Pointing out racism in books is not an ‘attack’ – it’s a call for industry reform | Monisha Rajesh

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 ]
News tagged with: #inhumane treatment #current president #philip pullman #ableist tropes #memoir #book published

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Pointing out racism in books is not an ‘attack’ – it’s a call for industry reform | Monisha Rajesh'


Scholastic US signs Mariah Carey Christmas book

US singer Mariah Carey is set to create a Christmas children’s picture book based on her... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-01-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Mariah Carey to write Christmas book

The singer will release a children's book later this year, based on her twins Moroccan and Monroe. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2014-01-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


HarperVoyager sign three-book deal with Lawrence

HarperVoyager has acquired a new epic fantasy trilogy from Broken Empire author Mark Lawrence.... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-01-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Franklin Watts acquires Little Book of Sloth

Franklin Watts has bought UK rights in Lucy Cooke’s New York Times bestselling title The... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #franklin watts


Tennessee Public Library to Publish Books with IngramSpark

A public library in Franklin, Tennessee has launched its own publishing imprint, Academy Park Press, using the IngramSpark platform for distribution and print-on-demand. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ingramspark platform #publish books #public library #publishing imprint


Nicola's Books Looking for New Owner

Nicola's Books in Ann Arbor, which was founded in 1991 as a Little Professor franchise, is for sale. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ann arbor


Anonymous writer behind Goldman Sachs Elevator Twitter account gets book deal

The anonymous figure behind the Twitter handle is reported to be releasing a book titled 'Straight to Hell: True Tales of Deviance and Excess in the World of Investment Banking' this October. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #anonymous writer #book deal #twitter handle #book titled #investment banking


Duke Univ. Press Announces New Platform for E-books

The new site, read.dukeupress.edu, is powered by the Folio eBooks solution, developed by Stanford University’s HighWire Press. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #duke univ


SURVEY: Is a Library Without Print Books a Library at All?

Is an all-digital library just the 21st-century update of the traditional library? Or a free database and ebook service with better branding? Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-01-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #traditional library #print books #ebook service


Comic Book Heroes Get A Gorgeous Native American Makeover

Batman, Superman, and Spider-Man look truly stunning following a traditional, Pacific Northwest makeover.We all know Batman when we see him, but he always looks a little different, depending on the artist. Whereas in the hands of Dick Sprang, Batman is a barrel-chested 1920s strong man, in the... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2014-01-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Literal: America’s Newest Bilingual and Spanish Book Publisher

Literal magazine, the well-regarded English and Spanish literature magazine literature, has expanded into bilingual and Spanish-language books by Latin American writers. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-01-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #spanish-language books


S&S Gets Court Okay to Sell Good Books Titles

The court overseeing the Chapter 7 liquidation of Good Enterprises has approved a motion allowing Simon & Schuster to continue distributing the Good Books titles. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #good enterprises


Eagle Harbor Books Debuts Handseller Software for Indies

The Handseller software is a digital platform for personalized book recommendations that allows customers to create detailed reading preference profiles. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital platform


Writers attack 'overrated' Anglo-American literature at Jaipur festival

Xiaolu Guo warns that English-language mainstream has warped a broader 'reading habit', on panel with Jhumpa Lahiri and Jonathan FranzenAmerican literature is "massively overrated", the award-winning author and film-maker Xiaolu Guo told the Jaipur literature festival – and fellow panellist and... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary world #greater diversity


Pew survey: Reading of print books increased in 2013

The Pew survey found that e-reading increased as well but that more adults read a print book in 2013 than in the previous year. 'Print remains the foundation of Americans’ reading habits,' the report stated. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-01-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #reading habits #pew survey #print book #print remains #report stated


Hilary Mantel reveals next book

Wolf Hall author Hilary Mantel turns her attention from Thomas Cromwell to Margaret Thatcher for her next book - a collection of short stories due in September. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2014-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book - #thomas cromwell #margaret thatcher


Patrick Carman's 'Half Nelson' proposal: for each Amazon purchase, buy a book at an independent bookstore

'39 Clues' author Patrick Carman says he knows Amazon is a convenient option, but suggests buying a book from an independent bookstore each time you buy from Amazon. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #independent bookstore


5 Things We Learned at Digital Book World 2014

A few key take-aways from DBW 2014: teens aren't reading for fun, ebook sales grow overseas, Wall Street discounts publishing and Amazon is like modern art. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #modern art


Brian Gennett's book designs

Designer Brian Gennett has constructed giant numbers out of book covers for each floor in Barker Block, a loft building downtown.     Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2014-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book covers


DBW 2014: Amazon, Subscription and the Book Business

In a morning session entirely devoted to Amazon.com, author Brad Stone and consultant Joe Esposito looked back over the history of Amazon's growth (and remorseless tactics) before looking ahead to its next round of competitive targets. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book business #morning session