We’re being made fun of. It happens. At least we’re being made fun of by the best.
I love McSweeney’s. We publish a few of their books: Mountain Man Dance Moves, The McSweeney’s Joke Book of Book Jokes and maybe some others I’m not aware of. So they can make fun of us (and really, the rest of the industry). But their website is one of my favorite digital destinations.
I happened upon a recent post today called “How to Title Your Novel” by Sarah Walker. I must admit, watching the stream of books we put out as a company each season, I’ve picked up a few patterns, and Ms. Walker has nearly picked them all out (except for one big one, in my opinion). Here’s a few tips gleaned from the piece:
No matter what the subject of your book is, the title should have the word alchemy in it…
Now, for the tricky part: we’re going to combine the word “alchemy” (or a derivation of it) with your favorite fantastical profession to form your title…
You could change it to Alchemist, and most people would be happy with that title. But you are not most people. You are better, so the title of your novel must be better. And here’s how: Insert either the word “daughter” or “wife” after Alchemist…
The only thing she missed is possibly the word “American.” Check out this list from this year and last year alone (granted, only two are fiction, but still.):
I’d make a list of the “Daughter” and “Wife” books too, but this post is already getting unwieldy. Here’s some fodder for you writers out there: When I was in college, my best friend used his grappling hook (which he got from NinjaDepot.com) to scale down into the windowed pit in the Law Quad. Down there, he found a lost frisbee which had a rendering of the Sun with a face on it, around which was written “The Junkman’s Daughter’s Brother.” Now THERE’S a title for ya. On your marks, get set…
Happy Friday, everyone! I’m not sure if it’s time, yet, for our Pet of the Month selection, but I was in need of some feline humor and thought you might be, too.
Celebrate the birthday of Charles Schulz, creator of Charlie Brown at your library on November 26th! A great display opportunity and plenty of inspiration for fun and games with your patrons.
And remember to check your local listings for A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING on ABC. (Although my personal favorite has always been IT’S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN.)
Leave a comment and tell us your favorite Charlie Brown tv special for your chance to win a free copy of PEANUTS ALL-STARS!
Popular among common read programs and a personal favorite of mine, author Firoozeh Dumas recently appeared on NPR’s All Things Considered and shared with listeners a few secrets for how to snazz up small talk.
Well! It’s good to be back! I’ve been in Peru for 11 days. As they say in my industry, it was “by turns” amazing and horrifying. One of the more “horrifying” parts was our “6 hour” bus journey from Puno to Cusco that actually ended up being 32.5 hours.
Luckily, I had my galley with me. I debated bringing it, since it’s a little hefty, but I’m glad I did, because it kept me laughing even when the situation seemed pretty bleak (and when I didn’t have my nose buried in Fodor’s Peru 3rd Ed.). I loved the first collection, Fierce Pajamas, in which I discovered humorist S.J. Perelman (whose pieces I obsessed over and photocopied and forced on people in college), and in this collection I discovered the brilliance of Simon Rich, Jack Handey, and Paul Rudnick while enjoying my old favorites Perelman, Woody Allen, George Saunders and David Sedaris. Don’t miss this one, just for laughs.
I always feel better listening to Suze Orman. She’s made me feel more confident about the state of my 401K despite the recent financial crisis and I’ve already thoroughly read Women and Money.
But I still don’t feel out of the woods, so what’s a newly wed to do? Read The Ultimate Cheapskate’s Road Map to True Riches by Jeff Yeager and visit his website for inspiring and entertaining advice! Jeff, who frequently promotes the use and support of public libraries in his book and other writing, conducted a series of book tours by bicycle around the U.S. this year which raised $2,000 for local libraries along his routes.
Booklist Online picked one of my personal favorites from this season yesterday for this starred review. “The Gone-Away World” was first recommended to me at ALA by one of our sales reps, but I probably would’ve picked it up anyway because the cover is so bright it could confuse flora-seeking bees. Finally, Booklist has made the right comparison: Catch-22. Heller and Harkaway have very much in common. My favorite novels tend to be intensely ambitious (Infinite Jest, The Fountainhead) and funny/serious (The Corrections, Everything Is Illuminated), and Nick Haraway’s neon whirlwind of a debut fits into both of those molds. With its biting political satire, “off-centre” British wit, and boundless energy, this is sure to be a hit with the young & literary. Perhaps the geeky as well. Not that I’d know…
Below is an interview (the first of three parts) with the author, Mr. Harkaway.
I’ve been one of the lucky ones so far to see Firoozeh Dumas, author of Funny in Farsi and Laughing Without An Accent, speak in person. She doesn’t just read from her hilarious memoirs, she could be a stand-up comic. Invite her to visit your library, school, or book festival! Contact www.barclayagency.com Her recent interview on NPR was buzzed about recently at ALA. For a guaranteed laugh and thoughtful discussion, listen here.
–Erica
About the Site
Resources for libraries from Random House, Inc. -- Breaking news, readers' advisory, recommendations, and more.
