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Maxine › Comments
Crime Fiction Alphabet Letter G - week beginning 16 NOvember - http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2009...
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As I commented at the blog, only 9 am on a monday and already there are 5 posts live for G! I am a slacker!
- Maxine
I will put mine up later in week as I am still suffering from "Larsson withdrawal".
- Norman
From Crime Fest email TONINO BENACQUISTA TO BE THE TRANSLATED FEATURED GUEST AUTHOR Tonino Benacquista is a French author with a dark sense of humour and Bitter Lemon Press has so far published four of his crime novels. Tonino has also won a Cesar – the French equivalent of an Oscar – for the script of the highly acclaimed The Beat That My Heart...
Margot Kinberg, Karen Meek and Norman liked this
...cont ... Tonino has also won a Cesar – the French equivalent of an Oscar – for the script of the highly acclaimed The Beat That My Heart Skipped. We are delighted that he will be attending and we would like to thank the French Institute and Bitter Lemon Press for making his participation possible. www.crimefest.com for more info.
- Maxine
I have read one of Tonino Benaquista's books Holy Smoke a few years ago and found his humour was both dark and wicked. He should be an interesting and amusing guest author and I will have to read more of his books before May.
- Norman
Crime Fiction Alphabet - G is for Gerritsen - http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2009...
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Maxine liked this
Very good reviews though the books themselves not to my taste.
- Maxine
When the Trail is Cold.... - http://margotkinberg.blogspot.com/2009...
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Can´t come up with further examples on the spur of the moment.
- Dorte Jakobsen
No matter - I appreciate your reading and commenting : )
- Margot Kinberg
Tried to comment at the blog, but it crashed! I liked the Harry Bosch novels when Harry is in the cold case unit- I think one was called The Closers. Also The Chicago Way by Michael Harvey is about this theme of cold cases - I thought it was OK but not as good as all that. It got some very good reviews, though - and John Grisham wrote a nice blurb comment.
- Maxine
Thanks for taking the time to comment in here, Maxine - so annoying when Blogger mucks everything up! Thanks for mentioning Harry Bosch, too; The Closers is, indeed, the name of the his first appearance in the Open/Unsolved unit, and it's a great example of the points I was making. I haven't read the Harvey one, although I did see, as you did, some good reviews.
- Margot Kinberg
I've just finished Ruth Rendell's The Monster in the Box, and that is indeed a 'cold case' tale, harking back to a murder case at the start of Wexford's career that was not closed, though Wexford, sans evidence, most certainly thought he knew the villain. And in this last Wexford novel, he returns to this case as it becomes entwined with a very different contemporary puzzle. Two things....
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- Philip
Thanks, Philip, for mentioning The Monster in the Box. It certainly is a good "Cold Case" story (just goes to show you how many fine examples there are out there). I agree 100% with you, too, about Hill. Anyone who's going to go on about a fictional character should get the character's name right... (as though I were perfect, but still....)
- Margot Kinberg
I suppose she's thinking of the actor (George Baker)?
- Karen Meek
I hadn't thought about that, Karen, but you could be right. I know I've done things like that.
- Margot Kinberg
I note that Kerrie's G is for Gerritsen post today (crime fic alphabet) features a "cold case" book.
- Maxine
PS to Philip - Susan Hill has gone spectacularly over the top even for her on her new Spectator blog - I was quite upset by her misguided "rant" posts on cancer and another on the NHS so I probably shan't read her any more. Her strongly expressed opinions run way ahead of any facts or (it seems from the "Reg" equals "George" review) fact-checking.
- Maxine
Maxine - I noticed that about Kerrie's post, too : )
- Margot Kinberg
The Waters of Mars - http://doyouwriteunderyourownn...
Not read this post yet. Much like I do with the last books by an author's that died I am hoarding the last few D Tennant episodes. Haven't watched the last one even yet.
- Karen Meek
Sob! I sometimes watch Dr W with half an eye but last night the only other person in the house wanted to watch it out of maternal view, so I did not see it. However, we've recorded it for when another person returns for xmas vacation so I might catch a glimpse then.
