The bold covers and big names entice us, but just how authentically impartial are the bookshop displays that influence our book buying habits?
‘whether it actually was or not’ : The truth about book shop displays
The Brave New World of Cover Design and Audience
We are living in an age of book covers that pander to social media users, viewing their prospective purchases on small smartphone screens. Publishers have to know their particular audience, and their books must be able to catch your eye immediately. But must universal success always come in the form of bold strokes of bright colour and block titles that swallow up the page?
The Resurgence of the ‘Cosy Crime’ Genre
When the dulcet tones of Boris Johnson graced our screens in March 2020, we gathered anxiously around the television, waiting for the grim truth that we all knew was coming. Rolling out before us was a weary drain of time – weeks and months of uncertainty, wandering around the same muddy field, dreading the unrelenting enthusiasm of Joe Wicks, glancing at one another as if to say is it too early for a glass of wine?. As doors locked and days opened up, we settled onto our sofas and looked for something to do.
Whose Responsibility is Representation?
Following a recent article published by The Guardian, detailing Monica Ali’s depression caused by the reaction to her novel Untold Story, the conversation surrounding who is responsible for representation in literature resurfaced. Should the role fall solely on the same people who are under-represented? Or should society, as a whole, strive for equal representation for all writers and experiences?
Forgotten Women: The New(ish) Trend in Literature
Abi Ramsay discusses the rising trend of modern retellings of Ancient Greek tales.
Clothbound Classics: New Aesthetics and Old Assumptions
2008 marked the official release of Penguin UK’s clothbound classics – a collection of 10 classic literary works, each wrapped in its own delicate, linen case, specially designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith. 14 years later, the project’s popularity has grown exponentially, as too has its contents.
When Is a Book Most Valuable?
The OED defines value as something of worth or quality. Arguably everyone’s idea of value varies, based on what it is that you are talking about. Likewise, the value associated with a book varies, based on who it belongs to.
What to Do With That Book Which You Simply Can’t Stand
We all know at least one book which we just can’t stand. In this piece, Luise Werner gives a few suggestions of what you could do with those books.
Queen of Fantasy?
By Georgia Austin A queen of the romantic fantasy genre- but why is Sarah J Maas facing backlash? Boasting sales of over 12 million copies, translated into 37 different languages, it’s undeniable […]
Prescribed Books
Francesca Lea discusses how books have become the nation’s favourite form of therapy in a stress-filled world.
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