Book News Round-Up

Welcome to another weekend and another edition of the Librarian Next Door’s book news round-up.

• Let’s get the boring stuff out of the way: Amazon is opening the door to let developers make applications (commonly known as “apps”) for the Kindle. In the world of digital e-book readers, this could mean something big. While surely there will be some dumb or just-for-fun apps that don’t really do anything, others will help ensure that the Kindle is more than a uni-tasker. Apple’s rumored Tablet better beware.
• Are there too many book prizes? The Millions blog raises that very question, pointing out the sheer number of various book awards that are given out in a year, on the international, national and regional level. Post author Garth Hallberg concedes that some prizes are worthwhile, in that they provide recognition, encouragement and often financial benefits to the author. But other awards place too much emphasis on the award itself (and not the original literary work) or simply overwhelm the prize marketplace so that all prizes lose their significance. Hallberg has a lot of great points, but it sounds to me like someone never got a blue ribbon in school.
• The New York Times announced this week that it will start charging for access to its website in 2011. Visitors to NYTimes.com will get a certain number of articles free every month before being asked to pay a flat fee for unlimited access. While more specific details about the move are still scarce, some people fear this will mean the end of free access to quality writing on the Internet. As for me, if this means the NY Times gets to stay afloat in this horrible economy, I’m willing to entertain the idea of paying for access.
• Turns out, I lied. Kirkus Reviews, once on the brink of a sad and permanent death, now seems poised for resurrection. Kirkus will continue to publish as behind-the-scenes maneuvering occurs to secure Kirkus a buyer. I guess print isn’t dead – at least not yet.
• Bloomsbury Books is once again at the center of a bad PR storm. This past summer, the publishing house was accused of racism after using a white model for the cover of a book in which the heroine was described as African-American. After outcry in the kidlit blogosphere, Bloomsbury re-shot the cover. Now, they’re at it again, putting another white model on the cover of a book about a girl with brown skin and “exotic” looks. While Bloomsbury quickly moved to correct the situation, many bloggers still feel the publishing industry is engaging in “whitewashing.” The incident highlights the need for real, positive discussions about the role race plays in both literature and marketing.
• Oh look! More Twilight news! Entertainment Weekly announced this week that the graphic novel version of Twilight will be released on March 16th (just in time for my birthday, bookworms! Hint, hint.) The graphic novel will be published in two volumes and will feature an introduction from the Vampire Mama herself, Stephenie Meyer.
• Lastly, the literary world is mourning the loss of one of the greatest noir fiction / mystery and crime writers of his generation, Robert Parker. Best known for his Spenser novels (the inspiration for the Spenser: For Hire television show), Parker had an incredible command of metropolitan Boston and indeed the city often seemed like a character itself. During his prolific writing career, he won two Edgar Awards (the best of the best mystery writing in a given year) as well as the “Grand Master” designation for his entire body of work.