As publishers vie to persuade us to pack their titles for the holidays, we chart the evolution of the ’beach read’Summer reads, beach reads, holiday reads … at this time of year, the publishing world works itself into a sweat trying to force its novels into our carry-on luggage, or over the ether on to our Kindles. There are more books sold in the summer than during any other season: the well-established publishing calendar tends to see hardbacks released in the autumn to be given as gifts at Christmas, then repackaged as paperbacks in late spring. As Donna Harrington-Lueker sets out in her history of the beach read, Books for Idle Hours, the summer publishing rush is at least a century old, and has typically aimed “airy and froth-like” books on “young ladies” (the quote is from an 1888 work on summer books by Arlo Bates). The summer fiction market is changing, though, with more and more “serious”, “literary” novels showing up where once there were only thrillers and crime novels, bonkbusters and romances. So it is that Normal People by Sally Rooney is currently piled high on the tables of WH Smith’s Travel alongside Lee Child, Jodi Picoult and Bernard Cornwell.I’m aware of how contentious and porous discussions of genre can be. Generic labels, though, are the terms that booksellers and publishers think in and for literary novels, the chances of summer success are still relatively slim. Tom Tivnan, managing editor of the Bookseller, points to Nielsen BookScan data that... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2019-07-14 07:00:23 UTC ]
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The billionaire philanthropist’s regular reading list is informed by the coronavirus crisis, with books about pandemics, how to survive difficult times, and what policies can help us recover Bill Gates, who has spent years warning the world about pandemics and whose foundation is now supporting... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2020-05-18 13:00:16 UTC ]
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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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W. Somerset Maugham’s 1928 novel is thought to be the first modern espionage novel. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2019-07-31 17:07:29 UTC ]
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Caitlin Moran and Peter James are among the authors on Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan's latest Book Club summer selections. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-21 17:20:56 UTC ]
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The Mueller report can be intimidating. Book clubs have emerged to get Americans to read, and engage over, the divisive publication. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2019-06-13 23:27:51 UTC ]
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Dominic Smith’s “The Electric Hotel” explores the volatile intersection of art and commerce, among other themes. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2019-06-08 14:00:00 UTC ]
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His annual beach reading list includes a biography of da Vinci, award-winning fiction, and new ways of thinking about global progress. Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates may spend heavily on vaccines and aid programs, but he seems to recognize that the one of the things that money can’t buy... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2018-05-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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It’s summertime – that glorious season of green grass, bare feet, and lots of playtime with best friends. When it comes to summer reading, how better to celebrate than with picture books that feature exactly such joys? Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2017-07-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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If you are worried your beach reads might be a little too easy this summer, Gates has some more heady suggestions for you. As one of the world’s top philanthropists, perhaps it makes sense that Bill Gates is treating beach reading like an intellectual cause: Each year, he offers up his list of... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2017-05-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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You all read a lot of books this summer? How do we know? Because we asked and you answered. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-09-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Summer is pretty much over, we're sorry to have to report. So, our question for this week is a simple one: What was the best book you read this summer? Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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President Barack Obama is on Martha's Vineyard for his annual two-week summer holiday, and the White House has released his reading list. Continue reading at Stuff
[ Stuff | 2015-08-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A preview of some great fiction and non-fiction books published this summer. The post Bugging Out: The Must-Read Insect Books of the Summer appeared first on WIRED. Continue reading at Wired
[ Wired | 2015-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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These may be grim times at Microsoft, but co-founder Bill Gates seems to be having a good time in his semi-retirement (he resigned as chairman in February, though he retains a technical-advisor role). Lately, he's been posting entertaining videos to his personal YouTube channel, thegatesnotes,... Continue reading at Advertising Age
[ Advertising Age | 2014-07-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Our summer online book club covering the works of Haruki Murkami, “A Wild Murakami Chase,” moves on to "The Wind Up Bird Chronicle." Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-06-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A single good-sized book will provide you with many hours of entertainment, it will make you think about some aspect of the world around you and make you reconsider that aspect a little. And even better, that single book can be acquired for practically nothing. Continue reading at ABC News
[ ABC News | 2012-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Results of a new study presented at Leipzig Book Fair show young Germans reading more but later, buying fewer books but at higher prices. The post At Leipzig Book Fair: Young Germans’ Engagement With Books and Reading appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-03-25 20:27:54 UTC ]
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If you want inspiration for the new year, the nonfiction section has a self-care title that promises a meditative reading and a graphic novel about the Latinx leaders who changed the history of the U.S. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-12-13 18:42:26 UTC ]
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What are the book clubs reading this month? Dive into eight picks for September book clubs and learn how to join the conversation. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2023-09-15 10:36:00 UTC ]
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Find your YA book club reading list, with YA book club books on a wide range of topics and exploring many different genres. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2023-09-05 10:33:00 UTC ]
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