LITERANISTA Dialogue on Multicultural Books, Tech & Life

Literanista July 24, 2008

Retail Therapy and a laugh a day should theoretically be enough to keep someone happy. At least it used to be true for me. Watching Superbad the other night (way past, my bed time, I might add) and laughing really hard, out loud and unfortunately by myself – It dawned on me after feeling a tad self conscious for doing so that it had been a long time since I had laughed so genuinely and hard.

This realization made me feel sad, especially after hearing this song that had the lyrics “remember to laugh everyday.” After feeling somewhat overwhelmed lately, I’ve been doing a lot of shopping and while I feel thrilled at the thought of all my scores (CK sunglasses to replace the ones I lost, a pair of Joe’s Jeans, a Michael Kors watch, a leather blazer – much like the one I wore down to strips in college)I also feel down about not being able to contain my shopping addiction and not saving money.

Add in to the mix, that I haven’t been to the gym in ages or eating right or able to get up early enough in the mornings to write and do things before I leave the house or blogging or seeing my friends more often or doing most of the things I need to do to be healthy and happy. So I just feel down and frustrated and these thing just make it a spiral downward.

I even feel frustrated by my ever-growing book pile, I guess I should read this how to overcome book fatigue. Right now though, I am reading Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith and it’s just as good as everyone is raving.

Take a look for yourself:

The other day I ventured into the public library to get some books for my SO’s son’s summer reading list. I had forgotten the feeling of of getting books from the public library – that feeling of successfully finding the book you wanted without bothering the librarians, of getting access to the books for free, of browsing all the pamphlets and community papers.

They even have a Summer Reading website where kids can log their books and post their reviews, how cool is that?

Speaking of cool reading, you know have the opportunity to read By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept by Paulo Coelho, just click here. He also has a facebook page where he posts pretty actively: Facebook.com/pages

In other news, Telex from Cuba was featured on the cover of the New York Times Book Review: NYTimes.com.

If you’re looking for stuff to do the http://www.nylatinofilm.com/ ends this weekend!

FictionDB is now free and check out Mygazines where you can read and browse any magazine for free.

And, you know you’re a nerd when you get really excited about something like this: 100 Unbelievably Useful Reference Sites You’ve Never Heard Of

So what? – I’m a cute nerd!

I’m super psyched about the new openbook widgets at relaunched Hachette Book Group USA site: www.hachettebookgroupusa.com/books_open-book.aspx

Check out how you can post browse-able book widgets to any blog or site:

Tell me that’s not the bomb!

Everyone’s been discussing this book and now you can get your ears on it for free: The World Is Flat by Thomas Friedman. Sign up at Thomas Friedman’s website.

Here’s a newer book on the subject:

Audible.com is also having a great sale on audiobooks at 50%-70%. Hook that iphone up!

or catch up on those summer reading list on your ipod:
freeclassicaudiobooks.com

Yesterday, I came across this YouTube for Toddlers: http://www.totlol.com/ and thought it adorable.

I also found bookadventure.org at Reginalewis.com/category/blog. “(a site by Sylvan Learning Center), children (K-8) can create personalized story lists from over 4,000 recommended titles. Kids click to check the boxes with topics they are interested in, i.e., animals, art, fairy tales, history, sports. The idea is to then print the list and bring it with you to the library.

Once they’ve read the books, kids can take quizzes and earn prizes for comprehension. The prizes are sent out by site sponsors and as you might expect, include books, bookmarks, etc. “

If sci-fi is more up your alley, check out us.macmillan.com/TorForge.aspx. I was very impressed by their site. They are having a freebie bonanza here

Damn, there’s more I wanted to post but it’s all escaped me now.