House of Fun by Simon Hoggart – review

A fitting salute to the Guardian's late parliamentary sketch writerI thought it unnecessary, and perhaps ethically dubious, to cover this book when its first edition came out in 2012; but now, following Simon Hoggart's death earlier this month, and the addition of a selection from a year's worth of parliamentary sketches from 2013, I think a salute is in order.For those of you new to this paper, Hoggart was, among other things, the Guardian's parliamentary sketch writer for 20 years, and this is a selection of his columns from 1993 to 2013. It is good that they have been reprinted in book form: I suspect that one of the casualties of the shift from print to digital versions of a newspaper is that columns such as parliamentary sketches can get overlooked by the casual browser.Hoggart's pieces could, in making politicians look ridiculous, be mistaken for frivolous exercises in name-calling, but they actually had deep foundations. He'd been a parliamentary correspondent in the 1970s, doing the kind of legwork that involved 5am sessions in the Tory whips' office that ended only "when blue curaçao was the only fluid left in the drinks cabinet".The important point to retrieve from this, which comes in his introduction, is that while Hoggart's sketches delighted because they seemed to have been composed by someone no more intimate with the world of parliament than any of us – and therefore as baffled, amused or appalled by its conventions, or ideas of acceptable language and... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-01-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #english language

Other Publishing stories related to: 'House of Fun by Simon Hoggart – review'


Book Review: ‘A Woman of Pleasure,’ by Kiyoko Murata

“A Woman of Pleasure,” Kiyoko Murata’s first novel to be translated into English, explores the world of sex work in early-20th-century Japan. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2024-02-26 10:00:14 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book review #sex work #first novel


Audiobook Review: ‘My Name Is Barbra,’ by Barbra Streisand

In Streisand’s new audiobook recording for her chatty, brick-size memoir, “My Name Is Barbra,” the superlative diva adds a little freestyling. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2024-02-23 12:45:40 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #audiobook review #audiobook recording #audiobook


U.K. Publishing Spotlight: Severn House Evolves

At 50, the U.K. press is growing its list and expanding into new formats, all while keeping a sharp focus on libraries. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-02-23 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing spotlight


‘God forbid that a dog should die’: when Goodreads reviews go bad

From cancelled books to ‘review bombing’, it might seem as though the website can make or break a career. But how influential is it really?Something dramatic happens on a social media platform every day. On Goodreads, the anachro­nistically designed website for logging, rating (out of five) and... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2024-02-17 09:00:10 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #reviewing books #draw attention #fake accounts #negative reviews #mental health #sell books #literary world


Israel has destroyed two publishing houses in the West Bank.

The Israeli army has raided and destroyed two publishing houses in the West Bank.   The IDF has attacked and destroyed two Palestinian publishing houses in the occupied West Bank. pic.twitter.com/wAlxVSGcDZ — Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) February 15, 2024 This latest raid in Ramallah is one... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2024-02-15 18:45:55 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #west bank #publishing houses


KKR Is in 'No Hurry' to Sell Simon & Schuster

Pete Stavros, co-head of global equity for KKR, said that it will be at least five years before the private equity firm considers selling Simon & Schuster, which it bought last fall. Stavros added that he has many hopes for what S&S can accomplish before he looks for a new home for the... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-02-15 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:


Book Review: ‘What Have We Here?,’ by Billy Dee Williams

His charming memoir “What Have We Here?” traces the path from a Harlem childhood to “Star Wars,” while lamenting the roles that never came his way. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2024-02-13 10:00:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book review #star wars #memoir


Book Review: ‘The Book of Love,’ by Kelly Link

In “The Book of Love,” the Pulitzer finalist and master of short stories pushes our understanding of what a fantasy novel can be. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2024-02-12 10:00:46 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book review #kelly link #pulitzer finalist #short stories


Book Review: ‘I Heard Her Call My Name,’ by Lucy Sante

Lucy Sante recounts the trials and joys of her gender transition in the memoir “I Heard Her Call My Name.” Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2024-02-03 10:14:55 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book review #memoir


Audiobook Review: ‘Collision of Power,’ by Martin Baron

The actor reads “Collision of Power,” a new memoir by the famed former editor of The Washington Post and The Boston Globe. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2024-02-02 10:00:17 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #audiobook review #boston globe #memoir


The Books Behind the 2024 Academy Award Nominations, Reviewed

Our reviews of the books adapted into and inspiring this year's Academy Award–nominated films, from 'Oppenheimer' and 'Nyad' to 'American Fiction' and 'The Boy and the Heron.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-02-01 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #academy award #american fiction


Simon & Schuster Opens Its 100th Anniversary Year

Simon & Schuster kicks off its centenary year with a curated selection of 100 books from its 100 years and special programming ahead. The post Simon & Schuster Opens Its 100th Anniversary Year appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-01-31 17:56:56 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #curated selection #schuster


Simon & Schuster Kicks Off Its Centennial Celebration

The country's third largest trade publisher will mark its 100th anniversary with a series of events, starting with the release of the Simon & Schuster 100, a selection of titles that the company says reflects the scope of its publishing program. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-01-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #100th anniversary #publishing program #trade publisher #schuster


How Womb House Became the Internet’s Favorite ‘Women-Driven’ Bookstore

Womb House Books owner Jessica Ferri's carefully curated listings have turned her online storefront into the favorite bookseller of Emma Roberts, Natalie Portman, and thousands of Etsy customers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-01-26 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #online storefront #natalie portman #bookseller


Penguin Random House to Distribute Wattpad Webtoon

PRH's publisher services division has signed a multi-year sales and distribution agreement with Wattpad Webtoon Book Group as its presence in the world of comics and graphic novel distribution continues to grow. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-01-23 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #distribution agreement #graphic novel #book group #publisher services #random house