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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March StatShot: US Book Industry Up 3.2 Percent Year-to-Date

The AAP StatShot figures for March 2023 arrive with trade revenues up 0.2 percent for the month of March, 1.1 percent year-to-date. The post March StatShot: US Book Industry Up 3.2 Percent Year-to-Date appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-06-09 16:06:34 UTC ]
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What Should You Read Next? Here Are the Best Reviewed Books of the Week

Jenny Erpenbeck’s Kairos, Deborah Levy’s August Blue, and Frieda Hughes’ George: A Magpie Memoir all feature among the Best Reviewed Books of the Week. Brought to you by Book Marks, Lit Hub’s “Rotten Tomatoes for books.” * Fiction 1. Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck (New Directions) 10 Rave • 3... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-06-09 08:53:52 UTC ]
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The ‘New York Times Book Review’ Mixes It Up

Gilbert Cruz, the new editor of the 'Review,' plans to keep experimenting to find the perfect formula for books coverage at the paper of record. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-09 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Los Angeles Times announces 74 job cuts due to economic challenges

The Los Angeles Times says it is cutting 74 jobs due to economic challenges as the newspaper strives to transform itself into a digital media organization Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2023-06-07 20:06:25 UTC ]
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Twitter's ad sales have reportedly dropped by 59 percent since last year

Twitter's advertising revenue is down 59 percent during a five week stretch between April 1st and early May compared to the same period last year, The New York Times has reported. It regularly falls short of sales projections, and things aren't likely to change soon (apparently despite the... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-06-06 09:25:43 UTC ]
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Book Review: ‘Pageboy: A Memoir,’ by Elliot Page

In the “brutally honest” memoir “Pageboy,” the actor recounts the fears and obstacles to gender transition, and the hard-won happiness that’s followed. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-06-06 09:00:19 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble’s ‘Best Books of the Year So Far’ List Is Here, and It’s Got Something For Everyone

Barnes & Noble just released their "Best Books of the Year (So Far)", and the list is full of surprises. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-06-05 11:00:00 UTC ]
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In Paris, BIEF Celebrates Its 150th Year: ‘Open Marketplace’

With its Paris Book Market opening today, BIEF is observing 150 years of its service to French publishing in the international industry. The post In Paris, BIEF Celebrates Its 150th Year: ‘Open Marketplace’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-06-02 17:27:52 UTC ]
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Book Review: ‘Code Red’ and ‘Calling the Moon: 16 Period Stories From BIPOC Authors’

Decades after “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,” an anthology and a novel let readers see periods through the eyes of diverse protagonists. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-06-02 09:00:39 UTC ]
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APA Report: US Sees Double-Digit Audiobook Sales Growth for 11th Year

The Audio Publishers Association finds in its annual report that audiobook sales generated $1.8 billion in the United States in 2022. The post APA Report: US Sees Double-Digit Audiobook Sales Growth for 11th Year appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-06-01 15:27:14 UTC ]
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Publishing Sales Finished 2.6% Below 2021 Last Year

A 16% increase in sales in the pre-K–12 educational materials segment helped to counter declines in the other major categories, resulting in total publishing sales of $28.1 billion in 2022, the Association of American Publishers reported. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-31 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Read Marilynne Robinson’s 1988 review of Raymond Carver’s final collection.

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[ Literrary Hub | 2023-05-25 17:31:12 UTC ]
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Good news: there are more bookstores in the US this year than last.

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[ Literrary Hub | 2023-05-22 15:55:36 UTC ]
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U.S. Book Show 2023: Midtown Scholar, Emily Bates Named PW Bookstore, Rep of the Year

In a virtual awards show, 'PW' editorial director Jim Milliot named Midtown Scholar in Harrisburg, Pa., the Bookstore of the Year and PRH's Emily Bates the Sales Rep of the Year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Review: ‘American Childhood,’ by Todd Brewster

From the 19th century to the present, the photos collected in Todd Brewster’s latest book offer glimpses into the lives of our nation’s youngest members. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-05-19 09:00:43 UTC ]
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Book Review: ‘Easily Slip Into Another World,’ by Henry Threadgill

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[ The New York Times | 2023-05-19 02:17:52 UTC ]
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Book Review: ‘Yellowface,’ by R.F. Kuang

In “Yellowface,” R.F. Kuang satirizes the publishing industry with a tale of a struggling writer who passes off her recently deceased friend’s book as her own. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-05-16 09:00:23 UTC ]
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Book Review: ‘Easily Slip Into Another World,’ by Henry Threadgill

Henry Threadgill’s memoir unfolds from his maddening wartime experience to his boundary-pushing musical career. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-05-15 09:00:20 UTC ]
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Book Review: ‘The Labors of Hercules Beal,’ by Gary D. Schmidt, and ‘The Storyteller,’ by Brandon Hobson

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[ The New York Times | 2023-05-12 09:00:15 UTC ]
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Book Review: ‘Our Migrant Souls,’ by Héctor Tobar

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[ The New York Times | 2023-05-09 09:00:12 UTC ]
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