- Maxine
Martin Edwards, Waterloo Sunset (2008) - http://djskrimiblog.blogspot.com/2009...
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Maxine liked this
Although I can't now remember which woman it was!
- Maxine
I´d better not reveal it here :D
- Dorte Jakobsen
No indeed, and there would be no point anyway as I'd only forget again ;-)
- Maxine
Bookstore Review: Whitcoulls Courtenay Place (Wellington) - http://kiwicrime.blogspot.com/2009...
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Maxine liked this
I like reading about these bookshops I shall probably never get the chance to visit.
- Maxine
what are the UK bookstores like, in terms of having a range of crime fiction, Maxine?
- Craig Sisterson
Some are pretty good, Craig - where I live in Kingston, Borders and Waterstones are good in having some backlist as well as a reasonable selection. W H Smiths is less good in being very focused on current best-sellers and not so good on backlist or translated. However, I often can't find what I want and then if I look online it is either not on Waterstones.com or it is much cheaper on Amazon. The main UK Waterstones, in Piccadilly in London, has a very good crime fiction selection, though.
- Maxine
I should add that when I first moved to Kingston 18 years ago there were about 10 separate bookshops in the town plus 4 dept store sections- they have all gone now apart from Waterstones/Borders. WHS has cut down its book space over the years. Sussex Stationers is very good indeed on price (good as Amazon) but only has one wall of books now, the rest is stationery, crafts, etc, so a v limited selection (current sellers). That's it.
- Maxine
SAM HAYES - Real Life Fiction - http://www.samhayes.co.uk/
Sam Eades (publicist) says this author is like Nicci French/Sophie Hannah. New book "Tell Tale" just out apparently. Author website a bit tricksy for my taste. Has anyone read her? Most blurb quotes seem to come from women's magazines.
- Maxine
from Bookmarklet
Scientists still not joining social networks -- Scholarly Kitchen -- http://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2009...
'Mummi' Thorisson, Mike Chelen, Joe.... and 13 other people liked this
Personally, am not convinced of some of the assumptions, e.g. "...Both are unfortunate, but are parts of the current culture [reference to sharing early lab results]. Any network that hopes to succeed must adapt to the culture of the community, rather than trying to rewrite it." First, though likely rare, I think there are instances where culture gets "re-written" -- another perspective is that this form of communication provides an alternative to established routes. That is, does not replace them but adds to the diversity of communication means.
- Mickey Schafer
The only thing I really disagree with here is that I think there will be a shift towards more open approaches as more examples of success show up. Then everyone will go over the edge like lemmings and there will be a backlash again but by then the funders will be piling in with conditions to push things forward.
- Cameron Neylon
<cynical>It doesn't matter what the scientists think. What matters is what the funders demand of them.</cynical> Open science doesn't really depend on "[online] social networks" and never has. It's true that most open-science sorts are active social networkers, but when the rubber hits the road, I don't care who's on FriendFeed -- I care who's sharing data. If the funders demand the latter and not the former, good on 'em. Behavior will shift accordingly.
- D0r0th34
But the funders are the scientists in most cases - so a mixture of pushing from within the community - as well as top down mandates will get us there. The question is how to get the funders into a position where they feel bound to impose mandates _and_ provide the infrastructure that makes it possible to observe them...?
- Cameron Neylon
Mmm, I'm not sure I agree. Funding infrastructure relies on a fair amount of scientist labor, yes -- but it's not career scientists who have been calling the funder shots; it's been top-level administrators (some of whom are ex-scientists, admittedly) looking at bottom lines. The Wellcome Trust mandate didn't come from scientists. Neither did the NIH policy. <cynical>One can't rely on scientists for effective science policy.</cynical>
- D0r0th34
Fair enough. UK Research Councils case is more nuanced. Even Wellcome Trust policy was driven to a certain extent by the fundees or at least not in the face of belligerent opposition from them. But comparing the independent funders like Wellcome to the Research Councils (run more by councils of academics) is instructive.
