Do you know the title or author of the book I started reading about a woman and a stolen painting conspiracy on September 11? [more inside]
posted by saileyn on Dec 11, 2009 - 3 answers

Oh, Inverted World! Where did your pages go (help me find them)? [more inside]
posted by le morte de bea arthur on Dec 9, 2009 - 6 answers

[Obscure book filter] Anyone remember a book about a grandfather hired to make a notebook to teach someone's daughter about the world, but he secretly makes two copies? [more inside]
posted by BusyBusyBusy on Nov 23, 2009 - 11 answers

[Bookfinder filter] Trying to find a book I read at school, in the UK, in about 1987. It was a book for teenagers, with two interweaving stories across different times: one thread involved a teenage couple in modern times, and the other thread was about some Norse warriors, including a berserker, in ancient England. The two threads were tied together by an ancient axe head. The final section of the book was written in a cipher. [more inside]
posted by memebake on Nov 20, 2009 - 7 answers

BookFilter: I read a book about the coming-of-age of a boy who's father is a Privateer. I read it around 2000 and I can't remember the name. It painted pirates in a sympathetic light. Help. [more inside]
posted by TooFewShoes on Nov 16, 2009 - 4 answers

Book Collectors: Is my new signed collector's edition book more or less valuable with a cutting machine error? [more inside]
posted by trixare4kids on Nov 11, 2009 - 3 answers

YAWTBF (Yet Another "What's That Book?" Filter): I'm trying to find a book that I loved as a child (early '80s). The book was written from the perspective of a garter snake as he slithered around a little chunk of wilderness bordered by a road. [more inside]
posted by 256 on Nov 2, 2009 - 2 answers

What was this children's book I had in the 1980s that contained large pictures of woodland animals engaged in battle scenes, using military equipment such as cannons that fired acorns? [more inside]
posted by EndsOfInvention on Nov 2, 2009 - 4 answers

Okay, fantasy novel ID two-fer. Book One: people live in villages that are suspended on the side of an enormous cliff and a girl is born who has wings. Book Two: set in a world made up of bits of earth suspended in a void, cape-fighters, a spider-god.... [more inside]
posted by otolith on Oct 28, 2009 - 7 answers

I loved the plot of Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. Any recommendations for similar books, shows, or movies? [more inside]
posted by reenum on Oct 28, 2009 - 10 answers

Committing the great library sin...which of these is a better way to get rid of some books? [more inside]
posted by aswego on Oct 28, 2009 - 18 answers

I'm struggling to remember the title of a book I read in the 1980s, which had a real-world twist: hidden within the narrative was the location of a spot in the USA where some sort of treasure or reward money was located. [more inside]
posted by squid patrol on Oct 26, 2009 - 9 answers

BookClubfilter: I'm tasked with picking the next book. I have some ideas, but could use the Hive's help. [more inside]
posted by indiebass on Oct 19, 2009 - 41 answers

I've recently begun work on a children's book. It is inspired by my granddaughter. I was wondering if anyone had any information on how to get a children's book published? Suggested Publishers? Also, any other information pertaining to this process, would be appreciated. ***I realize that children's books are a dime a dozen...but mine just might be spectacular ;)***
posted by gypseefire on Oct 17, 2009 - 4 answers

I want to promote my Young Adult fantasy novel about Morgan le Fay on the web. The biggest audience should be young women and libraries; Wiccans, medieval re-enactors and King Arthur fans would dig it, too (I hope). How can I best promote the book myself? What sites and blogs should I contact? Are author's tours effective? What should I definitely put my efforts into and what's not worth my time? [more inside]
posted by musofire on Oct 11, 2009 - 12 answers

What well-known novels lack any character descriptions aside from names?
posted by odinsdream on Oct 9, 2009 - 17 answers

Woohoo, it's October! Lets get some Autumn/Halloween reading suggestions! [more inside]
posted by CZMR on Oct 1, 2009 - 18 answers

Book festivals? National Book Festival? What to expect? [more inside]
posted by notcomputersavvy06 on Sep 25, 2009 - 4 answers

