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 ]
Two recently published and appealingly idiosyncratic memoirs reflect this week’s autumnal spirit. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2020-11-25 14:00:00 UTC ]
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For book lovers, the announcement may feel like background noise, but the ramifications are huge. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2020-11-25 12:57:10 UTC ]
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During an interview with The Washington Post, Obama revealed the books that shaped his public service and leadership. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2020-11-24 14:00:41 UTC ]
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Research shows action is needed to get more kids reading for pleasure – especially those from disadvantaged and minority backgrounds. Continue reading at The Conversation
[ The Conversation | 2020-11-20 16:53:51 UTC ]
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Yesterday, Benjamin Mullin and Keach Hagey, of the Wall Street Journal, broke a huge media-business story: BuzzFeed is buying HuffPost in a stock deal, part of a broader package that will see Verizon Media, HuffPost’s current owner, take a minority stake and make a cash investment in BuzzFeed.... Continue reading at Columbia Journalism Review
[ Columbia Journalism Review | 2020-11-20 13:25:55 UTC ]
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The best book lights can make great holiday gifts or stocking stuffers for the book lover in your life. Here are ten of the best. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2020-11-20 11:37:00 UTC ]
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Booksellers are relying on support and innovation from publishers to help drive sales this year, as the industry's retailers urge the public to shop locally. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-19 07:03:01 UTC ]
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Italy's annual book-donation program for school libraries is back this year, despite the constraints of the coronavirus pandemic. The post Italy’s ‘Why I Read’ Campaign Flies Again appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-11-18 17:11:45 UTC ]
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Parliamentary committee investigating after former prime ministers criticise Murdoch media story on ‘fake’ names in petitionFormer prime ministers Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull have challenged News Corp to co-operate with any investigation stemming from reports of “foreign interference” in a... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2020-11-18 08:02:35 UTC ]
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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. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten share their thoughts on Robert Harris’s latest... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-11-17 17:16:17 UTC ]
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These are our favorite manhwa and manga like The Gamer to check out if you can’t get enough of this popular manhwa. Read on. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2020-11-11 11:39:00 UTC ]
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From meditation to rest, books publishing between now and early 2021 explore ways to heal divisions, find peace, and love thy neighbor. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-11-11 05:00:00 UTC ]
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As COVID cases surge to record numbers and Republicans flirt with a paper coup the future of the nation’s bookstores remains perilous. Yes, we all have a lot to worry about—but if you care about that unwieldy, amorphous thing called literary culture, please spare a moment (or a dollar) to... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-11-10 16:14:32 UTC ]
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A young woman’s diagnosis is only the beginning of the mystery in “Lightning Flowers.” As Katherine E. Standefer tried to make sense of her heart condition, her conscience sent her on a trip across the world. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2020-11-10 10:00:08 UTC ]
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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. Vivienne Leheny’s narration captures each character’s outward persona and true self in... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-11-09 18:14:36 UTC ]
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Independent bookstores are hurting as shoppers stay online. Pick up one of our staff picks to support bookstores throughout the U.S. Whether you’re diving into an engrossing period drama, reading up on the history of protests or pandemics, or escaping into a fantastical world, chances are you’ve... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2020-11-06 16:00:54 UTC ]
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Krauss’s four previous novels proved she’s a writer’s writer; her new story collection cements her reputation. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2020-11-05 14:31:07 UTC ]
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A reading list for today’s entrepreneurs. 1. Out of Our Minds: The Power of Being Creative, Sir Ken Robinson Educator Sir Ken Robinson’s TED Talk “How Schools Kill Creativity” [is amazing]. He explores why it’s essential to [foster] creativity in education, work, and life.Read Full Story Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2020-11-05 07:00:36 UTC ]
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Author L J Ross is to launch an arts initiative, offering community grants, promoting literacy and encouraging tourism in The North East. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-04 19:31:39 UTC ]
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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. AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff and host Jo Reed discuss The Fragile Earth, an eye-opening... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-11-02 16:59:56 UTC ]
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