Monday Guest Blog by Lisa
May 26, 2008
These pictures seemed apt with the following talk of heat and light. Thanks to Rich, my glassblower brother for letting me snap his glassworks.
Just a quick blog today, since it’s a bank holiday here and I’ve only been out of my pit for approximately three minutes.
The Observer’s literary editor, Robert McCrum, who stood down this month after ten years, has written an interesting article ‘Ten years that changed the world of books,’ where he talks about Amazon, book festivals, the kindle, and even ‘Blogs vs Reviewing.’ Excitingly, he says: ‘Now these book blogs – in Britain, for example, a highly responsible site like Vulpes Libris – could take over and hand the power back to – time honoured term – the Common Reader.’
He also says, however, that ‘My view is that the Common Reader generates more heat than light.’
In crass capitalistic style, I couldn’t help but wonder if ‘light’ sells more books than ‘heat’ sells?
And who exactly is the Common Reader? Is it me?- a reader of litfic, chicklit and Andy McNab? Is it my dad? – who reads mostly non-fiction and Tom Clancy? Or maybe it’s my college friend, who reads poetry and erotic thrillers?
Does the Common Reader even have a specific taste, or do they read pretty much whatever comes to their attention? My colleague, Mary, wrote an article ‘Too much of a good thing?’ which contended that there were too many books being published. A commenter on the piece, Jim Murdoch, made the interesting point:
The ease with which one can get a book into print now is a real problem because of the lack of proper editorial control so we are awash with books and how does one tell the good from the bad? So, what do most readers do when faced with a mountain of books? They pick from the outside, from what they can get to with ease.
So where does that leave a small new publisher of literary fiction like Two Ravens Press? Richard and Judy, Tesco and Waterstone’s 3for2s would certainly make these books accessible, but R&J is as available as the holy grail and Tesco and the 3for2s could also be thought of as problematic because of high discounting. Which leaves what? Perhaps word of mouth generated by newspaper reviews and book blog reviews, and the resulting heat of that elusive creature, the Common Reader?
Lisa Glass blogs as part of the Vulpes Libris (Book Fox) collective. Her novel, Prince Rupert’s Teardrop, is out in paperback now.
Oh great post Ms Lisa. And I have to agree that the Common Reader is a rather ambiguous title – I am both common and a reader but I read everything I can get my paws on. I don’t know many people who read as eclectically as I do. But I do love the thought that I might have just a chink of power to go with my common-ness.
And beautiful glass photo… I love coloured glass – so shiny :)
I too am both common and a reader! :)
Glad you like the pictures. One half of the glassworks is dim, only lit by a hellish hot furnace and littered with broken glass, and the other half is full of high windows, beautiful objects, with the light bouncing on everything. You can see now why I was so inspired to write about glassmaking in PRT!
Interesting, Lisa. I wondered too what Mr McCrum meant by that sentence about the Common Reader generating more heat than light. Did he mean theirs is an inefficient enthusiasm? But who knows what we all get from the books we read and of what value that it? Personally I think if a person is moved by a book who can judge if the direction they’re moved in is the right one?
Sorry for getting all philosophical. And the photos are great! Are the things that look like wheels scultures or do they have a function?
Mary
Yes, I was wondering whether light was supposed to signify ‘head’ and a cool, more measured intellectualism, whereas heat was more ‘heart’ and passionate tub thumping, if you like. So maybe the theory is that light is brought by literary critics but heat is generated by bloggers? That’s just my interpretation of the comment, and I’m probably completely wrong. Who knows?! Interesting to think about, and dare I say, fun to disagree with ;-)
Sculptures, I do believe. :)
‘So maybe the theory is that light is brought by literary critics but heat is generated by bloggers?’
I interpreted it this way too, Lisa – though I don’t think the ‘heat’ part necessarily refers to tub-thumping. I thought it might mean that bloggers talk about books, get the word out, but rarely shed much light on the works and their place in literary history/culture/food chain/take your pick. Buzz vs. (ideal) literary criticism, as it were.
Yes, that makes sense, Lisa and Leena. I think I was thinking about inefficiency in lightbulbs or something. But I’ll have to think more about this to see if I agree.
Ah yes, Leena, that does make sense. I wondered if it might refer to potentially ‘heated’ blogger opinions, when compared to the allegedly (wrong word, but can’t think of a better) more measured opinion of literary critics – I think McCrum used the word ‘measured’ of lit critics in the “Fox in the City” piece we ran on Vulpes – but yes, I can see it might well relate to getting the word out.
Mary, the lightbulb analogy occurred to me.
Offline today, but will think some more and come back.
Oh that’s a good point Lisa – the ‘measured’ bit didn’t occur to me. Hmm. I think you’re right…
I absolutely agree that the lack of editorial control is an issue in so many books being published, but on the other hand getting them into the stores is no easier and arguably harder than it ever was before, so perhaps somewhere down the line the process evens itself out … And of course support from media, reviewers and literary blogs are critical in drawing attention to good books and can help those who are motivated to wade through the morass to find something good. We’re also hopeful that at TRP we’ve created a blog and a website that will help draw like-minded readers to our books. On your 3 for 2 point: we’ve done a number of Waterstones 3 for 2s now (Scottish stores only) and have a Borders Scottish Book of the Month coming up with ‘Cleave’ and they do for sure raise the profile of the press and (sometimes, not always!) of the book. But they are absolutely crippling – not just the intensely high discounts, but the inevitable high level of returns as soon as the promotion as ended. To be entered into very carefully!
I think this heat/light debate is interesting. My take on McCrum’s contrast was this. The light shone on a book comes from its reviews, its press coverage, its promotion in the stores, its celebrity author, its glitz and glamour. But its real value comes from the heat the Common Reader can generate around the book – the word of mouth, the genuine, non-agenda seeking critique, the warmth and energy for a book, the real substance of a book rather than its shininess as a commodity.
J David, that’s a really good point. Hadn’t thought of it that way.