Bookslut was born in an era of internet freedom. Today's web has killed it

The books community that my site joined was driven by enthusiasm not clicks, goodwill and not money – and that culture has goneI miss the internet. I know that, technically, the internet still exists. It’s the Facebook-, Twitter-filtered series of algorithms designed to put cat videos, think pieces, and advertisements in front of you. But I get nostalgic for the days before money invaded the internet – the early 2000s, in particular, when I created the literary blog and webzine Bookslut.com.Back then, nothing you did mattered. And that gave you freedom. Back then, the online book culture was run mostly by enthusiasts and amateurs, people who were creating blogs and webzines simply for the pleasure of it, rather than to build a career or a brand. I know that nostalgia is a stupid emotion, but still I regret the day money found the internet. Once advertisers showed up, offering to pay us to do the thing we were doing just for fun, it was very hard to say no. Or understand exactly what the trade-offs would be.The most disappointing revelation about the books world: even an intellectual is susceptible to clickbaitYou click on it, you own it. Related: Jessa Crispin: 'We're not allowed to say the Paris Review is boring' Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2016-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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World Literature Today’s 75—Make That 100—Notable Translations of 2021, by Michelle Johnson

Lit Lists 2021 was a robust year for literary translations. This list kept growing, and we didn’t resist. As always, though, we recognize there are, thankfully, many more and hope you’ll add them in the comments, along with those you’re eagerly... Continue reading at World Literature Today

[ World Literature Today | 2021-11-29 19:56:31 UTC ]
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In New Filing, Publishers Accuse Internet Archive of ‘Stonewalling’ Discovery in Scanning Lawsuit

In a November 19 letter, lawyers for the plaintiff publishers outlined seven “categories” of requested documents yet to be turned over by the Internet Archive and accused the IA of "hoping to run out the clock” on discovery. Discovery in the case is due to close mid-December. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-21 05:00:00 UTC ]
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What Fannie Lou Hamer can teach today’s activists

The civil rights leader offers a blueprint for tackling current issues, Keisha Blain writes. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-11-19 13:00:00 UTC ]
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Guatemala's F&G Editores Wins AAP International Freedom to Publish Award

Guatemala's F&G Editores publishing house has won the 2021 Association of American Publishers International Freedom to Publish | Jeri Laber Award. The publisher's founder, Raúl Figueroa Sarti, and his colleagues have been threatened with censure and worse by the Guatemalan government and... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-17 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Born Black and poor in Stockton, he was mayor by 26. Michael Tubbs' memoir tells the tale

Out this week, 'The Deeper the Roots' is an intimate, personal story of defying odds, helping others do the same and making history along the way. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-11-16 14:36:39 UTC ]
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Publishers, AAP Hit Back in Internet Archive Discovery Dispute

Lawyers for the AAP and the plaintiff publishers insist that communications and documents being withheld in the case are in fact privileged, and accused the IA of "attempting to litigate this case and their desired policy gains in the press based on a false narrative rather than in the courtroom... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-04 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Goosebumps titles for today’s biggest books.

It’s Halloween weekend—time for two powerful concepts: outfits and mischief. The outgoing among us might go out and play some tricks; the more introverted might stay inside and read the unofficial book series of Halloween, Goosebumps. But if you don’t have The Werewolf of Fever Swamp or Night of... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-10-29 18:45:28 UTC ]
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‘We Begin Today the Publication of a Supplement Which Contains Reviews of the New Books’

The New York Times Book Review first appeared on Oct. 10, 1896, but its roots can be traced back to its very first issue of The Times on Sept. 18, 1851. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-10-22 11:33:55 UTC ]
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Sheikh Zayed Book Award Today: Arabic and Children’s Books

On the final trade-visitor day of Frankfurter Buchmesse, the UAE's Sheikh Zayed Book Award has several programming points to consider. The post Sheikh Zayed Book Award Today: Arabic and Children’s Books appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-10-22 07:59:44 UTC ]
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Katie Couric recalls her rise to ‘Today’ — and what she really thought of everyone

The longtime anchor’s memoir settles scores and reexamines some regrettable choices. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-10-15 07:39:38 UTC ]
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Christopher Lloyd | 'Today’s children are the executives of tomorrow'

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[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-14 23:17:39 UTC ]
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Watch: Reinventing the customer experience in the digital-first era

The Ad Age Studio 30 live panel with EY and Thomson Reuters discussed the lessons and insights gleaned from the past year-plus and how the global firms partnered to build Thomson Reuters' just-launched customer-centric digital initiative. Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2021-10-07 19:30:00 UTC ]
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Richard Osman's The Man Who Died Twice makes a killing

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[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-21 06:44:44 UTC ]
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In Maggie Nelson’s ‘On Freedom,’ liberation and entrapment aren’t easy to untangle

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[ The Washington Post | 2021-09-13 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Embracing the sprawling contradictions of ‘freedom’

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[ The Washington Post | 2021-09-10 12:00:00 UTC ]
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ALA Expands Award for Books, Articles on Intellectual Freedom

The award will now honor journal articles in even number years and books in odd number years, with the Oboler committee now seeking nominations for the 2022 journal article award. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-09-03 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Why Amazon's oldest Kindles will be cut off from the internet

Amazon’s oldest Kindles are being cut off from the internet. But don’t blame Amazon—these e-readers are collateral damage in the phaseout of 2G and 3G cellular service.The first two generations of Kindle e-readers used a cellular antenna to connect to the internet for downloading content.... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2021-08-18 16:45:00 UTC ]
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Today’s North American Manga Market: The Wins, The Losses, and Everything Else

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[ Book Riot | 2021-08-13 10:33:00 UTC ]
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Publishers Blast Internet Archive’s ‘Extraordinary’ Demand for Sales Data

Lawyers say the Internet Archive's sweeping demand for 10 years worth of monthly sales data is "burdensome in the extreme" and legally "irrelevant." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-08-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Back-To-School Boost on DonorsChoose Today

Fund some classroom libraries today on DonorsChoose with the help of a boost from the Gates Foundation. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-08-12 10:39:00 UTC ]
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