Every Friday, the staff at Literary Traveler gathers up relevant book news from around the web, bringing it together in a handy post for book lovers to peruse. Enjoy!
- By now, most of us have seen the iPad, Apple’s newest entry into the gizmo canon, but our friends across the pond just got their first look today. As in America, this has led Brits to ponder the question: Will the iPad lead to a reading revolution? The Guardian ultimately decides that the iPad will be good for readers and writers – not necessarily publishers. Eventually, the iPad (and the Kindle and the like) will almost certainly change the way we purchase books, but it is not quite clear yet how this will play out, though Stephen Page does have some interesting ideas.
- Allen Ginsberg is best known for his work as a writer, but were you aware he was also a talented photographer? A voice of the beat generation, Ginsberg was committed to documenting his life through photos, 80 of which are now on show at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Curator Sarah Greenough explains that the “same ideas that infuse and invigorate his poetry… all of these things really help to invigorate his photography as well.” If you’re interested in checking out some of his visual art, click here.
- Like Alison Ford, I’m in complete and total awe of John Basinger, the man who learned every word to Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost. Basinger completed his task in 2001, but he can still recite all 12 books on command. Ford, jealous of Basinger’s success, decided to see what poems she could recall, and the list isn’t particularly long. Then again, neither is mine (however, I do know every word to “The Road Not Taken” and “Song of the Wandering Aengus. Though this comes in handy about as often as you may think). What poems, if any, can you recite?
- Finally, because we’re keeping it short and sweet for the holiday weekend, here are a few recommendations for your beach reading: 1. The L.A. Times bestseller roundup is a great place to start your summer reading list. It has everything from the fluffy to the slightly-less-so. 2. The New Yorker just published a new piece of short fiction by Jonathan Franzen, titled “Agreeable.” It’s the perfect Memorial Day read – highbrow enough not to be embarrassing, but interesting enough to keep you engaged. And with that, have a wonderful holiday, and check in on June 1st for our newest feature article.