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Stephen King Issues Apology to Clowns
But you can save your sorries because Alec Baldwin is NOT hearing that noise…And other literary news from around the web
Well, it’s been a quiet day in the book world…Wait, no it hasn’t.
Stephen King Acknowledges Damage to Clowning Industry
Bravely taking to Twitter, Stephen King has taken the first step in a reconciliation with his longtime foe — clowns. The famed horror writer acknowledged that his murderous clown — Pennywise, from the novel It — has caused the goofball industry significant damage over the years. And while King stopped short of taking full responsibility, “sorry” is a start.
The clowns are pissed at me. Sorry, most are great. BUT…kids have always been scared of clowns. Don't kill the messengers for the message.
However, with the trailer for the new film adaptation of It reaching nearly 200,000,000 views within a day of release, it seems likely that the problem may very well continue, or even worsen. Clowning industry veteran reportedly called the situation “very bad.” Not pie-in-the-face bad, but definitely worse than whoopie-cushions. [The Huffington Post/Katherine Brooks]
Indonesian X-Men Illustrator Faces Religious Backlash
Marvel and artist Ardian Syaf are facing criticism this week over illustrations that were inclucded in the most recent X-Men: Gold release. Images inside the comic included “212” and “QS 5:51” in background detail. Those figures are reportedly a reference to Tjahaja Purnama, the first Christian mayor of Jakarta, who previously asked residents to disregard a verse from the Qu’ran, Al Maidah 5:51, that instructs Muslims not to be led by non-Muslims. (“212” refers to a protest against Purnama.) Taking to Facebook, Syaf apologized for his actions and wrote “my career is over now.” [The Guardian/Danuta Kean]
Alec Baldwin Complains About Sloppy Memoir Editing
The actor’s new memoir, Nevertheless, is apparently not up to his exacting standards. Baldwin lashed out at publisher HarperCollins, which he admonished for not doing “a proper and forensic edit of the material.” The former 30 Rock star will be updating his promotional Facebook page with corrections as he sees fit. Despire citing “SEVERAL typos and errors” as his primary gripe, Baldwin’s first update concerned an issue of phrasing, with the actor clarifying that his declaration of love for a variety of female co-stars was meant as an admiration of talent rather than an expression of romantic lust. Sounds like a perfectly legitimate beef. [The Guardian/Danuta Kean]
Whitehead, Als & Nottage Win Pulitzers
The Folio Prize Returns
After a 2016 hiatus the Folio Prize has returned with revamped funding and a new wrinkle: now non-fiction writers are also in contention for the £20,000 award. Founded in 2011 as a rival to the Booker Prize, the Folio rewards literary writing that does not necessarily conform to standards of “readability” and commercial success. Check out the shortlist below:
— The Vanishing Man by Laura Cumming (Chatto & Windus)
— The Return by Hisham Matar (Viking)
— This Census-Taker by China Miéville (Picador)
— The Sport of Kings by CE Morgan (4th Estate)
— The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson (Melville House)
— Golden Hill by Francis Spufford (Faber & Faber)
— Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien (Granta)
— Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War by Robin Yassin-Kassab and Leila Al-Shami (Pluto Press)
[The Guardian/Sian Cain]
