Ruckus Media has paired up with St. Jude Children’s Hospital, as part of their Thanks and Giving campaign, through the end of the month.  When you buy one of their “Read-Play-and-Record-Along Rabbit Ears” interactive storybook apps for your iphone  or ipad, 100% of the net proceeds will go to St. Jude’s important research and ground-breaking strides toward the cure for children with deadly diseases.

Your children will love their favorite stories as read by celebrities.  Really, it’s a win-win:  You instill the gift of literature into your own child’s life while instilling the gift of hope into another’s. Don’t have a child?  Why not buy the apps and donate anyway, or gift the apps to someone else?  It’s for a great cause!  There are 11 classic stories, as read by the likes of Robin Williams, Jeremy Irons, Meryl Streep, Denzel Washington and more.  Buy one, several or the whole collection (all for under $22).  All are available on itunes (see links below).  Whatever you can give will support the struggle of a child in need.

The apps are especially convenient on the go, when you need something to occupy a cranky child’s attention!  Maybe your favorite story as a child was “Goldilocks”—well, now is the time to introduce your son or daughter to that same story (as read by Meg Ryan!).

• PECOS BILL, TOLD BY ROBIN WILLIAMS
• THE VELVETEEN RABBIT, TOLD BY MERYL STREEP
• NEW! THUMBELINA, TOLD BY KELLY MCGILLIS
• THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, TOLD BY MERYL STREEP
• JOHN HENRY, TOLD BY DENZEL WASHINGTON
• NEW! PAUL BUNYAN, TOLD BY JONATHAN WINTERS
• TOM THUMB, TOLD BY JOHN CLEESE
• GOLDILOCKS, TOLD BY MEG RYAN
• JOHNNY APPLESEED, TOLD BY GARRISON KEILLOR
• THE STEADFAST TIN SOLDER, TOLD BY JEREMY IRONS
• THE THREE LITTLE PIGS, TOLD BY HOLLY HUNTER

St. Jude is the nation’s leading pediatric research and treatment center devoted solely to children with cancer and other deadly diseases and the only hospital that covers all of the costs for treatment, travel, food and lodging for each patient and a family member.

Publisher of Strand Magazine, Andrew F. Gulli, discovered the undated short story, “So I shot him.”, along with about a dozen others during his research in the archives at the University of Texas.  The documents had been preserved by his longtime lover and fellow literary genius, playwright Lillian Hellman—until she died in 1984.  They were then passed on to family heirs who never officially released them to the public, but are now ready to do so.

The “founder” of hard-boiled detective stories, Hammett has been regarded an American treasure as his work led the way for so many others.  With literary classics-turned-Hollywood paradigms, “The Maltese Falcon” and “The Thin Man,” his legacy was never threatened.  Now, 50 years after his death, Dashiell Hammett will extend that legacy even further.

Many works discovered post-mortem, even if they went on to be published, have often been first drafts or unfinished notes not yet intended by the author for publication.  I beg to discuss whether they would have wanted their unfinished works exposed to the world.  Often very private individuals, authors many times don’t wish for their unperfected pieces to be released until they choose to do so in their own time.

The plot to this new soon-to-be-published thriller has not been released and will be revealed to readers only as they purchase the magazine’s next issue.  Claiming that this story reads much like a final draft, Gulli plans to publish it at the end of the month with the confidence that Hammett would have been comfortable with the condition of the work.  Without being given that choice, I wonder if we aren’t going against his former wishes by releasing the document.  Still, Strand Magazine is set to do just that and, given his track record, Hammett is likely to please his readers even now.

The current helpful lists are:

Children’s Books: Gift Guide 2009
Oprah’s 10 Terrific Reads of 2009
New York Times’ 100 Notable Books of 2009:

Fiction/Poetry, part 1
Fiction/Poetry, part 2
Nonfiction, part 1
Nonfiction, part 2

OPRAH’S 10 Terrific Reads of 2009: Her book choices for the well-renowned Oprah’s Book Club is like a golden stamp of approval from a true lover of literature. Every book she chooses becomes a hit!

Oprah’s 10 Terrific Reads of 2009

NEW YORK TIMES‘ 100 Notable Books of 2009: The golden throne of literary success. Even a nod in their Book Review section is the true mark of exceptional literature that is sure to entertain, educate and enlighten! Choose a book from this list and you really can’t go wrong!

