M2 Best Books articles from December 2004

M2 Best Books archives from December 2004

Publishing industry prepares for transition to longer ISBN.(International Standard Book Number)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The publishing industry is to replace the current 10-digit ISBN system in two years' time. The new 13-digit book numbering system will have a capacity for just under one billion numbers...

John Peel autobiography to be completed by his family.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The unfinished autobiography of BBC radio DJ John Peel is to be completed by his widow and children, it has been announced. The family will add "biographical material and personal...

O'Reilly releases 'Unit Test Frameworks'.(Brief Article)
December 2, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Publisher O'Reilly has released 'Unit Test Frameworks' by Paul Hamill. The publisher has said that in the book Hamill covers the usage, philosophy and architecture of unit test...

Guardian First Book Award winner announced.(Brief Article)
December 2, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The winner of the 2004 Guardian First Book Award has been announced at a ceremony in London and for the second year running it has gone to a work of non-fiction. Armand Marie Leroi's...

'SWT: A Developer's Notebook' released by O'Reilly.(Brief Article)
December 2, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Tim Hatton is the author of 'SWT: A Developer's Notebook', published by O'Reilly. According to the publisher, the Eclipse platform has rapidly gained popularity as both a Java IDE and a...

'Flash Out of the Box' available from O'Reilly.(Brief Article)
December 2, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Robert Hoekman, Jr is the author of 'Flash Out of the Box', published by O'Reilly. According to the publisher, Hoekman delivers an innovative user-centric introduction to Flash MX 2004,...

Barnes & Noble expands successful book scheme.(Brief Article)
December 3, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD US bookseller Barnes & Noble has expanded its successful book scheme, in which it brings in books previously unavailable in the US and sells them on its website, by selling the books in its...

Lost Truman Capote novel found.(Brief Article)
December 3, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD A lost novel by 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' author Truman Capote has been found in a box of photos and documents dumped by the author in 1966. The handwritten manuscript titled 'Summer...

John Peel's brother criticises unauthorised biographies.(Brief Article)(Biography)
December 6, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The younger brother of the BBC radio DJ John Peel, who died suddenly in October, has criticised the swift publication of two books about the broadcaster's life. Francis Ravenscroft said...

Secret staircase from 'Jane Eyre' found - claim.(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD A secret staircase very similar to the one described in Charlotte Bronte's classic novel 'Jane Eyre' has been discovered. The owners of the house in North Yorkshire, northern England, had...

Biography of Kissinger withdrawn over claims of plagiarism.(Brief Article)(Biography)
December 6, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Norwegian publisher Aschehoug has retracted a controversial biography of former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger. 'Kissinger', by Danish television journalist Frank Esmann, is said...

Author of books on avoiding tax is jailed.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD An expert on offshore tax havens, who published a number of books on the subject, has been jailed for six months for conspiring to defraud the US Internal Revenue Service. Jerome...

Gloria Estefan to publish children's book.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Singer Gloria Estefan is the latest celebrity to move into children's story writing. Under a deal signed with publisher HarperCollins, Estefan will release a book about a bulldog called...

Debrett's acquired by Devonshire Media.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The publisher of the famous Debrett's guide to the British aristocracy has been sold for GBP1m. The guide to the upper echelons of British society began in 1769 when John Debrett...

Former publicist to Paul McCartney to release tell-all book.(Brief Article)
December 8, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Sir Paul McCartney's former publicist Geoff Baker is writing a book about the ex-Beatle and is promising to reveal some shocking secrets. Baker, who was one of McCartney's confidantes...

Author offers advice to husbands.(Brief Article)
December 8, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Author Devion Huey releases a new book this week which shows how husbands can be everything their wives need, helping to keep their marriage alive. 'The Heaven Sent Husband: He's...

'His Dark Materials' film to remove references to God.(Brief Article)
December 9, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The film adaptation of Philip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' trilogy is to remove religious references. The award-winning books tell the story of two children's struggle against an evil,...

Smarties book prize winners revealed.('Biscuit Bear' by Mini Grey)(Brief Article)
December 9, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD This year's winners of the Nestle Smarties book prize, which is judged by children, have been announced. The winner of the gold medal in the five years and under category was 'Biscuit...

Chinese author fined for plagiarism.(Brief Article)
December 10, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Guo Jingming, a popular young Chinese author, has been fined for plagiarising another book in his bestselling novel 'Falling Blossoms in Romantic Dream'. A court in Beijing ruled this...

David Blunkett book to be released early.(Stephen Pollard's )(Brief Article)
December 10, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The publication date of Stephen Pollard's biography of David Blunkett has been brought forward because of the publicity currently surrounding the British Home Secretary. Blunkett's...

