Unicorns and balloons

Jeremy wants to design a series of t-shirts based on books he reads. The first available for purchase depicts an analogy described in Tribes by Seth Godin, that we both read recently. The relevant passage from the book is below. If you can relate to being the unicorn, maybe you have spectacular ideas you can develop and soon a tribe will follow.

"The balloon factory isn't really a bad place to work if you rationalize a bit. It's steady work, with a bit of a rush around New Year's. The rest of the time it's quiet and peaceful and not so scary. Except when the unicorns show up. At first, the balloon factory folks shush the unicorn and warn him away. That often works. But sometimes, the unicorn ignores them and wanders into the factory anyway. That's when everyone runs for cover. It's amazingly easy for a unicorn to completely disrupt a balloon factory. That's because the factory is organized around a single idea, the idea of soft, quiet stability. The unicorn changes all that. The balloon factory is all about the status quo. And unicorns (leaders) change the status quo."

Jeremy and my reviews can be found here on Booktagger. Although, I need to edit mine as there now exists an appreciation society for me on Facebook, albeit a small one, so maybe a I have become a unicorn.

Turn your read books green

The phrase reduce, reuse, recycle is not quite fitting for book lovers, as we may not want to reduce the books we buy. Often we reuse books by using libraries, borrowing and lending to friends and family, and purchasing from second-hand bookstores. You can also upload a list of books you want to read and those you have to give on BookMooch. (I haven't yet tried BookMooch, but often used a similar service called Book Relay, that is now defunct.)

Producing books means cutting down trees, 30 million per year in the United States alone. But, you don't have to stop buying books to prevent this...

Why not plant trees to replace those that are turned into your volumes? Tonight I visited Eco-Libris and gave money toward planting trees equivalent to five books. They have even sent me five cute stickers to place on my redeemed books. (You could just plant your own, but my balcony would too soon become a forest.)

The book book shelf by design studio not tom was built from books destined for the bin after not finding new owners at jumble sale. When you are finished with a book try to pass it on to another reader, but if you cannot, this could be a fun item to replicate.

How else can you make your read books green?

Curly comparisons

Designed to hold pieces of knowledge, you books and other treasured object, this bookcase is named the Wisdom Tree.

I love the tendril-like branches, and can't help thinking if it were mine, I would have to place my book Goatsperson and other tales by Michael Leunig on one. Doesn't the Wisdom tree remind you of his style, also seen in Curly Car painting below.

On holiday at the library

I just found the location of my next vacation. The Library in Koh Samui, Thailand.

This gorgeous hotel, named The Library, knows that a good vacation is one where you can read. So the team aims to help you accomplish this.

There is, of course, a library filled with books, and the theme continues with many picturesque locations to read at, a restaurant called The Page to dine at and Reader sculptures.

Harmless spills

If your favourite genera to read is crime, then this looks like your perfect bookmark. Called the liquid bookmark it really does look like liquid running down your page.

The liquid bookmark is available in red, white or black. So, you could also read a cookbook and have it appear like you have spilt your milk.

Each bookmark has a unique pattern, formed when the silicon it is made from is pored. The bookmarks are available for purchase from design boom.

Yes, I'm a scientist

I found this bookcase by a Swedish designer, Smansk a few weeks ago and liked that it resembled the double-stranded appearance of DNA. That is is also hot pink, and made from lego-like pieces that probably also made it attractive.

Lately, I seem to keep finding things I like in pairs, so tonight I discovered the alpha-helical bookcase, named myDNA, that even has a rotatable version.

Stories for your bed

These bedtime stories are for your bed. You can read them too, but the emphasis is on the bed, not the story.

First up: not just an ordinary duvet, but made of multiple layers you can remove as you read, this is a gigantic bedtime story (found at Geek sugar.

Secondly is Shakespeare, a Romeo and Juliet duvet from Hahn Smith Design.

Suspense suspended

These book mobiles and other book-related good were created by artist Lisa Occhipinti.

This one, with its chocolate brown cover embossed with gold is an undated city guide to Florence Italy, the place Jeremy and I met, so would do well hanging in the Booktagger apartment.

