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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Waterstones reveals 'richly diverse' Book of the Year shortlist

The shortlist for the Waterstones Book of the Year 2015 has been revealed, featuring a list that would  "not have been produced by an algorithm,” the chain's m.d. James Daunt has said. The eight-strong selection nominated by Waterstones booksellers across the UK encompasses four novels, three... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-11-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Saltire Publisher of the Year shortlist unveiled

The 2015 Saltire Publisher of the Year shortlist has been revealed, featuring two past winners and three Edinburgh-based publishing houses. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-11-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year shortlist

An exploration of the landscape around a remote Cornish farmhouse, a study of the role of lemons in the Italian cultural landscape, and an account of life below deck on giant container ships are among the books shortlisted for the Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year shortlist. Stanfords... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-07-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #travel writing #prize money #books shortlisted #year prize #year shortlist


Three debuts on Theakstons crime novel of the year shortlist

Three debuts have made the shortlist for the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award 2015. Antonia Hodgson’s debut The Devil in the Marshalsea (Hodder & Stoughton), a murder mystery set in the Marshalsea prison in 1727, is shortlisted alongside Hachette stablemate Sarah... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Biblical Archaeology Review' Celebrates 40 Years with Retrospective Book

'Biblical Archaeology Review' has spent four decades covering a contentious field, standing for authenticity amid controversial claims. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Independent Bookshop of Year shortlists and winners revealed

The regional shortlists and winners of The Bookseller Industry Awards’ Independent Bookshop of the Year category, sponsored by Gardners Books, have been praised by the judging committee for their “creativity, passion and [for] demonstrating the very best the sector has to offer”. The judges —... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Shortlist Announced for PW's 2015 Bookstore of the Year

Books & Books, Left Bank Books, McLean & Eakin Booksellers, Powell’s Books, and Village Books made the cut for this year's Bookstore Award. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Review of the Year: Authors - A broad spectrum

The robust children’s market in 2014 has been the main theme of The Bookseller’s Review of the Year features, and it is driven home in our look at last year’s bestselling authors. The top 50 writers are once again eclipsed by the shadow of the Gruffalo, with the mighty Julia Donaldson taking... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Books of the Year: Newspaper review round-up

Last year marked our first round up of the numerous “books of the year” features across the media. It saw a total of 660 books being touted by various critics, writers and celebrities. This year, our spreadsheet collating the reviews boasts 910 titles that have been recommended across several... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Four Pearson titles on Management Book of Year Prize shortlist

Social purpose is one of the key themes behind the shortlist for the Management Book of the Year Prize. Presented for the past five years by the Chartered Management Institute and the British Library, and supported by the Henley Business School, the £5,000 prize is given to the best book on... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Costa shortlist revealed in record year for entries

Books by a brain surgeon, a former Mormon, a chef and an acclaimed artist are among those shortlisted for the 2014 Costa Book Awards. The awards honour books published in the last year in five categories – First Novel, Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children’s Book. This year the awards received... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Shortlist Announced for 'FT,' McKinsey & Co Business Book of the Year Award

The winner will be announced at a dinner ceremony on November 11 in London, and will receive £30,000, with each shortlisted author receiving £10,000. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Faber and Cape makes Wales Book of the Year shortlist

Parthian Books, Faber and Jonathan Cape all have English-language titles in the shortlist for the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #english-language titles #jonathan cape #year shortlist


Job Moves: February 27, 2013

Reka Simonsen will be joining us at Atheneum Books for Young Readers as executive editor, effective March 10. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Does Winning a Literary Award Lead to Negative Reviews?

A new study reports that after a book wins an award its social media ratings tend to dip. The Guardian explains why. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-02-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Diamond Calls 2013 “Our Best Year Ever”

Pointing to strong titles, a growing backlist, and retailer optimism, Diamond Book Distributors, the trade book unit of Diamond Comics Distributors, reported that its 2013 sales rose by “double digits” over 2012 in the U.S., Canada, and international markets. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PW Online and On Air: PW’s Digital Year in Review

Last year was a great year for PW online. We added new podcasts and newsletters, made a ton of friends on Twitter and Facebook, and have had the busiest year ever at publishersweekly.com. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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2013 Was a Good Year for Chromebooks

New data from NPD suggests that Chromebooks accounted for 21 percent of all commercial notebook sales. Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2013-12-29 22:12:57 UTC ]
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The publishers' year: hits and misses of 2013

Publishers choose their books of the year, and the ones that got awayRobin Robertson Deputy publishing director, Jonathan CapeThe book that made my year: Many years ago, I was sitting in Blake's bar in Enniskillen with John McGahern and he recommended an American novel from the 60s, written by... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2013-12-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The 2013 PW Children's Starred Reviews Annual, Available Now

The Publishers Weekly Children's Starred Reviews Annual is your source for the best books that 2013 has to offer. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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