Articles from July 2005

And For Those Not Thoroughly Sick Of The Topic

July 31st, 2005 · 5 Comments

In our proposal for adding a small levy to every used book sale, we noted that other models for this type of fee exist. Many countries in the world assess a fee on blank media, assuming that these items will be used on copyrighted materials. The basic theory is that blank CDs or DVDs will […]

File Under: Square Pegs

In Which We Present Another Viewpoint

July 31st, 2005 · 1 Comment

There must be something in the Kool-Aid this week — all sorts of talk about used book sales and related issues are floating through the Internets. While we remain perfectly content with our proposal and our belief system, we feel it’s important to present another point of view. We believe you can never have too […]

File Under: Square Pegs

Further Thoughts On Free Books

July 28th, 2005 · 5 Comments

We have simples rules for buying used books: the author must be dead or the book must be out of print or unattainable through normal retail channels. While we rarely borrow books, we do loan them, having learned that all it takes is matching the right reader with the right author for future happiness. In […]

File Under: Square Pegs

Another One Takes The Plunge

July 27th, 2005 · Comments Off on Another One Takes The Plunge

Our friend Bella Stander has succumbed — yes, she’s supplementing her already busy life with a blog. It will give her something to do when she’s not doing the million other things she does. Bella will be providing commentary on “writing, publishing & a bunch of other stuff”. Given her inaugural entries. . . I […]

File Under: Books/Mags/Blogs

The Boston Globe Jumps On Trend. Late.

July 27th, 2005 · Comments Off on The Boston Globe Jumps On Trend. Late.

We have some bad news for the Boston Globe: the party shut down about three months ago. It is no longer appropriate to write a story about any subtitle relating to changing the world. We cannot be sure, but we believe we banned further discussion. Carry on. The story that changed the world – How […]

File Under: Square Pegs

Droit de Suite – A Modest Proposal

July 26th, 2005 · 8 Comments

It is an interesting thing that artists do not benefit from their works beyond the first sale. With certain notable exceptions — residuals in the motion picture industry and music publishing royalties come to mind — you get one chance to make a dime off your work. Thereafter, it can change hands, for profit, as […]

File Under: Square Pegs

Things To Do While On Hold

July 25th, 2005 · 4 Comments

Sometimes we must go with the flow, or at least distract our mind from really, truly, horribly bad almost-pop music while waiting for the next operator (our call is really important to someone, just not entity we’re calling). Thus we bring you yet another story about women and book sales. It’s our last one this […]

File Under: Square Pegs

It’s Still Safe To Be A Michael

July 25th, 2005 · 8 Comments

Sometimes, stories make the rounds on the Internets and we just sit back and wonder what people are thinking. Or perhaps these are cases where we should worry that people are thinking at all. Sometimes it’s better to disengage the brain. Print-on-Demand publisher Lulu.com has scored a nice bit of publicity by issuing a press […]

File Under: Square Pegs

Life, And How To Live It

July 25th, 2005 · 1 Comment

We attended two distinctly different dinner parties this past weekend yet faced the same problem. At each party, one guest (Party A, 11-yeard old girl; Party B, 40-something man) wanted to Talk About A Book, or, rather, The Book. This was impossible — we were safely contained under a cone of silence — because, well, […]

File Under: Books/Mags/Blogs

John Irving’s World of Fiction: Almost As Bizarre As Reality

July 22nd, 2005 · 2 Comments

We have a friend, who, when encountering yet another ridiculous moment in life, says, “You can’t make this stuff up.” It is true that nobody would believe things that happen when some humans get together. Thus is the beauty of John Irving’s work — he comes very close to the stuff of real life. It […]

File Under: Books/Mags/Blogs