LitMinds Blog and Interviews

We've got the alpha version of our website up and running at www.litminds.org!

Go ahead and try out these features:
1. Create your myLitMind profile
2. Add to and maintain your reading list
3. Share your profile with friends, family, work colleagues, and anyone else you want
4. Join in the discussion on the boards -- we're talking about Fiction, NonFiction, Short Reads (magazine and newspaper articles), Literary Events, and the Book Industry (bookstores, publishing, etc.)
5. Check out out LitMinds profiles at Who's LitMinded
6. Have fun!

We know that our first alpha users will encounter bugs of various shapes and sizes, so we appreciate your patience and any feedback.  Also we're collecting ideas for the beta version so if there is functionality you'd really like to see then let us know at: http://home.litminds.org/thread.html?id=10046

Enjoy the website and let us know what you think!

Posted by Carrie at 01:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Ayaan Hirsi Ali has a remarkable story to tell.  Born and raised in Somalia, she has endured numerous personal difficulties, formed a thoughtful set of beliefs, and committed herself fully to fulfilling her personal convictions. 

With the rise in popularity of memoirs, there has been a surplus of recently published self-told stories in the book world.  And while I have not yet read Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s memoir, Infidel, I imagine her book is one worth getting.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s story will be powerful partly due to the events of her life.  She has undergone genital mutilation, seen her father imprisoned for years because of political opposition to those in power, escaped an arranged marriage by fleeing from Africa to the Netherlands, and become an elected member of the Dutch Parliament.  However, I suspect even more powerful is the voice within her writing - a voice that fights against death threats and other opposition on behalf of improving the rights and circumstances of Muslim women.

There is an upcoming opportunity in the Bay Area to meet Ayaan Hirsi Ali in person and hear her speak.  She will be at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on Tuesday, February 20th at 6pm.  I, for one, hope to be there to hear Hirsi Ali share her story in her own voice.

Posted by Carrie at 10:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This past Friday, February 1st saw a flurry of activity in the book industry as the announcement was made for the release date of the final Harry Potter book.  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Year 7 will be published and available for purchase at 12:01am on Saturday, July 21st.  There is tremendous speculation about the book’s conclusion of the Harry Potter series, including endless rumors about one or two of the main characters that might be killed in the Deathly Hallows.

Of the Harry Potter series, which has sold 325 million copies to date, the seventh and final book has already skyrocketed to the top of the bestseller list on the Powell’s Books, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble websites. 

If you hear other stories or tidbits about what readers or independent booksellers are doing in anticipation of the final Harry Potter, please let me know.  I love such festivity and celebration around a book.

 

Posted by Carrie at 12:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)