The Fall of Language in the Age of English, by the Japanese novelist and scholar Minae Mizumura, has all the ingredients of a rage-read. Indeed, when it was published in Japan in 2008, it infuriated commentators, who dismissed Mizumura as “reactionary,” “jingoistic,” or “elitist” and swarmed across Amazon deleting positive reviews. More than 65,000 copies have sold since then—which suggests the slender work’s declinist soothsaying continues to touch a nerve. The book appears this month in English (enemy territory!), where—if we Yanks could be trusted to read something first penned in a non-Western tongue—it would likely inspire more umbrage, more name-calling, more amorphous unease. The book’s basic premise, developed in a sinuous line through seven chapters, is that every language creates and nourishes untranslatable truths. Dominant languages infuse their verities into the wider world, crowding out alternative visions from more minor tongues. Linguistic asymmetry isn’t new—over the past two centuries, Latin, classical Chinese, and French each took a turn in the sun—but never has one language so completely eclipsed the rest, Mizumura says, as today, in the age of the Internet, with English. Continue reading at 'Slate'
[ Slate | 2015-01-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Groups including the publisher Penguin Random House and the National Book Foundation encourage bibliophiles to read between 12 and 4 p.m. on Jan. 24 and to raise money for the event. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-11-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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For the third year in a row, Random House (but not its Penguin side, because the warehouses aren't integrated yet) will provide express shipping, starting November 1. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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#random house
Readers with introspective and questing spirits have three new books for the Jewish High Holy Days--beginning with Rosh HaShanah at sundown on September 24--offering poetry, alternative liturgies, theological essays, and thoughtful explorations of Jewish identity. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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There's a reason everyone you know is obsessed with the quirky site that makes content parodying viral content--and then makes it go viral.Getting George Takei to share something you made with his 7 million Facebook followers is like crushing a piñata filled with free pageviews. It's a huge... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2014-09-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The artist of the acclaimed 'Beautiful Darkness' and 'Miss Don't Touch Me' is back with another deceptively fairy-tale veneered narrative on the treacherous nature of beauty. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In the near decade that's passed since director Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller brought Miller's noir comic Sin City to the big screen, filmmaking technology has gotten better, comic book movies have become an official Big Deal, and 3-D has become a lot more palatable. What's more surprising... Continue reading at Wired
[ Wired | 2014-08-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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#big screen
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The celebration echoes California Bookstore Day, which was held for the first time this past May. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The brainchild of Tiffany Razzano, founder of Wordier Than Thou, the inaugural event will include at least 30 bookstores across the state. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Customers in certain areas of New York City and Los Angeles can now get same-day shipping on Barnes & Noble products. Will it help the book retailer? Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ever since California booksellers paved the way to boost sales and promote the “shop local” message with California Bookstore Day last May, other booksellers have been trying to figure out a way to replicate their success. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The bookselling chain is partnering with Google's new shopping service, Google Shopping, to offer same-day delivery in three U.S. cities. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google and Barnes & Noble, taking on their mutual rival Amazon.com, have paired up to offer same-day delivery of books purchased online. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2014-08-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Need that yoga for dogs book yesterday? You can now get it "today" at least from Barnes & Noble, who have joined Amazon with same-day book deliveries. It's enlisting an odd partner for the service: Google, one if its competitors in the ebook space.... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2014-08-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Esther Day is celebrated on Aug. 3, the birthday of teenager Esther Earl, with whom 'The Fault in Our Stars' author Green became acquainted before she died in 2010. Earl suggested the holiday center on 'the kinds of love that are too often overlooked in our culture: love among friends and... Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-08-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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With Harlequin’s sale to HarperCollins expected to be completed before the end of the week, the publisher reported a decline in sales and earnings in the second quarter of 2014. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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It's do or die time for Chicago Tribune and its sibling newspapers.On Aug. 4, Tribune Publishing Co. will be on its own, after parent Tribune Media Co. hives off its print properties. While Tribune Media will remain privately held, the new publishing company will start trading the next day on... Continue reading at Advertising Age
[ Advertising Age | 2014-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Next month the Austin bookstore is creating its own day to celebrate its independence with free books, activities, and cake. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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#free books
Happy Junk Food Day! There's a food-centric holiday for every day of the year, and a newly updated app from Food.com collects recipes to celebrate each and every one of them. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Despite torrential rains, the first Chicago Independent Bookstore Day on July 12 was a huge success that exceeded all expectations, participating indie booksellers told PW. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel issued an official proclamation earlier this week, declaring Saturday, July 12 to be Chicago Independent Bookstore Day. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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