The Book Maven

October 24, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (6)

That's my Mini Cooper over there, getting ready to zip off to my next adventure. Mr. Bethanne gave me the "BK MAVEN" license plates for my birthday a couple of years ago, so the Mini Mavens ride in a...Maven's Mini. (Groan. I couldn't resist...)

After 18 months as a blogger for Publishers Weekly, I am taking on a new and different challenge. I'll be moderating Barnes & Noble.com's wonderful Center Stage Book Club, starting next week with author Gregory Maguire. Since intervie...Read More

October 24, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (2)

I've been making regular appearances on NY1 on behalf of Publishers Weekly to talk about books (and I'll continue to do that; you'll hear more about my new endeavors in another post today), and I thought I'd share my latest clip with you. In it, I'm discussing some choices for the under-12 set; this weekend, you'll be able to watch my second segment about books for teens. 

I hope you'll watch, but here are the five books I featured:

...Read More

October 23, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Thanks to all who sent in their favorite fictional literary works. S. Krishna, Terri, writeloudly, Meg Waite Clayton (of course your own book counts!), and Christine -- please send me your snailmail addies and I'll send you your grab-bags! Here's my email addy: thebookmaven at gmail dot com.

October 21, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (2)

I am about to buy my Stalwart Speller ticket for the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses annual Spelling Bee on November 3rd (yes, THAT Nov. 3rd -- the night before the election. I've already voted by absentee ballot in Virginia, so I can leave my state knowing I've fulfilled my civic duty). More deets in the link, and below -- but now, let me tell you why I'm going to kick some serious keister in this contest. Watch out, Meg Wolitzer, Heidi Julavits, and yes, you, my beloved editor in chief Sara Nelson: I am not to be messed with when it comes to...Read More

October 20, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (14)

Just when I think there's nothing to blog about, I find something new that leads me down a delightful rabbit hole. Via ArtsJournal I came upon this Guardian Books Blog post about the best books that never existed. As is usual when I read The Guardian's Books Blog, I find the comments to be more interesting than the actual posts -- and one commenter contributed a link to The Invisible Library, a blog that collects fictional works of fiction.

Would...Read More