Diversion #3

Some of the new features are taking a lot longer than anticipated. One of those “experiencing technical difficulties, please stand by” sort of situations. In the meantime, here’s a video for you lovely people to enjoy. Neil Gaiman was interviewed on The Colbert Report last night discussing his Newberry Award-winning The Graveyard Book. I figured this was an appropriate video to share, as Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite writers and Stephen Colbert’s satirical book I am America (And So Can You!) will be featured in an upcoming review. Not to mention The Colbert Report is one of my favorite shows.

Please enjoy!

~Riot

Diversion #2

Happy Holidays, o beloved readers! Normally I try not to post twice in the same day, but I came across something fantastic that I wanted to share with you as a gift and a challenge. Both for the holidays and because last week Burning Leaves reached hit number 1,000! Thank you so much!

Ali from the blogs Worducopia and Diversity Rocks! has issued a challenge to bloggers and readers alike asking them to read a certain number of books by “non-white” authors by February 2009. I plan on participating at the Challenge Addict level, reading at least 6 (though I will try for more if my schedule allows) books. Ali has requested that participants formulate a book list, but at the moment I am extended in more directions than a Stretch Armstrong doll in the possession of a particularly curious and sadistic two-year-old. So I will have to devote my time to creating one later. I also cannot promise that every book I read and review up until February 2009 will necessarily be by a non-white or non-European/American author, as I do have an extensive backlog of books that need to be absorbed before being returned to the library. But I can guarantee that at least 6 of them will qualify for the challenge.

More detailed and specific information is available on the 2009 Diversity Rocks! Challenge official posting. I would encourage any of you who stop by Burning Leaves to give the page a glance and think of ways to expand your literary intake, perhaps even participating if you have the time to devote to the challenge itself. I figured that many of you would perhaps be interested in this wonderful and hopefully enlightening event.

Happy Holidays! Regular incinerations will resume in due time.

~Riot

Edit: Ali very thoughtfully commented on this post, informing me that I had until the end of 2009 to complete my 6 books at the Challenge Addict Level. If that is the case, then I am going to read at least 24 books by qualifying authors, though I will commit to at least 6 by February. Thank you, Ali, for your comments and for orchestrating this event!

Diversion #1

The first of what I hope to be many more literary diversions comes with permission from my wonderful old friend Matt “The Canadian” Walker. His Halloween costume was quite possibly one of the best I came across this year, and since it’s relevant to literature I figured I would share it with all you lovely readers out there.

We can't stop here! This is bat country!

 

Suffice to say, there may be an influx of reviews in the gonzo journalism and beat literature genres in the coming months thanks to MtC. Let’s give him a hand, ladies and gentlemen!

~Riot