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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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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A quarter of Spotify Premium users engage with its audiobooks
A quarter of Spotify Premium users now engages with its audiobooks
"We’re continuing to see strong signs that Spotify’s Audiobooks offering is a value add that listeners want and care about," they told us.
#Spotify #audiobooks
As the second quarter of 2024 approaches, Spotify has announced promising growth in its Audiobooks segment, revealing that 25% of its Premium subscribers have engaged with audiobooks since the feature’s introduction in the fall of 2023. The audio streaming giant has been diversifying its offerings beyond music.
“We’re continuing to see strong signs that Spotify’s Audiobooks offering is a value…
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Libraries Connected launches appeal for Ukraine Mobile Library
Libraries Connected launches appeal for #Ukraine Mobile Library
Since 2022, over 600 public libraries and 2,000 school libraries have suffered damages or complete destruction.
#Library #fundraiser
Libraries Connected has initiated a crowdfunding campaign to purchase and transport a mobile library to Ukraine, aiming to gather £10,000. This vehicle, a decommissioned yet fully operational mobile library from an English council, will be delivered to Ukrainian communities devastated by the ongoing conflict.
We are pleased to announce the launch of a crowdfunding appeal to buy and deliver a…
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Book summary apps: are they a gateway to reading?
Are book summary apps compromising deep reading and critical thinking? Authors voice concerns over reduced income and misrepresented work. While convenient, let's balance tech use with respecting literature's depth and creators' rights. What's your take?
"In a perfect world, they'd only be used as study guides"
Thanks to: Creative writing professor and author CJ Spataro.
WATCH: Book summary apps: are they helping or hindering our reading? - FRIDAY OPINION
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Horror books boom: 11 creepy works that reflect our love of social horror and why it's so popular right now
"The undeniable truth shown in various studies is that in times of great societal stress, people turn to the horror genre," says author Danielle DeVor.
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Kazuo Ishiguro and Stacey Kent on harmonising words and jazz
Kazuo Ishiguro and Stacey Kent on harmonising words and jazz in their new book - live in London for Southbank Centre's Literature Spring Season
"My more recent books perhaps have a little bit more hope in them"
#KazuoIshiguro #books #music
In a UK-only event, Kazuo Ishiguro’s “The Summer We Crossed Europe in the Rain: Lyrics for Stacey Kent” was launched by the Southbank Centre and Faber Members to honour the marriage of literature and music. The evening celebrated the 17-year partnership between the Nobel Laureate and well-known jazz singer Stacey Kent with musical performances and talks. The event is a part of the Southbank…
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Liberation Station: Black-owned bookstore forced to shut after threats
Liberation Station: Black-owned bookstore forced to shut after threats
"Since September, we've faced numerous threats following the opening of our store"
#Diversity #books #bookstore #blm #BlackLivesMatter
In Raleigh, North Carolina, Black-owned children’s bookstore Liberation Station, known for celebrating diversity and representation, has declared it will close its doors at the end of April. Opened in June 2023 by Victoria Scott-Miller and her husband, Duane Miller, the store quickly became a popular space where Black children could find books that mirrored their experiences and identities.
“At…
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Drag Race star RuPaul on The House of Hidden Meanings book
Drag Race star #RuPaul on The House of Hidden Meanings #book - live in London for Southbank Centre's Literature Spring Season
“On my phone, there’s a picture of me at five years old… It’s to remind me of whose sweet little heart I’m looking after.”
“There are no safe spaces, people,” said RuPaul Charles to a captivated audience. Celebrating the release of his deeply personal memoir, “The House of Hidden Meanings,” the pop culture icon and international drag superstar charmed and invited his fans to a spiritual awakening at London’s Royal Festival Hall. RuPaul extended his manual for life, knitting together his philosophy with graphic…
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Meta 'considered buying Simon & Schuster' amid AI data crisis
Meta reportedly considered buying Simon & Schuster amid AI data crisis
The New York Times reported leaked discussions with Meta executives as Big Tech scrambles for more training data
#AI #tech #publishing
Internal deliberations reported within Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company behind Facebook and Instagram, reportedly show the company’s aggressive pursuit of digital data to fuel its artificial intelligence advancements. Amid the competitive race to dominate AI technology, strategists at Meta, which include managers, lawyers, and engineers, have apparently explored unconventional avenues,…
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International Booker Prize 2024: 6 optimistic books on shortlist
International Booker Prize 2024: 6 optimistic books on this year's shortlist
"Our shortlist, while implicitly optimistic, engages with current realities of racism and oppression, global violence, and ecological disaster."
#InternationalBooker2024
The International Booker Prize 2024 celebrates the pinnacle of translated fiction. Credit: The Booker Prize
The International Booker Prize has unveiled its 2024 shortlist, showcasing an selection of novels that promise to widen the horizons of readers everywhere. Eleanor Wachtel, chair of the judging panel, said the essence of this year’s selection was “optimism.”
“Our shortlist, while…
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Top ten most challenged books in 2023
Top ten most challenged books in 2023, latest ALA report on #RightToReadDay and #NationalLibraryWeek
"The unprecedented wave of organized censorship intensifies, particularly in our public libraries"
#BannedBooks #censorship #books
In an annual report, the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) highlighted a significant increase in attempts to censor books in libraries across the United States, documenting a 65% increase in targeted book titles compared to the previous year. The report, derived from reports filed by library professionals, community members, and various news stories, paints a…
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Amazon faces influx of AI-generated book ads on Kindle
Amazon faces influx of AI-generated book ads on Kindle's lock screen
Amazon told us some of the books in question have been removed.
#Amazon #Kindle #AI #tech
Amazon has frequently faced criticism over the past year for the proliferation of AI-generated books on its platform. Despite changing its Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) policy to require users to disclose the use of AI technology, the situation remains far from resolved.
Futurism first reported spotting advertisements for AI-generated books on several Kindle devices, which are among the world’s…
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Should books be shorter? Elon Musk thinks so
Elon Musk sparked a debate on book lengths, suggesting AI could condense texts. But is shorter always better? Literature's beauty lies in its diversity, from epic sagas to concise narratives. Let's embrace all forms of reading, whether paper or pixels.
"Books should cater to the reader's appetite and the subject matter's complexity."
Thanks to: Little Aiden Press CEO Sabrina Wiggins, author and Leverage With Media founder Lauren Cobello, and author and independent consultant Paul Millerd.
WATCH: Elon Musk vs the world of books: Should we really condense our reads?
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