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 National Book Critics Circle recently surveyed reviewers about whether ethics guidelines are necessary for the industry. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Expo America, BEA, used to be the place to go to get your hands dirty with printer's ink--all the books were hot off the presses. Now the annual industry gathering at New York City's Javitz Center has been increasingly invaded by geeks. I'm one of these geeks, despite the fact that I've... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2013-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A few years ago, publishers were looking at what was happening to the music industry and saw digital in an apocalyptic light--now they’re racing to join the digital content fray. “There are still challenges and the margins are still smaller on the digital side, but publishers are figuring out... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2013-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The opening keynote of BookExpo America suggests the top concerns facing the US book market in 2013 remain much the same: ebooks, self-publishing, and how to win readers. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) has launched a campaign to encourage literary and book... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Former People by Douglas Smith, published by Macmillan, has won the inaugural £5,000... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Stuff is teaming up with the NZ Post Children Books Awards in an initiative to promote the importance of books and reading, and to inspire New Zealand's future writers and illustrators. Continue reading at Stuff
[ Stuff | 2013-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bird Street Books has agreed with Ingram to manage the sales and distribution of their print, ebook, and audiobook titles. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The new title for the third instalment in the Bridget Jones Diary book series has been revealed. Continue reading at BBC News
[ BBC News | 2013-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Lea Michele has appeared in several Broadway productions and stars on the Fox musical series 'Glee.' Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-05-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Massachusetts-based publisher Barefoot Books had previously cut ties with Barnes & Noble and Borders. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-05-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A rare first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone with annotations and drawings by JK Rowling sells for a record £150,000. Continue reading at BBC News
[ BBC News | 2013-05-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Pearson PLC's book publishing business, Penguin Group, has agreed to pay $75 million to settle a dispute in the U.S. over the way it priced electronic books, drawing to a close an investigation into the publishing industry's ebook pricing tactics. Continue reading at AllThingsD
[ AllThingsD | 2013-05-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How can publishers optimize their social media outreach? HuffPo's Andrew Losowsky chats with Ed Nawotka on Twitter about how book marketers can maximize social media networks and influencers. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-05-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A bookseller who turns unwanted books from charity shops into miniature sculpted works of art, opens a British Academy exhibition. Continue reading at BBC News
[ BBC News | 2013-05-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Total book industry sales fell to $27.12 billion in 2012, down by just under 1% from the prior year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-05-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Submissions are now being accepted for the Wellcome Trust Book Prize, which is to be re-launched... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Orwell Book Prize for political writing is won by AT Williams for his book on Baha Mousa, while Marie Colvin is honoured with a posthumous award. Continue reading at BBC News
[ BBC News | 2013-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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By negotiating for an agency pricing model with publishers, Apple says, it was simply seeking to enter a new market and offer competitive prices. Continue reading at AllThingsD
[ AllThingsD | 2013-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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"Heck, Amazon is selling these books at $9.99, and who knows maybe they are right and we will fail even at $12.99." Continue reading at AllThingsD
[ AllThingsD | 2013-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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