News & Notes is a weekly Saturday post featuring book- and publishing-related news, links to interesting articles and opinion pieces, and other cool stuff
Book News
- Trump Renews Bid to Eliminate Library Funding, NEA, and NEH (Publishers Weekly) The budget put forward by the White House this week calls for large increases in military and infrastructure spending and funding for the border wall, while it would eliminate federal funding for libraries, public broadcasting, and the arts and humanities, which would also impact museums. (Publishers Weekly)
- Golden Man Booker prize launched to find the best ever winner (The Guardian) The one-time prize will pit all 51 Man Booker Prize winners against each other, with judges narrowing the choices to one per decade, and the public voting between those final five.
- Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations, PRH Drops An Apologetic James Dashner. (Publishers Weekly) This comes on the heels of two authors being removed from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI); one of those authors is contesting the allegations. Dashner, on the other hand, appears to acknowledge that his behavior may have been inappropriate and hurtful even if (reading between the lines) that was not his intention; he seems willing to become more aware. The Guardian carried more of Dashner’s apologetic statement here.
- Carnegie and Kate Greenaway medals reveal more diverse longlist after backlash. (The Guardian) Last years’ longlists for the two best-known British prizes for children’s books contained not a single author or illustrator of color. This year, the Carnegie longlist (for writers) looks more diverse… but the Greenaway list (for illustrators) is still all-white.
- A reimagined BookExpo will put more focus on booksellers (Publishers Weekly)
For Writers & Bloggers
- Greg at Book Haven asks “Do You Review Right Away?” (Or more precisely, do you post your reviews right away?)
Awesome Lists
- The Best Things Found Between the Pages of Old Books (Atlas Obscura)
- SciFi/Fantasy with Disabilities Masterlist — Kristen at Metaphors & Moonlight is compiling a masterlist of SFF featuring characters with physical disabilities or chronic illness. It’s impressively long already, and there’s a form to submit titles if they aren’t already on the list. It’s heavy on the YA, so if you happen to know of any adult SF/F books that fit the criteria, please add them!
- 15 SF/F Books That Don’t Contain Sexual Violence Against Women (Book Riot) Whether or not that’s a sub-genre you’ve been looking for, this list includes some really terrific books — and a bunch that are going on my to-read list, if they’re not already there.
- 20 Kid-Approved Books for Advanced Second and Third Grade Readers (Brightly)
- 5 Books to Read After You’ve Seen Black Panther (Off the Shelf)
Bookish Quote
That’s it for this week!
Angela
Ugh, all this budget garbage makes me sad. Obviously, we need to make sure our defense is well-funded, but I hate that they think it’s ok to just take money away from things like libraries and museums.
Lark_Bookwyrm
Especially since that funding is such a tiny fraction of the overall budget. Not even one percent.
Kari @ Kari Reads and Writes
I knew about a couple of these stories, but got to read them in more detail here. Too bad about the budget cuts but I don’t think it will go through– that would mean more people agreeing with a crazy idea!
I read about James Dashner, and also heard about the “alleged” issues with Jay Asher of 13 Reasons Why. How sad for this to happen in such a feel-good business such as book selling/publishing (though everyone is innocent until proven guilty)…
I applaud Kristen Burns for making a diversity list but hope it is expanded to include more genres
Many good links! Thanks, Lark!
Kari @ Kari Reads and Writes recently posted…A Week of Bookish Days- 2/17/18
Nicole
I can’t even with the cuts to anything related to education. I just can’t.
Thank you for the no-sexual-violence links! I’ve read some of them (just finished and loved To Say Nothing of the Dog, for instance) but have added others to my TBR as a result.
Nicole recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday ~ Goodreads Declutter #2
Lark_Bookwyrm
I know… I’m appalled at the cuts to education and related programs.
I added a few of those books to my TBR list, too‐including the Connie Willis book. Good to know you enjoyed it!