In the age of Corbyn, is the time right for another Road to Wigan Pier?

It’s no surprise that the Left Book Club is being relaunched now, with the imprimatur of the Labour leader and Ken Livingstone. It began in the anxious 1930s, a decade that has all too many parallels with the current oneAiming to “set the agenda for a new age of political debate”, the Left Book Club was re-launched this week at a meeting at the Conway Hall in London. The Left Book Club last published a book in 1948. Jeremy Corbyn had yet to be born. Nevertheless the Labour leader has generously endorsed the revival as “a terrific and timely idea” that will give “intellectual ballast to the wave of political change sweeping Britain and beyond, encouraging informed and compassionate debate”. He added that he had a large collection of Left Book Club titles, some bought new by his parents and others that he acquired second hand. I speculate that the memory of these books in their plain red or orange covers – their flash upon his inward eye – must have provided Corbyn with a rare pleasurable moment in the past few weeks: the thought of them on his shelves having same kind of heart-filling effect that the daffodils had on Wordsworth.My own collection isn’t so large. In fact, it runs to just one book, Orwell’s The Road to Wigan Pier, and I didn’t inherit it. I bought it 20 or 30 years ago because I liked the idea of having such a fine book in its cheap and original form – seeing the words and photographs as its first readers must have seen them. Published in 1937, the year after... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-11-21 00:00:00 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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International Booker Prize Winners on Nostalgia, Translation, and 'Time Shelter'

'Time Shelter,' written by Georgi Gospodinov and translated by Angela Rodel, is the first Bulgarian-language novel to win the prestigious International Booker Prize. The duo spoke with PW about the significance of the award, especially now. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-26 04:00:00 UTC ]
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How to watch LeVar Burton at the L.A. Times Book Club

On May 24, actor and author LeVar Burton discusses the State of Banned Books with Times readers in Los Angeles. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-05-24 20:15:39 UTC ]
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Martin Amis, era-defining British novelist, dies aged 73

The celebrated author of Money and London Fields, whose works defined the 80s and 90s literary scene, died of oesophageal cancer on Friday at his home in FloridaMartin Amis, the influential author of era-defining novels including Money and London Fields, and the memoir Experience, has died at... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-05-20 18:53:35 UTC ]
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New Books Find Voices of Faith in Fraught Times

Religion publishers address many of the most challenging social issues facing a polarized nation. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
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'New York Times' reports slower digital subscription growth and weakening ad revenue

The paper has been a bright spot for digital media despite falling ad revenue and a slowing growth rate for new subscribers Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2023-05-10 18:44:39 UTC ]
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VIZ Manga subscription service releases English chapters the same time Japan gets them

VIZ Media has launched a new service that will make English versions of the latest chapters of select manga titles available to subscribers as soon as they're released in Japan. The service, called VIZ Manga, features manga published by Shogakugan and Shueisha and costs $2 a month. Its current... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-05-09 04:57:23 UTC ]
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AAP Meeting Looks at Publishing During a 'Dicey Time'

Publishing is facing its severest set of challenges in a generation, experts noted at this year's AAP annual meeting: book bans, the lack of diversity, climate change, and “unrelenting” challenges to copyright. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-09 04:00:00 UTC ]
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This Alaska bookstore in Sarah Palin’s hometown isn’t backing down about its drag story time.

Respect and support to Wasilla, Alaska’s Black Birch Books, who’re getting a lot of online flack for announcing a drag story time in June. But despite a slew of negative, and sometimes threatening, comments and reviews, Black Birch owner Taylor Jordan is going on with the show. As she told... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-05-04 15:21:17 UTC ]
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The Best Coming-of-Age Stories about Adolescence

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University) Many notable short stories focus on the rough passage from childhood to adulthood. Of course, the transition from ‘child’ to ‘adult’ does not happen overnight, and is not the result of a single epiphany of crucial moment, but writers of short fiction... Continue reading at Interesting Literature

[ Interesting Literature | 2023-05-01 17:00:31 UTC ]
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Jenny Odell on Timing Our Lives in Rhythm With the Earth

Emergence Magazine is an online publication with annual print edition exploring the threads connecting ecology, culture, and spirituality. As we experience the desecration of our lands and waters, the extinguishing of species, and a loss of sacred connection to the Earth, we look to emerging... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-05-01 08:52:55 UTC ]
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The Most Influential Manga of All Time

The most influential manga of all time is the culmination of centuries of early Japanese art and emerged from the post-war era. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-04-26 10:32:00 UTC ]
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Freedom to Read Supporters Say It's Time to Get Louder

At an American Booksellers for Free Expression session, panelists discussed different approaches booksellers can take to fight book bans. Among the ideas floated were outreach to government officials, creating library-style “request for reconsideration of materials forms,” and improving Banned... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-04-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Los Angeles Times Book Prizes Winners Announced

The 43nd annual Los Angeles Times Book Prizes were awarded tonight at the University of Southern California's Bovard Auditorium. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-04-22 04:49:44 UTC ]
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Sign up for the Los Angeles Times Book Club

Join our community book club. Our mission is to get Southern California reading and talking. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-04-13 19:22:10 UTC ]
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The Guardian view on US book bans: time to fight back | Editorial

Censorship is surging thanks to an organised rightwing minority targeting books on LGBTQ and Black characters and issues“A book is a loaded gun in the house next door,” warns a character in Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury’s dystopian vision of an America where books are considered so dangerous they... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-13 17:21:33 UTC ]
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Rachel Pollack, trans activist and comic book writer, dies aged 77

Pollack, who created the first mainstream transgender superhero, Kate Godwin, had been fighting Hodgkin’s lymphomaRachel Pollack, award-winning author, leading authority on tarot and the occult, trans activist and comic-book writer who created the first mainstream transgender superhero, has died... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-08 10:45:56 UTC ]
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Author Aims to Glorify God One Hat At a Time

La Verne Wimberly, whose Sunday morning selfies in her fabulous hats went viral, is promoting the newly released 'My Sunday Best' during Easter season. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-04-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
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How to watch Annalee Newitz at the L.A. Times Book Club

Sci-fi novelist Annalee Newitz will discuss "The Terraformers" March 28 at the L.A. Times Book Club. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-03-28 21:24:50 UTC ]
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