Kuwait relaxes book censorship laws after banning thousands of titles

A 12-person committee previously met twice a month to approve or blacklist all books published in the country, for offences including immorality or insulting IslamAfter banning almost 5,000 books in the last seven years, Kuwait’s government has relaxed its book censorship laws in a move that has been welcomed by writers and free speech activists.Kuwaiti state media reported that the country’s parliament had voted 40 to nine in favour of lifting the Ministry of Information’s control over books imported into the country. Previously, the ministry had blacklisted more than 4,000 books since 2014, with titles including Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame and One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez falling foul of its censorship committee. All books published in the country had to receive prior approval from a 12-member committee that met twice a month before they could be released, with offences ranging from insulting Islam to “inciting unrest” and committing “immoral” acts. Related: Dostoevsky book among hundreds banned in Kuwait Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2020-08-25 13:26:49 UTC ]
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Book Marketing Q&A: Wiley’s Jeanenne Ray on Building Reader Communities

Jeanenne Ray, Senior Marketing Manager at Wiley, will speak at the Reaching Readers conference about how publishers can build strong readers communities. Here is a sneak preview of her talk. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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South Asia Book Awards for Children’s and YA Literature!

"The Rumor" by Anushka Ravinshankar and "Kids of Kabul" by Deborah Ellis have won the 2013 South Asia Book Awards for Children’s and Young Adult Literature. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-05-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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“A Short History of Nuclear Folly” is GBO’s Book of the Month for May

The German Book Office's May Book of the Month is Rudolf Herzog’s "A Short History of Nuclear Folly: Mad Scientists, Dithering Nazis, Lost Nukes, and Catastrophic Cover-Ups." Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-05-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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International Titles Finding New Ways into the U.S.

According to the University of Rochester’s translation database, 413 translated works of fiction and poetry were released in 2012, up from 370 the previous year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-05-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Free Comic Book Day: What is it and how can you celebrate?

Free Comic Book Day will be held on May 4 and will give comic book fans a chance to receive free comic books including issues from series like 'Superman' and 'Walking Dead'. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-05-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PublishNews Brazil: Saraiva Gets New CEO, Book Policies Go Back to Brasilia

In Brazil, Saraiva gets a new CEO, the Ministry of Culture moves oversite of book policies back to Brasilia, and a university press finds success with free ebooks by its professors. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-05-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble intros buy-one-get-one Nook book offer, only valid in stores

Well, this process seems a bit counterintuitive, eh? This morning, Barnes & Noble introduced a new scheme for getting Nook customers to visit the company's retail stores. The promotion nets you one free ebook when you purchase another, but -- and this is where the offer tripped us up a bit... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-05-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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May’s Top Reviews of Self-published Books from BlueInk Review

This month's starred self-published titles include a novel about lesbian nuns in pre-WWII Germany and a memoir from the daughter of 1960s cult leaders, among others. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-05-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Sales in Bulgaria Up 10% in 2012, Translations Increasing

Book sales in Bulgaria were up 10% in 2012, with publishers reporting more than 5,000 books were published the previous year, of which 1,500 were translations. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-05-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fifty Shades boosts UK book sales

The UK's Publishers Association reveals that spending on digital books rose by 66% in 2012. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2013-05-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book sales grew 4% in 2012, says PA

Total book sales in digital and physical formats grew 4% in 2012 to a total of £3.3bn,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fickling books on Branford Boase shortlist

David Fickling has achieved two nominations for the Branford Boase Award, a prize given each year... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Marketing Q&A with Scholastic’s Social Media Director, Morgan Baden

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-05-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Thatcher, Le Carré and TV stars help book sales rebound

Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl has returned to the summit of the Official UK Top 50 after a week... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BBC book promo complaint not upheld

A complaint about books by the BBC's Simon Mayo and Mark Easton getting undue prominence on Richard Bacon's 5 live show is not upheld by the BBC Trust. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2013-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Peston transcribed wife's final book

The BBC's business editor Robert Peston describes how transcribing his late wife's final book helped him cope with grief following her death from lung cancer. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2013-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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WBN launches book club

World Book Night is launching a monthly book club, offering reading recommendation to its... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Top book award in Mahy's name

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[ Stuff | 2013-04-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Square Books: ‘PW’ Bookstore of the Year

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-04-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In Morocco, Internet May Lead Children to Books Says Publisher

Amina Alaoui Hachimi from the Moroccan publishing house Yanbow Al Kitab believes the internet is a viable gateway to entice North African children to read. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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