Recently, some major US newspapers including the Philadelphia Inquirer ran a third-party book list supplement—not vetted by anyone, apparently, even the person who “wrote” it—that was AI generated. The AI described a bunch of books that don’t even exist and everyone involved was like, cool, who needs to check what we publish? Let’s get that sucker right into print!!
Do you want book coverage written by professional human beings who are part of your community? Book coverage that dives deep into real books with Philly connections? Then stick around for our third annual BSR Book Week, happening NEXT WEEK!
Read on here to find out how you can enter a giveaway for a package of six new books and for a preview of the Book Week lineup. And we are one week from our author panel, which will feature a conversation with Annie Liontas (Sex with a Brain Injury), Tre Johnson (Black Genius), Elise Juska (Reunion), Eric Smith (With or Without You), and John Morrison (Boyz II Men 40th Anniversary Celebration). It's happening at 6:30pm on Wednesday, June 4 and it's on Zoom, so you can join in from anywhere. Get your ticket here (there's a pay-what-you-can option).
This week's stories
Our writers are coving their usual fascinating mix. We've got Florence Price and Beethoven with the Philadelphia Orchestra, a new production of Rent at the Arden and the national tour of Some Like It Hot (critic Josh Herren gives a thumbs up to both), The 39 Steps at the Lantern (critic Mina Reinckens loves it), and a view of a new public art installation outdoors at City Hall that honors public-sector employees when they need it most.
We at BSR may be small, but like I said up top, we will never publish fake slush written by an AI. Thanks for sticking with hardworking indie journalists in such a tough landscape. You are the reason we do this work.
Alaina Johns
BSR editor-in-chief
