Best Translated Book Award shortlists announced – Those interested in works-in-translation may like to know that the shortlist for this year’s Best Translated Book Awards (BTBA) has been announced. The winner will be announced on March 10th. Full details over at the Three Percent website. If you want more information (and some may argue better, not me 
) then also get yourself over to The Millions website where Scott Esposito – one of the judges for the awards – has written a rather passionate and stirring article both in support of the prize, and of works-in-translation in general.
Scott makes it clear that works-in-translation in the US don’t get half the exposure or credit they deserve, and I agree wholeheartedly with him (although I’m only really seeing from a UK perspective of course, where the situation may be very slightly rosier). I also second Scott’s plea that everyone should at least give at least one of the titles that was in the running for this prize a shot just to see if they aren’t refreshed and inspired by reading something outside the normal boundaries of the English language. Scott provides link details for finding out more.
Bookeen’s ‘bare bones’ reader not coming with price to match – The ZDNet blog is reporting that Bookeen’s latest Orizon e-book reader will be launching in the US and the UK in May but will not come with a cheap enough price-point to match it’s ‘bare bones’ functionality. No information on the UK price, but the report says that the US price-point will be around $250, which is roughly the same cost as a Kindle or Nook but with less features. Not a great start is it? Moe details over at ZDNet.
BookRabbit offers up a prize copy of Parini’s The Last Station with an Easter egg?!? – You may remember me talking about Jay Parini’s The Last Station in yesterday’s Daily Bookshot and mentioning that the movie adaptation launches in the UK this week? Well Sarah over at the BookRabbit blog has a competition running right now where one lucky winner can grab themselves a copy of the Canongate reissue of Parini’s novel plus a luxury Easter egg courtesy of Hotel Chocolat. To put yourself in with a chance, head on over to the competition post, and answer a very simple question. You’d better be quick though, the winner will be chosen at 12 noon on Friday.
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