Scarlett Thomas has been among the more interesting British authors to follow in recent years, and several of her books are under review at the complete review:
There are not that many English-writing authors whose next books I am always on the look-out for, but Thomas is definitely one of them, and so I was excited to hear about her new release, The Seed Collectors -- and then shocked to hear that while it had a UK publisher, Canongate (see their publicity page, or get your copy at Amazon.co.uk), no one in the US has picked it up yet.
Apparently, as Thomas tweeted, it was:
Now Laura Miller wonders Did Scarlett Thomas Miss Her Chance ? at Slate, taking a closer look at the circumstances here.
I remain baffled: Thomas isn't a marginal novelist that poses a big risk. Sure, literary stuff doesn't sell, in the best of circumstances (see my previous post), but surely it's obvious that Thomas is a major talent worthy of continued support (and with some real break-out potential somewhere down the line). That American publishers shy away even from this is a very sad sign of the state of commercial publishing in the US.
Apparently, as Thomas tweeted, it was:
Too weird, British, far too much sex, 'unlikeable' characters who drink too much...I've had the opportunity to read it since, and wasn't disappointed. (I did read it 'only' in e-format, which is the main reason I haven't posted a review yet; I really find it difficult to deal with books, and especially review something like this, without being able to fall back on the printed format .....)
Now Laura Miller wonders Did Scarlett Thomas Miss Her Chance ? at Slate, taking a closer look at the circumstances here.
I remain baffled: Thomas isn't a marginal novelist that poses a big risk. Sure, literary stuff doesn't sell, in the best of circumstances (see my previous post), but surely it's obvious that Thomas is a major talent worthy of continued support (and with some real break-out potential somewhere down the line). That American publishers shy away even from this is a very sad sign of the state of commercial publishing in the US.