The oldest known literature, written in the Sumerian language, dates back to the Middle Bronze Age (circa 2600 BCE). War is as old as mankind. At some unknown point in time, the two came together. The result is the literature of war.
On Memorial Day, as we commemorate those who have served and sacrificed for the freedom the rest of us enjoy, my thoughts turn to the variations on a theme known as the literature of war. War has been expressed through every written art form, including novels, poetry, memoir, essay and graphic literature. It is history viewed through the lens of each author.
Through literature, war has been glorified and vilified, made just and unjust, raised up to soaring beauty and razed down to something incomprehensively ugly. The literary depiction of war depends on whether the writer views it as winning or losing – not necessarily the actual battle, it can also be about the moral battle within one’s conscience.
Writers are challenged to convey to non-combatants, what combat is like. What the aftermath is like. How it changes those who engage in it and those who find themselves caught up in it.
As long as there is war, humanity will try to express its impact through literature. Try to give it meaning. Try to make madness logical. Mankind has never learned enough about war to end it. War literature represents mankind’s eternal paradox in words.
Have I misjudged James Patterson? This best-selling author, known primarily for thrillers, has received mixed reviews from his peers. Many consider him more of an industry than an artist, churning out book after book. I’ve shared that view.
Honestly, I haven’t been fair to the man. I haven’t read any of his books. I tend to be suspicious of authors who constantly publish new work and self-promote on TV. Although I enjoy psychological thrillers (his predominant genre), I don’t know if his style is my cup of tea. But I’ve decided to check out Patterson’s books.
What made me reconsider Patterson is his recent Salon interview on trying to save an imperiled book industry. In the Salon interview, Patterson cites how governments of other countries support their publishing industry and suggests ways our country can step up to the challenge. The Salon interview followed on the heels of ads Patterson published in the New York Times Book Review and Publishers Weekly calling for individual, corporate and government support of book stores, libraries and reading.
Some have accused Patterson of using this platform to sell more of his books. I disagree. For several years, without fanfare, he has established hundreds of educational scholarships and donated thousands of books to libraries. He also created ReadKiddoRead.com, which helps parents, teachers, and librarians find the best books for their children.
In the world of commerce, change is inevitable. The emergence of self-publishing provides more opportunities for writers to get their work produced; eReaders make books more portable; online booksellers and big box discounters offer books at lower prices. If we are complacent, these good changes will come at a cost we cannot afford: losing the traditional publishers that produce enduring classics, along with the bookstores and libraries that keep the classics in circulation. It would be wonderful if support came solely from private interests but it has not been enough. There is a role for our government to assist in the promotion, protection and preservation of enduring American literature. Our role is to demand this assistance.
As noted in last week’s blog, I went to Boston for my son’s graduation. While there, I visited the legendary Harvard Coop in Cambridge. Being in a place so filled to the brim with books and other treats for bibliophiles, I was reminded of a scene in the 1984 comedy-drama film Moscow on the Hudson where Soviet circus performer-turned-defector Vladimir Ivanov (Robin Williams) visits his first U.S. supermarket. Confronted with rows upon rows of various toilet paper choices, he is overwhelmed and faints. That’s how I felt at the Harvard Coop: all that artistry with stories, language, facts and imagination tucked into these magical things called books! I couldn’t buy all of them but how could I choose from among so many temptations?
Away from the obligations and distractions of home, I also leisurely dipped into the New York Times Book Review. It reviews only 2-3 percent of the books that are submitted, only books published in the United States and available through general-interest bookstores, and generally not self-published books. I marveled at the variety of new works that were elevated by appearing in the Review. Those books would soon find their places alongside the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves at the Harvard Coop, other stores around the country, and countless internet bookseller sites. But what about all the great books they didn’t review?
As daunting as it is for readers like me (and you) to choose books in which to invest our time, money and attention, imagine how challenging it is for most authors to get us to choose their books. This challenge is amplified many times over for newer authors, who have not developed a following. Like the Hollywood studio system of yesteryear, the publishing industry that rolled out new authors with national promotions and nurtured their careers no longer exists.
There is a lot of literary talent left in the shadows because most authors are not marketing-savvy. With the emergence of self-publishing services alongside an increase in small publishing houses, authors have new avenues to get their work published. But being published does not automatically equate with selling books, as many a disillusioned novice author has discovered. Authors must maximize their marketing efforts if they want to sell their books.
After months of anticipation, I am happy to announce that my webcast show Book●ed is about to go into production, with a global launch date coming this June. The show will be a lively, entertaining half-hour introducing authors and their recently published books. A new edition of Book●ed will debut every week and then be available 24/7 on our website, as well as other websites and social media. The marketing mix offered to authors is unique among literary webcasts. To find out more about the webcasts and follow our guests, please visit www.bookedwebcast.com. Don’t forget to sign up for email reminders of our weekly blog updates. If you’re an author with a great recently published book, check my website for submission guidelines.
Booklovers visiting the Boston area should take the T red line to Harvard Square and visit the Harvard Coop and (for used scholarly books) Raven Used Books.
No blog entry this weekend. I will be in Boston for the May 3rd graduation of my son from Northeastern University. With a mother’s pride, I congratulate Ian Vincent Delmar, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs — Magna Cum Laude!
