Totally Fitzgerald: Retyping The Great Gatsby

Well, today sees the UK cinema launch of Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. For weeks now we’ve been bombarded with hype, and interviews, and shiny pictures and video footage of the film, and unless you’ve … [Read more...]

Introducing ‘Totally Fitzgerald’

Back in February/March you barely heard a peep from me, and for good reason. You see I had become totally absorbed with an author. I go through stages like this in my life, when I hook onto something - not always literature-related - and become so … [Read more...]

Bookshelf of the Week: Real Gabinete Português de Leitura

Built between 1880-1887 and occupying a site in downtown Rio de Janiero, the subject for this edition of BookShelf of the Week is the Real Gabinete Português de Leitura (Royal Portuguese Reading Room). The stunning image of the Real Gabinete … [Read more...]

Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award 2013 longlist

The longlist for the 2013 Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award was announced on Friday. In the running this year for the world's richest prize for a short story collection, is a globe-spanning field of seventy five authors. With thirty … [Read more...]

Edge Hill Short Story Prize 2013 longlist announced

The Edge Hill Short Story Prize longlist for 2013 has been announced, revealing a record entry for the UK's only prize for single-author collections of short stories published in the UK. Now running in its seventh year, the 2013 Edge Hill Short … [Read more...]

Junot Díaz wins Sunday Times EFG Private Bank Short Story Award 2013

Dominican-American writer, Junot Díaz has been chosen as the winner of this year's Sunday Times EFG Private Bank Short Story Award, for his story Miss Lora. Recently a finalist for The Story Prize for the same collection that his winning story is … [Read more...]

Longlist announced for Independent Foreign Fiction Prize 2013

The 2013 Independent Foreign Fiction Prize longlist has been announced, revealing a globe-spanning selection of sixteen translated titles which will be vying for this year's top prize of £10,000, which is uniquely shared equally between author and … [Read more...]

Bookshelf of the Week: Personal library of Richard A. Macksey

While the subject for this week's Bookshelf of the Week feature may look like an overstocked bookshop, it's anything but the sort. Rather, this is the impressive personal library of retired Humanities professor Richard A. Macksey, housed in his home … [Read more...]

Rob’s Book Booty: Win 1 of 2 copies of Jon McGregor’s paperback story collection, This Isn’t The Sort Of Thing That Happens To Someone Like You

Arrr! Arrr! That's right ya scurvy sea dogs, Rob is back to tantalise yer tastebuds with some more book booty. To celebrate tomorrow's paperback publication of Jon McGregor's latest short story collection, This Isn't The Sort of Thing That … [Read more...]

Scotland set to stage week-long celebration of reading

The National Library of Scotland was abuzz yesterday, as Scotland's Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop launched the Book Week Scotland programme. Taking place between 26th November and 2nd December, Scotland's inaugural celebration of reading will … [Read more...]