Saturday Miscellany – 5/6/2017

Odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:

• Ebooks undermine your freedom and privacy — some thoughts on the problems and disadvantages of ebooks, some I shrugged at, others . . .
• Why you like the smell of old books — “the odors of the past are part of our ‘cultural heritage,’ as important to our understanding and connection with history — and as worthy of preservation — as the relics we can see and touch.” The number of articles on the smell of books I’ve read in the last couple of years is truly mind-boggling, and yet I keep finding them interesting.
• 2 startup founders quietly created the new ‘Oprah’s Book Club’ for millennials — and the publishing industry is obsessed
• Colts Andrew Luck has started a podcast – to talk about books — I know precious little about Luck (except for his appearances on Parks and Recreation), but this sounds pretty cool.
• Brontë Essentials: Six Modern Books Inspired by ‘Jane Eyre’ — This left off a couple (including my favorite — although Jane Steel is on my shelf, so who knows, I may have a new favorite).
• Dennis Lehane Can Relate to His Restless Characters — a nice little profile just before the new book hits shelves.
• 9 Ways Reading Is Good For Your Mental Health — blah
• How Long Did it Take Authors to Write Your Favorite Book?

A Book-ish Related Podcast Episode you might want to give a listen:
• The Once and Future Podcast Ep. 152: Seanan McGuire/Mira Grant was very interesting — two of my faves on one episode.

This Week’s New Releases I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
• Robert B. Parker’s Little White Lies by Ace Atkins — one of Atkins’ best Spenser novels, my blog post on it
• Cold Reign by Faith Hunter — Jane Yellowrock’s latest really rocked. Read my take on it.
• The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan — the 2nd installment of the Apollo’s search for redemption.
• The Best of Adam Sharp by Graeme Simsion — I had serious problems with this one, as you can read here, but there’s no denying that Simsion can write a compelling character (or two).
• Tune Up by Joe Klinger — Klinger was the 2nd author I interviewed, and his answers remain one of my favorites. I’ve had the predecessor to this sitting on my Kindle for over a year. Hopefully having this one on the Kindle, too, will get me moving.

Lastly, I’d like to say hi and welcome to J. A. Allen for following the blog this week.