Just Another Literary Lizard

Kevin Kelly suggests avenues of revenue as digital media become essentially free. His take is pretty solid, from my perspective, and it seems to fit with a lot of the demographic research being done on ways people use technology. It seems as the method of recording becomes less valuable, there will need to be shift in how the creatives are compensated. I’m still processing the implications. (via the Penguin Blog)

Bookmooching mean I have presents arriving randomly, depending on the postal service. Each time I open a package, it is always a pleasant surprise. Today found the following on my doorstep:

• The Child that Books Built by Francis Spufford- I’m interested in this topic because I believe I was character and view of the world were as strongly influenced by the books I read as by the people in my life
• No Place for a Lady by Barbara Hodgson - long-time item on my wishlist and will be added to my picture-books for grown ups collection
• The Ransom of Russian Art by John McPhee- an unexpected gift from a friend

Treasures, treasures everywhere.

I received a pair of beautiful leather boots for Christmas. The weather has been so snowy and/or wet, I haven’t had a chance to wear them. They sit, sad and lonely, in their box. The groundhog sees six weeks of winter yet. I may never get a chance to wear my poor boots.

I’m leading an online book discussion on The Scarlet Letter in a few weeks. I remember reading the book in high school and college, and I really enjoyed it. But I realized, flipping through last night, that I haven’t read it since. So many books, so little time.

Austen discussions are on hiatus until the last segment of Pride & Prejudice airs. So far, the discussions have been very successful. We spend surprisingly little time discussing the movie, and we focus on the book.