Apr 13

BOTNS Books Podcast #73: Paper on the Nightstand

By Ann Kingman Podcasts Add comments

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:33 — 22.1MB)

We have a special guest host today: Melissa Klug, long-time Books on the Nightstand listener. Melissa and I chat about the Indies Choice Awards, the paper that is used in the books we love, and the 10-10-10 reading challenge. Our “Two books we can’t wait for you to read” segment features me talking about Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi by Geoff Dyer, and Melissa tells us about Tinkers by Paul Harding, which won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction just days after Melissa and I recorded this episode.

If you are receiving this by email, you can listen to the podcast by clicking through to Books on the Nightstand.

For more extensive show notes, including links, keep reading …

Some housekeeping, and the Indies Choice Awards

Michael and I will be doing a live episode of Books on the Nightstand at the Newburyport Literary Festival on Saturday, April 24th.  We’d love to meet some of our New England readers and listeners. The festival features many wonderful authors and activities, and is co-chaired by Books on the Nightstand listener Jennifer Entwistle. It will be a lovely day in a gorgeous coastal Massachusetts town — I hope you can join us.

The American Booksellers Association recently announced the 2010 Indies Choice Awards, chosen by owners and staff of independent bookstores throughout the United States. Many of our favorite books were chosen! We congratulate all of the winners:

For a complete list of all of the winners, including a great list of Honor Award recipients, please visit Bookselling this Week.

Paper on the Nightstand

Melissa Klug, with Olivia the pig

In segment 2, we talk with Melissa Klug, who works for Glatfelter, which manufactures many of the papers that are used in the books on our bookshelves. We talk about how publishers choose the paper they use, how the paper is made, and how long our precious books will hold up before the paper turns yellow and brittle (hint: it depends on what kind of paper the publisher chose!). We also discuss the environmental impacts of paper and e-books.

For more information about paper, visit www.permanencematters.com

If you want to see what papermaking is like, Melissa sent this link to an animated/video mill tour online: http://www.glatfelter.com/learning/interactive_tour.aspx
We also talk about the 10/10/10 Reading Challenge . Melissa writes: “If BOTNS readers send me an email signing up for some part of the challenge, even just to pick 10 categories and read one book in each, or any version thereof, I will send them a fun trinket. They may go to the website or email me at 101010reading@gmail.com.”

Two Books We Can’t Wait for You to Read

We’ve got two paperbacks for you today:  I tell you about Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi by Geoff Dyer, which was one of the New York Times Notable Books of 2009. This book is comprised of two novellas, which may or may not be linked by character, but are certainly twinned in terms of theme.

Melissa raves about Tinkers by Paul Harding, a beautiful story of love, death and family in New England. Just a few days after we recorded this episode, Tinkers won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

Lastly, a wonderful voicemail from Kristen who reminds us that it’s National Poetry Month and shares with us The Swan from Harper Perennial’s Selected Poems of Rainer Maria Rilke, translated by Robert Bly. We appreciate all of your thoughts and emails.

Jeff in Venice, Death in Varansi Tinkers

  • Helen Barnett

    Greetings, Ann and Melissa,
    Great and informative pod cast.. as always, just different. Really enjoyed the information about the paper industry. Also like the idea of 10/10/10. The hardest part for me so far is to come up with 10 categorizes.. so I only have 5..one of which is: “Books Recommended on Books on the Nightstand”. I would like to see your (Ann) list, maybe it will give me ideas. Have check out the web site.. and snatched some of their ideas..
    I am sure I speak for all the pod cast listeners who feel deeply sorry for Micheal’s lost. May the memories of time spent together give love, comfort and in time a smile to him/his family. Our warmest wishes and prayers are with you. As Melissa said the pod cast certainly added so much to my reading life.. Thanks again!!

  • http://BooksontheNightstand Helen Barnett

    Greetings, Ann and Melissa,
    Great and informative pod cast.. as always, just different. Really enjoyed the information about the paper industry. Also like the idea of 10/10/10. The hardest part for me so far is to come up with 10 categorizes.. so I only have 5..one of which is: “Books Recommended on Books on the Nightstand”. I would like to see your (Ann) list, maybe it will give me ideas. Have check out the web site.. and snatched some of their ideas..
    I am sure I speak for all the pod cast listeners who feel deeply sorry for Micheal’s lost. May the memories of time spent together give love, comfort and in time a smile to him/his family. Our warmest wishes and prayers are with you. As Melissa said the pod cast certainly added so much to my reading life.. Thanks again!!

  • http://www.absorbedinwords.com Mark David

    I just want to say THANK YOU VERY MUCH to Melissa for working in an industry that produces good quality paper for books. I wish all books use fine-quality paper, specially since I live in a country where the humidity can be a threat to a book’s lifespan. And it’s comforting to know that you guys take care of the environment as well.

    So yes, I really appreciate what your company does :)

  • http://www.absorbedinwords.com Mark David

    I just want to say THANK YOU VERY MUCH to Melissa for working in an industry that produces good quality paper for books. I wish all books use fine-quality paper, specially since I live in a country where the humidity can be a threat to a book’s lifespan. And it’s comforting to know that you guys take care of the environment as well.

