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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'Americanah' by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie took the prize for fiction, while 'Five Days at Memorial' by Sheri Fink secured the nonfiction prize. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-03-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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World Book Day titles dominated the top of last week's UK Official Top 50, nabbing the first... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-03-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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After his bestselling love story about finding a partner, Nicholls' new book Us will look at holding on to oneIn his hugely popular novel One Day, David Nicholls explored the search for a soulmate through the long-drawn-out love affair between Em and Dex. Five years on, Nicholls is set to take... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2014-03-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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#million copies
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To celebrate International Womens Day today (8th March), we republish The Bookseller's author... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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After the success of the Indies First movement this November, in which authors worked at independent bookstores, the newest event is called Storytime Day. Spokesperson Kate DiCamillo urges authors to read a story at their local bookstore. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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#local bookstore
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Author Kate DiCamillo, the ABA, and the CBC are asking authors and illustrators to support indies by reading a story aloud at a bookstore on May 17. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A new wave of publishers is bucking the digital trend with stylishly printed magazines that are as much a joy to hold as beholdSee a gallery of some of the best-looking new magazinesThe magazine is dead, long live the magazine. It's not so much a resurrection of the magazine in the digital age... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2014-02-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Marie Claire is a highly polished magazine; its recent foray into digital video was not.The Hearst-owned title live-streamed its first dating show "The Love Match" on Friday, where three women "looking to find love" were paired with one of three eligible bachelors. Marie Claire staffers... Continue reading at Advertising Age
[ Advertising Age | 2014-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Valentine's Day: Many bookstores have embraced the holiday in manners both touching and funny. Two bookstores celebrated Valentine's Day by offering to set up customers on a 'blind date' with a book. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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This week's cold weather and snow has led to canceled events and store closures, some for more than a day during Valentine’s Week. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Square Books and Square Books Jr. in Oxford, Miss., singled out a bouquet of 12 books from each of its storefronts in an e-mail blast for Valentine's Day. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Michael Joseph has held on to Sylvia Day in the UK, snapping up the first books in a new series... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-01-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Eighty California indies are signed up to participate in the statewide California Bookstore Day on May 3, 2014, featuring exclusive publisher titles for sale. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Festive special adds nearly 3 million viewers when timeshifted viewing is included, but Mrs Brown's Boys remains top showNearly 3 million people recorded the festive special of Doctor Who and watched it in the week after Christmas Day, with Downton Abbey among the other most popular timeshifted... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2014-01-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Photographer Iain McKell documents people in England who have voluntarily abandoned mainstream lifestyles in favor of nomadic ones.Photographer Iain McKell first became acquainted with new age travelers 25 years ago on an assignment for the London Observer. Calling themselves the "Peace Convoy,"... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2013-12-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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An Australian publisher has acquired the global rights to turn the TV drama into romance novels. Continue reading at The Sydney Morning Herald
[ The Sydney Morning Herald | 2013-12-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple will be giving away digital gifts every day for 12 days after Christmas to users of an app released Tuesday. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-12-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kurt Vonnegut worked at a car dealer after publishing his first novel, and Philip Glass worked as a plumber while crafting his music. So while you may be itching to ditch your 9 to 5, take a lesson from these legendary creatives and pursue your passions while still collecting a pay check.No... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2013-12-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Even before the demise of Borders, the trend of opening superstores was waning, and new bookstores were getting smaller and cozier (many were in the 3,000 to 5,000 sq. ft. range). Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-12-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day will be celebrated on Dec. 7 this year and founder Jenny Milchman says she hopes to expand the message of the holiday to year-round initiatives, including field trips to bookstores in at-risk areas. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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