Is it Possible to Get Enough of these Books?

There is a link to view the Coralie Bickford-Smith designed Penguin Classics in greater detail...these books seriously make me happy. Here is the link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26408069@N05/sets/72157609349507225/

The latest ones, seen above, are now available in the UK, and I have managed to find 5 of them at my local Chapters (Canada) for a paltry $14.99. In chatting with a sales person there, these books are wildly popular with upwards of 60 units per title being ordered. There are only a trickle of titles remaining from the first set - Kamoops and Sherwood Park are good locations for picking up some of that first set. What a find.

I tried to surprise my niece with a title from the latest offering - me thinking that with a new pregnancy, work, and distance from the city, that I could delight her with a copy of Little Women, in the mail. But no way jose...she was all over the new ones, and had one that I did not find...blast, as Sarra would say. Sorry Royall, but I sure did try.

My Iranian sister

Isn't this pretty? My sister-in-law, while on vacation on the Caspian Sea this last month, created this birdie in the sand. As a graphic designer she has designed book jackets and posters etc. She is lovely and super talented. I miss her:-(

We need our burdens lifted from time to time...

Click this link to see a sweet, tender video about the Saviours love for us.

Lifting Burdens

CM Love at Pigeon Lake

Just came home to some very sad personal news...truly tragic. I have upset sons, reflective and heavy hearted - not in our own family but close friends. Can't delve into that, but it has kept me thinking tonight about what I do with and through CM. I've been at my CM Pigeon Lake retreat (2/year) where not only do I work on my family's albums, stories and histories, but I have forged friendships with my peers and clients, that have been very long lasting, and important to me in my life in and outside of CM. Many of these ladies are dear friends that I have known for years now...as long as 15 years or so. I love them, and appreciate them. We have so much fun together, and we learn from one another. We laugh a lot all weekend, and this last one was no exception. It's balm to my soul and this Sunday evening, with my own heart heavy laden for dear, dear friends...I have drawn on that balm from the weekend. I hope that this week, I will be able to share some of that comfort and love with my friends who are hurting tonight. I am very thankful for my business, for the blessings it has brought in the form of lovely friends, as well as completed albums.

One Story - Birthday Sweetness

I love this idea!! My B-day gift from Sarra is a subscription to One Story...to be described below. This is a thoughtful and creative gift - I can't wait to curl up with the very first one.

I also received yummies from Lush, and a gift too fancy pancy to show here from Jared:-)

