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:
And some other exciting things:
Fans of Graffiti Moon will be very excited about this tweet:
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:
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.
