The big question: are books getting longer?

A new survey of bestsellers and critics’ picks has concluded that the average book is now 25% bigger than 15 years ago. But not everyone reads things this wayBooks are steadily increasing in size, according to a survey that has found the average number of pages has grown by 25% over the last 15 years.A study of more than 2,500 books appearing on New York Times bestseller and notable books lists and Google’s annual survey of the most discussed books reveals that the average length has increased from 320 pages in 1999 to 400 pages in 2014.Novels now relish being big and long, demanding that you sit in a chair, turn off your phone and devote some time to itAs an agent, the most difficult area now appears to be the middle. Mid-list, mid-career, middle-sized Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-12-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #annual survey #big question #average book #average number

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WhatsApp is the first of several big acquisitions for Facebook

If the announcement of Facebook paying $19 billion in cash and stock for WhatsApp surprised you then maybe you’d forgotten this prediction I published on January 8th: #6 -- Facebook transforms itself (or tries to) with a huge acquisition. I wrote long ago that we’d never see Facebook in the Dow... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2014-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Steam's Linux game count explodes in one year, big publishers still absent

Since Valve released the first stable version of Steam for Linux a year ago, the number of Linux-supported games has grown more than fivefold.Valve's digital game distribution service now hosts 333 games for Linux, compared to 60 games last February. (Strangely, Steam's store page claims that... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2014-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #big publishers #entire catalog


Five Graphic Novels Nominated for L.A. Times Book Prize

Nominees for the 34th annual L.A. Times Book Prizes have been announced and include five finalists for the graphic novel prize. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fallout Continues from Penguin Books India Debacle

One week after news broke that Penguin Books India had recalled and destroyed Wendy Doniger’s "The Hindus" the negative fall out continues. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-02-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Borribles, once infamous children's books, reissued for 21st-century readers

Considered too inflammatory to publish in the wake of 1980s UK riots, these tales of anarchic runaways are to be re-released as ebooksMichael de Larrabeiti's classic stories of anarchic, pointy-eared street children the Borribles, which were judged to be so lawless in the 1980s that their... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-02-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #big city #making good


2013 L.A. Times Book Prize Finalists Announced

Fifty titles in 10 categories are in contention for the awards, which will be revealed in April. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Heron Books signs TV scientist

Heron Books, an imprint of Quercus Books, has bought a new title about evolution by Professor... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-02-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Graphic Arts Books Buys Companion Press

In a deal that adds 27 titles to its backlist, Graphic Arts Books has acquired the trade books and publishing rights of Companion Press. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #trade books #publishing rights


Iain Banks's final book – of poetry – to be published in 2015

Collection will include work by Banks's friend Ken MacLeod and will come out on the anniversary of his death in FebruaryThe final work by Iain Banks – a collection of poetry by the late author – will be released next February, his publisher has announced.Banks died last June, two months after... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-02-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Byliner Publishes Enhanced 'American Icons' E-books

The first three titles to be released will be I Love Lucy, The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, and The Disney Parks. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Savannah Book Festival Thrives Despite Inclement Weather

Savannah's 7th annual Book Festival drew a crowd and charmed its authors amid threatening winter storms. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Read Complex STM Books on the Kindle? Not Possible? Not So

Technical books, with charts and graphs, have always been a challenge for e-readers like the Kindle. DCL, working with MIT Press, believes it has come up with a solution. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-02-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #technical books #mit press


PLA Preview 2014: What’s the Big Idea?

Public Library Association President Carolyn Anthony faces a dilemma. “There’s so much I’m looking forward to that it’s hard to know where to start,” she says, when asked for her perspective on the division’s upcoming biennial conference, set for March 11–15 in Indianapolis, Ind. “I look forward... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #big idea #jane pauley #ann patchett #richard ford #david sedaris


Erotic book loans at all time high

New data suggests that the borrowing of erotic fiction from UK public libraries has leapt by 500%, in what is being called the 'Fifty Shades' effect. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2014-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PW Picks: Books of the Week, February 17, 2014

This week, a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, true crime that calls to mind "In Cold Blood," and a massive engineering mistake. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Snow Days: Winter Weather Disrupting Book Sales

This week's cold weather and snow has led to canceled events and store closures, some for more than a day during Valentine’s Week. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin blames 'intolerant' Indian laws for pulping of book

Publisher says it was forced to withdraw Wendy Doniger's book The Hindus because of law threatening jail for insults to religionPenguin India has said "intolerant and restrictive" Indian laws forced it to remove a book from sale after it tried to defend an American author's religious history... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Arianna Huffington Partners With DonorsChoose For Her New Book

People who pre-order the book, Thrive, before March 25 will receive a DonorsChoose gift card equal to the book's list price.DonorsChoose, one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies of 2014, draws inspiration from the better parts of the crowdfunding model: Public school teachers from across... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2014-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In France, Right Wing Attacks “Immoral” Children’s Books

A growing right wing movement France has begun attacking children's books depicting content (nudity, homosexuality) they call 'immoral.' Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amid Controversy, Penguin India Recalls Western Book on Hinduism

Penguin Books India has recalled American Indoligist Wendy Doniger’s book The Hindus: An Alternative History, sparking a debate about publishing freedoms. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amid controversy #alternative history