What?	One Story is a literary magazine that contains, simply, one story. Approximately every three weeks, subscribers are sent One Story in the mail. This story will be an amazing read. Each issue is artfully designed, lightweight, easy to carry, and ready to entertain on buses, in bed, in subways, in cars, in the park, in the bath, in the waiting rooms of doctors, on the couch in the afternoon or on line at the supermarket. One Story is available only by subscription.
Why?	We believe that short stories are best read alone. They should not be sandwiched in between a review and an exposé on liposuction, or placed after another work of fiction that is so sad or funny or long that the reader is worn out by the time they turn to it. The experience of reading a story by itself is usually found only in MFA programs or writing workshops. This is a shame. Besides, there is always time to read one story.
Who?	Maribeth Batcha, Publisher Maribeth Batcha is the publisher and co-founder of One Story. She has worked in magazine circulation for over 15 years for titles including Diabetes Self-Management, Lingua Franca, University Business, The New York Review of Books, Working Mother, andThe Progressive. In addition to circulation consulting, she currently does marketing and development copywriting for not-for-profits, including the 92nd Street Y and the National Academy Foundation. She has a BA from New York University and an MFA in creative writing from Columbia University. She is an adjunct professor at Brooklyn College, teaching a revisions tutorial in their MFA Program. Hannah Tinti, Editor Hannah Tinti developed her editorial skills working at literary agencies and magazines, including The Atlantic Monthly, Boston Review and Washington Square. She earned her MA from New York University's Graduate Creative Writing Program. Her short story collection, Animal Crackers, was sold in sixteen countries and was a runner up for the PEN/Hemingway award. Her first novel, The Good Thief, will be published in September 2008. For more information, please visit www.hannahtinti.com. Devin Emke, Webmaster Devin Emke has been programming for the web since 1996. In addition to One Story, he has worked as webmaster and custom software developer for Rapaport Publishing and Viacom Interactive Services. In 2002 Devin built the custom web-based submission management system for One Story magazine that he later developed into Submission Manager. Tanya Rey, Managing Editor Tanya Rey is from the Miami area. She holds an MFA in fiction from New York University. Her work can be found online atMcSweeney's. Pei-Ling Lue, Associate Managing Editor Pei-Ling Lue was born in Oshima, Japan and arrived in New York at the age of five wearing a red hat. She holds an MFA from New York University and was a finalist for Fiction Magazine's contest for new writers. She teaches creative writing in Westchester County. In her other life, she is a Website Content Manager for cornerpoint.com. Pei-Ling takes time every day to save the short story. Marie-Helene Bertino, Assistant Editor Marie-Helene Bertino's stories have appeared or are forthcoming in The Pushcart Prize Anthology XXXIII, The North American Review (Kurt Vonnegut Award 2007), Mississippi Review (2007 Story Prize), Inkwell, The Indiana Review and Hotel Saint George Press. She received an MFA and The Himan Brown Award for Creative Writing from Brooklyn College. She is one of those people who never pipe down about being from Philadelphia. Elliott Holt, Reading Series Coordinator Elliott Holt's short stories have appeared or are forthcoming in various places, including The Bellevue Literary Review and online at theKenyon Review and Esquire's Napkin fiction project. She is a 2007 graduate of the Brooklyn College MFA program, where she won the Himan Brown Award. She has been a recipient of a Tennessee Williams Scholarship from the Sewanee Writers' Conference and has been a resident at Yaddo. She is working on a novel. Andrew Crocker, Reader Andrew Crocker is from the Washington D.C. Metro Area. He attended Harvard University and is currently pursuing an MFA in creative writing at New York University. His interests include subway systems of the United States/world, the Lucky Strikes logo, and cruciverbalism. Jesse Hassenger, Reader Jesse Hassenger was born and raised in Saratoga Springs, NY. He attended Wesleyan University and graduated in 2002; currently he lives in Brooklyn and is completing his MLS at Queens College. His