Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes before a book makes its way into your hands, or onto your reading device?
Literary agents play a major role in that process, yet their influence on the publishing world and literature often goes unnoticed. Laura B. McGrath’s Middlemen: Literary Agents and the Making of American Fiction, takes readers behind the scenes to explore how literary agents have shaped American literature form the 1950s to today.
McGrath’s research examines the roles agents take on in the publishing world, such as advocating for authors, acting as intermediaries between writers and publishers, and navigating the balance between artistic value and the business demands of publishing conglomerates. She also explores other aspects of the profession, including how agents find their first clients, the importance of foreign rights, how literary value is determined, and the influence agents have over an author’s success.
While reading the chapter “The Lunch,” I was surprised to learn that Joseph Heller became the first client for the highly influential literary agent Candida Donadio after his manuscript for Catch-22 was rejected by editors. Donadio helped get the novel published launching her illustrious career and playing an important part in Heller’s success. This is just one example of how much influence an agent can have on an author’s career, and the books that become part of American literature.
Readers interested in a detailed account of literary agents and their impact on American literature and the publishing industry will enjoy this read while gaining valuable insight into both fields.
Next, we have a book that centers on the relationship between readers and reading. Every Day I Read: 53 Ways to Get Closer to Books by Hwang Bo-Reum (translated by Shanna Tan) is filled with fifty-three short essays that touch upon some of our shared experiences as readers such as, not finishing reading a book, forgetting what we just read, and deciding what books to keep on our bookshelves when decluttering.
She offers advice on how to expand how we read, and shares her perspective on a variety of literary topics such as eBooks, book clubs, library visits, and indie bookshops. As you read the essays, you will encounter book titles relevant to each essay’s topic. For example, the essay, “Read Big Books” mentions Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari, and describes reading it as feeling like a breathtaking hike. Nonetheless she enjoyed every moment.
Bo-Reum’s book is an easy read, but more importantly, she efficiently communicates her thoughts and perspectives on a variety of literary topics while establishing shared experiences that readers will find both relatable and refreshing.
Finally, we have a memoir by Oliver James, Unread: A Memoir of Learning (and Loving) to Read on TikTok. James shares his experience on how childhood learning disabilities and educational neglect led him to graduate from high school while being illiterate. At the age of thirty-two, James was motivated by his dreams and committed himself to learning how to read through books, audiobooks, voice-to-text, the support of others, and singing on TikTok Live, where he needed to read song lyrics in order to sing as an online audience cheered him on. Shortly after, he began reading live online to hundreds of people, many of them educators, who supported him by reading along and helping him along the way.
James shares his reading challenges and victories and introduces a fundamental book in each chapter that shaped and informed his reading journey. He also gives us glimpses into how illiteracy and literacy have impacted his personal life.
His story serves as an opportunity to reflect on the reality that, while reading may be commonly perceived as a skill many possess, today there are adults who continue to strive for literacy, and encourages us to cheer on those who are working toward improving their well-being.
Keep on reading and visit A.K. Smiley Public Library to find a book that resonates with you.
Celina Lozano is a library specialist at A.K. Smiley Public Library.