Found

Found: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

January 30, 2012

The iTunes store describes The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, the award-winning short film turned app-style eBook by William Joyce as “an interactive narrative experience that blurs the line between picture books and animated film. Inspired, in equal measures, by Hurricane Katrina, Buster Keaton, The Wizard of Oz, and a love for books, ‘Morris Lessmore’ is a story of people who devote their lives to books and books who return the favor.”

Wired called it a “game-changing eBook app.”

Check out this YouTube video for a preview of the app and learn more at their website.

Thanks to fan Kady Siobhan Smith for bringing this unique app to our attention.

Book People

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe – 3 ways

January 29, 2012


The Raven – read by Christopher Walken


The Raven – read by Vincent Price


The Raven – read by James Earl Jones

Weekend Reading

Weekend Reading (Jan 28-29) – Moby-Dick Toilet Paper

January 27, 2012


Moby-Dick typed out on toilet paper. On how this all came about, the creator said, “My friend and I once joked that toilet paper should have instructions printed on them for certain people. One day, the conversation grew from there and turned into a wager that I couldn’t (or wouldn’t) be able to type out a novel on toilet paper.”
Bidding for this item on eBay starts at $200 and ends Saturday, January 28th so there is not much time left. Reading in the bathroom has been taken to a whole new level.

Random Readings

Robert Burns and “Auld Lang Syne” @ The Morgan Library & Museum
December 9, 2011 – February 5, 2012

With manuscripts and letters of the great Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759–1796), rare printed editions, and audio selections, this highly focused exhibition explores the origins of a song that began as an old Scots poem and air and evolved into a globally shared expression of friendship and longing.
***
ATTENTION FANS! We are looking to make our “Weekend Reading” blog segment a weekly occurrence and we need your help.

If you know of any literary events happening in your area or if you are organizing something, please send us an email at fans@outofprintclothing.com, subject line (Weekend Reading) and you could be featured in our next post.

Book Things

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s advice to his daughter, Scottie

January 24, 2012

In 1933, F. Scott Fitzgerald included some fatherly advice at the end of a letter to his 11-year old daughter, Scottie.

Things to worry about:

Worry about courage
Worry about cleanliness
Worry about efficiency
Worry about horsemanship

Things not to worry about:

Don’t worry about popular opinion
Don’t worry about dolls
Don’t worry about the past
Don’t worry about the future
Don’t worry about growing up
Don’t worry about anybody getting ahead of you
Don’t worry about triumph
Don’t worry about failure unless it comes through your own fault
Don’t worry about mosquitoes
Don’t worry about flies
Don’t worry about insects in general
Don’t worry about parents
Don’t worry about boys
Don’t worry about disappointments
Don’t worry about pleasures
Don’t worry about satisfactions

Things to think about:

What am I really aiming at?
How good am I really in comparison to my contemporaries in regard to:

(a) Scholarship
(b) Do I really understand about people and am I able to get along with them?
(c) Am I trying to make my body a useful instrument or am I neglecting it?

With dearest love,

Daddy

(via Lists of Note)

Found

Found: The Great Gatsby – Nails

January 23, 2012


(via Flavorwire and The Literary Dilettantes)

If you have any Gatsby-related things (pictures, poems, drawings, etc), we want to hear from you. Please email us at fans@outofprintclothing.com and you could be featured on our blog this week leading up to the The Great Gatsby book club on Thursday, January 26th.

Book People

On This Date (1961): Robert Frost reads at JFK’s Inauguration

January 20, 2012

Robert Frost intended to read “Dedication”, a poem he wrote specifically for John F. Kennedy’s Inauguration in 1961. However, the glare from the sun bouncing off the snow made it impossible for Frost to read the typewritten text. Frost had to improvise and recited “The Gift Outright“, a poem he wrote in 1941 and knew from memory.

The whole text of “Dedication” is below. Read More »

Book Things

Found: Harry Potter Travel Posters

January 18, 2012

Caroline Hadilaksono created this series of Harry Potter travel posters to “promote the magical world as travel destinations to non-magical people.” You can purchase them here.

Which Harry Potter location or event would you like to visit or attend?

Book People

Toni Morrison talks Song of Solomon

January 11, 2012


On this date in 1978, Song of Solomon by Nobel and Pulitzer-prize winning novelist, Toni Morrison, wins the National Book Critics Circle Award. In the video above, Morrison talks about her motivation behind writing Song of Solomon. She explains how this story she had always heard growing up became the starting point for the novel. Morrison also explains why the book ends in 1963 and how myths always have a hint of truth to them.

Book Things

‘The Joy of Books’ – Books on the move!

January 10, 2012

Last year, we posted a video on our blog of books organizing themselves on a bookcase. Well, the people behind that video are at it again. They take us on a journey inside a bookstore at night when everyone has gone home and the books are free to move.

They say this about their new project, ‘The Joy of Books.’ “After organizing our bookshelf almost a year ago (http://youtu.be/zhRT-PM7vpA), my wife and I decided to take it to the next level. We spent many sleepless nights moving, stacking, and animating books at Type bookstore in Toronto (883 Queen Street West, 416-366-8973).”

Enjoy!

Book People

Remembering Dashiell Hammett


We remember Dashiell Hammett, who died on this date in 1961. He said of himself, “I’ve been as bad an influence on American literature as anyone I can think of.” Other authorities in the writing community would beg to differ.

“Dashiell Hammett is as American as a sawed-off shotgun… It is true that he is so hard-boiled you could roll him on the White House lawn.” –Dorothy Parker, The New Yorker, 1931

“Great crime fiction started with Hammett.” –James Ellroy

“Hammett is one of the best contemporary writers.” –Gertrude Stein

“Hammett was the ace performer… He did over and over again what only the best writers ever do at all.” –Raymond Chandler