Jezebel
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fine lines
Little Women: The Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves
Welcome to 'Fine Lines', the feature in which we give a wrinkled look at the books we loved in our youth. This week, Lizzie Skurnick rereads 'Little Women', Louisa May Alcott's 1868 uber-girl guide to solace through sacrifice and scrubbing.
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Comment by Janet.Jopler.is.on.my.mind.grapes: This was my favorite book when I was a kid, but I'm still pissed about Jo turning down Laurie. My... 25 Responses | Other threads
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booknotes
Classics
It makes a certain kind of aesthetic sense that Ruben Toledo should illustrate "Penguin Classics Deluxe Editions" of Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, and The Scarlet Letter. Now, if we can just get his wife to costume them...[Nylon]
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By SadieComment by TheFormerJuneBronson: Well, that sound was me dashing to Amazon. 5 Responses | Other threads
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where's papa
First Wife's Club
Paula McLain has written a new novel about Ernest Hemingway's long-suffering first wife, Hadley Richardson, and their Movable Feast expat days in Paris. [GalleyCat]
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By SadieComment by rumpelshowsskin: I'm interested to read this just because I loathe Hemingway. The way he writes about Africa makes my skin crawl.... 7 Responses | Other threads
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sexy time
What Women Want: Gay Male Sex
Who needs tired sheiks and virgins when you've got hot 18th century British sailor love? More »
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By SadieComment by SylvanSylph: Last night I walked into a bar only to see my boyfriend making out with some guy. It did not... 40 Responses | Other threads
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sexy time
Two Writers Make Sex After Forty Sound Pretty Good
Two new books — Kate Christensen's Trouble and Gloria Vanderbilt's Obsession: An Erotic Tale — handily refute claims that women can't write about sex, or that age is an impediment to eroticism. More »
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By Anna N.Comment by labeled: Just to clarify: Does anyone really think that age is an impediment to eroticism? I mean, other than 17yo's who... 9 Responses | Other threads
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private lives
Beloved English Children's Book Author Was "Controlling, Difficult, Despised Many People."
Apparently an icon of coziness, Alison Uttley's diaries introduce us to a fabulously nasty character. Or, as we call it, sympathetic! More »
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By SadieComment by LAmonkeygirl: I seem to recall reading somewhere that Louisa May Alcott was also a bit of a grump who disliked children... 14 Responses | Other threads
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futurama
The Joy Of Sex
The Ancient Book of Sex and Science is not, in fact, ancient - it was drawn by four Pixar animators - but the stylized, mid-century-style illustrations do indeed deal with sex, robots, aliens and math. [BoingBoing]
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By SadieComment by morninggloria: Great. Now I'll be picturing Woody and Buzz boning all day. 3 Responses | Other threads
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strong words
Author On "Controversial" Book: "They Want To Burn It Like A Witch"
A few days ago, writer Francesca Lia Block found out that her book, Baby Be-Bop, might get burned. Today, she speaks with Salon, saying: More »
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By DodaiComment by Lainface: Is the CCLU even aware that this isn't the first book in the world to contain "nigger" in it? =|... 13 Responses | Other threads
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girl talk
No Tolerance For Paris Hilton
In her book, How To Be a Hepburn in a Hilton World, Jordan Christy urges us to embrace "real women with brains, beauty and self-respect" instead of Paris, Lindsay and their ilk. [Hachette Book Group, Page Six] -
drew who?
Nancy Drew, Sonia Sotomayor, & Feminism: Questions For Chelsea Cain
Sonia Sotomayor's revelation that she enjoyed Nancy Drew mysteries as a child has everyone speculating on how the books might have influenced her. We asked Chelsea Cain, author of Nancy Drew parody Confessions of a Teen Sleuth for her take.