I love the title of the book below on the left, Chocolate Days, Popsicle weeks, and its bright green inside cover shown in the image underneath. Similarly, I think I would have continued taking calculus at university if my textbook had been the one in the two images below on the right.

Book mobiles can be purchased online from the Etsy store theshophouse, which features other beautiful book-related objects and jewellery pieces too.

Watch before you buy

Books worth their hardcover prices and anticipated best-seller positions increasingly have an entourage of promotional material, including a trailer.

Below are two lesser seen trailers I love. One for the children's book Rita and Whatsit and one for 100 Days of Monsters, a book associated with the website Daily Monster.

Do you have a favourite?

Tweetbook

Reportedly the first book of tweets to be published, My Life in Tweets, is a self-published hardback documenting the first two years of author James Bridle's Twitter posts.

A modern alternative to a journal, you can download your own using an available script.

The author, James, runs booktwo.org, which exists to report, catalogue, investigate, stimulate and debate the future of literature.He can also be followed on Twitter as booktwo, which allows you to read James Joyce’s Ulysses.

Bedtime stories

I don't know how I missed this event last year, and almost missed it again. To coincide with the London Bookfair, that ran from 17-25 April, Damian Barr was a reader in residence at the Andez Hotel in London.

Wearing a uniform of striped pajamas, Damian provides a book reading service to guests of the hotel. He will read from a selection of books and has three rules: he sits on a chair (not in your bed), will read for a maximum of one hour, and never does voices.

This year, the menu focused on food-related books, although Damian also provides bibliotherapy, where we will consult with you before prescribing a text for your needs.

Outside of the Bookfair event, the pajama-clad man, Damian Barr, is a journalist for the Times who also writes plays, authored a book on the quarter-life crisis, is a radio host and enjoys discovering new lifestyle trends, people and places.

Booktagger update

A new update to the on Booktagger means you can view your recent activity in the form shown below. You can do this by choosing the blue tab with your username on it.

You can view the recent activity of your friends too, by selecting the tab with you username "+ Friends" or on "Bookshelf View" for seeing the bookshelf view you are familiar with.

A feature that has always been on Booktagger, but remains elusive to some, is the "Theme" tab shown in red font. I just changed mine to galaxy. Other options a wood grain, brushed metal or urban.

Smart girls are cool and crafty.

Here are some cute bookish crafts you can purchase or maybe make some yourself.

First up some giant paperclips that can be used as bookmarks. This is a great idea as they won't keep slipping out of your chapters and getting lost in your over-sized handbag.

Buttons made from vintage books. I'm going through a swan phase at the moment, so like that one in particular.

Smart girls read books. And they're cool. And you can get it all on a keychain.

Holding up the bar

The Swan & Edgar opened in London during April with decor that included a bar constructed out of books. The volumes, donated by locals, book shops and even large publishers has resulted in a diversity of books clustered together, ranging from dictionaries and classics to Mills and Boon.

Continuing on the literary leaning, book reading events are planned for the venue.

Read the review a Booktagger reader forwarded on here.

Author signing

In this photo Barack Obama signs books at the in Costa Mesa Town Hall in California. I would love him to autograph my copy of Dreams from my father.

What do you think he is writing? His signature is brilliant, even without an additional message.

The photos are from The Official Whitehouse photostream on Flickr, with all photos published under Creative Commons.

Which book are you?

I took an online quiz and, apparently, I am Animal Farm by George Orwell.

My result read:

"You are living proof that power corrupts and whoever leads you will become just as bad as the past leaders. You're quite conflicted about this emotionally and waver from hopelessly idealistic to tragically jaded. Ultimately, you know you can't trust pigs. Your best moments are when you're down on all fours."

Well, I have read the book and do sometimes look around me, jaded, wondering how those around me hide their trotters ;)

Take this Book Quiz to see which one of sixty-four books you are.

Booked in

This igloo-like object was constructed in a Tokyo apartment. Bookshelves are on both outside and inside, and the roof tiles are made from felt. Inside is a cosy-looking bed.

It is the perfect way to hide your bed if you live in a studio and I would have loved to have such a secret place to hide and sleep in when I was little. Actually, I still would love to! Perfect for reading late into the night in.

More photos here and here.