book news publishing news
RIASS stuff:
Book Review: Empire Day by Diane Armstrong'Rating: 
Book Review: The Mountain by Drusilla Modjeska'Rating:
Book list: Cinderella retellings
Giveaway: Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper'(open to all)
Other bookish stuff:
I came across this post on Hollywood adaptations of novels and was a touch flabbergasted.
My lengthy thoughts:'the list features thirty films that have been adapted from books. Adaptations arent exactly a new thing, but the sheer amount of them here (and these dont seem to include graphic novel adaptations) is mind-boggling. That said, Ill hazard a guess about the reasons behind what seems like a substantial increase in the number of adaptations being made.
Films are expensive to producehow often have you seen a book with a $400 million budget? While the returns on a film can be more substantial than those on a book, those production costs are extraordinary. The potential loss involved in a film that doesnt make back its production costs is going to be far greater than that of a hipster literary tome that sells only two copies.
And if publishers are conservative in their purchases because of the investment risk involve, well, it only stands to reason that when youve got a few hundred mill on the line, youre going to be even more conservative. Theres a reason why those blockbusters get spun out into a dozen sequels, prequels, and various other spin offs: if somethings proven itself to work, why not take the low risk option and make your investors happy?
Piggybacking on a successful book is a way less expensive endeavour for movie types than making an untested super expensive film and hoping that audiences will want it (Kevin Costner, were looking at you). Books and films are different media, yes, and attract different audiences, but in large part your market testing has already been done. Particularly if youre looking at one of the recent massive novel blockbusters (why yes, the publishing world does seem to be emulating Hollywood).
So, not only do you have a tested product, but you also have a product with an audience who likes the original product, and who is happy to pony up the cash. Bring on the movie tie-in and merchandising. What better way to encourage audience flow between both film and movie, and to increase engagement and connection? Look at the current plethora of graphic novels, their film adaptations, and their merchandising. Its working.
On orphan Annie and doing away with the parents in kid-lit: Modern books are more likely to feature children who are abandoned, alienated and have no home to return to, than characters who voluntarily set off on adventures, according to Professor Kathy Short, president of the'International Board of Books for Young People.
My lengthy (and rambly) thoughts: Well, yes. In a world where children are driven to school because their parents are too afraid of the boogeyman to let them walk there, and where a broken arm from playing in the park is liable to end in years of suing and countersuingwell, yes. How is anyone supposed to write a realistic childrens book where the protagonists are allowed to roam unfettered? Two things would spring immediately into the readers mind: a) kids today dont do those sort of things, because theyre stuck at home or b) why are their parents so neglectful? We should get the DHS on them.
Getting rid of the parents has always been the done thing in kidlit. But where authors of years past could draw upon things like institutionalisation and cholera outbreaks to kill off those pesky adults, todays life expectancy means that theyre going to be around. Authors have to deal with this in some way, which is why so many parents in books work such long hours, are always passed out on the couch, or spend strangely lengthy amounts of time in the garage or kitchen.
But, I think, contrary to whats posited in the article, todays books dont necessarily thrust doom and gloom on to kids. They actually reflect the infantilisation of children and our obsession with letting kids have a childhood (often, it seems, one that lasts into ones mid thirties. Move out already, you slackers!). I think the focus on the depressing themes in kidlit reflects a nostalgic longing to let kids be as long as possible. Because, you know, that totally happened a hundred years ago.
Depressing kidlit is likely there for a reason. Its because adults dont openly discuss these themes with their kids. Why would they? Theyre'just kids. They dont need to know these things.
Is it any wonder that adults, where they appear, so often come across as antagonists?
Kids are eminently capable, reflective, and cunning.'But given the fact that a kids life experience beyond school is cut back to pretty much to that of their immediate family, which is what happens when youre not allowed to leave the house because of the boogeyman or because you should be studying for your upcoming university entrance exams (in ten years time), well, its no surprise that so much kidlit involves clashing with parents or pushing boundaries.
