Audiobooks, inclusivity and #MeToo ... how books changed in 2018

New agents and imprints, Northern Ireland’s first Man Booker winner … this year, the books world turned towards inclusivity and a broadening of perspectivesRead John Dugdale’s analysis of the 100 bestselling books of 2018“You brought it on yourself, longest friend. I informed you and informed you. I mean for the longest time ever since primary school I’ve been warning you to kill out that habit you insist on and that I now suspect you’re addicted to – that reading in public as you’re walking about.” Such behaviour, the speaker continues, is unnerving, disturbing, deviant, much to the bemusement of the errant flâneuse, who wonders why it’s acceptable for a terrorist to promenade with Semtex, but beyond the pale for her to do the same with Jane Eyre.The characters are from Milkman, the novel by Anna Burns that scooped this year’s Man Booker prize and lobbed a rock into the literary millpond: a winner who included the local food bank in her book’s acknowledgements, who went on the news and announced she’d be declaring “one hell of a change in circumstances” to the Department for Work and Pensions, and who turned the recent history of the Troubles into a compelling narrative that spoke to repression and segregation everywhere. Her victory was, as one Guardian writer pointed out, a beacon of hope for those suffering from “shit life syndrome”.Being an author isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Most emerging writers, like myself, need a second trade, unless they’re inheritors of... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2018-12-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #primary school #jane eyre #anna burns #recent history #emerging writers

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Audiobooks, inclusivity and #MeToo ... how books changed in 2018'


‘Times change’: what authors think about rewriting older books

Jacqueline Wilson is latest writer to wade into debate over changing dated and offensive languageThe publishing industry has been mired in debate in recent years about editing older books to remove content that could be deemed offensive.Even the prime minister became involved in February after... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-08-14 13:30:39 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jacqueline wilson #latest writer #deemed offensive #prime minister #roald dahl #puffin #publishing industry


‘There’s an industry-wide mental health crisis’: authors and publishers on why the books sector needs to change

After a survey revealed the stresses that authors face when placed in the spotlight for the first time, publishing houses and industry bodies have pledged extra training and pastoral careAuthor and publisher welfare has been a hot topic in the books industry of late. Publishing houses, trade... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-07-18 15:13:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #survey revealed #industry bodies #books industry #hot topic #mental health #anna frame #communications director #english pen #independent publisher #bookseller #publishing houses


U.S. Book Show: B&N CEO Says Chain Is in Midst of Significant Change

As Barnes & Noble continues to put its troubled past behind it, CEO James Daunt outlined the "process of change" at the company, which includes renovating stores to make them more appealing, empowering employees, adding sidelines, and renewing the browsing experience both offline and on. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-24 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #significant change #book show #bn ceo #troubled past #browsing experience


Life-Changing Books for Every Reader: PW Talks with Laura Schreiber

The executive editor at Union Square & Co. looks to nurture the work of both debut and seasoned authors. (Sponsored) Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #union square


7 Babysitters Club Books that Changed My Life

I can’t remember exactly when I discovered The Baby-Sitters Club books. Maybe it was at a Scholastic Book Fair at my school. But I’ll always remember the very first book, Kristy’s Great Idea, with its bright yellow cover and alphabet block letters. I saw four friends hanging out, and I... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2023-05-05 11:10:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #great idea #electric literature #scholastic


2023 Walter Dean Myers Awards: Life Changing Literature and Book Bans

The eighth annual ​Walter​ ​Awards ​Ceremony​ and Symposium took place as a hybrid event at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C., and online on March 17. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-03-21 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book bans #hybrid event


Critics reject changes to Roald Dahl books as censorship

Critics are accusing the British publisher of Roald Dahl’s classic children’s books of censorship after it removed colorful language from works such as “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “Matilda” to make them more acceptable to modern readers Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2023-02-20 00:47:34 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #roald dahl #classic children #chocolate factory #modern readers #british publisher


How romance novels changed book design

With their expressive type and bawdy illustrations, romance novels turned book covers into potent advertisements. The paperback pulp romance—birthed in the 1930s, but arguably at its height during the murky cultural soup of postwar America—exists at a unique intersection of smut and chastity.... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2023-02-14 09:31:34 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Bookwire Expands Its Text-to-Speech Audiobook Offer with Google Play Books

The Frankfurt-based Bookwire has entered a partnership with Google Play Books for broader automated production of audiobooks. The post Bookwire Expands Its Text-to-Speech Audiobook Offer with Google Play Books appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-01-17 14:43:24 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bookwire expands #frankfurt-based bookwire #audiobook


New Year, New You: Major Book Biz Job Changes This Week

A series of notable position changes in the industry this week at Anime NYC, Chicago Distribution Center, Henry Holt, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-01-10 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #henry holt #major book


Shanghai’s Children’s Book Fair Changes Venue Amid COVID Constraints

Moving its dates for a third time this year, the Shanghai Children's Book Fair is changing venue in an effort to host the event in December. The post Shanghai’s Children’s Book Fair Changes Venue Amid COVID Constraints appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-11-09 18:16:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #shanghai children #post shanghai #book fair #children's book #children’s book


Shock ending: how the Costa book awards changed reading – and pitted husband against wife

After 50 years, the prize has been scrapped. How did it change Britain’s literary landscape? And what happened at the awards when Margaret Drabble was seated next to Theresa May?Margaret Drabble was a bright young star with five novels to her name in 1971, when she was talked into joining her... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-06-23 05:00:38 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary landscape #margaret drabble #judging panel #poetry collection #costa book


U.S. Book Show: The Pandemic and Publishing: How Has Covid Changed the Industry for Good?

Industry experts discussed the normalization of working from home, the dearth of in-person networking in the age of Covid-19, new expectations among a younger generation of publishing professionals, and more on the second day of the 2022 U.S. Book Show. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-05-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing professionals #book show #younger generation


Google Play Books Expands AI Audiobook Narration

Google Play Books has announced that publishers in six countries can now create, edit, publish, and sell auto-narrated audiobooks on its platform. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-26 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #audiobook


Duvall Hecht, who popularized audiobooks as founder of Books on Tape, dies at 91

An enterprising entrepreneur, he spun the tedium of his daily commute into a cottage industry that gave bibliophiles a novel way of experiencing literature. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-03-02 04:08:56 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #duvall hecht #cottage industry


Can a Self-Help Book Really Change Your Life?

The genre promises easy fixes for intractable problems, but some conflicts can’t be solved by individuals alone: Your weekly guide to the best in books Continue reading at The Atlantic

[ The Atlantic | 2022-02-25 15:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #weekly guide #self-help book


Benjamin Zephaniah | 'To tell the real, honest truth about the history of Britain would mean changing the history books'

The latest book by Benjamin Zephaniah follows a Trinidadian woman who boarded the Windrush to pursue her singing dream. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-22 07:13:29 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #history books #benjamin zephaniah


Auto-narration 'can help close gap' between e-books and audiobooks

Auto-narrated audiobooks will not replace human narration but will help "elevate" text-heavy books and help eliminate the gap between e-books and accompanying audiobooks, says Ani Attamian, head of publishing partnerships for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Google. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-20 01:45:35 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #middle east


H.G. Wells wanted to change the world. A new book explores the author’s outsize ambitions

Claire Tomalin’s ‘The Young H.G. Wells’ is a fascinating look at the prolific writer’s rocky beginnings and complicated personal life. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-11-03 12:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book explores #claire tomalin #prolific writer


Book Publication Date Changes Due to Supply Chain Issues

'PW' is tracking book publication dates that are changing as a result of recent supply chain issues. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-10-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |