Book Nook: Literary Starbucks

Literary Starbucks began as a Tumblr that imagined what it would be like if famous authors and  literary characters ordered coffee. For example: "Zeus heads straight for the end of the counter and takes every else's (sic) coffee for himself" and "Eric Carle uses a large black coffee to paint a watercolor Starbucks. The baristas frame it and put it behind the register."

Now, authors Nora Katz, Wilson Josephson, Jill Poslanzer, and Harry Bliss have collaborated to bring their humorous and witty prose in book form, lightly illustrated. I loved the variety of authors and characters represented, and I liked how it was a good blend of extremely well-known authors and characters, ones I had heard of but didn't know much about, old and new authors/characters, and completely new names. In fact, I looked up several authors to add to my reading list based on the descriptions in the book.

The book is easy to read, whether or not you know a lot about literature. The stories, even about new authors, are humorous, tongue-in-cheek, and fun. It's a great book for anyone who loves to read, drink coffee, or both.

NORA KATZ is a senior at Carleton College, studying history and archaeology. WILSON JOSEPHSON is a senior at Carleton College, studying English. He an editor at The Rain, Party, & Disaster Society. JILL POSLANZER is a graduate of Carleton College, with a degree in English. She works at CBS Studios in Los Angeles. HARRY BLISS is a cartoonist and cover artist for The New Yorker magazine, and creator of the internationally syndicated, single panel gag cartoons entitled Bliss.