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Book Nook provides readers with insights into the world of books. Vick Mickunas takes you into the center of the publishing world with the latest book buzz, book reviews, and exclusive chats with authors..Home > Blogs > Book Nook > Archives > 2010 > September > 01 > Entry
Do not read this (before Thursday)
UPS just brought me a package. I almost started to open it. Then I noticed the warning on the outside of the package. What a close call that was….
There’s a sticker on the outside of the package. In big block letters it warns:
A JOURNEY BY TONY BLAIR - ONE DAY LAYDOWN
DO NOT OPEN BEFORE THURSDAY 09/02/2010
DO NOT PLACE ON SALE OR IN CIRCULATION
PRIOR TO 9/02/10 12:01 AM
ON SALE VIOLATIONS
PLEASE CALL 1 - 800 (etc. etc)
IF SEAL IS BROKEN OR PACKAGE
DAMAGED CHECK CONTENTS BEFORE SIGNING RECEIPT
Uh oh, that UPS driver drove away before I could check to make sure that this package is still properly sealed. Hmmm, it appears to be intact. Whew!
Obviously, this is the exciting new memoir by the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. This is so exciting!
I wonder what would happen if I took a wee bit of a look before midnight? Hmmm? Is that a car idling at the end of the lane? Those guys inside the car are wearing sunglasses. That’s not peculiar I suppose, it is a sunny day.
They are just sitting there. Curious? They are both wearing suits. I’ll sneak up in the bushes to get a closer look….hmm…their plate appears to be a diplomatic plate? Odd?
I think I’ll just sit here and watch this package until 12:01 AM. Like a good book reviewer. I’ll be guarding it. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to it.
These guys in the car are probably just there to protect me, right? Or, maybe they are just guarding the book.
The clock is moving so slowly now. I’ll just sit here with the package on my lap. I was planning to go into town and run some errands.
Oh well, I cannot let this package out of my sight. I’ll take it with me.
I wonder if these guys will follow me?
Say, are you reading this on Wednesday? Naughty, naughty.
p.s. The book comes out tomorrow. You probably figured that out already.
Vick Mickunas
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: confessions of a galley slave
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By Mark from St Paul
September 2, 2010 1:31 PM | Link to this
Blair’s getting high marks for donating the proceeds from his book to charity, but I for one will never forgive Bush’s lapdog for his tireless work in “approving” the shoddy intelligence Bush-Cheney used to take us into war against one of our former CIA clients.
By Max
September 1, 2010 2:02 PM | Link to this
Vick, sometimes your reviews are better than what you are reviewing…LOL…I worked for a college radio station years ago and we used to get similar things; “Do not air until _.” Of course the industry knew then that was the quickest way to get pre-release airplay…..’Nice to see some things haven’t changed all that much. I think might pick up Blair’s book to understand some of his decsions and insights while in office…..
By victor mickunas
September 1, 2010 1:02 PM | Link to this
Good one, LMJ. This post was meant to be humorous. But seriously, publishers take these so-called embargoes of important titles very seriously. For example; the new novel by Jonathan Franzen came out this week. It was under a heavy duty embargo by the publisher. Bookstores were not allowed to sell any copies before a specific time and date. So when a bookstore on Martha’s Vineyard slipped an advance copy to President Obama when he was on vacation last week there was quite an uproar from some other booksellers, etc. Even the President of the United States is not immune from these embargoes. That’s how serious they are about them. (I don’t get out to Champaign County very often but the next time I do perhaps we can pop into “Teabaggers” for a cuppa….)
By lmj
September 1, 2010 12:29 PM | Link to this
O.k., I’m safe. I just calculated that it is 5:30 a.m. Thursday at the International Date Line. I didn’t notice any wording that said what time zone the 12:01 a.m. warning was for nor that you had to be in that same time zone. Do you rip tags off mattresses, too, Vick?