Pages

Saturday, August 31, 2024

The hunter-gatherers of the 21st century who live on the move

“It’s not the way to end it all. I'm old, and nearly blind,

And an old man's past's a strange thing, for it never leaves his mind.”


Literary fame is fickle and fleeting. So what makes a book endure? Lincoln Michel has a few theories... more »

The hunter-gatherers of the 21st century who live on the move aeon 

How heat affects the mind American Psychological Association 


Yes, corn can sweat. And it may be why hot Midwestern summers are getting more humid PBS.


Best new books for kids this fall, recommended by librarians - Washington Post: “When children are very young, they will — even if they’re wiggling — listen when a book is read to them. As they get older, this becomes more difficult, given the distraction of screens and other activities. What can parents and caregivers do? Keep trying. Also, give kids the chance to pick the books themselves. Fortunately, this fall’s crop of books for kids and teens offers some stellar possibilities. 

Looking for a World War II spy novel? See “The Bletchley Riddle.” For something funny, try “Jax Freeman and the Phantom Shriek.” Teens who relish horror or vampires should check out “Ruin Road” and “Immortal Dark,” while adolescent romance fans will swoon to “Twenty Four Seconds From Now.” And young picture-book lovers can choose silly, “The Man Who Didn’t Like Animals,” or thoughtful, “When You Find the Right Rock.”  So, let the choosing — and the reading — begin.”

See also Washington Post – What book should my child read next? A librarian offers suggestions. Hi, I’m Sylvie Shaffer, a children’s literature specialist living in Takoma Park, Md. Over the 15 years I spent working as a school librarian in the District, I noticed a lot of thematic repetition in questions from students, families and teachers. 

So, when The Washington Post recently solicited queries from readers, I prioritized answering those I thought would help the greatest number of families, teachers and young readers. I hope my advice is useful…”


Washington Post Kills Its Galleries Column


In an email sent to several DC-area art exhibition spaces on Monday, August 19, column author and critic Mark Jenkins announced the series would shut down after the last iteration runs in this Sunday’s print edition. - Hyperallergic

Artist and illustrator Andrew DeGraff makes maps that show where the characters travel during movies — imagine Billy’s trail maps from Family Circus but for films like Back to the Future, The Breakfast Club, Pulp Fiction, and Mad Max: Fury Road.

DeGraff collected these maps into a book called Cinemaps: An Atlas of 35 Great Movies


Best Australian 21st century books ?

       Another best-of-the-21st-century books-list is out, as The Conversation presents their Best Australian books of the 21st century: as chosen by 50 experts
       (And they let us know that we can look forward to a New Zealand version soon as well. Hey, every country should do this !)