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Vanity Fair's Proust Questionnaires Compiled in New Book

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Books

<I>Vanity Fair</I>'s Proust Questionnaires Compiled in New Book
Sometimes I find it challenging to get through an issue of Vanity Fair, with its overuse of the word "legendary" and its snobbiness. But I enjoy the back-page Proust Questionnaire, and VF is guessing the rest of the world does too. It just released a compilation of the monthly magazine's department -- which has been in VF since 1993 -- in a hardcover book, Vanity Fair's Proust Questionnaire: 101 Luminaries Ponder Love, Death, Happiness, and the Meaning of Life (Rodale Books, October 2009).

Edited by VF editor Graydon Carter with illustrations by Risko, who illustrates the department each issue, the 224-page book sells for $23.99.

Read Carter's take on his new book, and learn that neither Proust nor VF invented the questionnaire, in VF's November 2009 issue's Society section. And be sure to take the questionnaire yourself.


Tags: book, books, Graydon Carter, GraydonCarter, Proust, Risko, Vanity Fair, VanityFair

Win A Copy Of The New Secrets Of Style

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Books

new secrets of styleSometimes we all need a reminder of the basics of good style. InStyle is releasing the latest new edition of its top-selling classic, The New Secrets of Style (Time, Inc. Home Entertainment, $29.95) on October 27, 2009. This comprehensive style resource features expert guidance for looking fabulous with confidence and ease. The book uses celebrity examples to discusses the finer points of effortless and timeless dressing. Each chapter analyzes different aspects of a wardrobe, from lingerie to coats, and features "flattery" charts arranged by body type. Written by the editors of InStyle, The New Secrets of Style includes chapters on shoes, bags, jewelry and shows how to combine the various types of accessories with specific outfits to create an elegant, unfussy look.

We received a copy of this book to give away to one reader. To enter leave a comment with your own style tip below.

Some other important details:

* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below.
* The comment must be left and confirmed before October 30, 2009 at 5:00PM Eastern Time.
* You may only enter once.
* One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
* One winner will receive a copy of The New Secrets of Style valued at $29.95.
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia.

See complete contest rules here.

This contest is closed. Thank you for your participation.


Tags: book, fashion, giveaway, style

Would You Pay $1,000 For Ted Kennedy's Memoirs?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Books

My colleague Jared Paul Stern recently reported that Hugh Hefner's biography will run $1,300 a figure no doubt made more tempting by the inclusion of selections from Playboy magazine. But will readers pay $1,000 for Ted Kennedy's memoir, "True Compass?" The NY Times Media Decoder blog says that the publisher, Twelve, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing will issue a limited edition run of 1,000 leather-bound and electronically-signed versions of the memoir. The limited edition will include family photos that are not available in the standard hardcover. The edition will be sold through Hachette Book Group, the parent company of Grand Central of which Twelve is an imprint. Standard copies will sell for $35 and the book will be released in October.

Kennedy is said to have received $8 million for the book which he wrote with Ron Powers, an author of "Flags of Our Fathers." Kennedy is far from the first political figure with an expensive book. A limited edition of President Clinton's massive "My Life" sold for $350 and a leather-bound version of President Reagan's memoir "An American Life" was sold for $1,500 back in 1990.

Gallery: The Pricey Tomes

The Book of OlgaGodfather Family AlbumJourney to MeccaBarbie Distinctive Vintages

Source

Tags: biography, book, edward kennedy, EdwardKennedy, memoir, ted kennedy, TedKennedy, true compass, TrueCompass

Harry Potter Book Sells For Over $19,000

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Books

The Harry Potter economy is alive and well. A softcover copy of the first Harry Potter book sold for a record $19,120 in a rare books auction through Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas Texas on Friday. The 1997 first edition of Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone with the original publisher's illustrated softcover wrappers also featured an illustrated card signed by the author, J. K. Rowling. There were only 200 copies in the first printing and the winning bid this time was nearly double the previous record for this book set last October ($10,750). The winning bidder is from Dubai and is said to be a comic book collector whose wife is a Harry Potter fan.

Gallery: Documents At Auction

Ernest Hemingway ProofOrson Welles's Citizen Kane ScreenplayJ.K. Rowling's Beedle the BardMagna CartaDickens Papers


Tags: auction, book, harry potter, HarryPotter, rare books, RareBooks

Barbie's Big Pink Book

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Books


As we mentioned recently, it's Barbie's 50th birthday. In addition to getting her own tiny Louboutins, she's also getting her own book. The Ultimate Collection: Barbie book from Assouline is a Barbie-pink book which is assembled using the traditional anglaise technique and color-tipped by hand on art-quality paper. The book covers Barbie history, Barbie fashion and features pictures of vintage Barbies and Barbie accessories. The book is 14" x 17" and has 128 pages. It sells for $500.

