• Online book shopping overtook in-store shopping in 2014. That’s a significant (if quietly passed) milestone.
• A couple of weeks ago I reported on an app that could sanitize ebooks. It didn’t survive long.
• The results of Book Riot’s 2014 reading habits survey. As they correctly indicate, the median number of 55 books consumed per year, or about one a week, is a more useful statistic than the average number of 70.
• Should Maine’s governor apologize to Stephen King? Darn tootin’.
• J.K. Rowling responds to some tweeted questions. She’s an INFJ—like me!
• The cover for Go Set a Watchman has been revealed. You can click on the link, or you can just glance to the left of this paragraph. The power of choice is in your hands.
• The Man Booker finalists have been announced.
• Omni Magazine has rebooted, but with a rights grab.
• Amazon is offering more review options on its title pages. Now readers have questions to answer, if they opt for the new system.
• James Patterson is increasing his library donation from $1.25M to $1.5M, citing heavy demand.
• Twenty bands named after classic literature. I’m familiar with The Doors and Steppenwolf. The others must have debuted after 1970, when music as I know it came to an end.
• An 18-year-old book club devoted to one book. And it ain’t hard to guess which one.
• The Bay Area Book Festival, taking place June 6-7, will bed down with Author Solutions. Oh, and don’t miss this exchange between an author and Publish America.
• They’re building a Dr. Suess museum in Springfield, Massachusetts, and I’ll be first in line.
• The art of the picture book barcode. Why aren’t we all doing this? I put it to you.
• Seattle Public Library becomes a “safe place” for teens. Why aren’t all libraries doing this? I put it to you.
• Finally, fake books planted in bookstores. My faith in human ingenuity is restored.
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