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Bethanne Patrick

LitNotes: Up Is Down, Down Is Up...

September 14, 2007

But What If It's All True?: I don't know if I can handle reading Bright Shiny Morning, the new James Frey novel that Jonathan Burnham's acquired for HarperCollins. I just don't like being betrayed by fiction, and I would hate to get all invested in a character, only to find out he actually lived...

Suffragette City: Eight out of nine prizes in Britain's New Writing Ventures Awards went to women. Judge Henry Sutton (literary editor of the Daily Mirror), was quoted as being "surprised and saddened" when he realised that no men even made the shortlist. "I was shocked when I realised that all three were women," he said. "I've never believed in a difference of the sexes when it comes to literary talent, but there does seem to be a broader appeal in what women are writing than men." Henry, see what happens when you give them the vote???

Book Critics, Bitch Slapping: It's a mad, mad, mad, mad, mad, mad, mad, mad world when the NBCC members who are usually busy getting upset at the whole concept of litblogging start sniping at each other, as they do in the comments on this entry by Jane Ciabattari on whether or not litbloggers should be held to a code of ethics. But thank you, Ed Champion, for calling yourself "someone who swings both ways" (reviewing for print as well as online) -- my snort for the day.

Posted by Bethanne Patrick on September 14, 2007 | Comments (5)

September 14, 2007
In response to: LitNotes: Up Is Down, Down Is Up...
Lucy. P. commented:

Testing...

September 14, 2007
In response to: LitNotes: Up Is Down, Down Is Up...
Amy commented:

Oh my gosh what a laugh! The thing about blogs is that readers vote with their feet, or I suppose their mouse. If a blogger takes the time to write good
material every day or at least a few times a week and readers find it valuable
and entertaining and worth reading, then they will read it and more power to the
blogger. I can hardly believe that anyone would imagine they could make rules for bloggers. I realize we are talking here about members of NBCC and the organization wishes to maintain a level of professionalism among their own
members. But one of the things I love most about the Internet is that it's a
level playing field. Anyone can speak, and if they have something of substance
to say, others will listen. Case in point, my daughter is in her last year as a journalism major at San Jose State University and she has started a blog of her own. She has a great sense of humor and she has more and more 20-somethings
reading it every day. She is making a name for herself in the blogosphere
before she even enters the workplace!
Of course me, her mom, can't seem to get anyone to visit my blog. Maybe I
should be writing about bad dating experiences instead of children's books.

September 14, 2007
In response to: LitNotes: Up Is Down, Down Is Up...
JUDY LARSEN commented:

Thanka, Bethanne, for giving me the perfect reason for why I have no interest in Frey's latest!

September 15, 2007
In response to: LitNotes: Up Is Down, Down Is Up...
Kevin A. Lewis commented:

Here now, there's no reason to be mad at Harper Collins over the new Frey novel-it's just business; Frey's contract with Satan doesn't expire till next year, and they're required by law to lose money on something...

September 16, 2007
In response to: LitNotes: Up Is Down, Down Is Up...
bookishblondish commented:

as for Frey...
fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Not reading it. I don't care how bright and shiny it is...