Superior Person's Tuesday!

Flubdub, n. A glorious nineteenth-century word meaning "bombastic language." Use it together with "flimflam" (humbug, idle talk).

The conversation quickly devolved into flubdub and other pretentious nonsense.

Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Flubdub appears in the Second.

A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Shakespeare: The Marriage of Music and Writing

By Christina Freitas

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once said, “Music is the universal language of mankind.” A pretty hefty statement, I think, for a man engaged in the art of making his words serve the same purpose. Yet there’s an intrinsic truth to his words, one that has been noted by countless artists, a creative mesh of two extraordinarily similar artistic spheres. Not all music has lyrics, but all language has a rhythm, a beat, a musical quality of its own. It’s a match made in heaven. Or more accurately, a match made in imaginative minds.

"I was raised on rock."
- The Scorpions

Inspiration doesn’t just evolve from one mode of thinking; it trickles from several tributaries, integrating its influence in countless ways, through art, literature, history, science. From worlds so closely intertwined, an author can garner as much meaning from a three-minute song as a country singer can wrangle from the depths of a twenty-line poem. This symbiosis is evident in  It’s Only Rock and Roll: An Anthology of Rock and Roll Stories by Janice Eidus and John Kastan. This title combines the legacy of rock and roll, the pulsing power of its music, and echoes these feelings through language, built on characters and conflicts, rather than melodious, sometimes jarring, chords splayed across bars and time signatures.

There’s a lot to love in music and literature, and I’m not shy in admitting that I've always felt music lends itself to writing. Not just lyrics, which can serve as stories all their own, but also the very feel of the beat drumming inside our heads, stirring up all sorts of chaotic creativity until we cannot help but let it explode, let it fall on the page.

I don't make Vulcan symbols
while I'm writing. I promise.

When I write, I prefer to do so under the backdrop of some melody, one that reflects the mood I’m searching for, the scene I’ve crafted. My heart beats for rock and roll, the fevered thump of the drum, the rasp and wail of the guitar, the continuous energy emanating from every chorus, every chord. Of course, that doesn’t mean I completely ignore other musical styles. You’re actually more likely to find me typing away to an orchestral soundtrack than anything else! Which is a little odd, considering my most recent soundtrack obsession is that of Star Trek Into Darkness, and I don't quite write science fiction.

Still, I like to profile my characters in song, create a soundtrack that reflects on their lives, their personalities and their tastes. Dig around inside their head. Map out a story of their life, but in music. In many ways, I feel music can do that – tell the story of a man, or a woman, in just a few minutes, little snapshots, novellas from the pen of a musical writer. It’s no wonder that authors and artists have found common ground over the years.

Of course, music and writing are not entirely the same. There are intricacies inherent to music that cannot be duplicated on the page, just as there are limits to how much a story can translate into three or four musical minutes. One can never replace the other and for all their similarities, we would suffer as much in a world without music as we would suffer in a world without books. Luckily, we can have both, and still admire the thin trails connecting so many artistic expressions across the years, just as Eidus and Kastan have done in their brilliant anthology of a musical era that just keeps on rolling.

Do you have any thoughts on the wonderful collaboration of music and books? Are there any particular songs, or a specific genre of music, that have ever inspired you to write, or served as a suitable soundtrack to a book you’re reading? Share your comments with us here or join us on Twitter @GodinePub. For more information about It’s Only Rock and Roll, please be sure to visit our website!

Superior Person's Tuesday!

Pandiculation n. Stretching and yawning.

After a rough day at the zoo, this little guy was due for some pandiculation.

Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Pandiculation appears in the First.

A Trip Down the Rabbit Hole: The Edinburgh International Book Festival Kicks Off

By Christina Freitas

On August 10th, Edinburgh will erupt in literary fever, ushering in a tradition now thirty years strong. Tourists will flock to this scenic destination for a chance to meet and discuss the future of books, literature, and the craft of writing with world-renowned authors and future rising stars. And it’s all part of the much larger Edinburgh Fringe Festival, an annual celebration of the arts in all its forms, complete with over 2,500 performances and events for its visitors to enjoy.

Thirty years, and still going strong!

Founded in 1983, the Edinburgh International Book Festival remains one of the world’s largest literary celebrations. Extending over the course of two weeks, from August 10th through the 26th, the Festival welcomes tourists, readers and writers from all corners of the globe to a rousing collection of book-related events. This year, the Festival will mark thirty years of extraordinary history not just in the realms of art and literature, but in politics and science as well, particularly for Scotland. Visitors are privy to stirring talks about what the past can teach us today, and how our future may in turn be shaped by it.

There will be reading workshops, where authors join fellow readers to critically discuss some of their favorite reads. Alan Durant (Blood, Publish or Die) will host one such talk on August 10th, to discuss the lasting legacy and message of The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. Events will touch not just the palms of several literary genres, but also other artistic realms such as music, in events uncovering the inspiration many famous authors, and their works, have gained from the world of music.

