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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Hyder's debut goes to Norton in US in three-way auction

Pushkin Press has sold YA debut Bearmouth by Liz Hyder to Norton in the US following a three-way bidding war. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-21 19:34:40 UTC ]
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A Canadian literary prize is ending for a wonderfully Canadian reason.

The Charles Taylor Foundation, a charity organization that supports Canadian writers, gave a cheery explanation for why a literary prize it’s been co-sponsoring for two decades is coming to an end next year: they accomplished exactly what they’d set out to do. For almost 20 years, the Foundation... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-11-21 18:55:31 UTC ]
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On World Children’s Day, the UN and IPA Highlight the SDG Book Club

On UNICEF's World Children's Day, the IPA reminds international publishers that their children's books can be part of the SDG Book Club. The post On World Children’s Day, the UN and IPA Highlight the SDG Book Club appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-11-20 13:09:40 UTC ]
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One of the largest book publishers in the world announces new publisher.

Andy Ward has been named a new vice president and publisher at Random House. Formerly editor in chief, Ward moves into the spot long held by the beloved Susan Kamil, who died in September. Ward has edited the likes of David Mitchell, George Saunders, and Imbolo Mbue, and will see his role as... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-11-19 15:22:43 UTC ]
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Around the World in 8 Books: 2020 Global Historical Fiction

Look forward to a trip around the world, and back in time, while learning the history of far flung places with these 2020 global historical fiction reads. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-11-14 11:32:10 UTC ]
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The Memoir of a Political Prisoner Who Never Stopped Imagining a Better World

Virtually none of us will ever know what Ahmet Altan has gone through, and continues to live through. After the 2016 Turkish coup d’etat attempt, the writer was arrested along with his brother on such claims as “sending subliminal messages to coup supporters.” In 2018, they were sentenced to... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2019-11-11 12:00:01 UTC ]
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BBC panel defend Cooper's Riders on 100 Novels That Shaped Our World list

The panel who picked a BBC list of 100 Novels That Shaped Our World have set out the reasons for their choices, including defending the appearance of Riders by Jilly Cooper. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-10 17:18:37 UTC ]
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Stephanie Wrobel’s 'Darling Rose Gold' Finds a Mother From Hell

A debut novelist adds a twist to the canon of books on Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-11-08 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Where Worlds Collide: Books on Politics and Religion

A plethora of books at the American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature annual conference examine the relationship between politics and religion in the age of Trump. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-11-08 05:00:00 UTC ]
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A New Book From the Creator of ‘Wonder’ Tells a Holocaust Story

In R.J. Palacio’s graphic novel “White Bird,” a grandmother finally shares her harrowing tale of survival under the Nazis. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2019-11-07 22:07:49 UTC ]
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Penguin Ireland buys Joe Schmidt’s memoir

Penguin Ireland will publish New Zealand rugby union coach Joe Schmidt’s memoir later this month. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-06 02:38:57 UTC ]
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HarperCollins snaps up Gaynor's Second World War novel

HarperCollins has snapped up The Kingfisher Patrol, a new novel from Hazel Gaynor set in Japanese-occupied China during the Second World War. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-06 00:37:34 UTC ]
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The Novels That Shaped Our World: BBC reveals 100-strong list

Novels by authors including Toni Morrison, Sylvia Plath and Salman Rushdie have been recognised by the BBC in a new list of novels that have shaped the world. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-05 15:14:17 UTC ]
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‘From Hell to Breakfast’ takes readers on a sometimes confounding journey. It’s worth the ride.

The novel opens with Dracula arguing with his girlfriend and gets weirder from there. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-11-04 21:45:57 UTC ]
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Nielsen says World Series is a snooze for most TV viewers

The Nielsen company says the five games so far of the Washington-Houston matchup is the least-watched World Series ever Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2019-10-29 21:44:42 UTC ]
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Why Fox isn’t sweating the low-rated World Series: Sports Media Brief

Welcome to the another edition of Ad Age Sports Media Brief, a weekly roundup of news from every zone of the sports media spray chart, including the latest on broadcast/cable/streaming, sponsorships, endorsements, gambling and tech. Rock for Light The World Series tonight returns to the... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2019-10-25 21:12:59 UTC ]
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H.G. Parry: When We Read Books, We Bring Their Worlds Into Life

While all fiction writers can pull characters from their imaginations and commit them to the page, most readers can’t do what Charley Sutherland can: pull characters from the page and commit them to the real world. Sutherland’s fantastical ability is at the center of H.G. Parry’s debut novel The... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-10-25 08:46:30 UTC ]
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In World War II, serving Jesus while spying for the United States

Matthew Avery Sutton tells the stories of four missionaries who worked in the OSS. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-10-24 12:24:33 UTC ]
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HarperCollins signs World War Two novel

HarperCollins has snapped up a World War Two novel "full of friendship and hope" by Christopher de Vinck, that was inspired by the essayist's family.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-24 00:58:20 UTC ]
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Journey to the Interactive World of Big City Map

Imagine being able to walk around the world of your favorite comic book series. Big City Map is based on the world of comics book Brotherman. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-10-23 10:42:14 UTC ]
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