The Literate Lizard

Someone forgot to take down this webpage:

www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/v...

Pee Wee German is Lying His Ass Off, Again

I dream of the day when Trump says "All right, Mr. Jack Smith...I'm ready for my close-up."

Cover of the new book Ready for My Close-Up: The Making of Sunset Boulevard and the Dark Side of the Hollywood Dream, by David M. Lubin. Also in the illustration is an outline of the United States in an American Flag design, with a superimposed headshot of Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond in the movie Sunset Boulevard. The text below that picture reads: America: "I am big. It's the president that got small."

After a long day of fighting to save America from the delusional idiot tearing it down, it's time to relax with a good read. This new book about the making of the film Sunset Boulevard is a good pick, and we have it for 20% off: theliteratelizard.com/book/9781538...
#Booksky #filmsky

Our cat Tashi looking over his shoulder at me with a startled expression on his face

What?! It's #Caturday?! So you're telling me that International Cat Day is over already? #catsofbluesky

Don't think I can make it, unfortunately. But I did make Automatic Noodle one of my 20% off featured titles of the week at my Literate Lizard Online Bookstore, and sold a copy today. theliteratelizard.com/front-page-b...

Cover of the book American Scare: Florida's Hidden Cold War on Black and Queer Lives, by Robert W. Fieseler

And they are building on a long, dark history of Florida's targeted repression against minorities, as detailed in the book American Scare: Florida's Hidden Cold War on Black and Queer Lives, by Robert W. Fieseler: theliteratelizard.com/book/9780593...

As the United States becomes more brazenly corrupt, we have reached the stage where meetings to plan cover-ups of crimes are not done in secret, but are announced, and are not done in remote parking decks, but at the Vice President's home.

Women dressed in
Handmaid regalia follow
GOP Congressman Rep. Mike Flood NEBRASKA (R)

Three authors of this week's books are on Bluesky: @jnewton100.bsky.social @vermontgmg.bsky.social ‪ @annaleen.bsky.social Follow and support!

Publishers: @duttonbooks.bsky.social @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social @avidreaderpress.bsky.social @bloomsburybooksus.bsky.social ‪

Here are our four 20% off new fiction books of the week, discounted through August 16th, 2025: - The Magician of Tiger Castle, by Louis Sachar - People Like Us: A Novel, by Jason Mott - Indian Country: A Novel, by Shobha Rao - Automatic Noodle: A Novella, by Annalee Newitz

Here are our four 20% off new nonfiction books of the week, discounted through August 16th, 2025: - Here Beside the Rising Tide: Jerry Garcia, the Grateful Dead, and an American Awakening, by Jim Newton - The Devil Reached Toward the Sky: An Oral History of the Making and Unleashing of the Atomic Bomb, by Garrett M. Graff - Bogart and Huston: Their Lives, Their Adventures, and the Classic Movies They Made Together, by Nat Segaloff - The Afghans: Three Lives through War, Love, and Revolt, by Åsne Seierstad

Happy publication day for this week's 20% off new book picks, four fiction, four nonfiction. You don't have to support Jeff Bezos to get discounts on hot new books. Come to us: theliteratelizard.com/front-page-b...
Titles/authors in alt-text.
Authors and publishers on Bluesky in comment 🧵
#Booksky

My Love-Hate Relationship With Hans Christian Andersen

Hans Christian Anderson died 150 years ago today. Better to commemorate his death day rather than his birthday, since his fairy tales were filled with tragedy. Free link to a NYT article by Sadie Stein looking at how adults still feel the sadness those tales evoked: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/b...

Silly Lizard! These are NEXT week's picks, coming out on August 12th. But they are all discounted 20%, so go ahead and preorder! Our list of this week's picks-August 5th new releases-will be posted this evening.

Covers of two Sci-Fi books coming out August 5th, 2025, dealing with Artificial Intelligence threats: - Artificial Wisdom: A Novel, by Thomas R. Weaver - These Memories Do Not Belong to Us: A Constellation Novel, by Yiming Ma

Thank you! There are two interesting AI-themed Sci-Fi titles coming out this week that I was considering among my choices: Artificial Wisdom, by @tomweaver.bsky.social (theliteratelizard.com/book/9780593...) and These Memories Do Not Belong to Us, by Yiming Ma (theliteratelizard.com/book/9780063...)

Yes. The author reworked the Medusa story in her last novel a couple years ago, and she mines a lesser-known corner of mythology with this one.

