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

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Reese Witherspoon to star in film of Cheryl Strayed's book 'Wild'

The film version of Cheryl Strayed's memoir "Wild" is picking up steam: Reese Witherspoon has signed on to portray the author.The film version of Cheryl Strayed's memoir "Wild" is picking up steam: Reese Witherspoon has signed on to portray the author. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-07-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Interactive-Book Toolmaker Inkling Raises $16M

Inkling, which helps publishers make interactive books for the Web and iOS, has raised $16 million in Series C funding led by Sequoia Capital, just about exactly two years after it raised slightly more than that -- $17 million -- in Series B funding from the same investors. The San Francisco... Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2013-07-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Indonesia as Frankfurt Book Fair Guest of Honor in 2015

Indonesia, home to the world's largest Muslim community and 1,000 active book publishers, will be the Guest of Honor country at the 2015 Frankfurt Book Fair. Indonesia's most well-known authors include Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Ayu Utami, and Andrea Hirata. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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This Gender-Inclusive Picture Book Teaches Kids Where Babies Come From

A new book provides a more comprehensive look at reproduction. Imagine a picture book that explains where babies come from--but never references gender. What Makes a Baby is described as "a book for every kind of family and for every kind of kid," which means it doesn’t matter if parents are... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-07-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Zimmerman Jury Member’s Book Deal Killed by Twitter

Upset by the 'not guilty' verdict in George Zimmerman's murder trial, one Twitter user started the online campaign that ended Martin Literary Agency's representation of Juror B37, who announced plans to write a book about the trial. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #murder trial #george zimmerman #online campaign #juror b37 #announced plans


George Zimmerman juror dropped by literary agent, won't write book

On Monday it was announced that one juror who had found George Zimmerman not guilty had landed literary agent, Sharlene Martin. By 10 p.m., Martin announced she was dropping Juror B37 as a client.Maybe a book by a juror in the Trayvon Martin murder trial isn't such a good idea after all. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-07-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Samsung is taking pre-orders on its Ativ Book 9 Lite

Samsung announced this morning that it is taking pre-orders on its Ativ Book 9 Lite notebook PC, which was first announced on June 20. One of the most interesting features of the new notebook is the custom AMD CPU, which Samsung is describing as a “white-label” quad core. “It’s something we... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2013-07-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Harlem Book Fair kicks off

FRIDAY, JULY 19, AND SATURDAY, JULY 20 The 15th annual HARLEM BOOK FAIR is an outdoor literary extravaganza dedicated to black authors and their readers. The fair is at West 135th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard and features some 250 booths and exhibitions. The event, hosted by the New York... Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2013-07-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Paula Deen to star in comic book

Bluewater President Darren Davis states that a 'Female Force’ comic book featuring Deen will be published this October despite recent controversy over alleged racial slurs made by Deen.  Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-07-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Boy and a Bear wins debut book award

Author Dave Shelton and editor David Fickling win this year's Branford Boase Award, with Shelton's illustrated tale A Boy and a Bear in a Boat. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2013-07-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Country appoints Silag

Penguin US author community Book Country has appointed Lucy Silag as community & engagement... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-07-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Paula Deen Comic Book to Be Released

The media company that brought you comic books starring Martha Stewart and Hillary Clinton have announced they will release a comic book about embattled chef Paula Deen, after being urged by Deen fans.     Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2013-07-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon creates a new comic books imprint

The imprint, titled Jet City Comics, released its first title, a work named 'Symposium #1," on July 9. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-07-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Recommender: Comic Book Aficionado J.J. McCorvey Shares A Stunning Testament To Grandparents

The three best things Fast Company's assistant editor found on the Internet this week. Name: J.J. McCorveyRole at Fast Company: Assistant Editor, printTwitter: @jmccorveyTitillating fact: J.J. has a massive comic book collection–-thousands--of mostly Marvel Comics. “Pshh, plenty of folks love... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-07-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Groundbreaking' JFK book promised from L, B

Little, Brown is to publish a "groundbreaking" account of events surrounding the death... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Federal Court Finds Apple Guilty of E-Book Price Fixing

A federal judge today ruled that Apple is guilty of violating antitrust law by conspiring with major publishers to raise ebook prices.     Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2013-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple Loses E-Book Price Lawsuit, Faces Damages

A judge has just ruled that Apple is guilty of conspiring to raise ebook prices. The federal antitrust suit against Apple over ebook pricing has come to a conclusion: The judge has decided that Apple conspired with five major book publishers to artificially push prices up. Apple denied the... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Israel Promises Fireworks at Guadalajara International Book Fair

As the guest of honor at this year’s Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL), Israel will bring 36 writers, 10 publishing houses, artists, musicians and more. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Judge Finds Apple Guilty of E-Book Conspiracy

A federal judge ruled today that Apple Inc. conspired to raise prices on ebooks, ordering a trial to decide what damages that the tech giant should pay.In a 159-page decision, U.S. District Court Judge Denise Cote ruled that Apple conspired with a group of five publishers, starting in 2009, to... Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2013-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple E-Books Ruling Won't Do Much for Consumers

"I wouldn't expect to see a dramatic effect on consumer prices as a result of this ruling." Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2013-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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