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Bill Cosby has a new book out

Alan — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 05:37:06 +0000

The latest book from the multi-talented Bill Cosby’s is another social commentary but surprisingly it is a collection of humorous tales of varying lengths that are his own observations of his friends and family.

Ever insightful, Cosby writes about everything from religion to romance and introduces us to various characters from his life, such as Peanut Armhouse, who he grew up alongside in the Philadelphia housing project, his godzilla obsessed grandson and Bernadette, who was his first love.

The latter is particularly humorous and will have you laughing out loud at the tale of Cosby as a 15 year old and embroiled in a tale of catastrophe and cologne that can’t be soothed even by a Miles Davis LP. Another great tale is The Missing Pages, which effectively fills in the gaps on what was edited out of Genesis and how God really created the world.

Cosby even traces the DNA of Adam and Eve through to marriages in 2011, and with the accompanying hilarious illustrations courtesy of George Booth, this book is both charming and charismatic. Bill Cosby is now 74, and is loved throughout the world as a comedian, actor, musician, producer, activist and educator, and his first foray into humour since Cosbyology certainly doesn’t disappoint.

Nobody can tell a story like Cosby, there is so much life and vibrancy, from the way he pronounces names such as Peee-Nut, to the way in which he subtly exudes of the bygone era he comes from where things like voicemails weren’t even on the horizon. He reflects on the age of technology and notes that he grew up in the radio era and had no TV, but enjoyed trips to the movie theatres to watch westerns.

This is a quirky book that allows you to indulge in all the gifts that Cosby has bestowed on us during his career from his movies, TV shows, other books and comedy albums.

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Russell Hoban, Riddley Walker author has died

Alan — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 07:01:26 +0000

Russell Hoban, the cult author known for Riddley Walker, died this week aged 86 in London. Although Hoban was born in Pennsylvania in the United States, he resided in London for the past thirty years and made a name for himself in a children’s series about a badger named Frances. He is also well known for his novel The Mouse and His Child.

However, his most famous book was Riddley Walker which is the apocalyptic tale set in Kent two thousand years after a nuclear holocaust passed. The book was released in 1980 and since then has become a part of The Western Canon survey of literature.

Hoban first joined the US Army at age 18 and found himself posted in Italy during WWII where he earned a Bronze Star for his bravery. Later he came back to America and published his first child’s title as an illustrator. From illustration he moved on to writing, producing more than twenty children and adult books including the novel Turtle Diary, which was filmed along with a screen play by Harold Pinter and he even wrote a libretto for an opera.

In 2002 Hoban told his fans that he is simply addicted to writing and that the only way that he would stop writing is if he was physically unable to write anymore because art is what kept him alive. He went on to explain that he gets his rhythm from the energy of writing and had no plans of missing any chances to write over the next few years.

Hoban’s publisher Bill Swainson remarked that his passing is very sad and complimented the fine imagination of the writer that was well seen in almost every book he wrote, as his light touch was fun to read without one word wasted.

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JK Rowling did create Harry Potter after all

Alan — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 22:51:09 +0000

JK Rowling and Harry Potter have prevailed in yet another dramatic confrontation, this one being a seven-year court battle that involves big money instead of the forces of good and evil. The claim that author Rowling ‘borrowed’ elements of an earlier work by Adrian Jacobs (now deceased) for the fourth book in her best-selling series, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, has been dismissed for lack of funds.

The case was first brought to court in 2004, four years after the publication of Goblet of Fire, by the trustees of Jacobs’ estate. They claimed Rowling had based her ideas of wizards traveling on trains and having inter-school contests on similar context from a children’s book called Willy the Wizard, published to very little notice in 1987. The lawsuit did not mention any of the other books in Rowling’s Harry Potter series.

Paul Allen, trustee for the Jacobs estate, sued both Rowling and her publisher Bloomsbury Press for about £660 million (based on the overwhelming success of the Harry Potter books). Earlier this year a judge in New York City denied the claim, saying that any comparison in the two works was ludicrous. Allen took the case to the U.K., where a High Court judge in London also noted that the claim was a bit far-fetched, and ordered the claimant to put up 65% of court costs before continuing the trial.

The first installment of that security deposit, close to £900,000, was due last Friday, 15 July, and it was not forthcoming. Therefore Mr. Justice Kitchin of the chancery division in the High Court has ruled the case dismissed in the U.K. This does not mean that Jacobs’ estate can’t take the suit to another jurisdiction in a different country, and there is speculation that the claimants may do so, but according to all reports their odds of winning are negligible.

