FYI. For the next 13 hours, the CriÂteÂriÂon ColÂlecÂtion is runÂning a flash sale (click here), givÂing you a chance to purÂchase “all in-stock Blu-rays & DVDs at 50% off.” Just use the proÂmo code COOP and get clasÂsic films by HitchÂcock, Lynch, Welles, Kubrick, the Coen BrothÂers, and many othÂers.
PriÂor to becomÂing a houseÂhold name, Stephen King did time as a high school EngÂlish teacher and a laborÂer in an indusÂtriÂal launÂdry. These days, he could insuÂlate his loveÂly VicÂtoÂriÂan home with crisp hunÂdreds if such were his whim. Yet it seems he hasÂn’t forÂgotÂten what it’s like to watch every penÂny, wishÂing there was enough fat in the budÂget for the purÂchase of one measly comÂic book based on an insaneÂly famous author’s obscure short stoÂry…
Or is he researchÂing what it feels like to be an undisÂcovÂered writer in the digÂiÂtal age, anxÂiousÂly danÂgling free conÂtent on his webÂsite in an attempt to build readÂerÂship?
BroÂken into thrice weekÂly installÂments to be delivÂered over a periÂod of eight weeks, King’s stoÂry conÂcerns one Andrew NewÂsome, the sixth richÂest man in the world, and Kat MacÂDonÂald, the expoÂnenÂtialÂly less well-to-do RN carÂing for him in the wake of a debilÂiÂtatÂing acciÂdent, anothÂer subÂject to which King is no stranger. As of this writÂing, the comÂic is only availÂable on the author’s webÂsite, though the King jugÂgerÂnaut is so unstopÂpable, the next move may well be a film, a tv minisÂeries or a BroadÂway musiÂcal. Maine winÂters are long and cold. PerÂhaps even the masÂter of susÂpense warms to the prospect of some extra insuÂlaÂtion.
Not a bad deal. Right now, Barnes and Noble is runÂning a big sale on films in the CriÂteÂriÂon ColÂlecÂtion. They’re offerÂing 50% off of hunÂdreds of clasÂsic and conÂtemÂpoÂrary films, includÂing Fellini’s 8 1/2, John Ford’s StageÂcoach, Howards End with AnthoÂny HopÂkins, Jim JarÂmusch’s MysÂtery Train, Wim WenÂders’ Wings of Desire, Steven SoderÂbergh’sChe and many more. Films are availÂable in DVD and Blu-ray. Dig into the sale here.
A quick note: AudiÂble has recentÂly launched a series called the AudiÂble ModÂern VanÂguard (more details here) that brings groundÂbreakÂing works and authors into unabridged audio for the first time. Here, you’ll find works by Paul Auster (one of my faves), Saul BelÂlow, John CheevÂer, John IrvÂing, Kurt VonÂnegut, and William Kennedy.
There are some good “reads” here, and, unless I’m misÂtakÂen, there’s a way that you can downÂload one for free. I’ve creÂatÂed a page where you can get inforÂmaÂtion on AudiÂble’s (no strings attached) 14 day triÂal here, which gives you a comÂpleteÂly free downÂload of any audio book you choose.
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