Is this just marketing? He kind of seems sincere. Yann Martel, author of Life of Pi, is taking a stand for the arts. And it’s a stand that will expand Canada’s Prime Minister’s book case.
This little new tidbit has just moved Life of Pi to the top of my TBR pile. I know, I know… I’m probably the only person on the planet who hasn’t read this yet.
It won’t be long until everyone is just running wire copy from New York. Can you imagine? Thousands of newspapers all covering the same 6 books every day. How sad.
And the fade theorist has a post about a group of self appointing “prose pros” getting on board with letters and petitions. While I do agree with the theorist that the NBCC needs to wake up and participate in the world of new media (to quote her “Traditional print media, by comparison, is flat”), I do have to say that I would miss having the “professional” reviews in my newspapers. As much weight as I give my friends’ recommendations and suggestions, I’ve always been glad that there is a “filter” out there. Someone with enough skill and experience separate the junk from what might actually be worthy. And that, I think would be worth fighting for.
Here’s a short article brimming with links to book related podasts! Most are attached to “serious” book reviewers at newspapers. But others are produced by book publishers and books fans. And all contain good interviews with authors. It’s interesting to hear an author’s voice as they talk about there work. Not one of them has sounded like the voices inside my head as I read their stories.
Now I just need to start riding the bus so I have time to listen.