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By Anna N.Comment by MarissaExplainsItAll: I love Nancy Drew. I tried to solve mysteries as a kid but was disappointed that there were no secret... 6 Responses | Other threads
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strong words
"Explicitly Vulgar, Racial, And Anti-Christian"
Robert C. Braun of the Christian Civil Liberties Union in Milwaukee seeks the right to burn his local library's copy of Baby Be-Bop by author Francesca Lia Block. The book explores a gay teen's struggles. More here: [American Library Association]
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By DodaiComment by IrockIroll: Explicitly Vulgar, Racial (is that like Racist?), Anti-Christian...I'm surprised he hasn't threatened to burn down the interwebs. 5 Responses | Other threads
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mystery!
The Butler Hid It
Two previously unknown Hercule Poirot short stories have been found in one of Agatha Christie's homes. They will be included in the upcoming Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks: Fifty Years of Mysteries in the Making. [Guardian]
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By SadieComment by Your Screenplay Sucks: I've only read "And Then There Were None" & want to check out one of Christie's books that feature a... 12 Responses | Other threads
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fine lines
Down A Dark Hall: Getting The Spirit In The Dark
Welcome to 'Fine Lines', the feature in which we give a wrinkled look at the YA books we loved as youth. Today, Lizzie Skurnick rereads Down A Dark Hall, Lois Duncan's thriller about a residence where artists can really colonize.
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Comment by Norton: Um, I can name a trillion dead mathematicians. Euclid, Ptolemy, Leibniz, Newton, Einstein, Dedekind, Descartes, Pascal... 8 Responses | Other threads
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chick lit crit
Blogger Asks, What Is Women's Fiction?
Blogger Barbara Vey recently polled a variety of people on a potentially controversial question: "What is women's fiction?" More »
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By Anna N.Comment by halo323: Men keep telling me that I am the only woman they know that reads Neal Stephenson. It can't possibly... 22 Responses | Other threads
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By AnnaComment by TeacherDee: th jckt's nfrtnt. lks lk "bfr" pc n hd nd shldrs d. 9 Responses | Other threads
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bolters
'The Worse A Woman Behaves, The Better She Needs To Look.'
In 20th century England, women who "abandoned" their families were known as "Bolters." And in the golden age of Bolters, Lady Idina Sackville was the most famous and scandalous of them all. More »
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By SadieComment by whatsername: Sadie, this is so freaky. Last night I was wikipedia reading up on all the Mitford sisters. Why? Because of... 18 Responses | Other threads
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Entwined Destinies
Love Story
When late journalist Elsie Washington wrote 1980's Entwined Destinies under the name Rosalind Welles, it was a first: the story of a magazine writer's romance with a wealthy businessman, it featured "well-educated, well-traveled and worldly" contemporary African-American characters, and served an inspiration and a relief to other romance writers. [NPR] -
kids today
How To Talk To Girls Movie: Now More Agonizing Than Previously Anticipated
Everyone's favorite professionally precocious child-love-doctor, Alec Greven, and everyone's favorite self-serving, Emmy-winning comedy-writer are teaming up to share their combined life wisdom in a rom-com sure to involve man-children learning valuable life lessons from adorable smart-asses! Can we get an "oy vey?"
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By SadieComment by morninggloria: Are there really that few capable adult writers that now we must appeal to our children to produce literature? 4 Responses | Other threads
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oldies but goodies
A Career Romance For Young Moderns: Peggy Parker, Girl Inventor
I was so excited when I found Peggy Parker: Girl Inventor at a rummage sale, but when I started reading, my happiness turned to ash. Despite taking a progressive view towards female inventors, the book is incredibly, how do I put this, racist. So, this time it's not a recommendation.
