Bookseller who transformed the perception of sports writing and set up the William Hill Sports Book awardJohn Gaustad, who has died aged 68, was a quietly spoken New Zealander who revolutionised the British sports books industry. In 1985 he opened Sportspages, a small shop in Caxton Walk, off Charing Cross Road in London; and for two decades it played an extraordinary role – part-conventional bookshop, part-social club, part-shrine – that transformed the perception of sports writing within publishing. Though Sportspages itself has gone, Gaustad’s other brainchild, the William Hill Sports Book award, lives on as testament to his vision.Born in Wellington, John was the son of Robert, an accountant, and his wife, Nancy (nee Bennett), a legal secretary. He travelled to Britain in 1974, with a philosophy degree from the Victoria University of Wellington, where he had worked in the bookshop. That experience helped him get jobs at Dillons in London and Heffers in Cambridge, where he began to think about the possibilities of niche bookselling. He settled on sport.A good sports book was a good book that happened to be about sport Related: Guardian writers nominated for William Hill Sports Book of the Year award Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2016-06-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
About a month ago ago, we put out a call asking that those of you who need something good to read in this trying, frightening time, might send us a few of your favorite books (and other things) so we could recommend a good book for you to read. And turns out quite a lot of […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-04-17 11:44:31 UTC ]
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Three weeks ago, we put out a call asking that those of you who need something good to read in this trying, frightening time, might send us a few of your favorite books (and other things) so we could recommend a good book for you to read. And turns out quite a lot of you are […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-04-10 08:50:06 UTC ]
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Two weeks ago, we put out a call asking that those of you who need something good to read in this trying, frightening time, might send us a few of your favorite books (and other things) so we could recommend a good book for you to read. And turns out quite a lot of you […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-04-03 08:49:47 UTC ]
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Last week, we put out a call asking that those of you who need something good to read in this trying, frightening time, might send us a few of your favorite books (and other things) so we could recommend a good book for you to read. And turns out quite a lot of you are […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-03-27 08:48:47 UTC ]
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We all need a break from reality. Many of us are understandably looking for an escape these days, amid the constant onslaught of coronavirus headlines and updates. A good book can help, as long as it isn’t about pandemics. Or a dystopian future. Or being stuck inside for weeks on end.Read Full... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2020-03-25 11:30:44 UTC ]
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Want to get lost in a good book — or four? You couldn’t do much better than these. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2020-03-23 18:55:00 UTC ]
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On Monday, we put out a call asking that those of you who need something good to read in this trying, frightening time, might send us a few of your favorite books (and other things) so we could recommend a good book for you to read. And turns out quite a lot of you are […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-03-20 08:50:21 UTC ]
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Lucy Ellmann’s Ducks, Newburyport has attracted much attention for its length, but one publisher believes the spoken word might be its perfect mediumFinishing a good book should leave you feeling bereft for a little while, but it’s rare to leave a novel with your brain vibrating at a different... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2020-02-28 14:00:18 UTC ]
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Reading a good book can feel like traveling to a remote island. A particular kind of journey where having crossed a stretch of water, and surrounded by sea, you are cut off from the rest of the world. For a writer, an island lends itself to creating atmosphere—claustrophobic, mystical, exposed.... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2020-02-28 12:00:00 UTC ]
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By Oliver Tearle Finding the time to relax with a good book can be difficult, but there are a few practical steps you can take which might help to increase your book-reading productivity in 2020. We’re sceptical of lists which promise ‘sure-fire ways to guarantee you’ll read more this year’,... Continue reading at Interesting Literature
[ Interesting Literature | 2020-01-11 15:00:55 UTC ]
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The Booksellers Association is rallying indie bookshops to put themselves forward for Britain’s Best Small Shop of 2019 following last year's win for The Main Street Trading Company. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-24 11:19:31 UTC ]
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Marcy Dermansky’s fourth novel is a story of sex and intrigue set around a beautiful pool at a luxurious house. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2019-06-25 16:46:07 UTC ]
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April is a great month for reading — nothing beats settling in with a good book and getting so lost in a novel that you temporarily forget about how much you owe in taxes. May's even better, though. With the the seemingly endless super bloom still speckling California’s hillsides with color, it's... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-04-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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If you're a movie buff, your list of films to watch probably increased dramatically Tuesday after the nominees for the 91st Academy Awards were announced in Beverly Hills. But if you prefer spending an evening curled up on your couch with a good book, and not in a theater with an overly expensive... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-01-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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An independent bookshop, The Mainstreet Trading Company’s Bookshop & Café, has been named Britain’s Best Small Shop of 2018. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-11-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Four independent bookshops - Drake The Bookshop in Stockton, Forum Books in Northumberland, Kenilworth Books in Warwickshire and The Mainstreet Trading Company’s Bookshop & Café in St Boswells - are in the running to be named Britain’s Best Small Shop of 2018. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-10-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Comic book Sabrina by Nick Drnaso is on the longlist for the prize, but it’s just the latest in a fine traditionHow am I supposed to feel about the fact that for the first time a graphic novel has made it on to the Booker longlist? As someone who loves comics, and who has championed them in this... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2018-07-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A small shop on sleepy Main Street with books warmly displayed from floor to ceiling. That's indie bookselling for you, right? Hardly. The realities of day-to-day business are vastly more complex and challenging. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-07-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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We’ve narrowed it down to four books. Now help us pick the one book we’ll all read this summer! Summer is the perfect time to unplug and lose yourself in a good book. The best books change the way we view the world, how we interact with others, and maybe even the direction of our lives. And... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2018-07-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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This is the perfect read for this time of year when we're still happy to escape into a good book at the beach or under a shade tree and take the time to savour, in this instance, the leisurely revelation of the people who live in Gabriel's Bay. Continue reading at Stuff
[ Stuff | 2017-12-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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