- Cameron Neylon
I thought the spin on your lovely shout out for Medeley on ch 4 news was interesting, Cameron (nice monitors btw!). 'government backing for innovators to meet and share' was the message. Have you had any responses to that yet? Maybe systems like Mendeley will be the things that start to crack the nut of social networking for scientists? I'm not sure it's a killer app, more the thin end of the wedge...
- Jo Badge
Shorter DC: I don't like social networks or spend any time on them, so they must be useless.
- Bill Hooker
I'm afraid they're not my monitors but those for the control room for one of the instruments (not incidentally the one that got filmed in the piece - but at least there was no blue liquid!) But they are in fact necessary to keep the instrument running and processing data efficiently.
- Cameron Neylon
Bill, I am afraid your DC is heads on :-)
- Claudia Koltzenburg
I can imagine a report from 1670, a full five years after the creation of academic journals, concluding that virtually no scientists were using academic journals as a matter of course, and thus they are useless. (Technological progress has sped up a lot since 1670, of course. But social change isn't all that much faster, in my opinion. And this is fundamentally a social change.)
- Michael Nielsen
Michael++
- D0r0th34
I think we also tend to forget the granddaddy social software: email. In some fields there are tremendously active listservs that have been around for over a decade especially at research universities where faculty got email before it really caught on in the wider world. What evidence would convince a scientist that Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter offer better communication opportunities than an archived listserv?
- Jenny Reiswig
Well, aren't most scientists using email as "communication opportunities" and nothing else? (social network, listserv etc)?
- Maxine
were observations limited to sites specifically designed for scientists? perhaps to the exclusion of other significant mainstream platforms like facebook or twitter
- Mike Chelen
Jenny: it might be better to gauge usage based either on features such as address book management or by traffic metrics such as size of audience
- Mike Chelen
Just noticed that Yrsa Sigurdardottir is coming to CrimeFest next year.
I wonder if that's the big news they said was coming in their last email? I hadn't noticed her on the programme last time I looked - and I always check it out for any additions of "non first language English authors"....of which there are sadly very few (so far).
- Maxine
No, I think the big news must be this partnership with The Times and the CWA shortlist announcement.
- Maxine
You're correct on the latter one Maxine :o) And you are also correct that YS has only just signed up (she signed up at Bouchercon a week or so ago).
- Donna
Thanks, Donna! I hope it might be possible to sign up a few other "translated" authors......fingers crossed. Johan Theorin was so charming, funny and clever in a modest way, the other night. That photo of his Grandad's boat - bless! (Could have been my late father in law's boat - a real old-style Scot).
- Maxine
Maxine - you might want to look out for some news on translated authors at Crimefest very soon :o)
- Donna
You are a tease Donna. ;o)
- Norman
15 Evolutionary Gems: http://www.nature.com/nature...
Mickey Schafer and Michael Kuhn liked this
Every Christmas the Dekker household has its annual Creation vs Evolution argument*. This year, I plan to swat up! *This is followed by the "interaction" about whether the previous "interaction" was a discussion, a debate, an argument, or a fight.
- Bronwen Dekker
Not an argument (etc) between B and Alain I take it, but between more extended family?
- Maxine
Extended family. :)
- Bronwen Dekker
;-)
- Maxine
Reading suggestions for January - http://petrona.typepad.com/petrona...
Norman, Dorte Jakobsen and Karen Meek liked this
Thanks for these suggestions, Maxine : )
- Margot Kinberg
I expect the postman will bring me two of these soon (can´t tell you which ones; they may be good for my bait-in-the-box game).
- Dorte Jakobsen
From Maxine's list I have only read The Reunion, definitely one not to be missed.
- Norman
That's the one I'm most looking forward to, Norman - and the new John Harvey.
- Maxine
Fwd: [RHAPSODY] Sunday Salon – Review of “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest” by Stieg Larsson (11-15-2009) - http://rhapsodyinbooks.wordpress.com/2009... (via http://friendfeed.com/sundays...)
Dorte Jakobsen and Norman liked this
The Sunday Salon posts have suddenly started working again on Friend Feed, having been silent for literally months!
- Maxine
Donna Leon, About Face - http://internationalnoir.blogspot.com/2009...
