by Steven W. Beattie

Sony Reader fails to wow them at WOTS

In addition to the numerous author readings, signings, and stacks of books for sale at yesterday's Word on the Street festival, which drew an estimated 200,000 people to Queen's Park in Toronto, there was a ... Read More »

September 29, 2008 | Filed under: Book news

Shinan Govani takes on Bennett’s blue bloods

By Steven W. Beattie

Gadfly and gossip-hound Shinan Govani takes novelist Jonathan Bennett to task in the pages of today's National Post, suggesting that Bennett's portrayal of the well-heeled, monied classes in his new book, Entitlement, misses the mark. ... Read More »

September 25, 2008 | Filed under: Authors

Controversial Bret Easton Ellis novel headed to Broadway

By Steven W. Beattie

With Wall Street suffering financial conniptions, prominent investment firms imploding like neutron stars, and American president George W. Bush organizing a $700-billion bail-out, it feels like the 1980s all over again. What better time to ... Read More »

September 25, 2008 | Filed under: Authors

Paul Quarrington’s new venture: cinÃ©aste

By Steven W. Beattie

Here's a slug this Quillblogger didn't expect to see: "A short film by writer/director Paul Quarrington." But, according to Open Book Toronto, (and as reported by Quill & Quire Omni this past summer) the acclaimed ... Read More »

September 22, 2008 | Filed under: Authors

L.M. Montgomery’s sad end

By Steven W. Beattie

For the second week in a row, the weekend brings news about the suicide of a well-known writer. Arguably as startling as the news last week that David Foster Wallace hanged himself at the young ... Read More »

September 22, 2008 | Filed under: Authors

American novelist David Foster Wallace dead at age 46

By Steven W. Beattie

Some sad news from over the weekend: David Foster Wallace, whose mammoth, 1,079-page novel Infinite Jest was included in Time magazine's list of the 100 best English-language novels from 1923-2005, was found dead of an ... Read More »

September 15, 2008 | Filed under: Book news

U.S. court rules print-on-demand services not liable in defamation cases

By Steven W. Beattie

A fight between two high-school cheerleaders has resulted in an American court ruling that print-on-demand services are not liable in defamation lawsuits. (Sounds like a plot twist on Gossip Girl...) The two cheerleaders, Ms. Calcagni ... Read More »

September 15, 2008 | Filed under: Book news

Another one bites the dust

By Steven W. Beattie

After 13 years in business, the last seven of which were spent at its current location on Maiden Lane in downtown Windsor, Works on Paper bookstore is shutting its doors for good. In an interview ... Read More »

September 8, 2008 | Filed under: Bookselling

Greek posties beat dead people and huge ships

By Steven W. Beattie

Proving (as if more proof were needed) that the proliferation of literary prizes is completely out of control, a book called Greek Rural Postmen and Their Cancellation Numbers -- which is sure to rocket up ... Read More »

September 8, 2008 | Filed under: Awards

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