Jamie Byng: ‘Listening to letters being read out is quite something’

The Canongate Books boss on the success of Letters Live, performances of notable correspondence by leading lights of stage and screenJamie Byng, 46, son of the 8th Earl of Strafford, grew up in Hampshire and studied at the University of Edinburgh. After graduating he joined Canongate Books as an intern and bought out the struggling Edinburgh publishing house two years later, aged just 25. His successes include the UK publication of Yann Martel’s Life of Pi, which won the Man Booker prize in 2002 and sold more than 3m copies. In 2013 he set up Letters Live, “a celebration of the enduring power of literary correspondence” based in part on Shaun Usher’s Letters of Note books. Letters Live returns to London’s Freemasons’ Hall on Thursday 10 March.How did Letters Live come about?In 2013 we published two books about letters on the same day. One was Simon Garfield’s To the Letter, which is a history of letter-writing. The other, Letters of Note, grew out of Shaun Usher’s website, which compiles great correspondence throughout history. We decided to promote both books by getting people to read out letters in a live setting. Nick Cave had a letter in Shaun’s book and he’s a good friend, so it was very straightforward to call him up and say “How’s about it?” Gillian Anderson went totally nuts for a Katharine Hepburn letter to Spencer Tracy. Everyone I asked who was around – Benedict Cumberbatch, Matt Berry, Neil Gaiman, Bruce Robinson – said yes. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2016-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Pantheons of the Past in the Present: A Reading List of Modern African Books Based on Mythology

Every society, civilization and culture has mythologies and cosmologies; they make up a corpus of ancient and sacred narratives that help give meaning to the world. Passed down through generations, myths educate and clarify our place in a world full of things and forces that are larger than us.... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-11-03 08:30:51 UTC ]
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NEA Finds Worrying Drop in Reading Participation

New study finds less than half of adult Americans read a book for pleasure last year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-03 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Putting the Asian Experience of World War II at Center Stage: A Reading List of Essential Books

Almost eight decades after the end of World War II, that conflict continues to define political discourse throughout the Western world. Still, for American, British, French, and Canadian readers, the war overwhelmingly means the European theater, with the Asia-Pacific campaigns against Imperial... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-11-02 08:40:02 UTC ]
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10 books to add to your reading list in November

Bethanne Patrick's November highlights include new fiction from Michael Cunningham, a wild alt-history from Ed Park and nonfiction on COVID, mental illness and AI. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-10-31 13:00:40 UTC ]
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Dancing with the Goddess and Drawing Down the Moon: A Reading List for Modern Witches

When I encounter the question “are you a Witch?” my first response is always, “who is asking, and why?” Perhaps there never has been a more loaded noun in the English language. Depending on who is asking, it can be a compliment. Or preamble to torture. Despite its crowded dictionary entry,... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-10-31 08:50:56 UTC ]
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10 of the Best Michael Crichton Books Everyone Should Read

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University) The American author Michael Crichton (1942-2008) was a pioneer of what became known as the ‘techno-thriller’. He wrote novels informed by the latest up-to-date science on a range of issues, but what sets him apart is his willingness to adopt a... Continue reading at Interesting Literature

[ Interesting Literature | 2023-10-30 15:00:38 UTC ]
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Stop Doomscrolling About Israel and Palestine—Read These Books Instead

The Atlantic’s books editor prescribes these titles as antidotes to the quick and dirty ways people are communicating on social media. Continue reading at The Atlantic

[ The Atlantic | 2023-10-27 15:00:00 UTC ]
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20 Must-Read Historical Fiction Books Set in France

These must-read historical fiction books set in France span more than 800 years, from the reign of Eleanor of Aquitaine to post-WWII Paris. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-10-26 10:31:00 UTC ]
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Read the last words of writer Heba Abu Nada, who was killed last week by an Israeli airstrike.

Novelist, poet, and educator Heba Abu Nada, a beloved figure in the Palestinian literary community and the author of Oxygen is Not for the Dead, was killed in her home south of Gaza City by an Israeli airstrike on Friday. She was thirty-two years old. In her final tweet, written in Arabic on... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-10-24 15:54:33 UTC ]
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Stories About Stories (About Stories): A Reading List of Meta-Narrators

A meta-narrator has an authorial awareness of a story being told. They make their presence known, intervening when they deem necessary. In the case that they are also the protagonist (which is often) then they must be as adept as immersing themselves in the real-time story unfolding up close as... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-10-24 08:15:09 UTC ]
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20 spooky short stories you can read for free online.

The leaves are amassing, the skeletons are out, and enormous bags of candy fill the grocery store aisles and threaten to spill their chocolates right into your mouth, through absolutely no fault of your own. Yep, it’s officially spooky season. But if you still need some help getting into the... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-10-23 16:13:33 UTC ]
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Frankfurt: Ljubljana Reading Manifesto Rallies Book Industry

Guest of Honor Slovenia kicks off its professional program at the Frankfurt Book Fair with a presentation of Ljubjana Reading Manifesto. The post Frankfurt: Ljubljana Reading Manifesto Rallies Book Industry appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-10-18 15:10:08 UTC ]
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An Open Letter in Support of Adania Shibli From More Than 350 Writers, Editors, and Publishers

This letter was originally published by ArabLit. The shocking and tragic events that began on October 7th and are ongoing today have had repercussions all over the globe, including within the publishing world. Award-winning Palestinian author Adania Shibli, who was a finalist for the 2020... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-10-17 09:05:58 UTC ]
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More than 600 sign open letter decrying cancellation of German event for Palestinian author

After an award ceremony for a Palestinian author at the Frankfurt Book Fair was canceled, more than 600 literary figures have signed an open letter denouncing the decision. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-10-16 09:00:16 UTC ]
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What Should You Read Next? Here Are the Best Reviewed Books of the Week

Bryan Washington’s Family Meal, Mary Gabriel’s Madonna: A Rebel Life, Jhumpa Lahiri’s Roman Stories, andWerner Herzog’s Every Man for Himself and God Against All all feature among the Best Reviewed Books of the Week. Brought to you by Book Marks, Lit Hub’s book review aggregator. * Fiction 1.... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-10-13 11:00:52 UTC ]
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6 Books to Read Before Jon Fosse's 'Septology'

If you somehow missed the Fosse train before his big Nobel win earlier this month, here’s another chance to get on board. Six chances, in fact. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-10-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
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16 New Books by Indigenous Authors You Should Be Reading

Encompassing a wide range of genres from historical fiction to fantasy to poetry to investigative journalism to memoir, this exciting abundance of books published in 2023 by emerging and acclaimed Native writers speak to the rich diversity of the Indigenous experience. From meditations on the... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2023-10-09 11:00:00 UTC ]
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12 New Manga Releases to Read in October 2023

No matter which October vibes you’re here for — the cozy ones or the creepy ones — we’ve got plenty of new manga picks for you! Start with My Cat Is Such a Weirdo by Tamako Tamagoyama. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-10-06 10:32:00 UTC ]
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Fall 2023 YA Paperback Books For Your Portable, Totable Reading

Your guide to all things fall 2023 YA paperback books is here. Whether you love nonfiction, fantasy, romance, or something else, you're in luck this season. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-10-03 10:31:00 UTC ]
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10 books to add to your reading list in October

Bethanne Patrick recommends 10 books for October, including fiction from Walter Mosley and Jesmyn Ward and memoirs from Viet Thanh Nguyen and Safiya Sinclair. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-09-28 10:00:03 UTC ]
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