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 ]
I’ve been reading from outside of Phoenix, where there have been over 120 days of 100 degree temperatures as summer comes to a close. With Hurricane Helene devastating the Southeast and war spreading in the Middle East, the uncertainty about our collective futures—whether it is from climate... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2024-10-11 11:05:00 UTC ]
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In a joint release, reps said that the new line will focus on “inclusive romantic and pop fiction,” and will aim to publish four to six titles per year. CEO and publisher Dominique Raccah called the imprint “a dream partnership.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-10-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Digital printing, paper availability, sustainability, and the looming implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulations were among the hot topics at the Book Manufacturers' Institute event. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-10-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
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A love of reading is easier to stoke when you have easy access to books, and there’s no easier way to do that than by getting your child this Kindle Paperwhite Kids that’s on sale for $115 on Amazon. That’s a solid 32% discount off its MSRP of $170. The Kindle Paperwhite Kids is pretty... Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2024-10-01 13:44:32 UTC ]
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New releases in fiction, nonfiction and comics that caught our attention. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/history-of-overhyped-tech-charles-burns-final-cut-richard-powers-playground-163018545.html?src=rss Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2024-09-28 16:30:18 UTC ]
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After an appeals court ruling upholds the First Amendment in school libraries, the Big Five and others renew their lawsuit of the state of Iowa. By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson See also: During US Book Banning Week: A New Resolution in Congress US Supreme Court: AAP,... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-09-27 22:59:46 UTC ]
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Fifteen years ago, Electric Literature started as a print and digital quarterly journal during the glory days of the print magazine era. Our very first issue surpassed 10,000 copies in sales, we were stocked in newsstands and bookstores, and as an e-book. We were one of the first to publish... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2024-09-27 11:10:00 UTC ]
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Fall is the season of Big Books: the mega-hyped, the much-recommended, and the written-by-celebrities. And despite the fact that we’re in a (god-forsaken) election year, the literary cup, as usual, runneth over. So how’s a discerning gal or guy to choose which Big Book to read (first)? Just like... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2024-09-23 08:56:27 UTC ]
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ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 414 challenges to censor library materials in the first eight months of the year, down from 695 during the same period in 2023, with ALA reps suggesting that advocacy efforts, including lawsuits in several states, are beginning to yield positive results. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-09-23 04:00:00 UTC ]
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West Coast ice cream shop Salt & Straw will be dishing out its first scoops in the Northeast this weekend after opening its inaugural Manhattan location Friday, Sept. 20.Backed by prolific restaurateur Danny Meyer, founder and executive chairman of Union Square Hospitality Group and the man... Continue reading at Crains New York
[ Crains New York | 2024-09-20 18:17:38 UTC ]
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It’s Big Book Season again, and you know what that means: lists. (Yes, there are also lists during all the other seasons. Lists are (chaotic?) good.) It also means that it’s time again for Literary Hub’s Ultimate Fall Reading List, in which I valiantly endeavor to read all the seasonal literary... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2024-09-17 08:57:52 UTC ]
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As a key lawsuit in Llano County is set to be heard by the full Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, freedom-to-read advocates consider their next moves. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-09-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
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We dig into the scope and scale of the historic wave of censorship attempts occurring today in the United States and talk with those who are doing the vital work of fighting back. Welcome to our Freedom to Read issue. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-09-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
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A medieval heist, a Halifax murder, a Dutch wartime winter and a daring 1939 journey to Shanghai provide egress for any taste. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2024-09-11 12:42:39 UTC ]
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With a hearing before the full Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans less than two weeks away, a host of amicus briefs were filed this week in a closely watched case over book banning in Llano County, Tex. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-09-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Have you noticed yellowing leaves, Labor Day sales, and the return of the school bus, now clanking spiritedly around your neighborhood? Congratulations, you’ve made it to another Big Book Season. There are a lot of books coming out this fall, and a lot of them will probably be very good, despite... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2024-09-10 11:37:41 UTC ]
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A funny spy thriller, a classic album, a blockbuster feminist exhibition, a good book about a bad childhood and the end of our summer of sport Continue reading at The Conversation
[ The Conversation | 2024-09-06 15:43:26 UTC ]
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We surveyed authors, editors, and booksellers on the current state of middle grade reading and what might bring readers back to books as a source of fun. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-09-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
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As agreed at São Paulo's book fair, the International Publishers Association is working on reading and books in the Ibero-American markets. The post In Brazil: IPA Signs Agreement for Ibero-American Reading and Books appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-09-05 18:54:51 UTC ]
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Fall's most anticipated books include novels from Rachel Kushner, Sally Rooney, Danzy Senna, Michael Connelly and Richard Price. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2024-09-03 10:00:18 UTC ]
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