New Richard & Judy book club titles unveiled.
December 10, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The ten books shortlisted for the UK's Richard & Judy Best Read 2005 award have been revealed. The television couple will feature one book from the shortlist each week from 12 January...

Jeddah International Book Fair opens.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The 5th annual Jeddah International Book Fair in Saudi Arabia opened on Friday (10 December). The event, organized by Al-Harithy Company for Exhibitions Ltd in cooperation with the...

Charity to publish diary by 1920s "Bridget Jones".
December 13, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The recently-discovered diary written by a 17-year-old girl in 1925 is to be published. The diary by Ilene Powell was donated to the charity Oxfam, which has decided to publish and sell...

Tom Wolfe wins Bad Sex Award.(Brief Article)
December 14, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD This year's Bad Sex in Fiction Award, which recognises the most awkward and embarrassing descriptions of sex in published literature, has gone to American author Tom Wolfe. The dubious...

Mormon author disciplined by church over book.(Brief Article)
December 14, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD A retired Mormon educator has been suspended from the church for releasing a book in which he questions claims made by the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ...

Pearson agrees to sell stake in Spanish company.(Brief Article)
December 15, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD British media and publishing group Pearson Plc, which owns book publisher Penguin and the Financial Times newspaper, has entered into an agreement to sell its stake in Spanish media company...

Google to digitise contents of five libraries.(Brief Article)
December 16, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Internet company Google has released details of its ambitious plan to scan millions of books from five libraries. Under the project Google will offer a catalogue and digital library for...

Collins Dictionaries opens web forum for discussing new words.
December 17, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Collins Dictionaries has introduced its online Word Exchange, a website and forum where people can discuss new words. The site can be found at http://www.collins.co.uk/wordexchange. ...

Random House considers direct sales over the Internet.(Brief Article)
December 17, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Publisher Random House has said that it is evaluating whether to start selling books direct to consumers over the Internet. The chief executive of Random House, Peter Olson, said in a...

Mandela's biographer Anthony Sampson dies.(Brief Article)
December 20, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The author of Nelson Mandela's official biography, Anthony Sampson, has died peacefully at the age of 78. Sampson, an author and journalist who was a friend of the former South African...

Supermarket sells more than 40,000 book-writing kits for children.(Brief Article)
December 20, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD A kit that provides help for children to write a book has proved popular this Christmas. UK supermarket chain Sainsbury's has sold over 40,000 of the 'My First Novel' packs since they...

New book published on gardens of Barbados.
December 20, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Photographs of flowers and gardens in Barbados are featured in 'Barbados in Bloom', a new book released last week by Miller Publishing. The 200-page book includes a range of gardens,...

'Scarlet Letter' proof sold for EUR450,000.(Brief Article)
December 21, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD A printed proof of Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic novel 'The Scarlet Letter' has been sold at auction for more than EUR450,000. The book, the oldest known copy of the work, has more than...

New Harry Potter book to be released in July 2005.(Brief Article)
December 21, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince', the sixth novel in the series about the teenage wizard, will go on sale on 16 July 2005. The book will be published simultaneously in Britain,...

Scottish National Library still hopes to acquire John Murray literary archive.(Brief Article)
December 21, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The National Library of Scotland has not yet raised enough money to buy the publishing archive collected by the John Murray family, and there have been calls for the asking price to be...

Booksellers expecting surge in sales just before Christmas.(Brief Article)
December 22, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Bookshops in the UK are reportedly hoping for and expecting a late rush of Christmas shoppers. A wide range of titles are said to be selling well, but with Christmas Day falling on a...

Bloomsbury to acquire Walker Publishing.(Bloomsbury Publishing PLC)(Brief Article)
December 23, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD British publisher Bloomsbury has entered into an agreement to acquire US-based Walker Publishing, which publishes adult non-fiction and children's books. The cash deal has been valued at...

Fans reserve copies of new Harry Potter book.(Brief Article)
December 23, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The sixth Harry Potter book has gone straight to the top of the Amazon bestseller chart, seven months ahead of its release. Author JK Rowling announced on Tuesday (21 December) that...

Journalist and author Jack Newfield dies.(Brief Article)(Obituary)
December 24, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Jack Newfield, a journalist and author of eight books, has died of kidney cancer at the age of 66. Newfield wrote a column for the New York Sun, and other pieces for the Nation, Parade...

Chinese publisher loses Peter Rabbit case.(Brief Article)
December 24, 2004... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD A Chinese publisher has lost a court case over its publication of unauthorised reproductions of Peter Rabbit drawings. The Beijing court upheld a government order to confiscate 20,000...