Image via The Guardian
The Book Booth is a weekly feature at The Political Carnival, relating news, notes, and reflections from the world of books and publishing. @SeattleDan, along with his wife, @SeattleTammy, are operators of both an on-line bookstore here, as well as a brick and mortar storefront mini-store in Hoquiam, WA at 706 Simpson Ave (Route 101 South). Both have been in the book business since shortly after the Creation, or close to 6000 years now.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday have come and gone. I guess sales aren't quite what retailers had hoped for. But for us, Small Business Saturday went fairly well, though not enough to retire completely to that beach resort we've been dreaming about. But it was great to see President Obama do some shopping locally last Saturday at his local independent bookstore!
Support Your Local Independent Bookstore!
Claire Kirch happened to be visiting Politics and Prose at the same time as the President et familia were there and had this detailed account for Publishers Weekly.
Presidential Politics and Prose Visit
Down the metaphorical street, it seems the Library of Congress has found itself embroiled in a plagiarism controversy with its production of an illustrated biography of Mark Twain, published by Little Brown. H/T to Lucian for finding this.
The Library of Congress Plagiarizing? Yep!
And we have more end of the year lists. The New York Times recently published its 100 most notable titles. If you're looking for something new and noteworthy to give as a present, you may want to check it out.
NY Times Selections
For a more nuanced look at the Times Notable selections, Laura Miller had this commentary over at Salon.
More on the NY Times Selections
There are always the more obscure, but great books that get looked over. Slate magazine has this list of books that may not may any other lists this year.
Underrated Books
And more end of the year awards! The "prestigious" bad sex scene in a novel was won this year by the otherwise fine Nigerian author Ben Okri. NPR has the story here.
Bad Sex Scene Prize
Good news for fans of Jonathan Franzen. His latest novel Purity will be published next September by Farrar Straus. It looks to be something of an epic, from the always ambitious Franzen.
Jonathan Franzen's Latest
We sadly note the passing of former US Poet Laureate Mark Strand, who seems to have taught nearly everywhere during his career.
Mark Strand
Finally, from the We always suspected so Department, science shows that people who read fiction are more empathic than those who do not read. Thanks to the lovely Seattle Tammy for finding this.
Fiction Readers Are Nice People
Get out there and shop your local independent stores. Enjoy your weekend and give your lists of what you're reading.
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