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The immortal words of Veruca Salt perfectly capture my mood once again. It’s unfortunate to identify with her, but it’s true.Last night I finished reading the 2nd book in a trilogy. The third book isn’t out yet. For that matter, … Continue reading →

Behold the mighty QR code. The internet recently turned over this little nugget above. (Which) I think is safe enough to say, the proof that we’re living in the dystopia that we’ve come to expect. Or at least the start/middle … Continue reading →

Congratulations are in order for Mr. Todd Natti who wrote the book review for Erik Larson’s, In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin in our May 2011 issue. As you can now read … Continue reading →

This weekend only one adaptation, Andrea Portes’ novel Hick, is being released. I don’t know much about the story or director Derick Martini. Still, I have to assume the adaptation will be fairly true to the story, because Portes herself … Continue reading →

You never really have to say good-bye to an author, and thank God for that. Maurice Sendak’s death is an incredibly sad event for so many people, I won’t even try to quantify them. Luckily for all of us who … Continue reading →

Happy weekend, everyone. As I gather the adaptations for the week, I find myself in a troublesome place. Does The Avengers count? Some super hero movies definitely do. Watchmen, for example, is quite clearly adapted from a graphic novel. Christopher … Continue reading →

I was watching t.v. a few minutes ago, and I saw a commercial. Not surprising. When I heard Iris Johansen, I assumed it was for a new series based on her books. It just didn’t have the movie ‘feel.’ But … Continue reading →

This piece in The Atlantic about book reviews is worth a read: Book Reviews: A Tortured History Personally, I understand why authors react badly to bad reviews. After all, this is their livelihood, and if they sent something off to a publisher, they … Continue reading →

And the prize for fiction goes to….ahh. I think I hear crickets. Continue reading →

A few weeks ago I blogged about the allure of reorganizing my books autobiographically, and today I read a piece about organizing books in a different way, and one of the problems that I think confronts a lot of compulsive … Continue reading →

“It’s no accident that my first novel was called Americana. This was a private declaration of independence, a statement of my intention to use the whole picture, the whole culture.” -Don DeLillo
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Much like Hulu+, Netflix and now my local video store, you can get multiple magazines delivered to your tablet for one flat monthly fee. Continue reading →

Continuing in the conversations started by the overwhelming popularity of The Hunger Games, I dedicate today’s post to responding to someone else’s argument. In the NYT opinion section, I found a but of invective arguing that adults shouldn’t read YA … Continue reading →

As everyone probably knows, the whole country is exploding with Hunger Games mania. That’s cool. When teenagers are happy, the whole world is happy, right? Ok. Maybe not. But it probably helps. And of course, lots of other people are … Continue reading →

This weekend is the big one. But I’m not going to start with that. Instead I’m going to start with a limited release running in NYC and LA. Which, incidentally, was the universal release choice of studios for every movie … Continue reading →

The minds behind the Harry Potter movies are diabolical geniuses. Geniuses. In September they’ll release a set of all 8 movies. But not just the generic boxed-set most movie series or TV series get. No, this is a special set. … Continue reading →

National Poetry Month is coming soon. Very soon. In 11 days, to be exact. But for those of you who just can’t wait, or might be reading DAMblogs from afar, today the whole world gets to join in on the … Continue reading →

There are no new adaptations on the horizon this weekend, but there is this:

When Rob Gordon reorganizes his record collection after his girlfriend leaves, he doesn’t do it alphabetically. He doesn’t do it chronologically. He does it autobiographically. If I want to find the song “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac I have to remember … Continue reading →

In High Fidelity, Rob Gordon asks, “Do I listen to pop music because I’m depressed, or am I depressed because I listen to pop music?” In the last few weeks that quote has popped into my head literally every time … Continue reading →

Everyone is getting in on the adaptation fun that is this weekend at theaters. I walked into Barnes and Noble today only to find an array (no seriously, a whole array!) of John Carter reprints. And at the library a … Continue reading →

I feel like Helene Hanff (and I may have to go into that obsession some other time) saying this, but I’m adding this bookstore to my list of places I need to visit in England. And if you haven’t read … Continue reading →

This weekend you can see four books come to life on the big screen, but in only three movies.

Warning: this post is political. If you are offended, I apologize. These are simply my observations. If I point only to the flaws in one party, it is because that is the party I see reflected in literature (specifically literature … Continue reading →

Only one new release this week comes from the world of books.

Follow the link to read authors’ opinions on what happens when Hollywood takes over. This is on of my obsessions in life, and a question I always ask when I see an author in person. Apparently Charlotte Philby at The … Continue reading →

Part 2 of the movie version of Atlas Shrugged is officially on it’s way. Check out the trailer. What do you think?

This weekend brings two adaptations to a theater near you, both international.

Because it is, in a word, addictive. And in a second word, shameful. It’s been a week, everyone. ONE WEEK. One week since that fateful day my sister challenged me in ‘Words with Friends,’ and I have spent so many … Continue reading →

Ahhh, Valentine’s Day. Is there any holiday that stirs up so many mixed emotions? People love it, people hate it, people just wish it was over. It confuses many and costs money and makes the whole country look like it … Continue reading →

Here’s what’s happening in theaters this weekend.

Ah, Charles Dickens. Friend to many, terror to high school students everywhere, one of those authors people tend to love or hate. Personally, I’m in the ‘love’ column. Ever since reading A Tale of Two Cities my freshman year of high … Continue reading →

There is news in the world of books today, news about a new battle between book giants. Much of the attention over the last few years has gone to the plight of independent bookstores and the grim realities they face … Continue reading →

Check this out: a new app combines some of the best things about digital media with some of the best things about life. Original music, original writing and illustrations, a fairy tale and hidden gems on each “page” of the … Continue reading →

It seems like almost every new release this weekend is an adaptation, which is good news for people who love a good book brought to life. Or a short story.

Warning: This may be the coolest thing ever. If you visit Etsy, the internet home of almost everyone who hand-makes anything, you will find many book-lover appropriate items for sale. Possibly the best of these are the dolls sold by … Continue reading →

If you’re a fan of Carlos Ruiz Zafon, I bring you exciting news. If you’re not a fan, go immediately to your closest bookstore, library or tablet device and acquire the novel Shadow of the Wind. Here’s the news: The … Continue reading →

Will put a smile on your face in 1 minute or less.

While there are no new adaptations coming out this weekend, it is Friday the 13th, which just begs you to stay home and watch some classic horror films. So the obvious solution is to watch horror movies with a literary … Continue reading →