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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Ryan Lee Wong, author of the novel 'Whose Side Are You On,' recommends 10 novels that break the 'model minority' stereotype. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-26 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Anna Moschovakis is one of those unicorns in the literary world who manages not only to do it all, but do it well—more than well. She is a poet, translator, novelist, critic, publisher, professor, and community organizer. Her translation from French of David Diop’s At Night All Blood Is Black... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2022-11-17 09:51:50 UTC ]
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While still in the early stages of the legislative process, the proposed bill in Texas would require publishers to develop a new rating system for books, and would give Texas state officials the power to bar schools from doing business with publishers who do not comply with the state’s directives. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-17 05:00:00 UTC ]
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To mark the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of King Charles III, we highlight some vital books that explore the queen’s legacy and look to the future. (Sponsored) Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-14 05:00:00 UTC ]
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“In all creation there is nothing constant,” says Pythagoras in the final book of the Metamorphoses. All things are subject to the power of change: bodies, landscapes, cities, nations—even the cosmos. Ovid announces his epic’s main theme as metamorphosis in its first two lines: “My spirit moves... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2022-11-08 09:53:56 UTC ]
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Irish author Claire Keegan is one of those U.S. 'discoveries' who have been known back home for years. With 'Foster,' she earns that acclaim and more. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-11-01 14:00:17 UTC ]
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We asked four teachers and librarians about the ways they encourage students and patrons to read books featuring protagonists of diverse gender identities. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Peter Orner's 'Still No Word From You' melds memoir and criticism and, in the process, brings reading to life as a multi-sensory, communal experience. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-10-28 15:00:54 UTC ]
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Bethanne Patrick's November highlights include musings from Dylan, Tarantino and Jerry Saltz, the returns of Russell Banks and Katherine Dunn and more. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-10-28 14:02:44 UTC ]
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More than 250 literary figures rail against acquisition by Penguin Random House of book by conservative US supreme court justiceMore than 250 figures from the US literary world have signed an open letter protesting the acquisition by Penguin Random House of a book by the conservative supreme... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2022-10-27 06:00:22 UTC ]
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This year, religion and spirituality publishers are helping readers get into the Halloween spirit with a guide to conducting séances, stories from haunted spaces, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-10-26 04:00:00 UTC ]
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If you've avoided picking up manga out of genre/format snobbery, you're missing out. Manga has reminded me of just how fun reading can be. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2022-10-25 10:37:00 UTC ]
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An open letter protesting the acquisition of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s forthcoming memoir by Penguin Random House, first reported in 2021, has begun circulating in publishing circles. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-10-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Put horror movies and games aside for a few minutes to listen to something truly unsettling this Halloween season. The European Space Agency has released audio of what our planet's magnetic field sounds like. While it protects us from cosmic radiation and charged particles from solar winds, it... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2022-10-24 15:40:30 UTC ]
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Every Monday through Friday, AudioFile’s editors recommend the best in audiobook listening. We keep our daily episodes short and sweet, with audiobook clips to give you a sample of our featured listens. Golden Voice narrator George Guidall compellingly narrates Craig Johnson’s latest Longmire... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2022-10-24 13:48:59 UTC ]
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Publishers have faced criticism for producing books considered ‘an easy sell’ Chef Jamie Oliver and former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell-Horner have become the latest celebrities to announce new children’s books, with experts saying there is no sign the celebrity-authored children’s book trend will... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2022-10-21 10:05:05 UTC ]
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The best witch manga include something for everyone, whether you want gentle and cozy, dark and action-packed, or something in between, like Flying Witch by Chihiro Ishizuka. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2022-10-19 10:33:00 UTC ]
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There's no better time to read horror short stories than October. With Halloween fast approaching, dive into these 20 spooky tales. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2022-10-17 10:31:00 UTC ]
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The webcomics category is exploding in growth—and it’s only going to get bigger. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-10-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Life Studies is Robert Lowell’s best-known and most influential book. It won the National Book Award for poetry in 1960. I read it in 1962 and I hated it. In a shallow way, my dislike was a matter of social class. I said aloud to Lowell’s book, “Yeah, I had a grandfather, too.” Like my […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2022-10-13 08:57:28 UTC ]
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