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Irish Times
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
John Boyne on the art of book reviews: Never lie to readers, but deliver truth in a way that respects the writer
In May 2004, three novels into my career, I published my first book review in The Irish Times, a short piece on Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner . The piece was commissioned by the late Caroline Walsh, the much-loved and much-missed former editor of these pages. This month, as my 28th book, Air, arrives in shops, I publish my 150th book review. Of those, I've never met 97 of the authors, 32 are casual acquaintances, 13 I consider friends, while only eight are people I hope would show up at my funeral (even if they have to fly in from Australia). For many years, I've had a fruitful arrangement with Martin Doyle, the current books editor of The Irish Times. A few months ahead of publication date, I suggest a few books and he tells me which, if any, he would like me to take on. (To the conspiracy theorists out there, not once have I been given even the hint of an instruction on the tone my review should take.) I base my choices on three criteria: either I've read the writer's previous work and enjoyed it, the subject matter appeals to me or I've heard good things on the grapevine. READ MORE There are reviews I'm proud of. In 2012, I appraised JK Rowling's The Casual Vacancy and was probably the only person on the planet not to reference a certain boy wizard. I wrote about Roddy Doyle's Two Pints in the voices of the characters, and having read Belinda McKeon's Tender across a single day, wanted everyone to do the same. I got a good line in about Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman in protest at it being published at all. ('This novel is Boo Radley. It was meant to stay inside, locked away, hidden from the world.') I helped bring Garth Greenwell and Édouard Louis, two of the finest writers at work today, to attention . When Graham Norton published Holding, I advised people to set aside their scepticism about celebrity-written books, and he's more than proved me right ever since. Reviewing How to Be Invisible, Kate Bush's collection of song lyrics, led to a lunch date, and as her All-Time Greatest Fan I still feel thrilled that my assessment led to a real-world friendship. I stand by my 2023 piece on Joe Gibson's Seventeen, a powerful nonfiction book about the effect of sexual grooming on a teenage boy, which, somehow, has yet to find its way into paperback, despite universal praise. There have been negative reviews too, although as everyone in the writing world knows, there are sacred cows that people are afraid to criticise, either because the author holds a powerful position within the industry or because detractors will be accused of envy should they call a spade a spade. It's why so much mediocre work goes unchallenged and why there are writers who could publish their weekly shopping list and they'd still receive universal hosannas. Kevin Power was spot on when he wrote in a 2021 essay: 'Most books are bad. We all know this, but we seldom say it.' For that reason, I avoid reviewing authors I consider overrated or, frankly, no good. One of my most chilling experiences is of a writer who provided an effusive blurb for a first novel, describing it to me privately as 'the worst piece of hackneyed chick-lit I've ever read in my life'. Recoiling from his use of such a pejorative and misogynist term, I asked why he'd praised it if he felt this way. 'Because it was obvious it was going to be a hit,' he said with a shrug. 'And I wanted to be associated with it.' Personally, I prefer silence to craven opportunism or outright dishonesty. [ Ordinary Saints by Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin: Inventive exploration of identity, faith and family Opens in new window ] [ John Boyne on Fair Play by Louise Hegarty: A witty debut that celebrates the golden age of crime novels Opens in new window ] I remain ashamed, however, of a deeply unkind review I wrote some years ago that ignored the fact that the writer was new to the game. A review should never be about the reviewer but, for reasons rooted in my unhealthy state of mind at the time, I forgot there was a real person on the other side of those 700 words and revelled in my own supposedly clever sentences instead of concentrating on the author's. I subsequently apologised on Twitter to the writer in question – publicly, not by private message – who was far more gracious in reply than I might have been had our positions been reversed. In my day job, of course, I get reviewed too, and my rule is: don't believe them when they're good, don't believe them when they're bad. I know the value of my own work and could line up all my books on a shelf, the order determined by whether I feel I achieved artistically what I set out to. The Heart's Invisible Furies would be in pole position, followed by A Ladder to the Sky, The Elements and All the Broken Places. (I won't say what would be at the other end!) While I've generally done pretty well