Paper Review
A quick read through the weekends papers – with as much as I could find about children’s lit, writing and bits…
Starting at home – the Irish Times have an anonymous review (I can’t find a byline) of Blood Upon the Rose: Easter 1916, The Rebellion that Set Ireland Free (snappy title!). And with the launch earlier in the week of Campaign for the Arts, Gerry Godley gives us the Five ways culture can save us…
Even four or five years ago, we were lucky to have one shop that did graphic novels, whereas now, 20 of our largest stores have spinner stands, and O’Connell Street now has a shrine, a whole area dedicated to graphic novels, and it’s just growing and growing. It has become cool. If you were sitting on a bus reading Batman 10 years ago you’d have been sniggered at, whereas now if you’re reading it, it’s pretty cool . . . There’s no shame in it. Ten years ago you’d be called a saddo, but now you see men in business suits, everyone delving in. – David O’Callaghan, of Easons fame, in the Irish Times
In the Irish Independent – John Spain rests with the undead and has a chat to Dacre Stoker (Bram’s great gran-nephew) about Dracula: The Un-Dead. And if you were lucky enough to pick up a hardcopy of Saturday’s Independent you could be the owner of the first Disney Literature Classics – a series of 20 starting last week.
Not all is rosy in the comic world – the New York Times (and others) report that Disney are already having rights issues with Marvel characters. Dick Cook is no longer chairman of Walt Disney Studios and the company are looking at buying Vimanika Comics, an Indian based company publishing in English and Hindi. And if that wasn’t enough Marvel fan-boyism… the Independent UK and Guardian both review Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 to boot. (See! Dave O’Callaghan wasn’t lying – even the Independent is reviewing comics/games these days…)
Amanda Craig in the Times UK has a read of Hilary McKay’s Wishing for Tomorrow and Bryan Appleyard has a look at Ian Rankin’s first graphic offering Dark Entries (featuring John Constantine). Lucy Mangan in the Guardian remembers Ladybird Books, Publishers Weekly has a massive review round-up and the Guardian Film Blog review Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.
Geraldine McCaughrean made a brave but doomed stab at a sequel to Peter Pan; this is another questionable enterprise. It’s clever, sweet, lively and well-written — but not, like its original, sublime. – Amanda Craig on Hilary McKay’s Wishing for Tomorrow.
The New York Times has a great story on South African kids protesting for libraries (and librarians!) – Banned Book Week gets a manifesto – The Author Vetting row in the UK is, hopefully, coming to an end – the Booktrust Teenage Prize shortlist is out – and Booktrust had another prize ceremony this week too.
Barbie is finally going to get her own mainstream feature film – Adam Roberts ponders why there has never been a sci-fi Booker Prize winner – Sexism in fantasy anthologies? No, not us… – Rich Pelley talks with The Simpsons’ Comic Book Guy – and the Independent UK are offering one lucky divil the chance to be at the launch of And Another Thing!!
Those young enough to be going back to school are donning uniforms, pulling on shoes and strapping up bags and it looks like a few publishers are pulling up their socks too. Specifically, 
