'Wilful misreading': Lionel Shriver replies to critics in diversity row

Novelist responds to the reaction against her comments on diversity in publishing, accusing her critics of ‘malicious misinterpretation’Lionel Shriver has responded to the vituperative row that followed her recent comments about Penguin Random House’s diversity scheme, saying that it was not diversity but quotas that she was objecting to and calling out what she described as the “malicious misinterpretation” of her original essay.In a piece for the Spectator this month, Shriver objected to the publisher’s goal for its staff and authors to represent UK society by 2025. “Drunk on virtue, Penguin Random House no longer regards the company’s raison d’etre as the acquisition and dissemination of good books,” she wrote. “Rather, the organisation aims to mirror the percentages of minorities in the UK population with statistical precision.” Related: Diversity in publishing is under attack. I hear the sound of knuckles dragging | Hanif Kureishi Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2018-06-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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What to read in April: A critic’s pick of books that aren’t on the bestseller list

From the ‘The Madman’s Library’ and ‘The Best of R.A. Lafferty’ to ‘Dog-Eared’ and ‘The Cookie Chronicles’ Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-04-07 13:00:00 UTC ]
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Morris Dickstein, influential literary critic and public intellectual, dies at 81

He examined such topics as the cultural ferment of the 1960s, the artistic legacy of the Depression and the evolution of the American novel, offering a model of the ideal role of the critic in modern society. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-03-29 13:04:21 UTC ]
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Diversity, not division

Let me start this by telling you an embarrassing story about me. When I first started as an agent, I never wore my hair in its natural state. This is because, like most black people, I had been taught from a very early age that natural textured hair is seen as unruly and therefore... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-03-08 21:57:21 UTC ]
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Columbia, Howard University to Launch Black Studies Book Series, Diversity Program

Columbia University Press, in collaboration with Howard University and Columbia University, is launching a new Black studies book series, with plans to also recruit and train students for the book industry. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-03-03 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Diversity in Romance Books Still Lags

The Ripped Bodice bookstore's fifth annual state of diversity in romance survey found some progress by publishers in signing more authors of color to write novels, but more work still needs to be done. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-03-02 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Bonnier reveals inaugural Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan

Bonnier Books UK has published its inaugural Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan to boost representation and discussion across its workforce, publishing lists and the wider industry.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-24 08:37:27 UTC ]
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We Need Diverse Books is partnering with Penguin Random House to establish a Black Creatives Fund.

Some good news: today, Publishers Weekly reported that We Need Diverse Books is partnering with Penguin Random House on a series of programs to get more books by Black writers published. The Black Creatives Fund initiative involves a “Revisions Workshop”; a mentoring program; and marketing... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-02-17 18:23:38 UTC ]
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The UK’s Publishers Association Releases Its New Diversity Report

The fourth annual diversity survey of British publishing shows progress in women's leadership, slower movement in BAME employment. The post The UK’s Publishers Association Releases Its New Diversity Report appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-02-12 14:37:25 UTC ]
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Small Publishers Struggle to Build a Diverse Workforce

Interviews with mainline Christian, Catholic, and spirituality publishers found efforts to build a more inclusive staff bump into tight budgets, small staffs, lack of attrition, and high competition for talent. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-02-09 05:00:00 UTC ]
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NBCC Board Member Retracts Criticism of Award Finalist

National Book Critics Circle board member Charles Finch has retracted his public criticism of author Brandon Taylor, a finalist for this year's John Leonard Prize, after an uproar about racism, bias, and conflict of interest. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-02-04 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Here are the finalists for the 2020 National Book Critics Circle Award.

Yesterday, writer and book critic Michael Schaub announced all the finalists for the 2020 National Book Critics Circle Award, which honors the “finest books” published in English during the last year. The thirty finalists were selected across six categories—Autobiography, Biography, Criticism,... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-01-25 16:52:22 UTC ]
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HarperCollins appoints Choonara in diversity and inclusion role

HarperCollins UK has appointed Maheen Choonara to the newly created role of diversity, inclusion and belonging manager. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-10 13:02:45 UTC ]
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“When They Go Low, We Go High”: Keeping Calm in the Critical Race Memoir

IN THE DAYS FOLLOWING the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Archive of American Folk Song dispatched its field workers in 10 different regions across the United States to solicit average Americans’ opinions about the bombing and FDR’s ensuing proposal for a declaration of war. A second round... Continue reading at Los Angeles Review of Books

[ Los Angeles Review of Books | 2021-01-08 18:00:08 UTC ]
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Are Book Biz Diversity Efforts Starting to Kick In?

Publishing employees who weighed in on a new 'PW' survey are hoping new initiatives will yield results. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-12-31 05:00:00 UTC ]
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‘Kent State’ On Top of PW’s 2020 Graphic Novel Critics Poll

Released during the 50th anniversary year of the 1970 tragedy, 'Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio' (Abrams ComicArts) by veteran comics journalist Derf Backderf garnered the most votes in PW’s annual Graphic Novel Critic’s Poll. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-12-16 05:00:00 UTC ]
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All I want for Christmas is the death of lazy 'diversity' language

In light of last week’s Penguin ethnicity pay gap report, their first-ever following in the footsteps of Hachette’s 2019 iteration, it seems like the perfect moment to reconsider the publishing industry’s approach to those vague, catch-all acronyms and terms that are so often used... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-10 06:31:16 UTC ]
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Commentary: The latest publishing mega-merger might kill off small presses — and literary diversity

The planned merger of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster may be global but it's bad for books both foreign and domestic. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2020-12-04 19:25:12 UTC ]
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BA and Bookshop.org respond to bookseller criticism

The Booksellers Association and Bookshop.org have responded to criticism following the launch of the online website in the UK in November. The criticism, which is focused on how effective the website will be at supporting independent bookshops and the BA's role in facilitating the launch, came... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-04 19:10:54 UTC ]
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The Joy of Diverse Stories: One Book at a Time

Eileen Robinson and Move Books are inspiring middle graders to find joy in reading through diverse characters and exciting stories. (Sponsored) Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-11-23 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Barack Obama’s complicated media-criticism tour

As you may have noticed, Barack Obama has a book out today. It’s a memoir, titled A Promised Land, that runs to more than seven-hundred pages and is still only a first volume—covering the period from Obama’s childhood to the raid, in 2011, that killed Osama bin Laden. Originally, Obama planned... Continue reading at Columbia Journalism Review

[ Columbia Journalism Review | 2020-11-17 13:29:32 UTC ]
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