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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Hummingbird Offering E-book Retailing Option

Hummingbird Digital Media is the latest company to try to develop a system that will allow booksellers to sell ebooks and digital audio directly to consumers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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FT/McKinsey Business Book of the Year Longlist Announced

Fifteen titles have made the cut for the 2015 longlist of the FT/McKinsey Business Book of the Year, last year won by Brad Stone's "The Everything Store." The post FT/McKinsey Business Book of the Year Longlist Announced appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-08-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Why do books still exist, asks a teenager

When you think about it, it’s kind of weird that we still have books in our technologically advanced society. But they’re here to stay, argues teen site member Orli Books STILL exist. Weird, isn’t it? Why do books still exist? It sounds like a novel in itself: books overcoming the odds, beating... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-08-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Deals: Week of August 17, 2015

Romance bestseller Susan Mallery re-ups at Harlequin for seven figures; Farida Abba, who survived being kidnapped by ISIS, sells a memoir; and more in this week's notable book deals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Outrage as Birmingham Libraries appeal for book donations

Birmingham Libraries are reportedly asking the public to donate books published in the last 12 months because of budget cuts.   On Facebook, BBC West Midlands (BBC WM) posted a picture of a leaflet that says: “Books required! Due to public saving cuts we are no longer purchasing any new books... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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News Corp sees strong growth in digital real estate services and book publishing

The company’s quarterly earnings call beats analysts’ expectations despite a fall in total revenue from the previous quarter and a net loss of $379mNews Corp, owner of the Wall Street Journal and the Times, reported a better-than-expected quarterly results as strong growth in its digital real... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Birmingham Council confirms 'pause' on library book fund

Birmingham City Council has confirmed it is making cuts to the number of books it will buy for libraries, after libraries in the area asked members of the public to donate titles.   In a statement, city councillor Penny Holbrook told The Bookseller the council is stopping its book fund.   Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Mandy Hager wins 2015 Margaret Mahy Book of the Year

A story about a teen and an Orca has taken a top prize and judges said the author was "writing out of her skin". Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2015-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Haruki Murakami's agony uncle answers become eight-volume book

Bestselling Japanese novelist’s responses to readers’ queries published as a lengthy ebook, with an abridged version available in printHaruki Murakami is riding high in the charts again, after a digital edition of his latest work that stretches to eight volumes has raced up the bestseller... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How the Frankfurt Book Fair Helped Launch Shakespeare

Research reveals that the 1622 catalogue for the Frankfurt Book Fair included the announcement of the publication of Shakespeare’s First Folio. The post How the Frankfurt Book Fair Helped Launch Shakespeare appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Speed appointed as 'book to film' agent at Curtis Brown

Curtis Brown has appointed Luke Speed as a book to film agent in its book department. Speed previously spent 15 years at Marjacq running its book to film department. Curtis Brown joint c.e.o. Jonny Geller said: “We have long admired Luke's work as book to film agent at Marjacq and are... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Anti-whaling novel wins top prize at children's book awards

A novel with an anti-whaling message has taken the title of the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year at the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2015-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Heaven Trend In Books Is Now In Theaters

Best-selling books about heaven are making their way to Hollywood and getting special tie-in editions. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Clare Hall-Craggs joins Book Trust as Woodfine leaves

Former publicist Clare Hall-Craggs is joining Book Trust to look after laureate Chris Riddell, as Katherine Woodfine is leaving her role as arts project manager at the charity.   Hall-Craggs is joining Book Trust on an “ongoing basis” and will take on responsibility for looking after Riddell,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook, Email Most Effective for Crowdfunding Books on Inkshares

Crowdfunding publishing platform Inkshares reveals data about where its readers come from, with Facebook and email marketing leading the way. The post Facebook, Email Most Effective for Crowdfunding Books on Inkshares appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-08-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Peter James and Pan Mac sign new five-book deal

Peter James has signed a new five-book deal with Pan Macmillan, which includes three more novels in his Roy Grace series. Publishing director Wayne Brookes acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, including Canada, to the five books from Carole Blake at Blake Friedmann Literary Agency. As well as... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Russian publisher prints books about Putin under names of western authors

Writers consider legal action against Moscow publishing house after discovering series about president circulated in their names. The Moscow Times reportsA Russian publishing house has printed a series of books about Vladimir Putin under the names of prominent western analysts and journalists –... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-08-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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International Hot Book Properties: Week of August 10, 2015

A posthumous novel by Che Guevara's grandson keeps selling, an Australian debut draws interest, and a British novel continues to rack up major deals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Top 10 Reads from Yale Book Publishing Course All-Stars

Top ten books and websites recommended by speakers at this year's Yale Book Publishing Course to improve the way you work. The post Top 10 Reads from Yale Book Publishing Course All-Stars appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-08-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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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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