Book News: Great New Links, Why Lit Awards Matter, Books & Rap Music, and Ringgold Reads

I made some fabulous discoveries this week. First, I started using Tumblr, which I still don't entirely understand -- but I love it, nonetheless! It's microblogging (mini blogging, if you will), which means you can use it a little bit like a blog and a little bit like Twitter, all at the same time. But with video. And pictures. And links. I'll let you know more as I figure it out. (Note: if you look at my page via the link above, you will find... nothing. But you should join yourself, if only to follow other people. I may post on there occasionally, as well.)

Also, I've started using Pinterest with a passion. Now this site, I love. And I've been active on it. So you can see all sorts of things I "pinned" on my Pinterest site. Well, a few things. But there will be more!

Finally, I have discovered all sorts of new sites to use for Friday Book News posts. Rebecca at The Book Lady's Blog does a podcast called Bookrageous, and this week she and her fellow podcasters focused on un-book reading (you know, reading on the interwebz and such). At the end, they shared their favorite links for un-book reading, many of which related to books and book news. Thus, several additions were made to my Book News Links on Delicious. Check them out if you are interested!

With the Booker Prize longlist recently announced, a writer on The Millions (a fabulous new-to-me site from the above-mentioned podcast) discusses why literary awards matter -- or if they do. A perusal of The Millions also uncovered this gem of an article on plot and the Irish crime novels of Tana French, whose work I adore. The Millions also has (be still my heart) an entire section devoted to BOOK LISTS. Yep, it's pretty much my favorite new website.

Via the New Yorker's Book Bench blog, a photo for book lovers (and early rap lovers, perhaps) everywhere. It came from reddit, which is a great site if you can censor it for yourself so that you don't get offended; it's anonymous (or can be), which means people comment and post whatever they want. But it yields rare gems sometimes, and causes things to go viral on the internet.


In non-book, but related news, have you seen the YouTube video from Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in which he and Justin Timberlake team up to take on the history of rap? Fabulously funny (and also look at YouTube for part 2):

Book lovers can be funny, too, as evidenced by the latest Twitter literary "hashtag of the moment," via Publisher's Weekly. This week Twitterers who enjoy reading got crazy with the witty hashtag #bookswithalettermissing, changing both the title and the book's premise. Laugh your way into being late for something, as reading constantly-updated hashtags on Twitter can be time-consuming and work-reducing.

Speaking of work, I'm going to have to leave things right here -- with much book news left undiscussed -- and get back to it. School starts a week from Monday, with an open house next Tuesday and registration next Thursday. In short, I've got to get focused on finalizing things for school and getting my classroom together for a new school year. 

Speaking of school, one of my favorite book bloggers, Julie from Book Hooked, and one of my favorite southern authors, Susan Gregg Gilmore, have teamed up to help schools in need. Much of Ringgold, Georgia, was damaged by tornados last spring, with schools in the small town being severely affected. The duo is pushing for donors to help replenish the Ringgold schools' literature through Ringgold Reads. Visit their Facebook page or Twitter page for more information, or Julie's recent post on her Book Hooked Blog about Ringgold Reads.

Enjoy some un-book reading through the links above for your weekend. I will be continuing a review book I'm enjoying -- Good Catch by Tracy Ann Lord. I'll also be reading Patti Callahan Henry's Coming Up for Air and -- just in time for its paperback release this past week -- Susan Gregg Gilmore's The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove which has been on my bookshelves unread for far too long!