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Welcome to Today in Books, our daily round-up of literary headlines at the intersection of politics, culture, media, and more.
Nobel Prize-Winning Author Mario Vargas Llosa Passes Away
Mario Vargas Llosa, the distinguished Peruvian writer honored with the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2010, has passed away at the age of 89. Renowned for his engaging explorations of power dynamics, societal corruption, violence, and authoritarian regimes, Vargas Llosa gained international acclaim during the 1960s. His contributions are frequently regarded as transformative within the context of the Latin American Boom. A politically active figure, he notably made an attempt to secure the presidency of Peru in 1990, representing a right-wing political party. As reported by NPR, Vargas Llosa faced criticism in later years for his remarks on various issues, including feminism in literature and the rising death toll of journalists in Mexico, yet his literary works continued to resonate globally, being translated into numerous languages.
The Power of Routine in Literature
During the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, Andrew Clark began a nightly ritual of listening to a section of the audiobook version of The Great Gatsby, narrated by Jake Gyllenhaal. He initially set a sleep timer for 45 minutes, completing the book roughly every week before allowing it to play all night long in 2024. As a result, he has now listened to The Great Gatsby over 200 times. Clark acknowledges the peculiarity of his choice for a bedtime story: a complex narrative that concludes with tragedy, including murder and a fatal car accident, in which the main characters fail to find fulfillment, while the character of Tom Buchanan, who embodies racism and infidelity, appears to find a semblance of contentment.
Despite the dark themes, Clark expresses no intention of abandoning this literary ritual. His reflections on how the story’s significance has evolved for him over time add a layer of depth to his experience.
OwlCrate Launches New Independent Publishing House
OwlCrate, a Canadian subscription service for book enthusiasts, has introduced a new independent publishing venture OwlCrate Press, aimed at addressing challenges within the publishing industry. This initiative intends to publish titles across various genres, including science fiction, romance, and horror, following an “ethical publishing model” that simplifies the process for authors. According to Jordan Fleming, the head of publishing, the press will accept manuscripts in diverse formats without the prerequisite of agent representation. Furthermore, it aims to offer competitive compensation to authors while relieving them of the pressure to conduct their own marketing. The relationship between OwlCrate and its press is positioned as mutually beneficial, potentially leading to priority placements for books published under OwlCrate Press within their subscription service, which could shake up established norms in the industry. This development will be monitored closely as it unfolds.
Americans’ Reading Aspirations: A Reality Check
In the latest episode of the Book Riot Podcast, hosts Jeff and I delve into a recent NPR/Ipsos survey that explores the reading habits of Americans. The discussion covers the demographics within the publishing workforce and highlights a significant yet subtle change at Publishers Weekly. Tune in to gain insights into the current state of reading culture in the United States.
Source
bookriot.com