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Maxine and Margot Kinberg liked this
Looking forward to reading this one. Saw it today in Wstones, large-format PB at 12.99 (though admittedly on a 3 for 2, but could not see 2 others I wanted/hadn't read). So will wait for the mass market pb or library.
- Maxine
Relentless weather, heat, pageants - http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2009...
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Maxine liked this
Gales, downpours, leaves everywhere, grey skies---- we have the opposite here.
- Maxine
Review - BLOODY WOMEN - Helen FitzGerald - http://bigbeatfrombadsville.blogspot.com/2009...
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Margot Kinberg liked this
Sounds like a fascinating blend of funny and deeply dark...
- Margot Kinberg
I felt uncomfortable reading her two earlier books - I enjoyed them in parts but at other parts I did not like what was supposed to be funny (eg going out to the pub after work on your first day, abandoning your little son and partner to each other's company all evening.) Maybe I'm too sensitive. A very talented author but I just could not find some of the "situations" funny. Sorry.
- Maxine
Sunday Salon via Yahoo Pipes appears to be back up. Even so it appears there were only 85 posts last weekend
Debra has a post on her blog (The Deblog) about this, asking Sunday Saloners for their feedback.
- Maxine
I've left her my thoughts - similar to yours really
- Kerrie
I couldn't post at her blog - i think it didn't like Chrome - and I couldn't be bothered opening a different browser just to say what you two have already said.
- Bernadette
Mankell e-book early for Random | theBookseller.com - http://www.thebookseller.com/news...
Norman and Margot Kinberg liked this
"Random House imprint Harvill Secker is to release the e-book edition of Henning Mankell’s new novel The Man from Beijing a month earlier than the hardback, as a “treat” for digital readers."
- Karen Meek
from Bookmarklet
One would hope to be able to get an e-review copy this time! Also says Mankell is visiting UK in 2010 (Crime Fest???)
- Karen Meek
That would be brilliant (Crime Fest). Maybe that name would encourage more mainland European crime fiction authors to attend.
- Maxine
221b online game launched by filmmakers as Sherlock Holmes film release rapidly approaches - http://kiwicrime.blogspot.com/2009...
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anyone played this? I don't have flash on my current computer, so haven't given it a burl yet - but comments I've read about it seem quite good.
- Craig Sisterson
I haven't, Craig, but have also heard quite good things about it.
- Margot Kinberg
You can only activate it via a Facebook account and I am the last human on the planet without one (or any interest in having one)
- Bernadette
Sorry, I'm not an "online gamer" either.
- Maxine
It seems that makes at least three of us, Bernadette.
- Dorte Jakobsen
Fwd: Accreditation and attribution in data sharing. - http://www.citeulike.org/user... (via http://friendfeed.com/dullhun...)
Duncan Hull, Allyson Lister, Heather and 3 other people liked this
Thorisson, G.A. Accreditation and attribution in data sharing. Nature Biotechnology 27, 984 - 985 (2009). http://dx.doi.org/10...
- 'Mummi' Thorisson
Blatant self-plug here! My response to a number of recent editorials, regarding the importance of making datasets citable to encourage researchers to publish their data and 'data DOIs' being a potential key factor in bringing this about. Comments/criticism welcome.
- 'Mummi' Thorisson
"author can archive pre-print (ie pre-refereeing)" says SHERPA/ROMEO re Nature Biotechnology/NPG - in case your contractual agreements go beyond this, you might be able to enhance the size of your readership, the amount of feedback, and most likely also your citation rates by OA green of the final version - (where) have you self-archived this article? I would like to recommend it to colleagues whose institution cannot afford a subscription of Nature Biotechnology - can you help?
- Claudia Koltzenburg
Claudia - can you give more specific guidance regarding self-archiving? I can't make much out of your comment. I did check the NBT website and according to http://www.nature.com/reprint... I can self-archive 6 months after publication.
- 'Mummi' Thorisson
In any case, if anyone doesn't have access to NBT then by all means contact me directly (FF message) and I'll E-mail the PDF.
