The Lit Review |16| Penguin Little Black Classics
Penguins in Black Tie
To celebrate 80 years in the publishing business, Penguin have produced 80 Little Black Classics for just 80p each. These books are special edition snippets of some of the most classic of classics. Each one is bound in a sleek black cover. These penguins might be cheap, but they are looking very dapper indeed. You can buy the full collection for an excellent price here.
Don’t talk about Fight Club, unless it’s a comic about Fight Club
I know the general rule of Fight Club is not to talk about Fight Club. But I (shockingly) have never actually been to a fight club, so I feel free to chat about it as much as I wish. Anyway, Chuck Palahniuk, author of the acclaimed novel, has shared an excerpt from Fight Club 2 which will appear in comic book form, illustrated by Cameron Steward and published by Dark Horse Comics.
Agatha Christie
This year marks the 125th anniversary of the birth of famous crime writer, Agatha Christie. As part of the celebrations the writer’s cherished letters from fans have been unearthed and published online. Along with this treat, the online campaign #125stories invites fans to write their own letters to the much loved author and post them on social media. These 125 stories will be selected and exhibited amongst the author’s personal collection at the International Agatha Christie Festival which takes place next September.
New Chapter for Dublin Book Festival
The Dublin Book Festival has entered a brand new phase with a change of name and the announcement of Martin Colthorpe as the new Programme Director. The newly-dubbed International Literature Festival Dublin, in collaboration with the Inkwell publishing group and writing.ie, has arranged for a date with an agent for those of you who have a work in progress that you’re just dying to share with someone other than your Mam and your dog. Writers have been asked to submit the first 1500 words of their work along with a 1000 word synopsis. Closing date for entries is March 27th 2015.
There is also an exciting job opportunity this year. The two main requirements are to like Marketing and Assisting. Oh, and books. You must also like books.
The Day the Crayons Quit
The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers has won the Red House Children’s Book award for 2015. I took a sneak peek through this magical story in a bookshop last summer and was forced to suppress giddy laughter as I flicked through the wonderfully illustrated, comical pages. This book is hilarious and entertaining for children and adults and is completely deserving of its latest award.
Another winner this year was comedian turned children’s author David Walliams who came top of the Young Reader’s category for his book Demon Dentist. The Red House Prize is voted for solely by children and received over 50,000 votes this year.
An Exploding Phone Box
BT, the UK telephone company, has asked residents from the town of Banbury to remove the makeshift shelves they had installed in BT phoneboxes with books for the community to pick and share. Apparently the shelves were too precariously installed and there was a risk of them falling and injuring someone. Yes, BT and the phone box could also spontaneously combust or turn into a transformer and destroy the entire town of Banbury.
The telecoms company have been somewhat accommodating, however, and have asked local bookworms to contact them if they wish to adopt a phone box and plan a whole new library that won’t suddenly burst into flame.
New Irish Literary Journal
Banshee is a new Irish literary journal, now accepting submissions for its first issue which will be published in autumn 2015.
