Setbacks

It's been a rough week here at Maven Manor. Nearly everyone suffered some kind of setback, rejection, or hurdle — only the Schnauzers remain unscathed by fortune, and they would probably complain of fewer walks if they could talk (shhhh, don't tell them they can't).

It doesn't really matter what the setbacks were, or who had a rougher time overall. All that matters is we keep going.                                                       

Plus, there is welcome change afoot here in our nation's capital, right?

Unfortunately, there is also rumor of an unwelcome change here in our nation's capital. Via Critical Mass, the blog of the National Book Critics Circle (full disclosure: I am a member), comes the news from the proverbial "reliable source" that Washington Post publisher Marcus Brauchli may eliminate the weekly Book World section from the newspaper. 

This is a setback that, if it happens, is going to be significant for a number of people, including the Book World staff, the Washington Post, and the publishing industry. But I believe it will be hardest for readers, who will lose yet another opportunity to learn about books they otherwise never see. 

NBCC President Jane Ciabattari posted this update last Friday. But look at what Brauchli says: "We are absolutely committed to book reviews and coverage of literature, publishing and ideas in the Washington Post." 

Nowhere in that quote does he say anything about Book World. Years ago I heard my fellow NBCC member and longtime Book World critic Michael Dirda speak on a panel about book reviewing. He said when asked about his section that Book World would never go under because then-publisher Donald Graham believed that a national newspaper without a book section was unthinkable.

We'll find out if Brauchli agrees. I hope that he does. But if he doesn't — if Book World is reduced to "Book Region," fighting against stories in the Style section about Michelle Obama's fashion choices and bad reality TV — where will you go for book coverage? NYTBR? NYRB? Bookforum? Harriet Klausner's Amazon reviews?