Mar 08

BOTNS Podcast #119: BiblioDiversity

By Michael Kindness Podcasts Add comments

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 17:49 — 10.2MB)

We hear about Ann’s new favorite word and what it might mean to all of us. Ann gives us a quick review of her book purchases this week. And, two books we can’t wait for you to read!

Ann’s New Favorite Word

ead!A new scholarly journal called Bibliodiversity caught Ann’s attention for its unique subject and format as well as its name. We have decided to shamelessly adopt this cool new word for our own uses. We think bibliodiversity could mean reading a wide range of subjects (i.e. someone who reads fiction, memoir, history, science and sports is bibliodiverse), or reading books in both electronic and print formats. What is your take on the word?

Book Purchases for the Week (5:42)

As is often the case when a sales rep goes into book stores, Ann bought some books this week. Three of them, in fact: the British edition of The Master by Colm Tóibín; Charles Portis’ True Grit, the inspiration for the Coen Brothers’ latest film; and Annabel by Kathleen Winter which is the story of a hermaphrodite born in a small Canadian village in the late 1960′s.

 

Two Books We Can’t Wait for You to Read (8:47)

One of my favorite books from last year, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, is out in paperback this week! If any of you were waiting to read this amazing piece of investigative journalism and family saga, you no longer have any excuse! Ann is thrilled to tell you about Ellen Meeropol’s House Arrest. Ellen is a friend of ours, and a bookseller at one of our stores. Her first novel is the story of Emily a home-care nurse whose newest patient is a pregnant cult member, currently under house arrest for the deaths, by exposure, of two children, one of which was her own 14-month-old daughter. We’re so excited that Elli (as we know her), will be joining us at the BOTNS Weekend Retreat!

 

bookstore photo by Sumit, via flickr
  • http://fortheloveofbooks.wordpress.com Erin

    My first thought was that bibliodiversity could mean reading books by authors from diverse backgrounds, particularly authors of various ethnicities and nationalities. Maybe that’s too obvious, but I do believe there’s so much value in reading translations of books by foreign authors. Very important to read other people’s world views, especially with becoming so much smaller (figuratively, obviously).

    Perhaps racial diversity was on the brain after coming across this article from the Louisianna Weekly. It’s about how black-owned independent bookstores are reacting to Borders closing. One thing I hadn’t realized was that roughly 30% of booksales by African-American authors come from Borders, at least according to one store owner who’s interviewed in the article. Well worth a read.
    http://www.louisianaweekly.com/news.php?viewStory=3963

    I like y’all’s interpretation, though. As a writer of fiction, I find reading nonfiction and a wide range of subjects is a great way to spark ideas. Plus it’s just fun.

    Thanks for posting on this subject.

  • http://twitter.com/leeshaheard Leesha Heard

    Adding diversity to anything, especially words, turns our speech rote to “race, color, creed, religion,…”. The difference is that we’re talking about books…books. Biblio’s are true readers and thus do not consider race, color, creed, religion, etc. when reading.

    My definition of Bibliodiversity entails not only genres and format (books and e-readers), but language, and media (from cereal boxes to magazines and newspapers to novels, short stories and tomes).

    My own Bibliodiversity is based not only on the above, but it’s how I read, that I read, where I read, sharer and bibliophile, preference (do I prefer books about teenage angst, strong women characters, horror, mystery, etc.), and comfortability with an e-reader.

    Love for books and love for reading almost feel intuitively diverse. I would have difficulty calling myself a reader and book lover if diversity were not a part of it.

  • Kate

    Ann & Michael,

    Thanks for discussing The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks again. It is my book group choice for April and had put off reading it. Thanks for the enthusiasm!

  • http://twitter.com/hipstamom hipstamom

    It’s interesting how many Americans are mono-lingual. Now, many schools offer foreign languages but many forget the language post-school. (Six years of Spanish and nothing to show for it :) People who are multi-lingual usually come from homes who are multi-lingual. Other countries that have multiple official languages reinforces the secondary languages.

  • http://twitter.com/hipstamom hipstamom

    It’s interesting how many Americans are mono-lingual. Now, many schools offer foreign languages but many forget the language post-school. (Six years of Spanish and nothing to show for it :) People who are multi-lingual usually come from homes who are multi-lingual. Other countries that have multiple official languages reinforces the secondary languages.

  • Sue Jackson

    Bibliodiversity…I love it! What a great word. As in, “listening to Books on the Nightstand brings greater bibliodiversity to my reading habits.”

    I really want to read Henrietta Lacks – I have heard so many good things about it. So many good books and so little time!

    Sue

  • http://jaynesbooks.blogspot.com/ Melissa W.

    Just finished the Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks; excellent read and possibly one of the best books that I have read so far this year.

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