By Siobhan O’Leary A group of independent publishers are protesting the dominance of conglomerate publishers among the books longlisted for the year’s German Book Prize by launching their own rival list, dubbed “Hotlist: Recommendations of the Independents.” According to Buchreport, Germany’s third largest chain bookseller, Mayersche, is supporting the effort by offering a 5,000 euro “prize,” with the winner to be selected …
German Buch News: German Book Prize Longlist; Bertelsmann Cancels Frankfurt Party
By Edward Nawotka The seven member jury of the German Book Prize has narrowed down an initial 150 submissions to 20 semi-finalists. A shortlist of six will be announced on September 16, with the winner being presented at the start of the Frankfurt Book Fair. The prize, now in its fifth year, is sponsored by the German Publishers and Booksellers …
German Buch News: Hosseini Tops 2.5 mil., New €35,000 Translation Prize
By Siobhan O’Leary Following Berlin Verlag’s May release of the paperback edition of A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini’s books have now sold more than 2.5 million books in the German-speaking world. Even Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier gave the book a little boost when he recommended A Thousand Splendid Suns during a German Bundestag debate. He also lists The Kite Runner …
Top US/UK Trade Talk: Booker Long List, HC’s Digital Czar
By Edward Nawotka In the UK, the big news was the announcement of the Booker Prize Long List, which has now been dubbed the awkward sounding “Man Booker Dozen.” (There are 13 titles on the list, which of course purposefully makes this the Man Baker’s Dozen). On a list that features stalwarts such as A.S. Byatt and William Trevor, both …
New Prize Urges Arabic Kid’s Publishers to Compete
SHARJAH: “The Arab-speaking world does not have a reading culture per se as in the West,” says Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, daughter of the ruler of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. “Parents don’t read bedtime stories to their children and there is a tendency for parents to rely on schools to give their children their first reading experience.” As …