And of course, there will be guest speakers. Some of the most notable authors present at the 2013 Festival are Margaret Atwood (The Blind Assassin, The Handmaid’s Tale) and Neil Gaiman (Neverwhere, American Gods). If you’re feeling a little faint at the thought of hearing one of these authors speak, you may want to find a seat. Fast. On the final day of the festival, these legendary authors will share the same stage and engage in a joint conversation about their works, their inspirations and the world of writing.

It’s a relatively young tradition, but it’s one that the world sorely needs. We cannot afford to forget the significance that every book presents to our world, the way we view it, how we shape it. Books have eyes and ears, molded by those who revived the inky hearts at their cores. They see the world, they extract pieces of the puzzle and they create a mosaic of thoughts, ideas, and images, to help unravel life’s greatest puzzles, the ones that face us all. They touch us, often in ways we don’t realize.

And for that we should thank the writers who brought them to us and offer a standing ovation to the writers who will rise today and tomorrow, to carry on the marvelous tradition of storytelling, for our world and the one that will follow. Ten years from now, I hope the Festival will be celebrating its fortieth anniversary, celebrating even more authors, the ones who stunned us and impressed us, continuing the tradition of honoring their works, and welcoming with open arms the next generation of great writers for years to come.

Has anyone ever attended the Edinburgh Festival, or know anyone who has? You can share your thoughts or stories in the comment section below, or join us on Twitter @GodinePub. For more information about the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, please visit their website. And for extended coverage of the Edinburgh International Books Festival, feel free to peruse its homepage.

Superior Person's Tuesday!

Noctivagant adj. Wandering by night.

After moving to the city, Janet developed some noctivagant behavior.

Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Noctivagant appears in the Second.

Movie Magic: Filming at David's House!

Crew members film The Judge in David's driveway.
Image credit: Bella English/Globe Staff

With yesterday's article in the Boston Globe, it appears the cat is out of the bag: for the past few weeks, David's home in Milton has been one of the filming locations for The Judge, a new movie starring Robert Downey, Jr., and Robert Duvall (among others)! That's right – the house that Robert Duvall's character lives in in the movie is in fact David Godine's house in real life.

"How did this happen?!" you might ask. Essentially, people connected to the film were scouting locations around Massachusetts and happened to come across David's house. They liked it, so they asked if they could use it in a movie – it didn't take a whole lot of convincing for David and his wife Sara to say yes.

The movie will be released in 2014, and the synopsis, according to the Internet Movie Database, is:

A successful lawyer [Downey, Jr.] returns to his hometown for his mother's funeral only to discover that his estranged father [Robert Duvall], the town's judge, is suspected of murder.

I got to visit the set myself, and witness firsthand the craziness that comes along with filming at a residential location. The morning I was there, they spent hours filming a single scene that will probably only be about 30 seconds long in the final movie (assuming it is not cut). They made sure to film every angle imaginable - a close up on Robert Downey, Jr., focused on him but from a little further away, over his shoulder looking at his neighbor, a close up of the neighbor, etc. (I can't give away details about the scene, though, sorry!) They ran each shot at least 3 to 4 times, and RDJ seemed to be improvising variations of his lines in a few of the takes.

L to R: Stunt coordinator Keith Campbell, David, and David's wife, Sara Eisenman
Image credit: Bella English/Globe Staff

At one point during the morning, David and I were in his kitchen when one of the movie's Production Assistants came in to see if David would let them use some of his mugs – apparently the ones they had planned to use were no longer making the cut. The PA looked through David's cabinets and picked out a few options. She remarked that she couldn't use most of the mugs because they had logos or images on them that they would have to receive permission to use and David steered her toward a mug with the David R. Godine, Publisher name and logo on it. "I'm in charge of permissions," I told her, "and I can officially grant permission for you to use the mug with our logo." She laughed, but she took it as one of three options – "we'll see which one Robert Downey, Jr., picks" – and that was that. Rumor has it that RDJ actually did pick the Godine mug, so keep your eyes peeled when you see The Judge in theaters next year!

If you missed the article in yesterday's Globe, you can read it online here.

June News and Review Round Up

Here at David R. Godine, Publisher, we strive to produce high quality books above all else. So, when our books and authors are praised, we hope you'll forgive us for acting like proud parents. Please join us in celebrating the recent success of a few of our talented authors.

In recent news, Joe McKendry attended Winchester Town Day in Winchester, Massachusetts on June 1st to promote One Times Square and Beneath the Streets of Boston. He can be seen below holding Beneath the Streets of Boston and standing with fellow author Neal Sanders. A fun time was had by all, and we at the office sure wish we could have been there! You can get your own copy of McKendry's Beneath the Streets of Boston from our website.

