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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Review: ‘Paul,’ by Daisy LaFarge

A debut novel views a middle-aged organic farmer through the eyes of a 21-year-old woman he preys upon. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-08-15 19:37:36 UTC ]
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NPD Books on July’s US Print Market: 6 Percent Lower, Year to Date

In a 'steady' market, NPD sees print sales in the United States decline 1.6 million units in July, typically a month for some losses. The post NPD Books on July’s US Print Market: 6 Percent Lower, Year to Date appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-08-10 18:34:37 UTC ]
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Book Review: “Mothercare,” by Lynne Tillman

Lynne Tillman’s taut memoir of caring for an aging parent runs an emotional gamut. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-08-08 19:30:06 UTC ]
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Dell XPS 13 Plus review: The future is now

At a glanceExpert’s Rating ProsFast CPUGorgeous 3.5K OLEDGreat audioConsOnly two USB-C PortsMiddling battery performanceNo headset jackOur VerdictDell’s XPS 13 Plus once again tries to set standard for all laptops and largely succeeds, but its battery life and lack of ports don’t... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2022-08-04 10:45:00 UTC ]
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‘The Year of Miracles’ is a welcome reminder to savor the small stuff

Ella Risbridger’s new book beautifully explores the consolations of friendship and cooking (recipes included). Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-08-03 12:00:28 UTC ]
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Louisiana School Librarian of the Year Seeking Legal Action After Slander Campaign

The president of the Louisiana Association of School Libraries speaks at a local library board meeting and met with harassment. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-08-02 15:08:14 UTC ]
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Attention book lovers: your dream job is hiring again.

Yep, you guessed it: “Barefoot Bookseller,” the greatest job in the literary world, is once again accepting applications. Would you like to run a bookstore on a desert island in the Maldives for a year? What if I told you that you weren’t allowed to wear shoes . . . or read the news? I […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-08-01 13:04:38 UTC ]
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Book Review: “Yoga,” by Emmanuel Carrère

In his latest book, the French author celebrated for his deeply personal accounts of tragic events embraces meditation as a means of learning to write “without fabrication.” But telling the truth is complicated. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-07-31 09:00:08 UTC ]
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Review: Emmanuel Carrère's new meditation memoir has an NDA-sized hole at its center

'Yoga' charts true-crime master Emmanuel Carrère's journey from intensive meditation to mental breakdown — but leaves out the divorce that derailed him. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-07-26 13:00:18 UTC ]
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A Classroom Without Books: Florida Teachers Told To Remove Classroom Libraries for Review

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[ Book Riot | 2022-07-25 17:58:04 UTC ]
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Review: This tender, original queer YA novel will likely be banned. That's not why you should read it

Lio Min's 'Beating Heart Baby' follows two boys who meet online and ultimately grapples with the joys and perils of making public art. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-07-25 13:00:45 UTC ]
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PEN America Marks 100 Years

The literary advocacy and human rights organization marks the occasion with a museum exhibit, its first Congress of Writers in nearly a century, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-07-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Fire 7 (2022) review: You don't get much for $60

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[ Engadget | 2022-07-21 15:00:54 UTC ]
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Fable Book Club App Review

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[ Book Riot | 2022-07-20 10:36:00 UTC ]
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Review: ‘Dirtbag, Massachusetts,’ by Isaac Fitzgerald

Isaac Fitzgerald’s “Dirtbag, Massachusetts” is a memoir about male misbehavior and the struggle to make sense of oneself. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-07-16 09:00:11 UTC ]
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China’s Market Growth Rate This Year: Down 13.8 Percent

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-07-14 20:38:28 UTC ]
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[ Book Riot | 2022-07-13 10:37:00 UTC ]
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[ Book Riot | 2022-07-11 20:07:06 UTC ]
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StatShot: US Industry Down 12.6 Percent in April; 2.3 Percent Year-to-Date

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-07-11 17:32:26 UTC ]
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The best Kindle: Reviews and buying advice

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[ PC World | 2022-07-07 16:00:00 UTC ]
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