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 ]
Welcome to the Book Marks Questionnaire, where we ask authors questions about the books that have shaped them. This week, we spoke to Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of Sleep Donation, Karen Russell. * Book Marks: First book you remember loving? Karen Russell: The Last Unicorn by Peter S.... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-10-07 15:16:17 UTC ]
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These manga like KILLING STALKING have heavy themes but if you are looking for something similar, they are what you need! Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2020-10-07 10:38:00 UTC ]
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In "Leave the World Behind," a family on vacation tries to ignore the catastrophe unfolding outside their cozy retreat. Continue reading at The Huffington Post
[ The Huffington Post | 2020-10-06 16:35:31 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. Dan Richards narrates his audiobook, Outpost, in a clear English accent that often sounds as... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-10-05 17:53:36 UTC ]
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This librarian has seen some truly creative ideas for how libraries hype books virtually, and she's here to share the wealth. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2020-10-05 10:30:00 UTC ]
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“The Meaning of Mariah Carey” gets to the essence of one of the most successful singers of our time. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2020-10-02 14:00:00 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. Narrator Sisi Aisha Johnson embodies all of the joy and light of fourth grader Ryan Hart in... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-10-02 09:13:44 UTC ]
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Allen Lane will publish Paul Mason's How to Stop Fascism, an "original and challenging history of fascism and guide to resisting it". Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-01 18:21:48 UTC ]
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Love in Colour by Bolu BabalolaEvery story in this collection of love stories by Bolu Babalola has been adapted from ancient folklore from all around the world. Babalola chooses to centre women in these stories, giving the women unique and passionate perspectives on love. While the original... Continue reading at British Council global
[ British Council global | 2020-10-01 09:59:00 UTC ]
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The fall crop is especially abundant this year, including new novels by Jess Walter and Tana French. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2020-09-30 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Wesley Barnes sued by resort owner after posting negative comments on TripadvisorAn American man is facing two years in prison in Thailand after posting negative online reviews of a hotel resort.The Sea View Resort in Koh Chang accused Wesley Barnes of “a slanderous campaign” over the reviews,... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2020-09-29 12:25:01 UTC ]
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Are you prepared for the explicit gore of these new horror manga reads? Dive into our recommendations for your best starting points. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2020-09-29 10:39:00 UTC ]
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Among this month’s picks: a shortlisted Booker Prize novel and last year’s winner, Margaret Atwood’s “The Testaments.” Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2020-09-28 13:16:37 UTC ]
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'The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian' topped the ALA's list of the most banned and challenged books between 2010-2019. The list was released to coincide with the start of Banned Books Week, which runs through October 3. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-09-28 04:00:00 UTC ]
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In an annual meeting and town hall that touched on the many issues and challenges that booksellers face today, New England Independent Booksellers Association members took up a message of resilience and looked ahead to 2021 with good spirits in spite of it all. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-09-27 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Autumn means changing leaves, apple-based baked goods, decorative gourds, pumpkin spice lattes—and an avalanche of literary award longlists. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the must-read National Book Award nominees you’re now realizing you didn’t read, why not base your TBR pile off of... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2020-09-25 11:00:06 UTC ]
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Word of the new NEIBA Reading Challenge, aimed at radically reshaping the reading habits of booksellers in the region, came just hours before the announcement that only one charge would be brought against a police officer in the killing of Breonna Taylor—news that reverberated during the... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-09-24 04:00:00 UTC ]
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If you're excited about the romantic drama fictionalizing the life of paleontologist Mary Anning, check out these books like AMMONITE. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2020-09-23 10:37:00 UTC ]
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“Everything is copy.” That was an Ephron family saying that I’ve adopted as my own maxim, and it is in that spirit that my debut novel A World Between––a tale of two queer women of color, Eleanor and Leena, who grow away from and towards each other over the course of 13 years––is a web […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-09-15 08:48:45 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. Seraphine Valentine narrates Alexis Daria’s charming romance, You Had Me at Hola, where the... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-09-11 08:41:16 UTC ]
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