With the passing of J. D. Salinger last week came many tributes to the reclusive American author. For a different perspective on Salinger’s exile from Main Street, The New York Times spoke to the people of Cornish, New Hampshire — J.D.’s neighbours — giving readers a glimpse of his private life. The Times muses on the writing Salinger did for himself in the later half of his life and what that writing may mean to American publishing. Before he died, Salinger worked with his publisher Hamish Hamilton to produce jackets for the reissues of his works. They’re due out next month but you can check them out at the Guardian.
Famed American Historian Howard Zinn also died last week. His life and work is remembered in the New York Times, while Dave Eggers ponders the American Literary landscape without both Zinn and Salinger in the New Yorker.
Amazon shocked the publishing world late last week by removing all direct access to Macmillan publications – both kindle and printed editions. Seems Macmillan wasn’t happy with Amazon low-balling them over retail prices, so Amazon cut off access to their lucrative website. The Internet was abuzz with speculation, until yesterday afternoon when it all came out of the woodwork. There’s also this post. To check out the public fisticuffs in all its glory and then some, go to Publisher’s Marketplace.
Now that January is out of the way, off the spring publishing season can begin in earnest. Martin Amis returns in style — and apparently in good form — with his 12th novel The Pregnant Widow. Read Tim Adams review at the Guardian.
Chris Welles Feder writes about her famous father Orson In My Father’s Shadow: A Daughter Remembers Orson Welles, which may or may not be interesting reading for Matthew and Margaret Salinger.
And because love poetry here at Books@Torontoist, we think you should check out Joan Houlihan’s instructions on becoming your own poetry critic.