on the review front, the best I ever got was for The Echo Chamber, an unusual book for me in that it's a comedy and no one dies at the end. My methodology for reviewing hasn't changed much. I make a note of anything that occurs to me as I'm reading, take photos of lines that impress me (or otherwise), then write my first draft as soon as I finish the final page, simply throwing down everything that occurs to me. I leave it to bake, so to speak, for a week or so, then return to it when the novel has fully settled in my mind. At that point I rewrite, edit, cut and shape it into something that hopefully respects the work, while giving readers an honest assessment of my personal response to it. And remember, that's all a review is: one person's reaction to a book. It's not definitive; it's just an opinion. A word to the wise. Here are some phrases that should never be used in a review: 'An instant classic': there's no such thing and it's lazy writing. It takes decades, maybe even a century, for a book to achieve that status. I genuinely enjoy writing about books and want to use whatever authority I've earned over a 33-year career for positive ends 'Whip-smart': reviewers, please stop referring to young women writers as 'whip-smart' as if it's a shock to discover they might have a brain in their pretty little heads. (The phrase is never used for men, of course.) 'Meets': as in 'American Psycho meets Rachel's Holiday " . No one is 'the voice of a generation' because no generation speaks with one voice. If they do, God help them. Consulting writer friends for phrases they loathe, I was told that 'fiercely intelligent is annoying', while 'a moving exploration of trauma and identity', and 'compelling' were also poorly regarded. You might ask why I do it. I don't need the exposure, there's always the risk of upsetting someone and – no offence, Martin – it doesn't pay very well. The answer is, I genuinely enjoy writing about books and want to use whatever authority I've earned over a 33-year career for positive ends. Conscious that the publishing world can be difficult at times, reviewers, in my view, should support the endeavour, offering readers reasons to buy books, not to ignore them. Never to lie, but also never to shame, ridicule or humiliate. And if talented newcomers can be given a leg up by those of us with an audience, then all the better. So I guess I'll keep reviewing for as long as I'm allowed. While it's a privilege to have the platform to do so, the best part is occasionally discovering a book so amazing that I want to share it with the world. John Boyne's latest novel, Air, is published by Doubleday
Hans India
23-04-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Amazon India deepens mission to "Make India Read More" on World Book Day 2025
This World Book Day, Amazon India is advancing its "Make India Read More" mission - a comprehensive effort to nurture India's reading culture through democratized access, innovative discovery and community engagement. This commitment builds on Amazon's ongoing work in expanding book accessibility to readers across the country. Recent trends for Amazon India have demonstrated a growing appetite for books nationwide, with double-digit growth in both new customers and category sales. Tier 2 cities are notably driving this expansion, bringing new book customers at twice the growth rate seen in metros. To support this demand, the company has significantly expanded its same-day delivery capabilities, now reaching twice as many customers in top 20 cities compared to last year. 'Books are at the heart of Amazon's identity, and our commitment to India's readers is deeper than ever,' said Rajarshi Guin, Director, Books & Toys, Amazon India. 'From curating literature that reflects India's cultural and educational diversity, to investing in fast delivery and discovery, our focus is to make reading more rewarding, and more accessible. Whether it's a young reader in a metro or a student in a Tier-3 town, we want to bring the right book to every doorstep.' With a catalog of over 20 million titles across 14+ Indian languages, Amazon delivers books to 100% of India's serviceable pin codes. The category is witnessing strong double-digit growth in genres such as literary fiction, self-help, business, and children's books, while regional language books in Malayalam and Tamil have doubled in demand year-over-year. Educational content remains strong with government exam preparation materials growing by over 30%, and specialized materials for engineering and law seeing growth of over 50% compared to last year. To enhance discovery and customer experience, Amazon's monthly Book Bazaar is set to complete its 5th anniversary this year with 60 editions offering 300+ curated reading lists and deals on 30,000+ books across genres and languages. The company blends personalized algorithmic recommendations with trusted editorial curation through flagship initiatives like the Author of the Month, Amazon Book Talk series, and specialized destinations such as the Matrabhasha store for regional language titles. These efforts are further strengthened