Connecting via the Internet — and a Darker Side

Clive Thompson recently wrote an in-depth article on Facebook for the Sunday’s New York Times titled “Brave New World of Digital Intimacy.”  The online headline reads “I’m So Totally, Digitally Close to You.”  It’s a pretty interesting look at the history and uses of Facebook.  The history is particularly interesting to those of us who are joing Facebook already in progress.

And, if you were feeling all good and love about the Internet, another New York Times article may stop you short in your tracks.  Written by Mattathias Schwartz, check out The Trolls Among Us, which is a truly disturbing look at those who deliberately use the Internet to cause others pain and distress, not mention annoyance.  Thanks to Charles Mosner for pointing out this article!

Interesting stuff!  Only tangentially related to books and reading, but quite related to library life.  (Carol J.)

Funniest. Novel. Ever.

The Paper Cuts blog at the New York Times asks the burning question:  What’s the Funniest Novel Ever?  Their answer includes a virtual plethora of novels by white men from the 18th and 20th centuries.  More interesting are the many comments left by readers with their picks for funniest novel ever.  Check out their responses and add your own. 

Or post a comment here with your hilarious favorite!  I’ll start:  Truer than True Romance by Jeanne Martinet.  Martinet takes old romance comics from the 50s and 60s and takes out the words in the captions and the balloons, replacing them with a modern take on romance.  The new stories include:  “My Heart Said Yes, but My Therapist Said No!” and “Too Dumb for Love!”  Perhaps it’s not Wodehouse, but it’s pretty darn funny.  (Carol J.)

Manfiction, Baby!

Last week, in Entertainment Weekly, columnist Stephen King discusses the idea that the male audience for fiction is disappearing, since most bestsellers on the fiction list are by women.  He makes the case that men love escapist, entertaining fiction just as much as women do, and gives a selection of authors he highly recommends for a good, manly read, including Robert B. Parker, John D. MacDonald and Lee Child. 

I’d also put local favorite Vince Flynn on the favorite Manfiction list.  Who are your best Manfiction bets?  (Carol J.)

MPR’s Mid-Morning on Catcher in the Rye

On Friday 9/5, Mid-Morning on MPR tackled the question of what classics students are reading in school, and whether those classics (such as Catcher in the Rye) should be put aside for more current and contemporary fiction.  The article which triggered the discussion, by Anne Trubek, is pretty interesting in its own right.  The author includes her own list of suggested reading, and the comments get pretty heated. 

An interesting discussion ensued, with listeners calling in to contribute their ideas of great modern fiction that students should be reading.  (From at least one car, I can tell you, the name Sherman Alexie was being shouted at the car radio, and luckily, he was the first author to be mentioned.)

Kerri Miller promised a list of suggestions was going to be posted on the website, so check back at the Mid-Morning website for more details!  (Carol J.)