I was called aggressive for criticising passages in Kate Clanchy’s memoir. But the real problem lies deep in the overwhelmingly white world of publishingIt started with a tweet. Kate Clanchy, author of Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me posted on her Twitter account that a reviewer on Goodreads had “made up a racist quote and said it was in my book”. She urged her almost 40,000 followers to flag the review that claimed she had bigoted views on race, class and body image, and had used terms such as “chocolate-coloured skin” and “Jewish noses”. Prominent authors and columnists swooped in to offer support, decrying how Clanchy could possibly be subjected to such inhumane treatment – including the current president of the Society of Authors, Philip Pullman, who declared: “But of all the people and of all the books to have had this happen … It’s hard to stay optimistic about the human race sometimes.”However, it soon emerged that those terms were, in fact, in the book. Incredulous that antisemitic and anti-Black tropes could have made it into a book published as recently as 2019, I downloaded and read it. I recoiled as a Somali boy is described as having a “narrow skull”, while one Muslim girl is “very butch-looking … with a distinct moustache”, and another “looked brilliant because she has such a strong skull shape”, which sounds more like something a eugenicist might observe than a trusted teacher. There is a troubling exchange where Clanchy is baffled by a boy who,... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2021-08-13 13:51:20 UTC ]
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The publishing sector could receive a boost as part of prime minister Theresa May’s new industrial strategy, the Publishers Association has said. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-01-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Offering employment to existing US Nielsen Book employees, the Nielsen Book practice becomes NPD Book in the new acquisition. The post Industry Changes: Nielsen Book’s US Services Sold to NPD Group appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hong Kong used to be a place of relatively free speech in China, but that was before Xi Jinping’s crackdown. Now everybody from writers to booksellers, publishers and printers fear they will be next to ‘disappear’Just over a year after five publishers and booksellers disappeared from Hong Kong... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2016-12-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The bestselling books over the holidays at the e-tailer were 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down,' 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,' and a children's backlist book. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-12-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Some book publishers in Australia question whether the expense of entering the increasing number of book awards is worth the potential end result. The post How Rewarding Are Book Awards? Australia’s Industry Debates the Costs appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-12-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Canongate has revealed the title for Matt Haig and Chris Mould's third children's Christmas book: Father Christmas and Me. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Collection of pastiche illustrations, which declares itself ‘shamelessly offensive’, has been withdrawn from sale after Twitter stormThe author of a parody collection of children’s book covers from “more innocent times”, has asked for his book to be pulled after a storm of complaints on Twitter... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2016-12-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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October 2017 brings the 500th anniversary of a revolution that transformed the Christian church, and a year-long advance commemoration has produced more than 40 books on the Reformer and the ideas that reshaped Western civilization. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-11-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As Frankfurt Book Fair’s press officers report a slight increase in trade-visitor attendance this year, the German trade gives Carolin Emcke its 2016 peace prize. A reminder here that many more articles of this kind bring to light various moments and programs at the just-ended Frankfurt Book... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Out of 27 serious letters of interest, Carol Levinson and Steve Costa chose Stephen Sparks and Molly Parent as new owners. The pair will begin running the store in January 2017. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-10-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PEN America's new report asserts that 'diverse books' frequently are the first to be yanked when it comes to book challenges and 'soft censorship.' The post International Industry Notes: PEN America on Banning Books in the USA appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The comic book community is coming together for "Love Is Love," a comic to honor those killed in June's Orlando attack. Organized by writer Marc Andreyko, "Love Is Love" will feature more than 100 one- to two-page stories from some of the biggest names in comics. Contributing... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The German Publishers and Booksellers Association has joined with freedom of speech organisations to launch an online petition calling on the German government and EU Commission to make an “uncompromising commitment” to freedom of expression in Turkey. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-08-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Zhejiang University Press has events at BIBF this week, as Japan's Toto Serkan looks at Japan's mobile gaming market, and Scotland's Society of Young Publishers weighs the industry's interest in new skills. The post International Industry Notes: Beijing Book Fair, Japan’s Mobile Games,... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-08-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Kenyan Publishers Association voices its frustration with Nairobi's book tax, rare in Africa. Those punished by it, they say, are public school students. The post Kenyan Publishers Call for Zero VAT on Books appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-08-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Watching for a day when 'generosity flows in both directions,' ALLi's leadership assesses new development—and division—in the indie-publishing sector. The post ‘Self-Publishing 2.0’? An Industry Alliance for Indies Calls the Question appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Industry leaders are urging a calm approach as the book trade faces a sudden and prolongued period of economic uncertainty following last week’s decision to leave the European Union. But some also expressed anger at the outcome of the referendum. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Independent booksellers called for more diversity in children’s books at an Inclusive Minds event, because their customers are asking for a greater range of ethnic diversity and family types in titles. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-06-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Australian book industry awards night heard proposals would reduce authors’ control of copyright and flood market with cheap overseas editionsMagda Szubanski said she would consider leaving the country and called for writers to go on strike. Richard Flanagan called for the resignation of... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2016-05-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Business, the arts, and ambassadors: New dispatches from Frankfurt Book Fair focus on a new cultural marketplace, Guests of Honour, and the Business Club. The post Frankfurt Calling: Three Points of Interest appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-05-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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