Wednesday, February 28, 2007

More Books on Tape

Audio cassette and tape
We recently came across an old newsletter, the Talking Book Topics from January-February 1999, highlighting the then-recent books that were read to cassette and/or CD for the blind and physically handicapped. We were surprised to see three books of John's were listed in the mix:
  • The Doom of the Haunted Opera, read by Erik Sandvold. 
  • The Drum, the Doll, and the Zombie, read by Erik Sandvold 
  • The Secret of the Underground Room, read by Christopher Hurt.
We would appreciate hearing more about these editions, if more is to be told (or heard).

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Time Capsule: 1967

Dies Irae
February, 1967: Prospero and Roger Bacon could sing the Dies Irae and apparently John Bellairs could, too.

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Creepy Carvings in Wood

It Leapt towards Him upon The Instant
Something...rather someone...jogged my memory this week of raising the dead (don't ask), which in turn led to John Dee, which brought to mind that eerie engraving of him and the spectral woman in white in the English Churchyard. Chances are you may have seen the picture.  John Bellairs apparently did and described the engraving in a book read by Lewis Barnavelt [The House with a Clock in its Walls, 67-8].

Sunday, February 11, 2007

Guess Who's Coming To Film?

The Doubtful Guest
Reports have surfaced that a film adaptation of Edward Gorey’s The Doubtful Guest is in the works.  Who knew Gorey would win over Bellairs in getting one of their books adapted for the silver screen first?

Sunday, February 4, 2007

Edward Gorey: The Doubtful Guest

The Doubtful Guest
It came fifty years ago - and to this day....

The Edward Gorey House is currently closed but reopens on Sunday, April 15, 2007, when it celebrates the 50th anniversary of the publication of The Doubtful Guest [review] with special exhibitions of original illustrations, dolls and ephemera for one of Edward Gorey's most popular books.