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Ron Charles Takes 60 Seconds to Save Book Reviewing

Ron Charles, the fiction editor at Washington Post‘s Book World, put down his pen for a video book review last week.

He explained in the video embedded above: “I know you can’t be expected to read a whole book review in a newspaper anymore. No, you need book reviews that are fast, casual, video! So this is the first in a series of weekly video book reviews in just 60 seconds. Don’t believe me? Keep your eyes on the clock.” He tweeted the link to his YouTube upload and was met with a wave of enthusiasm.

The first video featured My Hollywood by Mona Simpson. This novel took 10 years for Simpson to complete. Her reason? “It’s the book that took me too long because it meant too much to me.”

This summer, librarian and author Michelle Zuffo created the video review site In the Stacks. Comparative literature professor Giovanna Calvino started Amateur Thursdays for video reviews as well.

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Thursday May 23: Real Talk about Life after Publication

These days, writers aren’t just writers: They’re social-media mavens, seasoned public speakers, and one-person publicity machines. And they still have to find time to write their books! Find out what life is like once you've landed that dream book contract in a free web chat with young-adult authors Elizabeth Norris (Unraveling and Unbreakable) and Brodi Ashton (Everneath and Everbound) — plus special guest Kristin Rens, editor at HarperCollins imprint Balzer + Bray. Thursday, May 23 at 7:00 p.m. ET. on Figment.com.