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Kick-Lit
Jezebooks: Sarah Waters
If you haven't read any Sarah Waters? Lady, are you in for a page-turning, spine-tingling, word-smithing, sexy treat! Four words: lesbian historical ghost stories. More »
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By SadieComment by LAmonkeygirl: Until I read Wilkie Collins' The Woman in White, I had no idea how much of Fingersmith had been patterned... 10 Responses | Other threads
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i thee dread
“A Roofless House, A Smoky Chimney, And A Quarrelsome Woman.â€
Written by an unknown author in the late fourteenth century, "Le MĂ©nagier de Paris," is a guide for the medieval bride, written in the voice of an old man instructing his fifteen-year-old intended. A mix of recipes, housekeeping tips, and spiritual guidance, it's now available in its entirety. [New Yorker]
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By SadieComment by Flackette Goes Retro: My mom has been studying our genealogy, and has found a disturbing number of instances of very young teenage girls... 10 Responses | Other threads
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fine lines
Nothing's Fair In Fifth Grade: Pleading The Fifth
Welcome to 'Fine Lines', the Friday feature in which we give a far more wrinkled look at the children's and YA books we loved in our youth. This week, Lizzie Skurnick rereads 'Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade', Barthe DeClements 1981 classic about weight loss, multiplication and mean, mean mamas.
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Comment by zombie.nancy is a godess of fierce: I wish there's a non-FaceBook way to submit suggestions for the next installment of Fine Lines b/c I have 2... 12 Responses | Other threads
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art's sake
Daddy's Girl
Tiny Art Director is one blog so cute we don't begrudge its book deal! Graphic artist Bill Zeman draws things according to his four-year-old daughter's exacting instructions (ie, "A dinosaur eating a R and an O and an S and a I and a E"), she critiques the result. [BoingBoing]
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By SadieComment by themorethemerrier: Is it really normal for children to scream and cry when they don't like something? it seems so bratty of... 14 Responses | Other threads
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go ask alice
Curiouser And Curiouser
Alice in Wonderland, on Twitter. Although what is the use of a tweet, without pictures or conversations? [BlackBook]
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By SadieComment by pickles.and.olives: 'twas Twitter, and the slithy toves did gire and follow in the wabe.. all a-tweeting were the borogoves and the updates outgrabe.. 5 Responses | Other threads
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dickens, meet darwin
Do Books Help Us Evolve? And Should We Care?
It's become fashionable lately to examine the evolutionary purpose of art. Salon's review of a book called On the Origin of Stories gives this practice a much-needed critique. More »
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By Anna N.Comment by feministabroad: I wish more people read. I wish I read more. Damn textbooks. I'm telling you, I wouldnt be who I... 5 Responses | Other threads
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literary lauren
Lauren Conrad's Heart of Darkness: A Peek Inside Her New Novel
In the fine tradition of Nicole Richie, reality star Lauren Conrad has "written" a "novel." More »
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By Anna N.Comment by morninggloria: The world would be a better place if every person who read this book were contractually obligated to follow it... 15 Responses | Other threads
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shelf pleasuring
Kinflicks: Coming To Rest
It's time for another edition of 'Shelf Pleasuring', in which we revisit the sexiest books we stole off our parents' shelves. Today, Fine Lines proprietrix Lizzie Skurnick writes about 'Kinflicks', Lisa Alther's 1976 spine-teaser.
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Comment by token_starless_commenter: Porche 924 not Trans Am. Important difference. 5 Responses | Other threads
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love is in the air
Romance Novels For A Free Society!
Changing the face of the world, one pulsating manhood at a time. More »
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By SadieComment by tscheese: I think there still really is a popular perception of romance novels being these bodice-ripping mindless romps through swooning damsels,... 30 Responses | Other threads
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mum's the word
Mommie Dearest
Need last-minute gift ideas? BookFinder helpfully brings us a list of literature's worst moms! From Jocasta to Norma Bates, neglectful to psychotic, there's a Barnes and Noble's worth of neurosis and pathology! [BookFinder]
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By SadieComment by BellaTricks: I'd also like to nominate Lila Wingo from The Prince of Tides for an honorable mention. 8 Responses | Other threads
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bloodsuckers
Undead
To celebrate New Moon's premiere, Little, Brown, publishers of the Twilight series, are rolling out a "New Moon Collector's Edition," a Breaking Dawn hardcover, a concert DVD(?) and a set of journals. [PW]
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By SadieComment by Easybreezy: So I finished Breaking Dawn yesterday and I feel like such a fucking loser for having been drawn in to... 21 Responses | Other threads
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Package Deals
Four Vacation Packages We'd Like To Take!
