Banning bad reviews undermines the very purpose of reviews

In an interview with Poynter back at the beginning of November, BuzzFeed book editor Isaac Fitzgerald said that the site will not include negative reviews. "Why waste breath talking smack about something? You see it in so many old media-type places, the scathing takedown rip. If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all". Is this the right attitude to adopt? I won't even pretend that this is a rhetorical question. It is absolutely the wrong attitude, and any publication that adopts it does both itself and its readers a disservice. Of course, Fitzgerald was talking specifically about… [Continue Reading] Continue reading at 'Betanews'

[ Betanews | 2013-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Banning bad reviews undermines the very purpose of reviews'


Judge Blocks Key Provisions of Iowa Book Banning Law

A federal judge has blocked two key portions of an Iowa law that sought to ban books with sexual content from Iowa schools and to bar classroom discussion of gender identity and sexuality for students below the seventh grade. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-12-29 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Audiobook Review: ‘Alice Sadie Celine,’ by Sarah Blakley-Cartwright

In “Alice Sadie Celine,” Sarah Blakley-Cartwright’s first novel for adults, a lauded feminist becomes entangled with her daughter’s best friend. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-12-22 10:00:21 UTC ]
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After Hearing, Court Set to Decide Fate of Iowa LGBTQ Book Banning Law

A federal judge is set to rule before the end of the year on two lawsuits seeking to block a controversial new Iowa law, SF 496, that would ban books with sexual content from Iowa classrooms and school libraries. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-12-22 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Jane Smiley on What It’s Like to Have Your Book Banned

Earlier this month, Jane Smiley’s A Thousand Acres was banned from the Iowa City Schools. Smiley is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of 17 novels, two collections of short fiction, five nonfiction books, and eight books for young adults. She spoke to The Little Hawk, the student newspaper of... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-12-19 09:59:29 UTC ]
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Book Review: ‘Remembrance,’ by Ray Bradbury

Not many, according to a new collection of correspondence from a science fiction master. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-12-18 10:00:54 UTC ]
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Audiobook Review: ‘Sing a Black Girl’s Song,’ by Ntozake Shange

A new volume of the Black feminist’s previously unpublished writing is read in audiobook form by a full cast of Black women. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-12-15 10:00:20 UTC ]
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New PEN America Report Documents 'Scarlet Letter' Effect of Book Bans

PEN America has released "a cumulative data summary" of nearly 6,000 book bans in public schools, finding that shared lists of targeted books by organized political groups have led to books and authors being targeted in multiple communities across the country. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-12-14 05:00:00 UTC ]
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The 10 Most-Read Book Reviews of 2023

In 2023, as we do each year, we published thousands of reviews of thousands of new books. But of all the reviews we published, these are the 10 you read the most. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-12-14 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Novelist's book is canceled after she acknowledges 'review bombs' of other writers

A debut author who used fake accounts to “review bomb” other writers on the influential online platform Goodreads has been dropped by her agent and had her book deal cancelled Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2023-12-13 02:46:01 UTC ]
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Cait Corrain apologizes, checks into rehab after Goodreads 'review bombing' rival authors

First-time author Cait Corrain has apologized on X and announced she is going to rehab after losing her book deal and agent for 'review bombing' on Goodreads. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-12-12 22:43:34 UTC ]
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The 10 Best Book Reviews of 2023

Good book criticism is booming right now. I have at least some degree of confidence in saying this because for the past six years, I’ve been keeping track of my favorite reviews to prepare for these annual roundups, and my 2023 longlist was by far the biggest and most difficult to narrow down.... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-12-11 12:47:20 UTC ]
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2023 in books: Protests, bannings and the rise of AI helped shape the story of publishing

The publishing world made plenty of news in 2023, but not only because of the books themselves Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2023-12-08 14:55:07 UTC ]
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Audiobook Review: ‘Songs on Endless Repeat,’ by Anthony Veasna So

Keong Sim reads the audiobook version of the author’s second posthumous collection, “Songs on Endless Repeat.” Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-12-08 13:52:17 UTC ]
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Congress Introduces New Bill to Fight Book Bans in Schools

Amid a historic surge in book challenges in schools and school libraries, the Fight Book Bans Act would offer federal funding to support school districts fighting challenges to books and educational materials. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-12-06 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Audiobook Review: ‘Jezebel,’ by Megan Barnard

Perdita Weeks reads the audiobook version of Megan Barnard’s debut novel, reimagining the Israeli queen as a source of mythic, feminist anger. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-12-01 10:00:14 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House, Authors Sue to Block Iowa Anti-LGBTQ Book Banning Law

Penguin Random House and the Iowa State Education Association, along with four bestselling authors and five plaintiffs from the state of Iowa, have sued the state to block key provisions of its sweeping new law banning books with sexual or LGBTQ+ content in schools. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Lambda Legal, ACLU Sue to Block Iowa Anti-LGBTQ Book Banning Law

Signed by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds in May, SF 496, among its provisions, bans books with depictions of written or visual sex from school libraries, and prohibits instruction and materials involving gender identity and sexual orientation for students through sixth grade. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-29 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple Books Names 2023 Bestsellers, Launches 'Year in Review' Feature

A new feature on Apple Books gives users Spotify Wrapped–style insights into their reading habits in 2023—a year in which Jack Carr, Prince Harry, Britney Spears, and Rebecca Yarros topped the Apple Books charts. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-28 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Children's Starred Reviews 2023: All of Our Stars

Our Children’s Starred Reviews Annual features nearly 400 reviews of exceptional books for young readers, a selection of interviews with some of today’s top authors and illustrators, our 50 Best Books of 2023, and a cover by Vashti Harrison. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-22 05:00:00 UTC ]
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ACLU, Parents, and Students Sue Alaska School District Over Book Bans

The suit, filed on behalf of six parents of minor children and two students who are over the age of 18 in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough school district, seeks the return of 56 books said to be improperly banned from school shelves. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-21 05:00:00 UTC ]
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