Looking for a circa late 70's early 80's Children's Picture Book with faceless nuns. Hoping someone in the MeFi shared my same crazed childhood where aunts gave books for Christmas every.year [more inside]
posted by will wait 4 tanjents on Sep 22, 2009 - 4 answers

Hey all, Just a quick question, here. Currently I am trying to manage a number of blog-esque sites, i.e. MySpace, Face book, Word press, and of course Metafilter. I was wondering if anyone knew of programs to help maximize my productivity when updating these. For example, I often post new songs I have created. Is there any program that would allow me to post an update across all my pages from one central hub? How about managing my messages from these sites? Any way to manage those in my regular email, or is there a program that could unify these? Basically I'm wondering if there is some type of "command station" program to help manage multiple sites like this one. Thanks in advance for any help! Hope you all had a great weekend.
posted by Me, The Snake on Sep 20, 2009 - 10 answers

In Look to Windward by Iain M. Banks there is a part where one of the Estodiens say to Quilan, 'I hope you have the wit to realise you past two little tests there, Major, not one'. It appears that I do not have the wit. Possible spoilers inside. [more inside]
posted by Nufkin on Sep 20, 2009 - 5 answers

This should be pretty easy... Does anyone remember which book of Richard Scarry's had an illustration of what I think was a pig holding a big sausage on a fork? We are going through old childhood books and the vision of that image is driving me nuts and I need to see it again.
posted by stefnet on Sep 6, 2009 - 49 answers

Please help me remember a book I read about a guy who saw ghosts! [more inside]
posted by internet!Hannah on Sep 6, 2009 - 3 answers

Another forgotten book from childhood. Time travel/survival. Dinosaurs. And yes, it vibrates. Help? [more inside]
posted by rokusan on Aug 26, 2009 - 9 answers

DonatingTextbooksInAustraliaFilter: How would I go about donating a heap of recent secondary school textbooks to worthy causes. I'm in Melbourne, Australia. [more inside]
posted by micklaw on Aug 25, 2009 - 6 answers

Identify a book for my girlfriend please. Read in the mid 90's maybe had 'children' in the title. Sci-fi novel about children held captive with woman in a castle after being placed with her through a government forced foster system (children are lent out to childless people for one month). They survive nuclear meltdown and years after by being put into suspended animation. [more inside]
posted by Uncle on Aug 9, 2009 - 5 answers

IDThisBookFilter: I'm looking for a fantasy book by several authors which features a family of painters who can trap people in a painting if they mix their bodily fluids in with the paint. [more inside]
posted by snoogles on Aug 5, 2009 - 3 answers

What fantasy book was referenced in Michael Clayton? [more inside]
posted by brownbat on Jul 26, 2009 - 1 answer

Which edition of Treasure Island was this? [more inside]
posted by rahnefan on Jul 25, 2009 - 5 answers

I am looking for a book from my boyfriend's childhood. What he remembers: kids controlling a spaceship who can't get the food replicator to make anything other than potato salad. [more inside]
posted by eleanna on Jul 20, 2009 - 12 answers

Do you know what short series of children's mystery-type books I am vaguely descibing? [more inside]
posted by joelhunt on Jul 15, 2009 - 3 answers

TwangFilter: I've got about 2.5 months to pick up guitar. I'm not looking to play Stairway - I need to play chords and sing along, basically. Mostly folksy songs. What books/methods are best for learning? [more inside]
posted by SNWidget on Jul 14, 2009 - 16 answers

Given that the airlines are reducing the numbers of flights due to the economic downturn, what is the optimal time to book cheap flights? In the past, I've had great success booking domestic flights 2-3 days before. This time, we will be booking 2 round trip tickets. I just booked a flight from the western US to Montreal for my husband, three weeks ahead, as we found the planes were filling up rapidly. We didn't get much of a deal. Standby is not on option as I'll be flying with an autistic person. Any and all hive-mind thoughts are welcome. Thanks!
posted by ragtimepiano on Jun 28, 2009 - 3 answers

