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 ]
Stan Lee deserves his place in the pantheon of great pop culture architects, but his Marvel characters did more than just entertain – they actively fought against prejudice. Continue reading at The Conversation
[ The Conversation | 2022-12-27 09:02:59 UTC ]
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Revisiting a now quaint conflict about Barnes & Noble displacing indie booksellers in New York. Continue reading at Slate
[ Slate | 2022-12-20 08:00:00 UTC ]
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Looking for a few more good reads before the new year? Here are some recommendations from the ‘Fast Company’ team. While 2021 was a banner year in book publishing, 2022 had its own remarkable moments. Travel book sales started bouncing back as people made vacation plans again, romance reached a... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2022-12-18 05:00:00 UTC ]
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As the year comes to a close, ‘Fast Company’ asked leaders which books they sought out for guidance and leadership advice. In 2022, as they faced a tight labor market and a looming economic downturn, business leaders had a lot on their minds. With the year coming to a close, Fast Company asked... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2022-12-14 07:00:00 UTC ]
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New York Times book critics discuss their favorite books and memorable reading experiences of 2022. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2022-12-09 20:04:15 UTC ]
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Rejoice, Bellowheads: on December 12th, PBS is premiering the first-ever major documentary on Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winner Saul Bellow. Directed by Asaf Galay and featuring rare archival footage and interviews with Philip Roth, Salman Rushdie, and others, American Masters: The Adventures of... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2022-12-09 09:54:28 UTC ]
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Amid all the stories of shitbag Proud Boys shutting down drag queen story hours at libraries, here’s a nice bit of news about libraries saying a very polite “fuck off” to Kirk Cameron, former Growing Pains star and current Christian film mogul whose latest effort was the anti-abortion... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2022-12-08 17:19:04 UTC ]
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You can read ebooks, write notes, or mark up PDFs on this new slate, but your wallet will feel a lot lighter. Continue reading at Wired
[ Wired | 2022-12-08 14:00:00 UTC ]
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There’s something for everyone in this season’s bumper crop of novels set in other times and places. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2022-12-02 14:45:08 UTC ]
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Let’s make Christmas an opportunity to explore some manga as part of that stack you curl up with by checking out these Christmas manga! Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2022-12-02 11:31:00 UTC ]
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Bethanne Patrick's December standout books include a Gen X caper, a wild adventure tale and surprising new novels from Jane Smiley and Cormac McCarthy. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-12-01 18:52:48 UTC ]
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These comics are perfect for your next sick day, from a nonfiction comic about the 1918 flu to a comforting graphic novel about tea dragons. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2022-12-01 11:34:00 UTC ]
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Ryan Lee Wong, author of the novel 'Whose Side Are You On,' recommends 10 novels that break the 'model minority' stereotype. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-26 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Anna Moschovakis is one of those unicorns in the literary world who manages not only to do it all, but do it well—more than well. She is a poet, translator, novelist, critic, publisher, professor, and community organizer. Her translation from French of David Diop’s At Night All Blood Is Black... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2022-11-17 09:51:50 UTC ]
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While still in the early stages of the legislative process, the proposed bill in Texas would require publishers to develop a new rating system for books, and would give Texas state officials the power to bar schools from doing business with publishers who do not comply with the state’s directives. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-17 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Unit sales of print books fell 17.1% last week compared to the week ended November 13, 2021, at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. It was the third consecutive week that sales fell by double digits compared to 2021. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-17 05:00:00 UTC ]
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To mark the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of King Charles III, we highlight some vital books that explore the queen’s legacy and look to the future. (Sponsored) Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-14 05:00:00 UTC ]
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“In all creation there is nothing constant,” says Pythagoras in the final book of the Metamorphoses. All things are subject to the power of change: bodies, landscapes, cities, nations—even the cosmos. Ovid announces his epic’s main theme as metamorphosis in its first two lines: “My spirit moves... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2022-11-08 09:53:56 UTC ]
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Irish author Claire Keegan is one of those U.S. 'discoveries' who have been known back home for years. With 'Foster,' she earns that acclaim and more. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-11-01 14:00:17 UTC ]
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We asked four teachers and librarians about the ways they encourage students and patrons to read books featuring protagonists of diverse gender identities. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
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