Reading about the reading life: May 26, 2017 edition

Welcome to another edition of "Reading about the reading life" here at The Itinerant Librarian. This is where I collect stories about reading and the reading life. Basically, these are items related to reading, maybe writing and literacy, that I find interesting and think my four readers might find interesting as well with a little commentary. As with other features I do on this blog, I do it when I have time or feel like it. Comments are always welcome (within reason).

I am happy that I have found a few things to do one of these posts. I always enjoy stuff about books, reading, literacy, writing, so on. So without any more fuss, let's get on with it. 

• I understand  that the Pendeja Princess has a new book out, something or other about (rich white) women who (pretend to) work. You might be curious, but you don't want to read it lest you kill some brain cells in the process. Lucky for us, Samantha Bee has read and review the book so you don't have to. Story via AlterNet. Video from YouTube.
• In news from the  world of comics, Marvel's Black Panther and the Crew title authored by Ta-Nehisi Coates was recently cancelled. I missed it, but I hope maybe Marvel considers compiling it into a trade.As of this post, he is still working on the individual Black Panther title. Story via Colorlines. 
• NPR has an interesting piece on a time when cookbooks also served as medical food advice sources.
• In San Francisco, a bookstore had to sue because of some poorly written legislation. The law  is meant to curb fake celebrity autographs. However, in the usual fashion of lawmakers who apparently can barely write coherent laws, let alone read what the laws they pass or not, the law may have the side effect of shutting down book signings in bookstores. Via ABC News. 
• In a follow up, it seems attempts are being made to fix the law a bit. Story via The San Francisco Chronicle.
• On a bit of a tangent, but also out of California (what is it with those people out there this month?), the city of Fresno tried to ban a Hustler Hollywood store from their city. Noted First Amendment defender and owner of the company, Larry Flint, sued for violation of civil rights (that whole First Amendment thing for one); the city has settled. Story via The Fresno Bee.  
• The New York Times has something a bit more uplifting from California: a look at some vintage bookstores in Los Angeles.
• Meanwhile, in Texas, prisoners find that books by poets like Langston Hughes are banned, but access to stuff like Mein Kampf is just fine. Story via Signature.  
• Via Atlas Obscura, an interesting piece on marginalia in medieval books. Some of those doodles are kind of strange.
• Via The Guardian, some highlights on the crappy shitty books used bookstores and other second hand shops would appreciate if you would stop donating. In Britain, Oxfam finally put a statement out to say what many of us think: we do not want them. Here in the US, I am sure public libraries cringe when they get yet  another copy of tripe like Fifty Shades of Grey, the Twilight saga, or The Da Vinci Code that will end up at the Library Friends' Sale. If you get tempted, just toss it in the recycling bin, then ask your local friendly librarian to show you something better to read. 
• Also via The Guardian, the racket of some less than reputable publishers to get academics to write books that are then hawked at exorbitant prices to libraries.  
• And finally, I just found this article on Tarot from Aeon interesting, which is why I am including it.