Vladimir Nabokov's The Original of Laura

A novel in fragments...

Vladimir Nabokov wished this rough draft of his final novel burned. But his heirs have decided otherwise.

The book consists of 138 hand-written index cards reproduced on every other page, with typeset text below. While the literary value isn't as high as his finished work, it is interesting to see the development of fragmented ideas and to imagine how they might have been arranged by Nabakov had he lived to finish the novel.

Spliffigami

Roll the 35 Greatest Joints of All Time!

An exceedingly strange fusion of joint technology and origami artistry. Inside, you'll find, as author Chris Stone so eloquently puts it, 'conversation piece j's.' There's the Spaced Station which has multiple access points along a geometric space hub. The Jumbo was probably inspired by NASA's Columbia spacecraft design, as it looks like it's about to take off into the atmosphere. A circular joint called the Wheel of Fire would seem to be a victim of the law of thermodynamics' entropy. According to Stone, however, it is not only possible but it works well, provided you have enough material to make it a foot long.

The book itself is a hilarious conversation piece. A great gift for a Holiday White Elephant give exchange party.

Artificial Intelligence

From Stanley Kubrick to Steven Spielberg:
The Vision Behind the Film

A wonderful book chronicling the genesis and long gestation period of what is undoubtedly one of the finest science fiction films ever created. And created is the operative word here (not directed) because so much collaboration went into the making of this film, that it could hardly be said to be strictly a Kubrick/Spielberg vision.

The source material was, of course, Super Toys Last All Summer Long by Brian Aldiss (a haunting short story), who collaborated on a treatment and screenplay with Kubrick for about 15 years. Much of that time was spent expanding the short story into a larger mythological fairy tale, which involved the absorption of Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio novel (with some of Disney's version) into the narrative. Ideas were also incorporated from Kubrick's collaborations with Ian Watson, Bob Shaw, Sara Maitland and Chris Baker, the comic illustrator whose elaborate storyboards were approved by Kubrick himself and heavily utilized by Spielberg during the filmmaking process.

Artificial Intelligence details this three decade long process of bringing Aldiss' story, by way of Kubrick and Spielberg, to life. Kubrick's notes are even reproduced here--notes which will certainly put to rest, if not all, then certainly most of the misconceptions of the film, and the lazy criticism that followed the film's release.

The book names a number of the pre-eminent artificial intelligence thinkers and their respective writings, which served as an influence for not only Kubrick, but the succession of writers with whom he collaborated.

One final thought: The fact that this book was published eight years after the film's release indicates a growing fascination and appreciation for a film of such thought-provoking layers and complexity, that perhaps one day we'll be able to once again see it in all its glory on the big screen.

William Klein's "Rome + Klein"

Along with William Eggleston, (another) William Klein are my favorite photographers. Both men seem to know the importance of a good book design - and "Rome + Klein" is an exceptionally beautiful object to look at. But beyond that, this book really gives you the flavor of Rome circ. 1954.

Klein was called to Rome to work with Fellini. But due to film business and the way of the world, Klein had time on his hands, so he photographed Rome. And what we have here looks like the visual image of later-day Morrissey songs. Beautiful men and beautiful women doing what they do best - living the Rome life to the max and maybe beyond.



The layout of the book is so Klein. Double paged spreads of crowded street scenes, where your eyes goes from one inch to the other just absorbing the textures and expressions of Rome's citizens. It's very modern and clean. Even though the book was originally released in the 50's, it still seems fresh and chic.

So, yeah the book is iconic, but it also witty and incredibly charming. The book comes in two parts. The photographs and then another smaller volume with text by Klein plus quotations about Rome. I can't imagine anyone not wanting to have this book. I can't imagine life without "Rome + Klein." I can't imagine life without William Klein.

The Inventor of the Modern Album Cover by Alex Steinwess

Taschen has published a retrospective of album cover designer Alex Steinwess, who basically pioneered the art form. Steinwess designed thousands of covers for labels like Columbia, London, Decca and Everest, to name a few. He also did design work for film studios, magazines and even disilleries. Inside, you'll find wonderful reproductions of his best work, as well as little known gems. One of the best reproduced covers is that of Columbia Presents Gershwin's Rhapsody In Blue, created in 1941 for the Andre Kostelanetz Orchestra featuring Alec Templeton. Or check out the cover of Shostakovitch's Symphony No. 5, which is a concrete-like fist atop a bolt of lighting amidst what appear to be blurred-0ut galaxies or super bright clouds. Then, of course, there's the cover of Daniel De Carlo's One Night of Love, with De Carlo beside an open door, replete with a cartoonish Wolfman mask, beckoning the listener into a room with a table in the background graced with a bottle of champagne. Within, there's also a retrospective of Steinwess' collage work for artists like Dave Drubeck and Guy Lombardo.

