Playing Catch Up
8/10/2012 by David Maybury · No Comments
Pick up a coffee, let the inbox refresh and sit back for a few minutes while you catch up on everything from the weekend and what's coming this week.
The Irish Times drafted bestelller John Boyne to review the doyenne of children's fiction, JK Rowling's, first foray into adult writing, The Casual Vacancy. "Unsurprisingly, Rowling’s most interesting characters are the young people, but these are not the clever, resourceful, good-hearted children of her previous novels."
The Casual Vacancy is a brilliant novel: entertaining, intelligent, moving, passionate and hard-hitting; touching on familiar subjects but approaching them with great originality and skill.
Also in the Irish Times, Alanna Gallagher highlights the upcoming Bararó Children's Festival - featuring Joyce and Polly Dunbar. (Read an interview with Polly Dunbar talking about her new series, working in Dublin and what to look forward to at Babaró)
In the Irish Independent Julia Molony talks to Anthony Horowitz about the final instalment of his Power of Five series and that infamous research trip. (Don't miss your chance to meet Anthony later this week!)
Publishing Perspectives have a round up from The Bookseller Children's Conference featuring highlights on topics and what the future may hold for UK publishing and tech development.
Mary Arrigan in the Irish Examiner reviews Sarah Crossan's second book in six months - something altogether different from Weight of Water - Breathe.
In The Guardian/Observer Philip Ardagh reviews Puala Rawsthorne's The Truth About Celia Frost while Sara Maitland read Philip Pullman's retelling of Grimm Fairytales... and is left wanting.
The Independent reports that JK Rowling is to return to writing for children. Reporting from the Cheltenham Literature Festival on Saturday the paper writes that Rowling has a "number of ideas on my laptop. She said her next book would be for "younger children than the Harry Potter series".
EW's Tara Fowler has an exclusive chat with Rick Riordan and a look at his new series.
Bookselling in Ireland continues to grab headlines as wholesaler Argosy looks to the UK for a potential company buy-out, following last weeks decision by the Competition Authority to stop Eason's taking over the comany holdings. The deal, pursued by Argosy MD Fergal Stanley, ran into difficulty after questionaires by the Competition Authority were leaked to press in September. The Bookseller is reporting that UK wholesale company Bertrams is not considering a buyout of Argosy but would consider entering the Irish books market.
Have an book itch you just can't scratch?
Pay a visit to the Book Clinic and let the panel of experts suggest something. UNESCO and Children's Books Ireland are hosting Book Clinics throughout October.
Don't miss the workshops in the Marsh's Library or the chance to spend a day with Jane Mitchell at the SCWBI Ireland Event this weekend.
The 2012 Roola Boola Festival kicks off in Mayo later this month and they're launching the programme this week while The Ark has announced its lineup for Telling Tall and Tiny Tales featuring Derek Landy, Niall DeBúrca and Niamh Sharkey.
Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl series continues to break new ground... eleven years after it was first published. The series became the first children's book to ever be promoted as a Starbucks Pick-of-the-Week with customers being offered a free downloadable copy of Artemis Fowl with every purchase. (More)
