Are you a Canadian resident? Do you want to preview and review books before they hit the bookstore? Check out HarperCollins Canada’s First Look program.

Quote: First Look
Read and review tomorrow’s books today

This is a very cool idea. Partly because I want to read and review tomorrow’s books today, but also because I think Harper does a good job from a user point of view. The sign up was easy. The books on offer are clearly displayed, and once logged in, it looks like it is easy to request a copy. The reviews are also organized in an interesting way. Check out the reader reviews.

I’ve lobbied to review Justine Picardie’s My Mother’s Wedding Dress. It is a nonfiction memoir about Picardie’s garments, in particular how clothes create narrative, for example, how tight plastic pants say just a little something about you.

Is there a garment lurking in your closet that you’d rather no one know about? Why not publicly rejoice the misguided nature of that purchase? Post a photo on your blog or a comment below with a description. Articles that have made it to the Salvation Army, but once existed in your closet, still count.