Cutting ’Em Down to Size

Every critic knows that readers love a spirited hatchet job, whether or not the author being chopped is one whose work they’ve hated—or even read. Much of the public seems to possess an ambient belief that the literary world is filled with frauds and self-styled geniuses whose reputations have been propped up by venal publishers and the reviewers who toady up to them. In this light, anyone who dares to challenge the allegedly phony consensus by ripping apart one of the unjustly elect gets hailed as a hero. Every so often, a particularly harsh review will prompt an outcry; recently this happened after William Giraldi’s slashing, in the New York Times Book Review, of two books by the relatively unknown novelist, Alix Ohlin, whom he damned for embracing “the bland earnestness of realism.” But Ohlin was small fry, and much of the outrage Giraldi’s review ignited—he was accused on Twitter of failing to perform a critic’s basic duties and of producing a “pretentious, vicious and self-regarding” piece of work, among other offenses—seemed to arise from the sense that he was an insufferable blowhard while she was nice, or at the very least, harmless. Continue reading at 'Slate'

[ Slate | 2017-09-05 00:00:00 UTC ]

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Cutting ’Em Down to Size'

Fairfax Media to cut journalist jobs

Fairfax Media will shed at least 45 jobs across its publishing units amid continued challenging advertising markets. Continue reading at The Sydney Morning Herald

[ The Sydney Morning Herald | 2013-10-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tribune Eyes Expense Cuts in Newspaper Unit

Tribune Co., which owns the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and seven other daily newspapers, is reviewing possible cost cuts in its print publishing division. "We're trying to determine how to put our publishing businesses on the best po ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-09-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Conde Nast Traveler Said to Cut Half of Editorial Staff

Conde Nast Traveler, the glossy travel magazine from Conde Nast, has eliminated about 14 editorial positions, more than half its staff, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter.The job cuts include five editors, the entire photo desk and the the graphics department, according... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2013-09-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New Kindle Fire tablets; B&N continues Nook price cut

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[ The Bookseller | 2013-09-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight gets UK price cut, drops below £50

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[ Engadget | 2013-09-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tesco launches cut-price Hudl

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[ The Bookseller | 2013-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Right-Sizing—And Right-Buying: What’s Working At Indies

In the new book retail environment, bigger, in many cases, is not better. Having the right-sized store for a community and stocking the appropriate inventory, even if that means adding nonbook items, are keys to success today. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-09-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Scholastic Cuts Loss Despite Sales Drop

Gains in its educational technology group were not enough to offset declines in the children’s book publishing and distribution unit resulting in a 5.8% decline in total sales at Scholastic for the first quarter ended August 31. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Cut to the Core

The Common Core State Standards have been adopted by 46 states in hopes of better preparing students for college and their careers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-09-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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DOJ offers to cut injunction time in Apple ebook case, stays firm on key points

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[ Engadget | 2013-08-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Condé Nast Cuts Deal With Amazon To Turn Magazine Subscriptions Into An All–Access Business

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[ Fast Company | 2013-08-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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AOL to cut 500 jobs at Patch

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[ Crains New York | 2013-08-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sales Rise at HMH, Loss Cut

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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12 Companies That Have Cut Ties With Paula Deen

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[ ABC News | 2013-06-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Spending Review cuts 'mean more library closures'

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[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Major library cuts for Lincolnshire

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[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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UNISON survey on library cuts

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[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Price war sees Kobo mini cut to £29

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[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Life without Amazon? Barefoot Books is the David that cut ties to Goliath

Massachusetts-based publisher Barefoot Books had previously cut ties with Barnes & Noble and Borders. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-05-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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