LATEST Feature Articles
Having It All: A Website About Choices Women Face Today
by - Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Marguerite Dorn and Carol O'Day are the founders of a new website and consulting business that addresses the work-life and work-family balance that women face. Check out www.havingitall.com. It's the age-old modern dilemna: stay home to be with your children or leave them to keep a job? There are likely as many variations to this spectrum as there are women with families. Everyone's circumstances are different. Some things are within your control, many things are not. How do we, as a society, rate on the scorecard of motherhood? Join us at BookBuffet as we explore the business concept that two former power-house professional women are carving out for themselves to help make a difference for the rest of us, while they maintain balance in their own lives.
...More >>
LATEST Author Interviews
Author Interview: Kem Nunn
by - Thursday, July 24, 2008
Summer is here and all the folks at BookBuffet who have surfing on the brain decided to re-post an earlier interview [Nov 13 2004] with Kem Nunn, the legendary surf noir novelist. In addition to his own novel adaptations, Kem has a successful streak of screenplays to his name, Wild Things and his newest collaborations are with HBO Producer David Milch on the show "Deadwood" and he co-produced the HBO series "John from Cincinnati", a surfing series set in Imperial Beach, California which premiered on June 10, 2007. Kem spoke to BookBuffet about the third book in his surf-trilogy, Tijuana Straits, Random House (2004)
Feature Articles >>
What They're Up To Now: Writers We've Podcast
by
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Reading, researching and interviewing an author whose book comes across my desk for review at BookBuffet is a fun process. It's fascinating to be able to speak intimately with authors about: the source of their inspiration and characters, their methods of writing, the values they attach to their work, and who their mentors are. When it's time to say goodbye, you really feel as though you've gained some insight into an interesting life. So when we hear back from writers about their latest book, film or television projects, we love to share the updates with you. Here are (in alphabetic order): Zoe Archer, Joseph Boyden, Kit Bakke, Julian Fellows, Margaret MacMillan, Kem Nunn, Susan Orlean, Jonathan Safran Foer, Tracy Quan and Michela Wrong. Find out about their latest novels, tv pilots, babies, academic appointments, and life in general. We've been sent review copies of some of their new books and will give you a quick run-down.
....More >>
Book Reviews >>
"Stealing Athena" by Karen Essex, Doubleday 2008
by
Monday, July 28, 2008
BookBuffet reviewer, Dee Raffo enjoys the historical fiction genre. Here is her July book review: "As I pick up Karen Essex’s fourth novel, Stealing Athena: A Novel (Doubleday 2008) I am struck by its beautiful cover. It is an 18th century self-portrait by French painter Marie-Genieve Bouliard, as she envisioned herself as the Greek courtesan and philosopher, Aspasia. The cover certainly does match the dual narratives of the book, where two characters 2300 years apart, one in ancient Greece, the other, 18th century Scotland, find themselves inexplicably linked with the Elgin Marbles, and the controversy and passion that surround them."
....More >>
Publisher News >>
NYRB Is Having A Sale
by
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The New York Review of Books (NYRB) is moving offices from their current location to Hudson Street in Greenwich Village. Take advantage of the 40%-60% discounts on excellent titles not often available at these prices. Sale ends March 9th. Just browsing the list of fiction, translated fiction, essays and criticism along with other genres, I have pulled a few titles from my own shopping list. Aside from personal reading interests, it's always nice to have a few extra books on hand for gift occasions in the coming months; these are books suitable for most everyone. Learn more about this important literary and publishing force in America.
....More >>
Whistler Reads >>
Whistler Reads: James Bond 007 Fall Party
by
Monday, August 25, 2008
May 28th was the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond 007. To commemorate the date the Fleming estate commissioned renowned British fiction author, Sebastian Faulks to write a new novel for the series, released around the world in 21 languages amid a blaze of publicity not seen since the last Harry Potter book. It's titled Devil May Care (James Bond). It's the Whistler Reads pick for the summer, so members will have frivolous fun planning for the September 13th fundraiser and costume party! Are you a Bond Babe, a 007 Clone, or an Evil-Doer? Come prepared to shake and get stirred!Tickets are $125 with proceeds going to fund future WR events. Test your knowledge on the trivia quiz...
....More >>
Wine & Book Club >>
Wine & Book Group Pick for July & August 2008
by
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
I've always been a fan of Glen Gould. His playing of Bach and particularly the Goldberg Variations is like trance for the piano—starting at the first variation one is swept away in space and time. I always imagine that my math skills are subliminally being enhanced just by listening to the contrapuntal melody. The other fascination I have with Gould is hearing the stories of his unusual personality quirks. Declared a child prodigy by age three when he demonstrated perfect pitch, it is said that he could read a music score through just once and play the piece perfectly from memory. He had an obsession with his hands. He always wore gloves, even in summer, and never shook hands with people. He would stand for long periods of time at the sink running warm water over his hands. This month I'm recommending the Wine & Book Group pick-up a new book about this fascinating musical genius. (Your dinner conversations will sparkle and entertain even the most die-hard pop or rock fan.) A Romance on Three Legs: Glenn Gould's Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Piano borrows heavily on a previous biography on the artist, but it also tells the story of Gould's relationship with a particular piano and the blind farm-boy technician he relied upon to keep the instrument tuned to his grueling specifications. See what you think as you read further, and download Gould's music from iTunes as a wonderful accompaniment. For wines to go with this selection we've chosen a few delicious ones from the Niagara escarpment wine growing region of Ontario. (Gould was a native of Toronto, not far away.) The area is as physically beautiful as this love story and the music. Enjoy!
....More >>
Author Interviews >>
Author Interview: CS Richardson
by
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
CS Richardson has worked in publishing for over twenty years. He is a multiple recipient of the Alcuin Award, Canada’s highest honor for excellence in book design, and a frequent lecturer on various facets of publishing, design, and communications. The End of the Alphabet: A Novel, published by Doubleday Canada, is his first novel and it has just been awarded the Commonwealth Writers Prize for A Writer's First Novel. Congratulations Scott!! [interview Feb 2008]
....More >>
Technology Corner >>
Mapping Authors Through Literature-Map.com
by
Monday, August 25, 2008
Here is another creative technology websites that uses a unique mapping system to help readers find, compare and explore published authors. It's called www.literaturemap.com and it works like this. Type the name of any writer you wish to research. The site will come up with a page listing that writer's name as well as all the writers whose work is similar to them. The closer the names appear to each other, the more alike their body of work is supposed to be, and the more likely - it is said - that you will enjoy the style, subject matter or body of work of the close relation. TRY IT! I entered John Irving and got this.
....More >>
Events >>
Vicious Circle Hosts Whistler Writers Festival 2008
by
Thursday, August 21, 2008
The Vicious Circle Writing Group hosts The Whistler Writers Festival each September, and the marketing blurbs by Lisa Richardson just keep getting better and better. This year they have a host of classes planned on Saturday, Sept. 13th. Check out the 7th annual lit-fest offerings: 15 different seminars in fiction, non-fiction and magazine, and memoir/writing from life streams, with free sessions as well as ticketed events starting from $20. Participants can dabble and cross-genres, or devote a day to a particular focus. If the course content is half as entertaining as the creative titles - you'll be in for a treat! I recommend Shena Lambert's class. Shena attended BookBuffet's four author panel discussion last April. It's great to have her back in Whistler again!
....More >>




























