Weekly book news items

Let's start a new weekly feature here at Too Beautiful. I'll find interesting articles about books, writers and publishing and post them once a week.

More crap   Poynter.org columnists Margo Hammond and Ellen Heltzel got a huge scoop last week, revealing the New York Times plans to de-emphasize literature in the NYT Book Review and emphasize non-fiction and "commercial novels."    Update: See my entry for Jan. 29.

Green with envy   Cecelia Ahern, 22-year-old daughter of the Irish prime minister, has garnered plenty of publicity and more than $1 million in advances for her first book, PS I Love You. Now the Irish populace is growing resentful of her lightning success, resorting to strong language to express their displeasure -- like "tosh."

Arthur Miller's visit to Fidel Castro   In 2000, Arthur Miller and other artists visited Cuba and were feted all night long by the leader. This article in The Nation is Miller's epilogue to Terry McCoy's book Cuba on the Verge.

Poetry bookstore to close   Grolier Poetry Book Shop in Cambridge (Mass.) is preparing to close after 77 years in business. This story brings the stunning news that a resident of Cambridge is called a Cantibrigian. Another Globe column talks about New England poets.