The Guardian view on US book bans: time to fight back | Editorial

Censorship is surging thanks to an organised rightwing minority targeting books on LGBTQ and Black characters and issues“A book is a loaded gun in the house next door,” warns a character in Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury’s dystopian vision of an America where books are considered so dangerous they must be incinerated. The novel appeared 70 years ago, in the aftermath of Nazi book burnings and amid McCarthyism and Soviet ideological repression. But the urge to ban books has resurged with a vengeance, with the American Library Association (ALA) recording a doubling of censorship attempts in 2022, to 1,269 across 32 states: the highest rate for decades. Pen America, which champions freedom of expression, tallied more than 2,500 cases in the last school year.These attempts are not merely more numerous but are also broadening and deepening. The decisions of school boards and districts take place in the context of politicians grasping electoral advantage and punitive yet often vaguely worded state laws on education – such as the Florida governor, Ron DeSantis’s, Stop-Woke Act. At least 10 states have passed legislation increasing parental power over library stock, or limiting students’ access. In place of spontaneous challenges to single titles come challenges to multiple titles, organised by campaign groups such as Moms for Liberty. The ALA says that 40% of attempts last year targeted 100 books or more. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-13 17:21:33 UTC ]
News tagged with: #school year #school boards #ron desantis #multiple titles #library association

Other Publishing stories related to: 'The Guardian view on US book bans: time to fight back | Editorial'


Choc Lit gives away books on National Express

Independent publisher Choc Lit has teamed up with National Express to market its titles over the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-12-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #choc lit


Korea Named as Market Focus for London Book Fair 2014

The London Book Fair will feature Korea—a top ten, yet underserved market—as the Market Focus country of the 2014 Fair. The program will showcase business opportunities in Korea. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-12-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #market focus #top ten


New book prize finds sponsorship

The organisers of new book award the Literature Prize announce it has found a sponsor and will hand out its first accolade in 2014. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2012-12-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book award


Archie Does Art Book Collection In-House

After years of licensing the publication of its hardcover art book collections, Archie Comics is moving some hardcover production in-house and has just released its first title, The Art of Betty and Veronica. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-12-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #archie comics


Three Booksellers Look Back

For the past decade the American Booksellers Association has been warning about the need for succession plans and the graying of booksellers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-12-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #past decade


Hearst Puts a Toe Back in Trade Publishing

Ever since Hearst Corp. sold William Morrow to News Corp. in 1999, its book publishing activities have focused on partnering with different houses to publish books based on content from its magazines. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-12-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #trade publishing #hearst corp


'Girls' creator Lena Dunham's book proposal leaks online

Lena Dunham's 66-page book proposal earned her $3.5 million in her deal with Random House. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-12-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #lena dunham #random house


Should Book Editors Be Involved in Social Media Engagement?

The cry has gone out that publishers need to engage more with readers. Who is the right person for the job? Editors? Marketers? Or should it be the authors? Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-12-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book editors


Pizza Hut and W H Smith bite into book club

Restaurant chain Pizza Hut is partnering with W H Smith and marketing communications agency... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-12-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book club


James, Balding, Rankin win at National Book Awards

E L James has won the Specsavers Popular Fiction Book of the Year with her erotica smash-hit... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Booksellers wait on Supreme Court decision: Could selling a used book become illegal?

A ruling on John Wiley & Sons Inc. v. Kirtsaeng – a case expected to come before the Supreme Court early next year – could make it illegal for non-profits and businesses to resell copyrighted works produced abroad. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Oprah Winfrey selects 'The Twelve Tribes of Hattie' as the next title for her book club (+ video)

'The Twelve Tribes of Hattie,' a first novel for author Ayana Mathis, has become the latest book chosen for Oprah Winfrey's Book Club 2.0. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #oprah winfrey


EL James wins National Book Award

Erotic novelist EL James beats Kate Mosse and JoJo Moyes to win the National Book Awards popular fiction book of the year. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2012-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jojo moyes


Printed book sales rise £8m week on week

Printed book sales soared by £8m in the UK last week, as shoppers flocked to the high... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Ether for Authors: Booking the Future

Porter Anderson reports from the FutureBook conference in London, where agents are making serious moves. Also: Irelands ebooks, YA inspiration and more. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #futurebook conference


In New Book, Google's Schmidt and Cohen Tackle Digital Challenges

Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Google, and Jared Cohen, director of Google Ideas, will address the promises and pitfalls of a digitally connected world in a book titled “The New Digital Age: Reshaping the Future of People, Nations and Business,” due out on April 23 from Knopf. Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2012-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #eric schmidt #book titled #executive chairman #jared cohen #digital age


This Vintage-Looking Vending Machine Dispenses Rare Books For Just $2

Installed at the Monkey’s Paw bookstore in Toronto, the Biblio-Mat offers book lovers a little randomness for their next read. A Toronto bookstore has come up with a creative way to add value to old, discount books that otherwise may clutter its storage: an antique-seeming “book dispenser”... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2012-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Hutchinson acquires book on female body

Hutchinson has acquired a non-fiction title about the female body, winning an auction with a... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #female body #non-fiction title


Ben Horslen new Puffin editorial director

Ben Horslen has been appointed as editorial director of Puffin Fiction. Horslen is currently... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ben horslen


E-books and apps to 'unwrap'

The Kindle was not guaranteed to catch on when Amazon introduced its e-reader five years ago, but ebooks are now a routine alternative to hardcovers and paperbacks. The Kindle was not guaranteed to catch on when Amazon introduced its e-reader five years ago, but ebooks are now a routine... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |