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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It's 2017 and changing other people's flight bookings is incredibly easy

The travel booking systems used by millions of people every day are woefully insecure and lack modern authentication methods. This allows attackers to easily modify other people's reservations, cancel their flights and even use the refunds to book tickets for themselves, according a team of... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2016-12-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In Hong Kong's book industry, 'everybody is scared'

Hong Kong used to be a place of relatively free speech in China, but that was before Xi Jinping’s crackdown. Now everybody from writers to booksellers, publishers and printers fear they will be next to ‘disappear’Just over a year after five publishers and booksellers disappeared from Hong Kong... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-12-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hong kong #free speech #xi jinping #british colony


Book and Reading Data Points from Amazon.com

The bestselling books over the holidays at the e-tailer were 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down,' 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,' and a children's backlist book. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-12-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bestselling books #wimpy kid #harry potter #cursed child


The Most-Read Adult Book Reviews of 2016

We review more than 8,000 books per year, and these were the 10 most-read reviews of books published in 2016. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-12-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Honest Few turns your social media posts into money for books

With ebook libraries, Amazon Prime Reading and the plethora of online services available putting free publications in your various devices, it's a wonder that people still pay any money for books anymore. But a new website called Honest Few is found... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2016-12-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #books anymore #online services


Meet the C-Suite: Derek Burns, CEO of Beer Book

Welcome to Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Meet the C-Suite,” where each week we will feature one of the city’s most high profile c-level executives. This week meet Derek Burns, founder and CEO of Atlanta-based Beer Book. Name: Derek Burns Company: Beer Book Title: Founder, CEO Headquarters:... Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal

[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2016-12-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Can Pantsuit Nation Survive Its Book Deal?

In her Nov. 9 concession speech, Hillary Clinton threw a little lighthearted shade at Pantsuit Nation, the secret pro-Clinton Facebook group that had attracted more than 2.5 million members in the three weeks before the election. “I want everybody to come out from behind that,” Clinton said in... Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2016-12-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Poetry School names its Books of the Year

Melissa Lee-Houghton's Costa Award shortlisted collection Sunshine (Penned in the Margins) has been named one of The Poetry School's 2016 Books of the Year, alongside four titles each from Picador and Sheffield-based publisher and writer development agency The Poetry Business. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The 10 Best Business Books Of 2016

From leading with grit to practicing deep work, these page turners introduced us to some new ideas this year. From leading with grit to practicing deep work, these page turners introduced us to some new ideas this year.Whether you wanted new ways to think about your... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2016-12-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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15 best nonfiction books of 2016

“Read the best books first, or you may not have a chance to read them at all,” Henry David Thoreau once wisely counseled. It is in that spirit that we offer this list. As happens every year, 2016 was full of widely praised books, but the 15 listed here are the nonfiction titles the Monitor’s... Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2016-12-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sarah Walden appointed to The Book People board

The Book People’s group buying and merchandising director Sarah Walden has been appointed to the company’s board. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Pantsuit Nation Book Deal Raises Questions

Did Libby Chamberlain betray the ethics of the group she founded by securing a book deal? Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-12-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Boris Johnson accused of breaching ministerial code after book signing

Boris Johnson has been accused of breaching the ministerial code of conduct by allegedly promoting his book The Churchill Factor (Hodder) during a diplomatic trip to Serbia last month. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Reading Up on the Holidays: Book Recommendations From the Field

Our international publishing colleagues tell us which books are on their holiday gift lists this year. We wish you happy holidays and a wonderful New Year. The post Reading Up on the Holidays: Book Recommendations From the Field appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-12-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Fairs: Jerusalem Fellows and London’s Rights Introduction

Calls are out now for June's Jerusalem International Book Fair fellows and London's 'Introduction to Rights' program registration. The post Book Fairs: Jerusalem Fellows and London’s Rights Introduction appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-12-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Germany Expects Record Holiday Book Sales

With only a few more shopping days until Christmas, German booksellers are happy with holiday book sales so far - and there might be greater things to come. The post Germany Expects Record Holiday Book Sales appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-12-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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‘March Book Three’ Tops 10th Annual PW Graphic Novel Critics Poll

'March Book Three', the final volume in Rep. John Lewis's acclaimed civil rights graphic memoir, has topped PW's 10th Annual Graphic Novel Critics Poll with five votes. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-12-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #march book #critics poll #final volume #john lewis


Jerusalem Book Fair invites fellowship applications

The 28th biennial Jerusalem International Book Fair (JIBF) is inviting applications for its Zev Birger Editorial and Agent Fellowships. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hits and misses: indie publishers pick their books of 2016

Small and independent houses share the books they enjoyed and envied this yearThe annual Guardian “hits and misses” feature, canvassing publishers about their high points and regrets of the year, always makes me wonder about what my friends and allies in the small-press world think about their... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-12-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Puffin to publish Novak's follow-up to The Book with No Pictures

Puffin Books is publishing a companion to US actor BJ Novak's internationally bestselling children's book, The Book with No Pictures, called The Alphabet Book With No Pictures. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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