    So yes, I really appreciate what your company does :)

  • Patricia Snyder

    The information given by Melissa King was very generalized about paper production. I didn’t hear any specifics. No where during this podcast was there a mention of how the actual manufacturing process of paper directly impacts the local environment. I know that trees have to be replanted or there will not be any to be harvested to produce paper, but what happens after they are cut down?

  • Patricia Snyder

    The information given by Melissa King was very generalized about paper production. I didn’t hear any specifics. No where during this podcast was there a mention of how the actual manufacturing process of paper directly impacts the local environment. I know that trees have to be replanted or there will not be any to be harvested to produce paper, but what happens after they are cut down?

  • http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Ann Kingman

    Hi Patricia,
    Yes, it was always meant to be a very general conversation — as it is, the episode ran almost twice as long as most our episodes! I’m afraid that a comprehensive discussion of paper production would require several hours and more experts than I could manage. By nature it is pretty general because I would guess that each paper is manufactured in a different way from a different place, etc., and would also vary from paper manufacturer to manufacturer. The intent of the podcast was to make listeners aware that there are differences in the papers used in books, and to look at some of the issues involved in the industry and the discussions that are happening, and I wanted to put particular focus on the need for long-lasting paper that will keep my books in good shape in the future.

    I hope you enjoyed the episode.

    Ann

  • http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Ann Kingman

    Hi Patricia,
    Yes, it was always meant to be a very general conversation — as it is, the episode ran almost twice as long as most our episodes! I’m afraid that a comprehensive discussion of paper production would require several hours and more experts than I could manage. By nature it is pretty general because I would guess that each paper is manufactured in a different way from a different place, etc., and would also vary from paper manufacturer to manufacturer. The intent of the podcast was to make listeners aware that there are differences in the papers used in books, and to look at some of the issues involved in the industry and the discussions that are happening, and I wanted to put particular focus on the need for long-lasting paper that will keep my books in good shape in the future.

    I hope you enjoyed the episode.

    Ann

  • http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Ann Kingman

    Helen, I’m honored.
    I’m working on my categories, too. I know that one will be Biography, and another will be Science. Beyond that, I’m not sure yet.
    Thank you so much for your lovely words….

  • http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Ann Kingman

    Helen, I’m honored.
    I’m working on my categories, too. I know that one will be Biography, and another will be Science. Beyond that, I’m not sure yet.
    Thank you so much for your lovely words….

  • Patricia Snyder

    Ann,
    The episode did pique my interest in learning more about paper production and I did visit the two links provided. So thank you for that.

    Patricia

  • Patricia Snyder

    Ann,
    The episode did pique my interest in learning more about paper production and I did visit the two links provided. So thank you for that.

    Patricia

  • Kristen

    Hi Patricia, I also am always eager to care after our sacred older trees and listen out for what people have to say on that matter. Consequently it is scary how even the mismanaging of forests of younger trees can damage ancient groves. Obviously, this wasn’t an appropriate venue for discussing the subject. I was satisfied, nevertheless, in hearing Melissa discuss their use of crops of younger trees. In fact, she mentioned that the forests were managed greenonomically, and I appreciated her mentioning that in spite of the lack of time.

    I would like to learn someday, however, why paper manufacturers no longer use old clothes to make paper. Before the 1860′s, they used old clothes, not trees, to make paper. I assume that was possible in part because not much paper was being made back then as compared to now, especially after Ms. Rowling started drinking so much caffeine! But it seems to me that an opportunity is being wasted in discontinuing that practice. Perhaps we could someday bring our last year’s fashions to those Expresso Machines (instant book-printing machines) and use them for the paper that the machine prints on the books!

  • Kristen

    Hi Patricia, I also am always eager to care after our sacred older trees and listen out for what people have to say on that matter. Consequently it is scary how even the mismanaging of forests of younger trees can damage ancient groves. Obviously, this wasn’t an appropriate venue for discussing the subject. I was satisfied, nevertheless, in hearing Melissa discuss their use of crops of younger trees. In fact, she mentioned that the forests were managed greenonomically, and I appreciated her mentioning that in spite of the lack of time.

    I would like to learn someday, however, why paper manufacturers no longer use old clothes to make paper. Before the 1860′s, they used old clothes, not trees, to make paper. I assume that was possible in part because not much paper was being made back then as compared to now, especially after Ms. Rowling started drinking so much caffeine! But it seems to me that an opportunity is being wasted in discontinuing that practice. Perhaps we could someday bring our last year’s fashions to those Expresso Machines (instant book-printing machines) and use them for the paper that the machine prints on the books!

  • Pam Lauman

    Ann and Michael,
    I really enjoy listening to your show. I subscribe to many podcasts and occassionally I need to delete some because of a lack of time to listen. Yours is never deleted! My wish list keeps growing and I wonder how I’ll ever find the time to read all these books.
    I loved Melissa’s discussion on paper. What a revelation! I never knew how complex an issue paper could be. Thanks for continuing to further my education about books and related fields. Keep up the good work.

  • Pam Lauman

    Ann and Michael,
    I really enjoy listening to your show. I subscribe to many podcasts and occassionally I need to delete some because of a lack of time to listen. Yours is never deleted! My wish list keeps growing and I wonder how I’ll ever find the time to read all these books.
    I loved Melissa’s discussion on paper. What a revelation! I never knew how complex an issue paper could be. Thanks for continuing to further my education about books and related fields. Keep up the good work.

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