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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Michelle Obama’s BECOMING Book Club Questions: Your Reading Guide

Whether you’re meeting your book club or you’re talking about this book with your friends, these BECOMING book club questions get the conversation going. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-10-30 10:38:18 UTC ]
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What We're Reading – October 2019

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine EvaristoSince studying Lara as a student, I have been a fan of Bernardine Evaristo’s work, and am delighted to see her win the Booker Prize this year. Girl, Woman, Other follows the lives of twelve black characters with different backgrounds and experiences, most... Continue reading at British Council global

[ British Council global | 2019-10-30 09:49:28 UTC ]
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The Perfect Book Sweatshirts for Cool Reading

Get your cozy on with these incredible book sweatshirts, ranging from fandom-based to general book lover appreciation. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-10-29 10:41:36 UTC ]
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8 Captivating New Historical Fiction Books to Read This Fall

Looking for your next favorite book? Check out these new historical fiction books, full of beautiful prose, dynamic characters, and captivating settings. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-10-25 10:39:52 UTC ]
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H.G. Parry: When We Read Books, We Bring Their Worlds Into Life

While all fiction writers can pull characters from their imaginations and commit them to the page, most readers can’t do what Charley Sutherland can: pull characters from the page and commit them to the real world. Sutherland’s fantastical ability is at the center of H.G. Parry’s debut novel The... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-10-25 08:46:30 UTC ]
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From Jim Mattis, leadership lessons and a love letter to Marine ‘grunts’

The former defense secretary on what guided his decision-making over four decades in the military. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-10-24 12:19:31 UTC ]
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3 Books to Read by Indigenous Writers

Tommy Orange, the award-winning author of “There, There,” recommends his favorite books by Native writers. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2019-10-14 22:12:55 UTC ]
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Reading the Signs (shelftalker)

The value of good signage in a bookstore is never overstated – especially as it’s rarely seen by customers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-10-14 12:00:55 UTC ]
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To Read with a Flashlight Under Your Chin (shelftalker)

A bookseller shares some personal favorite scary stories, just in time for Halloween. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-10-11 12:00:56 UTC ]
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Book subscription club Reading in Heels rebrands as Reposed

Book subscription club Reading in Heels has rebranded as Reposed, promising an immersive experience for members. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-08 16:39:02 UTC ]
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Is ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ more difficult than ‘The Grapes of Wrath’? The flaw in reading levels.

So many kids are told to read at their ‘level.’ But there are problems in the system that assigns them. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-10-04 12:00:00 UTC ]
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In ‘Surfacing,’ Kathleen Jamie ponders the natural world and our place in it

The poet and essayist recalls visiting two archaeological sites where “the past can spill out of the earth, become the present.” Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-10-03 16:54:28 UTC ]
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University Press Week Wants You to 'Read. Think. Act.'

The Association of University Presses has announced the theme for this year’s University Press Week, which runs from Sunday, November 3 through Saturday, November 9: “Read. Think. Act.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-10-03 04:00:00 UTC ]
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What We Read: Quirky Preferences (shelftalker)

Forget tea leaves and psychics. Your reading habits tell you everything you need to know about yourself. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-10-01 12:44:18 UTC ]
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Now that we’ve all read ‘Fleishman Is in Trouble,’ let’s talk about the ending

The novel has sparked thoughtful conversations about where women fit into a male-centric narrative. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-10-01 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Psst: Novelists – Steal These Screenwriting Secrets! Part 3 Query Letters

In part 3 of "steal these screenwriting secrets," we delve into marketing and query letters. In other words, these are screenwriting secrets to steal after you write and specifically related to crafting killer query letters. The post Psst: Novelists – Steal These Screenwriting Secrets! Part 3... Continue reading at Writer's Digest

[ Writer's Digest | 2019-09-30 01:46:56 UTC ]
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Celebrities I Wish Had a Book Club and What They Could Read First

Waiting for your favorite celeb to start a book club so you can combine your book love with your fandom? Well, it can't hurt to dream. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-09-29 10:32:22 UTC ]
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Make Your Next Comic Book Read the Liner Notes from Outkast’s ATLIENS

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[ Book Riot | 2019-09-27 10:42:53 UTC ]
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Pew Survey Finds More Adults Listening to Audiobooks

In a survey of 1,502 American adults conducted from January 8 to February 7 this year, Pew found that 20% of adults listened to an audiobook in the 12 months prior to the time the survey was conducted. In 2011, only 11% of adults said they listened to an audiobook. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-09-27 04:00:00 UTC ]
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