Penzler owns the famed Mysterious Bookshop in New York City and for many years has commissioned one author a year to pen a Christmas-timed mystery in which his bookshop plays a role.
The book is a fun and light collection of a few of these short stories. No big mind boggling mysteries, but great fun. Some authors set their whole story inside Penzler’s shop while others simply make reference to it during the story. If you’re a fan on mysteries, this is a good one to be on the look out for (it was published in 2010) to have in your collection.
What are you reading this holiday week? Any annual habits or something new?
Hope you all have a wonderful and peace-filled Christmas and holiday season!
The entire run of the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip is now free to read online or via the Go Comics mobile app (again, for free). Calvin and Hobbes have been some of the best Sunday funnies reading ever. The strip has been put online in a promotional effort for an upcoming documentary called Dear Mr. Watterson.
Dan Simmons has a new book coming out The Abominable (October 22, 2013). I have to admit to being on the fence as to whether I want to read it (I loved, loved, loved The Terror, but Drood and the next left me meh). But this one sounds a little more in line with The Terror so I’ve been following along as it rolls out. Which is why I ran across this interview with Simmons by the folks at Publishers Weekly. It’s not long and worth a read, but the last answer struck a chord as Dan Simmons explains how he wants his readers to be with the flip of the last page:
“The real test for me is how the reader feels after he or she has finished one of my books. If readers have no questions to ask, no conversations they want to start, no strong feelings they wish to share, then I’ve failed. But overall, as at the end of a life well lived, there should be a sense of completeness—of having known triumph and sorrow—as well as having some questions still unanswered. That and some sense of sadness that the characters are no longer there to spend time with. Finishing a good book, I think, should feel a bit like saying goodbye to old friends.”
THAT’S exactly how I want to feel at the end of a book. I think The Abominable just secured a place on Mount TBR.
There is a great thread, in the Books on the Nightstand group, over on Goodreads, where members are listing their favorite podcasts for bibliophiles and book lovers. Even if you’re not a member of GoodReads or prefer other sites (like LibraryThing!) this thread is worth checking out. There are quite a few podcasts mentioned that I’m going to have to check out at least once. Here is a list of the first five that I’m downloading now to see what they have to say:
Greater Boston Book Loft – sounds like this will be a nice shorter 10-15 minute podcast and includes author interviews.
Literary Disco – three friends who are self-professed booknerds
Authors on Tour – this podcast is produced by the good folks at Denver’s indie rockstar bookstore The Tattered Cover
KCRW’s Bookworm – a podcast about books and authors, based in L.A.
