suswatibasu
Suswati Basu
Founder and Editor-in-chief of How To Be Books. Ex-NationalWorld, ITV News & Channel 4 News editor. https://Linktr.ee.com/howtobe247 #selfimprovement #Feminist, #China #India watcher, #humanrights #books #music #hnpp.
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Chinese science fiction history shapes Netflix's '3 Body Problem' influence
Chinese science fiction history shapes Netflix's '3 Body Problem' influence - FRIDAY ANALYSIS
The show is sparking newfound interest in Chinese sci-fi even though Chinese SF has a long history.
#3BodyProblem #ThreeBodyProblem #Netflix #scifi #China
I don’t often get to indulge my appreciation of Sinology, i.e., the study of Chinese history and culture, but Netflix’s new science fiction series “3 Body Problem” has piqued the curiosity of many people unaware of the country’s expansive Sci-Fi connections. The big-budget show is a book-to-screen adaptation of Liu Cixin’s 2014 book of the same name (San Ti 三体). As a result, it has introduced…
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Salman Rushdie discusses survival, optimism, and resilience at Southbank event
Salman Rushdie discusses survival, optimism, and resilience in memoir "Knife" - live for Southbank Centre's #Literature Spring Season
"I was absolutely determined that I would regain my life, and have taken steps to do so."
#SalmanRushdie #books
Salman Rushdie discusses his memoir Knife via live-stream, in conversation with Erica Wagner at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall. Image courtesy of Pete Woodhead for the Southbank Centre
“The power that literature has is the power to describe events in a way that the books then owns those events,” Salman Rushdie told a rapt audience. In an evocative evening at the Queen Elizabeth Hall…
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Silent Book Club: London organiser on why it's so popular
Dive into the world of Silent Book Clubs with Si Ning Yeoh. Since 2012, SBC has been revolutionising reading by ditching deadlines and allowing readers to bring their own books. Si Ning shares how this introvert-friendly club has thrived in London, providing a peaceful haven for book lovers. Join us to find out more.
"You don't have to finish a whole book in one go. There are no deadlines. And if you don't like something, you can just drop it off," she told us.
WATCH: Interview: London's Silent Book Club co-organiser Si Ning Yeoh on its success
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Women's Prize for Fiction 2024 shortlist explores depth of human experiences
Women's Prize for Fiction 2024 shortlist explores depth of human experiences
"This year’s shortlist features six brilliant, thought-provoking and spellbinding novels that between them capture an enormous breadth of the human experience."
#WomensPrize
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Rebel Wilson's memoir released with redactions in UK edition
Rebel Wilson's #memoir released with redactions in UK edition over claims against Sacha Baron Cohen
"Photos circulating display black bars obscuring text where the Pitch Perfect star accuses Baron Cohen of inappropriate behaviour"
#RebelWilson #books
Rebel Wilson’s much-anticipated memoir, “Rebel Rising,” has encountered a rather major legal hurdles as it makes its debut in the UK, with an Australian release still on hold. The memoir, which has stirred controversy for its candid content, features substantial redactions in its UK edition, specifically in the chapter involving Sacha Baron Cohen. As previously mentioned, making claims in memoirs…
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World Book and Copyright Day: EU residents still prefer print books
World Book and Copyright Day: EU residents still prefer print books over ebooks, new data shows
Netherlands come out on top, as UNESCO celebrate diverse languages for special literary day
#WorldBookDay
On World Book and Copyright Day, recent statistics reveal a major trend among EU residents, showing a persistent preference for print books over their digital counterparts.
Read: Self-published authors shaped 2023 ebook sales
Data from 2023 indicates that 13.4% of EU residents purchased print books online in the previous three months, a slight uptick from 12.7% in 2022 but still below the 14.5%…
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Petition launched to save Black British Literature MA at Goldsmiths amid cuts
Petition launched to save Black British #Literature MA at #Goldsmiths amid serious funding cuts
"Some of us have been really concerned about...the decolonisation of the curriculum" Kadija George tells us
#education
Writer, publisher, and literary activist Dr Kadija George is among a handful of people to have initiated a petition to save the MA in Black British Literature, a unique programme under threat at Goldsmiths University amid a swathe of funding cuts at the institution. Dr George, a 2022 honorary fellow at the university, voiced her concerns via a Change.org petition, underlining the critical nature…
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PEN America cancels Literary Awards ceremony over Gaza response
#BREAKING: PEN America cancels 2024 Literary Awards ceremony over #Gaza response
"We regret that this unprecedented situation has taken away the spotlight from the extraordinary work selected"
#PENAmerica #awards
PEN America has announced the cancellation of its 2024 Literary Awards ceremony originally set for April 29 at Town Hall, New York City, although some awards will still be conferred. This decision comes after intense scrutiny of the organisation’s handling of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, highlighted by the withdrawal of 28 authors from this year’s awards. Among these, nine were nominees for…
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PEN America faces policy rethink as authors refuse awards over Gaza
PEN America faces policy rethink as authors refuse awards over #Gaza
"Working group of authors and scholars to review PEN’s work— not just over the last six months, but indeed, going back a decade"
#books #authors
PEN America is confronting a wave of author and translator withdrawals from its 2024 literary awards. The turmoil arises from the organisation’s perceived failure to adequately support Palestinian writers, with a statement from PEN America saying, “The executive committee of the board of PEN America, therefore, has now charged a working group of authors and scholars to review PEN’s work— not just…
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HarperCollins partners with ElevenLabs to create audiobooks using AI
HarperCollins partners with ElevenLabs to create audiobooks using AI amid criticism
"Tired already of companies jumping head first into 'AI' without concern for consequences or other issues inherent in the tech."
