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 ]
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Kindle Fire Reviewed: Do Not Compare to iPad

The Kindle Fire is really a distant relation of the handheld portable TV that was popular about 20 years ago--you can consume lots of things fairly effortlessly on the Fire--movies, music, magazines, some kinds of apps, and, more importantly for us, books; but the Fire's real innovation is how... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-11-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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FutureBook Innovation Awards shortlist revealed

Written By: Bookseller Staff Publication Date: Tue, 15/11/2011 - 09:30 Books apps from Faber, NosyCrow, Penguin, HarperCollins and Transworld have been shortlisted for the FutureBook Innovation Awards, while new companies including 24Symbols, Anobii, and Unbound have been shortlisted in the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-11-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kelman shortlisted for Guardian First Book Award

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Mon, 14/11/2011 - 08:15 Stephen Kelman's Pigeon English (Bloomsbury) has made the shortlist of the £10,000 Guardian First Book Award, equaling its achievement on the Man Booker Prize this year, with Down the Rabbit Hole by Juan Pablo Villalobos... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-11-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Up to 150 jobs on the line at Eason

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Mon, 14/11/2011 - 08:25 The long wait for news about job cuts at Eason's should be over by the end of this month following weeks of negotiation, it has been revealed. More than 145 full-time positions at the Irish chain are currently under threat.... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-11-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Guardian First Book shortlist heads Down the Rabbit Hole

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Mon, 14/11/2011 - 08:12 Stephen Kelman's Pigeon English (Bloomsbury) has made the shortlist of the £10,000 Guardian First Book Award, equaling its achievement on the Man Booker Prize this year, with Down the Rabbit Hole by Juan Pablo Villalobos... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-11-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Attic Brand Media falls into administration after 22 years

Attic Brand Media, the customer and consumer magazine publisher behind Kick and National Geographic Kids, has fallen into administration after 22 years, according to sources. Continue reading at Media Week

[ Media Week | 2011-11-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hay House Fiction Debut Marks 25 Years

In a major departure for Hay House, the self-help and spirituality publisher is jumping into the fiction market. Its debut mystery novel, The First Rule of Ten by psychologist Gay Hendricks and screen writer Tinker Lindsay, will be published in January. Hay House has signed up 10 additional... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-11-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jobs memoir tops bestseller lists

Written By: Philip Stone Publication Date: Wed, 02/11/2011 - 08:27 Walter Isaacson’s biography of the late Steve Jobs has become one of the fastest-selling hardback non-fiction books since records began. Brought forward from its original publication date of 24th November following the Apple... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-11-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jobs biography sells 379,000 Stateside

Written By: Philip Stone Publication Date: Wed, 02/11/2011 - 14:00 Walter Isaacson's biography of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs sold 379,000 copies in the US in it first week on bookshops shelves, BookScan US data has revealed. The $35 publication, published by Simon & Schuster in the US,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-11-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #$35 publication #simon schuster #bestselling book #john grisham #litigators doubleday #journalist bill


Jobs biog sells 379,000 copies Stateside

Written By: Philip Stone Publication Date: Wed, 02/11/2011 - 14:00 Walter Isaacson's biography of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs sold 379,000 copies in the US in its first week on bookshop shelves, BookScan US data has revealed. The $35 publication, published by Simon & Schuster in the US,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-11-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rachael Stilwell steps down at Haymarket after 17 years

Rachael Stilwell, publishing director of Haymarket's Brand Republic and Meetings & Travel Group, is stepping down from the company after 17 years. Continue reading at Media Week

[ Media Week | 2011-11-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kimmage surprise entry on William Hill shortlist

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Fri, 28/10/2011 - 13:09 Paul Kimmage is the surprise inclusion in this year's William Hill Sports Book of the Year shortlist, after he was left out of the longlist. His book Engage (Simon & Schuster), a biography of England Under 21 rugby player... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Johnny Vegas book delayed until next year

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Thu, 27/10/2011 - 08:30 HarperCollins has delayed publication of its autobiography of comedian Johnny Vegas, Becoming Johnny Vegas, due for release this autumn, until this time next year. The publisher said the decision was taken in order to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PA's Mollet to present on Hargreaves Review

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Wed, 26/10/2011 - 09:04 Publishers Association chief executive Richard Mollet will be among the panel giving evidence to the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee next week on the Hargreaves Review of Intellectual Property. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Esquire ad director Darren Singh appointed publisher of ShortList

Darren Singh, advertising director for Hearst's Esquire magazine, has been appointed publisher of ShortList. Continue reading at Media Week

[ Media Week | 2011-10-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Shortlist revealed for South Asian Lit prize

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Tue, 25/10/2011 - 08:30 The six shortlisted books competing to win 2012’s $50,000 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature have been unveiled. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Alma Books to expand after profitable year

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Thu, 20/10/2011 - 08:45 Alma Books is planning to hire more staff and expand its non-fiction and YA lists, after reversing a loss made in its 2009 financial year. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Judge praises "readability" of Dylan Thomas shortlist

Written By: Katie Allen Publication Date: Thu, 20/10/2011 - 08:00 Téa Obreht’s Orange Prize-winning novel The Tiger’s Wife (Orion) is one of three debut novels on the University of Wales Dylan Thomas Prize shortlist, praised by the chair for its "readability". read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Godfray asks BL to "review" Amazon link

Written By: Benedicte Page Publication Date: Wed, 19/10/2011 - 15:01 Tim Godfray, chief executive of The Booksellers Association, has asked British Library c.e.o. Dame Lynne Brindley to review the Library’s relationship with Amazon “as a matter of urgency”, following the furore over links to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Camden campaigners to try for library judicial review

Written By: Benedicte Page Publication Date: Mon, 17/10/2011 - 10:14 Camden library campaigners have become the latest group to apply for judicial review over library closures. The Camden Public Library User Group has instructed solicitors Bindmans to lodge an application for judicial review,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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