[via View On Fashion]

Source

Tags: assouline, barbie, book

"The Godfather Family Album," Limited Edition

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Books

Everyone knows someone who loves The Godfather. Here's a gift idea for the true fan: "The Godfather Family Album" is a pictorial book with never-before-seen photos from the sets of all three films, taken from photographer Steve Schapiro's archives. This edition is limited to 1,000 copies, each numbered and signed by Schapiro. Also included are background articles and interviews about the films. This lavish, leather-bound book allows fans a privileged peek behind the scenes in the making of film history. Edited by Paul Duncan; color and black/white; hardcover plus box; 29 x 44 cm (11.4 x 17.3 in.); 444 pages; $700.

[Thanks, Ben]


Tags: Book, Books, Godfather, The Godfather, TheGodfather

Michelangelo Book Features Marble Cover

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Books


I've covered many expensive books over the years but there aren't too many like "Michelangelo: La Dotta Mano" the new book by Italian publisher FMR. The book measures 18 by 28 inches and weighs a backbreaking 61 pounds. Why so heavy? The cover is a marble carving of a replica of the Madonna della Scala encased in a velvet binding. Inside there are reproductions of drawings by Michelangelo, photographs by Italian photographer Aurelio Amendola and writings on Michelangelo spanning centuries of scholarship. The book commemorates the 500th anniversary of the start of Michelangelo's work on the Sistine chapel. You can see the book at the New York Public Library's Bill Blass Public Catalog Room from Dec. 2-8. Or, if you have the money and sturdy shelves you can pick up one of your own from the limited edition of 99 for $130,000.

[via LA Times Jacket Copy]

Gallery: The Pricey Tomes

The Book of OlgaGodfather Family AlbumJourney to MeccaBarbie Distinctive Vintages

Source

Tags: book, marble, michelangelo

Milkweed Editions Inc., Charity of the Day

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Charity, Charity of the Day


Milkweed Editions Inc. was founded in 1979 in Minnesota with the intention of "making a humane impact on society." The independent non-profit publishing house puts out 12 - 20 new books each year and strives to use literature's unique ability to reach people and change their thinking to make the world a better place. They support writing creations of all kinds (fiction, nonfiction, children's, poetry) as long as it conveys a message in keeping with their mission of the essence of the human heart and spirit.

Source

Tags: book, books, charity, charity of the day, CharityOfTheDay, literature, milkweed, milkweed editions, milkweed editions inc, MilkweedEditions, MilkweedEditionsInc, publish, publishing, reading

Biblioteca Bookrack: From Two Tables Comes One Shelf

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Art, Books

Designer Matt Carr found found two vintage coffee tables and was inspired to create a bookrack for his own home. Earning points for recycling and keepin' it green (possibly saving the tables from the landfill), he configured them into the Biblioteca Bookrack, offered by Umbra.

The shelves have a natural mahogany top and black lacquered legs. Dimensions: 44" x 37" x 11" (111 cm x 93 cm x 20 cm).

$525 on the Umbra site, but pssst, Unica Home offers it for $500.

See the gallery below for more views.

Gallery: Biblioteca Bookrack



Tags: book, bookrack, books, bookshelf, Matt Carr, MattCarr, umbra

Superchef to Publish Superbook

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Heston Blumenthal from world-renowned The Fat Duck in Bray, England is known for his expensive and innovative cuisine and now one of the world's best chef is creating one of the world's priciest cookbooks. He is partnering with the jewelry company Asprey to created a limited edition £1,000 luxury leather-bound book. The book will also come with two surprise 'silver gifts' from Asprey. The Independent reports that in spite of a weakening global economy luxury books are still big business. We've certainly seen more than a few, check out some examples in the gallery below.

Gallery: The Pricey Tomes

The Book of OlgaGodfather Family AlbumJourney to MeccaBarbie Distinctive Vintages

Source

Tags: asprey, book, cookbook, expire-images2009-4-19, fat duck, FatDuck, heston blumenthal, superbook

Books for Soldiers, Charity of the Day

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Charity of the Day


Whether or not you support the reasons and politics behind why our troops are deployed, the troops themselves always deserve our support to make their service more pleasant and bearable. Books for Soldiers is a non-profit corporation that sends books to soldiers to help alleviate some of the boredom they face when isolated on bases in foreign countries and facing massive amounts of downtime. It's a great way to get rid of books you've already read (instead of taking them to a used book store) or why not buy the soldiers some books brand new? They certainly deserve it.