An article about a holiday "On the Trail of Laura Ingalls Wilder" got us thinking: what book vaycays would we like to see? More »
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By SadieComment by Samanthrax is Sarcastic and Joking: I just wanna go to Discworld. Just once. 17 Responses | Other threads
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outsider art
S.E. Hinton Dishes On Porn, Gender, & Matt Dillon
The Outsiders writer and former tomboy S.E. Hinton says, "I didn't think like a girl, so it's always been easier to write from a male point of view." More »
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By Anna N.Comment by cait98: I think girls think differently than guys. In general, we process language and spatial orientation differently, not better or worse... 18 Responses | Other threads
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words of wisdom
A Glossary Of Terms Inspired By The Ladies Of Children's Literature
When I'm in crisis mode, I ask myself: "What would Matilda do?" While the answer (telekinesis) isn't always helpful, there are some phrases, inspired by children's lit characters, that one should always keep in mind. More »
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By hortenseComment by MIXED: I confess to traveling into Granger Danger territory every now and then. 18 Responses | Other threads
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snap judgment
Keanu Reeves Takes Part In New Russian Revolution
[Los Angeles, April 30. Image via Flynet]
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By AnnaComment by xuatastic: Dear Keanu, I have loved you forever, I make no judgements on your intelligence or lack thereof (personally you seem... 4 Responses | Other threads
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fine lines
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret: How Have I Not Written About This Book Yet?
Welcome to 'Fine Lines', the feature where we give a sentimental look at the YA books we loved in our youth. This week, Lizzie Skurnick tackles Judy Blume's 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.'
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Comment by hello.kitty: Jeze survey: If you were a fifth grade teacher would you read this book aloud to your co-ed class? 41 Responses | Other threads
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books
Girls Against Girls
A new book for teen girls explores the "mean girl" syndrome, and… hey, wait a minute: Is that big-eyed mascara-loving chick on the cover silently judging us?!?!? [BoingBoing]
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By DodaiComment by Your Screenplay Sucks: I bet this Bonnie Burton is fat. 25 Responses | Other threads
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food for thought
New Book On Overeating: Should We Treat Mac & Cheese Like Cigarettes?
"I wanted to understand why it's so hard to control what we eat," explains David Kessler of his new book, The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite. More »
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By DodaiComment by schweppes: Without making it illegal, they could certainly cut down on advertising and regulate packaging (like they do with cigarettes &... 82 Responses | Other threads
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writing under the influence
Amy Sedaris Sells Rights To I Like You Sequel
Grand Central Publishing bought the rights to the sequel to Amy Sedaris' offbeat entertaining guide I Like You. The book is due out in fall 2010, but is still untitled. Any suggestions? [Publisher's Weekly]
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By MargaretComment by AtomiClash: humanitarian misanthrope: I have no suggestions, but I really wish I were a fly on the wall of the Sedaris household when... 8 Responses | Other threads
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book it
Pretentious Readers Don't Want The Kindle To Take Their Right To Be An Obnoxious Showoff Away
In these times, it's important to focus on what really matters in the world. Like, for example, the horrible impact the Amazon Kindle will have upon those who enjoy letting everyone know what they're reading. More »
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By hortenseComment by Eric Northman is mine: Do people even read these days? If i see one more Facebook status proudly proclaiming under favorite books: I don't... 28 Responses | Other threads
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bookends
We Are All 14-Year-Old Girls
Publishers Weekly says that grown women are, increasingly, reading YA fiction. Yeah, we know. (Hides 'Twilight' under mattress.) More »
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By SadieComment by badmutha: Yeah, well so what? Adult males play the same DVD games as boys. At least we are reading. 22 Responses | Other threads
books
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