Cloud Atlas at 20: What makes a novel tattoo-worthy?

Every author wants to write a book like David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas. Two decades after it first hit the shelves, the author of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow celebrates its daring, dazzling appealPity the writer who believes they have written the next Cloud Atlas! A literary agent once told me that when a fledgling writer compares their novel to David Mitchell’s, he invariably knows it will be awful. Once you have written a book like Cloud Atlas, you have not written Cloud Atlas because Cloud Atlas is not like anything.When the novel was published in 2004, critics compared it to everything. AS Byatt in the Guardian invokes Herman Melville, Raymond Chandler, Martin Amis, George Orwell and Ursula K Le Guin among others. Tom Bissell in the New York Times adds to the mix Cervantes, Defoe, Isherwood, William S Burroughs, and, in a last paragraph twist, James Joyce’s Ulysses. Theo Tait of the Telegraph writes in a rare negative review that “Cloud Atlas spends half its time wanting to be The Simpsons and the other half the Bible.” This line is funny more than apt, but had I read it at the time, it would have sold the book to me. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2024-04-06 10:00:31 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "Cloud Atlas at 20: What makes a novel tattoo-worthy?"


BEA 2016: Is A Flat Royalty Rate Possible?

A discussion on Wednesday between two publishers, a literary agent, and the executive director of the Authors Guild floated the possibility of a single royalty rate across book formats. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-05-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Short story collection smuggled out of North Korea sparks global interest

Dissident tales from pseudonymous author Bandi, still living in the country, are very rare fiction to emerge from the secretive dictatorshipA collection of short stories written under a pseudonym and smuggled out of North Korea is on its way to becoming an international literary sensation, with... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


David Astor: a king in the golden age of print

From 1948 to 1975, David Astor transformed Britain’s oldest paper into a vibrant, intelligent weekly renowned for its progressive campaigns and the quality of its writing. The author of a new biography recalls some of Astor’s achievements• Click here to read an extract on Astor’s lifelong... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-02-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Authors Guild Gets Support in Google Case

Malcolm Gladwell and Ursula K. Le Guin, are among those supporting the Authors Guild’s bid to have the Supreme Court review its case against Google. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-02-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


On Carmen Balcells: Remembering the Role of a Literary Agent

Kalem Literary Agency remembers legendary Spanish literary agent Carmel Balcells and her contributions to international authors, writing and agenting. The post On Carmen Balcells: Remembering the Role of a Literary Agent appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Omaira Rodríguez is Uruguay’s Lone Literary Agent

Omaira Rodríguez is Uruguay's only literary agent, tasked with selling rights abroad and increasing the international awareness of authors from her country. The post Omaira Rodríguez is Uruguay’s Lone Literary Agent appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


PW Talks with Global Kids Connect Speaker Ginger Clark

Clark, a literary agent at Curtis Brown Ltd. and speaker at PW’s upcoming Global Kids Connect Summit, talked us about what U.S. children's titles seem to be working well abroad right now, and the biggest mistakes publishers make in their approach to their foreign rights business. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-11-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Literary agencies host online 'Discovery Day'

Curtis Brown and Conville and Walsh are to host a Twitter based event dedicated to "de-mystifying" the publishing process for prospective authors, called Discovery Day Online. Following the literary agencies’ Discovery Days in 2012 and 2013, held at Foyles Charing Cross Road, Discovery Day... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-10-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Amis calls Corbyn 'undereducated' and 'humourless'

Martin Amis has criticised Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn as “undereducated”, “humourless” and “slow-minded”. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-10-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


My Job in 5: Sarah O'Halloran, Literary Agent, Madeleine Milburn Agency

Describe your role It’s my job to support the authors I represent through the whole publishing process. This includes everything from working with them editorially and pitching their work to editors, to negotiating contracts on their behalf. What do you like best about your role? As a brand... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-10-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Bill Clegg: ‘I really understand the loneliness, excitement and vulnerability it takes to create a book now’

The feted US literary agent on addiction, attempted suicide, and having his first novel longlisted for the Booker prizeBill Clegg is a leading New York literary agent and the author of the bestselling memoirs Portrait of an Addict As a Young Man and Ninety Days, which describe respectively his... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-09-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Stevens‘ boarding school mysteries set for big screen

Robin Stevens’ children’s detective series Murder Most Unladylike has been optioned for television and film by independent production company Pilot Media. Pilot Media optioned the rights from Emily Hayward Whitlock, head of book to film at The Artists’ Partnership, who was acting on behalf of... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


How Can Women Change the World? Book by Book 

As a literary agent, Frankfurt has been a launch pad for some of the most powerful women’s voices from around the world. This year will be no different. The post How Can Women Change the World? Book by Book  appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Crisp signs fantasy writer Hawke

Julie Crisp has signed up her first author as a literary agent following her departure from Pan Macmillan. Crisp will represent Sam Hawke, an Australian fantasy writer from Canberra, who has written a novel called Proof, described as “intelligent fantasy concentrating on issues of race, gender... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Coen and O'Halloran join Madeleine Milburn Ltd

The Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV & Film Agency is expanding with the addition of two new agents this summer. Thérèse Coen will join the business as a rights agent in July, with Sarah O'Halloran joining as a literary agent in August. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Ursula K. Le Guin Urges Amazon Book Buying Boycott

SF grand dame Ursula K Le Guin, writes, 'Every book purchase made from Amazon is a vote for a culture without content and without contentment.' The post Ursula K. Le Guin Urges Amazon Book Buying Boycott appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Why Are There No Literary Agents in the Middle East?

One of the few literary agents focusing on Arabic, Yasmina Jraissati, discusses the non-existent role of the literary agent in the Middle East. The post Why Are There No Literary Agents in the Middle East? appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Mantel, Amis and Davies on Gordon Burn longlist

Hilary Mantel, Martin Amis and Dan Davies have made the 13-strong longlist for the Gordon Burn Prize 2015, which "champions a fresh, fearless approach to writing".   Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Kein & Aber buys Amis novel

Six months after Martin Amis‘ latest novel The Zone of Interest was turned down by the author’s usual German publisher Hanser, the book - set in a fictionalized Auschwitz - has finally found a new home. Zurich-based Kein & Aber will publish Interessengebiet in September.  “Martin Amis is... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Walter Scott Prize longlist released for first time

Martin Amis, Sarah Waters and Jessie Burton have made the 15-strong longlist for the 2015 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. The longlist has been released for the first time following a 40% increase in entries this year.  Amis is longlisted for his dark love story set in a Nazi... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this