The literary life of Michiko Kakutani: the book critic's best feuds and reviews

The New York Times writer is stepping down from her role, leaving behind a remarkable career characterized by razor-sharp reviews and intra-literary rowsMichiko Kakutani, the New York Times’ revered chief book critic, announced she was stepping down from her post on Thursday after 38 years, marking the end of a career that inspired both admiration and fear in the hearts of the writers whose books she reviewed.Kakutani was America’s most powerful literary critic, someone who, with the stroke of a pen, wielded immense influence over the careers of both budding and established novelists. Over the course of her tenure at the Times, Kakutani was remarkably guarded, making few appearances in public and allowing her reviews to speak for themselves. In honor of a critic so widely celebrated – the scribe behind pieces that launched the careers of David Foster-Wallace, George Saunders and Zadie Smith and angered quite a few others – here are her best feuds and reviews, broken down. Related: In defense of Jonathan Franzen – the internet's collective punching bag “Writing in prose that is at once visceral and lapidary, Mr Franzen shows us how his characters strive to navigate a world of technological gadgetry and ever-shifting mores, how they struggle to balance the equation between their expectations of life and dull reality, their political ideals and mercenary personal urges. He proves himself as adept at adolescent comedy (what happens to Joey after he accidentally swallows his... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2017-07-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Download: Friday’s Frankfurt Book Fair 2015 Show Daily

Publishing Perspectives spoke with global CEOs, small startups and publishers from around the world to get the latest buzz from the Frankfurt Book Fair. The post Download: Friday’s Frankfurt Book Fair 2015 Show Daily appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Indonesian Startup Gives Books a New Dimension

AR&Co, an Indonesian startup that specialized in augmented reality, presented new possibilities for storytelling at the Frankfurt Book Fair. The post Indonesian Startup Gives Books a New Dimension appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Appeals Court Affirms Google Book Search is Fair Use

The U.S Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has rejected the Authors Guild's appeal and affirmed that Google’s library book scanning project is protected by fair use. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HarperCollins Positive About New Frankfurt Book Fair Layout

The new home for English-language publishers in Hall 6 at the Frankfurt Book Fair is a positive change, says Charlie Redmayne of HarperCollins. The post HarperCollins Positive About New Frankfurt Book Fair Layout appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google's Book Scanning is Fair Use, Appeals Court Rules

An appeals court rejected the claims of the Authors Guild that Google's massive book scanning project is copyright infringement. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PW Picks: Books of the Week, October 19, 2015

This week: a bright and colorful atlas of classic literature, and the latest from Michel Houellebecq and Orhan Pamuk. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Toronto Star' Doubles Its Books Pages

The newspaper will increase its weekly print books coverage from two to four pages and run extended bestseller lists. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Phil Collins and Ai Weiwei make waves at Frankfurt book fair

Memoirs by the musician and the artist were among the forthcoming books causing excitement at the industry’s international trade eventA memoir from Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei, a “devastating” critique of austerity from former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis and a “warts and... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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US appeals court rules Google's book-scanning project is legal

Google's goal of scanning millions of out-of-print books for online access has drawn the ire of authors and publishers for years. Today, a US appeals court ruled that the practice is in fact legal. Claims of infringement brought by the Authors Guil... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2015-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google's book scanning project is fair use, appeals court rules

Google's book scanning project constitutes fair use under U.S. copyright law, an appeals court confirmed Friday, ending a ten-year legal fight by the Authors Guild and other writers' groups to have it stopped. Google began working with libraries in 2004 to digitize their book collections,... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2015-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BookTech Showcase: where book and tech come together

A Scottish startup using binaural recording, 3D audio software and immersive sound design to redefine the audiobook. A team of seasoned digital entrepreneurs from Cologne on a mission to revolutionise storytelling for mobile. A Manchester-based app employing behavioural science and gaming... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Life-Changing Magic of Translations

The buzz at the Frankfurt Book Fair this year is that more translations are finding their way into English language markets through indie publishers. The post The Life-Changing Magic of Translations appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Deals: Week of October 19, 2015

Agent Andrew Blauner sells a Beatles anthology he is editing to Blue Rider, the Hawker Fare cookbook goes to Ecco, Aladdin buys two more Barbara Dee middle-grade novels, and more in this week's notable book deals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Download: Thursday’s Frankfurt Book Fair 2015 Show Daily

From CEO talks to discussions about translation, licensing and education of the future, the first official day of the Frankfurt Book Fair 2015 was buzzing. The post Download: Thursday’s Frankfurt Book Fair 2015 Show Daily appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Frankfurt Book Fair 2015: Another Round of Big Deals

With the Frankfurt Book Fair now well underway, and still no big book in sight, there was another dizzying round of deal-making that has left fair-goers tracking an ever-growing list of books gaining buzz. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ted Hughes book incites war of words

An unauthorised biography of Ted Hughes is attacked by the English poet's widow just days after being shortlisted for a prestigious literary prize. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2015-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Lagercrantz to write two more Millennium books

David Lagercrantz has been contracted to write two more novels in the late Stieg Larsson's Millennium series. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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World Book Day launches 2016 Patterson school library award

The World Book Day Award 2016 (WoBoD), funded by James Patterson, is offering school libraries the chance to win up to £10,000 of new books. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Great books that publishers rejected – quiz

Man Booker winner Marlon James says he was turned down 78 times before getting published, and his long search for recognition is not unique. Find out how much you know about the history of literary rebuffs with our quiz on the great rejected books1. Whose novel was rejected as “Overwhelmingly... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Who won the 2015 Man Booker Prize and finalists for National Book Awards

A Jamaican-born writer took the Man Booker Prize for the first time, while some authors are in the running for the National Book Award in America. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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