by Amazon's partnership with over 30 national and international bestselling authors including Khaled Hosseini, Jeffrey Archer, Robin Sharma, Sudha Murthy, and Chetan Bhagat to provide authors a platform to connect with their readers. In support of this mission, Amazon has launched a nationwide book donation drive in partnership with the National Book Trust (NBT) and NCERT. Over the next 12 weeks, thousands of books will be distributed to Anganwadis, government schools, and grassroots organizations "National Book Trust is delighted to collaborate with Amazon India on the 'Make India Read More' initiative," Yuvraj Malik, Director, National Book Trust, India, said. "This partnership reflects our shared vision of making books accessible to all. By combining NBT's grassroots presence with Amazon's digital outreach, we aim to bring the transformative power of reading to every corner of the country." "NCERT is proud to support the Book Donation Drive with Amazon," Aman Sharma, Secretary, NCERT said. "Through this initiative, 25,000 NCERT textbooks will be donated to underprivileged communities, promoting literacy and celebrating the joy of reading, aligning with the vision of the National Education Policy." Through its comprehensive 'Make India Read More' mission, Amazon India is committed to democratizing access to books for readers across all regions, languages, and economic backgrounds. This World Book Day initiative represents another significant step in the company's ongoing journey to foster a vibrant reading culture throughout India. For more information about Amazon India's 'Make India Read More' mission and to participate in the book donation drive, visit Disclaimer: The product details, description and pricing are as provided by the sellers. The Hans India and Amazon are not involved in pricing or describing the products and are not responsible for the accuracy of product information provided by the sellers.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
St. Francis Area Schools sued by parents, ACLU over book ban controversy
Parents and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have filed separate lawsuits against St. Francis Area Schools, accusing the district of unlawfully banning numerous books based on the ideas, characters and stories they contain. The lawsuit in Anoka County District Court filed on behalf of the parents of eight district students was followed up by the ACLU's lawsuit on Monday. Students at St. Francis High School have also protested the book bans, staging a walkout from classes on Monday, with an estimated 100 students participating. The union lawsuit filed by parents and Education Minnesota claims the 'District's policy is antithetical to the values of public education and encouraging discourse. Perhaps more importantly, the policy violates the Minnesota Constitution and state law." It also requests for the judge to declare the policy illegal and reverse the ban on more than 40 books that have been removed or will be soon. Among those publishings include: "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison "Beloved" by Toni Morrison "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood A complaint has also been filed against the Holocaust memoir "Night" by Eli Wiesel, a Nobel Peace Prize winner. Per district policy, it will be removed from the shelves. The book bans come in the wake of the school district adopting last fall to use ratings from the anonymous review site BookLooks in its library. BookLooks has generated headlines for its past links with conservative group Moms for Liberty. The lawsuit alleges the BookLooks rating system discriminates "extensively based on viewpoint, particularly with regard to topics of gender, race, and religion.' The BookLooks states on its website that it is not affiliated for Moms for Liberty, but that it communicates "with other individuals and groups with whom there is an intersection of mission and values." The website is now shut down as of Sunday, with a post on the site saying it will be "ceasing operation and taking down all of our reports from the site." No book reviews are visible as of Tuesday. "It has been quite the ride with many ups and downs since God called us to this work in 2022, but after much prayer and reflection it has become apparent that His work for us here is complete and that He has other callings for us," its statement reads. It's unclear why the book review website is shutting down operations. The lawsuit filed by the ACLU is on behalf of two other students in the district and says at least 46 books have been removed or are in the process of removal. St. Francis Area Schools provided the following statement to Bring Me The News on Tuesday: "St. Francis Area Schools can confirm the receipt of lawsuits from Education Minnesota and the American Civil Liberties Union-Minnesota in regards to our District Policy 606.5. The legal team is reviewing the documents from both lawsuits and working with the district on determining next steps. The district is committed to addressing the claims identified in the lawsuits thoroughly and appropriately."
