We need literature that wrestles with the evils of slavery while confronting its complexity – especially when it’s written for childrenA book called George Washington’s Birthday Cake has caused controversy for depicting a smiling black cook, in this case chef Hercules and his daughter, preparing cake in the kitchen for the president, who held in bondage hundreds of enslaved workers. It is unclear what kind of moment we are witnessing on the cover. Is it familial love, servile obedience, or, perhaps, a smile to hide the pain of being enslaved? Improving our understanding of the lives of slaves is key to answering those uncomfortable questions. The rationale which the illustrator, Vanessa Brantley-Newton, gave for the “happy slaves” imagery was that these enslaved folk, identified as “servants”, were proud and felt privileged to serve a man of such a great “stature”. In her plea for a middle ground, the author, Ramin Ganeshram, argued that not every enslaved person was in the middle of hell every single second, and therefore, smiling isn’t an unreasonable thing to suggest. I know Ganeshram, as do many in the black culinary scene. I have not dialogued with her about the book, nor have I had the opportunity to read it. Both the author and illustrator, are of color. On the surface, they are right on both counts. But why are we still uncomfortable, opposed and furious – even after the book has been pulled? Related: Scholastic pulls George Washington book over slave cake... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2016-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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After winning the highest-ever valuation on BBCTV’s Dragon’s Den, The Little Girl (or Boy) Who Lost Her (or His) Name – designed for individual children – sells 500,000 copiesDavid Cadji-Newby used to get an email alert every time a copy of his personalised picture book was bought from his... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-04-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A panel at the London Book Fair discussed the path a collection of Mexican author Juan Villoro’s essays took to be translated from Spanish to English. The post One Book’s Translation Journey From Spanish to English appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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167 titles have been submitted in for this year’s selection process of the German Book Prize 2015. The jury will announce the shortlist in August 2015. The post German Book Prize 2015: Let The Reading Begin! appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The London Book Fair has evolved to reflect the 'new ecology' of publishing and shift in confidence, says Faber's Stephen Page. The post London Book Fair’s Evolution Reflects Publishing’s “New Ecology” appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The shift to social reading is “liable to consign the traditional publisher and many a writer to decline and defeat in the Civil War for Books”, Philip Gwyn Jones is to say today (16th April), with the reader becoming the prize. In a speech at the London Book Fair this afternoon, Gwyn Jones... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Karen Joy Fowler's We are All Completely Besides Ourselves and David Nicholls' Us are the next two books to be selected for the ITV Loose Women Book Club. The recently-launched book club called Loose Books, sees a different Loose Women panellist pick a book to read each month, which will be... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Deals revealed during the last two days of London Book Fair 2015, which concluded yesterday (16th), include an "intense auction" for a thriller by Melanie Raabe, which went to Mantle, a "stunning psychological suspense novel" by Margaret McQuaile which went to Quercus, and a debut by Goodreads... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Gay penguins, alien lovers and a cartoonist growing up on an Indian reservation are among the subjects of the books Americans are most keen to see banned from library shelves. Continue reading at Stuff
[ Stuff | 2015-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PRH's U.S. division successfully launched the program in December 2014, and received 32,000 page views and 3,600 requests for recommendations during its first month alone. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In her more than 25 years in the bookselling business in Barbados, there isn’t much that Beverly Smith-Hinkson hasn’t done. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Olive Software's SmartLayers technology claims to turn a publisher's generic prose ebooks into an easily revised and upgradeable multimedia-enriched content platform. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Radio Times magazine will host an annual festival celebrating the links between books, radio and television. The inaugural festival will take place at Hampton Court Palace from 24th–27th September. The festival aims to raise awareness of the fact that many TV and radio programmes are based on... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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This week, Toni Morrison's new novel, the story of Anders Breivik and the Massacre in Norway, and Montmartre at the beginning of modernism. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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We all know how certain books, read at key moments in our lives, remain memorable and influential for years afterward. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The latest report, for the six-month period ending in February, hints at the tension that has marked Apple's monitorship thus far. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In Greenlight's Book/Plate series, a multi-course dinner and cocktail service for 40 diners and drinkers is crafted with a nonfiction book or novel in mind. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Athill will publish Alive, Alive Oh! next year, it is revealed, while O’Brien has a new novel about love on the wayDiana Athill published her previous memoir, a Costa award-winning, and bestselling, reflection on ageing and death, at the age of 90. Intending it to be her final book, she called... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-04-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Association of Writing Programs and Writers held its annual conference from April 9-11, and effectively took over the city of Minneapolis for four days. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fear of Flying author’s latest book causes a stir alongside major deals for self-published authors and the first book from Blue Peter star Janet EllisMore than 40 years after Erica Jong coined the term “zipless fuck” in Fear of Flying, her feminist novel of a young woman’s quest for sex with no... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-04-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A racy novel picking up attention at the London Book Fair has officially been set as the launch title of the new adult fiction imprint at Bonnier. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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