#AI #audiobooks #tech
HarperCollins Publishers has announced a new partnership with ElevenLabs, a leader in advanced text-to-speech technology, to produce audiobooks for their foreign language titles. This collaboration aims to bring to life select deep backlist series books that would otherwise remain in print alone. However, many have criticised the move amid growing concern over the lack of scrutiny over artificial…
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PEN America report: the latest on book bans in the US
PEN America report: the latest on book bans in the US - a quick summary
"The freedom to read is fragile, and it is damaged with each book that is removed from the shelf."
#BannedBooks #BannedInTheUSA
The latest report from PEN America called “Banned in the USA: Narrating the Crisis” sheds light on the intensifying frequency and damaging impact of book bans and challenges across the US, with over 4,000 instances recorded in the first half of the 2023-24 school year, surpassing the entire previous year.
“The freedom to read is fragile, and it is damaged with each book that is removed from the…
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Ron DeSantis signs bill restricting library book challenges
Ron DeSantis signs bill restricting school library book challenges
"Individuals without children in the district will be limited to one objection per month."
#Florida #BannedBooks
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed new bill on Tuesday (April 16) aimed at modifying the existing policies around challenges to books in school libraries, a part of his ongoing campaign against what he terms “woke indoctrination.” The new legislation introduces restrictions on who can challenge books, limiting objections to one per month for those without children in the affected school…
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Should you read books you hate? Why I'm avoiding Liz Truss' memoir
"Life's too short to read a bad book," but should we avoid books we might despise? Liz Truss's memoir stirred controversy without me reading it! From reviews to public disputes, it's a reminder to explore different perspectives—even those we disagree with. What's your take?
“As the organiser of a book club in London, I often tell my members that life is too short to read bad books."
Thanks to: Bestselling mystery author E. L. Johnson, and certified fiction editor and coach Allison Wells of Well Versed Publications.
WATCH: Should we read books we dislike?
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Knife by Salman Rushdie: a memoir about mortality - review
Salman Rushdie challenges the notion of fault and responsibility for the attack, ultimately rejecting any regret over his decisions: “To regret what your life has been is the true folly”.
Read the full review:
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HistFest 2024 highlights: gender, empire, and espionage
HistFest 2024 highlights: gender, empire, and espionage
"HistFest 2024 concluded on an optimistic note, demonstrating that history is for everyone and that we must consider the diverse viewpoints that can shape the narrative."
#history #literature
HistFest 2024 returned to the British Library in London, with an array of different sessions ranging from empire and slavery, to gendered history and espionage. This year’s celebrity guest featured “Succession” actor Brian Cox, who talked about his experience of playing a number of prominent historical characters. The aim of the festival is to make history more accessible to the wider public, as…
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Aye Write 2024 hasn't been 'saved' but pop-up events are confirmed
Aye Write 2024 #book festival hasn't been 'saved' but pop-up events are confirmed
"The generous donation from the Colin Weir Charitable Foundation means it can continue to have a positive impact on Glaswegians and people throughout Scotland.”
Aye Write, Scotland’s celebrated literary festival, has shifted its focus for 2024, opting for a series of stand-alone events instead of its traditional full-scale festival, following a shortfall in funding. The smaller-scale version of its Wee Write festival will also proceed later this year.
The festival’s organisers were forced to rethink their plans after their 2024 funding application was…
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Survey shows generative AI threatens a third of translators
Society of Authors survey shows generative AI threatens a third of translators and a quarter of illustrators
"It is not too late to ensure that it is developed and used ethically," says SoA's CEO
#AI #tech #publishing #translation #illustrations
In a survey conducted by the Society of Authors (SoA) throughout January 2024, findings reveal significant anxiety among creative professionals about the escalating use of generative AI within their fields. With nearly 800 responses collected from its 12,500 members, the survey uncovers that a substantial number of translators and illustrators are already facing job losses and income reductions…
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