TV books programmes: if nobody watches them, make better ones

The novelist Robert Harris was right to call the BBC’s lack of a books show a ‘disgrace’. There’s plenty the corporation could do to make a popular literary programme on TVWith injury, there is always a little insult. When a BBC spokesperson, responding to Robert Harris’s complaints at the Costa book of the year ceremony about the absence of a dedicated book show on its television channels, pointed out that the corporation was responsible for introducing readers to books by way of adaptations such as Wolf Hall and The Casual Vacancy, one might feel that Harris’s comments – in which he called the absence of a BBC TV books show an ‘absolute disgrace’ – had been somewhat misunderstood.While Hilary Mantel and JK Rowling, their publishers, agents and the book industry doubtless benefit from book adaptations, the BBC’s motive in putting them on is not altruistic. It does not broadcast these adaptations to benefit poor, garret-bound writers, nor because it thinks the publishing industry is struggling to connect with potential readers, nor because it worries that amid the hubbub of rapid-fire entertainment opportunities, the novel is becoming marginalised. It does it because the best novels - whether classic or contemporary, comic or tragic, philosophical or political or romantic - are masterpieces of narrative and entertainment. The BBC is in the debt of writers of such novels as Parade’s End, Mapp and Lucia, South Riding, Death Comes to Pemberley and The Night Watch for... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-01-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #casual vacancy #hilary mantel #jk rowling #publishing industry #potential readers #night watch

Other Publishing stories related to: 'TV books programmes: if nobody watches them, make better ones'


Printed book sales slump to nine-year low

As temperatures soared across the UK, printed book sales slumped to their lowest level in nine... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #nine-year low #lowest level


Amazon, Publisher Settle Digital Books Dispute

A three month long dispute over the sale of digital books between Amazon.com Inc. and a leading independent book distributor has been resolved, both parties said Friday. Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2012-05-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


More Doctor Who for BBC Books

BBC Books has acquired a further Doctor Who title, written by Stephen Baxter, featuring the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-05-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bbc books #stephen baxter


Norman makes first buy for Hutchinson

Hutchinson senior editor Sarah Norman has made her first acquisition since joining the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-05-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Stephen Colbert's children's book tops the bestseller list

Stephen Colbert's latest release – a picture book aimed at young adults and up – follows a pole as it searches for the perfect job. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-05-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #stephen colbert #book tops #bestseller list #latest release #young adults


Apple Claims US Government Sides With Monopoly in E-book Case

The U.S. government has sided with monopoly rather than competition in bringing a case of ebook price-fixing against Apple, the company said in a filing on... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2012-05-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #e-book case #ebook price-fixing


Hubert made Book Aid director

Alison Hubert, previously of Macmillan Education, has been appointed as the new director of... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-05-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #macmillan education


OMG MJ signs diet book

Michael Joseph has acquired Six Weeks to OMG, a dieting title which has already been a self-... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-05-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #michael joseph


RHG scores three in R&J Summer Book Club

Three Random House Group titles have been picked for the Richard and Judy Summer Book Club,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-05-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


HuffPo to help brands make their own sites

The Huffington Post is expanding the way it works with brands in an effort to cash in on the popular brand-as-publisher trend, Ad Age has learned. The company, part of AOL, has been talking to ad agencies and marketers about helping them build websites for brands and subsequently aiding in... Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2012-05-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #search engines #gawker media #media companies #speak directly


Kimmage wins 2012 British Sports Book title

Simon & Schuster's Engage: The Fall and Rise of Matt Hampson by Paul Kimmage has been... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-05-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #simon schuster #matt hampson


S&S sign Sam Warburton books

Welsh rugby captain Sam Warburton has signed a two-book deal with Simon & Schuster. The... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-05-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #simon schuster


Latitude launches London Book Club

Latitude Festival is launching a monthly book club in London, with the first to be held today... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-05-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #latitude festival


Make Your Best Burger: PW Talks with Rachael Ray

Rachael Ray's "The Book of Burgers" could just be this year's burger bible. Here, the Food Network star shares tips on planning a burger bash and what she'd serve at a White House cookout. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-05-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #burger bible #burger bash #rachael ray


Book review: 'Bring Up the Bodies' is a compelling re-creation

Hilary Mantel returns to the vicious world of Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell's maneuverings.Bring Up the Bodies Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-05-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book review #henry viii #thomas cromwell


New York books find foreign audience

TV shows and Hollywood blockbusters aren't America's only cultural exports. The book industry is also expanding overseas, according to a report released Friday by the Association of American Publishers that looks at book exports for the first time. Exports by U.S. publishers, which are dominated... Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2012-05-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #greater number #smart phones #authors found #pop culture #business books


A bet on books' continuing pop-hop

At the new Pop-Hop Books & Print in Highland Park, a pair of print aficionados believes that others, like themselves, cling to the page in the age of ebooks.Like a bad love affair, they kept it a secret from their families as long as they could. Because in 2012, who can admit the thing they... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-05-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Five Puffin titles on IBW Book Awards shortlists

Andrew Miller's Costa-winning Pure (Sceptre) and five Puffin titles have been shortlisted for... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-05-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #andrew miller


Publisher Settles in E-book Price Fixing Case

Simon & Schuster becomes the latest publisher to settle an antitrust claim by a team of states, while Macmillan, Penguin, and Apple fight on. Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2012-05-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #simon schuster #latest publisher


Accent Press acquires celeb bake book

Accent Press is publishing a celebrity baking title, with a foreword by "Great British Bake... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-05-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #accent press