Tag: literature

Interview: Talking about literature with Nadia!

Posted on by Team Blookup

It has been a while since the last interview right ?

So, in order to give this year a good start, we are taking back our good habits and we open 2018 with Nadia, passionate about literature and author of the blog  Le Style de ma Plume (in French)!

nadia-logo

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Introduce yourself in a few lines : You, your passions, your projects…


First of all, thank you to the BlookUp Team for your trust.
I’m Nadia from the literature blog “Le Style de ma Plume“. Mom of 2 little angels, blogger, administrative employee, I love this exciting rhythm of life: Diversify my occupations while keeping my literature priorities in sight.

Could you explain to our readers what your blog is about ?


Through my blog, I wish, to share my readings in an original way, without any pretention.

In my opinion, reading is a journey of senses. So, what is more natural than sending a postcard from my current destination to my readers…

I also share interviews that I make myself, and you will discover articles as well.

I wrote for Webzines et paper magazine (Alhy magazine, Foulexpress, On behalf of the graphic designer “graphidine”…)

the inside layout of nadia's blook __________________________________

So far, what moment of your blogger’s life was the most significant ?


The launch ! When I went from development to achievement by buying the domain name. Then by clicking on www.lestyledemaplume.com

From there, I only remember lots of beautiful encounters… Projects…

Did your passion for books and writing have a decisive influence on the idea to turn your blog into a book ?
Yes, quite… This was only logical to me. Turn my blog into a book, what an ingenious idea!

How did you hear about BlookUp ?


I spotted the concept a few months ago on the internet.
I was curious about testing it and share my experience, so I contacted you.

The cover of nadia's blook __________________________________

What are the positive elements about the platform ?


The rapidity and the intuitiveness of the platform. Overall, the platform is open to anyone, with or without computing knowledge.

What are the areas for improvement ?


For me, and as previously exposed on my blog, it was the heterogeneous quality of the photos.

Nevertheless, you explained that from now, an alert will be put in place in order to have the possibility to delete or modify the picture when one is likely to be improved.

The backcover of Nadia's blook __________________________________

What do you think of the final result and what are the feedback of your surroundings?


Receiving my blog in book was a real pleasure.

I love books… The paper… but also blogging… BlookUp is a beautiful alliance between both worlds.

Would you recommend BlookUp ?


It is a huge and sincere YES!

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A big thank to Nadia for agreeing to answer our questions, and thanks again to her for her article about us on her blog!

Visit her blog to share with her your taste for reading and writing, and find her also on :

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Back in the days, we had bookmobiles!

Posted on by Team Blookup

Many of you probably don’t remember that time before Amazon!  Before even the internet was a thing, people still managed to bring books home though. Most of them went to the local bookstore or to the library, but what about the country folks or the people living in the suburbs ? The ones who did not have this chance?

Well just like Pepperidge Farm, BlookUp remembers!  Bookmobiles, were the solution to those who lived too far  away from the city and thus did not (or hardly) have access to the riches and joy that brought books. We have to travel back to the late 1850’s in Warrington (England) to see what is believed to be the first bookmobile, a horse-drawn van full of books. Behind this idea was a philanthropist, called George Moore whose project was to spread the goods of literature to the small villages around the city.

An old bookmobile pulled by a horse
The Perambulating library of Harrington in 1859, believed to be the first of its kind.

Needless to say people spread the word and the concept continued growing to the point of reaching the United States. Ultimately horses were replaced by cars, more efficient, and allowing the librarian to carry more books. Bookmobiles eventually reached the peak of their popularity in the mid 20th century before slowly disappearing.

Picture of a bookmobile in the 20's
Photo of a bookmobile in the 1920’s. Credits – Numismatic Bibliomania Society

However there still are a few of them out there, their goal remained the same: diffusing good literature and educating those who need it the most. Many libraries like San Francisco Public Library or Toronto Public Library have bookmobiles driving around the city, who knows maybe one day you’ll see one of these mobile libraries too!

Source

Event :”Literature Vs Traffic” in Toronto

Posted on by Team Blookup

Today we’re going back in time !  For those who, like us, have missed an impressive and ephemeral artistic installation. The one that illuminated and animated downtown Toronto during the night of October 1st, 2016.
 books-street-hagerman-toronto

The anonymous group of artists Luzinterruptus took 12 days and gathered 50 volunteers to cover Hagerman Street in downtown Toronto.All done with nearly 10,000 books, all donated by the Salvation Army. Among those, some were surprisingly old and were part of private donations.

books-lighted

The main event in the streets of toronto

The installation, named “Literature vs. Traffic”, had already been illegally carried out in Madrid and New York. This time it obtained the authorization of Melbourne to perform there. The artists were invited to the event “Nuit Blanche Toronto 2016” in order to reproduce the experience.

Luzinterruptus confirms that in 5 years “The meaning of this piece has not changed as the battle between pedestrians and vehicles still goes on in most of the world’s large cities and it is hard to find real, workable solutions. Despite the efforts on the part of some cites to reduce downtown traffic, they can only go as far as to create a Car-free day ! All to have an idea as to how we would live without them”. The collective adds on its website: “We want literature to take over the streets and conquer public spaces, freely offering those passersby a traffic-free place which, for some hours, will succumb to the humble power of the written word”.

books-street-hagerman-toronto-floor

Hagerman Street was closed for one night and replaced the come-and-go of cars by hundreds of pedestrians ! All moving between illuminated books, resulting in a magic and impressive ballet. Passers-by were free to consult the books at their own pace. They were also allowed to choose the ones they would take home in order to preserve a small piece of this lively and interactive work. It took them only 10 hours to empty the street almost completely. They finally, in the early morning, gave back the road traffic.

books-street-hagerman-toronto

Who knows, if this event comes back in a (very) distant future ?! Perhaps one day there will be blooks among a myriad of other lighted books!

books-photo-smartphone

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Source article – Photo credits: Lola Martínez