Biff, Chip, Kipper, cottaging — you know, normal British stuff
As Alison Flood reports this week at the Guardian, Oxford University Press is catching some classic Twitter heat for an alleged depiction of “cottaging” in an installment of their popular children’s book series… Read more »
Zadie Smith ignores the internet; probably won’t read this
Zadie Smith, author of the acclaimed novels White Teeth and On Beauty, has added her name to the list of writers who snub social media and the internet. Covering a recent live event of Smith’s, Alison Flood over… Read more »
Son of a bitch, these goddamn authors can’t stop swearing
If only we’d known gainful employment could be found by researching how many times “fuck” and “shit” show up in books. As Alison Flood wrote last week in the Guardian, psychologist and author… Read more »
Is that a book in your pants or are you happy to see me?
According to the UK’s Office of National Statistics, crime is up ten percent this year. Let’s blame Brexit. It’s always good to blame Brexit. Whilst you might not think the humble book would… Read more »
“Post-truth” is the International Word of the Year
As we learned last week, the election has brought a number of new words into the public consciousness. We also learned that the results of the 2016 US Presidential Election seem to indicate that… Read more »
The skeletons (and rare and extremely overdue books) in your closet
Last Friday was Melville House’s bi-annual Librarian Preview Day. It’s a great time — we close the office and bookstore early, pop some corks, eat some cookies, and talk about all… Read more »
US author wins the UK’s most prestigious literary prize
Paul Beatty has become the first ever American to win the the Man Booker Prize, the leading literary award for fiction written in the English language and published in the United Kingdom.… Read more »
Christian publisher begets Bible reboot
What is this Bible book Donald Trump is always talking about? And where can I get one? Preferably with pictures? Kingstone Comics, a Christian publisher out of Florida has given us just… Read more »
London bookshop offers one lucky reader free books for life
London’s Heywood Hill bookshop is turning eighty, and to commemorate, they’ve launched a new Library of a Lifetime contest. One lucky winner will get a newly released hardcover, every month,… Read more »
Writers and activists urge new UK culture secretary to make libraries a priority
Sigh. It’s an endless battle, keeping these libraries open. You know how it goes: if your branch isn’t being sold off to be turned into luxury condominiums, or converted into… Read more »