Man Booker prize judge Colin Thubron has complained this week that star endorsements bully readers into admiring books, but it’s long been standard practiceSetting cats among pigeons has long been an unofficial part of the contract for judges of the Booker prize. Remember Chris Mullin’s insistence on “zip–along” novels, or, way back in 1992, AN Wilson’s condemnation of the prize itself as “essentially trivial”? This year’s flurry of fur and feathers was provoked by a tirade from Colin Thubron on celebrity endorsements. Some blurbs, said the veteran travel writer, “almost blackmail” readers into feeling that “you’re either intellectually or morally incompetent if you don’t love this book or you’ve failed if you haven’t understood it”. Some people, he felt, “seem to earn their living … saying: ‘This is the most profound book of our generation.’”Starting our Iris Murdoch bookclub with this '69 @PenguinUKBooks edition - you don't find blurbs like this any more! pic.twitter.com/P2XUvgtKAM Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2017-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Somalia is holding its first international literary festival in the capital Mogadishu. Continue reading at BBC News
[ BBC News | 2015-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bookstores across the country threw parties to celebrate the release of the latest, never-before-seen Dr. Seuss picture book, 'What Pet Should I Get?' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Does Germany's love of reading extend to ebooks? The results of the 2015 Allensbach Media Market Analysis reveal just how digital Germany's readers are. The post Do German Readers Prefer Print Books? appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-07-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon says Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman is the most pre-ordered title since the final Harry Potter book as the first chapter is published online. Continue reading at BBC News
[ BBC News | 2015-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Executives from Goodreads, HarperCollins, and Penguin Random House shared book discovery tactics in the age of overload at BEA's IDPF conference on Tuesday. The post Where’s Waldo the Reader? Book Discovery Tactics from IDPF appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Biblical Archaeology Review' has spent four decades covering a contentious field, standing for authenticity amid controversial claims. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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April 23, Dia de Sant Jordi, the Catalan festival dedicated to books and roses, accounts for 5–8% of annual book sales in Catalonia. The post Catalonia Celebrates Biggest Book-Giving Holiday of the Year appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Celebrities including Sir Paul McCartney, the members of One Direction and Kate Moss have contributed to a charity children's book about a half-girl, half-dinosaur, launched today (14th April) at the London Book Fair by Fat Fox Books. Holly Milbank, m.d. of Fat Fox Books, was inspired to create... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of iconic monk and author Thomas Merton, who is celebrated with a feast of new books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Creators of the Clean Reader app will no longer sell books after receiving complaints from authors that their works were being altered without permission. The post UK Authors Force Clean Reader App to Stop Some Book Sales appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The cherished French children’s book author and editor of hundreds of books Grégoire Solotareff offers his tips for creating books fore very young readers. The post Keys to Writing Books for Very Young Readers appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Reader’s Guild has signed a long-term licensing agreement to market and publish Reader’s Digest's Condensed Book series as Reader’s Digest Classic Editions. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As millions of children celebrate World Book Day, Tim Muffett has been looking at what makes bedtime reading a best seller. Continue reading at BBC World
[ BBC World | 2015-03-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Events at the book fairs in Jerusalem, Leipzig, Bologna and Frankfurt are honoring the Jubilee year of German-Israeli diplomatic and literary relations. The post Celebrating German-Israeli Relations Through Books appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Though the Doha International Book Fair opened under the cloud of the killings in France, it proved interest in reading is growing in the oil rich country. The post Doha International Book Fair Gives Qatari Readers Hope appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Bookseller Industry Awards will this year celebrate the ‘book’ of the year alongside the publishers, editors, and retailers who bring the titles to market. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A charming French novel about an old-school publisher trying to get to grips with the digital ageAt more than one point in this novel I found myself asking: could this be any more French? Early on we meet a character described thus: “She used to be incredibly good-looking and now at... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2014-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House's c.e.o. Tom Weldon has said the company will not be exploring subscription, as he is not convinced it is what readers want. Weldon, in conversation with The Bookseller's editor Philip Jones at today's FutureBook conference, said PRH UK is betting on three things for the... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The annual fall gathering of the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association in Denver was a huge celebration of books, with attendees in high spirits, reporting strong sales this year and expecting an excellent holiday season. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Chris Kubica argues that the book business has so far been too content to put the future of reading in the hands of others, and offers 8 ideas to change that. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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