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Odds & Ends On the Web: October 20th Edition

10/20/2012

10 Comments

 
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The top 25 reviewers over at Goodreads got a bit of press this week, as Forbes magazine posted an article about the diminishing importance of traditional book reviewing and marketing strategies and the growth of social media, citing Goodreads as an example.  If Goodreads can survive its own “improvements” then we tend to agree.  And we’re quite partial to #6 on that list.

Of course, it seems that the above article couldn’t be published without its obligatory counterpart – an outcry for the death of publishing at the hands of social media/amateur reviewers/self-publishing/ebooks or whoever happens to be the target this week.  This time, an article over at Pub Crawl which initially seems to downplay the exaggerated “death of the industry!!!” claims then goes on to place at least some of the blame squarely on the shoulders of readers and consumers – for not valuing books and book stores enough.  Which is interesting, because this time I (Catie) actually agree with it a bit.  Do I think that it’s important to support indie stores and to not engage in piracy?  Yes.  But it’s undeniable that the indie stores are just not able to keep up with the selection, pricing, and convenience of major online retailers.  However, I think that indie book stores do have a huge advantage because (and yes, this is obvious) they are actual, physical locations.  When I go to a lecture, book club, signing, or other book-related event, I don’t go to Amazon.  I go to my local book store or library.  And I think that’s good news.

More good news for libraries: this week in an article posted by Library Journal, Random House confirmed its stance that libraries own the ebooks purchased from Random House and are not just licensing them for use.  Which is huge, since other major publishers have announced that they will be placing lending “caps” on their licensed ebooks for libraries.  Hopefully other publishers will follow Random House’s example.

The American Library Association (ALA) released its top ten winners for teens this week, to which we collectively say: her?  What did you all think about this list?  We were a bit…underwhelmed.

There were a ton of great interviews posted this week with some of our favorite authors:
  • John Green was interviewed over at Voya
  • Sara Zarr was interviewed by Cat Clarke for The Guardian
  • Melina Marchetta and John Marsden are part of a panel interviewed about young adult fiction over at First Tuesday Book Club

And some other exciting things:
  • Neil Gaiman, Neal Shusterman, Lemony Snicket, and others will be reading Coraline aloud one chapter at a time in celebration of its tenth anniversary
  • John Scalzi reviews The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led The Revels There for Omnivoracious
  • Random House plans an open house at their New York headquarters for November 2nd, where for $25 readers and come and meet with publishing professionals and authors.  (Anyone going to this?  I am seriously considering it!)

Fans of Graffiti Moon will be very excited about this tweet:

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And finally, we are saddened to report on yet another crime perpetrated against books in pursuit of home décor.  At least this one isn’t ripping out the pages, but still….  Based on the directions, it doesn’t even appear that she put any thought into which books or which passages would be forever nailed above her sleeping head!!  As a bibliophile, I gasp in dismay.
10 Comments
Tatiana (The Readventurer) link
10/20/2012 01:41:11 am

Honestly, I fail to understand these DIY projects involving books, when books are completely damaged. Did she do it out of love for books? How does it prove her love if all pages are nailed to the wall and some books she can't even read because they are in foreign languages? What's the point?

Reply
Catie (The Readventurer) link
10/20/2012 09:19:33 am

These projects appear to be only for people who enjoy looking at books but not actually reading them. You know, I think I'd be okay with the idea if they chose to go after abridged books or readers digest condensed versions...those deserve to be nailed to the wall. ;)

Reply
Maja
10/20/2012 04:20:15 am

I spend very little time on Twitter, but I caught Cath Crowley's tweet and was thrilled! I think we all want more Ed and Lucy. And Poet, but that'll never happen.
Like Tatiana, I don't understand the person who would do that to books. I get nervous when someone breaks the spine- this is too much for me. I'll go ahead and say (write) what everyone else is thinking: someone shoud nail HER to that wall.

Reply
Catie (The Readventurer) link
10/20/2012 09:23:06 am

More Poet could happen!! I am ever hopeful about it. If Ed can come back, so can Poet.

Hahahahahaha, yes indeed. There is no excuse for destroying books in the name of home decor. I love the person in the comments who warns her about the imminent wrath of the bibliophiles. >:-|

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Maggie, Young Adult Anonymous link
10/20/2012 06:35:05 am

Tatiana was the first person I followed on goodreads. So glad to see her on the list.

Seriousy, her? Of the YALSA list, I only liked Scorpio Races and Where She Went.

Bahahaha. "Matteress height." What a moron. Also, as much as I love old books, they are musty as hell. Who wants to breathe that in all night long? "Matteress."

Reply
Catie (The Readventurer) link
10/20/2012 09:25:45 am

I haven't read Scorpio Races, but I do understand Where She Went (even though it wasn't a huge favorite of mine). I guess the YALSA list is more about what's super popular and commercial? What teenagers are checking out the most? I don't know, but a lot of the picks on that list really surprised me.

So many of my favorite reviewers are on that top 25. It was cool to see them get some recognition!

Reply
Rachel link
10/20/2012 08:41:14 am

I rarely go on Twitter so thanks for featuring Cath Crowley's tweet. I want more Ed and Lucy!

Congrats Tatiana! That's pretty amazing! Maja's on there too!

Reply
Catie (The Readventurer) link
10/20/2012 09:34:37 am

Me too! I'm excited to see what The Howling Boy is all about.

Yeah, I was so excited for Maja and Emily and Karen and Stephanie and Kat and everyone on there.

Reply
Keertana link
10/20/2012 10:54:11 am

Catie, you made my day with this post. Ed and Lucy? YES! I am SO excited now! I rarely ever go on Twitter, so I'm thrilled Crowley is including them in her next novel. I. Can't. Wait. ;)

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Bonnie link
10/21/2012 11:41:11 am

Ah! That's so exciting about Howling Boy!!!
And that home improvement project makes me cringe. If she was any kind of book lover she would never do anything like that. It seems so pointless and a waste, especially when the pages she selects are pretty much at random. Why?! Tsk tsk... she should be ashamed of herself.

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