From the Booker Prize to fashion week, today’s news ranges from the literary great to the fun and frivolous. With all of this information, you can discuss the Booker nominees at your next book club while comparing literary tattoos and drinking Hemingway’s favorite cocktails.
Penguin Classics updates some classic covers
- The long list for this year’s Booker prize has been announced and includes both first-time novelists and Booker veterans. Omnivoracious has the full list, and the Guardian provides commentary on literary big shots A.S. Byatt, Colm Toibin, Hilary Mantel and J.M. Coetzee, who are all nominated. Byatt won the prize in 1990 for Possession, and Coetzee has won twice, first for Life and Times of Michael K and later for Disgrace. And if he wins for a third time, well, that’s just showing off…
- What better time to judge a book by its cover than New York Fashion Week? As the week of catwalks and parties begins on August 25th, Penguin Classics will unveil three classics with updated, trendy covers. Designed by Daily Candy illustrator Ruben Toledo, the covers make The Scarlet Letter, Pride and Prejudice, and Wuthering Heights look cool enough to hang with New York’s fashion elite. Paper Cuts has more on the reprints, including images of all three.
- Do you have a tattoo of a literary quote that is just too deep for most people to comprehend? Well, finally you can feature it in a book alongside other book lovers who decided to ink their favorite quotes into their skin. Justin Taylor and Eva Talmadge of HtmlGiant are creating an anthology of literary tattoos, and they’re seeking submissions. Jacket Copy has more about the project, including submission guidelines.
- We all know Hemingway could drink, but what exactly were the ingredients of his favorite cocktails? Phil Greene from the Museum of the American Cocktail (located in New Orleans, in case you were curious) spoke with NPR about the multiple drinks appearing in Hemingway’s work in honor of what would be the author’s 110th birthday. It’s worth a listen and will provide you with some cocktail trivia for your next literary soiree.
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