictures or no. I admit it freely.
About the tattoos, I’d do it if the author in question offered to pay for it. Tats are ‘spensive!
I do have one literary inspired tattoo. On my right forearm is a dagger and the banner “Je Suys Encore Vyvant!” Fans of Edgar Rice Burroughs, who have also read Philip Jose Farmer’s “Tarzan Alive!”, should recognize this as the motto of the Ape-Man himself, rendered in French. “I Still LIve!”
Hey Carl…yeah, a word with a LOTR symbol next to it would be WAY COOL – elven script, a ring, etc.-AWESOME!!! 🙂
Deslily – “how I blew my wad!” – too funny! 🙂
Susan, my parents will FREAK when they notice my tattoo, but I’m 40 and think I am capable of making my own choices…ya know? I just want a small(no bigger than a quarter), pale colored(no black outling) cherry blossom on the inside of my left wrist…I think it will be pretty…and then I want a tiny light purple(no black) heart somewhere that I haven’t decided yet.
Heather…I think of how my tattoos will look when I am older too – pretty hard to fathom 90 – I figure if I make it that long I won’t even remember that they are tattoos! 🙂 Actually, even it they’re kind of mushy I hope I’ll be able to remember that when I got them they were special and I thought they were beautiful! 🙂
Vasilly, I’ve seen some very nice gothic fonts. 🙂
Wayne, your tattoo sounds really cool! 🙂
well, i don’t have a tattoo and until this post hadn’t thought about what words i’d want to have on me. Thought so much had to post on it myself!
As for the Hard Case Crime books, i bought and enjoyed the Stephen King one. Those books do a have an advantage of being “anti-girly” and relatively fast reads, which makes them appealing to a big section of the male population.
Funnily enough, I’d never even though of posting pictures of the books I buy online!
I would do now that you’ve mentioned it but my camera is broken. Perhaps when it’s repaired!
Hey Carl, thanks for the heads-up on the Allred Modern Masters book, i’ll have to look for that the next time i make it into town. I’ve got several of the BPRD series, but with my comic shop it’s sorta hit & miss with what comes in and if they remember to put it into your file. I’ll probably wait for them to collect them into graphic novels and then pick up the ones i missed. Nothing like having issue 1 & 3 of a 4 issue series and not being able to locate the others to make your day complete ^_^.
Kristen – about the tattoo, i’m well over 40 and my mom’s 80 & already had open heart surgery once. I don’t want to give her another heart attack ^_^ !! Your’s sounds lovely tho. I may possibly get a small one, but it’s gonna have to be something i really love!!! & after mom can’t see it.
What a great set of things to consider!
Tattooed books – I love the idea of being a part of something like that, but it would have to be a work that I loved for me to join in
Education – I think Rachael was spot-on in her summary of NCLB, it’s so frustrating that everything is taken the down to the level of mediocrity – but I haven’t seen a viable solution. Homeschooling can work for some folks, but that has its own set of challenges. Our daughter starts kindergarten this fall, so it’s gonna be an issue that we’ll have to deal with for the foreseeable future.
Crime Fiction and book porn – My grandpa was a HUGE collector of crime novels from the twenties thru the fifties. A couple of weeks back, I was cleaning out some boxes that we’ve had in storage since he passed away several years ago and I found a box (a big box) of first editions from Dorothy Hughes, James Cain, and Raymond Chandler – serious book porn!
…and I REALLY want the Roy Krenkel book.
Ken: That Roy Krenkel book was such a great find. My friend Jeff already owned it and I had looked through his and when he pulled this out of the bin at the comic convention and showed me that it was 50% ($12!) I was so excited. If he had two I would have bought them both to have one for a giveaway or something.
That is so cool about finding those books of your grandfathers. Not just because they sound like really cool noir books but also because they belonged to him. I would love to see pics of those.
Susan: I really think you’d like that book. I am fortunate as one of my best friends works at my comic shop so getting things pulled for me is never a problem.
Heidi: Get that camera fixed, the pics on your photo site are beautiful.
Melanie: I enjoyed your post. These novels can certainly be described as ‘guy’ fiction but I think the newer ones are making at least some effort to even things up a bit.
At first i was like, ‘I don’t know if i would get a tattoo based on a book . . . ” and then I remembered that in fact I already have two- one is a LOTR-inpsired Nazgul/fellbeast/Maori?New Zealand thing that I got in NZ, and the other is from a children’s story I wrote and a friend of mine is illustrating.
Homie Bear: Yes, you pretty much don’t have a leg to stand on in the ‘no literary tattoo’ camp. 🙂
Hmmm. Book porn? Guess I hadn’t heard that before, but it’s good. And I’m way guilty. I read the Orient Express book some years ago and really enjoyed it – what a way to travel!
I don’t have any tattoos, mainly because my hubby is rabid on the subject. But I’m thinking someday I’ll take the plunge anyway – maybe when I turn 65 – that gives me a few years to prepare him for the shock. But I’m not sure about words – think I’d want something a lot more decorative.
