Why you should ignore the superlatives on book jackets

Cover blurbs aren't reviews, they're advertisements that offer no space for balanced, nuanced positivityRecently I was at a literature festival, being interviewed by a man who hadn't had the chance to read my novel. It was fine. These things happen and we muddle through.Unable to draw upon the themes of the work my kindly interviewer took to reading from the cover, attempting to bolster audience appreciation of me by quoting what someone else thought of my writing. He landed on a quote by the author Joe Dunthorne: "Terrific," Joe had said. "Engaging, funny and inventive." My interviewer grinned and asked how such a comment made me feel? Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-07-31 00:00:00 UTC ]

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A natural part of life

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Bradford Literature Festival returns as hybrid event with Moran, Wilson and Rosen

The Bradford Literature Festival will return from 25th June to 4th July with a mix of live and free online events including appearances from Caitlin Moran, A A Dhand, Jacqueline Wilson and Michael Rosen.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

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The Festival Five with NSK Juror Sonia Patel, by The Editors of WLT

Interviews   Sonia Patel writes out of her experience as a first-generation Indian-American born in New York and raised in Hawaii, an experience lushly and brilliantly explored in her debut novel, Rani Patel in Full Effect. Rani was a finalist for the... Continue reading at World Literature Today

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Can Words Help Heal a Fractured Nation?: A Visit to the Jaipur Literature Festival

THREE MUSLIM GIRLS — two sisters and their cousin — stood in the sunshine on the grounds of the Diggi Palace Hotel in Jaipur, where the world’s largest literary festival took place over five days in late January. All around them, young people streamed into the sprawling compound, before a... Continue reading at Los Angeles Review of Books

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Literature on Lockdown 3: #CultureConnectsUs

Many lives are radically different right now. But birthdays, anniversaries, and public holidays come and go as before. The pink supermoon would have appeared whether we’d watched it from our windows or outdoors among a crowd of strangers. This week, Earth Day, Shakespeare’s birthday, and World... Continue reading at British Council global

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Bradford Literature Festival cancelled

Bradford Literature Festival, originally scheduled for 26th June-5th July, has been cancelled amid the coronavirus pandemic.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

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Comma Press awarded £50k from Greater Manchester Culture Fund

Independent publisher Comma Press and Manchester Literature Festival have been awarded grants from the Greater Manchester Culture Fund. Continue reading at The Bookseller

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Row as Barnes Children's Literature Festival chooses Waterstones as official bookseller

An indie bookshop which was the official bookseller of the Barnes Children’s Literature Festival has been replaced by organisers in favour of Waterstones. Continue reading at The Bookseller

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Got It Covered 2019

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Emily Maitlis: journalists in 'weird position' of hearing

Presenter tells of politicians who admit they don’t believe their own replies and others who shut down debate in three wordsGetting a straight answer from politicians in 2019 has become noticeably and increasingly difficult, the Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis has said.The TV journalist was at... Continue reading at The Guardian

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Smyth and Lindqvist join Bath Festivals

Janet Smyth and Fritha Lindqvist have joined Bath Festivals to undertake the programming of Bath Children’s Literature Festival. Continue reading at The Bookseller

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Nicholls, Smith and McEwan join Cheltenham Literature Festival line-up

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Bath Children’s Literature Festival gears up for biggest year to date

David Walliams, Philip Pullman and Children’s Laureate Lauren Child are just some of the authors and illustrators lined up to take part in this year’s Bath Children’s Literature Festival, which is gearing up to be the event’s best year yet, according to artistic director John McLay. Continue reading at The Bookseller

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New children’s literature festival comes to Skipton

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The persuasive art of the dust jacket

Book covers have long been a source of artistic quality and, in the age of Kindle, are reintroducing more and more of us to the pleasures of traditional reading• Click here to view of gallery of of images from The Illustrated Dust Jacket 1920-1970When the essayist and caricaturist Sir Max... Continue reading at The Guardian

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This fount of gold

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At London Book Fair: Hay Festival Names ‘Århus 39’ Writers

Working with UNESCO's European Capital of Culture program for Denmark this autumn, Hay Festival plans a new children's literature festival for October. The post At London Book Fair: Hay Festival Names ‘Århus 39’ Writers appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

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Mr B’s hires Stewart as illustrator in residence

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Walliams and Blackman to appear at Bath festival

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