Chris Steib's Comments
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Oct 29, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 7
in reply to a comment by Paul M.
Chris Steib Oct 29, 2009, 4:40pm EDT
done.
Oct 29, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 13
Chris Steib Oct 29, 2009, 2:47pm EDT
Aw, but it gives us all something to rally around and hate together. If we lost Daylight Savings, what would we talk about with our coworkers twice yearly?
Oct 21, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 4
in reply to a comment by Paul M.
Chris Steib Oct 21, 2009, 3:01pm EDT
That's the spirit, Paul!

I would normally agree, but Jessica was the recipient of a prestigious grant to get this going, and she's got a ton of experience in the space (and therefore a killer Rolodex of supporters). Also, if there's a community that's going to embrace a local bookshop and patronize it for the sake of its indie-ness, it's Brooklyn.
Oct 15, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 111
Chris Steib Oct 16, 2009, 12:16pm EDT
White rice, soy sauce. Can't go wrong.
Oct 15, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 6
in reply to a comment by Paul M.
Chris Steib Oct 16, 2009, 12:14pm EDT
Infidel!!!!!!!
Oct 12, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 17
Chris Steib Oct 15, 2009, 5:16pm EDT
To riff on your sixth lesson: I believe it was the day after my 25th birthday that I learned hangovers are not mythical things you see in bad comedy movies, but that they are real, devastating, long-lasting conditions that sometimes require days to recuperate from.

Also: there's no such thing as an all-nighter anymore.
Oct 15, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 6
Chris Steib Oct 15, 2009, 5:12pm EDT
It's not so much the government's ability to get the information (which I agree would be inordinately easy for them), but their ability to use the information against you in any way. Without legislation that openly allows the gov't access to the sales data, they cannot legally use it to arrest/detain you, nor can they use it as evidence in court.

So while the government may find ways to look, it's important to put safeguards in place that make sure they cannot touch.
Sep 24, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 5
Chris Steib Sep 26, 2009, 5:58pm EDT
Nice plug, Paul.
Aug 18, 2009 | comments: 5
Chris Steib Aug 19, 2009, 10:51am EDT
PS: Speaking of the Google Book Project... link
Aug 18, 2009 | comments: 5
Chris Steib Aug 19, 2009, 10:47am EDT
There has been a surge in digital initiatives catering to new and non-represented authors -- I think there's a promising future for writers, provided they don't rely solely on book sales for income. Digital marketing and distribution gets your words in front of so many more people than Barnes & Noble ever could in 'meat-space,' and the opportunity for discovery is much, much greater. Check out wordhustler.com and fictionaut.com. And if you're into discovering new books, look into the GLUE add-on for FireFox. Outstanding "traveling" recommendation engine that suggests books based on what you've browsed and "liked" on the web.
Aug 12, 2009 | comments: 5
Chris Steib Aug 12, 2009, 12:36pm EDT
I love the idea of condensed book reviews (gave it a try myself last year in my 50 Book Blog). Miller's novel sounds very interesting, I'll definitely look into it. Thanks!

Some feedback, if you don't mind -- maybe you could code some links to Amazon, or show off the book jackets? The format's great and your reviews are very interesting, but the layout makes it hard to know when I've moved from one book to the next.
Aug 12, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 10
in reply to a comment by Daisy W.
Chris Steib Aug 12, 2009, 12:32pm EDT
You, me, and Bezos.
Aug 5, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 15
in reply to a comment by James B.
Chris Steib Aug 12, 2009, 11:44am EDT
Agreed. In the context of sycophantic award-giving, how much one "likes" a book is probably marginalized.
Aug 5, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 15
Chris Steib Aug 6, 2009, 2:04pm EDT
Good call Leo -- here's the link to Time's top 100. For further reading, here's a list of the best 25 novels published in the last 25 years, according to the New York Times (keep in mind this was done a few years ago).
Aug 5, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 15
Chris Steib Aug 6, 2009, 2:01pm EDT
Also: I'd read the criticism of Waiting in advance of my own reading, and I think they exaggerated the point of the novel. There's no tangible political allegory (except to passively say "Totalitarianism is bad"), and the "love story" told here is one of a man who grows tired of his boring old wife and tries to get with a younger chick. Then, when that doesn't work for some unexciting reason or another, he begrudgingly retreats back to his boring old wife, who for two decades has raised his children and run the family farm in his absence. Oh, the joys of marriage!
Aug 5, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 15
Chris Steib Aug 6, 2009, 2:00pm EDT
I actually didn't see Garp on there -- that's six for me, then. But I still wouldn't put any in the top -- though I sort of feel guilty not embracing the iconic Ellison title. It may be one of the most important books I've read, but not quite a favorite.

And per James' comment -- if "liking" a book was irrelevant to the serious reader, than I'd be happy to demote myself to "casual" status. However, I think "appreciation" can be its own element of consuming fiction -- to like and to appreciate something do not have to (although they may) coincide. I'd be concerned with taking Prose's remarks out of context -- "liking" a book is not as important when you're studying the material for its literary technique and quality. In this context, it's more lecture than leisure. But you can't deny that one's emotional reaction to fiction is important -- after all, if you really appreciated an author's use of language, but hated what they had to say with it, would you want to learn from and emulate that writer? "Liking" fiction is not some commoner's approach to literature -- it's an unassailable right as a reader, not to mention the goal of many writers.
Aug 3, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 6
Chris Steib Aug 6, 2009, 1:56pm EDT
In an age when communication is so fragmented, and the opportunity to actually hear an author's reading or see him/her in person is so rare, I'll take what I can get. On Coehlo's blog, he does occasional video entries -- which you have to admit are not forged by an intern. So I think it's great that in the digital age, we have more means to access the lives of writers whose work we enjoy (and you're still allowed to read their books, too).
Aug 3, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 6
Chris Steib Aug 5, 2009, 5:26pm EDT
Thanks, Paul. I guess I should have noted that I'm @csteib. Duh.
Aug 3, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 11
Chris Steib Aug 3, 2009, 5:28pm EDT
Thanks for the head's up about the free d/l, Christine. Ashamed to say I'm not an Orpah fan, but if there's free books involved, I'll drink the Kool-Aid.
Jul 20, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 3
Chris Steib Jul 28, 2009, 11:34am EDT
Or if it's chick-lit, take a photo of either a woman's hair or her high heels.
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Chris Steib
New York, NY
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