Booking Around the Web

Sherlock Holmes Goes Public in 2023

I like to point out that people in the early 20th Century saw Holmes just the way we see James Bond today. The Bond stories were originally written in the 1950s and ‘60s, but the movies began in the ‘60s and have gone on from there. Thus we think of Bond as a contemporary. We assume he’s operating in 2022 (soon 2023), and that he carries a cell phone and uses a PC, among other things. The fact that this is a very different level of technology from what’s found in Ian Fleming’s original stories doesn’t bother us at all.

Lars Walker at Brandywine Books talks about the Sherlock Holmes story copyrights running out as of this year in the U.S. 

Word & Song by Anthony Esolen

Word & Song is the place to go for meditations on the beauty and sometimes the wildness of the English language, on English poetry and hymns, and on the sometimes forgotten gems of the Golden Age of film. What’s a teacher but someone who says, “Come, look at the great thing I’ve found!” Well then, we’ll be looking at — and listening to — some great things!

I came across this daily newsletter halfway through Advent and it was a delightful accompaniment to the season. Every day I'm treated to the latest entry in one of the categories like Word of the Week, Hymn of the Week, Movie of the Week, and much more. They are short but substantial.

 Good Company: Mickey Haller and the Enduring Appeal of the 'Lincoln Lawyer'

Dan Riordin writes for Crime Reads that his father and uncle reread the first book of the series and talked about it often, especially since Dan is a lawyer. When they died, he decided to read the entire series, watch the movie, and take in the Netflix series. His piece is compelling. I'm requesting the first book from the library. (Via the Close Reads newsletter.)

What Can We Learn From Barnes & Nobles' Surprising Turnaround?

Barnes & Noble is flourishing. After a long decline, the company is profitable and growing again—and last week announced plans to open 30 new stores. In some instances, they are taking over locations where Amazon tried (and failed) to operate bookstores.

How did they do it? As has been done for a long time — by taking it away from the accountants and letting someone who loves books run it. I still remember Lee Iacocca's love of cars being a major factor in his ability to revive Chrysler in the 1980s after the accountants had run it into the ground. A really great piece is at The Honest Broker. (Again via the Close Reads newsletter.)