VERY BAD (but somehow sweet and nice...)

OK folks - I dig the creative and well placed 'urban art' that graces many of the walls, sidewalks, light posts and overpasses in our fine city. I appreciate the blast of color and the infusion of life onto the bland, gray voids of the urban jungle. I understand that many of these murals are done with the full consent of building owners, and beyond that, I want everyone to know that Banksy is a personal hero of mine. I get it - I really do!

But I really DON'T enjoy having to replace the front windows of Green Apple because some ***-h*** decided to scribble a tag with acid etching markers. I DON'T dig the abuse of private property without a higher goal than basic defacement. It's time to grow-up a bit, dontcha think?

Sigh, but then I saw this new addition to the entry way of Green Apple this morning. I heart books too, my friend, but I really wish you would just blog about it like everyone else does and leave our walls and glass alone. But thanks for the kind words - next time, why not tell tell your friends instead?

D is for Dirigible

The dust is beginning to settle as the moves throughout the store are (kinda, sorta) on their way to being finished. I don't have much time to say anything, as I should scurry back to organizing the piles of kids books scattered about on the mezzanine, but there's never lack of time for some ABCs, right??

I came across the Space Alphabet [click on the image to view the entire slide-show] while browsing PictureBookIllustration (which is full of incredible art from books throughout present and past times); I'm sure you'll enjoy it. And be sure to stop by the store sometime in the near future to have a look at the new changes!

THE WIZARD WAR

Pictured above here we've got a photo of Grant Morrison sporting a classy Tom of Finland kind of look. Below, Alan Moore, with sort of a more Fimbulvinter thing going on.
These two play the key roles in a minor dispute that I've affectionately begun calling THE WIZARD WAR. They also both write comics. Specifically some of the most notable comic book titles to come out in the last thirty some odd years, such as The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Moore), The Invisibles (Morrison), The Watchmen (Moore), Doom Patrol (Morrison), V for Vendetta (Moore), and We3 (Morrison), just to name a few. Alan Moore's titles may be a little more immediately recognizable due to the fact that many of them have been made into awful, awful films (much to Mr. Moore's chagrin), but this in no way means he's more famous or reputable than Morrison, at least not in the comic world (and, as a sideline, I recently heard rumor that Grant Morrison's We3 was optioned by New Line Cinema).

So aside from fame and multiple awards, what do the two authors have in common? Well they are both well known for reappropriating famous literary and comic characters throughout their works as well as famous historic events. They both have tendencies to write storylines that wax philosophical, question ethical standards, gender, religion, and generally question authority- that is, in a weird between-the-lines comic author sort of way. Oh, and they also totally hate each other. Why? Man, I dunno'...

...I really don't! But okay, okay. Maybe 'hate' is a strong word to use. However there is rumor of some dispute, and they have both made it clear publicly that they are not buddies. I suppose creative disputes are common through all of literature, graphic or non (hell, look at Stan Lee and Steve Ditko). Anyhow, in the vein of our FAMOUS LITERARY DISPUTES shelf that Sparks created on Green Apple's landing some time ago, our new expanded graphic novel section in our fiction annex now features a shelf fully dedicated to THE WIZARD WAR. It showcases choice titles by both authors. Check it out the next time you stop by, y'know, if you're in to that sort of thing.

Oh, and look up some gossip on both of these guys sometime if you're bored. Man they are kooks!

No One Cares What I Had for Lunch

But you should.

There's a book on blogging, you see, called No One Cares What You Had for Lunch: 100 Ideas for Your Blog by Margaret Mason.

But she doesn't know about the meatball sandwich at Bella Pizza on Geary and 5th Avenue. And I have yet to read her book, alas.

Omnivorous neighborhood denizens take note: said meatball sandwich is delicious and comes to about $6.50 with tax. I can't vouch for their pizza; I'm a Nizario's and Giorgio's loyalist.

Back to legitimate book news tomorrow, we swear.

Poem of the Week by Paul Hoover

Happy Monday, readers. This week's poem is by Paul Hoover. It's an excerpt from a poem that shares its title with its book: Edge and Fold (Apogee Press, 2006). Enjoy!

XV

the real that's in the world
is a word intending

absenting all it knows
a single leaf keeps falling

at the center of an eye
where the god is hidden

by the brightness it projects
we have not the strength

to divide ourselves by one
because it can't speak

the field is now a world
aimed at attention

Books in Translation

This week's featured book in translation is by Nobel Prize-winning Herta Müller. The Passport is a dark and lyrical journey through post-World War II Romania.

I have been entranced by this book for the last few days. It is a tough look at Romanians trying to leave a country destroyed by war.

While The Passport is a dark and sad tale, it's written in short and brilliant chapters. Müller has an understanding of human nature that is both insightful and scary.

Follow Windisch as he bicycles through his town trying to find an escape to Germany for him and his family.

Müller's writing is dark and beautiful, showing the lives of a town trying to escape their past. It is a short, dark book. . .but one that is worth reading.