Why Are Book Reviews Disappearing?
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Over the past five years, newspapers across the country have cut down on, and even eliminated, book reviews. We ask why book review sections are disappearing, and what it means for readers and writers. John Freeman, president of the National Book Critics Circle, joins literary agent Steve Wasserman, the former editor of the Los Angeles Times Book Review, and Joan Acocella, a staff writer for The New Yorker.
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Comments [4]
My Sunday morning routine: a cup of coffee, Weekend Edition on the radio, and the New York Times Book Review in my email Inbox, which usually I read in its entirety. I am saddened by the devaluing of literacy, books and education in this society. Industries provide what is demanded by consumers, and consumers largely demand stories about Paris Hilton. Sadly, the disappearance of book reviews from newspapers is but one example of the degeneration of culture and education in this country.
- Tamryn Spruill
That was a great discussion.
I think that at large the problem is the super-commercialization of culture, people and thought. Thought control by the ruling money forces demands superficial reading and simple appearance rather than substance. This is more of a symptom of an Advertising culture, where it seems ok to prostitute ones whole life to marketeering.
lots of people go to the library for books so sales might not be the most reliable data of the habits of reders
A couple of years ago the Boston Globe also collapsed the book reviews into the Sunday opinion/op-ed section. It would appear this is an industry trend.
- George Curran
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