Bryan Collins's Blog, page 40

Matilda’s Tim Minchin Believes Editing of Roald Dahl’s Work Is Wrong

The comedian behind the Matilda musical has spoken out about the contemporary edits of Roald Dahl’s work.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Puffin would be publishing works with edits made to suit more sensitive readers, with the idea that this would allow books to “continue to be enjoyed by all today.”

Speaking to The Guardian, Tim Minchin described the removal and replacement of language that some people deemed offensive as ‘a slippery slope’. Minchin wrote the music for the Matilda mus...

Survey Shows Third of UK Librarians Asked To Remove Or Censor Books

A third of librarians in the UK have been asked to censor or remove books, according to a report by a leading association in the field.

The report was carried out by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (Cilip). According to a statement by the association, there has been a noticeable increase in such requests in recent years.

Books about race and LGBTQ+ themes are the titles with the most requests, according to the research. The research also revealed that over 80 per...

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s Beloved Book ‘Le Petit Prince’ Turns 80

The beloved children’s book ‘Le Petit Prince’ by French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry has just turned 80.

The novella, which has been a vital part of so many people’s lives, was first published in 1943. Reynal & Hitchcock first published the book in the United States in April 1943, with it then published in France after World War II. Saint-Exupéry actually drew all the illustrations for the Le Petit Prince himself, using some of the sketching skills he gained while studying architecture.

The t...

Hollywood Writers Strike – Issues Over Pay And Artificial Intelligence

Hollywood writers have gone on strike for the first time in 15 years after failing to secure an agreement for higher pay.

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has called for a strike after they failed to reach an improved agreement with studios such as Netflix and Walt Disney. The last strike happened in 2007/08 and lasted 100 days, with an estimated cost of over $2b to the industry. Approximately 11,500 writers are represented by WGA, with picketing due to begin outside of Hollywood studios.

A WG...

Three Debut Novels Nominated for 2023 Women’s Prize For Fiction

The finalists for the 2023 Women’s Prize For Fiction have been announced.

Amongst the six finalists are three debut novels, a reworking of a Dickens classic, a book set in Renaissance Italy, and an interesting take on the life of a sea mammal.

The prize rewards the best of the year’s fiction from female authors writing in the English language. It began in the 90s in response to the 1991 all-male Booker Prize shortlist. The Women’s Prize for Fiction gives the authors exposure, as well as a top pr...

Previously Undiscovered Terry Pratchett Stories To Be Published

Sir Terry Pratchett fans may have feared that there would be no ‘new’ work for readers after he died in 2015.

However, an eagle-eyed fan has discovered 20 works written by the beloved author under a pseudonym. This work is now set to be published as the final collection from the Good Omen’s author.

Pratchett died aged 66 in 2015 after an astonishing career where he wrote over 70 books and sold over 100 million copies. The 41-book Discworld series was arguably his masterpiece, but readers will st...

Rapper Stormzy Puts Together Literary Festival For Diverse Storytelling

Stormzy is considered a pioneer in the UK rap industry, but his latest project is more readily associated with the literary charts than the billboard ones.

The ‘Shut Up’ star has just put together the first #Merky Books two-day literature festival in Camden, London. For those of you who don’t know, #Merky Books was launched by the rapper and Penguin Random House UK in 2018 with the intention of telling diverse stories.

The festival took place on the 22nd and 23rd of April. It was headlined by No...

10 Authors Like Yaa Gyasi: Dive Into Your Next Favorite Historical Novel

Discover our guide to the best historical authors like Yaa Gyasi, and pick up your next favorite novel today.  

Yaa Gyasi is a Ghanaian-American novelist who has received critical acclaim and several prominent awards for her impressive contributions to the historical genre through her written work, including Homegoing, Transcendent Kingdom, and No Home. As a famous Black author and woman, Gyasi’s work emphasizes the modern themes of racism, oppression, heritage, and identity. She’s inspired m...

JK Rowling’s Harry Potter Is Getting A New TV Reboot

JK Rowling’s world of Harry Potter is getting the reboot treatment, with a new cast bringing the famous stories to the small screen.

According to the BBC, the plan is for each season to contain the story of one of the seven best-selling books. There has even been a timeline mooted, with the projected timeline for the series being 10 years.

Of course, this is not the first time that Rowling’s books have been adapted for the screen, with Daniel Radcliffe portraying Potter in a series of blockbuste...

Novel Idea Of Free Book Vending Machine A Big Hit

Vending machines are synonymous with giving people their sugar fix, but we have just come across one that can give you a healthy dose of literature.

The Corn Exchange in Manchester has put a book vending machine in their foyer. Anyone who wants to use the machine simply has to bring along a book they no longer want and exchange it for a token, and that token can be used to get a fresh read from the machine.

The books are free of charge, with users invited to use the system as many times as they ...