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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E-books have been added to the basket of goods used to calculate the UK's rate of inflation, but Freeview set-top boxes are out. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2013-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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E-books added to ONS 'basket of goods'

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has added ebooks to the basket of goods and services... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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South Korean Book Sales Plummeted by 20% in 2012

Sales of new books in South Korea fell by 20% in 2012, according to a report from Statistics Korea, a situation that has Han Ki-ho, head of the Korean Publishing Market Research Institute, very concerned. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon’s Attempts to Rule the .Book Web Raises Hackles

The Association of American Publishers and the Authors Guild, are fighting Amazon's bid to own new global domain names including .book, .author, and .read. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A "Netflix for children's books"?

Sproutkin, a new web startup, is launching a children's book subscription service based on the Netflix model. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-03-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Three lives saved by a children's book

Three boys who were camping in Queensland, Australia, escaped from quicksand using information gained in a book. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-03-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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UIT Cambridge buys Devon's Green Books

UIT Cambridge has bought Devon-based publisher Green Books for an undisclosed sum. Green Books... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-03-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Where is the Book Equivalent of the Harlem Shake?

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-03-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Save the Trees: Print Books on Straw Rather than Paper

Yann Martel and Alice Munro are working with Canopy, an environmental charity, to highlight forest-saving Second Harvest paper made from straw rather than trees. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-03-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Pichon wins Blue Peter Book Award

Schoolchildren from across the country have chosen Tom Gates: Genius Ideas, Mostly by Liz Pichon... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-03-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sixty Years of Sterling Wisdom from the “Lord of Publishing”

Legendary literary agent Sterling Lord shares wisdom from his 60 years in publishing and reflects the current business, which he says is more like selling appliances than art. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Teenagers' book choices 'too easy'

Teenagers are selecting "easier reads" in their book choices, rather than more challenging classics, according to a survey published for World Book Day. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2013-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Time Warner spinning off Time Inc. magazine biz this year

Time Warner Inc. will spin off its magazine business later this year, turning the nine-decade-old publisher of Time, People and Sports Illustrated into a separate publicly held company.The board authorized management to proceed with the plan after a review of options, the New York-based media... Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2013-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bloody Sunday books win Christopher Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize

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[ The Bookseller | 2013-03-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Houghton Mifflin Pulls Another Jonah Lehrer Book From Stores

Following the scandal over Jonah Lehrer's book "Imagine" last year, Houghton Mifflin has pulled his earlier bestseller "How We Decided" from stores, citing “significant problems" with the book. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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National Book Critics Circle Awards go to 'Billy Lynn,' 'Far From the Tree'

The National Book Critics Circle honored works such as 'Far From the Tree' by Andrew Solomon and 'The Passage of Power: The Years of Lyndon Johnson' by Robert Caro during their 2012 awards ceremony. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-03-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google Play Books comes to India with an updated Android app in tow

Google Play Books has been on a slow world tour that hasn't given Asia much love. Google is addressing that regional deficit in grand fashion today by launching its digital bookshop in India. The collection includes the expected blend of local and international titles, although the Books... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Nudging UK Book Discovery Toward the Mainstream

By focusing on movie tie-ins and visual curation, UK app developers of The Nudge List hope to attract book buyers not accustomed to using traditional book sites. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Human Events to Shutter Newspaper After 70 Years

Human Events, the venerable Washington-based conservative newspaper, will cease publishing its weekly print edition after nearly 70 years but will continue to operate its popular websites, the publisher announced Wednesday. Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Children's author Patricia MacLachlan honors Newtown residents with new book

MacLachlan, author of 'Sarah, Plain and Tall,' said she was inspired to write a picture book after talking with her friend, an illustrator who lives in Newtown. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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