The United States of America has long struggled with its sordid past. The ultimate travesty of slavery haunts its every achievement, and the temptation to overlook the horrors is ever present. In recent times, certain children’s books – set in slaver’s America, have sugarcoated the history, perhaps in the criminally misguided attempt to soften the country’s cruelty to young audiences. It is of paramount importance that we educate children about the truth of slavery. It would be a disservice to society to hide the terrible price of the privilege this country enjoys. A list of three children’s books that treat American …
Critics and audiences alike have been celebrating the recent Doctor Strange movie, praising its beautiful visuals, epic score, and stellar performances. Marvel has found itself another winner, it would seem. Kamar-Taj, a hidden land in the Himalayas, is the home of Strange’s mentor the Ancient One, and the headquarters for the Masters of the Mystic Arts. It’s also where the sorcerers have stored all of their ancient texts and treausres, cared for by the dutiful Wong. As a book lover, I couldn’t help but swoon over the Library, and envy Wong for getting to watch over it, although it definitely doesn’t …
Last night’s election has sent shock waves throughout the world. The upset of a Trump victory has left many afraid and uncertain, and the markets are reflecting that insecurity. Currencies are dropping and the price of gold is skyrocketing, as the whirlwind leaves chaos in its wake. The publishing industry, one that thrives on the healthy exchange of ideas and expressive tolerance, feels particularly vulnerable. What does the rise of populism and militancy of opinion mean for the book business? Opinions and outlooks vary, but by and large, the publishing industry is not looking forward to four years of …
The National Books Foundation recently announced that it will be live streaming it’s 67th National Book Awards ceremony on Facebook Live and Twitter for the first time. This event has consistently drawn large crowds to its traditional website streaming, having had 10,000 viewers for last year’s awards. After having introduced these new social media platforms, the audience should increase drastically. This year’s finalist announcements attracted 60,000 viewers to the Facebook Live event. The added viewership is sure to help the National Book Foundation in it’s goal, as communicated by its executive director Lisa Lucas: “All year long, we’ve talked about how …
Anyone who has ever tried their hand at the noble craft of writing knows that the right space is paramount to creative work. Some spaces seem to have the right combination of inspirational energies and separation from the distractions of an all too obtrusive world. Some famous writers have found a common solution to the age old problem. These wordsmiths crafted themselves small homes dedicated to their writing practice. Here they would let their creativity thrive, creating some of the most memorable literature in the process. Roald Dahl Arguably the most iconic small house on the list, Dahl opted …
