My favorite bookish links from the week of August 29 – September 2:
Food Manga: Where Culture, Conflict And Cooking All Collide
“In Japan, nearly every interest has a manga dedicated to it, whether it’s sports, music or shooting pool. So it’s no wonder that food, which has always been tied to Japan’s cultural identity, has skyrocketed as a genre of manga, which represents about 40 percent of all books published in that country.”
Kwame Alexander on Children’s Books and the Color of Characters
“When we segregate literature, we focus only on mirrors. Certainly, seeing yourself in books is necessary and crucial to the development of identity … but not allowing those same books to serve as windows into the lives of others will most certainly limit imagination and possibility.”
‘Book Ninjas’ Are Hiding Free Books on Melbourne’s Trams, Trains and Buses
“Book ninjas’ have been leaving hundreds of free books – classics, bestsellers and new releases – on Melbourne’s inner city train, tram and bus lines, in a subversive attempt to bring reading back to workers’ commutes.”
Glare of Disdain
Gene Luen Yang, the national ambassador for young people’s literature, writes a comic piece about books’ ability to be both windows into other people’s lives as well as mirrors of our own.
The Furry Faces of Bookselling: Bookstore Pets
“With bookstore companions ranging from cuddly cats and friendly dogs to guinea pigs, birds, and potbellied pigs, indie booksellers around the country foster a sense of warmth and community in their stores while also setting themselves apart.”
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