The Observer's books of the year

From new voices like NoViolet Bulawayo to rediscovered old voices like James Salter, from Dave Eggers's satire to David Thomson's history of film, writers, Observer critics and others pick their favourite reads of 2013. And they tell us what they hope to find under the tree …Curtis SittenfeldNovelistMy favourite books of 2013 are Drama High (Riverhead) by Michael Sokolove, Sea Creatures (Turnaround) by Susanna Daniel, and & Sons (Harper Collins) by David Gilbert. Drama High is incredibly smart, moving non-fiction about an American drama teacher who for four decades coaxed sophisticated and nuanced theatrical performances out of teenage students who weren't privileged or otherwise remarkable and in so doing, changed their conceptions of what they could do with their lives. Sea Creatures is a gripping, beautifully written novel about the mother of a selectively mute three-year-old boy; when she takes a job ferrying supplies to a hermit off the coast of Florida, her world is upended. & Sons is a fabulously clever, warm-hearted novel about fathers, sons, literature, art, lust, envy, fraudulence, and Manhattan.As for a book I'd love to be given, Mohsin Hamid has recently been writing wonderful columns for the New York Times that make me curious about his novels. If Santa's reading this, I believe I'll start with How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia (Hamish Hamilton).Hilary MantelNovelistTime to recall the more energising parts of the year's reading: Kate Atkinson's... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2013-11-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Margaret Atwood and Greta Thunberg battle it out for Waterstones Book of the Year

Margaret Atwood’s Booker-winning The Testaments (Vintage) is vying with offerings from Max Porter, Greta Thunberg and Candice Carty-Williams in a bumper shortlist for Waterstones Book of the Year. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-30 15:29:31 UTC ]
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Inaugural Paisley Book Festival to launch next year

Paisley will host its first ever book festival in February 2020, honouring the "brilliant political thinkers and creatives that have long been associated with the area", say organisers.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-22 11:53:08 UTC ]
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Hodder scores double nomination on William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award shortlist

Hodder & Stoughton has scooped two nominations on this year’s William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award shortlist.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-21 17:35:28 UTC ]
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Kroscoczka’s ‘Hey, Kiddo’ Wins Book of the Year at Harvey Awards

'Hey Kiddo', Jarrett J. Kroscoczka’s bestselling gaphic memoir about familial dysfunction, won Book of the Year, while Fun Home author Alison Bechdel and Hellboy creator Mike Mignola were inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Harvey Awards ceremony, held Friday evening during New York Comic Con... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-10-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Two-time winners Mcrae and Hamilton on William Hill Sports Book of the Year longlist

Two-time winners Donald McRae and Duncan Hamilton are in line for a historic treble after making the 12-strong longlist for the £30,000 William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2019. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-24 03:37:08 UTC ]
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Climate activist Greta Thunberg has two books coming out with Penguin Press next year.

Surprising no one, climate hero Greta Thunberg, whose forthright, outspoken approach to environmental activism, will publish two books in 2020 with Penguin Press, a memoir Our House is on Fire (written with her family), and a collection of her speeches, No One is Too Small to Make a Difference.... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-09-20 15:00:41 UTC ]
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FT and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award shortlist revealed

Six books are in the running for the £30,000 FT and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award, with former winner Raghuram Rajan returning to the shortlist. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-16 07:08:32 UTC ]
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Harvey Awards Book of the Year Nominees

Here are the titles that have been nominated for the 2019 Harvey Awards’ Book of the Year Award. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-09-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Tomlinson to retire after 13 years at The Book People

Karen Tomlinson, head of adult books at The Book People, will retire in September after 13 years with the company.    Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-08-30 01:43:54 UTC ]
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2019 Australian Children’s Book of the Year Awards Winners

The Children's Book Council of Australia chose the winners of the 2019 Book of the Year Awards. Get the list of winners and honorable mentions here. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-08-28 10:39:17 UTC ]
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‘Do black people read?’ What my years in publishing have taught me about diversity in books | Natalie Jerome

Malorie Blackman laments the lack of BAME children’s characters. I know – it’s a real battle to get writers of colour publishedMy daughter, like me, is of mixed heritage. She has wildly curly hair, as have I. When she was born four years ago I was given five copies of the same kids’ picture book... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2019-08-17 07:00:41 UTC ]
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Nielsen Book to sponsor Libraries Week in two-year CILIP partnership

Nielsen Book has joined forces with library and information association CILIP to sponsor its reading campaign alongside National Libraries Week in a new two-year partnership. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-16 17:15:51 UTC ]
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Poet triumphs at Wales Book of the Year Awards

Cardiff-based poet Ailbhe Darcy has won the £4,000 Wales Book of the Year Award for her "striking" collection, Insistence (Bloodaxe Books).  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-06-20 03:52:13 UTC ]
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Migraines have plagued me for years. A new book puts my pain in perspective.

The condition largely affects women. That may help explain why the suffering continues. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-06-10 19:00:00 UTC ]
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A year in the life of the Cerritos Library Book Club for Adults

They meet one Wednesday a month in the wood-paneled boardroom of the art-filled Cerritos Library, with its life-sized replica of a Tyrannosaurus rex and 15,000-gallon saltwater fish tank. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-06-06 10:00:01 UTC ]
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A year in the life of the Cerritos Library Book Club for Adults

They meet one Wednesday a month in the wood-paneled boardroom of the art-filled Cerritos Library, with its life-sized replica of a Tyrannosaurus rex and 15,000-gallon saltwater fish tank. They are mostly retired and most sincerely avid readers. They are polite and funny and kind. They are... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-06-06 10:00:00 UTC ]
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The Book People and Save the Children to publish 7-year-old Tom Burlison

Tom Burlison from Epsom, who is seven years old, has won this year’s Bedtime Story Competition, ran by Save the Children and The Book People. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-05-28 01:00:26 UTC ]
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Wales Book of the Year Awards shortlists announced

The shortlists for this year’s English and Welsh language Wales Book of the Year Awards have been announced, reflecting the “incredible breadth” of the country’s literary scene. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-05-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Soho Friday scores 'gangster book of the year' from Escobar's son

Soho Friday Media has bagged the “gangster book of the year” from drug lord Pablo Escobar’s eldest son, following a chance meeting in Mallorca. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Lysa TerKeurst Wins ECPA’s Christian Book of the Year

The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) recognized the best Christian books of the year in 12 categories on Wednesday during its annual Leadership Summit in Chicago, awarding its top prize to Lysa TerKeurst for her devotional, ‘Embraced.’ Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-05-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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