Morning Coffee – 5 December 2018
Here are a few stories to read this Wednesday morning.
- A Canadian book prize has canceled Amazon’s sponsorship following a public outcry.
- Electric Literature wonders why Americans why don’t read novellas.
- Watching people spout blockchain hype never ceases to be amusing.
- The NYTimes asks (but never actually explains) why the Japanese are still so fond of paper.
- David Rothman has mixed feelings about the new iPad Pro.
Comments
Gordon Horne December 7, 2018 um 4:06 pm
I was listening to one of the authors involved in the Prix littéraire des collégiens spat being interviewed on CBC. She went into some detail on how the authors rely on small booksellers to sell their books and how Amazon puts those small booksellers out of business. But, doesn’t Amazon also sell your books? What portion of your sales are through each channel?
At the very end, the interviewer said that since Amazon is one of the richest companies in the world, doesn’t a $5,000 prize seem insultingly small, and asked the authour’s opinion. The author said it was a very interesting point and the interviewer should ask Amazon that. I had to laugh. The final question was at root, "What’s your price?" And the answer was, "Don’t know yet."
BTW, the $5,000 was set by the organizers. The Amazon.ca First Novel Award, produced by The Walrus magazine, is a $40,000 prize.