Do celebrity book blurbs 'blackmail' readers?

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 ]
News tagged with: #booker prize #colin thubron #celebrity endorsements #ve failed

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Schoenhof’s Foreign Books to Close After 161 Years

Schoenhof’s Foreign Books, the oldest foreign language bookstore in America, will shutter its Harvard Square storefront next month. Opened in 1856, the bookstore will continue to operate as an online-only retailer. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-02-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Nosy Crow to publish final book written by late Mal Peet and his wife

Nosy Crow is publishing a picture book by the late Mal Peet and his wife Elspeth Graham. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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International Hot Book Properties, Week of February 20, 2017

In this week's column a Vatican exposé heats up along with a thriller that initially sold in a four-way auction in Italy. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Buddhist publishers look at principles of interconnectedness and interdependence as a response to issues ranging from racism to poverty. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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WNBA Will Send Trump a Book a Day in March

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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German Book Prize Names 2017 Jury: Nominations Are Ongoing

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Internet troll's book deal is rescinded

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[ Engadget | 2017-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Milo Yiannopoulos book deal cancelled following outrage over child abuse comments

Simon & Schuster pulls forthcoming autobiography, titled Dangerous, for which it had reportedly paid a $250,000 advanceSimon & Schuster has cancelled the publication of Milo Yiannopoulos’ book, and his fellow Breitbart employees have reportedly threatened to quit if he is not fired.A... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S US cancels Yiannopoulos book

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[ The Bookseller | 2017-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tom Fletcher pens 'highly inventive' picture book for PRH

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[ The Bookseller | 2017-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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World Book Day unveils 20th anniversary plans

World Book Day is introducing a raft of new projects to mark its 20th anniversary on Thursday 2nd March. Booksellers are also gearing up to celebrate the anniversary with a flurry of activity. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Simon & Schuster Cancels Milo Yiannopoulos's Book

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Norstedts reveals Swedish title of book five in Larson's Millennium series

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[ The Bookseller | 2017-02-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2017-02-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-02-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Slate | 2017-02-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Deals: Week of February 20, 2017

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