Graham Norton: ‘In a world going to hell in a handcart, Ireland is a wonderful beacon’

The chatshow host’s new novel centres on Irish lives dominated by shame and repression. Yet, after ‘decades of darkness’, the country’s legalisation of abortion and gay marriage have made him hopefulGraham Norton’s second novel, A Keeper, had not gone to press before this interview, so his publisher ran off an A5 photocopy for me. After reading the first few pages, I thought they must have sent me the wrong book. Literary fiction this strong could not be the work of a TV star whose canon of previous works comprised one novel. Whoever wrote this clearly had to be an established author.When I tell Norton this, he does a little squirm beside me on the sofa. “Oh my God, that’s incredibly nice of you. I’m not very good at taking compliments, so let’s gloss over this bit, but I’ll just say thank you very much. Seriously, that’s really, really nice.”We’ve got to thank the church for what Ireland is now, because it is a reaction to all those decades of darknessPeople get stuck in their heads about the thing that’s wrong with their life – they forget to have a lovely time Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2018-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #gay marriage #publisher ran #literary fiction #tv star

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The World of YA Book Covers

Let's take a peek at a handful of YA book covers with different, compelling, and interesting designs outside of the US. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-02-06 11:32:00 UTC ]
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A $320 Million Crypto Hack Sends the DeFi World Reeling

Plus: News Corp gets hacked, UK snacks ransomware, and more of the week's top security news. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2022-02-05 14:00:00 UTC ]
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In a flawed system, a Black prosecutor wonders if she’s pursuing justice or being complicit

Laura Coates offers an honest description of prosecutors' complex moral universe. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-02-04 13:00:55 UTC ]
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Bradley Graham Steps Down as ABA Board President

Bradley Graham, co-owner of Politics and Prose bookstore, has stepped down as president of the American Booksellers Association's board after assuming the position in May 2021. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-02-01 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Cowell, Adeola and Bryon feature in World Book Day 25th anniversary celebration

Authors and illustrators including Cressida Cowell, Dapo Adeola and Nathan Bryon are among those taking part in World Book Day, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-24 18:22:37 UTC ]
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ReadingZone launches World Book Day picture book competition

Children’s books website ReadingZone has launched a competition for children and young people to create a picture book for World Book Day, judged by author and illustrator Sarah McIntyre.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-22 20:56:16 UTC ]
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Jonathan Evison’s ‘Small World’ feels like a big statement about America

In "Small World," short chapters and sheer eventfulness keep the story chugging along. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-01-21 12:00:01 UTC ]
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Chasing History review: Carl Bernstein’s pre-Watergate world

Before he helped bring down Richard Nixon, the reporter grew up in a school of hard knocks. His memoir is a treasureFew reporters are synonymous with their craft. Bob Woodward of the Washington Post is one, his former partner, Carl Bernstein, another. Together, they broke open the Watergate... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-01-16 07:00:43 UTC ]
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59 Years of Book Covers for The Bell Jar from All Over the World

On January 14, 1963, poet Sylvia Plath published her first novel in England under the pseudonym “Victoria Lucas.” The book had a positive but relatively quiet reception; only a few weeks after its publication, on February 11, Plath would die by suicide. It wasn’t published in the US until 1971,... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-01-14 09:50:32 UTC ]
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A Personal Catalogue of the World’s Most Storied Bookstores

Two decades ago, I wrote my very first novel while working at The Community Bookstore, an independent bookstore in Brooklyn, New York. That job enabled me to complete my book, not just because of the flexible hours, but because the other staffers were all aspiring writers, and many of our... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-01-12 09:50:45 UTC ]
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The remarkable worlds of Hanya Yanagihara’s ‘To Paradise’

"To Paradise," by Hanya Yanagihara, is the author's first novel since "A Little Life" became a major literary event in 2015. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-01-11 13:00:00 UTC ]
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‘Art & Crime’ looks at the forgeries, thefts and manipulations that plague the art world

Stefan Koldehoff and Tobias Timm detail the doings of a rogue’s gallery of art scammers, rascals and outright thieves. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-01-07 12:00:00 UTC ]
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New Delhi World Book Fair Announces Postponement

Three days before its anticipated physical opening, the big New Delhi World Book Fair has been postponed, new dates to be announced. The post New Delhi World Book Fair Announces Postponement appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-01-05 21:40:06 UTC ]
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Little Island signs Mitchell's middle-grade novel on Ireland's asylum system

Little Island Books has landed Jane Mitchell's "urgently needed" middle-grade novel on Ireland's asylum-seeker accommodation system. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-05 14:22:36 UTC ]
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New Beacon Books saved after crowdfunder raises £76k within days

The team at New Beacon Books, the UK's first Black specialist bookshop, has praised the “amazing support from the community” following a highly successful crowdfunding campaign which has not only saved the store but netted £76,000 in only a few days.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-03 18:47:55 UTC ]
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The (wonderful, life-saving) Libby app is becoming more accessible.

The Libby app came into my life early in the pandemic, when in-person trips to the library weren’t possible and indie bookstores were up against massive USPS delays. The app—which allows users to instantly borrow ebooks from their local libraries—was an incredible gift. Twenty-two months, one... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-01-03 17:41:14 UTC ]
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Howard named Children’s Writing Fellow for Northern Ireland

Award-winning author and illustrator Paul Howard, whose recent work includes Joe Wicks' debut picture book The Burpee Bears (HarperCollins Children's Books), has been appointed the new Children’s Writing Fellow for Northern Ireland. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-12-31 03:43:57 UTC ]
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New Beacon Books fundraiser raises £5k within hours of launch

A crowdfunder to save London’s New Beacon Books has raised more than £5,000 within hours of launching.   Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-12-30 15:27:20 UTC ]
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UK's first Black specialist bookshop New Beacon to close

The UK's first Black specialist bookshop is to shut its doors and move entirely online, as financial constraints jeopardise its future.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-12-28 16:05:54 UTC ]
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Survey says: the Booker is the most important literary prize in the world.

An interesting dispatch from prize world: as The Bookseller reported, a new international survey conducted by Nielsen Book shows publishers, writers, booksellers and media consider the Booker Prize the “most important” literary prize. The Booker’s status isn’t completely out of left field, but... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-12-23 20:28:47 UTC ]
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