Nah, say UK booksellers, who reported a drop in fiction-buyers last year – but who expect a couple of new books to drive strong sales soon. – The Guardian (UK)
Category: words
What It Looks Like To Make A Book By Hand [VIDEO]
In this short video of a bookbinding house in England, “from folding pages to sewing and gluing paper to the leather spine, skilful human hands are front and centre throughout.” – Aeon Magazine
What – And Who – Inspires Scottish Novelist Ali Smith?
Toni Morrison, of course, and Helen Oyeyemi, and books that make her laugh, and The Beatles. Also, Smith on how useless it is to try to rate books or authors. – The Guardian (UK)
Ha: New York Bookstore Owner Makes Case That His Stores Ought To Get Tax Breaks Amazon Was Going To Get
His argument for assistance is simple: The stores generate $650,000 in annual tax revenue for the city and state, and his 75 staffers (on a payroll of $1.7 million in 2018) spend “virtually all” their income in the city. In addition to its status as a small-but-mighty economic engine, he adds, “Book Culture contributes simply by being what we are, storefront businesses active in a community.”
Sales Of Print Books In UK Tumble In 2018; Sales Of Audio Books Surge 43 Percent
The UK publishing industry was hit by a surprise fall of £168m (5.4%) in sales of physical books last year, ending a period of growth stretching back to at least 2014. – The Guardian
American Library Association Cancels Inventor Of The Dewey Decimal System
American librarians have voted to remove the name of Melvil Dewey, widely seen as the father of modern librarianship, from one of their top awards, citing his history of antisemitism, racism and sexual harassment. – The Guardian
The Académie Française Has Ruled On The Difference Between A Slut And A Bastard
Yes, with this recent bulletin, les immortels of the august body founded by Cardinal Richelieu in 1634 want to be sure that all French-speakers properly distinguish between une salope (a slut) and un salaud (a bastard) — and they warn that the alternatively gendered forms of these words (un salop for men and une salaude for women) are archaic and should be avoided. (Twitterverse, à l’attaque!) – The Local (France)
Novelist Michael Chabon Will Be Showrunner Of Next ‘Star Trek’ Series
The Pulitzer-winning author of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, Moonglow, Wonder Boys and The Yiddish Policemen’s Union will be in charge of Star Trek: Picard, the upcoming CBS All Access series that will revisit Patrick Stewart’s character from The Next Generation. – Deadline
Age-Appropriate Books (For Any Age)
Avid readers could build autobiographies around their favorite books and come to the realization that what they have read is almost as meaningful as when they read it. So here’s a list of books matched to every age. – Washington Post
Preserving The Japanese Writing System Reserved For Women
“Women in medieval Japan were discouraged from studying kanji – characters modelled on written Chinese which represent individual words – and began using kana, which transcribe words phonetically. A [20th-century] standardisation programme … saw 90% of the 550 kana die out. But these forgotten characters are now being kept alive by the artist and master of Japanese calligraphy Kaoru Akagawa, who became fascinated with them after deciphering letters from her grandmother.” – The Guardian