Bookselling Buffalo’s Talking Leaves Bookstore is closing their Main Street store after 42 years in the University Heights neighborhood and will consolidate inventory in their Elmwood location over the next three months. “Significant changes in book buying habits and in the University of Buffalo neighborhood are major factors in this decision,” they write on their Facebook page. With the consolidation will come “a renewed focus on a resurgent future that incorporates all that bookselling in the 21st century entails. We will continue our many partnerships with cultural organizations, schools and other community groups to sponsor readings, conversations, and other events, […]
Archives for March 2017
Awards: Erdrich and Desmond Lead NBCC Winners, And More
On Thursday night, the National Book Critics Circle presented their 2016 book awards to: Fiction LaRose, by Louise Erdrich (Harper) General Nonfiction Evicted, by Matthew Desmond (Crown) Autobiography Lab Girl, by Hope Jahren (Knopf) Biography Shirley Jackson, by Ruth Franklin (Liveright) Criticism White Rage, by Carol Anderson (Bloomsbury) Poetry House of Lords and Commons, by Ishion Hutchinson (Farrar, Straus) Separately, shortlists were announced for the UK’s two big children’s book awards, the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals. The nominees for the Carnegie Medal are: Sputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth, by Frank Cottrell Boyce The Bone Sparrow, by Zana Fraillon The Smell of Other People’s Houses, by Bonnie-Sue […]
People, Etc.
Hollands Diep will publish of the forthcoming books by former president Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in Dutch. At Abrams, Melanie Chang has been appointed to the new role of vice president of children’s marketing and publicity. Chang will oversee marketing and publicity for the Abrams Children’s, Amulet, and Appleseed imprints. Liz Fithian has joined as director of franchise marketing for children’s books, reporting to Melanie Chang. Previously, she was director of marketing at Macmillan. SVP and chief marketing officer Steve Tager will transition from overseeing children’s marketing and publicity to focusing on marketing and publicity for Abrams’ adult businesses, including Abrams Plus’ Noterie gift […]
BN Board Authorizes New Stock Repurchase to Boost Share Price
The Barnes & Noble board has authorized spending up to $50 million to repurchase the retailer’s inexpensive shares. While that seems like a modest initiative by most corporate standards, BN stock has been trading near its low point and as of Wednesday, that new authority would have covered roughly 8 percent of all shares outstanding. The market took proper notice and, at least for today, BN shares have risen by almost $1 a share in the first 90 minutes of trading on the news. Of course what outsiders would really like to see the board spend $50 million on would […]
As Feared, Trump Budget Proposes Eliminating NEA, NEH and More
As feared by many, President Donald Trump’s first federal budget plan for fiscal 2018 proposes eliminating at least 19 agencies, including the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and even the Institute of Museum and Library Services (which spreads grants to every state). The two endowments have had a combined budget of a mere $300 million. As the NYT notes, though: “Nothing will change for the endowments or other agencies immediately. Congress writes the federal budget, not the president, and White House budget plans are largely political documents that telegraph a president’s […]
Adichie’s “Americanah” Is First One Book, One New York Selection
The New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment has selected Americanah by Chimanada Ngozi Adidie as the winner of its inaugural “One Book, One New York” program. As part of the program, New Yorkers will be encouraged to read the book and participate in a slate of free open-to-the-public events over the next few months. Penguin Random House will donate an additional 500 copies to the city’s public libraries, on top of the 1,000 donated at the contest’s launch, to help provide access to the winning book. Additionally, a free audiobook version is available through Scribd through June 2017. Mayor’s Office of […]