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
Libraries from Massachusetts to California are expanding to more unusual offerings like clothing exchanges and tai-chi sessions. 'For a long time, we’ve tried to make sure people come in for more than checking out books,' says Leah Price, communications director for the Library Foundation of Los... Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2016-12-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#long time
#communications director
A hit two holiday seasons ago has spawned a cozy cottage industry in a vaunted setting: The British Library is ready to stuff your stockings with crime. The post Holiday Whodunnits for Book Lovers: The British Library’s Crime Classics appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-12-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#book lovers
#british library
Booksellers and publishers can breathe a sigh of relief with news that HM Revenue and Customs has decided not to recover any tax owed on colouring or dot-to-dot books sold before April 2017. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#hm revenue
Writers including A L Kennedy, Sebastian Barry and Courttia Newland are to participate in an event which will see MPs given copies of A Country of Refuge (Unbound) in the hopes that this will "change the tone of the debate on refugees". Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#writers including
The popular colouring books will now remain VAT-free unless they are specifically marketed towards adultsHMRC has announced that it will not impose VAT on most colouring and dot-to-dot books for adults – reversing its plans from earlier this year which were greeted with dismay by fans and... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2016-12-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#dot-to-dot books
#publishers alike
#johanna basford
A round-up of books about Fidel Castro's rise to power, life in Cuba during the Castro regime, and what comes next after Castro's death. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-12-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#fidel castro
Cuba may be an island, but the man who put it at the center of so much 20th century drama certainly wasn't. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-12-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |
The New Year will kick off with a biography of Dorothy Day written by her granddaughter, a memoir centered on abortion, and an explanation of the 'Myths of Liberal Zionism' by Israeli poet and journalist Yitzhak Laor. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-12-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |
A one-off copy of a Harry Potter spin-off book that was handwritten by JK Rowling sells for almost £370,000. Continue reading at BBC News
[ BBC News | 2016-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |
A tragicomic French novel about dementia and a Finnish novel about the hardships endured by Ingrians during WWII are among the books picking up sales internationally this month. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |
Selling well in France, controversial François Mitterand books, love letters for the former president's mistress, are on offer to international publishers. The post Hot Books for the Holidays in Paris: Love Letters to a Mistress appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#hot books
#love letters
#international publishers
A handwritten and illustrated book - one of only seven produced by the Harry Potter author - is being auctioned. Continue reading at BBC World
[ BBC World | 2016-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#jk rowling
Swedish children's book publisher Olika Förlag has a decade-long history of promoting diversity, challenging gender stereotypes, and winning awards for their work. The post Sweden’s Olika: A Decidedly ‘Different’ Children’s Book Publisher appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#post sweden
#book publisher
Yesterday afternoon marked the soft opening of Gramercy Books, which was founded by writer Linda Kass, author of 'Tasa’s Song' and is co-owned with long-time bookseller John Gaylord, who has opened 24 stores. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#soft opening
The newspapers’ books of the year round-ups yielded some intriguing results, with Hisham Matar proving the most popular pick; indie publishers taking a healthy share of the recommendations; and a familiar tale being told regarding reviewers’ and writers’ diversity. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |
The London Book Fair's International Excellence Awards has added a Rights Professional of the Year category. Winners will be announced in March 2017. The post London Book Fair Awards Add Rights Professional of the Year appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-12-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#year category
#year appeared
#rights professional
In a land of nearly 2,000 small book publishers, Myanmar's post-junta industry is strengthening its ties to ASEAN and serving a youthful demographic. The post Book Publishing Market Overview: Myanmar’s Challenges and Potential appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-12-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |
Some book publishers in Australia question whether the expense of entering the increasing number of book awards is worth the potential end result. The post How Rewarding Are Book Awards? Australia’s Industry Debates the Costs appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-12-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#book awards
#book publishers
#increasing number
Crime writer Peter James has revealed he will publish two new books next year - a "who-dunnit" Roy Grace novel and a new stand-alone novel, asking what would happen if someone had absolute proof God exists. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#year -
In the Slate Plus bonus segment of Thursday’s edition of the Political Gabfest, hosts Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss their favorite books and gifts of the year. If there were a Slate Plus Gabfest gift guide, what would be on it? Continue reading at Slate
[ Slate | 2016-12-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#bonus segment
#political gabfest
#john dickerson