- 'Mummi' Thorisson
pleasure: on more specific guidance regarding self-archiving see here (example repository software EPrints): http://www.eprints.org/openacc... and here, in the case of your current research instiution: Leicester Research Archive https://lra.le.ac.uk/ or maybe DORA https://www.dora.dmu.ac.uk/ who both are run on DSpace http://www.dspace.org/ (my source: http://roar.eprints.org) - tuck in :-)
- Claudia Koltzenburg
thank you for the direct delivery service offer, Mummi. Actually, with a paper of THIS topic I would prefer to recommend an open access version that is downloadable from the web by anyone and now :-)
- Claudia Koltzenburg
in more detail: SHERPA/ROMEO http://www.sherpa.ac.uk/romeo/ lists the NPG general license to say (see my quote above) "author can archive pre-print (ie pre-refereeing)" - and adds: "This summary is for the publisher's default policies and changes or exceptions can often be negotiated by authors. All information is correct to the best of our knowledge but should not be relied upon for...
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- Claudia Koltzenburg
Why is it, when I try to download the PDF, that I get Correspondence on "The market value of GM products" instead? :)
- Allyson Lister
Allyson - good one ;) my bit starts near the bottom of that 1st page
- 'Mummi' Thorisson
Claudia - Thanx again. I shall try and sort this out ASAP.
- 'Mummi' Thorisson
@Mummi - I should have trusted the PDF - I didn't even scroll down - just saw the top and figured it was a bum link - my bad! :)
- Allyson Lister
Nature journals' policy is that authors can put their submitted version online eg on a preprint server whenever they want - before, after or during submission. The version that is accepted for publication can be archived in a repository 6 months after publication. The published version stays on the publisher website. http://www.nature.com/authors... and http://www.nature.com/authors...
- Maxine
Quote from first URL above: "Our policy on the posting of particular versions of the manuscript is as follows: 1. You are welcome to post pre-submission versions or the original submitted version of the manuscript on a personal blog, a collaborative wiki or a preprint server at any time (but not subsequent pre-accept versions that evolve due to the editorial process). 2. The accepted...
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- Maxine
@Mummi of course you could have published in an open access journal instead :-)
- Duncan Hull
Duncan - excellent point (was kinda waiting for someone to kick my arse about that...). Honestly, I would have done this, but the backdrop to this is that I was approached originally by the NBT editor about writing a short letter on this topic, following a comment I made on a Nature blog post (http://blogs.nature.com/nautilu...).
- 'Mummi' Thorisson
I *promise* to make an effort to submit to an OA journal next time!
- 'Mummi' Thorisson
The Water’s Edge, by Karin Fossum (Mysteries go global, part four) « Books to the Ceiling - http://robertarood.wordpress.com/2009...
barbara fister and Margot Kinberg liked this
Detailed and positive review.
- Maxine
from Bookmarklet
Reviews, Interviews and Bad News - http://bigbeatfrombadsville.blogspot.com/2009...
Mack Lundy, Craig Sisterson, Norman and Karen Meek liked this
I also liked the post, but Declan Burke´s post made me very sad.
- Dorte Jakobsen
Me too, it is so tough for authors.
- Maxine
Dec's post made me very sad too Dorte, even though I understood and also applauded his obvious love for his family. Maxine - I have no idea how most authors can afford to only write. Most authors I know do something other than write, and I'm seriously chuffed for those among my writer friends who are able to concentrate on working hard doing something they love, rather than fitting it...
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- Donna
All, sadly, only too true Donna - I don't write myself but what you write is certainly what those who do tell me or what I read everywhere. So hard.
- Maxine
I can also feel another rant forming in my brain about the scrwed up values our society exhibits when young thugs are payed millions per year to kick a ball around an oval for a few hours a week and old thugs in suits are payed the same to mis-manage our money into global collapse yet an author with talent can't even get tens per year. GRRRRRR.
- Bernadette
Hear hear Berndadette. And don't get me on the crass X-factor which is being watched by someone in our house and so I catch glimpses of. A mess of, to put it as politely as I can, mediocrity and boringness.
