Birmingham, Events

Wordcamp Birmingham 2008!

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Worcamp Birmingham

I’m dusting off my notebooks and “back to school” attitude and plan on soaking up all of the knowledge flowing around the Virginia Samford Theater, next weekend (Sept. 27-28).

That’s the site of the first annual Wordcamp Birmingham! It’s going to be a couple of days to talk all about WordPress, the platform this site is built on. Go ahead and check the schedule to see what they have planned over Saturday and Sunday and register sooooooon! Like NOW soon, as seating is limited. Which just means that, if you get in the door, you’re promised a great seat and a chance to participate with some of the coolest blogging-centered folks, from around the country.

Kudos to Andre (and crew) for getting all this together. It’s going to be a blast!

Book Talk, On the Web

What has changed?

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This political season, Amazon is tracking all of the “red books” and “blue books” sold. It’s been fun watching the trends as they move through the country, but I’m having a tough time making sense of any of it. Usually, all the traditionally more liberal states are buying the “blue books, while the more traditionally conservative states are buying the “red books”. Here is a May-June snapshot that Amazon posted:

Continue reading What has changed? →

Book Talk, News

The Man Booker Shortlist – 2008

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Here’s this year’s list and I haven’t read any of them. Not sure why I feel guilty about that… I think it’s just that I’d enjoy this more if I had a horse to pull for in this race.

Aravind Adiga The White Tiger  (Atlantic)
Sebastian Barry The Secret Scripture (Faber and Faber)                        
Amitav Ghosh Sea of Poppies (John Murray)                                  
Linda Grant The Clothes on Their Backs (Virago)             
Philip Hensher The Northern Clemency (Fourth Estate)                    
Steve Toltz A Fraction of the Whole (Hamish Hamilton) 

Birmingham, Book Talk, Events

Happy International Literacy Day

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literacy.jpg

It’s only been around since January 2003, but the United Nations System has put a great amount of effort in building this annual observance. I might have to go over to the Alabama Literacy Council Used Book Shop to buy that Iain Pears book I should have bought Friday night during ArtWalk… you know, just to honor ILD.

Books, Publishing and Birmingham