12.20.2009

This Just In: People Still Buy Poetry (thank god)

Ooo, just found this on HTMLGiant: Small Press Distribution's Top-Selling Poetry of 2009. I wonder how many books you have to sell to be considered a small press top seller in poetry... And no fair Sherman and Suheir, share some of the love.

More All-encompassing Reading

As you delve into the holidays and ever-closer new year, make sure to check out "A Year in Reading 2009" from The Millions. They've compiled 49 different reading lists (or the "anti-list" as they've deemed it) from various contributers, including Jon Raymond (recent Oregon Book Award Winner). They're fun, short essay-lists with various accounts of reading in 2009 (though not necessarily books that were published in 2009)--even Harold and the Purple Crayon finally got some recognition. 

12.15.2009

Indie Lit Secret Santa Gift Exchange

Today's your last chance to sign up for HTMLGIANT's second annual indie lit Secret Santa gift exchange! You can spend between $10- $20 on your favorite book or chapbook from a small/indie press, or send a subscription to a literary magazine. HTMLGIANT will email you the name and address of your recipient, and make sure to add your address as well--it's kind of essential to the whole "exchange" part. Spread the (indie) literary love.

12.12.2009

Poetry Fix: Four Poems by Natalie Shapero

If you're looking for a quick poetry fix this Saturday morning, head over to failbetter.com for four short, hilarious, and poignant poems by Natalie Shapero. I've never read any of her work before, but I hope she keeps putting this good stuff out there. And if you need an example of spot-on last lines, make sure to read "Coconut" and "Our War." 

12.09.2009

Best Books of 2009: A List of Lists

Every year around this time newspapers, magazines, blogs, radio stations, you name it post their "Best Books of 2009." For the past week or so I've been reading through many such lists, compiling my own lists of "to read" and "to gift." The amount of lists out there can get overwhelming (just try googling "best books of 2009" and you'll see what I mean). So, instead of adding yet another list of favorite books to the pile, I thought I'd gift you with a composition list (in no particular order) of my top "Best Books of 2009" articles:

1) The LA Times: "Favorites 2009: Fiction and poetry," and "Favorite nonfiction of 2009" (separate articles)

2) The New Yorker: "A Year's Reading"

3) The Christian Science Monitor: "Best books of 2009: fiction" and "Best books of 2009: nonfiction"

4) NPR: "Complete Holiday Book Recommendations 2009" (condensed version of many lists)

5) The New York Times: "The 10 Best Books of 2009" (or "100 Notable Books of 2009" for the ambitious readers out there)

6) GoodReads: "Best books of 2009" (a very democratic (and looong) list)

7) Publisher's Weekly: "Best Books of 2009"

8) The Economist: "Books of the Year: Page-turners" (lots of nonfiction sub-categories)

9) The Guardian: "Christmas Books" (various writers and "guests" pick one book they would gift from 2009)

10) Powell's Books' Puddly Award Winners and Nominees of 2009 (only 2 winners, but a list of 50 contenders!...plus you can fill your cart with goodies as you read) or Morrison's Gift Picks

These are just a few of many, so if you have any favorite lists you like to reference, please leave in the comments or email me!

Update: HTMLGIANT's Blake Butler ventured a "25 Important Books of the '00s" today--good stuff.

12.07.2009

Opium Magazine's New Jiggly QuickFix App



Ever wished you could just shake your iPhone and magically have a piece of fiction appear before your eyes? Well kids, Christmas (or Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, you name it) came early. Check out "Opium's QuickFix with Jiggle Technology" for iPhone. 

With each little jiggle you'll get an app-exclusive story along with access to all of OpiumMagazine.com's archives. The app is only $1.99 through iTunes, with all proceeds working towards Opium's print editions. Special for the launch, the app features a story by humor writer Jack Handey of Deep Thoughts fame. Jiggle on!

Update: The wonderful Kevin Sampsell (check out Future Tense Books) just informed me of another awesome iPhone story app called TripleQuick. This one brings you short-short stories that are all 333 words long--quick to upload, quick to read and enjoy. Not only can you upload new flash fiction with TripleQuick, you can also compose and submit your own juicy 333 word nuggets right on your iPhone. I'm getting excited.