- Maxine
Thank you, Maxine!! I agree 100%
- Margot Kinberg
Indeed Maxine. I am increasingly convinced that I've somehow been transported to Douglas Admas' planet where they sent all the hairdressers and telephone sanetisers so the useful people could live in peace (and presumably an X-factor/big loser/top model free life)
- Bernadette
Greed and screwed up values sum up our society. Sad news about Declan his books made a lot of people laugh and we need more of that today.
- Norman
Well-said, Norman
- Margot Kinberg
Declan appears to have been struggling with time for a while now - a while back he announced he was stopping his blog and peopel protested so he is still writing it. His circumstances will change constantly while Lilly is growing up, so no doubt somewhere he'll start writing again.
- Kerrie
New Margaret Rutherford biography - http://eurocrime.blogspot.com/2009...
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Dorte Jakobsen liked this
Ooooh nice - thanks Karen. I love Margaret Rutherford and, although she was nothing like Miss Marple, she has always been my favourite Miss Marple (if that makes any sense!)
- Donna
I see from Philip's comment that she had an eventful life. There's a few reservations (holds) on it at the moment so I'll try and have a look after the rush.
- Karen Meek
Donna's comment makes sense to me. (You should be worried about that, Donna.) Joan Hickson will always be my ideal Miss Marple, but MR I have to reserve a special place for. As it happens, just a couple of days ago I watched her doing her Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit with Rex Harrison, Constance Cummings, and Kay Hammond. It's a film oddly flawed in a way I couldn't put my finger on...
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- Philip
I loved her as Miss Prism in The Importance of Being Earnest. I also thought she was good as Miss Marple and in those old Norman Wisdom films - but more because of her being Margaret R as accurately portraying the author's character! (Like Philip, Joan Hickson is more my idea of Miss M, for example. And Anna Massey as Miss Prism in that uneven (but mainly good) recent movie of Earnest was telling.)
- Maxine
Philip - not worried at all...well, maybe a teny tiny tad :o) Maxine - I agree about The Importance of Being Earnest - she was great. Also in Passport To Pimlico - ah, how much I love all those Ealing comedies.
- Donna
Bernadette, Maxine and Dorte Jakobsen liked this
Fantastic series. Highly recommend 1 and 2 (from a person who barely watches TV).
- Maxine
Currently on ep4. It's being repeated from next Sunday.
- Karen Meek
Maxine, Dorte Jakobsen, Margot Kinberg and Norman liked this
ha ha! Very good post. Definitely resonates!
- Maxine
The future of real-world bookselling - http://petrona.typepad.com/petrona...
Kerrie liked this
OT
- Maxine
Perhaps OT, Maxine, but a very thoughtful treatment of the question of what will happen to bookselling/buying. I wonder, as you do, what kind of effect those of us who don't go for topsellers will have on booksellers' decisions. Really interesting post.
- Margot Kinberg
Thank you Margot, I very much appreciate your comment.
- Maxine
The Alphabet in Crime Fiction - Funerals are Fatal by Agatha Christie - http://margotkinberg.blogspot.com/2009...
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Maxine liked this
I think I must have read this one under the other title, After the Funeral.
- Maxine
Lots of people have; that's the UK title.
- Margot Kinberg
ah..now I've twigged! Your title didn't sound familiar to me Margot, although the story did.Didn't think of the alternate title scenario
- Kerrie
Isn't it interesting how so many of Christie's books did have alternate titles? I must admit I was glad for this one, because I did want it for the letter "F," and it just seemed more, well, fair to use the title that actually begins with "F." : )
- Margot Kinberg
The alternative titles generally had something to do with publishing rights didn't it? I seem to remember some of them were originally serialised too. Very confusing for the public.
- Kerrie
You're right - very confusing! I don't know how many times I've thought "Oh, a Christie title I haven't heard of!" only to find out I have the book, but under another title.
- Margot Kinberg
Still going on, like the copy of "core of evil" I was just sent by the publisher, which I read earlier under the title of "still waters" (Nigel McCreary).
- Maxine
Oh, how annoying for you, Maxine!
- Margot Kinberg
Yes, but good for someone else! Thank you, Maxine!