Can you help me remember the name of a book I read 15 years ago which had a character repeatedly using the catchphrase "What the fuck, it's only a buck" when wasting money? [more inside]
posted by arniec on Jun 23, 2009 - 3 answers

I am trying to recall a book that was published for twelve-year-old girls in the mid-1980s or earlier; a YA book, I suppose. It was about gymnasts who were anorexic and pushed too hard by their coach. On the cover was a painting or drawing of girls in leotards on a chessboard. It was a wonderful book and I cannot remember its title. [more inside]
posted by adamfaux on Jun 21, 2009 - 7 answers

Please suggest movies, TV shows and books that feature unrepentant, amoral characters [more inside]
posted by reenum on Jun 10, 2009 - 71 answers

Help ID: Young adults book about kid who builds robots (out of spare parts, I think) [more inside]
posted by Alaska Jack on May 31, 2009 - 6 answers

How can I make a book with sounds for a baby? [more inside]
posted by gwpcasey on May 15, 2009 - 4 answers

Name this book, I thought it was a Stephen King book, but going through a list of his books, I couldn't pick it out. Basic story line: A group of people traveling through the northeast after some sort of outbreak that turned folks into mostly zombie types, who initially only come out at night... There's a residential school that some of the travelers come from (boy's school?). One individual is searching for his wife and son who may or may not be infected.. The group is looking for sanctuary....... They arrive at a huge gathering of the "zombies", there's a bomb involved at the end... Someone PLEASE tell me what this book was!
posted by HuronBob on Apr 26, 2009 - 12 answers

I'm trying to identify a book or short story I read at least 10 years ago. The bits I remember are that it was some kind of sci-fi story about a journey to another star. The star was probably Alpha Centauri. It was expected to be a very slow journey taking many years. [more inside]
posted by curious_yellow on Apr 23, 2009 - 16 answers

What is the name of this children's novel that includes time travel, Ben Franklin, some kids and a professor, and two versions of the same character, one of which is from several days in the future? [more inside]
posted by Tin Man on Mar 28, 2009 - 12 answers

I'm working on my PhD in artists' books at the moment. Recently, pursuing aspects of creativity from a cognition-and-creativity viewpoint has become interesting to me. I need a toehold on the science, here. [more inside]
posted by aesop on Mar 3, 2009 - 5 answers

Looking for the title/ author of a children's book about an old man who saves a Chinese village by turning into a dragon? [more inside]
posted by mrmarley on Feb 22, 2009 - 3 answers

I have about 300 books I need to sell or donate by the 26th. NYC-centric details inside. [more inside]
posted by Optimus Chyme on Feb 16, 2009 - 23 answers

Can you please recommend some books on daily life, home life, and general society in the UK and the US in the 1840s - 1880s for me? I already have What Jane Austen Ate, and What Charles Dickens Knew and An Elegant Madness. It doesn't have to be specifically on daily life- creative nonfiction like Larson's The Devil in the White City or Johnson's The Ghost Map are awesome, too.
posted by headspace on Feb 16, 2009 - 13 answers

My book club is fizzling out...help me reignite it! [more inside]
posted by Groovytimes on Feb 15, 2009 - 14 answers

Recommend non-fiction books about animals -- books that will blow my mind. [more inside]
posted by grumblebee on Feb 10, 2009 - 43 answers

Dated Young Adult Book Filter: Ad copywriter's boyfriend sleeps with a man? [more inside]
posted by Jonathan Harford on Feb 4, 2009 - 6 answers

Does anyone remember the name of a children's book that was a cautionary tale against air pollution? I remember it being a soft cover book w/ that was short and wide. Pictures of factory(s) and people getting and wearing gas masks (as well as dogs)! I can't remember the ending but hopefully my description suffices.
posted by gnash on Jan 16, 2009 - 13 answers

What are some other "intellectual" or though-provoking websites like: TED.com BigThink.org Fora.tv Also, what are, in your opinion, some of the best books in the following topics: -economics -investing -psychology -design -religion -self-help [more inside]
posted by meta.mark on Jan 16, 2009 - 27 answers