Snippets

By Kathleen Bolton  |  December 7, 2009  | 

Writerly news from around the Intertubes.

The New York Times has decided upon their 100 Notable Books of 2009

The Book Review has made these selections from books reviewed since Dec. 7, 2008, when we published our previous Notables list. It was not easy picking the winners, and we doubtless made mistakes. To the authors who made the list: congratulations. To the equally deserving ones who did not: our apologies.

Well, okay then. If you want to know what our cousins across the pond think are the Best Books of 2009, click the link for Publishers Weekly’s list.

Also at PW, a review of CONFESSIONS OF A FIRST DAUGHTER! And it’s a nice one, too. Aww.

It’s a year old, but I’ve stumbled upon Sarah Weinman’s, in her words, “highly subjective” report card of publisher’s imprints. If you’re as confused over some of the bajillion imprints out there, this series is for you (caveat: she’s a crime thriller author, but though she focuses on that genre, the overall report card is useful). She starts with Macmillan and is followed with Simon & Schuster. I’m fascinated by this shizz.

Borders Books continues to struggle. Borders UK is near collapse.

Pardon the following Bronte fangirling, but it looks like Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre film projects have been greenlighted, due to the popularity of the Twilight movies:

The Brontës are back in fashion – with a bit of help from Bella Swan. New films of Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre will shoot next spring, and a script about the teenage fantasies of the four Brontë siblings is in the works.

The film-makers are piggybacking off the success of the Twilight saga, which has sparked a renewed enthusiasm among financiers for gothic romance; the Brontës in particular. Wuthering Heights is one of Twilight heroine Bella Swan’s favourite books, frequently referenced in the third episode Eclipse, whose storyline is inspired by Emily Brontë’s only novel.

Sure BBC has been covering this action for years, and very well too, but it’s time for big screen lush adaptions of both, imo. I’ll be at midnight showings of these films. Cannot WAIT!

Write on, my friends.

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5 Comments

  1. Kristan on December 7, 2009 at 10:21 am

    Yay, congrats on the PW review! It IS a nice one!

    Also, I think it’s awesome that Twilight (which people disdain left an right, many without even having given it a chance) is spurring a resurgence in classic literature. I don’t think Meyer would deign to call her books part of any canon, BUT I think as a literature major/lover, she would be OVERJOYED at helping to bring young readers to old books.
    .-= Kristan´s last blog ..I’ll always miss Gambier, Ohio =-.



  2. Emma J on December 7, 2009 at 2:40 pm

    Okay, I will eat everything I’ve ever said about the Twilight “books”/”films” if the net result is a big, new, beautiful and brooding Wuthering Heights! and bonus Jane Eyre!



  3. Ray Rhamey on December 7, 2009 at 3:48 pm

    That was a fine review! Congratulations.



  4. Therese Walsh on December 7, 2009 at 10:27 pm

    Woot! Awesome review, Kath!



  5. Kathleen Bolton on December 8, 2009 at 2:11 pm

    Aww, thanks Therese and Ray!