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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Hachette Books Ireland wins pathologist's memoir in six-way auction

Hachette Books Ireland has acquired former state pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy's memoir in a six-way auction. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-05-01 00:07:05 UTC ]
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Publishing must ‘wake up to the world beyond the M25’, new report urges

A new report championing working class writers has published today (1st May), recommending better funding for “new collaborations” and the “decentralisation of UK publishing”–including asking more literary agents to move outside the capital–to help promote inclusion. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-04-30 13:41:58 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #uk publishing #literary agents


A world without bookshops

Could the coronavirus crisis and the UK lockdown be offering the publishing industry a glimpse into a world without bookshops? Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-04-30 02:18:22 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #coronavirus crisis #uk lockdown #publishing industry


Branch Out with Historical Fiction: It’s More Than Just World War II

Here's why this reader thinks you should read historical fiction and some favorite books that aren't about WWII to get you into the genre. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-04-27 10:39:09 UTC ]
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Walker Books acquires 'wonderful' middle-grade novel about two autistic friends

Walker Books UK and Walker Books US will simultaneously publish Meera Trehan's debut middle-grade novel The View from the Very Best House in Town. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-04-23 21:36:57 UTC ]
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Kuala Lumpur Opens its World Book Capital Year

In Malaysia as it launches its World Book Capital year under the restrictions of the pandemic, the city's mayor quotes the Quran and 'Winne the Pooh.' The post Kuala Lumpur Opens its World Book Capital Year appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-04-23 16:33:24 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #world book


World Book Day Messages: Appeals for the International Industry

International publishing organizations are calling on this unique World Book and Copyright Day for support urgently needed by the books business—in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. The post World Book Day Messages: Appeals for the International Industry appeared first on Publishing... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-04-23 15:50:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #international industry #coronavirus pandemic #world book #international publishing #book day


Hotels Share Favorite Travel Stories for World Book Day: Critical Linking, April 23, 2020

An awesome daily roundup of the most interesting bookish links from around the web! Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-04-23 10:30:24 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #critical linking #world book


Sharjah World Book Capital Holds a Closing Ceremony Online

Sharjah's 2019 World Book Capital concludes in a live stream from the UAE, after announcing grants from its new Access Sharjah incubator. The post Sharjah World Book Capital Holds a Closing Ceremony Online appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-04-22 13:51:20 UTC ]
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Trade shows try adapting to a world of virtual meetings

The New York Comic Con has become a certifiable blockbuster show, with more than 200,000 tickets sold. The event is centered in the Javits Center but also includes Madison Square Garden and the... To view the full story, click the title link. Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2020-04-21 18:29:44 UTC ]
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Joseph Coelho to helm National Shelf Service's World Book Night event

YouTube book recommendation series the National Shelf Service has announced a series of World Book Night broadcasts, to feature a bedtime reading hour with poet and author Joseph Coelho. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-04-21 10:36:13 UTC ]
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Amazon Crossing Rolls Out Its 2020 Free World Book Day Translations

From Turkey, South Africa, Sweden, China, Germany, Israel, Spain, Brazil, and Argentina, this year's free books from Amazon Crossing arrive amid frontier-defying contagion. The post Amazon Crossing Rolls Out Its 2020 Free World Book Day Translations appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-04-17 03:09:44 UTC ]
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In Tbilisi, Georgia Plans World Book and Copyright Day Online

On April 23, the Georgian Publishers and Booksellers Association expects to stream a busy World Book and Copyright Day program. By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson ‘Uniting Our Forces’ n Tbilisi, the Georgian Publishers and Booksellers Association chair Gvantsa Jobava has... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-04-14 04:30:28 UTC ]
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Hachette Ireland to publish fictional account of Guinness sisters

Hachette Books Ireland has acquired two books by Irish author and journalist Emily Hourican who was inspired by the real-life story of the Guinness founder's daughters.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-04-09 12:27:08 UTC ]
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Here are the winners of the Sheikh Zayed Book Awards, one of the Arab world’s major literary prizes.

The Sheikh Zayed Book Awards, among the most esteemed and lucrative literary prizes in the Arab world, recognized winners across seven categories today. This year marks the 14th edition of the awards, each of which comes with a cash prize of $204,000. These awards acknowledge literary and... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-04-08 15:14:35 UTC ]
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UK's World Book Night celebrations to go ahead online

 The Reading Agency has confirmed the UK's World Book Night celebrations will go ahead on 23rd April, but will be modified due to Covid-19. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-04-02 06:54:47 UTC ]
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Wizarding World Introduces Harry Potter at Home

Wizarding World of Harry Potter introduces Harry Potter at Home, a new collection of free resources for readers and educators. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-04-01 17:06:24 UTC ]
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J K Rowling and Wizarding World partners launch Harry Potter at Home

J K Rowling and her Wizarding World partners have announced three new initiatives under the banner Harry Potter At Home, to help children, parents, carers and teachers who are at home during the coronavirus outbreak. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-04-01 16:21:07 UTC ]
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In ‘House of Glass,’ Hadley Freeman unearth’s the World War II-era secrets of her family’s past

The four siblings central to Freeman’s book, a history of a 20th-century Jewish family as much as a memoir, were outsized characters. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-03-30 21:52:58 UTC ]
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In Matt Ruff’s ‘88 Names,’ virtual reality dangers bleed into the real world

Ruff makes his adventures fashioned from electrons and bytes read as authentically as any naturalism. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-03-27 16:56:00 UTC ]
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