Why serious literary fiction like Ishiguro’s is vital in times like these | Alice O’Keeffe

In our digital age, Kazuo Ishiguro’s Nobel prize is a reminder that it is still novels that ask the biggest questionsIt’s always entertaining to observe the interaction between the news media and a writer who has just won the Nobel prize. The all-time best was obviously Doris Lessing, who when doorstepped simply rolled her eyes and snorted “Oh Christ”, before turning around to pay for her taxi. Bob Dylan studiously ignored the whole thing, while Kazuo Ishiguro had clearly emerged from solitary confinement in his study on Thursday (he is in the middle of writing a novel), to face a barrage of questions and photographs. Blinking and bewildered, he described the themes he has spent his life thinking about and painstakingly unpicking: “The way countries and nations and communities remember their past, and how often they bury the uncomfortable memories from their past.” Related: George Saunders and Mohsin Hamid lead a daring Man Booker shortlist Parents push their young children towards books, while they themselves spend every moment of leisure time plugged in Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2017-10-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Guardian view on media globalisation: good news for the Financial Times | Editorial

It may not prove easy to marry British and Japanese journalistic cultures. But in a global media world this deal makes senseThe Financial Times is one of the best newspapers in the world, not just in Britain. It is quick without being rash, accurate without leaden pedantry, thoughtful without... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-07-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #everyday life #digital operations #make decisions


Pearson agrees to sell Financial Times to Japanese publisher in $1.3B deal

Japanese publisher Nikkei Inc. agreed to acquire Pearson Plc's FT Group for $1.3 billion to gain control of the Financial Times newspaper. The sale doesn't include Pearson's 50% stake in... To view the full story, click the title link. Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2015-07-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'We've Gone Headlong': Inside Time Inc.'s Video Strategy

Over the past two years Time Inc., the magazine company, has attempted to position itself as Time Inc., the digital content brand.   Core to the push has been video, which Time Inc. has produced in multiple forms. On the Web, its video team, now ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2015-07-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #years time #video strategy #video team #magazine company


Brands Start Hosting Real-Time Video Chats on Facebook

Media brands were quick to adopt video apps Periscope and Meerkat to broadcast live streams, and now Facebook marketers want in on that action. Social platform BumeBox started hosting live Facebook chats for brands like VH1 and Discovery Channel back in October, as an alternative to the Twitter... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2015-07-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PW Asks: Readers Bullish on New Fiction

This week we asked readers whether now is a good time to be in love with fiction--are great new books being written? Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pw asks #asked readers #good time


Tampa Bay Times Publishing Company Not Out of the Woods Regarding Finances

Last fall, things looked as bleak as they ever have when it became publicly known that the Tampa Bay Times, like so many newspapers around the country, was struggling financially.   “If you are uncertain about your standing with the Ti ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2015-07-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Times Defends Excluding Ted Cruz Book From Best-Seller List: 'We Are Confident'

The New York Times on Monday defended its decision to exclude Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz's book "A Time for Truth" from its bestseller list after discovering "strategic bulk purchases," though it did not offer any further details behind the decision."The Times's best-seller lists... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2015-07-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #best-seller list #bestseller list #best-seller lists #wide range #e-mailed statement #politico reported


PW Asks: Is This A Good Era for New Fiction

Is this a good time to be a new fiction fanatic? Is great fiction of all kinds being written by new authors? PW wants to know what you think. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pw asks #great fiction #good time


Recommended Reading: Science fiction's influence on hip-hop music

Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you'll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read. The Subversive Science Fi... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2015-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #recommended reading #science fiction #long-form writing


Bloomsbury buys ‘Pug’ young fiction series

Bloomsbury Children’s Books has acquired a three-book young fiction series about a pug dog from debut author Laura James. Ellen Holgate, editorial director at Bloomsbury Children’s Books, acquired world rights from Gill McLay at the Bath Literary Agency. The first book, Captain Pug, is about... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Girl on the Train breaks Brown’s Original Fiction record

Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train (Doubleday) passed the 800,000 unit mark across all formats in the UK and Ireland last week as it became the first book since Nielsen BookScan records began to earn 20 Original Fiction number ones. Hawkins’ run of 20 non-consecutive numbers ones broke the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Trio of Literary Agencies Merge Into an Italian Super Agency

Three literary agencies in Italy — Marco Vigevani, the International Literary Agency, and Luigi Bernabo — merged to form The Italian Literary Agency. The post Trio of Literary Agencies Merge Into an Italian Super Agency appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Girl on the Train breaks all-time book sales record

Paula Hawkins’s novel has now been top of the UK hardback book chart for 20 weeks, outlasting even Dan Brown’s Lost Symbol• How Paula Hawkins wrote ‘the new Gone Girl’A record set six years ago by Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol was broken this week by Paula Hawkins’s dark thriller The Girl on the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hardback fiction #jk rowling #casual vacancy #robert galbraith #nielsen bookscan #records began


Loft Literary Center Names New Executive Director

The renowned literary center in downtown Minneapolis announced this morning that Britt Udesen will be its new executive director, succeeding Jocelyn Hale. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Abingdon Fiction Axed Amid Poor Book Sales

After a downturn in fiction sales, Abingdon is closing its fiction program and broadening its Christian Living line. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Man Booker, Independent Foreign Fiction Prize Combine

In 2016, the new prize will transition to an annual award recognizing a work translated into English. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Restless Books’ Publisher Searches for Cuban Science Fiction

As the USA and Cuba reestablish diplomatic relations, literary relations are also flourishing: Restless Books will release a series of Cuban sci-fi books. The post Restless Books’ Publisher Searches for Cuban Science Fiction appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-07-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Franklin defends trade non-fiction publishing

Profile m.d. Andrew Franklin has defended UK trade publishers against criticism that they are not producing good non-fiction books. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How The New York Times finds new subscribers on Facebook

Facebook can drive a lot of traffic to publishers, but the knock is that a lot of it is fly-by traffic. The Times is using a startup, KeyWee, to find subscribers among the casual readers, though. KeyWee comes up with keywords for articles and then targets the articles to Facebook users who are... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-07-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #facebook users #facebook appeared


ICRS Changes with the Times

At this week's annual meeting of the International Christian Retail Show in Orlando, Fla., attendees expressed optimism about a show that has become, of late, more innovative. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #annual meeting