Kimbooktu, one of my favorite blogs out there, has announced a very cool contest for book lovers and inventors. Here’s the scoop: I want you to come up with a reading gadget / bookish thingy. (Do not take the phrase ‘gadget’ too literally.) You can let your creativity run free and make it as wacky [...]

Recently, Perseus Books sent me an advance reading copy of The Call of the Weird: Travels in American Subcultures by Louis Theroux. I knew the moment it arrived that I would love the book. The Call of the Weird is a follow-up to his TV series Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends. He travels to the United [...]

Katrina over at Callapidder Days has a new reading challenge for me: Spring Reading Thing 2007. I will read the books listed below before June 21st. The Adventures of Jimmy Corrigan by Chris Ware On a Life Well Spent by Cicero The Accidental by Ali Smith What is the What by Dave Eggers The Boy [...]

Second Pick: Leviathan by Paul Auster Date: Tuesday, April 17th at 8:30 PM Location: Rapture Cafe & Books

Oh, my! How did I miss the beginning of the Morning News’ 2007 Tournament of Books? Round one began on March 8th and is currently on match seven. Since I completely missed the book list, I haven’t read most of the books in the running. I’ll have to be more on the ball for next [...]

No, not the bus that takes you from downtown Seattle to the airport; the documentary about the hijacked bus in Rio, Brazil back in 2000. (Attempt at joke brought to you in part by Christian.) Bus 174 is no laughing matter. Director José Padilha crafts an amazing film about a hijacked bus and its hijacker. [...]

Pete Hamill’s memoir, A Drinking Life, is less about his life as a drinker and more about his childhood in Brooklyn. Hamill has some interesting stories about growing up in a tough neighborhood with an alcoholic Father and a very understanding Mother. But it takes up too many of book’s pages. I found myself asking, [...]

Monday: John Sellers at Mo Pitkin’s Reader’s Room (7:00 PM) Tuesday: Yelpers’ NYC Book Group discusses “A Drinking Life” by Pete Hamill at Rapture Cafe & Books (8:30 PM) Wednesday: As good a day as any to watch Zodiac with friends; just be home in time to watch Lost. Thursday: Steve Ettlinger, author of Twinkie, [...]

I’ve finally updated the right column with the books I’m currently reading (starting today). I’m reading “A Drinking Life” for Tuesday’s book group and “The Call of the Weird” because I like Louis Theroux and the publisher sent me a copy of the book. I have also updated the NYC Events page, my Wish List, [...]

I’ve been a little disappointed with my life lately. Between working long hours and the cold weather, I just haven’t been social. And at home, I haven’t been reading anything of interest. All that is going to stop right now. I’m taking Seth’s advice and will stop reading any book after chapter one that isn’t [...]