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Welcome to Today in Books, our daily overview of the latest literary news, intertwining politics, culture, and media.
Plagiarism Complaint Against WHITE FRAGILITY Author Dismissed
The academic landscape has recently been rife with plagiarism allegations, and the latest development involves Robin DiAngelo, best known for her influential work, White Fragility. The allegations brought against her were not related to this best-selling book, which gained prominence during the Black Lives Matter protests, but rather to her doctoral thesis from 2004, titled “Whiteness in Racial Dialogue: A Discourse Analysis.” Following a thorough review, the University of Washington concluded that the evidence did not align with their criteria for plagiarism and thus dismissed the allegations. The context of these allegations, particularly their prevalence among Black scholars and those involved in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts, raises questions about the motivations and implications surrounding such complaints.
Sparkling Vampires in Spaaaaaace
Although I never engaged with Twilight, the influence of Robert Pattinson remains vivid in popular culture, often eliciting thoughts of “sparkly vampire.” However, he takes on a different role in the upcoming adaptation of Mickey7 by Edward Ashton, where he portrays a character deeply involved in the colonization of an ice-covered planet. This role features a high level of danger that leads to the character, Mickey Barnes, being reprinted posthumously multiple times as he fulfills his mission. Directed by Bong Joon Ho, known for the critically acclaimed Parasite, this film promises to be a must-see, especially for those intrigued by innovative science fiction. The trailer is now available for viewing, and it looks promising.
2024 Caine Prize Winner Announced
Exploring literature from outside the U.S. and U.K. is always a delightful experience, as it opens up a multitude of voices and narratives often absent from mainstream shelves. This year’s Caine Prize for African Writing honors South African author Nadia Davids for her work “Bridling,” which can be found in the Georgia Review. As highlighted by Chika Unigwe, Chair of Judges, the story exemplifies a masterful blend of language and narrative integrity. Unigwe stated:
“Bridling is an impressive achievement, a triumph of language, storytelling and risk-taking while maintaining a tightly controlled narrative about women who rebel. It embodies the spirit of the Caine Prize, which is to celebrate the richness and diversity of short stories by African writers. That is to say, to challenge the single story of African literature.”
Power-Ranking the Books of 2004
In an engaging retrospective, Jeff and Rebecca dive back to 2004 to identify the ten most significant books released that year, examining their impact and relevance in today’s literary landscape.
Source
bookriot.com