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
ACLU, teachers, students sue St. Francis Area Schools over book bans
A shelf of "The Kite Runner" at the St. Francis High School library; the school board has used a right-wing scoring system to ban books, including Khaled Hosseini's coming-of-age story that's sold 38 million copies worldwide. Photo courtesy of Ryan Fiereck. The ACLU of Minnesota and the state teachers union filed two separate lawsuits Monday against St. Francis Area Schools, alleging that the district's book bans violate the Minnesota Constitution and a 2024 law banning book bans. Students, teachers and parents are also plaintiffs in the lawsuits. St. Francis Area Schools adopted a library policy in November that relies on ratings from a website called BookLooks, which has ties to the right-wing group Moms for Liberty. Books with a BookLooks rating of 3 or higher (out of 5) are subject to removal from St. Francis bookshelves at the request of a student, parent or community member. So far, the district has banned, or plans to ban, books including 'The Handmaid's Tale' by Margaret Atwood, 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' by Stephen Chbosky, 'The Bluest Eye' by Toni Morrison and 'The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini, among others. The Reformer interviewed Hosseini last week about his book being pulled from the shelves. Of the 47 books that have been challenged, all but one challenge came from a 'community member' — i.e., not a student or parent, according to the Education Minnesota complaint. So far, 11 books have been removed from the shelves and the other 36 challenges are pending. The litigation highlights the pitched national battle in recent years over what constitutes valuable educational content and who should be allowed to restrict it, leading to similar book bans across the country. The lawsuits will test Minnesota's law limiting book bans, which was passed by the DFL-controlled Legislature in 2024. The law states 'a public library cannot ban, remove or restrict access to books or other materials based solely on its viewpoint or the messages, ideas, or opinions it conveys.' The law does allow for books to be removed from shelves based on practical reasons, 'legitimate pedagogical concerns, including but not limited to the appropriateness of potentially sensitive topics for the library's intended audience,' and to comply with other state or federal laws. The law also requires that library administrators adopt a library materials policy that outlines procedures for the selection and removal of materials. That policy must be administered by a librarian or someone trained in library collection management. In its complaint, the ACLU pointed out that the school district's attorney advised the school board against adopting the BookLooks-based rating system because the organization does not appear to be run by a librarian — instead, it is run by 'concerned parents,' according to the website. Both lawsuits pointed to comments made by a board member who supported the BookLooks-based policy because it aligned with the area's 'red' — conservative — beliefs. BookLooks is shutting down, according to a message on its website, but a similar organization — out of Utah, is maintaining the BookLooks archive. The St. Francis Area School Board will meet Monday evening. Individuals organizing against the library policy plan to read letters from authors whose books have been banned in the district, according to a press release from the teachers union. St. Francis High School students staged a walkout in protest of the library policy on Monday afternoon.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'The Kite Runner' author 'bewildered' by book ban in St. Francis Area Schools
The Brief The author of "The Kite Runner" speaks out against a Minnesota school district's book policy. St. Francis Area School's board voted to adopt its Library Materials Policy in November. The school board committee will be revisiting the policy on Monday. ST. FRANCIS, Minn. (FOX 9) - Some parents in St. Francis Area Schools (SFAS) want to turn the page on its book policy. They do not agree with relying on a singular website as the final say on what makes library shelves. Instead, they are pushing for a local committee. Timeline In November, the SFAS school board at the time approved a Library Materials Policy that required books to be filtered through the Book Looks website. According to the policy, books with a three rating or higher on Book Looks' zero-to-five rating scale are considered problematic. "The Kite Runner" was given a four by the website, citing "sexual assault" and "mild profanity" as concerns. "The Kite Runner" is marked as being pulled on the SFAS' list of "Books in the Reconsideration Process." What they're saying Khaled Hosseini, author of "The Kite Runner" said books are an invaluable opportunity to live in another person's shoes – just for a little while – and to hear his book is being called "harmful" is "bewildering." He said this coming-of-age story has inspired students across the country for decades. Hosseini shared some of the messages he has received from high schoolers over the years. "They tell me the book's de facto tagline, 'there's a way to be good again,' inspired them to look inward, and mend broken ties," said Hosseini. "The notion that this book is harmful to students when the response from the students and their teachers is so overwhelmingly enthusiastic and positive is frankly bewildering to me." Local perspective Ryan Fiereck, President of Education Minnesota St. Francis, as well as a parent in the district, said what educators would like to see is a local process of reviewing materials. They would like to have more say in the process rather than solely relying on an outside website, whether it be Book Looks or something else. What's next Board Chair Nathan Burr said the status of the ratings website will be discussed in a committee on Monday ahead of the school board meeting. Burr also acknowledged hearing concerns on both sides and said the board will continue to engage the community. The Source St. Francis Area Schools, Education Minnesota, FOX 9 reporting, Interviews