Only three of this week's authors on Bluesky: @emmasloley.bsky.social @jfkane.bsky.social @oliahercules.bsky.social

Publishers:
@flatironbooks.bsky.social @grandcentralpub.bsky.social ‪@penguinpress.bsky.social @amistadbooks.bsky.social @aaknopf.bsky.social @wwnorton.com @simonelement.bsky.social

Our four 20% off New Release fiction titles being published August 5th, 2025, discounted through August 16th, 2025: - Selkie: A Novel, by Nataly Gruender - The Island of Last Things: A Novel, by Emma Sloley - Fonseca: A Novel, by Jessica Francis Kane - Family Spirit: A Novel, by Diane McKinney-Whetstone

Our four 20% off New Release fiction titles being published August 5th, 2025, discounted through August 16th, 2025: - Strong Roots: A Memoir of Food, Family, and Ukraine, by Olia Hercules - Ready for My Closeup: The Making of Sunset Boulevard and the Dark Side of the Hollywood Dream, by David M. Lubin - A Noble Madness: The Dark Side of Collecting from Antiquity to Now, by James Delbourgo - Nature and the Mind: The Science of How Nature Improves Cognitive, Physical, and Social Well-Being, by Marc Berman

Your first look at this week's 20% off new release book picks, four fiction, four nonfiction. You don't have to support Jeff Bezos to get discounts on hot new books. Come to us: theliteratelizard.com/front-page-b...
Titles/authors in alt-text.
Authors and publishers on Bluesky in comment 🧵
#Booksky

The 20% discount off full-priced Isabel Allende's books will be applied manually before we finalize the credit card payment. At first it will look like you've paid full price, but your final charge the next day will reflect the 20% off discount. Note that her new novel is already discounted 20%.

Cover of Isabel Allende's most recent novel My Name is Emilia del Valle, published May 5th in English/

Happy 83rd birthday to Isabel Allende! We have her most recent novel, My Name Is Emilia del Valle, discounted for 20% off: theliteratelizard.com/book/9780593...
And this weekend only, Aug. 2-3, we'll take 20% off ANY of her books you order (see note in following comment)
#BookSky @isabelallende.com

Cover of the forthcoming book 107 Days, by Kamala Harris

Yes, you can pre-order the forthcoming book 107
Days by Kamala Harris from us, and yes, we're offering it for 20% off! theliteratelizard.com/list/preorde...

Trump's Interior Secretary displays jaw-dropping stupidity with his '"catastrophic failure called sunset" comment. Fortunately, the rest of us have @billmckibben.bsky.social's upcoming book (Aug 19th) Here Comes the Sun as an antidote. Preorder now for 20% off: theliteratelizard.com/book/9781324...

We are delighted to reveal the #BookerPrize2025 longlist – 13 books ‘all alive with great characters and narrative surprises’.

Huge congratulations to the authors who make up this year's Booker Dozen.

➡️ Discover the full list: thebookerprizes.com/bp2025

The Cundill History Prize jury has announced the exceptional 15 titles chosen for the 2025 #CundillHistoryPrize longlist! ✨

Read the full list here: www.cundillprize.com/news/the-202...

Cundill History Prize 2025 longlist announced - Tiya Miles, Marlene L. Daut, and Santilla Chingaipe are on the Cundill History Prize 2025 longlist announced in Montreal, Canada, on Monday, July 28, 2025. The Cundill History Prize recognizes and rew...

Cundill History Prize 2025 longlist announced
#LiteraryAwards #Nonfiction
www.writingafrica.com/cundill-hist...

It looks like @danieljharding.bsky.social has a hit! First US printing sold out quickly in the book distribution warehouses. More on the way! LGBTQ+ Lives Matter! You can order his book Letters to My Younger Queer Self here: theliteratelizard.com/book/9780008...
#BookSky
@harpercollins.bsky.social

Thank you for the boost. I've given follow-backs. I'm your bookstore of the resistance!

I'd never heard of the Keeling Curve before today, and now I've encountered it twice in this day: your post, and in reading the wonderful new book Human Nature by @drkatemarvel.bsky.social

Rasmus Jarlov on Twitter writes: "There is nothing to celebrate. Moving from average tariffs of less than 2% on trade between the USA and Europe to 15% under today’s deal will inevitably lead to inflation. Almost everything will become more expensive in both Europe and the USA, and we will all be worse off. The economic illiteracy in the White House is doing serious damage to the West." Stylish Skunk replies: "I have a feeling you have 0 idea what you're talking about. In fact I know you do." Rasmus Jarlov responds: "Of course. I am former minister of trade in Denmark and you are an anonymous Twitter profile. You probably know a lot more than me. For sure."

lol

And reading his book Dark City Dames, hearing the words in your head spoken in @eddiemuller.bsky.social's voice. (And his other book Noir Bar: Cocktails Inspired by the World of Film Noir offers some nice alternatives to the beer: theliteratelizard.com/book/9780762...)
bsky.app/profile/thel...

RIP Tom Lehrer, age 97.
And let's all keep speaking truth to power, and mocking those in power who are abusing their power.