Friday Round-Up

Each week I round-up all the (mostly book-related) articles/blog posts/book reviews/websites/videos that entertained me during the week. Enjoy!

Children's Books

Adorable children's book trailer.

Articles 

Autostraddle gives me one more reason to hate New Jersey & FOX news but to love Sherman Alexie. Read Autostraddle's article, "Conservatives Can't Handle the Reading Rainbow, "Lesbian Orgy" Books Taken Off NJ Summer Reading List", then go read Sherman Alexie's eloquent and passionate Wall Street Journal's Speakeasy article "Why the Best Kids Books Are Written in Blood".

• "I write books for teenagers because I vividly remember what it felt like to be a teen facing everyday and epic dangers. I don’t write to protect them. It’s far too late for that. I write to give them weapons–in the form of words and ideas-that will help them fight their monsters. I write in blood because I remember what it felt like to bleed."

Why Accredited Colleges Online should have this list, who knows, but check out "20 Celebrities With Stunning Home Libraries". While you're there, you might as well also check out "11 Literary Friendships We Can Learn From" - not so much for the learning but for the literary friendships themselves.

An interesting selection of books recommended on the Rosie Says blog: "Books for Dudes by Chicks".

On the topic of book lists here are "10 Books for a Summer Field Trip". I've requested Turn Right at Machu Picchu by Mark Adams from my library.

For a laugh - "40 Publishing Buzzwords, Cliches, and Euphemisms Decoded" as compiled on the blog One Minute Book Reviews.

Essay/Short Story

An oldie but a goodie - a 2003 piece Sherman Alexie wrote for The New Yorker entitled "What You Pawn I Will Redeem".

Company

Booktracks is a new company that has developed a way for e-readers to have soundtracks. Read about their new start-up here. This may almost be worth getting an e-reader for. Almost.

Scout Books: Little Books for Big ideas

Videos 

This video hits two categories in one: Typography & Book Trailer of the Day 

Okay, 2nd Book Trailer of the Day



Just one more reason got love Jane Lynch.

And last but not least, just one more reason to love Dorothy Allison as she talks about why being a writer still matters.