Another habit August 30, 2007

I admit, I am a smoker. “TankBooks” made the habit, or better the packaging, into an art form. The makers present literary classics in tiny books, packaged in cigarette packs. The six authors of the first batch are Joseph Conrad, Ernest Hemingway, Franz Kafka, Rudyard Kipling, Robert Louis Stevenson and Leo Tolstoy.

This is what it’s all about, according to TankBooks: ”As one habit dies hard, another takes hold. The ban on smoking in public places comes into operation in the UK on July 1, 2007. Tank is launching a series of books designed to mimic cigarette packs – the same size, packaged in flip-top cartons with silver foil wrapping and sealed in cellophane”.

At the moment they are only sold in the UK at 6.99 pounds. As from March 2008, they will become available in other countries as well. At that point they will also release a new series of bookish cartons. The person responsible told me they will make four series of six titles per year from that point forward. Love the idea. I cannot wait for the moment they are available in The Netherlands! Click here to learn more.

 

PS

I would like to collect these books. Since I do not live in the UK, I cannot obtain the six books that are out now. If you live in the UK and would like to help me, please send me an e-mail.

National Library Highlights Tour August 30, 2007

The National Library of my country, The Netherlands, has put together a tour of their most important pieces. You can see the 100 highlights of the collection, in English! It varies from book bindings to literature and from woodcuts to typography. It is very interesting, even if you are not Dutch! Click here to go to the tour.

 

Bookish Wall Art August 30, 2007

Are the walls in your library a bit bland? Do you have some really bad books you do not know what to do with? I found the answer to your problems on You Tube! I got inspired and think of tackeling my first project this weekend. Click below to see the You Tube video, or click here to see some photo’s of the project.

 

Which book are you? August 28, 2007

I found the next fun quiz via Reader’s advisor online. After answering a few questions you are told what book you are. It also comes with an ‘in dept’ explenation. Mine is below. Let’s say I find the outcome interesting… The ‘revelation’ comes with some html. You can paste it on your blog or website, so you get the same as below. It could be interesting if you would paste it in the comments!

Click here to take the quiz.

You’re Mrs. Dalloway!

by Virginia Woolf

Your life seems utterly bland and normal to the casual observer, but
inside you are churning with a million tensions and worries. The company you surround
yourself with may be shallow, but their effects upon your reality are tremendously deep.
To stay above water, you must try to act like nothing’s wrong, but you know that the
truth is catching up with you. You’re not crazy, you’re just a little unwell. But no
doctor can help you now.

Bright Eyes and Art Garfunkel’s library August 28, 2007

I have posted about the libraries of famous people before (to be found here). Whilst searching the web for some goodies for you, I came across Art Garfunkel’s library. Apparently Garfunkel kept a diary about the books he read from 1968 until now. You can find a list of his reads here.

Writing this post brought a childhood memory to mind. Art Garfunkel and Paul Simon did the song Bright Eyes, amongst many others, of course . The song was made for the animated film after the book Watership Down. The video, with parts of the film in it, had me glued to the screen as a child. It also made me cry every time I saw it, because my dad told me the sad story of the sweet looking bunnies. He owned the book by Richard Adams and I started to read it a way too young age.

To remember why, I searched for the Bright Eyes video on You Tube. And found it! Click here to see it. Waching it again made me melancholic all over, even after over 20 years! If you want to learn more about the book, click here.

 

Bookish wallpaper August 27, 2007

This wallpaper is not for your walls, but for your computer desktop. I think it is quite nice! My computer is in my library, so it seems appropriate to have a bookish theme on my computer as well. Click here to go to the website and choose a screen resolotion before you download the wallpaper. (Instead of downloading the file, you can also right click on your mouse mouse and choose “set as wallpaper.)

Thanks to Sarah for letting me know about this.

Book light in a book cover August 27, 2007

I have posted about book lights before, but this one is different. It definitely looks the part. The book light comes attached to either a hard or soft cover. This cover holds your book to protect it. Adding to this, they also attached book mark to this gadget. So this is sort of an all in one product for reading. The price is a bit steep though. You can find the hardcover version here and the soft cover here.

Bookworm adventure August 24, 2007

A while ago, I posted about a game I was addicted to for quite a while. (To be found here.) This ‘Bookworm’ game now has a sequel. It is called ‘Bookworm Adventure’. I downloaded the trial today and I had lots of fun. It also keeps up my English, since you have to find English words. You can download the trial here.

To learn more about this game, you can visit this link. You can also go to this Wiki page to get more insight in the game and how it was made. I wish you lots of fun with this game!

 

Altered books August 24, 2007

This is bookish hobby is HOT. Altered books are some sort of scrap booking that involves books. I just heard of it myself, since it has not blown over to my country yet. I have searched the web to find you the most fun and informative links.

First, what are ‘altered books’? Wikipedia is here to inform you. Click here to learn! There is even a society of ‘Altered Book Artists’, to be found here. Then, if you are ready, click here to get hands on for a how-to. On this page, you will find more projects and techniques.

There is even a book out on this craft, to be found here. And of course, there is a You Tube film that shows you how to do it in real life. Click here to view. Good luck and have fun!

Bookish Eye Glass case August 23, 2007

If you use glasses, you need to protect them. Why not do this in a bookish way? This case looks the part and at under seven dollars, it is not too expensive as well. I love it, even while I do not use glasses. But then again, maybe I can put my sunglasses in there! You can find it here. The same website also has a pouch to put pens and stuff in. This also comes with a bookish theme. You can find this product on this page.