Booknews worldwide: Melbourne fest, controversial publications, Booker via txt
• The Melbourne Writers Festival has kicked off, and a few blog reports have popped up.(via) Hits so far: Augusten Burroughs, Nam Le and, despite only appearing via satellite from Edinburgh, Salman Rushdie.
• Remember when Random House shelved "The Jewel of Medina," a novel about Muhammad's wife, amid speculations that it might be as controversial as "The Satanic Verses"? Well, a Danish publisher now says it would like to publish the book — as if the Danes needed another Muslim controversy.
• One of the best bookstore names ever: New York's Unopressive Non-Imperialist Bargain Books. Making its politics eminently clear — plus, it's cheap!
• When the Man Booker shortlist is announced, excerpts of the in-the-running books will be available via text or audio message to fans in England. After the Sept. 9 announcement, readers who send a text message will get their free shortlist short excerpt; those who like what they hear can purchase the whole thing.
• In Mexico City, Daniel Hernandez salutes Colombian-born author Alvaro Mutis, who turned 85 yesterday.
• The man who co-wrote "100 Things to Do Before You Die" has. Dave Freeman, an ad executive, died after a fall in his home in Venice, Calif., on Aug. 17. He was 47.
— Carolyn Kellogg
Photo by macinate via flickr
