Abrams has cancelled publication of controversial graphic novel A SUICIDE BOMBER SITS IN THE LIBRARY by writer Jack Gantos and illustrator Dave McKean, which was to be released in May 2019. The decision was made “together with the book’s creators,” after the title received criticism online. Abrams said in a statement, “While the intention of the book was to help broaden a discussion about the power of literature to change lives for the better, we recognize the harm and offense felt by many at a time when stereotypes breed division, rather than discourse.” The cancellation follows posts on Twitter by Zainab […]
Archives for November 2018
Obama’s Becoming Sells 1.4 Million Units In First Week
On Wednesday afternoon Penguin Random House said that former First Lady Michelle Obama’s BECOMING sold more than 1.4 million units in all formats in the US and Canada during the first week on sale. Previously they reported opening-day sales of 725,000 units, indicating strong continuing sales through the week. NPD Bookscan tracked sales of almost 698,000 hardcovers for Becoming in the opening week. In September, Bob Woodward’s Fear sold more than 1.1 million units its opening week according to publisher Simon & Schuster. Crown notes that Obama’s book has gone back to press in the UK, for a total of […]
People, Etc.
Membership and marketing officer at the American Booksellers Association Meg Smith “has decided to stop working full time” following the 2019 Winter Institute in January, after almost 20 years with the organization. CEO Oren Teicher says, “Meg has become a friend to all of us, and her unstinting support of the independent bookstore community is legendary. It will be hard to imagine ABA without her.” Transatlantic Agency partner and senior agent Marie Campbell is retiring, but will remain on as an advisor to the agency. A former editor, in-house rights manager, and instructor at Ryerson University’s Publishing Program, she has worked […]
Briefs: Wiley Audiobooks, Gucci Books, Another BN Legal Conference, and More
Audio RBmedia has an agreement with Wiley to publish audiobook versions of more than 650 of the book publisher’s titles over the next three years, starting in January. The deal “allows for publication of all frontlist titles, with a primary focus on business, finance and the well-known Dummies brand, as well as select titles from tech and other key subject areas,” and it includes “select backlist titles” as well. They note that “a significant percentage of audiobooks [will] be narrated by Wiley authors, including global thought leaders, educators, and practitioners.” Bookselling Soho’s latest bookselling space is “gucci.” As in the […]
People, Etc.: Obamas, and More
Michelle Obama‘s BECOMING was the second-best-selling book in the UK in its opening week, selling 64,732 hardcovers as tracked by Nielsen Bookscan UK. (That’s a little better than Michael Wolff’s Fire and Fury in its best week in the UK, when it sold almost 60,000 hardcovers.) You may recall that it was initially expected that former president Barack Obama‘s book might be published first, though that notion did not last long. Indeed he told the audience at the Obama Foundation Summit on Monday in Chicago, “Go buy her book right now. This is causing some strain in our marriage. The […]
More 2018 Favorites, From Oprah Magazine and Hudson Booksellers
Oprah Magazine published its 15-title list of favorite books of 2018, with Lisa Halliday’s Asymmetry as the top title. (Also on the list is Barbara Kingsolver’s latest novel, available to sample in our Buzz Books 2018 Fall/Winter edition.) The other picks: An American Marriage, by Tayari Jones Clock Dance, by Anne Tyler How to Love a Jamaican, by Alexia Arthurs The Overstory, by Richard Powers Those Who Knew, by Idra Novey The Feral Detective, by Jonathan Lethem Everything Here Is Beautiful, by Mira T. Lee Lake Success, by Gary Shteyngart Educated, by Tara Westover Pretend I’m Dead, by Jen Beagin Unsheltered, […]