BookMooch is now my preferred source and sink for books. With some patience, and the price of postage, I can get or get rid of many things. Shelf space is limited now, and most books come from the library, but sometimes they don’t have what I want, or I want to own the book, possibly only for a while.

There is a small number of books on my shelves waiting to be read, and after that I’ll put them up for “mooching”. BookMooch is an unusual model in that getting the book costs you nothing (in money) but giving it costs you postage. It’s all kept in balance by a point system that compares the books you’ve sent to the books you’ve gotten.  Read more 

Truth Partisan, where are you? How can it be Sunday? Whither Corrente? Shall venerable tradition be so lightly discarded?

Ok, I’ll start. What’s your favorite book that nobody else you know has read or even heard of?  Read more 

Our friend Anthony Lowenstein has a new book out. Harvard people say:

Young bloggers are more worried about shopping, sex and music than politics, according to a recent article by Antony Loewenstein. Loewenstein still finds that there is a unique power to blogging, though, when he writes:

Across the world, young generations are challenging tired state media by writing online about politics, sex, drugs, relationships, religion, popular culture and especially Angelina Jolie. From Egyptian activists opposed to female circumcision to outspoken, pro-Western women in Cuba, people are being empowered by new technology to create spaces away from the prying eyes of meddling authorities.  Read more 

EJ has a new book out, about religion and politics in America. I was just skimming some info about it, and I came across something so wrong, so wholly illustrative of “the problem” it struck me mute and paralyzed for a moment. I’m hesistant to try to write a response. But it is also so simple! Sometimes I really am impressed with the mastery of Kabuki our Village players demonstrate:

E. J. Dionne is this country’s single most knowledgeable writer on religion and politics. Approaching this subject so central to the American experiment as a person of faith as well as a seasoned political reporter, Dionne brings an understanding and knowledge to the topic unique in the current debate.

Can ya guess who came up with that gem?  Read more 

I am. Come over and join us. Religion is the topic tonight.
Update: Xan is right, i should post the whole mess here. Enjoy, loyal readers. You are the audience I want to engage.  Read more 

My sister has an excellent rule, one that I don’t follow and I’m not going to follow here. She doesn’t start unfinished series, no matter how good. I think this one is worth it, even as I’m frustrated that the author is too busy with some other series to get back to this one soon. She says on her website that she will, so I hold out some hope, and recall that Jack Vance took 30-odd years to finish one of his series, but he did finish it.

If you like romance, sweeping epic storytelling, gender bending and intrigue, you’ll love these books.  Read more 

Ho ho ho! Dad got me an Amazon gift certificate, and I used it to buy this book by my favorite fiction writer evah! Chelsea Quinn Yarbro. I love writers who aren’t afraid of historical detail, and that’s Ms. Yarbro. Also, my most cherished lover gave me an Ipod, and I’ve been meaning to ask people for good Ipod sites. I know where the Apple music store site is, thanks. But if anyone knows about some RIAA disapproved places to go for gratis music and video, pass it on.

I do love the Saturnalian holiday season. See y’all later, it’s time for some bubbles and tunage.  Read more