Zadie Smith on Male Critics, Appropriation, and What Interests Her Novelistically About Trump

In an interview in 2000, Zadie Smith told the Guardian about the pressure she felt after the astonishing success of her debut novel, White Teeth. “I was expected to be some expert on multicultural affairs, as if multiculturalism is a genre of fiction or something,” she said. “Whereas it’s just a fact of life—like there are people of different races on the planet.” Whether it’s indeed a fact of life or, we now fear, a feature of American life that is at risk of erasure, multiculturalism in all its complexity is at the center of Smith’s books. From White Teeth to NW, which was published in 2012, Smith’s characters inhabit mixed urban communities, often in London. Her latest novel, Swing Time, is out this week; set in England and West Africa, the story concerns the friendship of two young girls who meet in a dance class (“our shade of brown was exactly the same”) and traces the paths of their lives over a quarter-century. Continue reading at 'Slate'

[ Slate | 2016-11-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #american life #white teeth #swing time #west africa #young girls

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So critics slayed Suicide Squad. But if you love it, then defend it

OPINION: Any time I publish a harsh pan of a movie, as I did with Suicide Squad and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, folks pop up on Twitter and Facebook and in the comments on the piece itself to insist that they'll see the movie anyway, and that audiences will make up their own minds,... Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2016-08-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Death of Wiley's Steve Smith

Steve Smith, the former president and c.e.o. of John Wiley, has died at the age of 61. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #john wiley #steve smith


Goodreads reviews show how gender informs book criticism

Analysis of book reviews on Goodreads has revealed some intriguing patterns concerning authorship and the popularity of reviews among peers, reports Robert Blincoe. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book reviews


Obituary: Former Wiley CEO, Steve Smith

Smith, the former president and CEO of John Wiley and Sons, died on July 10 following a long illness. He was 61. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-07-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #steve smith #john wiley #long illness


'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child': What do critics love about it?

Reviews for the upcoming 'Potter' stage play are so far very positive. What about the show has so impressed reviewers? Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2016-07-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harry potter #cursed child #stage play


Picture books and porn: mini-boom in satirical titles inspired by Donald Trump

A wave of illustrated books, about what one of the authors described as ‘a golden, racist egg’ for lampooners, have been inspired by his campaignEarlier this summer, Californians Brad and Amy Herzog came up with an idea for what they’re calling “a picture book for adults about a man-child”: D Is... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-07-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #picture books #silver spoon


Donald Trump, beware – when the ghostwriter gives you up

What do the US presidential candidate, Victoria Beckham, Zoella, Julian Assange and Tony Blair have in common? Issues with their ‘silent’ partnersOne of the first lessons of politics is never annoy your ghostwriter. Donald Trump is the latest to learn this, and is now sending a “cease and... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-07-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #presidential candidate #victoria beckham #julian assange #tony blair


Trump wasn't authorised to use Queen's We Are the Champions

Queen says they don't want Donald Trump using their music and the classic rock band's publishing company says Trump has not asked for permission to use the group's songs. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2016-07-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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WH Smith Travel to pass on VAT savings

WH Smith Travel will now pass on tax savings to non-EU bound customers shopping in its airport branches. The "new approach" follows an investigation that revealed it had been pocketing millions of VAT paid on duty free purchases. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Trends in Man Booker Winners: Male and Middle-Aged in Third Person

Rated at a suitable reading-difficulty level in the seventh year of school, Man Booker Prize winning titles are seen in an interactive filtering grid to have authors who are an average age of 49. The post Trends in Man Booker Winners: Male and Middle-Aged in Third Person appeared first on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-07-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post trends #seventh year #average age


Controversial Africa memoir draws fire for Louise Linton, actress, self-published author and Trump dining companion

Until last week, Louise Linton was a little-known Scottish actress living in California, whose most prominent roles were guest spots in the television shows "CSI: NY" and "Cold Case" and the movies "Intruder" and "Cabin Fever." Now, thanks to a self-published memoir she wrote about her... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-07-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #self-published author #prominent roles #television shows #cabin fever #self-published memoir


WH Smith appoints McKechnie as travel director

Retailer WH Smith has appointed Gavin McKechnie as the international operations director of its travel division. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-06-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #travel division


Ali Smith and Max Porter join trade in making cultural case for Remain

Withdrawal from the EU would lead to "suffering" in the creative industries, according to an open letter signed by 220 thought-leaders in the literary world, including 2015 Baileys winner Ali Smith and Granta editor Max Porter, recent winner of the International Dylan Thomas Prize. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-06-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ali smith #creative industries #recent winner


Refugee Tales features stories from Smith and Cleave

Tales by Ali Smith and Chris Cleave are to contribute to a short story collection highlighting the “frighteningly common” experience of Europe’s refugees. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ali smith #chris cleave


Critics praise 'epic' Cursed Child first preview

Theatre critics have responded enthusiastically to the first part of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which previewed at London’s Palace theatre last night (7th June). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-06-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #cursed child #harry potter #palace theatre


CI4: Bestselling Novelist Julia Alvarez Turns Poet

Alvarez discusses how writing poetry helped her through a period of intense grief in her life. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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WH Smith doubles donations for Readcycle 2016

Marie Curie and WH Smith have partnered to launch their second Big Readcycle to help support people living with a terminal illness. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #marie curie #wh smith #terminal illness


Obituary: Ann LaFarge, Editor and Novelist

Ann B. LaFarge, a former editor for Dutton, Ballantine, Zebra, and Kensington, died at home on May 27. She was 83. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Stephen King among writers opposing Donald Trump

Stephen King is one of hundreds of resident authors in the US to have signed an open letter, addressed to "the American People", expressing their opposition to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-05-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #stephen king #open letter #american people