News

Books to look for in 2010: Ian McEwan, Yann Martel, Carlos Ruiz Zaf�n

Yann Martel, Ian McEwan, and Carlos Ruiz Zaf�n are some of the many best-selling authors with titles coming out in 2010. Other highlights: the sequel to Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love, a technological thriller by Michael Crichton, and a new novel by Philip Roth. Read on for a selection of a few of 2010's big releases.

Inside News

Google gets digital foothold in France

Sunday, 20 December 2009

Despite fierce resistance to Google's plans to digitise the world's books, observers say it is well placed to start scanning Europe's cultural treasures -- beginning in France, where the US giant got a digital foothold this week.

Hard times for the hardback industry

Saturday, 19 December 2009

Sales figures show 2009 was a miserable year for top authors

Weekly book agenda: Comic Market in Tokyo, Costa Awards in London

Friday, 18 December 2009

The semi-annual Comic Market comes to Tokyo in the last days of December. Coming in early 2010: Winners of the Costa Book Awards are announced in London, and comic books are back in the spotlight during the International Comics Festival in Angoulême, France.

French court orders Google to stop scanning French books

Friday, 18 December 2009

A French court on Friday told Google that it cannot digitise French books without the publisher's approval and ordered the online giant to pay 300,000 euros (430,000 dollars) in damages.

Spain cuts tax on electronic books

Thursday, 17 December 2009

Spain's culture chiefs on Wednesday announced plans to slash value-added tax on electronic books to the same low level as traditional paper tomes.

2010 literary prize season begins with UK's Costa Awards

Wednesday, 16 December 2009

Major literary prizes are awarded throughout the year, with some annual highlights including the Man Booker Prize in the UK, the US Pulitzer Prize, and the French Prix Goncourt. In 2010, the season of major literary prizes begins on January 5 with the announcement of the Costa Book Award-winners.

Al Pacino to star in Philip Roth adaptation

Wednesday, 16 December 2009

Al Pacino has acquired the rights to Philip Roth's latest novel, The Humbling, according to a story in The New York Times. Pacino will star in the film adaptation of the novel, about an aging, irreverent stage actor who looks for renewal through a relationship with a younger woman.

Kindle bestsellers: 'I, Alex Cross' leads; Stieg Larsson title joins the list

Wednesday, 16 December 2009

Amazon.com released its list of weekly bestselling Kindle e-books on December 15. For the week ending December 12, James Patterson's I, Alex Cross was in the lead, followed by Sue Grafton's U is for Undertow and Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol.

'The Lost Symbol' tops US best-selling audio books of 2009

Wednesday, 16 December 2009

Nielsen BookScan has released its list of the US's best-selling audio books of the year. Topping the list is Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol, which is also the year's best-selling adult fiction title. In second is Rhonda Byrne's The Secret, followed by The Shack by William P. Young.