Interviews Weina Dai Randel burst onto the literary scene a number of years ago with her duology about Empress Wu Zetian, China’s first woman leader. After winning the prestigious Rita Award in 2017 and seeing her novels translated into seven languages, she is back now with a new historical novel set in 1940s Shanghai. Keeping with her love of strong women characters, her new book, The Last Rose of Shanghai, centers on a nightclub owner named Aiyi Shao who falls for a Jewish refugee who had recently escaped Nazi Germany. Through their love of jazz, they develop a forbidden bond set during one of Shanghai’s most volatile and exciting eras. Randel is the first Chinese American author to write about Shanghai Jewish refugees, although there have been dozens of memoirs, narratives, and novels about this phenomenon from Jewish authors. We recently spoke over Zoom about what made Shanghai so special and why it matters now, along with the reasons Jews escaped to Shanghai during World War II and how Chinese and Jewish traditions are so similar. Susan Blumberg-Kason: It seems that the popularity of 1930s and ’40s Shanghai rose both in China and the US about twenty-five years ago. Can you talk about the appeal of this time and why it’s so special, both to people in the US and China? Weina Dai Randel: I think many aspects of Old Shanghai appeal to us today. From the late 1920s to the early 1940s, the period of Old Shanghai was a symbol of... Continue reading at 'World Literature Today'
[ World Literature Today | 2022-01-20 14:33:49 UTC ]
It was a chance to finally get around to Tolstoy or Proust, but the charts tell a different story. Which books did we actually turn to in the lockdowns? • Let us know in the comments what you were reading Back in spring 2020, when it became clear that coronavirus wasn’t going away, book lovers... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2021-12-11 09:00:06 UTC ]
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Alongside Richard Osman and JK Rowling, figures show huge successes for relative unknowns Ellery Adams and Brenda ChapmanThe UK’s library users are widely seen as a traditional bunch when it comes to choosing their next read, but while Richard Osman might have topped the list of the year’s... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2021-12-08 16:34:37 UTC ]
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In the last few years, we have seen a boom in books written by trans authors. Here are some graphic trans memoirs right on the cutting edge. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2021-12-06 11:38:00 UTC ]
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While plenty of authors proclaim themselves gurus of beauty or self help, that word mean more than just being able master a perfect cat eye. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2021-12-06 11:36:00 UTC ]
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Each month, for your literary listening pleasure, our friends at AudioFile Magazine bring us the cream of the audiobook crop. Now, at the year draws to a close, they’ve rounded up the very best audiobooks of 2021. Happy listening and happy holidays! * FICTION Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2021-12-06 09:53:47 UTC ]
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Yesterday, a footnote to an op-ed in the LA Times revealed that Red Badge Films is now producing a documentary about Anthony Broadwater’s conviction and then exoneration of Alice Sebold’s rape, called Unlucky. Red Badge Films is helmed by Tim Mucciante, previously the executive producer for the... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2021-12-03 17:48:54 UTC ]
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Streaming audiobook brand sent invites to all major media holdings companies to field interest in managing its ads. Continue reading at Advertising Age
[ Advertising Age | 2021-12-02 14:44:34 UTC ]
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Today's dive into audiobook narrators features an Asian American former opera singer who has narrated over 250 books. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2021-11-30 11:30:00 UTC ]
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Nielsen's 'Understanding the UK Audiobook Consumer' sees the format's growth moving steadily forward in the British market. The post Nielsen’s Look at Audiobooks in the United Kingdom: ‘Curiosity, Multitasking’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-11-30 09:15:28 UTC ]
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The United Kingdom's audiobook sales show an eye-catching 71-percent jump, January to June this year over the same period in 2019. The post The UK’s Publishers Association Charts a ‘Steep Rise’ in Audiobook Sales appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-11-28 17:52:33 UTC ]
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Audiobook performances by talented narrators is wonderful, but an audiobook memoir read by its author gives such a personal touch. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2021-11-23 11:30:00 UTC ]
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Storytel, the international audiobook streaming company, is buying Audiobooks.com from KKR, owner of RBMedia, for an undisclosed amount. This marks the fast-growing company's entry into the English-language audiobook market. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-14 05:00:00 UTC ]
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I used to imagine an Apple event where its c.e.o. Tim Cook would unveil a standalone audiobook app with exclusive audio-only titles available on subscription. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-12 06:30:02 UTC ]
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Looking to accelerate its expansion into the audiobook market, the Swedish audio streaming subscription service giant Spotify has agreed to acquire Ohio-based digital audiobook distributor Findaway for an undisclosed price. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-12 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Spotify could soon be home to a lot more audiobooks. The streaming service has acquired audiobook platform Findaway, the companies announced. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the acquisition suggests Spotify is looking to build out its own library of audiobook titles.Findaway is an... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2021-11-11 21:00:04 UTC ]
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We at Engadget spend a lot of time thinking about the best tech gifts for anyone and everyone in your life. But during that process, we often can’t help but think about the things we’d like to receive as gifts. We encourage everyone to treat themselves in some way while scrambling to find gifts... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2021-11-11 15:30:08 UTC ]
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The audio producer, founded in 2018 by author Malcolm Gladwell and former Slate Group chairman and editor-in-chief Jacob Weisberg, has built a slate of more than 25 podcasts since its launch, and is ramping up audiobook production. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-05 04:00:00 UTC ]
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About 20 years ago, Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane used data and statistics to help his low-revenue team keep pace with wealthier competitors, making for a stronger roster. The resulting success inspired Michael Lewis' bestselling book Moneyball, which in turn led to Brad Pitt... Continue reading at AdWeek
[ AdWeek | 2021-11-01 21:30:00 UTC ]
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Does listening to an audiobook while working hinder or enhance productivity? Let’s discuss. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2021-10-30 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Audiobook firm W F Howes has teamed up with publisher Head of Zeus on the audio launch for Lọlá Ákínmádé Åkerström’s debut novel In Every Mirror She’s Black. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-29 01:40:29 UTC ]
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