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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An Italian Ode to the Many Lives of One Book

The Italian Publishers Association has produced a song praising the 'lives of a book' for a reading promotion, with revenues going to the visually impaired. The post An Italian Ode to the Many Lives of One Book appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-05-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book appeared #reading promotion #visually impaired


Latest UK Book Publishing Statistics Show Stable Market

The Publishers Association released statistics about the UK book publishing industry that show a stable market and increased digital and export sales. The post Latest UK Book Publishing Statistics Show Stable Market appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-05-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #stable market #export sales


Sales figures tell all about the UK's waning love for celebrity memoirs

Publishing industry data for 2014 spills the beans on decline in biography and cookbook sales, while children’s literature in print rises by 10%Publishers used to have a simple recipe for a bestseller: sign up a celebrity or a TV chef and get the book out for Christmas.Not any more. The latest... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-05-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #celebrity memoir #sales figures #tv chef #love affair


PW Picks: Books of the Week, May 11, 2015

This week, Sally Mann's amazing memoir, original sin, and the latest from Anne Enright. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PRH Signs New Adult Coloring Books by Johanna Basford

The publisher bought next two coloring books from Basford, the illustrator behind the bestsellers 'The Secret Garden' and 'Enchanted Forest,' which kickstarted a bonafide publishing phenomenon. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #johanna basford #publisher bought #coloring books #secret garden #enchanted forest


Global E-book Report highlights unequal markets

International ebook markets continue to develop at different rates, with growth in some continental digital marketplaces appearing to have stalled despite increasing activity from global tech companies and local players. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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National Book Foundation Announces Innovations in Reading Prize

The National Book Foundation has awarded $10,000 to Reach Incorporated for its annual Innovations in Reading Prize. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Dealmaking at the Buenos Aires Book Fair

Nicole Witt of the Mertin Literary Agency reports on rights deals from the Buenos Aires Book Fair, where literary fiction is always a highlight. The post Dealmaking at the Buenos Aires Book Fair appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-05-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #rights deals #literary fiction


All book titles should be like 'Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?' | Emma Brockes

It’s bitchy, fun and avoids the worst of the publishing industry’s most recent clichesWe are at what seems like a low point in the history of book titles. Good titles are hard to find, but they make all the difference. Take Timothy Caulfield’s new book Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-05-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The programmatic premium club: 3 steps to induction

Membership has its price. Publishers need to offer marketers assurances that they’ll do everything in their power to offer a welcoming, authenticated, premium programmatic environment. At the heart of this is creating and refining more precise audience segments based on behavior, interests and... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-05-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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YA book 'An Ember in the Ashes' draws buzz

Many critics are praising the novel by writer Sabaa Tahir, which centers on people living in a Rome-like fantasy world. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bloomsbury buys book tackling racism 'head on'

Bloomsbury has bought world English rights to a book about racism in the UK by 25-year-old activist and freelance journalist Reni Eddo-Lodge. Commissioning editor Alexa von Hirschberg acquired Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race from Rupert Heath of Rupert Heath Literary... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Zondervan Wins Big at Christian Book Awards

Zondervan, part of the HarperCollins Christian Publishing family, swept five of the eight highest honors Tuesday night. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Baltimore Theologian's Book on Violence To Publish in Wake of Riots

The riots in Baltimore have made the publication of 'Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God' -- inspired by the death of Trayvon Martin -- unfortunately timely. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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We Review a Self-Published E-Book About a Russian Werewolf

For our second review of a rather absurd Kindle ebook, our intrepid reviewer chose Tender Kiss of a Russian Werewolf. The post We Review a Self-Published E-Book About a Russian Werewolf appeared first on WIRED. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2015-05-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Meerkat integrates address books, befriends Facebook after Twitter snub

Meerkat is reducing its dependency on Twitter by integrating address books and letting users post live video streams to Facebook.Installing the updated app now brings up an option to enter your phone number and give Meerkat access to your address book, so it can find other people who are using... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2015-05-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sharjah Book Authority to Offer Regional Printing, Distribution

In the UAE, the new Sharjah Book Authority will offer printing services to regional publishers, as well as offer distribution, research and events. The post Sharjah Book Authority to Offer Regional Printing, Distribution appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-05-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New E-book Bundling Service BitLit Adds Macmillan

The start-up with a free app that allows customers to purchase ebook editions of titles they already own, has added Macmillan to its roster of publishing partners. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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What You Should Pick Up on Free Comic Book Day

Want to know what to look out for during today's Free Comic Book Day? We've got you covered. The post What You Should Pick Up on Free Comic Book Day appeared first on WIRED. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2015-05-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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