Book clubs in America: Why do we love them so much?

A casual observer of the book-club scene could be fooled into thinking that this summer was a hard one for the nation's leisure readers. Late in spring, Oprah's club shuttered, stranding publishers in what promises to be a long shoal of short print runs and offering the rest of us one literary arbiter fewer to love or hate. Borders, which ran a sort of book group of its own, shut down stores, too, after creditors refused a buyout offer from a book-club mega-company. Could reading groups be losing their sway in our culture? On one hand, this is a reasonable question; on the other, it's like asking whether the United States should worry about being out-powered by Belgium. More than 5 million adults are thought to be in reading groups, not counting online clubs, and a number of those adults have a noticeable missionary bent: If Oprah didn't get you onboard, there's a good chance that your neighbor with a Thursday group will have you marking up Love in the Time of Cholera before summer is through.[more ...] Continue reading at 'Slate'

[ Slate | 2011-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #buyout offer #reading groups #good chance

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‘The Girl on the Train’ Tops in First-Quarter E-book Sales

Paula Hawkins’s blockbuster debut, "The Girl on the Train," led overall ebook sales for the first quarter of the year, from January to March. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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George Braziller: the man who published Pamuk and Janet Frame in America

At age 99, renown indie publisher George Braziller looks back on 70 years in the book business, and a career that saw him rub shoulders with Sartre and PicassoHe pursued Jean-Paul Sartre in Paris, dined with Pablo Picasso in Antibes, and rescued New Zealand’s Janet Frame from the manuscript... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-08-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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John Blake to release Cilla Black book

John Blake will publish a book about the late Cilla Black next week. Black, whose real name was Priscilla White, died overnight on Saturday 1st August at her home in Spain after falling over, hitting her head and having a stroke. She was 72. On Monday 10th August John Blake will publish... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Oh, the Parties You'll Throw: Celebrating the New Dr. Seuss Book Across the Country

Bookstores across the country threw parties to celebrate the release of the latest, never-before-seen Dr. Seuss picture book, 'What Pet Should I Get?' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Winton Prize for Science Books shortlist revealed

A “page-turning thriller” about the race to crack the genetic code, a portrayal of life in European Organization for Nuclear Research's (CERN) underground bunker and an exploration of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder are among the titles shortlisted for The Royal Society Winton Prize for Science Books. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Ink and Bone' is an explosive YA book aimed at bookworms

Rachel Caine unravels the secrets of the Library of Alexandria even as she spins an irresistible story. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Guardian launches children’s book festival

The Guardian is organising a children’s literature festival – a free one-day event in London on 29th August, featuring authors such as Sarah McIntyre, Philip Reeve and Paul Strickland. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Max Lucado’s Latest Book Explores Promises of the Promised Land

Max Lucado draws a parallel between modern hardships and the Israelite's arduous journey to the Promised Land. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Can Technology Replicate Word-of-Mouth Book Marketing?

Ferol Vernon of Written Word Media argues that online, email book marketing is at its most effective when addressing readers in precise verticals. The post Can Technology Replicate Word-of-Mouth Book Marketing? appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-08-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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August 2015: Top Reviews of Self-Published Books from BlueInk Review

Our August 2015 selection from BlueInk Review, a service which reviews self-published books, ranges from fantasy to middle grade, memoir to self-help The post August 2015: Top Reviews of Self-Published Books from BlueInk Review appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-08-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The 'Girl on the Train' Tops E-book Sales in First Quarter

Paula Hawkins's blockbuster debut, 'The Girl on the Train,' led ebook sales for the first quarter of 2015. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Books that should have won the Booker

So the Man Booker Prize longlist was announced just last week, and unless you've been living under a rock - you will know that Anna Smaill, none other than the NZ author of my favourite book of the year (totally true, cause The Bone Clocks was published last year), is on it! Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2015-08-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Shamrock Advisors Buys Recorded Books

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Job Opening: Assistant, German Book Office New York

The German Book Office New York is hiring an assistant to the director. This position offers the opportunity to learn about international book publishing. The post Job Opening: Assistant, German Book Office New York appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-08-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Zoella reveals new book details

Zoe Sugg revealed the title and cover of her next novel in a video on her “More Zoella” vlog channel yesterday (30th July), and praised her Penguin editor Amy Alward for helping her to write. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How one Muslim turned a childhood of bullying into a popular children's book series

Amin Aaser was a teenager living in Minnesota when the 9/11 terrorist attacks occurred. He doesn't want other Muslim children to face the bullying that he experienced. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-08-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Airport Book Sales Begin to Climb

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Next Stop Harlem for Revolution Books

Another New York City bookstore has been forced to move because of rising rent. After closing its store in Chelsea, Revolution Books plans to reopen in a slightly larger space in Harlem. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Books-A-Million Investor Wants to Stop Buyout, Again

Susan Vance is trying to halt the proposed $21 million takeover of the nation's number two chain by the Anderson family, who are the controlling share holders in the company. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Edward Gorey: cover star of book design

The author and illustrator is much revered for his own weird and wonderful books, yet his 200-plus jacket designs are virtually ignored. Steven Heller celebrates his contribution to a unique era of publishingDeliciously and subversively cryptic, Edward St John Gorey’s books, plays, postcards,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-07-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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