Joe McKendry (left) and Neal Sanders

We love to see our wonderful authors and translators getting the recognition that they deserve. Library Journal praised and recommended J. M. G. Le Clézio's The African, specifically highlighting C. Dickson's skillful translation:

Le Clézio, recipient of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Literature, recalls the emotive and evocative African experience of his youth. . . In the process of writing this reminiscence and selecting some of his father's photos to accompany the text, Le Clézio comes to cherish a life subsumed by Africa. None of the photos include his father, and the book never mentions the man's name. VERDICT This is a fluid translation from the French version published in 2004 and a fine introduction to a prolific and relatively unrecognized writer. Recommended. —Lonnie Weatherby, McGill Univ. Lib., Montreal

The Complete Review shared Library Journal's positive impression of The African:

These are quite fascinating lives, though what Le Clézio offers are largely only glimpses and general outlines. . . Still, it makes for an appealing little memoir, of distant fathers and their sons; a sliver, only, of these lives, but thoughtfully presented. —M. A. Orthofer

Read the full review here. The African is available for purchase on our website.

We just became aware that Boston.com's Pet Chatter blog mentioned our much-beloved Catie Copley books Catie Copley and Catie Copley's Great Escape back in May. Blogger Stephanie St. Martin writes:

Fairmont Copley Plaza welcomes pets of all sizes, but you don't have to bring your own to receive some cold nose therapy. Bellico shares his favorite part. "The hotel has a resident 'canine ambassador' in Catie Copley, a gorgeous (and incredibly gentle) black Labrador retriever," he says. "Originally trained as a guide dog, Catie occupies a dog house at the hotel's main entrance and can be reserved for walks or runs throughout the city. Catie has become something of a celebrity, with a pair of charming children's books written in her honor." But don't worry, sweet Catie hasn't let it go to her head. She still greets guests with the enthusiasm of a puppy!

The real-life Catie Copley

You can find the full post on pet-friendly Boston hotels here, and check out our Catie Copley books (if you haven't already!) here.

Kate Barnes

On a sadder note, The Boston Globe celebrated the life and work of the late Kate Barnes, author of Where the Deer Were and Kneeling Orion. Read the article here. She was a woman of many talents, and she will be sorely missed.

Don't forget to visit our homepage for more information on upcoming and recent titles!

Superior Person's Tuesday!

Ping-ponging v. A process in which a number of medical specialists refer a wealthy patient to one another in succession.

This was the most expensive game of ping-ponging the Fab 4 ever played.

Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Ping-ponging appears in the Superior Person's Field Guide.

Make Your Own Fireworks: A "Handy Tip" for the Fourth of July

Love fireworks? Whether you're being serenaded by the Boston Pops or are curled up in a lawn chair with family and friends anywhere across the nation, one thing is certain: the Fourth of July would not be complete without a little fireworks display (maybe a few, if your neighbors are so inclined!) The American Girls Handybook offers readers (and their kids) a fun and easy way to prepare their own homemade "firecrackers" - without the fear of burns or injury.

Today's "Handy Tip" is brought to you from The American Girls Handybook: Chapter IX

The authors note first that these are meant to be daylight fireworks, which can be launched from a porch, balcony or other high place around your home. Given suitable wind conditions, they should go off without a hitch. There are several designs offered but for today, we'll be describing just two: the Parachute and the Whirl.

The Parachute

1. Cut out a five inch square of tissue paper. You'll want to twist and then tie the four corners with a slip of thread. It's recommended that you make each thread about eight inches long, to ensure the twists hold.
2. Next, you'll need to have a small pebble on hand, to serve as the weight for the parachute. Wrap the pebble in a piece of paper, take each of the four threads and tether them to your pebble in the center, as seen in the picture.
3. After completing your first parachute, you can then make several more, using varying colors and designs, to create your own army of parachutes, ready to be released from windows, porches, etc.!

The Whirl

1.  You can use either wrapping paper or writing paper, depending on what materials you have readily at hand. You'll want to cut your paper into circular spiral forms, as demonstrated in the picture.
2. At the center of your paper, glue down either a small piece of wood, or a weighted equivalent, to hold the center down in place.
3. Once released into the air, the spirals will open up as they take flight, rising and swirling as they go. Again, feel free to use as many colors and patterns as you'd like - they're your fireworks!

The American Girls Handy Book, first published in 1887, was written by two of the founders of the Girl Scouts of America. It's a beloved, vintage Americana guide book, filled with activities that transport readers back to a time before TV and are guaranteed to keep kids busy and entertained. You can purchase it on the Godine website.

Karsh: Beyond the Camera: Available as an ebook!

We're excited to announce that Karsh: Beyond the Camera is now available as an ebook! When you purchase through our partner Ganxy with the link below, you will receive both a mobi file (compatible with the Kindle) and an epub file (compatible with all other e-readers) for the price of one! Know someone else who might like the ebook? Gift them a copy!

"Karsh: Beyond the Camera" by David Travis on Ganxy

Superior Person's Tuesday!

Lachrymatory n. A little bottle for keeping tears in. Typically a phial of glass or pottery, with a mouth shaped to fit over the eyeball.

Lachrymatories: for those who like to cry in style.

Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Lachrymatory appears in the Third.

Children's Catalog

For the first time in five years, we've put all of our children's titles together in one place. Scroll through our children's catalog below!

David R. Godine Children's Catalog 2013 by David R. Godine, Publisher