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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A one-off edition of a Harry Potter spin-off book, handwritten by JK Rowling, is being sold by its owner. Continue reading at BBC News
[ BBC News | 2016-11-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Actress Emma Watson has been leaving copies of her latest book club selection - Maya Angelou’s Mom & Me & Mom - on the London Underground for commuters to pick up and read. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Can a 'gateway to worldwide subscription services' for self-published authors up the ante for those services? Two Danes think believe it can. The post Denmark’s New Palatium: Curating Indie Books for Subscriptions appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-11-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Arab world should “use culture rather than guns” to achieve its ends, guests were told at the opening ceremony of the 35th Sharjah International Book Fair, held at the emirate’s exhibition centre this morning (2nd November). Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Transworld has acquired Robert Iger’s untitled book on leadership and management, which explores the ideas, values, and growth strategies he has developed in his 11 years as c.e.o. of media company Disney, for publication in 2018. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New York-based OR Books is publishing a collection of Hillary Clinton’s speeches, released by Wikileaks last month, despite not having permission from the presidential candidate. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers across the country held parties as staffers donned costumes based on favorite characters and books. See our collection of photos from the festivities. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-11-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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After sending a request to Attorney General Loretta Lynch asking whether she is committed to keeping the reader privacy policy adopted by her predecessor, the department reffirrmed that it will abide by those protections. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-11-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In a combination of analysis, commentary, and rights-center deal-making, the 35th Sharjah fair clarifies issues and opportunities for industry growth. The post Sharjah Book Fair’s Professional Program: Boosting Business in the Arab World appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-11-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Stratford Literary Festival and independent publisher The Salariya Book Company are launching a prize for new picture book authors and illustrators. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author Patricia Cornwell has revealed that the intensive research she undertakes for her books has left her with post-traumatic stress. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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YouTube is the content king, discoverability remains kids' publishing's white whale, top brands are so ubiquitous that they are morphing into de facto platforms, and other takeaways from the 2016 Nielsen Children's Book Summit. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-11-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Taking a holistic approach that might warm the heart of a millennial mom, Nielsen's third conference on the young readers' market looked at their parents, too. The post Children’s Book Summit: Nielsen on Kids, Their Trends, and Their Parents appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-11-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Karsten Dietrich, who ran the France Loisirs book club from 1973 until his retirement in 2009, died last week in Paris. He was 72. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-11-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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"Breaking Bad" actor Bryan Cranston's penchant for buying, signing and leaving copies of his autobiography in every airport he has flown from for his book tour has this week resulted in a welcome surprise for a fan in Heathrow airport. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Doris Kearns Goodwin, left, and Rachel Maddow talked about presidents past and future over lunch in the Gotham Lounge at the Peninsula Hotel in Manhattan. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2016-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Canongate has signed Unspeakable: The Things We Cannot Say by Harriet Shawcross, saying it will be the publisher's lead title in autumn 2018. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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YA author Kathryn Evans has won the 2016 Edinburgh International Book Festival First Book Award for her début novel, More of Me (Usborne). Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Mobile ebook start-up Ether Books is to be sold after its founders decided that it needed fresh investment to develop the service out of beta. It is now looking to sell the business to a publisher or other book industry company. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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This week: a brilliant espionage novel, and a look at the emotional turmoil veterans endure upon returning home from war. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-10-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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