NYT 100 Notable Books 2009: Fiction/Poetry, part 1
NYT 100 Notable Books 2009: Fiction/Poetry, part 2
NYT 100 Notable Books 2009: Nonfiction, part 1
NYT 100 Notable Books 2009: Nonfiction, part 2

Don’t forget to check back tomorrow for more gift guide ideas!
Next up, Children and Teen Book Guide 2009.
Next Week: Etsy Gift Finds.
Subscribe to my email (in the sidebar) to be alerted when these guides are posted!

I’d love to bring attention to the fact that NYC independent bookstores are finally being due acknowledged.  The first ever NYC Indie Bookstores Week is fast approaching.  Spread the word and support these stores that are under the stronghold of the international chains!  Taking place from November 15- 21, 2009, Independent Booksellers of New York City encourages you to step into your local indie store and promote them.

About ibNYC.org:
The IBNYC is an alliance of independent booksellers working together to promote the cultural, literary and economic benefits of shopping at New York City’s diverse collection of bookstores. We are united in our goal to keep indie bookstores thriving and raise awareness of the vital contributions that these local businesses make to the city’s rich tradition as a center of publishing and bookselling.

It’s the perfect time to poke your head into that little bookstore you’ve passed a hundred times, always saying “I have to remember to stop in there sometime.”  With an impressive 3-page events listing of readings, signings and discussions throughout the city, next week leaves you with no more excuses.  What better time to take a peek into that store than during a week that celebrates the thriving culture of independent bookstores despite rising kindle and ebook sales, Amazon purchases through the roof and chains opening on every corner?

Best yet, help jumpstart this celebration with powerhouse Arena’s kick-off party!  On November 11^th, jump on over to DUMBO, Brooklyn to check out author talks (including Kurt Andersen), live music (including Jones Street Station), refreshments (including cookies) and giveaways (including a poster signed by New Yorker cartoonist Bruce McCall) from 7-10pm.  More details here.

As a literary junkie and an art nut, I’ve been dying to check out (and work at?) powerHouse Arena.  An art publisher with a bookstore, gallery et al.  Love this.  If I can’t make it this Wednesday, I’ll absolutely get there soon.  I suggest you do as well.

In the meantime, here’s a Google Map of NYC independent bookstores.

Among my favorites is Housing Works Bookstore Café—a non-profit bookstore with an old-fashioned mahogany library-feeling décor, complete with a bar that sells wine and beer, cozy chairs and fabulous events.  The best part of all: Profits go toward helping homeless men, women and children living with HIV and AIDS in NYC by providing them with housing, meals, medical benefits and more.  Especially in the bitter cold of winter, this mission is remarkably important.

I love, love, love the fact that the French Parliament is considering a “Full Photoshop Disclosure” law for advertisements.  This would require that these entities inform the viewers if any Photoshopping or airbrushing was done on a given picture.  This would be mandatory for magazine ads, product packaging, press photos and art photography as well.

Much like a cigarette ad, these pictures would require a footer: “Photograph retouched to modify the physical appearance of a person.”  Any violators would be fined €37,500 or up to 50% of the cost of their campaign.

The law reminds me of a Standards Authority rule passed in the UK requiring that advertorials (paid advertisements masked as editorials, leading the reader to believe that the product recommendations are the opinion of the editor and not a paid ad.) be clearly marked with the word “Advertisement” as to not deceive readers.  With so many people trying to make themselves as thin as models in magazines without considering that the model may not even look that way in real life, this new proposal is a welcomed change.

If the law passes, it seems that it may be no more than a formality and I’m not sure that people would change their way of thinking for it (Remember that this doesn’t prevent places from altering images—it only requires them to put a small disclaimer on the bottom of it).  Still, an acknowledgement is a great a start.

That said, do we think this type of law can be in the future for the United States?  I think Americans would be hesitant to pass such a law—Perhaps because it would skew their vision (version?) of reality, proving untrue the idealism that we’ve put in the spotlight for so long.  Perhaps it would lose companies money because our society is built on the concept of unattainable beauty.

And what a shame since it could do our sometimes delusional society a favor by taking unrealistic weight goals, celebrity and unethical publishing practices down all at once!