It’s probably safe to say that media tends to refer to itself, in one way or another — and referring to literature, as opposed to other forms of pop culture, is one way to make just about anything a little more highbrow. Television, notoriously full of references and allusions, might be the worst/best culprit, and the most fun to hunt through for literary moments — after all, nothing’s more fun than seeing books on the boob tube. Here, you’ll find 50 of the greatest and most memorable literary allusions, shout-outs, cameos, and references on television, as well as real-life author appearances and whole episodes, or even whole seasons, based on… Read More
Lewis Carroll
Blur Frontman & Gorillaz Co-Founder Damon Albarn Is Penning an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ Musical
We’ve seen our fair share of Alice in Wonderland adaptations and rode a fair share of Spinning Teacups; Lewis Carroll’s… Read More
Read This Before This: 10 Great Books Based on Other Great Books
Literature is a never-ending, overlapping, sometimes circular conversation — between writers, between readers, between books themselves. This fact can make for some fascinating and rewarding reading. After all, what’s more interesting than listening in on one genius talking to another? There are some novels that are better if you have a little bit of background going in — and sometimes that background is nothing more or less than another great novel. Here are a few books you should pair the way you would a fine wine with an excellent cheese — each enhancing the other and making for a very satisfying… Read More
10 Hilarious Anti-Drug Films You Can Watch Right Now
This week, the fine folks over at Open Culture stumbled upon a truly wonderful bit of forgotten early ‘70s ephemera: Curious Alice, an Alice in Wonderland-style animated short that’s clearly intended to scare kids away from drugs, but instead makes them look sort of awesome. Making an actual anti-drug movie is a tricky business; there are so many ways to screw it up and get the mission backwards that about the only safe bet is to just scare people. So let’s take a look at Curious Alice, and nine other anti-drug movies that you can watch and laugh at, right… Read More
Tiny Book Dioramas Made by Adults
Seriously, Providence, you guys have your book nerd game in serious check. First you give us
Lewis Carroll’s… Read More
Test Your Lewis Carroll Knowledge in Honor of His Birthday
50 Essential Novels for Foodies
‘Tis the season, as they say, to stuff your face. Thanksgiving, that hallowed day of highly caloric foods and oft-tempestuous family relations, is upon us. To celebrate — or just to escape the festivities for a while — why not nourish the foodie in you with some gourmand-friendly literature? Behold, a spread worthy of kings: 50 essential works of fiction to whet your appetite, and then satisfy it, and then satisfy it some… Read More
50 Sci-Fi/Fantasy Novels That Everyone Should Read
People say it all the time: they’d love to get into science fiction or fantasy, but they’ve no idea where to start. If this is you (or if you’re one of those stubborn folks who looks snootily down on genre), listen up. Your trusty Flavorwire editors have a few suggestions for you — that is, a whole 50 sci-fi and fantasy novels that are well worth your time, whether you’re brand new to the concept of dragons and/or spaceships or a seasoned… Read More
Lewis Carroll’s Letter to Alice Liddell and Other Artifacts From the NYPL’s Children’s Books Exhibition
Last Friday, an essential exhibit for book lovers and onetime children of all stripes opened at the New York Public Library: The ABC Of It: Why Children’s Books Matter. Within, you can find the copy of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland that belonged to Alice Liddell, a recording of E.B. White reading from Charlotte’s Web, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s family copy of Mother Goose, complete with annotations on which sections were too scary for the children, the original Winnie-the-Pooh stuffed animals, and more delights. Take a look at some of the treasures the exhibit has to offer after the jump, and head on up to the NYPL to see the show in person before it closes next March. … Read More
10 Great Books Starring Cats
The Internet loves nothing more than cats, but it’s rare that we look beyond the cute photos and memes to more seriously consider their place in our world. Flavorwire’s Highbrow Cat Week is an attempt to remedy that, with a series of pieces devoted to analyzing their impact on the cultural realm.
Looking for something that’s kind of like a cat video, but a little more literary? Writers have long been inspired by their pets, and particularly, it seems, by their cats. It’s not surprising then that our feline friends figure prominently in some great books, from Russian classics to YA masterpieces to that one book everyone has definitely read. After the jump, find ten of the greatest books starring kitties of every persuasion. Is this list missing your favorite? Add it in the comments. … Read More
Recent Features
-
11h
Continuing On, Despite Pandora's Shameful Top 10 Songs: Links You Need to See
-
14h
Your Weekly TV News Roundup: 'Supergirl' Casts Its Jimmy Olsen, 'Togetherness' Renewed
-
15h
Fascinating, Evocative New Images of New York's Abandoned Spaces
- 15h
-
16h
Stop Freaking Out About 'Newsweek's' Silicon Valley Cover and Read the Story It's Advertising
-
16h
Michelle Tea's 'How to Grow Up' Is an Honest Memoir About the Writing Life
- 17h
-
18h
Jonathan Chait and Anita Sarkeesian: What It Really Means to Be Silenced
- 19h
-
19h
"I'm Not Into French Music": Lulu Gainsbourg Wrestles With His Father's Legacy
-
Popular Posts
View All Posts - 19h
- 2d
- 2d
Jane Austen Zingers: The 15 Best Disses and One-Liners From 'Pride and Prejudice' - 3d
- 4d
- View All Posts
Girl Canon: 50 Essential Books About the Female Experience
Angelina Jolie's Flawlessly Canny Control of Her Own Image
10 Sexy Netflix Streaming Movies to Warm Up Your Snow Day
50 of the Greatest Literary Moments on TV