Newspaper leaks Haruki Murakami’s elementary school library records
Borrowing records are sacrosanct in library systems around the world, and Japanese librarians have spoken out about the Kobe Shinbun’s list of books Murakami borrowed as a teenager. The record was gathered from cards where library users’ names were listed underneath specific authors.
All Swedish teens to receive copies of We Should All Be Feminists
Chimamanda Adichie’s 2013 novel, translated into Swedish, will be provided to all 16-year-olds in an initiative launched by the Swedish Women’s Lobby. SWL President Clara Berglund calls the book “a gift to all students…but also to ourselves and to future generations,” and Adichie recorded a video message for the students, explaining what feminism has meant to her and what she hopes they might take away from the book.
A Little Life editor takes on critic to defend novel
Daniel Mendelsohn’s review of A Little Life in the New York Review of Books prompted a letter of response from Gerald Howard defending Hanya Yanagihara’s novel. Howard calls Mendelsohn out for alleging that Yanagihara “duped ‘readers into feeling the emotions of pity and terror and sadness and compassion'” in her award-winning book. A debate then ensued between editor and reviewer, perhaps illustrating the polarizing effect A Little Life has had on readers since its release.
Other news:
- Got an extra $1,500 lying around? You can snag a signed edition of Go Set a Watchman.
- Author Dahlia Adler compiles list of 2016-2017 books by writers of colour
