Suspend Your Disbelief

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trailers for books

by Anne Stameshkin

In the workshop I’m teaching we’ve been talking a lot about the difference between writing for the screen and writing for the page — the advantages of each medium and how to “translate” scenes from one to the other. Tangentially, we wondered if a lion roared or a castle illuminated or a fanfare erupted just before we opened a book, would that make us even more thrilled to begin reading? No wonder sitting in a theater feels more exciting — to most — than turning to page 1. (Caveat: I think if you have the memory of opening many rewarding […]


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tonight: NYC LitCrawl

by Anne Stameshkin

New Yorkers, tonight is your chance to get liquored up in bookish style. I’m talking about the first NYC LitCrawl (an off-shoot of San Francisco’s famed LitQuake ). FWR Contributor Lee Goldberg’s Guerilla Lit Reading Series is curating one of the events, a reading by Tao Lin and Nicole Audrey Spector (7:15 at Solas – East Village: 232 East 9th Street). San Franciscans, you get to enjoy LitQuake events from October 3-11, 2008. Check out the schedule.


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Banned Books Week: September 27-October 4, 2008

by Anne Stameshkin

Every year, hundreds of books are challenged at libraries, bookstores, and schools across the United States. Banned Books Week is an annual opportunity to celebrate our freedom to read–and to rally for uncensored access to great literature. Bookstores and libraries are sponsoring exhibits and events to raise awareness; find out what’s happening near you on the Banned Books Week site. Some NYC events include displays at the Inwood branch of the New York Public Library and Hunter College Libraries. Additionally, the Hunter College Library blog will feature posts on banned books throughout the week. The American Booksellers Foundation for Free […]


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weekly dream cast: Netherland / book giveaway

by Anne Stameshkin

EDIT 10-3-08: This competition is now extended through OCTOBER 31, 2008 to give Netherland fans a chance to ponder the perfect cast. In the meantime, tell FWR what books you’d like to see in future dream-cast competitions by commenting here. Every Friday, FWR lets you dream-cast a film adaptation of a widely-read book. First up: Joseph O’Neill’s critically acclaimed Netherland. Who would play Hans? Chuck? Rachel? Jake? Eliza? Any smaller characters? [For the hardcore film people out there: who would write the screenplay? who would direct?] Comment with your picks by 10 PM this Sunday night (Sept. 28) and be […]




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