Category: Reviews

London Book Fair: A First Impression

A publishing student talks about her experience tackling #LBF18

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There has been a lot of talk, both in my classes and out of them in the last few months, about London Book Fair. Talk about how big it is, the idea that it might be overwhelming when you first see it, that there will be a lot of publishers there: not just from the UK but worldwide. Where will you stay? How long are you going for? What panels are you planning to go to? Which stalls do you want to visit? Do you have any meetings set up? No- do you?

Honestly by the time I got on the train last Monday morning I was sick to the back teeth of talking about London Book Fair (LBF). I just wanted to see it. Continue reading “London Book Fair: A First Impression”

Winter With A Thief

©Doubleday Publishers

It was the winter of 2010 and the snow arrived.
It might have been the weather, or my state of mind, but rarely have I come across a book that has touched me so much that I feel the need to share it.
You may not think that a book set in Nazi Germany narrated by death sounds like an appealing read during the cheery festive season, but after my last read I needed uplifting. Having been recommended to me by numerous friends, I picked it up and began to read. Written by Australian author Markus Zusak, The Book Thief was published in 2007 and received critical acclaim on an international level.
As the snow thawed, the tale of a little girls survival while the bombs fell kept me engrossed and I couldn’t help but be uplifted by how the human spirit triumphs in the most adverse circumstances.

By Gemma Greig, Amy Gooda, Zuzana Hajasova and Eva Barton

The Perfect Book

Shutterhacks on Flickr. Shared under a Creative Commons Licence

As a reader, the perfect book has to begin with the words. It must be elegant and eloquent. It’s addictive – I can’t help but keep reading. It draws me in and opens doors to new ideas.  I take the characters wherever I go and sometimes they take me with them. Years later I will find something that wasn’t there before. It will be beautiful to treasure, to hold and to own.

But during working hours, I have a different perspective. I see a book written by an amenable, productive author who understands the business. It is topical but timeless. The artwork is a masterpiece in its own right and will become synonymous with this modern classic. It is met by a receptive audience and critical acclaim. It sells. But more than that, I am proud of this book. It will be beautiful to treasure, to hold and to own.

Oliver: Can We Have Some More…(Sales that is!)

Source: Wiki Commons

This year’s Christmas top 10 bestseller list was dominated by celebrity titles. Jamie Oliver showed that he wasn’t just a flash in the pan with a record-breaking 1.2million sales of 30-Minute Meals. Industry professionals have attributed its success to discounts of up to 50%, though it has been the Amazon bestseller ever since it was launched in September. Nigella Lawson’s Kitchen also opened for business at sixth in the chart.

Comedians Michael McIntyre and Stephen Fry were caught bubbling under with sales of their respective memoirs: Life and Laughing and The Fry Chronicles.

Alan Sugar will have been kept sweet and not had to deliver the infamous catchphrase (and pointing finger of doom) to his publishers Macmillan, after achieving a healthy figure of almost 300,000 sales.  Doubtless, he was not pleased that his memoir’s sales dipped be low those of a fictional, car-insurance advertising meerkat.

App Lang Syne

Source: Wiki Commons

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to min’?

There’s an app for that!

The Scottish Government has produced an iPhone app, developed by Storm ID, which contains the complete works of Robert Burns, including a dictionary of Scottish terms and instructions on how to host a Burns Supper.

Fiona Hyslop, Culture Minister, said, “this app uses the latest technology to bring Burns firmly into the 21st Century.”

Released on January 18th, it is already becoming popular. Reviews posted on the iStore website have been generally positive.

“Great idea and is a lifesaver for me for my first proper Burns supper next week.”  – Hugo Bell, iStore user

Although Robert Burns’ works are available elsewhere, this is the first time they’ve been released in this easily accessible format at no charge. A Burns app was released in June 2009, but did not include all the features and cost $2.99.

What happens when you mix publishing and fashion?

You get outofprintclothing, an independent fashion company that produces t-shirts based on iconic out of print book covers. They treat covers the way they should be, like pieces of art that should be appreciated every day. The best thing of all is that for every t-shirt bought they donate books to communities that need them. I just stumbled across the website and thought that everyone would appreciate this venture.

On The Road - Jack Kerouac

More after the jump.

Continue reading “What happens when you mix publishing and fashion?”