As well as the rather glaring dissimilarities between Adrian Jacobs’ Willy the Wizard and Rowling’s Harry Potter, Mr. Kitchin noted that the claimants’ behavior was unsatisfactory. A literary agent and a public relations executive associated with Jacobs’ estate allegedly tried to pressure Rowling and Bloomsbury into a settlement, with vague threats of large amounts of adverse publicity for the author and publisher.

JK Rowling has consistently denied that she ever saw Jacobs’ book before the suit was filed; she has said that the claim is ridiculous and unfounded. Her attorneys have stated that the whole lawsuit was a waste of time and money, and they are glad this particular court battle is at an end.

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J K Rowling goes it alone in the book world

Alan — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 02:07:21 +0000

Christopher Little, longtime literary agent for J K Rowling, is said to be saddened at hearing the news that the millionaire author has come to a decision to split company with him. He has worked closely with her since 1996 when he found her a publisher for her first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

Little has a very high regard for the Harry Potter author and her exceptional gift for story telling and is full of pride to have played his part throughout this incredible journey. He was taken aback when informed about the premature news concerning the proposed new arrangements.

Rowling has sold over 400 million copies of her books worldwide and has stated her choice has been upsetting but was taken with good reason. A statement announced on her behalf said she had, for some weeks, sought a different conclusion but the decision has now turned out to be unavoidable.

A new website, Pottermore, was launched last month by Rowling and features unpublished Harry potter material. She told the BBC this is in response to questions fans have posed over the years. The website includes an online store where fans can, for the first time, purchase Potter e-books and this will commence in October.

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Suzanne Collins and Lee Child join Amazon’s Kindle Million Club

Alan — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 01:43:35 +0000

The Hunger Games author Suzanne Collins and Lee Child, thriller writer, became the fifth and sixth members of Amazon’s Kindle Million Club after each selling more than one million books on the high tech ebook reader Amazon announced.

Collins is the first writer of children’s works to enter the club. Her novel The Hunger Games from 2008 depicts Katniss Everdeen’s struggle for survival as the 16 year old girl takes her sister’s place in a face off to the death of teens and preteens that is aired on TV each year in Panem, a fabricated version of the US. There are 24 that enter the arena and one will walk out as the survivor.

Mockingjay concluded the trilogy of The Hunger Games this past August. Lionsgate will release in March of 2012 the movie version of the first book. She made it big with Gregor the Overlander about a New York City boy that discovers talking, giant cockroaches.

Child has 16 titles in the Jack Reacher series of thrillers that begins with Killing Floor that centers round Reacher, an army vet who enters a Georgia town and quickly gets arrested for murder, of which he is innocent. Stephen King awarded on 1997 awards for Best Exploding Warehouse and Best Corrupt Southern Town in the Summer.

The first author to sell one million books on Amazon’s Kindle was Stieg Larsson then came James Patterson, Nora Roberts and Charlaine Harris joined last month. The Kindle debuted in 2007 in November. Just two weeks ago Amazon announced that is customers are now purchasing more ebooks to be used for the Kindle than all prints books combined including hardcover and paperback.

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Three Cups of Tea lands author in hot water

Alan — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 04:40:56 +0000

In 2006 Greg Mortenson’s inspirational book “Three Cups of Tea” was published to mediocre response in the hard cover version, but word of mouth and website turned it into a multi-million dollar paperback best seller, with more than 3 million copies sold worldwide.

Last Sunday, the US TV show 60 Minutes reported on their investigation into the Central Asia Institute, Mortenson’s charitable organization whose function is to raise money for building schools in rural areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The report indicated that several discrepancies had been found in the information presented in “Three Cups of Tea”.

The website of the CAI claims that the non-profit organization has been responsible for building over 170 schools and helping to educate at least 60,000 children, with a special emphasis on the education of young females. The documentary alleged that quite a few of the schools Mortenson claimed were built by CAI do not exist, or were built by someone else. It also alleged that some of the funds donated to the cause may have been diverted to personal use.

“Three Cups of Tea” describes the founding of CAI as a result of Mortenson getting lost in the mountains of Pakistan; the kindness of villagers inspired him to go back and build a school. However, 60 Minutes said that porters accompanying Mortenson have denied that story, saying he was never lost, and only visited the village mentioned a year later.

Mortenson has denied all charges, stating that 60 Minutes based its claims on one U.S. tax return for the year 2009. BBC World Service reported that Mortenson had basically refused to discuss the matter, except for sending e-mails to his supporters. Mortenson had previously declined to meet with 60 Minutes investigators, stating that the report was ‘distorted’ and that the attitude of news personnel was ‘disrespectful’.

