Critic's Notebook: What is fact, what is fiction?

'The Lifespan of a Fact' lays out a thought-provoking debate of the issue between authors John D'Agata and Jim Fingal.The key passage in John D'Agata and Jim Fingal's "The Lifespan of a Fact" (W.W. Norton: 124 pp., $17.95 paper) comes late in the book, during an exchange on the role of fact in the amorphous genre known as literary nonfiction, or creative nonfiction, or literary journalism, or, in D'Agata's usage, "the essay." D'Agata and Fingal are arguing about intent, and the extent to which, or whether, invention ought to be allowed. Continue reading at 'Los Angeles Times'

[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-02-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #creative nonfiction #literary journalism

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DK moves into narrative non-fiction

Dorling Kindersley is taking a new direction, publishing a list of narrative non-fiction books... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-03-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The E-book Explosion: Facts & Figures 2012

A snapshot of the ebook industry today shows more than 1,000 ebooks with sales of 25,000+. And while our survey of publishers is by no means complete, it's more than enough to prove that the book business is quickly moving to digital. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Highs and Lows in Paperbacks: Facts & Figures 2012

Looking at 2012’s huge drop in the number of mass market bestsellers with sales of more than 500,000 copies is alarming. In 2012, only 26 titles hit that figure and only three in the group reached the million mark. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In Hardcover, the Big Didn’t Get Bigger: Facts & Figures 2012

Last year at the end of this annual bestseller article, we made the obvious prediction that unit sales for hardcover bestsellers would be even lower for 2012 books and that the “ebook explosion could be the culprit.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Women's Fiction prize returns, announces longlist

Hilary Mantel, Zadie Smith and Barbara Kingsolver are among the finalists for the $45,000 Women's Prize, known formerly as the Orange Prize, which released its longlist today. Hilary Mantel, Zadie Smith and Barbara Kingsolver are among the finalists for the $45,000 Women's Prize, known formerly... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #barbara kingsolver #zadie smith #hilary mantel #orange prize


New award targets Scandinavian crime fiction

A new prize for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year, the Petrona Award, has announced its... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-03-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Small Publishers Rule Pen/Faulkner Fiction Award Shortlist

Coffee House Press, with two finalists, and Cinco Puntos Press join FSG and Pantheon with titles on the shortlist for this year's prestigious PEN Faulkner Award for fiction. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-03-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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National Book Critics Circle Awards go to 'Billy Lynn,' 'Far From the Tree'

The National Book Critics Circle honored works such as 'Far From the Tree' by Andrew Solomon and 'The Passage of Power: The Years of Lyndon Johnson' by Robert Caro during their 2012 awards ceremony. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-03-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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RCUK 'learns lessons' from HoL criticism

Research Councils UK has said it has "learned lessons" after being accused of an "... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-02-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fiercest Book Critic of 2012? Camilla Long Had The Year’s Sharpest Hatchet

The Guardian called it: "Camilla Long’s comprehensive shredding of Rachel Cusk’s memoir of her divorce, Aftermath has won her the Hatchet Job of the Year award.” Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HarperCollins merges non-fiction divisions

HarperCollins is to merge its three non-fiction divisions into two imprints, creating a new... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-02-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How Fiction Doesn’t Work

It is no surprise to see aphorism alive and thriving in our current celebrity climate. The forgotten, it may be assumed, never said anything interesting, whereas choice words of the famous live forever at cocktail parties and in book reviews. To carry a portfolio of pithy quotations is to... Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2013-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #book reviews #cocktail parties #choice words


National Book Critics Circle announces finalists for awards

The late journalist Anthony Shadid, Los Angeles writer Reyna Grande and the novelist Zadie Smith were among the finalists announced Monday for the prestigious National Book Critics Circle Awards. The late journalist Anthony Shadid, Los Angeles writer Reyna Grande and the novelist Zadie Smith... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-01-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Face Up: 2012 Critics’ Choice

Every month, FOLIO: selects a small group of designers and art directors to offer critiques on visually-engaging magazine covers. The cover, after all, is the first point of entry for any magazine, retail or otherwise. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2013-01-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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National Book Critics Circle Awards Shortlist Includes Just One Translation

Add to the growing list of prize shortlists the latest from the NBCC, which includes just a single translation: Lauren Binet's HHhH, translated by Sam Taylor. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-01-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Shortlist for International Prize for Arabic Fiction

The shortlist for the 2012 International Prize for Arabic Fiction has been announced in a... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-01-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Egmont acquires historical fiction debut

Egmont Press has acquired a debut historical fiction title, The Executioner's Daughter, by TV... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-01-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Andrew Lownie to grow fiction

The Andrew Lownie Literary Agency has appointed David Haviland to build a fiction list, with the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-01-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A book critic's literary tour of Manhattan

New York Times critic Dwight Garner stopped at book-centered destinations throughout the Big Apple. 'I was smitten all over again,' Garner wrote after his excursion. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hodder picks up foxy fiction

Hodder Children’s Books has acquired a new series, Foxy Fiction, by author Caryl Hart and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-12-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #hodder children