It's bad enough that we have lost hundreds of independent bookstores in the last few years, but we are also losing newspaper book editors and book pages.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, for example, has just killed its book editor position, though it promises to keep covering book news.
Zachary Steele, the owner of an area bookstore, Wordsmiths Books, praised the former book editor, Teresa Weaver.
"How invaluable she has been over the years in fostering a sense of passion and enthusiasm for books that you do not typically see in metropolitan presses," he said. He called book lovers to arms. "It is time that the AJC recognize the importance of the literary world and its impact on the culture it breeds in Atlanta."
It's not likely that the newspaper will change its mind, however. When I worked for the Miami News, I complained about the space devoted to sports, with nothing devoted to books. Basically I was laughed at. But now even papers that once paid attention to the book world are bailing out.
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