The Guardian Children's Fiction Prize is my age, 39 years old!
I haven't read a single one of this year's longlisted books which may say something about me, but, I feel, much more about the bookstores in the Klang Valley and lots about our local distributors.
Is it possible for a children's book reviewer and columnist to do her job when she doesn't receive any good books for review?
People say to me, "You're so lucky. Your job is so cool. You get all these books for free. You get to read them before everyone does."
Hahahahah. Don't make me laugh.
Of course it's true that I am given many books, but I don't actually want to read many of them. And I certainly don't read all of them. Don't be shocked. Surely you realise that I am a mother of three and my (fulltime) job involves more than just writing about books and reviewing them.
I do review books, but obviously I can't review every book published. I have to pick and choose and, naturally, I'd prefer to review well-written books with interesting, original plots and characters. Why waste the limited space the newspaper has for books on pulp (unless we're talking phenomenal pulp like Harry Potter or the Da Vinci Code - newsworthy pulp that you have to give a few inches of space just because you're in the business of news)?
Well, if I had to rely on book distributors, I would be reviewing mostly pulp.
I read in the foreign press about a fabulous new book or I see something interesting in a catalogue, but when I ask for a copy the distributors either haven't heard of it or they say, "We have no copies for review."
The same distributors say I don't review their books. They mean the latest instalment of some formulaic fantasy series, very likely produced by a packaging house to fill the gap til the next Harry Potter book or, anyway, to take advantage of the demand, created by Rowling, for series about children with newfound magical powers. That and books about bitchy little girls who attend private school and wear too much lipgloss.
I buy many of the books I review. When I see something really good I know I probably have to pay for it - not that I think I shouldn't have to pay for books - I would, gladly if it was simply a matter of buying a good book for my own reading pleasure, but I wonder if it's entirely fair that I should have to use my own wages to help companies with lots more money than I will ever make in a lifetime pay for its marketing and PR.
Some marketing execs will call me and say, "Could you please tell me when a review will be out?"
What? You mean, I have to buy the book, read it, write the review as well as save you the bother of looking out for the write-up? Maybe I should even start a clippings folder just so you have to make absolutely no effort to show your bosses that you're doing your job.
Sorry, but it's all beginning to get to me.
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