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Wednesday 16 december 2020 people & Arts
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Publishing saw upheaval in 2020, but 'books are resilient'

By HILLEL ITALIE Winfrey, Latino authors and
AP National Writer critics alleged that Cum-
NEW YORK (AP) — Book mins had reinforced stereo-
publishing in 2020 was a types about Mexico and
story of how much an in- Mexican immigrants. Along
dustry can change and with Cummins, Winfrey in-
how much it can, or wants vited a panel of detrac-
to, remain the same. tors who faulted an indus-
"A lot of what has hap- try that is an estimated 75
pened this year — if it were percent white, and the talk
a novel, I would say that it show host herself for choos-
had a little too much plot," ing few works by Latino
said Simon & Schuster CEO writers.
Jonathan Karp. In the following months,
Three narratives ran through leaders at the National
the book world for much Book Critics Circle, the Po-
of the year: an industry etry Foundation and In-
pressed to acknowledge ternational Thriller Writers
that the status quo was un- resigned or were forced
acceptable, an industry of- out amid allegations they
fering comfort and enlight- A pedestrian walks past boxes set up in front of book store Book Soup in West Hollywood, Calif., had failed to address is-
enment during traumatic on Oct. 16, 2020, to encourage shoppers to buy from independent book stores instead of online sues of diversity and racial
times, and an industry ever retailers like Amazon. justice. The Center for Fic-
more consolidated around Associated Press tion removed the late Max-
the power of Penguin Ran- well Perkins' name from its
dom House and Amazon. tor of open expression and lishing eventually released tigious Penguin Random award for editorial excel-
com. high ideals, but in 2020 de- it.) House imprints, Pantheon lence, noting that besides
To its benefit and to its dis- bates over diversity and Through it all, books man- and Schocken Books. working with Hemingway
may, publishing was drawn #MeToo highlighted blind aged to sell, keeping a An alarm bell rang early and F. Scott Fitzgerald he
into the events of the mo- spots about race and gen- steady pace at a time in the new year. Jeanine published books by eu-
ment. The pandemic halt- der and challenged the when film and theater, Cummins' novel about Mex- genicists supporting white
ed and threatened to wipe reputations of everyone among other industries, ican immigrants, "American supremacy.
out a decade of growth for from poetry publishers to faced dire questions about Dirt," had been widely cited Lucas and others ques-
independent bookstores, Oprah Winfrey, from book their future. as a top seller and critical tioned if the underlying
forced the postponement critics to the late editor of "My main takeaways from favorite for 2020 and was structure of publishing
of countless new releases Ernest Hemingway. Em- 2020 are that books are re- likened by "The Cartel" au- would change. Saraciea
and led to countless others ployees themselves helped silient and that the industry thor Don Winslow to John J. Fennell, who leads the
being forgotten. The annual take the lead: They staged has indicated a willingness Steinbeck's Depression- advocacy group of book
national convention, Book- protests in support of Black to change (about diver- era classic "The Grapes of professionals Latinx in Pub-
Expo, was called off and Lives Matters and walked sity) and to make opening Wrath." In January, Oprah lishing, worries that the
may be gone permanently off the job at Hachette gestures towards sufficient, Winfrey announced she wave of new hirings and
after show organizers Reed Book Group after the pub- industry-wide change," said had chosen it for her book imprints is simply cyclical
Exhibitions announced they lisher announced it had ac- Lisa Lucas, executive direc- club and Cummins began and asked, "How long are
were "retiring" it. quired Woody Allen's mem- tor of the National Book a nationwide tour. they going to last? Is all this
The industry had long re- oir, which Hachette soon Foundation, who next year But to the surprise of the going to be around in 10-15
garded itself as a facilita- dropped. ( Skyhorse Pub- will take over at two pres- publisher, Macmillan, and years?" q

Legoland theme park in Florida plans expansion, new rides

nearest the attraction. park's opening on the for- in place. An unknown num-
The details have not been mer site of Cypress Gar- ber of jobs were eliminated.
revealed, but news outlets dens. Legoland operates eight
report Legoland will add Legoland Florida has ex- theme parks around the
about 4.5 acres (1.8 hect- panded repeatedly since world, including in Den-
ares) to its resort near Win- opening in October 2011. mark, Germany, Malay-
ter Haven. The plan comes The park unveiled its first ho- sia, Japan, California and
amid the global corona- tel in 2015, added the off- Dubai.q
virus pandemic that has site Legoland Beach Re-
rocked Florida's tourism in- treat in 2017 and opened Solution Sudoku
dustry. Pirate Island Hotel earlier
A rendition of the new area this year. 12/16 2 4 9 6 7 3 5 1 8 Difficulty Level
shows at least six rides or at- Like other Florida theme
tractions and a large build- parks, Legoland Florida 5 3 1 2 9 8 7 6 4
ing, possibly a restaurant. closed in March after 6 7 8 1 5 4 9 2 3
In this Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011, file photo, a worker puts finish- Legoland Florida spokes- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis 9 2 4 8 3 5 1 7 6
ing touches on the entrance sign at Legoland Florida in Winter 2020 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc. 7 8 3 9 6 1 2 4 5
Haven, Fla. woman Kelly Hornick told declared a state of emer-
Associated Press The Ledger in Lakeland that gency in response to the 1 6 5 4 2 7 8 3 9
more would be revealed spread of COVID-19. Lego- 3 9 6 7 8 2 4 5 1
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) — pansion next year includ- about the expansion plans land reopened June 1 with 8 1 2 5 4 6 3 9 7
The Legoland theme park ing new rides, according in 2021 — which is the 10th restrictions on attendance 4 5 7 3 1 9 6 8 2
in Florida is planning an ex- to plans filed with the city anniversary of the theme and other health measures Puzzle on Page 13