short fiction has appeared in Brooklyn Review, Dirt, and Me Three; his film criticism appears in The L Magazine, PopMatters, and on filmcritic.com. For information on what albums he may or may not be listening to and how recently he's eaten cake, visit http://rockmarooned.livejournal.com. Yuka Igarashi, Reader Yuka Igarashi has worked as a researcher, a copywriter, and a book reviewer. She is currently pursuing an MFA in fiction at Columbia University, where she also teaches undergraduate academic writing. She lives in Brooklyn, NY. Aubrie-Ann Jones, Reader Aubrie-Ann Jones was born in Illinois, brought up on the East Coast, has traveled to more than 40 countries, and now lives in Brooklyn. She is a mentor with the PEN American Prison Writing Program and an MFA candidate in fiction at The New School. Sara Batkie, Intern Sara Batkie grew up in the wilds of the Midwest, which she left almost immediately after graduating from the University of Iowa. She is now an MFA candidate in fiction at New York University, where she also teaches undergrads and helps coordinate the Emerging Writers reading series. She is working on a collection of short stories. Look at all the awards!! Best American Non-Required Reading 2009: Issue #109: “The Good Word” by Yannick Murphy Best American Non-Required Reading 2009, “Notable Stories”: Issue #104: “Harriet Elliot” by Robin Black Issue #106: “Safe Passage” by Ramona Ausubel Issue #112: “Sir Fleeting” by Lauren Groff Best American Mystery 2009: Issue #99/100: “Beanball” by Ron Carlson New Stories from the South: The Year's Best, 2009: Issue #103: “Muscle Memory” by Katherine Karlin O. Henry Awards 2009: Issue #94: “Uncle Musto Takes a Mistress” by Mohan Sikka Puschart Prize 2009: Best of the Small Presses: Issue #87: “Reasons For and Advantages of Breathing” by Lydia Peelle Pushcart Prize 2009: Best of the Small Presses “Special Mention”: Issue #88: “Aerogrammes” by Tania James Issue #97: “Bar Joke, Arizona” by Sam Allingham Issue #99/100: “Beanball” by Ron Carlson Pushcart Prize 2008: Best of the Small Presses “Special Mention”: Issue #68: “The Ledge” by Austin Bunn Issue #76: “What is the Cure for Meanness?” by Brock Clarke Issue #81: “Blood” by Matthew Cheney O. Henry Awards 2007: Issue #64: “The Scent of Cinnamon” by Charles Lambert Best Non-Required Reading 2007, Shortlist: Issue #76: “What is the Cure for Meanness?” by Brock Clarke Issue #78: “All Good Things” by Emily Benz Best American Short Stories top 100 “Notable Stories of 2007”: Issue #72: “Azul” by Andrew Porter Issue #81: “Blood” by Matthew Cheney Best American Fantasy 2007: Issue #68: “The Ledge” by Austin Bunn Best American Non-Required Reading 2006: Issue #50: “Nadia” by Judy Budnitz O. Henry Awards 2006: Issue #43: “Conceived” by David Lawrence Morse Issue #40: “Letters in the Snow” by Melanie Rae Thon Best American Short Stories 2006: Issue #53: “So Much For Artemis” by Patrick Ryan Issue #58: “Once the Shore” by Paul Yoon Pushcart Prize 2006: Best of the Small Presses “Special Mention”: Issue #43: “Conceived” by David Lawrence Morse Best American Short Stories top 100 “Notable Stories of 2006”: Issue #49: “One Small Man” by Daniel Wallace Issue #50: “Nadia” by Judy Budnitz Issue #55: “A Perfect Stranger” by Roxana Robinson Issue #61: “The Music You Never Hear” by Quinn Dalton Issue #62: “The Rules” by Andrew Foster Altschul New Stories from the South: The Year's Best 2006: Issue #54: “Jubilation, Florida” by N.M. Kelby Issue #62: “The Rules” by Andrew Foster Altschul Winner, Fountain Award 2005: Issue #60: “Girl Reporter” by Stephanie Harrell Runner up, Fountain Award 2005: Issue #32: “The Immortal Feet” by Katharine Haake Best American Short Stories top 100 “Notable Stories of 2005”: Issue #35: “The Magic Pebble” by Valerie Trueblood Issue #36: “Thomas Hardy's Heart” by Pauls Toutonghi Issue #38: “The Tennis Partner” by Alix Ohlin Issue #47: “What You Have Left” by Will Allison Best New American Voices 2005: Issue #17: “Midnight Soup” by Rebecca Barry Pushcart Prize 2005: Best of the Small Presses “Special Mention”: Issue #19: “Eating Ohio” by Imad Rahman Best American Short Stories top 100 “Notable Stories of 2004”: Issue #27: “Transition to Glory” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Issue #17: “Midnight Soup” by Rebecca Barry Issue #18: “Children of Hunger” by Karl Iagnemma Best American Non-Required Reading 2004, short list: Issue #28: “Trouble and the Shadowy Deathblow” by Patrick Somerville

