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Bookninja | Blog of a Bookslut | The
Elegant Variation | Maud
Newton |
MobyLives | MoorishGirl | NewPages Weblog
Added to survey: 6 March 2005
Previously outrageously
overlooked in this survey because of Bookninja's far-reaching ambit
(i.e. we always categorised it as a large literary site that merely
incidentally had a weblog), but since 2004 it has easily become one of
the leading weblogs, with extensive links and commentary. There's a
slight Canadian focus, but coverage ranges far and wide, and there's no
question that Bookninja has become a must-visit literary weblog.
Blog of
a Bookslut
URL: http://www.bookslut.com/blog/
(Update
(5 November 2003): Blog of a Bookslut
has, over the past year, easily moved up from the merely worthwhile
category to being one of the top-of-the-heap literary weblogs.)
(Update
(6 March 2005):
The addition of Michael Schaub as a regular contributor (alongside the
original Bookslut, Jessa Crispin) in late 2004 means there is now even
more extensive coverage at the site.
Part of the Bookslut site.
The weblog:
- is updated every weekday
- generally offers at least half a dozen
links daily, usually with some commentary
Excellent
links, in
all sorts of directions, with more focus on pop culture (including
comics) than elsewhere. The variety is particularly noteworthy, and
there's usually something of (literary) interest for everyone.
A must-visit literary weblog.
The
Elegant Variation
URL: http://www.elegvar.com/
Added to survey: 5 November 2003
Solid commentary, literary
focus, updated pretty much daily.
Consistent updating and comments, good links to sources often not
noticed elsewhere. Relatively new, but has now (15
February) established itself as a leading literary weblog.
- is updated practically every day,
generally not all at once
- generally offers a large number of
links, often with quotes
Far
more than occasional, Maud Newton offers
extensive links to a wide variety of literature-reltaed
pieces. Much is collected from other literary
weblogs, but the sheer number and variety
of links always make it worth a visit. Quotes
from the linked-to pieces, and occasional
commentary also add to the value of the
site.
A
must-visit literary weblog.
MobyLives
URL: http://www.mobylives.com/
(Update (12 November 2004): After a
lengthy hiatus MobyLives lives again.)
Describes itself as: "news
& commentary about books & writers".
The weblog:
- is updated every weekday (with some
holiday exceptions)
- usually offers at least half a dozen
publishing and literary stories with links daily
- has a fairly international outlook
In
addition, the site offers (fairly unobtrusively):
- a (pretty much) weekly book column by
Dennis Loy Johnson
- separate brief notes on often
overlooked books ("Recently Underappreciated")
- an (often entertaining) letter section
- "All the Reviews that Fit",
demonstrating how well The New York Times plugs its own authors
The
site's one
glaring weakness used to be that material was not archived; this is no
longer the case (i.e. there now is an archive).
The focus of MobyLives
is entirely literary, and it offers all types of literature-related
links: publishing and bookselling industry news, a great deal of book
and author news, extensive coverage of all the fun literary
controversies (the Oprah-Franzen brouhaha, the epidemic of plagiarizing
historians, etc.), and more. Of particular value and note is that there
are often several links provided on the same topic or piece of news,
pointing users to coverage from different perspectives.
The weblog is also
extensively annotated: this isn't just a list of links with a few brief
notes. MobyLives offers generally entertaining commentary, putting the
links in context.
Stories are also often followed up on and revisited as links to new
pieces on certain subjects become available.
At this time, MobyLives
towers above all other literary weblogs.
Note:
MobyLives has
linked to stories at the complete review.
MobyLives does not have a permanent link to the complete
review site.
MoorishGirl
URL: http://www.moorishgirl.com/
Added to survey: 5 November 2003
Describes itself as: "my
own take on literature, culture, politics and other things that strike
my fancy."
The weblog:
- is updated pretty much daily
- generally offers a few links, often
with some commentary
Useful,
serious considerations, mainly literary focus.
NewPages
Weblog
URL: http://www.newpages.com/weblog/
Part
of the NewPages
site, which describes itself as: "The Alternative Guide to New Books,
Magazines & Music along with News & Views from the Net of
Interest to Booksellers, Publishers, Librarians, Writers &
Readers.".
The weblog:
- is updated three times a week
- generally offers at least half a dozen
links every update
- focusses on alternative publications
and issues
Part
of the impressive NewPages
site, this weblog offers useful and interesting literary coverage,
though it also covers other areas -- including music and the
alternative press. (The site also includes other useful pages; the Literary Magazine Stand, with reviews of literary
magazines is particularly recommended.)
Commentary is generally more
limited than at, for example, MobyLives, but often includes useful
quotes from the pages linked to. The NewPages Weblog provides links to
more off-beat, anti-establishment points of view. Many of the links
deal with first amendment issues, government interference, and small
and alternative press stories.
Well worth visiting every
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (the days when it is updated).
Note:
NewPages Weblog
has linked to stories at the complete review.
NewPages does not have a permanent link to the complete
review site.
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Return to top of
the page -
List
obtained from source:
THE
COMPLETE REVIEW QUARTERLY- A literary Saloon
& Site of Review
Volume III, Issue 3 -- August,
2002
(academic
use only, no changes have been made to this
list)
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