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

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Bookslut was born in an era of internet freedom. Today's web has killed it'


Internet Archive violated publisher copyrights by lending ebooks, court rules

A federal judge has ruled against the Internet Archive in its high-profile case against a group of four US publishers led by Hachette Book Group. Per Reuters, Judge John G. Koeltl declared on Friday the nonprofit had infringed on the group’s copyrights by lending out digitally scanned copies of... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-03-25 16:46:29 UTC ]
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In a Swift Decision, Judge Eviscerates Internet Archive’s Scanning and Lending Program

After nearly three years of litigation, federal judge John G. Koeltl ruled that the Internet Archive infringed the copyrights of four plaintiff publishers by scanning print editions of their books and lending them online. The ruling comes just days after a March 20 hearing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-03-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
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At Hearing, Judge Appears Skeptical of Internet Archive’s Scanning and Lending Program

Over the course of the 90-minute hearing, Judge John G. Koeltl appeared unmoved by the IA's fair use claims and unconvinced that the publishers’ market for library e-books was not impacted by the practice known as controlled digital lending. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-03-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Hachette V. Internet Archive: All Our Coverage

A compilation of PW's coverage of Hachette v. Internet Archive, the closely watched copyright case over the scanning and lending of print library books, with the most recent coverage up top. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-03-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Pasoli and Thomas on Today’s 60th Bologna Opening

With a buoyant mood and a new coalition of new features, Bologna Children's Book Fair beats its own record for its number of exhibitors. The post Pasoli and Thomas on Today’s 60th Bologna Opening appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-03-06 05:14:18 UTC ]
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The Internet Hates Hogwarts Legacy

A new video game set in the Harry Potter universe lays bare the mediocrity of Rowling’s world. Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2023-03-04 10:00:00 UTC ]
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Knopf Bets on 'West Heart Kill'

Alfred A. Knopf will publish the debut novel by Dann McDorman, the executive producer of MSNBC’s 'The Beat with Ari Melber,' this fall. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-02-24 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Oral Argument Set in Internet Archive Copyright Case

A federal judge is ready to hear oral arguments for summary judgment in a closely watched copyright case over the scanning and lending of library books, some four months after final briefs were submitted by the parties and more than two years since the case was first filed. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-02-21 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Two Supreme Court cases could upend the rules of the internet

The Supreme Court could soon redefine the rules of the internet as we know it. This week, the court will hear two cases, Gonzalez v. Google and Twitter v. Taamneh, that give it an opportunity to drastically change the rules of speech online.Both cases deal with how online platforms have handled... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-02-20 15:00:18 UTC ]
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Kobo Libra 2 review: Freedom with a small price

At a glanceExpert's Rating ProsLight weight and sharp text make for hours of comfortable readingWaterproofBuilt-in OverDrive supportBook management offers many filtering and sorting optionsConsCan only play audiobooks from KoboBattery life not quite as good as on KindleOur VerdictNot only... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2023-02-16 23:20:00 UTC ]
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Do box sets matter in the Spotify era?

Musicians and studios put loads of time and money into special edition commemorative releases, most of which will never be experienced by listeners. From The Velvet Underground to Joni Mitchell, it seems everyone is rolling out a special edition box set these days. Just look at the last few... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2023-01-28 03:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Review: ‘You Can’t Kill Snow White,’ by Beatrice Alemagna

Beatrice Alemagna’s “You Can’t Kill Snow White,” a picture book for older kids, mines the brutal envy that underpins the original Brothers Grimm tale. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-12-16 17:24:59 UTC ]
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Internet man uses AI to create a children’s book in praise of AI and it is fatuous and ugly.

What the hell are we doing? All the best things are shutting down and people are out here using computers to make children’s books? Not to get too Jeff Goldblum on you, but just because you build a tool to do something doesn’t make it interesting or worthy. To wit, a product designer named... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-12-13 15:19:23 UTC ]
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'USA Today' Pauses Bestseller List, Lays Off Presiding Editor

A spokesperson told the Associated Press that the list will go on "hiatus for the remainder of the year.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-13 05:00:00 UTC ]
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'Hellboy: Web of Wyrd' is a stylish brawler that takes its cues from the comic

One of the least expected announcements at The Game Award creator Mike Mignola and Dark Horse helped pen the story, and the cel-shaded look is more than a little reminiscent of what you saw on paper. b of Wyrd, a roguelite (read: purposefully brutal and repetitive) brawler that revolves around... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-12-09 01:42:13 UTC ]
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Astra Magazine Had Creative Freedom and a Budget. It Wasn’t Enough.

The literary journal attracted great names. Its issues sold well. And then it was over — a fate that offers insight into the tenuous place of literary magazines in the American publishing landscape. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-12-03 14:55:20 UTC ]
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Register Today for AAPI Communities in Conversation #12 with Elizabeth Miki Brina, Author of 'Speak, Okinawa'

Brina will appear in conversation with Elizabeth Joseph of New Rochelle Public Library. The live stream is set for Tuesday, December 6th at 1 p.m. ET. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-02 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Today’s Google Doodle celebrates Jerry Lawson, the ‘father of the video game cartridge’

Google’s interactive Doodle today celebrates the life and accomplishments of video game pioneer Gerald “Jerry” Lawson on what would have been his 82nd birthday. The Doodle lets you play five retro pixel-art platformers in your browser — with two even letting you play as Lawson. The Doodles’... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-12-01 18:15:43 UTC ]
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Jane Smiley's latest? A Gold Rush-era California sex worker mystery

"A Dangerous Business," the latest novel by Pulitzer Prize winner Jane Smiley, follows a brothel worker in Monterey investigating disappearances. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-11-30 14:30:40 UTC ]
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Venezuela's Editorial Dahbar Receives 2022 AAP International Freedom to Publish Award

The AAP cited the Venezuelan publisher for exhibiting "tremendous courage and commitment in continuing to publish, even as the social and political environments in Venezuela have deteriorated, causing many others to flee the country,” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-30 05:00:00 UTC ]
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