Articles from July 2006

E-Readers — Perfection Not Required

July 27th, 2006 · Comments Off on E-Readers — Perfection Not Required

Last week (so long ago), we pointed you to a little piece from Engadget about the iPod and its possible future as an e-reader. Other than our fascination the weird phrasing associated with publisher compliance — “…according to a source at a major publishing house, they were just ordered to archive all their manuscripts — […]

File Under: The Future of Publishing

Hot, Hot, Hot

July 25th, 2006 · Comments Off on Hot, Hot, Hot

Against the will of its occupants, Chez Booksquare has decided to voluntarily participate in a series of rolling blackouts. We will try to eke out a Daily Square between outages, but do not have high hopes for much more than that. We’re then heading for the glorious city of Atlanta, where we understand the temperatures […]

File Under: Square Pegs

A Waste Of Ten Dollar Words

July 19th, 2006 · Comments Off on A Waste Of Ten Dollar Words

Yesterday, an associate noted that people often use a lot of words when they are trying to make themselves look smart. People also adopt stultifying, faux high-brow tones when trying to make themselves look smart. Nothing says, “I’m an intellectual and I’m okay” like cardboard toast writing. For those of you who have been wondering […]

File Under: Square Pegs

Burying The Lead

July 18th, 2006 · 5 Comments

We have been alternately amused and saddened by the Lev Grossman article in Time magazine — he is desperately seeking the voice of a generation. First off, let us make one thing absolutely clear: forty is the new thirty. Therefore, authors who are in their forties are really like authors of a previous generation in […]

File Under: Square Pegs

They Really, Really Want To Direct

July 17th, 2006 · 3 Comments

After several weeks of non-stop action (with, alas, several more to go), we are pleased to find something that tickles our snark-o-meter to the point that we actually chuckled. Before our first cup of coffee. Publishers want to get them some of that movie business swag, because while the devil wears Prada, Random House isn’t […]

File Under: The Business of Publishing

Not Your Grandmother’s E-Book

July 6th, 2006 · Comments Off on Not Your Grandmother’s E-Book

We have been amused by the rash of articles touting the the future of e-books. Everyone seems to be focused on the technology — all we need, they suggest, is the perfect reader, and the future it ours! — while nobody seems to realize that e-books are being purchased every day in grand numbers. It […]

File Under: Square Pegs

In Which We Encourage Reporters To Visit Bookstores

July 3rd, 2006 · 1 Comment

Forgive us, but we’re feeling a bit ranty this morning. We have long decried the lack of creativity in the news media. We realize that it’s not always the fault of the reporters, but we have to wonder why the press cannot be bothered to do a smidgen of research before writing “This Just In: […]

File Under: Square Pegs