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Free expression or religious disrespect?

When it comes to First Amendment concepts, I’m pretty close to an absolutist. But decisions like the one made this week by Yale University Press pose one of those conundrums that can arise if you believe strongly in free expression and freedom of religion.

Later this year, Yale University Press is publishing The Cartoons That […]

The mirage of “best” books lists

As has been evident recently, I get a kick out of lists of books perceived to have been the “best” or “greatest” of a particular time period, genre or overall. Yet over the weekend, I was again struck by something I’d pondered a while ago. Specifically, a “best” list is a mirage to a certain […]

A “white-washed” book cover gets replaced

You may recall last week’s post about a so-called “white-washed” book cover. It stemmed from a forthcoming YA novel whose main character is “black with nappy hair which she wears natural and short” but whose cover pictured a Caucasian girl with long straight hair. Common sense has prevailed.

At left is the new cover. Author […]

Another book list: 60 years of books

I know. I’m to the point of addiction with these things. And you’d think I’d know better, particularly when the list comes from England, counts Twilight as the best book of 2005 and has already selected a best book of 2009.

That said, here’s the best 60 books of the past 60 years, at least […]

August Bibliolust

At times, lust is a far stronger emotion than guilt. Thus, despite bemoaning the number of books in the “to be read” bookcase, I still lust after more. Foretunately, the local library and its reserve list can help satiate the lust, as it is doing with this month’s bibliolust list.

Armenian Golgotha, Grigoris Balakian — […]