I'm in Love...thanks to Royall

Royall, where ever did you ever find these lovelies? Why don't I know about these beautiful books! Needing to know that these books could be obtained, I panicked as I first checked out the UK store, where they are mostly sold out, then I checked eBay - no dice, then the US - Barnes & Noble with spotty results....and then Chapters online...sold out on line, every single copy, but they ARE available in store, various locations. Whew. Seriously, I was hyper ventilating! I actually own most of these titles, some in leather bound...but that hardly matters at all.

They are too beautiful to pass up.

I found this funny blog interview on the Penguin website about Coralie Bickford-Smiths book sets - here it is:

Designing classics

A couple of months ago, I interviewed Penguin designer Coralie Bickford-Smith in a video about her covers for the Gothic horror series. This last week we had another conversation, this time by email. I'd send her an image file with a question at the top, and then she'd fill the rest of the picture with anything she wanted and send it back, and then I'd send her another one.

This is the conversation, and that's me in the Helvetica:

The hardback classics are exclusively available at Waterstone's and through the Waterstone's website. Here's the full list, with a link to an image of each book:

Madame Bovary – Gustave Flaubert
Great Expectations – Charles Dickens
Wuthering Heights – Emily Brontë
Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen
Cranford – Elizabeth Gaskell
Tess of the d'Urbervilles – Thomas Hardy
Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Jane Eyre – Charlotte Brontë
The Picture of Dorian Gray – Oscar Wilde

Coralie is too modest to say so, but she also just won an award for best 'Brand or Series Identity' at the British Book Design and Production Awards. She won for the Classic Boys' Adventures series, which you can buy as a complete set with an exclusive poster right here. (Is this not the greatest cover ever?)

And she designed this luxurious three-volume giftset of our new translation of The Arabian Nights (published at the end of the month), which are perhaps the most handsome books I have ever touched:

(Note for possible future misery memoir: Coralie designs books so nice that touching them makes me feel inferior.)

I suppose what I am getting at is that if you were to follow Coralie around and buy every book she designed, you would have a very beautiful library. No doubt her ability to make books so desirable will turn her into a figure of hate during this economic downturn, as she renders people unable to resist buying elegant hardback books, when they should really be eating instead. I am hungry, Coralie! Please stop this! My infant child needs shoes! Coralie, I ate his shoes!

Still, good work.

Alan
Copywriter

......................................................................Then, look at this fantastic set for boys literature, oh to have boys again; maybe I will get this set too, for my grandchildren when they come to visit Grammie's house:

The latter half of the nineteenth century and the early decades of the twentieth, were the heyday of the modern adventure novel. In these stories ordinary men pitted their brawn and wits against foreign spies, terrific monsters and strange lands.

The twelve classic adventure stories that make up the Boys' Adventure stories set are timeless tales of young men of action risking their lives against dark deeds and impossible odds.

» Click here to view the Boys Adventure exclusive poster

Fashion

Anyone that knows the way I dress, knows that I don't know beans about fashion, and do not even, really, have much of a real fashion style I am sad to say. Sarra does...she is definitely au natural boho style. I am 'i like cotton' style.

But all that aside...I saw this picture today, and even though it's supposed to be all about the runway, I began to wonder...what shoes would I wear to a fashion show? You can't tell me that the women and most of the men didn't run out and buy new shoes to wear to this event. Half the fun would be to see what shoes everyone was wearing...in between models that is.

Office Hum

Today was a productive, and fun day as Eli and I worked on our respective jobs, he in the office and I worked in the library. There was a constant buzz of activity while we jockeyed for the fax

machine and line one (line 2 doesn't go long distance so no one is a fan) - with breaks for food, and Bill O'Reilly. Talk about whistling while you work...there is a constant audible stream of how it's going for him emanating from upstairs...I wish he would work here every day!

Yellow

I can't get enough of yellow...yellow makes the world go around. These pretty pics can be found on a cool part of Martha Stewart's website under 'Decorating by Color'. They have hundreds of rooms organized by color - it is really helpful to see the finished rooms for the decorating ideas also. www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/livings-colorful-rooms.

Love this...

Another reason to be a seasoned traveller...you may end up with enough pretty luggage to use these lovely ideas. Mano and I are booked to go to Japan this November, finally - it took a lot of prodding to get him to set these plans in motion. We have been invited to take the trip for 2 years now, and though I am always game to travel, he is a homeboy. We are also thinking of stopping in Dubai for a week, to meet Mano's family - as many as can come. That would make the trip especially wonderful.