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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Children got the opportunity to meet their favourite authors this week, as World Book Day celebrated it's 20th anniversary on Thursday 2nd March. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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If Penguin Random House really spent the rumored $65 million to acquire books by the former president and first lady, Barack and Michelle Obama, how could the publisher recoup its outlay? It might not be that hard. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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This week: Dan Chaon's terrifying masterpiece, plus an espionage novel set during the October Revolution of 1917. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Blue Streak Books will launch this spring with former Running Press v-p and publisher Chris Navratil at the helm as associate publisher. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Three début authors are up against children’s book heavyweights Malorie Blackman and Francesca Simon on the 10-strong YA Book Prize 2017 shortlist. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barack and Michelle Obama have signed with publishing house Penguin Random, for a record breaking sum. Continue reading at Stuff
[ Stuff | 2017-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'There is the question of quality,' concedes an agent about teen authors being published in India. Finding 'new voices' is the strategy, says one editor. The post In India, Teen Authors Land Book Publishing Contracts appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama have both signed book deals with Penguin Random House, the publisher announced Tuesday. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2017-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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At a luncheon in Manhattan yesterday, 'New York Times Book Review' editor Pamela Paul, who oversees all books coverage at the 'New York Times,' laid out the newspaper's vision for the future of its newly-unified books desk. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Twitter personality Hrtbps, who has almost 50k followers, is crowdfunding a photo book about Britain with Unbound. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Even as flowers sprout from the ground, great books are also popping up all over the place. Which ones are most worth your time? Amazon editors have selected a list of the books they say are the best to be released in March. Here are the picks, with thoughts from Amazon senior editor Chris Schluep. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2017-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Children from a primary school in Norfolk debate the merits of their chosen World Book Day characters. Continue reading at BBC News
[ BBC News | 2017-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As children bring literary characters to life across the country for World Book Day, we've collected some of the best pictures - from Miss Trunchbull to Little Red Riding Hood (via Trainspotting's Begbie and the A470). Continue reading at BBC News
[ BBC News | 2017-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As more publishers look to rights and licensing for revenue, London Book Fair's long-running Introduction to Rights program takes on new value. The post At London Book Fair: Need for Revenue Gives New Traction to Rights Workshop appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barack and Michelle Obama have signed with publishing house Penguin Random, for an undisclosed sum. Continue reading at Stuff
[ Stuff | 2017-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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More initiatives to mark World Book Day (WBD) have been announced ahead of the 20th anniversary event on 2nd March. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-03-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The annual Paris book fair, Livre Paris, will open for four days on 24th March with several new and revamped features as the organisers try to halt the slide in visitor numbers. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-03-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama in Washington last year. They plan to donate a portion of the advances for their books to charity. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2017-03-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House obtained the rights to the memoirs of Barack and Michelle Obama. Continue reading at ABC News
[ ABC News | 2017-03-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fearne Cotton will write her first children’s book for Andersen Press which encourages toddlers to copy the characters' yoga poses. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-03-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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