Hatchet Job of the Year shortlist - 2013's most negative reviews in quotes

Tasters of the reviews competing for the annual prize that recognises 'the angriest, funniest, most trenchant book review of the past 12 months'News: Hatchet Job of the Year award draws and quarters shortlistCraig Brown on Distant Intimacy: A Friendship in the Age of the Internet by Frederic Raphael and Joseph Epstein in the Daily Mail"A few years ago Raphael emailed Epstein with the suggestion that 'there might be some fun, not to mention $$$' in emailing each other for a year, then publishing the results. And so they get going, each of them dutifully delivering between 1,500 to 1,800 words a week, every week for a year. The first thing to be said about their exchanges is how extraordinarily unpleasant they are [...] Anyone unfamiliar with the literary world will, I think, be astonished at the ease with which these grand old men of letters turn into queeny old hairdressers, furiously bitching about their younger, prettier or more highly regarded rivals.Rachel Cooke on Strictly Ann: The Autobiography by Ann Widdecombe in the Observer"When Ann Widdecombe appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2010, the judges were not complimentary, describing her variously as "a dancing hippo", "a Dalek in drag" and "the Ark Royal". [...] Is Widdecombe's writing any better than her dancing? No. About the best you can say for her prose is that it is accurate. Her grammar is fine – Ann is a stickler for grammar – and her anecdotes make sense in that they have a beginning, a middle and an end.... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-01-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #paul theroux

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AUDIO: Roeg reflects on 60-year career

Veteran filmmaker Nicolas Roeg has published a book of memoirs, featuring insights from a career spanning six decades. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2013-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Beijing 2013: Richer Program, Wider Participation

More than 2,260 publishers from 76 countries are expected to attend the 20th Beijing International Book Fair which runs from August 28 to September 1. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Governments Requested Information On 38,000 Facebook Users In The First Half Of 2013

Facebook received about 38,000 data requests from government agents in 71 countries in the first half of 2013, according to the company's first Global Government Requests Report, which it published today. The report comprises both criminal and national security requests made in the first six... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-08-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #published today #vast majority #includes details #general counsel


'PW' Jobs Panel Set for Sept. 25

PW’s first breakfast panel discussion for the fall is set for September 25 and will address job trends in the changing publishing market. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hairy Bikers break 2013 non-fiction record

Hairy Bikers Dave Myers and Si King's new weight-loss tome, The Hairy Dieters: Eat for Life (... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-08-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #si king #hairy dieters


Fall Regionals 2013: Getting Back to Basics

If there’s a chill in the air and the leaves are starting to change, it must be time for the fall regional trade shows. Although the shows have shrunk in recent years, Wanda Jewell, executive director of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, promises “a show people can’t miss,” with 150... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Printing in Hong Kong, 2013

Welcome to our special supplement dedicated to printing in Hong Kong, a transformed and varied landscape where bold ventures, aggressive moves, and thinking differently rule. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hong kong #varied landscape #aggressive moves


Shalom Auslander among finalists for the 2013 Thurber Prize

The finalists for the 2013 Thurber Prize for American Humor include Shalom Auslander for his darkly funny novel "Hope, A Tragedy."The finalists for the 2013 Thurber Prize for American Humor include Shalom Auslander for his darkly funny novel "Hope, A Tragedy." But all is not grim: The other... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-08-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #darkly funny #dave barry


Printing in Hong Kong 2013: Bright Arts on the Color-Separation Industry

The last time PW visited Bright Arts at its King’s Road office, the color-separation industry was fighting for its survival. The demarcation distinguishing color-separation houses, prepress bureaus and printing companies from one another was disappearing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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AOL to cut 500 jobs at Patch

AOL Inc. is eliminating about 500 positions at its struggling Patch local-news business, or close to half of the division’s more than 1,000 employees, according to a person with knowledge of the decision.About 350 people will lose their jobs today, and roughly 150 will be asked to stay for 60... Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2013-08-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Printing in Hong Kong 2013: Linking Apps to Durable Products - The Fat Red Couch Story

The collaboration between plush toy manufacturer Animal Magic and California-based interactive media publisher Fat Red Couch, Inc. (FRC) has many in both industries puzzled and intrigued. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Printing in Hong Kong 2013: What’s Hot in the Printing Industry

No one can accuse the print manufacturing industry of standing still. Every now and then, a major revolution or innovation would shake it up and get everybody guessing and thinking. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Printing in Hong Kong 2013: A Transformed and Varied Landscape

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority,” Mark Twain once said, “it is time to pause and reflect.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishing Perspectives Frankfurt Book Fair Preview 2013

Download Publishing Perspectives' Frankfurt Book Fair preview of what’s new, what’s happening, and what are likely to be some of the hot topics of discussion this year. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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American Booksellers to Fight Amazon Through Negative Publicity

The ABA's CEO sent an open letter to independent booksellers encouraging them to publicize Amazon as a company "detrimental" to the book business and buyers. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-08-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book festival celebrates 30 years

The Edinburgh Book Festival, which is celebrating 30 years, is the "largest and best respected literary festival in the world", according to its director. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2013-08-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Samsung Ativ Book 7 review: The look is fine; the feel is not

Benchmarks are the best way to gauge a notebook’s prowess with applications such as office suites, photo and video editors, video players, games, and the like. Aesthetics are another important consideration, because you'll likely be staring at the thing for the next several years. By those... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2013-08-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Time Inc. spinoff delayed until early next year

Time Warner said Tuesday that it won't complete its plan to separate Time Inc. division into an independent company this year as anticipated, prolonging a period of uncertainty at the publishing division just a little bit longer.Executives now intend to complete the spinoff early next year, Time... Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2013-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Engadget's laptop buyer's guide: summer 2013 edition

At last: the laptop buyer's guide we wanted to write three months ago. You see, when it came time to publish our spring edition, Intel was on the cusp of releasing its fourth-generation Core processors, which meant almost everything we were recommending was destined for a refresh. So we... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How to Land a Library Job

I don’t claim to be an expert in much, but when it comes to securing a library job I’ve got hard-won advice worth sharing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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