Secret Workings Of 'Times' Book Review Exposed! - Gawker Comments

Secret Workings Of 'Times' Book Review Exposed!

Trackback — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:53:05 EDT

On Paper Cuts, The New York Times' book blog, Barry Gewen writes about Mark Bowden's recent Atlantic's article about Rupert Murdoch's acquisition of The Wall Street Journal and his desire to kneecap the paper of record.

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Secret Workings Of 'Times' Book Review Exposed!

ginamallet — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 13:08:31 EDT

I'm an author who got slagged by the Old Boy Network of the NYT book review. My book Last Chance to Eat the Fate of Taste in a Fast Food World was given to a Time regular, English writer Paul Levy who's wellknown in London for envy plus (he was dumped from The Observer). He killed all four books he was given - and I knew from his comments he'd never bothered to read mine. Despite the Times however I won the 2005 James Beard Award for Writing on Food.

ginamallet

Secret Workings Of 'Times' Book Review Exposed!

Kois — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 11:06:24 EST

Can I just say, Nice work, Gawker weekend dudes?

Kois

Secret Workings Of 'Times' Book Review Exposed!

plkbvt — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 11:30:40 EST

Doesn't make a lot of difference except INSIDE the publishing world. I had a cover review once (a rave, indeed) & it didn't do shit for sales of the book. pk

plkbvt

Secret Workings Of 'Times' Book Review Exposed!

yaya — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 18:16:30 EST

So this explains why Noam Chomsky was only just reviewed - he must be too' workmanlike or perhaps Chomsky is too 'narrow' for NYTBR?'? More likely he is perceived as unappealing to the Scarsdale Dentist...

SOOO many people do not get reviewed there, more of a badge of honor not to have been.

yaya

Secret Workings Of 'Times' Book Review Exposed!

Seeräuber Jenny — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 17:43:29 EST

Before they make any assignments, they ask potential reviewers whether they can think of any reason why the author of the book might object.

Like whether the author gave a negative review to the reviewer's own book? I've read that's happened more than once.

In his eighteen years as an editor, he has never met Michiko Kakutani, the infamous Pulitzer-winning book critic for the daily paper.

Collegiality at its best.

One of the few times publisher Arthur Sulzberger, Jr. came to visit was in the summer of 2005, when he stopped by to tell the editors they had balls "as big as basketballs" for running Richard Posner's doomsday-for-journalism piece.

Running a piece about an issue plain to all is treated as a revolutionary act?

Seeräuber Jenny

Secret Workings Of 'Times' Book Review Exposed!

melaco — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 17:09:39 EST

Tanenhous is brilliant on the NYTimes Book Review blog. I listen every week. If he decides to give up the Times, he can always take up a career with NPR.

melaco

Secret Workings Of 'Times' Book Review Exposed!

Pandora Spocks — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 15:53:16 EST

I would love to be one of the deciders.
Oh revenge, thou art sweet.

Pandora Spocks

Secret Workings Of 'Times' Book Review Exposed!

Pete Gaines — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 15:38:35 EST

Andie, you've been testing something out all day...what gives?

Pete Gaines

Secret Workings Of 'Times' Book Review Exposed!

whatever — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 15:35:59 EST

Does it say something sick about me that, after reading this, I find the people at NYTBR completely fuckable? The intellect. The self-deprecation. The black humor. I want it in my bed, now.

whatever

Secret Workings Of 'Times' Book Review Exposed!

Lady Andrea — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 15:16:35 EST

Just testing something out, don't mind me...

Lady Andrea