Parents inhabit this bizarre duality of trying to protect their kids and trying to make them be grownups in the business attire sense of the word. How are kids supposed to be able to do all of this if we wont let them engage with the emotional issues that will allow them to grow? Bring on the doom and gloom, I say.
This lovely letter to bloggers is lovely to read after the angst and hoo-haa weve been hearing recently.
My quick thoughts:'Yes, we have our faults, and were all different in our approach, but were doing our best. Its all about the books.
10 questions for Brian Lindenmuth, editor, Snubnose Press'We had discussed venturing into publishing a couple of times over the years but the need to come up with X amount of dollars, or to order X amount of books seemed cumbersome. E-publishing has allowed more flexibility.
My quick thoughts:'Lindenmuth highlights cost as a differentiating factor, and hes not wrong. Hubby and I had a lengthy discussion about stinginess and price points last night, and yes, Im cheap. Hey, Im a starving writer.
Momentum Books ruffles some feathers/crinolines with this post on erotic fiction thats sexier than 50 Sahdes of Grey. And other people get pissed off.
My quick thoughts: eh, dont really care. Read what you will. But Im one of those feminist lassesa book about submissions not really my thing. And I dont like the pattern on that tie on the cover, either. Moving on.
Jennifer Byrne discusses crime fiction with'Jo Nesbo, Michael Robotham, Malla Nunn and Leigh Redhead.'(video)
My quick thoughts: thanks to'Shelleyrae from Bookd Out'for sending this my way after my little rant about violence in crime fiction.
Are you well-read?''Being well read means reading thoughtfully from a wide variety of genres (not limited to, but definitely including, the classics) and a multicultural array of authors in such a way that allows you to think and converse about the human experience intelligently.
My quick thoughts: I managed to get through a four year degree in Russian/Linguistics without ever reading Tolstoy. So, no, probably not. But my husband did propose with Proust. Does that count?
What really happened with that whole Pulitzer debacle this year?'First, and probably most obvious, the members of any jury are possessed of particular tastes and opinions, and, however they may strive for it, absolute objectivity is impossible. A different Pulitzer jury in 2012 might very well have put forward three different books, one of which might have pleased the Pulitzer board better than ours did.
Interview: Author/Illustrator Sue deGennaro'Whenever I start a book, I cant ever see how I will pull it off. It's the process I think Im addicted to, plod away at something for eight months and by the end there will be something to show for your efforts.
A cool reading map for'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
Best parking garage ever.
Dementia has put an end to the fiction career of'Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Community shout-out for my Melbourne readers:
Melbourne Central is launching its first-ever Little Library. The Little Library is a community space'where consumers can swap and share their pre-loved books.'Over time, the Little Library is set to become an interactive platform for the Melbourne Central community to come together.' Melbourne Central is calling on Melburnians to get behind the initiative and donate their favourite novels to the creatively designed space which is expected to house over several hundred hard copy books.
The Little Library will operate through a borrowing system of honesty where consumers will share their pre-loved books, borrow from the Little Library and return books when they have finished reading so others can enjoy.
The Little Library will launch with a book drive on July 12 and 13.
What:'''Little Library at Melbourne Central
Date:
Thursday'12 July 8am ' 2pm
Friday'13 July 12pm ' 8pm
Launch:
Tuesday'17 July all day
Where:'Melbourne Central
The Corner ' Level 2
Cnr LaTrobe and Swanston Street, Melbourne
Dementia is a bitch.
I have other thoughts but cant express them eloquently right now so Ill just say I agree with you! :)
Heh, I think I failed utterly at eloquence in this post, but oh well! :)
Dementia is terrible. Ive lost my granddad to it, and its so hard to see.
Thanks for linking to that post. I was shocked at the amount of adaptions too. Im so glad I did that post, its a good reference
My pleasure. It seems that over the past few years there have been more adaptations than usual, but Id be curious to see whether thats actually true.
Just to let you know that Im liking this new aspect to your post (re: your quick & sometimes lengthy thoughts) :)
So glad to hear it, Tien. :) My husband suggested it after I kept ranting at him rather than on my website. :)