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Author fights against Singapore jail sentence

Alan — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 07:45:14 +0000

Alan Shadrake, author of Once a Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice in the Dock, was recently fined S$20000 and ordered to serve 6 weeks in a local correctional facility. Outraged and rubbishing the charges, he had launched an appeal to have the punishment overturned.

The book revolves around the death sentence in Singapore and the indiscriminate sentencing of certain suspects. The book was originally published last year and Shadrake, 76, was arrested soon after. The book also contains personal interview with ex-executioner, Darshan Singh.

This is but one of many such punishments levelled at those said to be criticising the judiciary of Singapore and, whilst the authorities contend that this is necessary to maintain the reputation of the city-state, human rights organisations are up in arms about the matter.

Amnesty International’s, Sam Zarifi, believes that Singapore is regressing in its freedom of expression policies and the jailing of authors such as Shadrake is just one example of this. Singaporean authorities need to find a more suitable response to critics of their policies.

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Alex Reid set to pen Katie Price book

Alan — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 17:35:05 +0000

Katie Price, former glamour model, has too many regrets over Alex Reid since January – Reid is preparing to tell all the morsels about their marriage.

Their marriage lasted a mere 11 months when Katie made it clear to all that she was quitting the marriage to the cage fighter last month. It is possible, according to the Daily Star Sunday that Reid will get into details about the sex life and even the nasty bits from arguments.

Alex has yet to secure a book contract, but he is going for it anyway by offering it to publishers starting at £1m.
One of his friends revealed, “This will be a hot book that you won’t want to put down. Alex will lay out everything in clear daylight. He believes this is the ideal time to publish this book, since everything is still fresh to the public. He really wants to tell all the gritty details between her and him.”

“Alex knows they will want him to tell everything he was subjected to. He loved her. However, not a day goes by he doesn’t wish he could reverse time.”

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New Enid Blyton novel discovered

Alan — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 07:03:09 +0000

Mr. Tumpy’s Caravan is a newly discovered novel believed to have been written by Enid Blyton. The novel was discovered lurking among other writings by the late children’s author.

The story is filled with the adventures of a magical caravan and is about 180 pages. The eldest daughter of the Blytons auctioned the set of writings in September, among which was the novel. The Newcastle Seven Stories book centre of children’s books bought the group of writings.

Enid Blyton passed away in 1968, but her writings are as popular today as ever, due to memorable figures such as Noddy, the Secret Seven, and the Famous Five. Her books have sold over 500 million copies globally. Even today, new versions reach 8 million copies every year.

The story focuses on a caravan that is alive on its own. Mr. Tumpy is accompanied by his dog, Bun-Dorg, and his friends as they face off with a dragon across the sea, trying to rescue the land of a princess.

The youngest daughter, Imogen Smallwood, revealed to BBC News, “There is a problem with this book, since another Mr. Tumpy cartoon book has already been in print from 1949.”

The writing has no date, but its address is the same as Blyton’s home prior to 1938. Hannah Green, archivist at Seven Stories, admitted she had discovered there was incongruence between the cartoon book and the mysterious typescript.

The cost for the whole batch Seven Stories purchased was around £40,000. In it were Secret Seven, Malory Towers, Famous Five, and Noddy. Seven Stories makes its mission to preserve and remind people of great British children’s writers. They have developed an activity centre for kids, a preservation location, and a gallery.

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Andrew Morton biography of Kate Middleton and Prince William

Alan — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 04:25:12 +0000

It has been reported that Andrew Morton, the man who wrote, “Diana: Her True Story” is already working on a biography about Kate Middleton and Prince William. This has been confirmed by his publisher who says the author has been quite thrilled to write about the couple, since he has been covering William from the time he was a child.

It is reported that the book is to be a fair accounting of the couple’s lives up to their marriage. It will feature many photos and it will discuss their individual relationships prior to becoming involved with one another.

Morton has reportedly been interviewing friends, acquaintances, and relatives for some time and has begun some deep investigation, as well. His book about Princess Diana, which was renamed, “Diana: Her True Story – In Her Own Words” after it was learned that she was a primary source for many of the book’s revelations, has sold more than one million copies in the UK alone.

Morton has written other books about celebrities such as Madonna, Angelina Jolie, Monica Lewinsky, and Victoria and David Beckham. His work is not without controversy, as he was the first to reveal the degree of unhappiness in Diana’s marriage to Charles and his obsessive fascination with Camilla Parker-Bowles. He was also sued by the Beckhams and settled under undisclosed terms.

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