J.K. ROWLING'S THOUGHTS ON HARRY POTTER GO ON SALE

Sotheby's is auctioning first edition books with handwritten notes by the authors and the top lot is the first Harry Potter novel containing revealing commentary by J.K. Rowling. Watch a video about it here.

How much would you be willing to pay? Do you collect rare editions of books, books signed by the author, special editions or book memorabilia?

JOAN BROSSA: A TRIBUTE EXHIBITION IN SAR

Visit this interactive multimedia album and engage in a thought-provoking discussion of artworks created by art students from the IES de Sar.

This interactive album is the end product of a project developed by Advanced 1 students from the Extensión de Sar. Our multimedia project aims to spread and discuss a number of 24 visual poems created by art students from the IES de Sar. All the pieces are now on display at the high school in a tribute exhibition to Catalonian poet Joan Brossa, one of the early proponents of visual poetry of which this exhibition stands as an example.

You can hear and read comments on each piece. To leave your voice or text comments you need to register for a Voicethread account. It’s very easy! Just go to VoiceThread.com and click on the button SIGN IN OR REGISTER at the top-right corner of the page. Click on the Registration button, fill out the required fields, and then click the button REGISTER. Once you've done this, you will automatically be signed into your account.

Hope to hear your comments and enjoy the exhibition!

ON BOOKS AND LOCATIONS

I was reading this article about Dan Brown's new book and how Florence is expecting tourism to increase as a result of readers wanting to visit the town, Palazzo Vecchio and its "labyrinthine corridors" and I was thinking that we have probably all had the experience of reading a book and then remembering passages/characters when we actually visit the town where the story was set. 

Or the other way round, maybe we have visited a place and then when we read a book set there we just can't help reminiscing the place, our own experiences or memories, the atmosphere, the noises, the smells, the people, the music, ...

Don't you agree that the whole reading experience is made richer by the experiences we bring into it?

THE GREATNESS OF GATSBY REVISITED

Aren't you excited that Gatsby is going to be taken to the silver screen again? I have to say, even if I don't end up enjoying the movie, I am always happy movie adaptations of books come out because it means a boost in book sales.  There are always those who watch the movie and decide to read the book -and much to my rejoicing, normally, the reading experience surpasses their expectations.

In any case, I am leaving the trailer with you.

And a very poetical article. Here's a sample:

"You ponder why "Gatsby" the novel wasn't an immediate success, and why Fitzgerald, weary and sodden, died at 44 believing himself to be a failure and his work forgotten. You marvel at how an essentially melancholy book nonetheless is sprinkled with delightful wit; and how the sadness at the heart of "The Great Gatsby" somehow hardens into a small gleaming pearl."

"At the time of this writing, I haven't yet seen Luhrmann's film, and aam awaiting it with some excitement and some trepidation. The casting, sight unseen, feels right (...). But will all t he 3D and color and noise (Luhrmann's style is famously love-it-or-hate-it flashy, i.e. "Moulin Rouge"), drown out Fitzgerald's music? Will that magical mood of the novel find its way to the screen or will it prove as elusive as Gatsby's dreams?".

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING - Shakespeare in the Big Screen (yet again)

Shakespeare was not only A master but THE master. He wrote about everything (the big themes in literature, but also in our daily lives) in almost every possible genre. His command of the iambic pentameter, his contributions to the English lexicon, his witty dialogues, his unforgettable characters - we've got so much to thank him for.

And even if I go back to his plays and sonnets often, the one that still captivates me is Much Ado About Nothing. I don't think it can get much better than Beatrice and Benedick's verbal fight. In fact, every time the word "witty" comes to mind I think of them. I first learnt that word connected to this play and its dialogues.

Then came Kenneth Branagh and his 1993 movie with all those beautiful Tuscan landscapes and warm light. And him and Emma Thompson just nailing the dialogues and the characters. Forget about Claudio and Hero, the BB combo just sweeps you off your feet.

So you can imagine my excitement hearing that there's a new spin-off coming out in June. It is an independent production written and produced by Joss Whedon,  scriptwriter and director of action titles such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer or The Avengers. The actors? Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, Nathan Fillion, Clark Gregg, Reed Diamond, Fran Kranz, Sean Maher, Spencer Treat Clark, Riki Lindhome and Ashley Johnson. Don't ask me, no idea who they are!

The shooting took place during what was to be Whedon's vacation after shooting The Avengers. In any case, I'm interested to see what Whedon's gonna do. Branagh's set the bar high, though. What still holds true is that our dear Bard continues to be a cash cow.