American Booksellers Association and Abigail Shrier

[lionheart]

Sorry if there is already a thread--I couldn't find it.

I have really enjoyed reading several books recommended on here. I have created a section on the book case in my living room for them and some are turned to face the room, in the manner of the politician zoom interview book case.
I have also discovered Hive, so it is all good.
I read Irreversible Damage when it first came out. It will stay clearly visible when we are allowed visitors again.

@thymeofmylife

The booksellers of America are free to stock the book if they choose. No-one has banned it. The ABA are a trade association who support booksellers, they don't have any power over what shops stock.

The point >>>>>You

But I expect you knew that

Just clarifying! Not trying to miss any points. Lots of comments here saying stupid booksellers can't read, and that American booksellers will be missing the chance to sell the book. Just wanted to point out that's not factually accurate.

The ABA aren't responsible for their members' decisions on what to stock, and they're not the only body promoting those titles - publishers will do that directly too.

I think you’re missing the point Thyme! Nobody has said the ABA will be physically preventing booksellers from stocking the book but it is inevitable there will be an impact. If you were a bookseller who wasn’t au fait with the issues and this happens it’s going to give you pause before stocking the book let alone putting it in a window display as you might do with other potential bestsellers. You don’t want to be a bad person and you also don’t want your shop to come under attack.

This statement has a whiff of coercive control.

@TheCountessofFitzdotterel

I think you’re missing the point Thyme! Nobody has said the ABA will be physically preventing booksellers from stocking the book but it is inevitable there will be an impact. If you were a bookseller who wasn’t au fait with the issues and this happens it’s going to give you pause before stocking the book let alone putting it in a window display as you might do with other potential bestsellers. You don’t want to be a bad person and you also don’t want your shop to come under attack.

Well exactly. You're hardly going to want to stick a book if just sending it to someone is doing 'horrific harm' and is 'violent'.

Now any bookseller who does stock it will have to admit to being aware of the horrific harm the book causes and stocked it anyway.

So much for the first amendment

thymeofmylife

However, the ABA has practically announced that it is now in the business of censorship. And it is elevating a small group’s desire to have that kind of influence over what American’s read over all other groups.

Which other group would it do this for?

The statement will also mean that should you run into any kind of trouble through stocking the book the ABA won’t support you.

Book banning in America was on the radio when I was there in 1999. They wanted Harry Potter out of schools (witchcraft is of the devil) but the discussion included "Wizard of Oz," an American classic.

I think there are areas of conservative religious bias where this practice is long established in schools and public libraries. I am a teacher, so am not suggesting my school library should stock, or issue, any book. However, the idea that books are dangerous seems to be well established there, making this issue far less controversial than here.

Which is weird given the constitution.

Books are, indeed, dangerous. Very dangerous: they make you think.

But what is even more dangerous is people not allowing you to think. People not allowing you you refute statements made in books. People not allowing you to defend statements made in books.

Long live dangerous books!

Clymene--Amen, sister!

@PikesPeaked

Books are, indeed, dangerous. Very dangerous: they make you think.

But what is even more dangerous is people not allowing you to think. People not allowing you you refute statements made in books. People not allowing you to defend statements made in books.

Long live dangerous books!

Hooray!

Immediately makes me think of the long history of dangerous books.

I think there are areas of conservative religious bias where this practice is long established in schools and public libraries.

Always makes me wonder if the people objecting have ever actually read the Bible. Pretty much includes reference to everything they object to.

@AfternoonToffee

I think there are areas of conservative religious bias where this practice is long established in schools and public libraries.

Always makes me wonder if the people objecting have ever actually read the Bible. Pretty much includes reference to everything they object to.

Having grown up with religion I know is quite true. They pick and choose verses.

And to the point below about the first amendment-hahaha lots of religious conservatives in America think God is above government. It's frankly anti-American and I personally think it's unpatriotic :)

*this is quite true

That apology is straight up grovelly masochist porn. Very silly.

I would say parody but actually it’s fairly in line with what I’ve come to expect at this point.

Haven't actually read this one so not sure how "violent" it is but I was curious and looked on Amazon US. Paperback appears to be sold out and the book is at #9 on Amazon's bestsellers. Streisand Effect strikes again...

I have the JKR book Troubled Blood, which has a lot of false reviews claiming the book is 900+ pages of transphobia

Do you think they muddled up the books? Silkworm (spoiler alert) has a fairly central trans character, to whom Strike is mildly abrasive and Robin shows a kind of exasperated sisterliness (i.e. the sort she expends on her own impulsive younger brother). Mostly, they forgive an attempted stabbing because the character is clearly going through a difficult time. Hmmm.

Troubled Blood does mention crossdressing (twice in 900 pages, ooh err) but not transgenderism.

@IsItShining

I have the JKR book Troubled Blood, which has a lot of false reviews claiming the book is 900+ pages of transphobia

Do you think they muddled up the books? Silkworm (spoiler alert) has a fairly central trans character, to whom Strike is mildly abrasive and Robin shows a kind of exasperated sisterliness (i.e. the sort she expends on her own impulsive younger brother). Mostly, they forgive an attempted stabbing because the character is clearly going through a difficult time. Hmmm.

Troubled Blood does mention crossdressing (twice in 900 pages, ooh err) but not transgenderism.

No, I don't think they have muddled it up, I think they've misrepresented it on purpose knowing most people who will believe them won't bother to read it themselves and find out the truth.

What she wrote doesn't matter, it's what they can convince people she wrote that's important.

@ScreamingMeMe

For added context, Grace featured on the recent 60 minutes report on transhealth and has founded a transhealth network.

www.newsweek.com/theres-no-standard-care-when-it-comes-trans-medicine-opinion-1603450

"@AnneOgborn
Replace every single person on your selection committee with a trans person. Commit to sending a pro trans book with every order for the next 5 years and drop the book's publisher, and any other publisher who publishes hate. Publish a complete account of how this happened, including names of all employees involved. Fire all involved in the decision and their managers, transitively up to the CEO."

--Fire them? That seems weak. Shouldn't they be tied to stakes and set on fire upon a bonfire of Shrier's books? And the account be written in a quill dipped in blood? I mean, that seems to be the least one can do for this violency harm.

Crossdressing comes under the "trans umbrella", apparently.

IsItShining

To mix them up, they would have to have read both books. They haven't read a single page!

To be honest, seeing all the activists who didn't buy the earlier books in the series, claiming that they did, has been a wonderful source of amusement online. One activist got in an argument on twitter, claiming that there was no "lesbian representation" in Troubled Blood.