Hellboy, Frazetta’s Tarzan, Cary Nord’s Conan, Madman, Glen Orbik… I’m reminded again on how very similar our tastes are. That’s great you got that neat Hellboy archive. That’s been tempting me; even tho I’ve got all the actual comics from the begining. Also. Glad to hear you liked that Roy Krenkel book.
Wow, your new books are making me crave a book-shopping-spree. And I think I’ve read the ER Burroughs books. Good cheesy Edwardian fun!
Yes we do David, and it is all great stuff!!!
Ella: Yes, the ERB books are quite fun. When I read them I get an extra thrill out of the experience knowing just how long ago they were written and thinking about the time period and the mindset back then.
jlshall: I’m not sure if Chris or Nymeth or Quix…someone I believe in our little community made up the book porn name. I love it, it is so perfect.
Your posts are always so long and entertaining.
1. I would love to get a tattoo on my wrist/back of my neck that is a part of a story. I think that such a project must involve a story that makes you think deeply like something written by Paulo Coehlo. He is one of the more philosophical writers I enjoy very much.
2. This is a really radical idea and it’s certainly unorthodox. Although I am not quite sure whether I fully agree or disagree, I sure think that there should be some change that makes studying more pleasurable. In my country, we are forced into studying too many subjects, which makes us crazy. I want to become a writer or something to do with languages and yet I am forced to learn chemistry, biology, physics and consume volumes of information in just 2 classes a week.
3. I am quite visual and what I enjoy from pulp fiction is the cover art the most. I have not been interested by the story lines as I am more of a fantasy fan. This makes me exclude as an instict the more usual beileveable plot and aim for the paranormal. Although I am curious to obtain some of these titles.
4. I actually do see what works for me and what doesn’t from these posts and I judge a book by its cover, being visually stimulated as I said before I think. In these posts I get a lot of information on books I wouldn’t usually go and search deliberately for. I just go out and hunt for books from other blogs.
Great to hear from you Harry. I haven’t read any Paulo Coehlo but that book of his with the red-headed woman on the cover is very eye-catching. I love that cover.
You’ll have to let me know what country that is Harry, I’m curious. The idea of education and how it is done worldwide certainly needs looking at.
I too am drawn in by the covers but more and more I am wanting to read some of these stories because many are written by very talented and respected authors.
His covers are always interesting. They are just amazing photographs and it’s the cover and the story combined that makes you want to buy the book. His books are relatively short, around 200 pages and can be gulped down in two days as the prose is easy like a breeze, but then the after taste that lingers in your mind from the experience is amazing. He writes with depth.
My country is Bulgaria, small, unimportant and very far behind in development. We have history to vlame for that. I mean spending the Middle Ages in slavery and then being a communist country in total isolation, pretty much makes us way back behind. We are trying to pull forward, but cultural things like books, music, art, book making classes, glass blowing classes, beautiful journals, graphic novels, photography, fiction is all far, far behind.
Education has become hell. First graders study the material that should be taken second grade, second grade for third grade and so on. My sister is in forth grade and studies things that I studied in fifth grade. There are constant exams in the end of 4th, 7th, 10th and 12th grade. To top it off we study 13 subjects: chemistry, biology, physics, history, geography, two languages, literature, math and the arts classes + P.E. Worst part isthat they all think that their subject is the most important one and during test times we get a week where we have 6 tests and loads of projects. Simply draining.
Harry: I certainly enjoy stories that stay with you and won’t let go. I know very little about Bulgaria other than that I assume it is a country awash with history, both good and bad. I’m sorry things are not as up to date as you would like them to be. In the instantaneous world we live in, especially in America, it is easy to take all of our blessings for granted.
School sounds really rough. That is a lot to put on a person and expect them to learn and retain anything. It sounds draining just reading about it, let alone doing it. Usually it isn’t until a person gets well into college that the teachers start acting like theirs is the only class that matters or the only class that a student is taking. I imagine after that kind of educational load you are prepared for anything a career might throw at you!
I know, it’s crappy, but well it’s my home and I got to make what I can from it and see how things develop. Bulgaria developed very well in the early centuries, but well it became an empire and then crumbled.
Well school is a pain in the neck. We look towards college, where things are easier. College is easier to us, since at least we study something we chose and have less subjects! Yey!
And I have worked three years now, summer jobs as a tour guide and have enough experience in tourism to get hired pretty much everywhere. I use both English and German fluently enough, so I am all settled.
Sorry for blabbing around.
No need to apologize, Harry. It is all very interesting. One of the things I love about blogging is learning about other people’s countries. And of course I envy anyone who speaks a second language…not enough to study myself, but I do still envy you/them.
hi carl v.
i don’t think i’d go along with another’s literary project i.e. the tattoo …. i’d probably have a line or two from one of my favorite poems inked permanently upon my skin, instead. I DO love the idea of words being used rather than just images.
As for Film City, this reminded me of a time (long ago) when my very first therapist told me that a friend of hers was severely depressed. He rented a ton of funny movies; sat in his apartment all day with a box of tissues; and laughed his way back from his darkness. I always loved that idea … laughter as healing. And think of all those therapists bills we would be saving money from ????
lady blue
Lady Blue: Anything a person can do, including watching fun films, to lift their mood is a good thing in my book. I certainly think it is important to have an active hand in motivating oneself.