Last week we reported on the great literature-destroying powers of bloggers and amateur reviewers (according to Peter Stothard, lead judge for the Man Booker Prize). There were a couple of interesting responses to that article this week: Vikki Wakefield, an Aussie author we covered in a post last week, argues very reasonably that “Literary reviewers and book bloggers can co-exist” without the world coming to an end, and Robert McCrum argues that “professional” reviews are, in fact, better over at The Guardian.
Interestingly, both of these writers acknowledge that the world of professional reviewing has excluded a large portion of literature. I guess the proponents of these professional reviews are happy to let 90% of published works (the 90% most widely read by the public, I might add) be ignored by critics? Are critics supposed to be “above” reviewing these books? I guess we here at The Readventurer will have to comfort ourselves with the piles of young adult, fantasy, sci-fi, and mystery novels they’ve left behind. Darn.
And speaking of young adult books that have been largely ignored by critics but praised by book-loving readers, fans of Tammara Webber’s Easy can rejoice that the self-published novel has been picked up by two of Penguin’s imprints and will be published for both adults and young adults.
Last week, we also linked to a story about book festivals and how awkward it can be sometimes for authors. But does it get any more awkward than this story, shared last week by Seanan McGuire?
“Last night, I was asked—in so many words—when either Toby or one of the Price girls was finally going to be raped.”
Seriously, awkward doesn’t even cover that. I think “disturbing” or “hideously offensive” might be better words. Seanan McGuire’s post, titled “Things I Will Not Do to My Characters. Ever” is fantastic and really worth reading (linked twice because it’s so awesome).
One of my co-bloggers alerted me to this article, which just about made me choke: “Fascinating Photos of Famous Literary Characters in Real Life.” Seriously – open the page, scroll down to the “inspiration” for Anne Shirley and just take that in for a second. It’s probably better if you’re not eating crackers at the time.
And lastly – the U.S. cover for Quintana of Charyn was revealed this week. Here are the two covers side by side:
Interestingly, both of these writers acknowledge that the world of professional reviewing has excluded a large portion of literature. I guess the proponents of these professional reviews are happy to let 90% of published works (the 90% most widely read by the public, I might add) be ignored by critics? Are critics supposed to be “above” reviewing these books? I guess we here at The Readventurer will have to comfort ourselves with the piles of young adult, fantasy, sci-fi, and mystery novels they’ve left behind. Darn.
And speaking of young adult books that have been largely ignored by critics but praised by book-loving readers, fans of Tammara Webber’s Easy can rejoice that the self-published novel has been picked up by two of Penguin’s imprints and will be published for both adults and young adults.
Last week, we also linked to a story about book festivals and how awkward it can be sometimes for authors. But does it get any more awkward than this story, shared last week by Seanan McGuire?
“Last night, I was asked—in so many words—when either Toby or one of the Price girls was finally going to be raped.”
Seriously, awkward doesn’t even cover that. I think “disturbing” or “hideously offensive” might be better words. Seanan McGuire’s post, titled “Things I Will Not Do to My Characters. Ever” is fantastic and really worth reading (linked twice because it’s so awesome).
One of my co-bloggers alerted me to this article, which just about made me choke: “Fascinating Photos of Famous Literary Characters in Real Life.” Seriously – open the page, scroll down to the “inspiration” for Anne Shirley and just take that in for a second. It’s probably better if you’re not eating crackers at the time.
And lastly – the U.S. cover for Quintana of Charyn was revealed this week. Here are the two covers side by side:
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Which do you like better? I’m personally very happy that I will have the Australian versions of these books – with Froi’s sexy shoulders and Quintana’s much more fierce-looking face – at my house.
