Kirkus Reviews has shut its doors. Since 1933, Kirkus has reviewed almost 5,000 books every year. Like Publishers Weekly, Kirkus was responsible for pre-publication alerts to readers, librarians, bookstores, and the declining army of American bibliophiles. Whatever you thought of Kirkus's opinions, its loss is one more shot in the face of readership.
As a reviewer, I note that publishers are sending fewer books for review. Many fewer.I hope Kirkus's demise will wake them up to the fact that there still are a few of us out here in the wilderness. Come on publishers. We're still here.