What We're Reading - October 2020

Love in Colour by Bolu BabalolaEvery story in this collection of love stories by Bolu Babalola has been adapted from ancient folklore from all around the world. Babalola chooses to centre women in these stories, giving the women unique and passionate perspectives on love. While the original folktales may have been misogynistic and may have mirrored patriarchy, Babalola’s evocative collection does the opposite. In these stories we see women championed, given agency and finally be the protagonist in their own love stories.  The Princess Trap by Talia HibbertRomance is a genre I haven’t really ventured into (not since I was in Uni). The lack of diverse and unrealistic storylines always kept me at bay. Talia Hibbert’s writing, on the other hand, not only brings to life contemporary storylines but also shows brown and black women falling in love! Romantic screen comedies need to take a page out of Talia Hibbert’s books. The Princess Trap takes a familiar romance storyline, body positivity and adds an interracial romance to make a fun and easy read.No Place to Call Home by JJ BolaReading JJ Bola’s debut novel, it is clear he is a poet. Bola records a tale of human experience that is often ignored within the UK. With vivid descriptions and heartfelt storytelling, you are transported into every location that the characters move through. The novel touches upon ideas of otherness and provides a welcome sense of belonging for those of that grew up in different places. Afshan... Continue reading at 'British Council global'

[ British Council global | 2020-10-01 09:59:00 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "What We're Reading - October 2020"


Picture power

Far too many times, I’ve been in a bookshop or a school and heard adults persuade a child away from a picture book and encouraged them to read ‘something more appropriate’. There’s a huge notion in this country that picture books are for younger children and a step into ‘proper reading’. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-13 08:06:26 UTC ]
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Lambert joins Bookshop board

Sophie Lambert has been appointed to Bookshop.org's advisory board, as the company continues to grow and embarks on future development plans. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-08 04:20:35 UTC ]
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Andersen partners with Moon Lane on Luna Loves Dance windows

Andersen Press has partnered with children's bookshop brand Moon Lane Group to promote author Joseph Coelho and illustrator Fiona Lumbers' latest title, Luna Loves Dance, in a series of window displays. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-01 11:21:08 UTC ]
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Ghanshamdas joins Round Table Books as director

Independent children’s bookshop Round Table Books has hired Meera Ghanshamdas as its new director. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-01 06:07:32 UTC ]
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Think of it this way: at least you're not locked down with drunken, misanthropic bookshop owner Bernard Black

The lead protagonist in the British TV comedy series Black Books might even relish being in lockdown. If you don’t, you might enjoy watching this show. Continue reading at The Conversation

[ The Conversation | 2021-08-27 00:11:11 UTC ]
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Essex indie bookshop doubles in size after 'thriving' in pandemic

An Essex-based indie bookshop is doubling in size after "thriving" during the pandemic. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-25 20:03:30 UTC ]
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New indie bookshop nods to Bristol's 'radical past and present'

A new independent bookshop which nods to Bristol’s “radical past and present” has opened in the city’s Harbourside area, near where Edward Colston's statue was brought down last year. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-25 11:33:12 UTC ]
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The picture book fighting back against Russia’s LGBT+ propaganda law

A story for children about families with same-sex parents has been published in Russia as part of a campaign to have the country’s ‘gay propaganda’ law repealedA month after a Hungarian bookshop chain was fined for selling a children’s story about a day in the life of a child with same-sex... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-08-17 14:33:19 UTC ]
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FT/McKinsey Business Book of the Year longlist revealed

The 15-strong longlist for the £30,000 Financial Times & McKinsey Business Book of the Year has been announced, featuring a line-up where workplace culture, climate change and the pandemic loom large. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-15 18:06:07 UTC ]
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‘I’m giddy to be here’: the risk-takers who opened bookshops during Covid

More than 60 bookshops launched in the UK and Ireland in the past 18 months – but who would open one in a pandemic? We asked five to share their stories, while bestselling author Val McDermid remembers the bookshops of her youthWhen I was growing up in a small Scottish town, we had a bookshop... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-08-15 11:00:06 UTC ]
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Madrid’s ‘Desperate Literature’ Short Fiction Prize: Paige Cowan-Hall

The fourth outing of the award produced by the Desperate Literature bookshop in Madrid features work centered on colonial oppression. The post Madrid’s ‘Desperate Literature’ Short Fiction Prize: Paige Cowan-Hall appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-08-13 21:40:40 UTC ]
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Vere departs News From Nowhere radical bookshop after 45 years

A steadfast member of the radical bookselling community is to retire after 45 years at Liverpool store News From Nowhere. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-10 05:23:08 UTC ]
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Indie bookshop celebrating women's writing opens in Edinburgh

An independent bookshop spotlighting women’s writing is opening in Edinburgh today (6th August), inspired by a successful book club.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-06 19:47:21 UTC ]
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How L.A.'s most innovative pop-up bookstore (barely) survived the pandemic

Before Covid, A Good Used Book was a pop-up bookshop thriving across L.A. It's back to physical business this month — at the end of a long, hard road. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-08-05 13:00:28 UTC ]
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Haig becomes first author to do Bookshop chart double

Matt Haig has become the first author to feature on Bookshop.org's Indie Champions list with two titles in the same month. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-01 01:03:15 UTC ]
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Hungary fines bookshop chain over picture book depicting LGBT families

Líra Könyv made to pay £600 for failing to clearly indicate the story featured ‘a family that is different than a normal family’A bookshop chain in Hungary has been fined for selling a children’s story depicting a day in the life of a child with same-sex parents, with officials condemning the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-07-08 12:09:32 UTC ]
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10 Arabic titles that should be translated into English

With Sharjah as London Book Fair’s guest of honour in 2022, the time is nigh – nay, now – for publishers to acquire Arabic titles for translation. But where to start? Unlike other languages such as Korean or Swedish, which have robust agenting infrastructure, very few Arab authors have agents to... Continue reading at British Council global

[ British Council global | 2021-06-29 14:19:46 UTC ]
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Ex-Review manager Wengraf raises £10k for new Glasgow shop

Former Review Bookshop manager Katia Wengraf has raised more than £10,000 online to help fund her new independent store, Mount Florida Books, in a former tattoo parlour in Glasgow.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-06-20 21:34:09 UTC ]
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Sweet Cherry Publishing: Life for Leicester children’s indie after Nibbies Small Press triumph

"We want to be recognised as one of the leading children’s book publishers in the industry: we want not only to be recognised, we want to be respected.” Sanjee de Silva (pictured), the new publisher at Sweet Cherry, recently named Small Press of the Year at the British Book Awards, has big... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-05-28 22:25:53 UTC ]
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Nibbie winner Buckley on boosting Simon & Schuster’s picture book roster

Jane Buckley, who won the inaugural Designer of the Year prize at the recent British Book Awards, discusses her recent promotion and the art of pairing writers and illustrators together. I speak to Jane Buckley just after what must have been a pretty good couple of days for her. On 13th May, at... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-05-28 15:18:52 UTC ]
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