- Dorte Jakobsen
You're welcome, Dorte - "Agatha Christie noir" it has been called! And it is OK, Margot, I only bought the first one (when it was Still Waters). The reinvented version (Core of Evil) was sent as an (unsolicited) review copy so free! I have just finished number 2, Tooth and Claw, which is nowhere near as good as Still Waters/C of E. (sent by publisher in same packet).
- Maxine
The feed I have running for Sunday salon - that uses Yahoo Pipes - appears ot have stopped working last weekend.
Yes Kerrie I use the same feed and it's definitely dead. I'm putting my head in the sand and hoping it will miraculously be fixed some time soon :)
- Bernadette
The Friend Feed is working Bernadette http://friendfeed.com/sundays... but has the disadvantage of you having to click on each link to read the post - in my RSS Reader I can get most of them in their entirety
- Kerrie
Thanks Kerrie - I agree it's much better in Google Reader because I can scan them quickly and go to the posts where I think I can make a sensible comment. I won't click on every link from the FF for it :(
- Bernadette
The FF sunday salon pipe stopped working for me ages ago - I'm afraid I don't read Sunday Salon any more. I think I discovered a couple of blogs I liked in it, but their bloggers have stopped posting. The rest - no. (apart from the ones I'm suscribed to anyway!)
- Maxine
I've become disappointed with how few crime fiction readers there are on it.
- Kerrie
Exactly, Kerrie!
- Maxine
Saturday Snippet: If the Dead Rise Not by Philip Kerr (2009) - http://theviewfromthebluehouse...
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this is what happens when you try and schedule a post! I didn't want to hump this book to Armenia to write the entry so I thought I be organised and do it now. Managed to hit the return key which published the thing whilst I was trying to alter the posting date. I've cancelled it but the feed is out there. Flip! Well you know what's coming Saturday ...
- Rob
I do that all the time Rob.
- Kerrie
me too!
- Maxine
How Waterstone's killed bookselling | The Guardian - http://www.guardian.co.uk/books...
Mickey Schafer and Margot Kinberg liked this
quite a fascinating take on a big chain bookstore
- Bernadette
from Bookmarklet
I read this earlier today via an e-alert. It isn't a bad piece but I kept silently screaming at it "national net book agreement!" as that is what started it all off - they do finally get around to it about half-way through. I think it is grossly unfair to pitch the article as a blaming attack (in the main) on Waterstones, who are only doing their best with the market forces they are...
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- Maxine
Just read (via the same e-alert) another similar article but without the angle of the attack on Waterstones. Mainly focused on the potential death of the bricks-and-mortar bookstore: http://www.idealog.com/blog...
- Maxine
One thing rarely mentioned as a game-changer is the amazing availability of almost-new used books via the internet - which makes having a a huge inventory of new books less of a jaw-dropping "oh, wow" experience. In the US independents can't make money on books sold cheaply at non-bookstores; they survive as places that curate good books, can help people discover books they don't know about, and provide a community hub for readers.
- barbara fister
It seems to me that one service the larger retailers could offer would be a net-based home for the literary minded to oversee -- not solely reviews-by-consumers or lists around a certain author, but rooms (sort of like FF) with themes and administrators, where customers could go to enjoy a good discussion, muse about ideas, etc.
- Mickey Schafer
Also, the whole e-reader thing still strikes me as unsustainable. There needs to be a monthly-fee-based subscription model where readers can dip into as many books as they like, pay $$ for permanent downloads. I still will not pay $9.99 per book when I can get it on paper for 1.99 plus shipping.
- Mickey Schafer
I don't know about the US but in the UK it is common for bookstores to order books from Amazon (deep discount) and sell them to their customers for slightly more. (Dan Brown was 4.99 for a whole week on Amazon for example, cheapest you could buy in store was 9.49 (half price). Do the maths. This is why Amazon limits the number of orders! But it works as a business model for...
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- Maxine
Excellent post today at the Digitalist (Macmillan digital publishing blog) http://thedigitalist.net/... about e-readers and how the market might go. Very thoughtful post indeed I think, rather than the usual sheep-like stuff one reads everywhere on this topic.
- Maxine
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