James Metcalf on the fictionality of the latest archaeological page-turners
Stephen Puddicombe looks at the unusual appeal of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot
Ciaran Rafferty investigates the science of book classification
Is children’s literature sexist?
A study by Florida State University has revealed that there is a big gender imbalance in the world of children’s book. The study, conducted between 1990 and 2000, found that males are central characters in 57% of children's books published each year, with just 31% having female central characters. Male animals are central characters in 23% of books, while female animals star in only 7.5%. The authors of the study have suggested that this points to the “symbolic annihilation of women and girls” in children’s literature, sending a negative message to children. Children’s authors have been divided on the matter, with some arguing that it is because girls read books with male or female main characters, whereas boys only read ones with male main characters. Others argue that women authors have had an extensive influence on children’s literature, but with quality rather than quantity.
Author sets up “one book” shop
If you’re an author and having trouble flogging your newly published book why not do what Andrew Kessler has done and set up a shop selling only your book? That’s right, the shop in New York stocks only one title – Martian Summer by Andrew Kessler. The project, which he calls “monobookism”, was started last month after Kessler was worried that his book about the 2008 Nasa mission to Mars would go unnoticed. With over 3,000 copies of the book in the store, they were stocked under "new and noteworthy" section, under "new in non-fiction", under "science" – and even with a sign for the wary, "We have one book but we're NOT scientologists", sitting outside. Well it’s one way to shift books.
New Da Vinci show for National Gallery
The National Gallery in London will be showing a special exhibition of Leonardo da Vinci’s paintings – half of them in one exhibition. Due to the extraordinary nature of the exhibition, which will feature seven of Da Vinci’s fourteen paintings, the National Gallery will be limiting visitor numbers. With the loans of the seven paintings being described as “miraculous”, this exhibition will be a treat for any Da Vinci, and so the gallery is taking the necessary precautions. The number of visitors will be limited to 180 per half hour instead of the usual 230 and tickets are on sale now despite the exhibition opening in November this year.
The show will focus on Leonardo's paintings and drawings while he was court painter to Milan's ruler, Ludovico Sforza. Unfortunately the Mona Lisa will be staying in the Louvre in Paris, as Luke Syson the curator of the exhibition explained: "The collecting staff there would rather rush round naked than lend it”.
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