A wonderful book, and sure to make a great Holiday present for the music or album cover aficionado.

Notable Art Book: Dada In Paris by Michael Sanouillet

Pretty much everything that was considered cool, experimental or groundbreaking in art, film, theater, philosophy and music in the 20th century can be traced back in one way or another to the Dada group, formed by Tristan Tzara, Hugo Ball, Jean Arp and Marcel Janco, amongst other notables. Pop Art? Thank Dada. Situationism? Thank Dada. Punk Rock? Thaaaank Dada. William S. Burrough's "cut-up" technique? Thank Dada! Experimental Theater? Thank Dada.

It all started at the Cabaret Volatire in Zurich, but Dada found its true circulatory center in post-war Paris where the group was able to interact with artists as diverse as Marcel Duchamp, Jean Cocteau, Erik Satie and Guillaume Apollinaire. Even future surrealists like Andre Breton, Philip Soupault and Louis Aragon were in on the inspired chaos. More than that, however, Dada was the natural evolution of Alfred Jarry's writings (Pere Ubu, Days & Nights) and his science of pataphysics.

Sanouillet's original study has been revised and expanded by Anne Sanouillet and published in English by MIT. Dada In Paris is as good a study of the impact of the group as can be found anywhere.

Criterion is Here!

Did we already mention that we now carry Criterion DVDs? Well, we are mentioning it again.
WE CARRY CRITERION DVDS!
Come and get your Fellini, Godard, Jarmusch, and obscure foreign films at Book Soup!
Criterion is the best. And they make beautiful, enviable gifts to others.
Stop in, they are up by the register, waiting for you...

The Genius of George Carlin

George Carlin passed away into the godless void last year. But, with Last Words, readers get another chance to peer into the life and mind of perhaps the best comic to have graced the stage. Carlin was, in many ways, the successor to Lenny Bruce (who considered him a protege of sorts). And the argument could be made that Carlin even surpassed his mentor through the sheer breadth of his intellect and the raw power of his routines. Both comics utilized a jazz-like rhythm which came as close to the idea of rap as comics might dare to tread. Whereas as Lenny Bruce is generally acknowledged as a looming influence for all manner of artists, writers and even musicians, Carlin (while certainly beloved) rarely receives the admiration that he surely deserved.

Last Words was a collaboration between Carlin and his longtime friend, English satirist Tony Hendra (Spitting Image, National Lampoon). Hendra, who recently spoke on NPR's Talk of the Nation this week, has certainly created a lasting tribute to the genius that was George Carlin.

To listen to the Hendra interview on NPR, follow this link:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120502583

Going Rogue, Citizen Palin's look at her life and time in America

Citizen Sarah Palin (she's no longer Governor, having quit mid-term) is not just a gun-toting beauty queen and Vice Presidential candidate. Add author to that list. Curious as to the origins of Citizen Palin? Or, how the erstwhile Republican leader was once a track star and earned the nickname 'Barracuda'? Maybe you'd like to stand beside Citizen Palin as she regards Russia from a distance? Perhaps you'd like to read of her exploits in Wasilla and how she became a 'rogue', without all of that liberal bias, and proceed straight to the source? Be a patriot and have a look at Going Rogue, sure to be one of the most controverial and instructive political biographies of the year.

Naked Dharma Bums Were Boiled in Their Tanks

Burroughs. Kerouac.
In 1944, in Greenwich Village, a young man is murdered, and these two visionaries co-write a book about it. It comes out as a sort of booze-fueled beat noir murder mystery, filled with drugs, art, and gritty genius. You can see their burgeoning talents emerge in this little gem, now in paperback.
Also re-released are two beautiful 50th anniversary editions of NAKED LUNCH and THE DHARMA BUMS......
Get your fill of these beatnik beauties today!