Episode 215: Young Adult Fight
In a spiritual successor to the last episode, Josh and Dietrich move from an author's debt to their readers and representation in fiction, and sit down to discuss the dramatic role that social media has played in giving readers a voice, for better or for worse. The pair discuss a recent article from Vulture that highlights some of the more toxic and hostile reactions to books, and talk about the changing dynamics of the author/reader relationship. With Twitter campaigns bringing the anger and dissatisfaction of thousands directly to an author or publisher's inbox, what are the right steps to take to address concerns that come out before a book even hits the shelves? Is there ever a case where banning a book from publication is acceptable? It's a difficult and complex subject, one which both hosts are woefully underqualified to address, and we encourage you to share your thoughts and criticisms through email and the Facebook group. In addition, Josh discusses a Victor LaValle book that rocked him so hard he had to set it down, Dietrich talks about an unusual interpretation of a beloved children's cartoon in a very adult novel, and they wrap up with discussions of Dunkirk, Atomic Blonde, and a pair of video games. You can send questions or comments to librarypolicequestions@gmail.com.
