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
A packed Irish Book Trade Conference in Dublin cheered the industry’s growth over the past year with figures showing volume and value of sales increased by around 6.5% in 2018, according to Nielsen Bookscan figures. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#sales increased
Downing Street has welcomed 30 schoolchildren to share a story to celebrate today’s (7th March) World Book Day, whilst astronaut Tim Peake is marking the day with a video encouraging children to read. The children visiting 10 Down Street spent the morning reading and drawing along with authors... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#tim peake
#downing street
#rob biddulph
The Switch hasn't quite lived up to its tablet potential due to a severe lack of software outside of games, but it's surprisingly found a groove as a comic book e-reader. It's all thanks to Inky Pen -- a comic subscription that's currently exclusive... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2019-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#severe lack
Seven Dials has acquired the “big-hearted and empowering” first book by "I'm A Celebrity" campmate Emily Atack. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |
Reading charity BookTrust is launching a £5,000 book prize to celebrate titles published for babies and children aged 0-5. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-01-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |
The Portland Press Herald in Maine said it would bring back its local book reviews if the author and his followers brought in 100 new subscriptions. They brought in twice that. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2019-01-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#bring back
Folks used to think that e-readers would relegate traditional paper books to the scrapyard of the past and destroy the publishing industry as we knew it. But, in the time since the first Kindle e-reader was unveiled in 2007, the dire declarations of what effect the devices might have on our... Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2018-12-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#pretty great
#easily readable
#direct sunlight
#models equipped
#excellent choice
#browsing periodicals
#storing thousands
#ink displays
#word aficionados
#market today—
Architecturally significant homes in Los Angeles are not all modern glass boxes or Frank Gehry futurism. That’s exactly the point of the new 12-volume book series “Master Architects of Southern California 1920-1940” by Marc Appleton, Bret Parsons and Steve Vaught. The second book to be released... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-10-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#golden era
Book People has embarked on a year of celebrations, including events, competitions and exclusive content for customers and staff, in honour of its 30th anniversary. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#book people
#including events
#exclusive content
#30th anniversary
Axel Scheffler is spearheading a project to publish a book of illustrations by Judith Kerr, Quentin Blake, Chris Riddell and more, celebrating Europe. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#axel scheffler
#judith kerr
#quentin blake
#chris riddell
Publishers are preparing to hit the Christmas market hard in 2018 with a range of giftable quizzing titles. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |
On the heels of the rapper’s deal with Random House, a look at the stars dipping their toes into publishing with imprints of their ownWith the launch of his new book imprint with publishing giant Random House, announced on Thursday via Instagram, the grime rapper Stormzy joined a growing list of... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2018-07-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#publishing houses
#lena dunham
#random house
#growing list
#join forces
#large publishers
##merky books
Authors, publishers, and booksellers gathered for a panel discussion on efforts to reach young readers Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#panel discussion
Orion is publishing two books by historian and novelist Simon Sebag Montefiore: Written in History: Letters that Changed the World and a new edition of Speeches that Changed the World. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |
The 'Nibbies,' as they're known, combined their usual glamour with a certain amount of politically tinged commentary, Brexit coming in for sharp criticism as the industry's best-performing people and writings were honored at the British Book Awards. The post British Book Awards Include Political... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-05-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |
New research by the Reading Agency suggests the UK is a nation afflicted with "book-block", with many readers deciding to give up on books after struggling through a difficult title. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |
A fast-updating ticker from Amazon Charts is displaying how many pages have been read in nine prominent translations curated by the editors of AmazonCrossing. These #readtheworld titles can be downloaded free through April 24 in recognition of World Book Day. By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-04-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#pages read
#amazon charts
#downloaded free
#porter anderson
From Brazil, China, India, and the UAE, five children's book publishers spoke the growing urgency to build young readership as competitive digital enticements grow more seductive. The post Five Viewpoints on Creating Tomorrow’s Readers: Literacy, Digital, and Children’s Books appeared first on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-03-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#books appeared
World Book Day organisers have said all events for the Biggest Book Show on Earth tour will go ahead despite the snow, although some authors have had to cancel their school appearances. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |
Jacqueline Wilson has helped launch a campaign for Book Aid International celebrating the power of books. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#jacqueline wilson
#helped launch