Booker judges shouldn't blame editors for overlong novels

Authors take the credit when their books win prizes, and it should be admitted that they are also responsible for their failingsEvery year, there is a controversy at the Man Booker prize; this year, it is all about the work of editors. Or rather, the supposed lack of work that editors are doing.Kwame Anthony Appiah, chair of the judges, implicitly blamed editors for the poor quality of some of this year’s submissions while announcing the 2018 shortlist: “We occasionally felt that inside the book we read was a better one, sometimes a thinner one, wildly signalling to be let out.” Fellow judge Val McDermid went further by suggesting modern editors don’t know what they’re doing. “I think,” she said, “young editors coming through are not necessarily getting the kind of training and experience-building apprenticeship that happened when I was starting out.” Related: Sarah Waters, John Boyne and the 2018 Man Booker prize shortlist – books podcast Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2018-10-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Julian Barnes wins the Man Booker

Written By: Bookseller Staff Publication Date: Tue, 18/10/2011 - 20:00 Julian Barnes has won the Man Booker Prize for his novel The Sense of an Ending (Cape). The author beat a shortlist comprising Carol Birch's Jamrach's Menagerie (Canongate); Esi Edugyan's Half Blood Blues (Serpent's Tail);... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Miller and Birch lead Booker sales for book chains

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Tue, 18/10/2011 - 09:00 AD Miller's Snowdrops and Carol Birch's Jamrach's Menagerie are the bestselling books in the Man Booker shortlist on the high street, ahead of the prize's announcement this evening. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes bookies' and Kindle favourite for Man Booker

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Mon, 17/10/2011 - 14:30 Julian Barnes is the bookies' favourite to win the Man Booker prize tomorrow night (18th October), as Amazon has revealed his novel The Sense of an Ending is also leading Kindle downloads among the shortlisted authors.... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Phil Redmond writes novel and memoir for Cornerstone

Written By: Katie Allen Publication Date: Tue, 11/10/2011 - 07:50 "Grange Hill" writer Phil Redmond is to pen a memoir and novel for Random House imprint Cornerstone. M.d. Susan Sandon acquired world rights in the two books directly with Redmond, who is best known for creating three of... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Editors Share Best Practices for Twitter

Twitter has become part of the daily routine for almost every editor, but are you using it as effectively as you can? Here, four very different editors offer their advice for engaging and growing readership via Twitter. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-10-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jonathan Cape acquires second Wyld novel

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Thu, 06/10/2011 - 08:40 Jonathan Cape has acquired a second novel from the John Llewellyn-Rhys prize-winning author Evie Wyld. Senior editor Alex Bowler acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to Wyld's All the Birds, Singing from Laetitia... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Man Booker teams up with iBookstore

Written By: Katie Allen Publication Date: Wed, 28/09/2011 - 08:45 The Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2011 is to host an event at the Apple Store in Covent Garden, London, as it links up with the iBookstore. Shortlisted authors Carol Birch, Patrick deWitt and A D Miller will take part in the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Editors Share Twitter Best Practices

Twitter has become part of the daily routine for almost every editor, but are you using it as effectively as you can? Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-09-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New Blaylock steampunk novel for Titan

Publication Date: Wed, 28/09/2011 - 14:38 Titan has acquired award-winning fantasy author James P Blaylock's first steampunk novel in 20 years, The Aylesford Skull. Titan fiction editor Cath Trechman bought world rights via John Berlyne and John Parker at Zeno Agency for "a good five-figure... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Cape buys new novels from Joe Stretch

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Tue, 27/09/2011 - 15:05 Jonathan Cape has acquired the new novel by author Joe Stretch, with his previous two novels Friction and Wildlife published as Vintage Originals. Senior editor Beth Coates bought UK and Commonwealth rights to The Adult... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bragg to judge Sunday Times short story prize

Publication Date: Mon, 26/09/2011 - 11:59 Broadcaster and author Melvyn Bragg is to join the judging panel for the Sunday Times EFG Private Bank Short Story Award for a second year in a row. Bragg will be joined by actor Ian Hart, playwright and novelist Hanif Kureishi, novelist Joanna Trollope... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Moyes and Milne-White on Costa judging panels

Publication Date: Mon, 26/09/2011 - 14:50 Author Jojo Moyes, Hungerford Bookshop owner Emma Milne-White and Hammicks’ Sharon Murray are to join the judging panels for this year’s Costa Book Awards. A total of 568 books have been entered for this year’s awards, with the category shortlists... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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2011 Man Booker shortlist most popular ever

Written By: Philip Stone Publication Date: Fri, 23/09/2011 - 08:10 Sales of the six novels in contention for the 2011 Man Booker Prize have totalled 37,500 copies across all print editions since the shortlist was announced, making it the most popular Booker shortlist since records began. Sales... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sales surge for Man Booker shortlist books

Written By: Tom Tivnan Publication Date: Tue, 13/09/2011 - 16:30 A D Miller and Carol Birch's novels are the big winners of the Man Booker Prize shortlist so far, with sales across the six books surging 290% by volume on last week. The six books on the list shifted 18,496 copies for the week... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Faber to publish new Peter Carey novel

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Thu, 08/09/2011 - 08:45 Faber is to publish a new novel by Australian literary heavyweight Peter Carey next year, with the publisher already billing the dual-narrative title as a classic. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Time Out appoints new editor-in-chief

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Thu, 08/09/2011 - 08:30 Tim Arthur has been appointed the UK editor-in-chief of the Time Out media group. Arthur will oversee the editorial and content of the group's UK activities, including the Time Out guidebook series and Time Out London... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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"Take it or leave it" - Booker chair

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Wed, 07/09/2011 - 10:00 Man Booker chair of judges Stella Rimington has defended this year's shortlist, saying "take it or leave it", in a speech at the party held to celebrate the list in London's Kensington Gardens last night. Speaking to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes trade favourite for Booker win

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Tue, 06/09/2011 - 16:00 Bookmaker William Hill has Julian Barnes as the favourite to win the Man Booker Prize for Fiction after the shortlist was announced today. Retailers Waterstone's and Daunt Books agree Barnes' The Sense of An Ending (Jonathan... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hollinghurst misses Booker shortlist

Written By: Katie Allen Publication Date: Tue, 06/09/2011 - 11:18 Previous Man Booker Prize for Fiction winner Alan Hollinghurst has missed the shortlist for this year’s prize, which includes two debuts—Stephen Kelman and A D Miller— and a wealth of titles from indies. Bookies’ favourite and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes favourite ahead of Booker shortlisting

Written By: Charlotte Williams, Lisa Campbell and Philip Stone Publication Date: Mon, 05/09/2011 - 14:00 William Hill has now named Julian Barnes as favourite to win the Man Booker prize, with the three-times shortlisted author overtaking previous winner Alan Hollinghurst ahead of tomorrow's... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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