This year’s two late summer months bring book lovers a diverse collection of news stories. Supportive organizations draw more attention to the, unfortunately, growing issue of book bans, while others celebrate diversity and introduce the world to new and mostly unheard voices. Coveted prizes come from internationally acclaimed awards and federal prison inmates, showing once again the omnipresence and importance of books and reading in every facet of modern life.
Explore the latest book and publishing world news for August and September, but don’t forget to check out the book industry news for June and July as well.
- Banned Books Week Supports “Freed Between the Lines” Initiative
- Booker Prize Shortlist Features Women Writers
- The Harlem Book Fair Returns in NYC
- Imani Perry Wins the First Inside Literary Prize
- Penguin Random House’s Stuart Applebaum Retires
1. Banned Books Week Supports “Freed Between the Lines” Initiative
Between September 22nd and 28th, the annual Banned Books Week explored the unfortunately increasing prevalence of book bans all across the United States. More than 4,240 separate titles were removed from school and public libraries in 2023, and the first three quarters of this year have seen even more books on the chopping block.
The focus of this annual event is reflected in its motto: “Freed Between the Lines.” The play on the classic adage ‘read between the lines’ invites people to notice the country’s anti-education and anti-diversity efforts today. Various virtual and local events took place to increase awareness and advocacy. Ava DuVernay, accomplished and award-winning filmmaker and honorary chairperson, summed it up neatly in her quote, “I believe censorship is the enemy of freedom.”
2. Booker Prize Shortlist Features Women Writers
Largely considered the world’s most influential award available for fiction, the Booker Prize announced its shortlist for 2024 potential winners on September 16th. Back in 1969, when it started, the prize more closely matched its past name, the Man Booker Prize. While the original name came from a sponsoring hedge fund group, it primarily focused on male authors. This was common in the industry at the time.
Things are quite different now in 2024. This year, the shortlist contains five women writers out of the six chosen. These include James by Percival Elliot, The Sole Man Represented, Orbital by Samantha Harvey, Held by Anne Micheals, Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner, The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden, and Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood.
3. The Harlem Book Fair Returns in NYC
In a time when far too many forces seek to silence diverse voices, the return of the Harlem Book Fair in New York City is a welcome event for the industry. While the show remains focused on the wonderful world of reading and writing across interests, it also promotes the ideals of inclusivity, cultural expression, and creative resilience. The unique phonetic theme of this year’s book fair in Harlem — Literary Rɛvəˈluʃən – pointed to that specific meaning.
The fair itself filled the outdoor and interior event spaces of the Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building on September 5th, 2024. Speakers include many talents and influential people, including authors, ABC news contributors, political analysts, and even a co-host of “The View” TV show. There was a first-time inclusion of the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute and a Haitian art exhibit. In a time when too many POC-authored books are on ban lists and other targeted attacks occur, the need for the Harlem Book Fair and what it stands for is more important than ever before.
4. Imani Perry Wins the First Inside Literary Prize
Creativity and meaning come from every corner of the globe, from different demographics, educational levels, and opportunities. These diverse people, too, have interests and a love of reading quality books. The first ever Inside Literary Prize was awarded on August 1st to Imani Perry and her book South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation. It was a NY Times Bestseller in the past year and received a non-fiction prize from the National Book Award in 2022.
What makes this new award so interesting? Instead of being from a much-lauded literary agency, inmates in prisons across the United States judged the Inside Literary Prize. Twelve institutions took part from Arizona, Colorado, North Dakota, North Carolina, Missouri, and Minnesota. The inmate readers then met with representatives of the organizations that sponsored the prizes to give their in-depth opinions and ratings. The award was brought about by the joint efforts of the National Book Foundation, Freedom Reads, and the Center for Justice Innovation.
5. Penguin Random House’s Stuart Applebaum Retires
Stuart Applebaum, a seventy-five-year-old publishing and PR powerhouse, retires after decades with Bantam and Penguin Random House. He achieved the accolade of being the Bertelsmann employee with the longest career of over fifty-two years. Bertelsmann is a well-known global media company. Throughout his years, Stuart focused on public relations, publicity, and corporate communications. He was also an emeritus vice president and something of a legend to younger staffers at Random House over the years. He was likewise essential to the nine different CEOs of the company over the decades as it changed names and structures.
Over the past fifty-plus years, things have changed quite a bit in the publishing and communication worlds. Throughout it all, Stuart Applebaum stayed steadfast in his resolve to give it his all. He loved books, gave back to the community through this charitable foundation in Queens, NY, and became a type of “omnipresent deity-like presence,” according to current CEO Nihar Malaviya. Now that Stuart’s retired, he’s undoubtedly on to the next adventure.
Prizes, new beginnings, and endings for prominent figures in the literary and bookselling world mark August and September 2024. The battle between book bans and the push for diversity and inclusivity rages on, and more authors realize their dreams of recognition. Stay up to date with the publishing world’s news for the final quarter of the year.
