At the heart of it all, I’m a fan. A fan of books and bookstores. A fan of fiction and non-fiction. A fan of authors and publishers. And most of all I’m a fan of great conversations sparked by books. All that to say - I really need more bookshelves.
Sadly this bookstore closed back in 2009. This post is being left up for archival purposes.
**My latest contribution to the Bham Terminal has been posted. So you can catch me over there or keep reading below.**
The newest kid on Birmingham’s book selling block is Malcolm’s Reading Room (404 17th St. North) which is the ground level of the historic Masonic Temple building. Malcolm’s Reading Room is billed as an African-American bookstore, which the banners, t-shirts and colors make obvious after stepping through the door. But after spending a few short minutes with co-owner Simone Snelling, one gets the feeling that the store is about something more…
Not w-oh-oh-t, but w-zero-zero-t. Just like it’s been spelled for the past 10 years on the internet. And it’s just NOW making the list? Why? What happened in 2007 that w00t gets the nod? Did the president use it? Is it all over this year’s holiday cards from Hallmark? Did Toyota make a 4-wd w00t?
I don’t get it. Someone, please explain. If, after thousands of years, w00t is the hottest word we have going, then I’m a little worried.
The Magic City Art Connection has been named one of the “top 20 events to attend in April 2008”, by the Southeast Tourism Society. The weekend art event, which turns 25 this year, attracts artists from all over the country and is always fun. But it’s always nice when someone over in Atlanta looks our way.
While making the rounds today I ran across Buzz Girl’s post about Houghton Mifflin’s Spring 2008 list, which listed a debut novel by Jonathon Miles. The title is Dear American Airlines, and is billed as “an irate demand for a refund tut urns into a “cri de coeur” of a misspent life, talent unused and happiness lost.”
I recognized Miles’ name from his column on cocktails and his work at Men’s Journal. As I did some digging online he seems to be one of the more prolific and cross-subject reporters out there. So you may have seen his work elsewhere. I’m banking that his ability to pen a novel will be just as entertaining and insightful. We will all just have to wait until June to find out!
