Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 17:53:58 -0500
From: "Michael Walsh" <MJW at mail.press.jhu.edu>
To: <wsfalist at keithlynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Foyles & Putin
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

>From PW Daily for today:

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Best of the Web: Foyles Centenary, Putin=Dobby?

A profile of London's venerable Foyles Bookstore from the U.K.'s
Independent newspaper begins:

"It's in the Guinness Book of Records as the bookshop with the most
titles in stock and the longest lines of shelving (30 miles). It
boasts the most starrily famous clientele, alive or dead, of any
bookshop in history (Eva Peron, the Argentinian first lady, finding
herself temporarily short of cash one day, paid for her books with a
crocodile-skin vanity case). The guest speakers at its Literary
Lunches read like a guide to 20th century literature. It is also, by
general consent, one of the most infuriatingly, perversely eccentric
retail operations in the history of commerce." Perhaps for emphasis,
the papers adds that Foyles is "the most famous bookstore in the
world" and a "shoppers nightmare." Plus, it's celebrating its 100th
anniversary this year.

Read the rest at:
http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/books/news/story.jsp?story=371917

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Was Dobby, the anxious house elf from Harry Potter and the Chamber of
Secrets, created in the image of Vladimir Putin? Well, 77% of the
users polled on the BBC's Russian News Service think so. Some blame
"his long nose, buggy eyes, and somewhat dour expression." A group of
Russian lawyers think the matter is serious enough to sue the film's
producers.

See for yourself at:
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/EA29Ag01.html

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