Turning literature into a numbers game makes some sense for the book trade, but none for readersWe may be halfway through January already, but the spirit of new year is still in full swing over in San Francisco, where the 2014 Goodreads Reading Challenge goes from strength to strength to strength. More than 240,000 of Goodreads' 25 million members have already committed to reading more than 14m books this year, pledging to get through them at an average of more than a book a week. And many fans of books will say hurrah for that. I reckon I'm pretty much in favour of books and literature, too, but the Goodreads Reading Challenge just sets my teeth on edge.It starts right there in the name. Since when was reading any kind of challenge? Isn't it supposed to be fun? Maybe not for children still learning to differentiate their Perfect Peters from their Horrid Henrys, or for the one in six UK adults who still struggle with literacy, but Goodreads is a site for people who are already "readers" . I don't think they have schoolchildren in mind when they suggest you should "raise your reading ambitions" and it certainly doesn't look like a scheme designed to help adult learners "make it to the final chapter". All this talk of pledging, of targets, of tracking your progress, is just another step in the marketisation of the reading experience, another stage in the commodification of literary culture.We know that literacy correlates with better social outcomes, that literary fiction... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2014-01-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
Want to read more historical fiction set in Mexico? We've got you covered with these 20 absolute must-read books! Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2023-07-11 10:31:00 UTC ]
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In a July 7 filing, the plaintiffs, including a local bookseller, say that the new law is "motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ animus” and imposes an “unconstitutional content and viewpoint-based restriction” on free speech. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-07-10 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Get ready for all things reading outdoors or indoors beside a window with these summer 2023 YA paperbacks. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2023-07-07 10:39:00 UTC ]
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A transgender woman, the owners of an independent bookstore and an educator who teaches in costume are among those challenging Montana's first-in-the-nation law that bans people dressed in drag from reading to children in public schools or libraries Continue reading at ABC News
[ ABC News | 2023-07-07 01:02:34 UTC ]
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A transgender woman, the owners of an independent bookstore and an educator who teaches in costume are among those challenging Montana's first-in-the-nation law that bans people dressed in drag from reading to children in public schools or libraries Continue reading at ABC News
[ ABC News | 2023-07-07 00:47:04 UTC ]
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The manga new releases out July 2023 include a sweet high school romance, adventures at magic school, a body swap horror story, and lots more! Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2023-07-06 10:33:00 UTC ]
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It’s that spooky frisson that makes you, for a split second, want to throw your book across the room. Or chuckle. Or flail, blindly, for the familiar barrier between storyworld and readerworld—you know, your world. There’s nothing as electric as an experimental flourish executed well, and... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2023-07-06 08:52:45 UTC ]
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Small presses have been publishing excellent work by writers who you may not know (yet). From compelling short stories to heart-wrenching novels, these books will take you on a journey across states and countries, into the past or to the future, as well as deep into the minds of richly-drawn... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2023-06-30 11:00:00 UTC ]
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The 2023 American Library Association Annual Conference concluded on June 27, in Chicago, with the ALA reporting a solid bump in turnout over 2022. The library community rallied around the freedom to read with a clear stand against censorship. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bethanne Patrick's 10 recommended books for July include memoirs on mothers and art, histories of muscle and heat, a new caper from Colson Whitehead and more. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-06-29 19:18:11 UTC ]
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These 8 books that explore the relationships between humans and animals in a variety of ways, including the personal and professional. Start with Birding While Indian: A Mixed-Blood Memoir by Thomas C. Ganno. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2023-06-29 10:35:00 UTC ]
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For the past few years, Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold line has been the undisputed champion of big flexible phones. But it holds that title almost by default thanks to a lack of real contenders — especially outside of China. But with the Pixel Fold, Google has created a legitimate challenger with an... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2023-06-26 17:00:03 UTC ]
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First adopted in 1953, the reaffirmation this week comes amid an unprecedented surge in book challenges and legislative attacks on the freedom to read. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-26 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Keynoting a resurgent ALA Annual Conference, the author talked about her experiences with books bans in the 1980s and thanked librarians for their ardent defense of banned books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
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If you believe that the role of a novel is to instruct readers on correct moral positions, then Trial is a masterpiece. Continue reading at Slate
[ Slate | 2023-06-20 16:38:36 UTC ]
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India is a land of great linguistic, cultural, and religious diversity. Here are 20 of the best examples of historical fiction set in India. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2023-06-15 10:32:00 UTC ]
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With results down in fiscal 2023, Wiley announced that it will offload non-core assets in fiscal 2024 and focus on its research and learning groups. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-15 04:00:00 UTC ]
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I’ve always loved art that leans into its medium: literature that resists film or television adaptation, theater that breaks the fourth wall. The economy delights me, no piece out of place, not only structure but form a major pillar of the work. What can one art form do that another cannot? How... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2023-06-13 08:52:52 UTC ]
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Emergence Magazine is an online publication with annual print edition exploring the threads connecting ecology, culture, and spirituality. As we experience the desecration of our lands and waters, the extinguishing of species, and a loss of sacred connection to the Earth, we look to emerging... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2023-06-12 08:51:53 UTC ]
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If you’re tired of hearing your dad talk about how he can never find time to get through his reading list, it’s time to nip that in the bud. This Father’s Day, give up a subscription to Headway Premium, the top-rated learning app that makes it easier than ever to learn something new every... Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2023-06-12 08:00:00 UTC ]
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