Thanks for the tip, Chad!

Source

Tags: book, books, books for soldiers, BooksForSoldiers, charity, iraq, military, soldier, soldiers, war

Fill a Bookshelf "by the Foot"

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor


It seems like I barely have time to read anything anymore that isn't online, but I still love books. Bookshelves of books are relaxing and interesting, and they bring extra depth to a room's decor. The best thing is an established home with an established library of books, but what if you're just starting out or are completely redoing the interior design of a room? It could take years to find and collect the right kind of books if you do it yourself, but if you go through New York City Strand Bookstore you can order custom designed books by the foot. Looking for a collection of old leather-bound classics? Or maybe a bookshelf full of your favorite hobby? You can spend as little as $10 per foot (for a random mix) or as much as $400 per foot (for 19th century antique leather hardcovers).

I think it would be fun! Kind of like a big grab bag of books.

Source

Tags: book, books, bookshelf, bookshelves, by the foot, ByTheFoot, decor

The World of Rare Books: The Gutenberg Bible, First and Most Valuable

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —


There are countless rare books in the world, but by most expert's standards the rarest of them all is the Gutenberg Bible. It was the first book ever printed back in 1456, and although several hundred copies were originally printed finding a complete first edition would net you $25-$35 million. In today's market single pages alone go for $25,000 each, and several years ago just 1 volume (it's a 2 volume set) sold for $5.5 million.

Besides the Gutenberg Bible other rare books include the first edition of Shakespeare's collected works from 1623 (worth $6 million), a collection of Leonardo da Vinci's manuscripts (potentially worth as much as $100 million), and of course any first edition copy of the Declaration of Independence (worth $8 million). Edgar Allen Poe's work also makes in onto the "rarest books" list with his first published poem ("Tamerlane") being rare and difficult to find due to a byline of simply "By A Bostonian." It's worth as much as $200,000 to the right buyer.

Source

Tags: Bible, book, books, Declaration of Independence, DeclarationOfIndependence, Edgar Allen Poe, EdgarAllenPoe, first edition, FirstEdition, Gutenberg, rare, rarest, Shakespeare, the rare, TheRare

David Beckham Buys Victoria A Book For Christmas

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Celebrity Shopping


A few weeks ago, we learned that Victoria Beckham had bought her kids a Neiman Marcus treehouse for Christmas, now The Sun reports that David Beckham has bought his wife a book for Christmas. Now a book may not sound like much of a present, especially for Victoria, who, although she has authored a couple of books, famously claimed in 2005 never to have read one, but this is no ordinary book. David bought Victoria Una Grande Storia Italiana - Valentino Garavani, a fabulous new book from Taschen which celebrates the designer. The book comes in a silk-covered clamshell box that is tinted in Valentino red. Inside, the 738-page book includes drawings, magazine shoots, advertisements, portraits of Valentino, and documentary photographs. The text includes Vanity Fair writer Matt Tyrnauer's interviews with twenty of Valentino's collaborators and friends and a tribute to Valentino by fashion writer Suzy Menkes. The Collector's Edition is limited to 2,000 individually numbered copies, each signed by Valentino and sells for $1,000. At least if Victoria doesn't read it she can check out the pretty pictures.

Source

Tags: book, christmas presents, ChristmasPresents, david beckham, holidash, valentino, victoria beckham, VictoriaBeckham

Rowling Book Sells For Nearly $4 Million

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Charity


J.K. Rowling's latest book, The Tales of Beedle the Bard, just went up for auction and ended up making nowhere near the amount expected. The last of 7 handwritten editions of the book (which will not be published) was expected to go for around $100,000, so I'm sure there were some pleasantly surprised faces when bidding closed just shy of $4 million dollars.

The money will be donated to The Children's Voice, a charity that campaigns for the rights of children in Europe and was co-founded by Rowling and Baroness Nicholson back in 2005. In response to the auction's end Rowling was "ecstatic" and was quoted as saying "It means Christmas has come early to me this year."

Source

Tags: book, J.K. Rowling, J.k.Rowling, JK Rowling, JkRowling, literature, Rowling, Tales of Beedle the Bard, TalesOfBeedleTheBard

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