Reading about the reading life: May 25, 2018 edition

Welcome to another edition of "Reading about the reading life" here at The Itinerant Librarian. This is where I collect stories about reading and the reading life. Basically, these are items related to reading, maybe writing and literacy, that I find interesting and think my four readers might find interesting as well with a little commentary. As with other features I do on this blog, I do it when I have time or feel like it. Comments are always welcome (within reason).

Welcome to a Memorial Day weekend edition of "Reading about the reading life." Let's have a look at the stories for this week:

• The #MeToo movement is everywhere these days. Pervert assholes are everywhere, even in the book world. As a result, many people and organizations are doing what they can to separate themselves from such assholes. This bookstore is one of a few that are removing books written by an accused sexual harasser, Junot Diaz in this case, from their shelves. Story via Portland Press Herald.
• Famous book authors are notorious for getting big money advances from publishing houses to write their books. Via Literary Hub, here is "a brief history of seven-figure book advances."
• The New Yorker has an article looking at how American racism had an influence on Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. This is not necessarily new, and there are books that present that story. The article mentions some of those books. It also points out that: "Americans have an especially insatiable appetite for Nazi-themed books, films, television shows, documentaries, video games, and comic books." 
• This month, Mississippi is getting sued over prisoners' access to books. Via Signature (this link contains other stories in addition to the Mississippi lawsuit).
• Atlas Obscura highlights some books about libraries.They also have a feature on the oldest cookbooks found in libraries around the world.
• John Norman wrote and published his Gor novels throughout the 1960s. To this day, there are people who are inspired by the novels and live a Gorean consensual D/s lifestyle. VICE takes a look at these folks. On a side note, I have a few volumes of the Gor novels I got from a relative. The paperbacks are collectible, but I also intend to read them down the road for curiosity if nothing else. 
• Dr. Leo Hershkowitz, was "a professor, urban archaeologist, and inveterate collector," and an "archival scavenger," which is a fancy term for "dumpster diver." Anyhow, he managed to amass a large collection of historical documents, and on his passing, the collection is being auctioned. Among the items he salvaged are: “From bundles of papers earmarked for disposal by the city comptroller’s office, he saved coroner’s records from the late 18th and early 19th centuries that recorded infanticides, suicides, drownings -- and the killing of Alexander Hamilton by Aaron Burr in a duel across the Hudson in Weehawken, N.J.”Story via Fine Books & Collections Magazine blog.
• Via Pacific Standard, how climate change is putting archives and special collections at risk. 
• A bookseller from New Zealand got a scholarship, and  he traveled to the United States to learn more about his trade. Read his story via Literary Hub.

Finally for this week, here is your note of despair as Jimmy Kimmel finds Americans who cannot even name a book. One of those who cannot even name a book is a librarian. Now THAT is reason for despair: