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 tournament is currently down to 16 contenders, with everyone from Ron Weasley of 'Harry Potter' fame to Winnie the Pooh's friend Piglet still in the running. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-03-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The rulings are a double whammy for Apple, paving the way for the class action suits to continue, while all but knocking out Apple’s defense. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rebekah Brooks's husband tells court about content on computers and the concepts for books he was working onRebekah Brooks's husband had important historical drafts of a new novel on one of the laptops he concealed at their Chelsea home, the Old Bailey has heard.Charlie Brooks told jurors at the... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2014-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In separate announcements, Nickelodeon Publishing and Blue Apple Books reached agreements to make their children’s titles available for sale through ebook retailer Kobo. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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This week, a delightfully unlikable narrator, Emma Donoghue's latest, and the most dangerous man in America. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Brooks’s graphic novel "The Harlem Hellfighters" documents the suffering and courage of African-American troops in the Army’s legendary 369th Infantry Regiment of Harlem, N.Y. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Verso Books is launching a new consumer offer, bundling DRM-free ebooks with all print purchases... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A picture book by comedy star David Walliams, his first in the format, is one of 24 titles for children that are in contention for this year's Booktrust Best Book Awards. Continue reading at BBC News
[ BBC News | 2014-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Two new suits were filed this month against Apple and the five major publishers involved in a 2010 ebook price-fixing conspiracy, raising the possibility of a new ebook antitrust battle involving aggrieved retailers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Antony Loewenstein: Is the future an interactive novel read on a Google Glass? One thing's for certain: the transformation of the written word is one of the defining issues of our ageAntony Loewenstein Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2014-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Catholic priest Ronald Rolheiser examines late-life spirituality; scholar Michael Coogan offers a brief history of the Decalogue. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Mark Thompson says New York Times journalism will remain impartial and won't be swayed by commercial considerationsMark Thompson, the chief executive of the New York Times, has hit out at rival Bloomberg for saying it shouldn't have published investigative news stories criticising China, because... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2014-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Stories and traditions are repeated from season to season and become part of holiday celebrations themselves. This year, new books for the most joyful holidays in Judaism and Christianity offer fresh approaches. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Almost 40,000 Catholics gathered in mid-March in Anaheim, Calif., for the annual L.A. Religious Education Congress, and they bought a lot of books from Catholic publishers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Roughly $166 million in settlement funds collected as part of a deal to settle state and consumer charges of ebook price-fixing began flowing to consumers today. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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With close to 1,000 attendees this year, the annual Left Coast Crime mystery writers’ convention returned to Monterey, Calif., for the first time in a decade. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tesco’s ebook platform blinkbox books has launched today (25th March). The website sells... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In the six months since its debut, the $14 million Oyster ebook subscription platform has yet to take off. What's lacking? What could be improved? We advise. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Comparable store sales of books fell 10.7% at Hastings Entertainment in the year ended January 31, 2014, compared to 2012. Sales also fell 8.2% in the fourth quarter. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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