The finalists in the 2007 awards from the Midwest Independent Publishers Association are in.
Category Archives: Bookselling
Responsible Bookselling or Promotion?
What would you do with a press release like this:
In Persecution, Privilege & Power, Green has collected the sharpest commentaries and analyses from 30 different writers as they critically examine the role that Zionism plays in shaping U.S. policies abroad as well as cultural transformations at home. This riveting volume provides a broad and exhilarating inspection of Zionist machinations as well as the entrenched taboos and covert alliances that sustain them. . . . Persecution, Privilege & Power unearths the unchecked malfeasance within the political wing of organized Jewry, specifically examining that international lobby’s political excesses from a multiplicity of perspectives.
Yuval Levin believes the publicity manager of Booksurge, a subsidiary of Amazon.com, should be more responsible with the books it promotes. “You have to wonder if anyone at Amazon realizes they are now the publishers of conspiracy theories about the ‘Zionist machinations’ of ‘organized Jewry,’ and that BookSurge is actively promoting the book in their name,” he states.
Tags: Booksurge, Amazon.com, books, conspiracy, publicity
Closed
A 169-year-old bookstore in Halifax, Canada’s oldest, has closed.
Book Industry News
The publisher of Wired magazine is taking up the publishing role for The Atlantic magazine. Jay Lauf is moving from great success at Wired to “a smaller, less prosperous” magazine.
Scott Powers reports: “Borders books and Disney Publishing Worldwide are looking for a new fairy character — and the child who creates the fairy can win a stay in the exclusive Cinderella Suite in Walt Disney World’s Cinderella’s Castle.” Have you seen photos of that suite?! Wow. But who am I to talk? I’m sure you’ve stayed in nicer places.
Britain’s Orwell Prize for political writing has released its shortlist. Apparently, the judges are debating the question “Has the Left Stopped Thinking?”
Tags: publishers, booksellers, Disney, Disney Fairies, book awards,
Quirky Charms
“Quirky charms” is one way to describe books with weird titles, like “Are Women Human? And Other International Dialogues” and “Cheese Problems Solved.” Of course, weird is in the ear of the reader. I mean if you want a straight-talking book on women’s relationships with men, would you pick up something called “Straight Talk for Women on Men” over a bold book like “If You Want Closure in Your Relationship, Start With Your Legs?” No contest, don’t you think? The follow up to the second book is “How to Duck a Suckah: A Guide to Living a Drama-Free Life,” both written by a bodyguard and former pimp.
I’m going to think about something else now.
Survey of Unique Bookstores
The AP has a brief survey tour of unique bookstores in the United States, places like Powell’s, City Lights Books, The Stand, and Tattered Cover. (by way of the Wordsmith)
On the Eighth Day
Touchstone’s Mere Comments praises Eighth Day Books, saying they have a great selection and an enjoyable catalog.
Holiday Book Sale
The Oxford University Press is having a Christmas sale. They got some Beowulf translations, a Jane Austin illustrated collection, anthologies, you know–the usual.
In other news, let me point out this discipleship series I stumbled across. You Matter More Than You Think, by Leslie Parrott, is a video-based studies series for women which may scratch where you itch.
Where Are the Alternatives on Amazon.com?
Outsiders are calling on Amazon.com (which has a nice, new design) to make a category for alternative literature. You can see the categories on the side of their Literature & Fiction section now. What do you think? Do you care about Indie Lit? Have you read anything good there?
New Seminary Web-bookstore
Westminster Seminary has a new site for its online store, reports a source close to the store. Good work.