Image: BBC
The Book Booth is a weekly feature at The Political Carnival, relating news, notes, and reflections from the world of books and publishing. It is written by @SeattleDan and SeattleTammy, operators of an on-line bookstore (which you can find here) , who have been in the book business since shortly after the Creation, or close to 6000 years now.
The Book Booth: When the Weather is Fine Edition
The heat abated here early in the week, but summer is not done with us, as it turns out. More heat has arrived and lethargy is sinking into the very marrow of our bones. Some things will wait till tomorrow to get done.
There are now a few signs of impending autumn. Of course all the stores have their back-to-school displays, which went up, I believe, the week after the school year ended in June. Some of the trees here have leaves that are turning color and beginning to drop to the ground. And football season is about to begin.
We do tend to think of football players as not being the sharpest knives in the drawer, which is a sad stereotype, especially when it turns out not to be true. Witness Seattle Seahawk defensive end Michael Bennett who has started a book club among his teammates with their first selection being Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers.
Michael Bennett's Book Club
If the Fall can't get here quickly enough for you, Bustle featured some 14 poems about the season. I'd forgotten how much I liked John Keats poem, and it is included here, as well as Robert Frost.
14 Poems about Fall
And speaking of Mr. Frost and the coming of the Fall, Nathan Gelgud has illustrated Frost's most famous poem, The Road Not Taken, here for Signature. It should put you in the mood for an autumnal stroll.
The Road Not Taken - Illustrated
One of the more interesting stories to come out this week was the news that the Spanish publisher Siloe will be publishing a facsimile edition of the mysterious Voynich manuscript, which has never been deciphered. They are accepting pre-orders and the cost will run you 8 to 9 thousand dollars.
Voynich Manuscript Facsimile Edition
So when did the Book as we know it first appear. I'm sure most of us are familiar with ancient texts having been written on scrolls, which were certainly not the most user-friendly way of reading. Keith Houston discusses the origin of the codex and the bound book here for the BBC.
When Did the Bible Become an Actual Book?
For those of us who have read Josephine Tey's Daughter of Time, we are aware of the controversy that surrounds the short reign of Richard III, who is quite the monster in Shakespeare's play, a classic case of the victors writing history. Here for the Folger Library, is a discussion between historians and Shakespeare scholars about the unfortunate monarch.
Historians and Scholars Debate Who Richard III Really Was
The New Yorker recently featured a couple of articles of note. First Patti Smith offered up some observations on giving book recommendations and making a cameo on the TV series The Killing. I'm not very familiar with the show, but I do see it is on Netflix.
Patti Smith Writes About Her Cancelled Detectives
At age 26, Joe McGinnis became the youngest writer to make the New York Times Bestseller list with his account of the 1968 election of Richard Nixon, The Selling of the President. Success and fame came early to him, as well as some very hard times. His son, Joe McGinnis Jr. recounts memories of the man and the struggles that he endured.
Joe McGinnis, Jr., Writes about His Dad
Finally, some welcome news in that John LeCarre will be publishing a memoir next month titled The Pigeon Tunnel. Publishers Weekly has a nice graphic of the man's work and the film adaptations of his books. I'm looking forward to reading the book.
John LeCarre's Memoir: The Pigeon Tunnel
We hope the weather is fine wherever you happen to be. Enjoy some fine books and let us know what books you are loving.
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