Saturday Miscellany—12/11/21

I feel bad not having an introduction of sorts this week (I remember when I didn’t do that at all, but that was a while ago), but I really don’t have anything on my mind today. And then I started thinking that if I’m not careful, I’m going to end up as the bookish equivalent to a recipe blog that makes you slog through a thesis on the history of potpourri or finding just the right pillow for their dog or whatever before getting to the ingredient list. And who wants that?

Oh look, I found an introduction. I never said that I wanted a good one. I’d better shut up and make with the links.

that caught my eye this week. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:
A Double Loss: Ford and Waterman—there were something special about G. M. Ford’s Leo Waterman books, I’ll miss them.
A novelist says fake editions of his works were listed on Amazon as centuries old, with one $7 book going for $1,008—what?
Bookstores are dying. Barnes & Noble’s pricing policy may help explain why.—again, I say, what? (this feels like I’m starting an Amber Ruffin sketch from Late Night)
PEN America Calls Out Texas School District for Banning Eleven Books—you know, I might (might) feel a teensy-weensy bit better about this wave of School Book purges if there was even one book on this list that punched Left.
Of course, it’s spreading…Iowa legislators target books and teachers for upcoming session
The 101 Best Book Covers of 2021—I usually enjoy this list, but the overwhelming majority of these didn’t do anything for me. There are some worth checking out though–and I’ve spotted those in the wild (and have been led to at least read the back of the book)
The Curse of Englishness: Why Every British Thriller Is Also a Black Comedy
How Can You Be A Fantasy Author If You Flunked Creative Writing Class? – An Origin Story by Thomas Howard Riley
Humor in Books, and Other Places, Too! An Interview with Jamie Jackson—Lockhaven’s starting a series of interviews along these lines (I meant to drop a link to the first one, with Camila Sortica AKA Blackbird (@Bbird_26), back when it posted, too).
Exclusive Cover Reveal: The Broken Room by Peter Clines—Nice interview to go along with that reveal, too.
The #R3COMM3ND3D2021 series over at Damp Pebbles keeps chugging along, expanding TBRs of all who read the posts. The posts over the last week were:
Book Blogger Sarah Swan
Book Blogger Lynne aka Fictionophile
Bookstagrammer Zoebeesbooks
Book Blogger David
Book Blogger Anne Williams
Book Blogger Kate
Let’s Talk About Mood Reading
Quotables: Words that Stuck with Me- 2021—This is a great collection over at Witty and Sarcastic Book Club. It’s inspired me to start something in 2022, too, that will absolutely be the most blatant rip-off (but will hopefully be thinly disguised enough that I can get away with it).

That I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon. This looks like it’s going to be a slim month for new releases, but at least it starts off promising:
Risen by Benedict Jacka—As I whinged about Wednesday, I didn’t get this on time. So I can’t link to my (expected) tear-filled rave about the last Alex Verus novel, so check in mid-week next week for that. In the meantime, go procure your own copy.
Family Business by S.J. Rozan—a new Lydia Chin/Bill Smith mystery? I’m in, even before reading about it: “The death of a powerful Chinatown crime boss thrusts private eye Lydia Chin and her partner Bill Smith into a world of double-dealing, subterfuge, murder, and—because this is New York City—real estate”
The Liar’s Knot by M. A. Carrick—the follow-up to The Mask of Mirrors is out. I’m honestly a bit intimidated about diving back in to this world, but I imagine it’ll be worth it.

I’d like to say hi and extend a warm welcome to Peat Long who followed the blog this week. Don’t be a stranger!