JD Salinger

January 1, 1919 - January 27, 2010


Besides Catcher in the Rye, the only thing I remember about JD Salinger was that he was a recluse and chose to remain that way.




This article in the Washington Post by Bart Barnes, talks about his life. What is concerning people most is if there were unpublished manuscripts laying around which is addressed in the article by Hillel Italie titled What's in Salinger's Safe?

I remember the lawsuit he had in the 80's over a book but I remember thinking that if he wants to be left alone, leave him alone.
I'm a bit curious to see what he had left behind, maybe he had manuscripts to be published after his death so he wouldn't receive any attention. I guess we will find out over time. RIP JD Salinger.

Burda Style Magazine

I was in the bookstore and came across the January issue of Burda Style Magazine. I guess they are usually sold out but I happened to buy my first one! I can't believe how many patterns they have packed into one magazine! What caught my eye initially- I all but skipped to the checkout with it, are the two dresses pictured below:





There are also sheath dresses, pants, etc., just jam packed. The new spring issue due out will have 50's fashions according to the website. Finding this made up for Office Depot not having the pens I want.

Sympathy for Aspiring Writers

In a Wall Street Journal article form 1/22/10 titled The Death of the Slush Pile, Katherine Rosman paints a bleak picture for future authors. Book publishers and magazines cannot afford to hire someone to go through unsolicited manuscripts and movie and t.v. poducers are refusing to look at anyone new. Nothing will be looked at unless recommended by an agent. Another mountain to climb, since agents have been hit hard with layoffs. What a sad day it is for avid readers like myself not to have the thrill of reading a book by an unknown and enjoy it regardless of if it rises through the best seller ranks or not.
Smaller publishers, and self publishing will be the wave for the unknown writer if money will allow.
I have also been looking at book readers; nothing takes the place of holding and reading a real book. I suppose someday I might cart one of those things around but it's not going to be anytime soon. Also as our government is spending trillions, the trickle down effect is now hitting state governments hard. Support your local libraries, they will be the first to go. I know in counties above where I live they have already closed quite a few down.

Vintage Win

I know I am a bad blogger. I think the freeze froze my brain. In any event here is a bad picture of a great pair of shoes I won on ebay. Since I hadn't posted in a while I just took a quick pic to post before the kids got home from school. The shoes are near perfect and the spot on the toe is just from the flash. I got lucky.

Freezing

Wow did winter turn on with full force here in the south! No snow along the coast but that might all change Thursday. That being said, seed catalogs have started to arrive and it makes me wish for warmer weather. Right now I am hoping to keep my lemon tree alive in all this. I picked off all the ripe lemons so the tree can concentrate more on staying warm. We wrapped it and put a lamp at the base and hope to re wrap it better tonight.