This is a pretty cool Web site that lets users exchange and trade books. I know I have TONS of books taking up space in my room that I won’t ever read again and just create even more clutter. This is the perfect solution if you like reading! Which you should if you’re reading our amazing blog site!

PLUS the name is good: Book Mooch. I enjoy mooching consistently, especially food and drinks, but books are good too! Give books away and get books you want = simple. It’s easy to become a member and FREE. And it’s fun to get stuff in the mail! There’s only 4 easy steps:

1) Type in the books you want to give away.

2) Receive requests from other people for your books.

3) Mail your books and get points!

4) Ask for books from others using your points.

Okay, Burn After Reading has two major things going for it: it was written and directed by the Cohen Brothers; and it’s being released by Focus Features.

Oh yeah, and I guess it has some name actors.

[The following was written by Synthesis Weekly columnist Emilie Clark. She can be reached at emilie@synthesis.net.]

Coming Soon

It’s a well-known fact that people like to adapt movies from books. It’s also a well-known fact that most of these efforts suck. So it’s my job to warn you about upcoming adaptations so you have ample time to read the book. This gives you the chance to complain about inconsistencies and general “suckiness” while still in the theater, making you look learned and therefore more attractive. You can thank me later.

Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, July 4th: This is a documentary, so I guess it won’t really do to get mad about liberties taken with the adaptation. But it can’t hurt to read some of the famous Gonzo’s work if only for your own amusement. From the description it seems like the filmmakers are big fans, which can be bad in a documentary if you’re trying to eek out truth. The gist I get is that the point the film makes is that Thompson did what journalists are too afraid to do nowadays, namely get high and write caustic things about politicians. This may be true, but I easily tire of ‘60s and ‘70s nostalgia. Sure people were a bit crazier back then and I’m sure there are things to be learned from that era, but it’s over, so deal.

Journey To the Center of the Earth 3D, July 11th: Based on the classic Jules Verne novel about a rogue scientist who travels to, you guessed it, the center of the earth. According to Wikipedia, this novel didn’t age as well as some of Verne’s other works, because he was mostly wrong about what is contained in the center of the earth. However, none of that really matters because this movie is in 3D. And I will watch anything in 3D, even if it stars Brendan Fraser.

more upcoming adaptations after the jump.
(more…)

Hundred of millions of us have shared seven years worth of adventures with Harry Potter and the question remains: Will there be an 8th? Is that it for Harry Potter? Can the highest earning novelist in history really have that kind of will-power to say goodbye to the beloved characters forever?

Says J.K. Rowling:

“There have been times since finishing, weak moments, when I’ve said ‘Yeah, all right’ to the eighth novel.

“If - and it’s a big if - I ever write an eighth book, I doubt that Harry would be the central character. I feel I’ve already told his story.

“But these are big ifs. Let’s give it ten years.”

TEN YEARS? Is that in real-time or Hogwarts-time? I guess it’s “meantime” as J.K. Rowling is currently working on a political fairytale and an adult novel. I can’t wait for any of it. As a side note, does anyone else think Harry Potter looks sorta like Stephen Colbert?

hmmm…

At first listen, Every Time I Die may not seem like much of a “literary” band. And while they’re certainly no Decemberists (some would say “thankfully they’re no Decemberists…“), singer Keith Buckley’s brain is a bit more interesting than your average hard rock/party all night vocalist.
Synthesis newbie Mike Kieran chatted with Buckley a few weeks ago, and during the interview they touched upon the subject of readin’ and writin’.

Have you read any good books lately?
I read this book God is Not Great, which I know a lot of people will not want to read just by the title, but it’s an amazing book about history and the hypocrisies that have evolved with it, and the argument of science versus religion.

Are there any other books that you’ve read that have really had a powerful message?
The biography of Andy Kaufman. His bio Lost in the Funhouse kinda changed the way that I look at public perception of characters; individuals that are in that situation where people either look up to or admire or hate them. That guy was in complete control of everything that he encountered. Everything. His personality, and the way that he understood his relationship with people was really inspiring. It’s really admirable to know there are people out there who are fucking insanely genius, that can do that. And it kinda made me jealous. I wish I had that ability to just understand exactly what and why people are saying about me and why they thought that. He had a million or so personalities, and he made every one of them entertaining.

Are you doing any kind of writing right now that doesn’t have to do with the band?
Yeah, in AP I review an ‘80s movie every month. It’s kinda hard on tour; I’m just reading instead of writing. But reading is the prep work for writing eventually, so when I get home is when I sit down and start writing stuff.

Which brings us to AP…no, not the news wire service, but the pop-punk magazine that is taking great strides to combat illiteracy by offering…free(ish) subscriptions to their informative magazine.

From the press release:

“Alternative Press and Every Time I Die have joined forces to help promote reading by offering fans free issues of the magazine. Right now, when fans buy this month’s Alternative Press magazine - featuring Every Time I Die on the cover - at Barnes and Noble, they can send in their receipt and receive a FREE six-month subscription to the mag!”

Just take a moment and savor the idea of how the Alternative Press promotes literacy.

I thought our boys over at AP just promoted questionable fashion choices, nauseating page design and cookie monster vocals.
But what am I talking about, at least they’re at Barnes and Noble….

Be sure to check out next month’s Synthesis Digital featuring an interview with Every Time I Die’s Keith Buckley.