Jonathan Franzen Is Having More Fun Than His Critics

Jonathan Franzen’s fifth novel, Purity, appears, like his previous one, Freedom, amid the media equivalent of the fog of war. There have been trumpeted interviews and fatuous raves, but also misleading headlines, Twitter diatribes, backlashes to the backlash and a deluge of emptily sassy online retorts aggregating all of the above. Low-key irony and a stickler’s insistence on saying exactly what one thinks have never played well in the press, so this author—whose original sin consists of being inanely praised in the New York Times Book Review and declared a “Great American Novelist” on the cover of Time—has only succeeded in compounding the murk. Someone has to be the face of every (real and imagined) injustice writers face when negotiating the publishing establishment; it’s so much more fun to hate a face.  Continue reading at 'Slate'

[ Slate | 2015-08-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jonathan Lethem’s ‘The Arrest’ imagines a kinder, gentler apocalypse

Expecting the terror of darkness once the power goes out, we find instead the sepia tones of candlelight. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-11-10 13:00:00 UTC ]
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NBCC Asks Members to Sign Criticism Equity Pledge

The National Book Critics Circle has asked members to sign a Criticism Equity Pledge, which asks them to dedicate 30% of assignments to books by BIPOC authors. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-10-26 04:00:00 UTC ]
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To understand the Trump era, a Post critic read 150 books

Carlos Lozada finds that the best works are those least focused on the president. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-10-08 09:18:55 UTC ]
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This Dystopian YA Novel Feels Too Real: Critical Linking, September 30, 2020

An awesome daily roundup of the most interesting bookish links from around the web. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-09-30 10:30:00 UTC ]
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Kassabova moves to Jonathan Cape in two-book deal

Prize-winning writer Kapka Kassabova is moving to Jonathan Cape in a two-book deal, with first title, Elixir, exploring the human hunger for healing and a search for a cure. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-09-24 14:09:10 UTC ]
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Ethan Hawke is now a book critic, thereby completing his Literary World Bingo Card.

Congratulations to Ethan Hawke, star of my favorite film (Gattaca) and arguably the most bookish man in Hollywood, who has, with today’s inclusion in the (web) pages of the New York Times Book Review, completed his Literary World Bingo Card! What is the Literary World Bingo Card you ask? Well,... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-09-01 18:45:05 UTC ]
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J.K. Rowling returns human rights award amid criticism from organization

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling says she is returning an award from a human rights group linked to the Kennedy family after the president of the organization criticized her comments about transgender issues. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2020-08-28 20:34:31 UTC ]
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Del Rey will publish behind the scenes look at web series 'Critical Role'

Del Rey UK, Cornerstone's science fiction and fantasy imprint, will publish The World of Critical Role, a "definitive guide" to the history of the online web series "Critical Role", written by cast of the series and author Liz Marsham. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-08-27 08:30:55 UTC ]
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Hilary Mantel and Historical Fiction Are On a Break: Critical Linking, August 23, 2020

An awesome daily roundup of the most interesting bookish links from around the web. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-08-23 10:30:00 UTC ]
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On Rethinking Online Book Events: Critical Linking, July 31, 2020

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[ Book Riot | 2020-07-31 10:30:00 UTC ]
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Matt Forde pokes fun at politics for Quercus

Quercus is publishing Politically Homeless by political satirist Matt Forde this October. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-07-22 06:45:32 UTC ]
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HarperCollins defends Walliams over Monroe criticism

HarperCollins has defended David Walliams after food writer Jack Monroe claimed his children's books were “sneering classist fatshaming grim nonsense”. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-07-07 10:29:08 UTC ]
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One critic’s summer reading list: From a scandalous memoir to obscure literary journalism

Michael Dirda is taking a vacation next month, and he’s already getting his to-be-read pile in order. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-07-01 16:17:23 UTC ]
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‘Nothing Is Wrong and Here Is Why’ takes hilarious aim at the current administration. But it’s not all fun and games.

Alexandra Petri’s new essay collection makes our current sociopolitical dumpster fire not just very funny but stingingly poignant. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-06-15 08:18:15 UTC ]
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Poetry Foundation Responds to Criticism, Pledges Action

The staff and board of the Poetry Foundation said in an open letter that they are committed to "ongoing action in response to the call to dismantle white supremacy." The pledge came after an open letter highly critical of the Foundation's past treatment of marginalized was released and led to... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-06-15 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Black Bookstore Selling Out of Books For First Time in 30 Years: Critical Linking, June 14, 2020

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[ Book Riot | 2020-06-14 10:30:00 UTC ]
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The Problem With All The Books Publishing This Fall: Critical Linking, June 10, 2020

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[ Book Riot | 2020-06-10 10:30:05 UTC ]
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EIC’s at Bon Appétit and Refinery29 Resign Amid Criticism

[caption id="attachment_181520" align="alignright" width="171"] Adam Rapoport[/caption] Adam Rapoport, editor-in-chief at Bon Appétit since 2010, is stepping down from that role after a photo of him in an offensive Halloween costume resurfaced online Monday amid allegations from current and... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2020-06-09 15:00:08 UTC ]
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Black-Owned Bookstore Offers “Ally Box” Book Subscription: Critical Linking, June 5, 2020

An awesome daily roundup of the most interesting bookish links from around the web. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-06-05 10:30:41 UTC ]
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Friday’s BookExpo Online Sessions Schedule; Jonathan Karp To Lead S&S

The news of Jonathan Karp's promotion to CEO of Simon & Schuster coincides with the conclusion of BookExpo's US trade show 2020 digital sessions. The post Friday’s BookExpo Online Sessions Schedule; Jonathan Karp To Lead S&S appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-05-29 11:43:21 UTC ]
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