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 ]
News tagged with: #books world #jessa crispin #paris review

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Leigh Stein’s ‘Self Care’ chronicles the rise and reckonings of the girlboss era

The author’s debut novel presciently captures the girlboss era right as it seems to be coming to an end. Whether you loved them or hated them, few entrepreneurs generated more buzz in the 2010s than so-called “girlbosses”—young, mostly white, female founders who disrupted industries including... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2020-06-30 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Star guests to join British Book Awards virtual ceremony today

The best authors, publishers and retailers will be crowned at the British Book Awards in a virtual ceremony today. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-28 17:13:02 UTC ]
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The Internet Archive is ending the National Emergency Library over lawsuit from publishers.

Internet Archive’s National Emergency Library initiative, which made more than 1.3 million books available online for free, will end early as publishers sue for copyright infringement. The nonprofit began offering free books during March as the coronavirus pandemic forced Americans to quarantine... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-06-12 14:06:26 UTC ]
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Internet Archive Will End Its Program for Free E-Books

The nonprofit has said its National Emergency Library was a public service to people unable to access libraries during the pandemic, but publishers and authors accused it of theft. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2020-06-11 19:56:08 UTC ]
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Considering Whether Writers Are Born or Made

In this week’s issue, A.O. Scott writes about Wallace Stegner. In 1948, Stegner wrote for the Book Review about universities as a place for training writers. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2020-06-05 09:00:03 UTC ]
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Anti-racist book sales surge in US and Britain after George Floyd killing

Books by authors including Reni Eddo-Lodge, Ibram X Kendi and Robin DiAngelo are selling out on both sides of the AtlanticBooks tackling racism and white supremacy by authors including Reni Eddo-Lodge, Ijeoma Oluo and Layla F Saad are selling out in Britain in the wake of eight days of protests... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-06-03 14:40:35 UTC ]
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Book publishers sue Internet Archive for allegedly enabling piracy

When libraries around the US began closing their doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Internet Archive (IA) responded by creating a “National Emergency Library,” a collection of 1.4 million books from its free e-book repository Open Library. Pu... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2020-06-01 19:33:58 UTC ]
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Publishers are suing the Internet Archive for scanning and distributing copies of their books.

On June 1st, a group of book publishers—Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, John Wiley & Sons, and Penguin Random House, all member companies of the Association of American Publishers—filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the Internet Archive, whose “National Emergency... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-06-01 17:48:23 UTC ]
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PA backs AAP as publishers file lawsuit against Internet Archive

The Publishers Association has expressed its support as member companies of the Association of American Publishers (AAP) filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Internet Archive (IA), a self-described American digital library offering "universal access to all knowledge". Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-01 17:39:50 UTC ]
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Publishers Sue Internet Archive Over Free E-Books

Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Hachette and Wiley accused the nonprofit of piracy for making over 1 million books free online. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2020-06-01 17:13:29 UTC ]
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Programming Opens Today from Madrid’s Readmagine and Paris’ EDRLab

Coronavirus Impact: The development of digital programming for international publishing in the pandemic goes on, with the 'Digital Publishing Summit.' The post Programming Opens Today from Madrid’s Readmagine and Paris’ EDRLab appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-06-01 07:49:05 UTC ]
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Publishers Charge the Internet Archive with Copyright Infringement

Four publishers filed a lawsuit on Monday charging the Internet Archive with copyright infringement and asking for an injunction to prevent the IA’s scanning, public display, and distribution of literary works. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-06-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Marr's 'era defining' book on modern Britain to William Collins

William Collins has scooped an “era defining” history of contemporary Britain from broadcaster and author Andrew Marr. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-05-31 22:20:47 UTC ]
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S&S Enters the Karp Era

The publisher’s new president and CEO, Jonathan Karp, is unfazed about the challenges to come as he takes the reins. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-05-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
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World Literature Today Announces 2020 Student Translation Prize Winners

News and Events The Editors of WLT From left to right, prose winner Jamie Lauer and writer Pía Barros, poetry winner Russell Karrick, poet Lucía Estrada. Jamie Lauer and Russell Karrick recently were named as the recipients of the third annual... Continue reading at World Literature Today

[ World Literature Today | 2020-05-18 13:29:17 UTC ]
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20 new books coming out today.

You know what they say: April showers bring May books. Here’s today’s brand-new batch coming to (virtual) bookstores near you. Consider this a friendly reminder that it’s never a bad idea to support your local indie. * Samantha Harvey, The Shapeless Unease  (Grove Press) “This memoir churns deep... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-05-12 13:45:17 UTC ]
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How Publishers Can Monetize the Mobile Web

[caption id="attachment_180434" align="alignright" width="300"] Click image to download the Playbook[/caption] Long before Apple introduced Intelligent Tracking Protection in its Safari browsers—making traffic “anonymous” and untargetable in advertisers’ minds—publishers were struggling to... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2020-05-11 18:00:21 UTC ]
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PRH Ups Digital Efforts in the Covid Era

Publishers are facing a new normal when it comes to their events businesses: digital or bust. At Penguin Random House, the efforts to pivot are manifold. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-05-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
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20 new books publishing today, day 723 at home.

The future may be uncertain, but one thing we can always count on is the bunch of new books that come into the world every Tuesday. Welcome, friends. * Emma Straub, All Adults Here  (Riverhead) “Straub cements her status as a master of the domestic ensemble drama.” –TIME   Percival... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-05-05 13:27:20 UTC ]
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Harry and Meghan biography Finding Freedom listed on Amazon

The title of a new biography of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, reportedly written with the couple's co-operation, has been revealed as Finding Freedom. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-05-03 16:33:59 UTC ]
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