1 Year of WU Google Notebook: Updates, Feedback & Indiana Jones
June 3rd, 2008 by Therese Walsh
I can barely believe that a year ago I started to track book and business news via the WU Google Notebook. Since updates take a chunk of time–even if I do enjoy finding them–I really would like to know how many of you visit and utilize the notebook, or whether it should be discontinued. Comment here or send us a note at .
Speaking of, be sure to check out the notebook this week for some big happenings, including losses for Barnes & Noble and Borders, a lower price for the Kindle (with 5,000 new titles coming from Simon and Schuster, and new e-book growth for Penguin), a new James Bond novel for summer reading, a Harry Potter prequel, a paranormal social network forum by Steven Spielberg, a new way to purchase books via blackberries, not-so-great news out of BookExpo America re: paperback novels, a comedy script contest for FOX, and more.
In other news, I saw Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull this past week, and I have to say that I sadly agree with Billy Mernit’s critical appraisal of the flick: Major suspension of disbelief required. Not that it wasn’t worth it to see Harrison Ford in that hat again, but still, be prepared to check your writer’s notebook at the door. Has anyone else seen it? Care to share your thoughts on tension, suspense, emotional development and red herrings and/or loose ends?
Finally, this inspiring blip from today’s The Writer’s Almanac:
It’s the birthday of Larry McMurtry, (books by this author) born in Wichita Falls, Texas (1936). His early novels were set in the Southwest, on the frontier and in small towns. They included Horseman, Pass By (1961), and The Last Picture Show (1966), which were both made into movies. Then 1981, he wrote an essay in The Texas Observer in which he said that “the cowboy myth” had become “an inhibiting, rather than a creative, factor in our literary life,” and that “there was really no more that needed to be said about it.” The future of Texas literature was urban, he said: “Now what we need is a Balzac, a Dickens.” But a few years later he published one of his best books, Lonesome Dove (1985), a historical novel about a cattle drive, and it won a Pulitzer Prize.
See there–the brain and muse not always in sync. And the muse wins.
Write on, all!
First of all, Therese, congratulations to you and the word squad on your anniversary. I love this site!
Secondly, with regards to Indiana Jones, I saw it last night and loved it. I think the whole point of IJ is to be outlandish, stretch disbelief two blocks past any human shred of logic, and just go banana-man for the sneers, action, camp and signature “character” moments. It’s popcorn fare, to be sure, but I go for the fun frolic with IJ, knowing full well he’s got licence and a beat-up fedora to play fast and loose with story convention.
Thanks for all your hard work on the GN, Therese. I know it’s a b*tch to do.
Hm, I’ve been trying to decide whether or not to see the Prince Caspian movie, or IJ…maybe you’ve just made my choice for me.
Entertaining movie all around, but a terrible Indy movie IMO. Violated the template in so many ways, believability being only one of them.
i saw Indiana Jones, and having read some of the iffy reviews, was prepared to be disappointed. but i wasn’t!!! i loved it! Harrison Ford was great and the plot was not that out there. George Lucas wrote the screenplay, and although i do love Star Wars, episodes 1-3 were not the caliber of 4-6, IMHO. Anyway, go see it. It’s a fun movie.