Literature on Lockdown 6: #CultureConnectsUs

Everyone peaked too early.    You remember. The beginning of lockdown, when suddenly half of your friends were FaceTiming you about Tiger King, or downloading a language app, and so many people ordered yoga mats online that they took an estimated six weeks to be delivered. Now the yoga mat gathers dust in the corner, you type je tu il elle into your phone without knowing why. Remember hating Carole Baskin? Now it’s hard to remember who she is.    So how do we reset? Those of us who aren’t essential workers, or haven’t been sent back to work with the changing regulations – how do we introduce variety without putting ourselves and others at risk, find new ways to give ourselves peace of mind, and renew the sense of possibility and determination that we felt before?    This week, the Metal Health Foundation in the UK released its guidelines on looking after your mental health during the pandemic. Recognising how vulnerable and overwhelmed people can feel – by the conditions of their household, the fact that a loved one might be at risk at home or at work, or the loss of their usual freedoms – it offers resources, practices, names and numbers to help.    But, as the Literature on Lockdown blog notes this week, it’s also not so long since Arts Council England published their findings on reading for pleasure: the moments when we turn to books for entertainment, enjoyment, self-improvement and wellbeing. Before that, Reading Well for Mental Health found the right books to help... Continue reading at 'British Council global'

[ British Council global | 2020-05-22 15:30:00 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "Literature on Lockdown 6: #CultureConnectsUs"


Apple's new audiobook narration service uses AI voices

When you browse Apple Books for your next audiobook, you might come across a few titles with a note that says they were "Narrated by Apple Books." That's because the tech giant has released a catalogue of titles that make use of its new AI-powered digital narration service. The company said the... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-01-05 13:10:59 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Why AI audiobook narrators could win over some authors and readers, despite the vocal bumps

Apple and Google’s AI turn in a booming market may sound less than human and raise the ire of voiceover actors, but it has cost benefits For the first few seconds, the narrator of Kristen Ethridge’s new romance audiobook, Shelter from the Storm, sounds like a human being. The voice is light and... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-01-05 06:41:18 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The best sci-fi movies, books and shows to consume over the holidays

If you need a break from the hustle and cheer of the holidays, there’s nothing better than the ultimate escapist genre: sci-fi. This year has been a good one for those who like their entertainment off-planet or otherwise removed from our reality. We finally got a Predator sequel that isn’t... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-12-26 14:15:37 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Apple's AirPods Pro fall to $200, plus the rest of the week's best tech deals

While it's a bit late for most tech gifts to ship in time for Christmas, there are still many deals going on for those looking to buy something nice for themselves. Apple's AirPods Pro, for one, are down to an all-time low of $200, while Sony's WF-1000XM4 earbuds are still at a low of $178.... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-12-23 17:30:24 UTC ]
More news stories like this


How a Great Audiobook Narrator Finds Her Voices

Robin Miles was looking for stage and screen roles when she began reading books for the blind. She’s become one of the country’s most celebrated narrators. Continue reading at New Yorker

[ New Yorker | 2022-12-16 16:45:13 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The best digital gifts to send your friends and family

Chances are good you know someone who has subscription fatigue from the many digital services that have become essential in our lives. Or maybe you have a loved one getting a new game console or some other exciting new hardware. In either case, we’ve pulled together a number of digital gifts and... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-12-14 14:18:30 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The Morning After: A super-thin layer of gold and titanium could prevent fogged-up glasses

All I want for Christmas is for my glasses not to fog up. And Swiss scientists might deliver on that wish. ETH Zurich researchers have developed a gold nanocoating that heats glass by up to 46 Fahrenheit by absorbing a large amount of infrared radiation − and keeps your glasses fog free. Most... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-12-13 12:15:33 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Netflix and HBO Max led streaming services in the 2023 Golden Globes nominees

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced the 2023 Golden Globes nominations today. Streaming services dominated television categories, while direct-to-streaming films were recognized as well. Netflix and HBO Max had the best showings among streamers, tallying 14 television... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-12-12 19:51:09 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Struggling authors know writing is a rich person’s hobby | Letters

Stephen Carver, Guinevere Glasfurd, Brian Needham and Jo McMillan respond to Joanne Harris’s article about horribly low pay in the publishing worldRegarding Joanne Harris’s article (Horribly low pay is pushing out my fellow authors – and yes, that really does matter, 7 December), I guess I’m a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-12-11 17:07:25 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Move Over, Hallmark: Coca-Cola Made 3 Christmas Films as It Dives Into Entertainment

Coca-Cola is the latest major brand to branch out into entertainment, with the release of a film anthology series on Prime Video that tells stories about Christmas. The anthology is the first project from Coca-Cola's new entertainment platform, "Real Magic Presents," which will see the brand... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2022-12-08 14:42:08 UTC ]
More news stories like this


What Running Has Taught Me About Writing (and Vice Versa)

I’m a daily runner. When I run varies, depending on the day’s contours, but I always lace up and head out. Earbuds in, audiobook on, running app ready to track my slow miles along semi-rural roads. Often, I don’t want to go. No matter how much I practice, I find running difficult. When I was […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-12-08 09:53:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this


8 Horror Books Coming Out in December That Will Chill You to the Bone

FroHere are eight new horror reads to make you shiver with something other than cold this December, including Mine: An Anthology of Body Autonomy Horror. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-12-06 11:35:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The Best Audiobook Thrillers to Listen to This Winter

Listen for the twists, turns, and secrets in ten of the best audiobook thrillers to listen to this holiday season! Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-12-06 11:34:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


BookBeat in France: ‘Updated’ Audiobook Subscriptions

BookBeat is ditching an all-you-can-listen-to audiobook subscription in a major market and offering time-based options in six other countries. The post BookBeat in France: ‘Updated’ Audiobook Subscriptions appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-12-05 13:55:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Talking to Lake Bell About the 2022 Best Nonfiction and Culture Audiobooks

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. Actor, author, and film director Lake Bell joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to learn more about... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-12-05 09:53:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Bookwire Has an Audiobook Deal With France’s Banijay

Based in Frankfurt, Bookwire's expansion into the French market includes audiobook production and distribution work with Banijay. The post Bookwire Has an Audiobook Deal With France’s Banijay appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-11-30 03:03:33 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Bookwire in France: A ‘New’ Audiobook Market

Bookwire's half-day 'All About Audio' conference highlighted trends in the fast-growing but still-young popularity of audiobooks in France. (Sponsored) The post Bookwire in France: A ‘New’ Audiobook Market appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-11-23 18:44:09 UTC ]
More news stories like this


‘All you have to do is participate’: how the Shotgun Seamstress zine made space for Black punks

As the DIY publication is collected in a new anthology, creator Osa Atoe and the musicians she inspired reflect on its defiant positivityIn 2006, Osa Atoe picked up pen and paper and began to write herself into history. She had decided to create a fanzine, titled Shotgun Seamstress, with a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-11-21 12:00:20 UTC ]
More news stories like this


12 new books to look forward to this week.

Another Tuesday, another round of new releases. This week sees the publication of new Patti Smith, an anthology edited by Eileen Myles, the five-year-anniversary edition of Hanif Abdurraqib, and more. * Patti Smith, A Book of Days (Random House) “A powerful melding of image and text inspired by... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-11-15 09:55:27 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Book Review: ‘The Essential Dick Gregory’

A new anthology collects some of the writings, interviews and speeches of the comic and civil rights activist. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-11-14 20:11:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this