M2 Best Books articles from February 2006

M2 Best Books archives from February 2006

Lewis Carroll to be played by Marilyn Manson in new film - report.("arthouse horror" movie Phantasmagoria - The Visions Of Lewis Carroll)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Lewis Carroll is reportedly to be played by rock star Marilyn Manson in a new film about the author. According to Screen International, Manson hopes to direct the self-penned "arthouse...

FPB urges independent bookshops to voice concerns over Ottakar's takeover bid.(HMV Group's acquisition of Ottakar's)(Forum of Private Business)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD A new campaign has been launched by the UK-based Forum of Private Business (FPB) to provide a voice for independent booksellers in relation to the Competition Commission's inquiry into HMV's...

Internet novel is surprise hit in Italy.(Generazione 1000 Euro)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD A downloadable Internet novel entitled Generazione 1000 Euro has become unexpectedly popular in Italy and is being downloaded by youngsters across the country. The book, which has been...

Queen's birthday celebration to feature characters from children's books.(Queen Elizabeth)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD A children's party is to be held on 25 June at Buckingham Palace featuring a range of fictional characters such as Winnie the Pooh and The Jungle Book's Mowgli. The party is being held...

Andrew Adamson to direct second Narnia movie.(sequel of Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe movie)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Andrew Adamson is to direct the sequel of the follow-up to the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe movie. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is scheduled to...

Durham Cathedral recovers missing religious books.(medieval Bible restored)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD After almost 500 years of being misplaced in alternative collections two religious books have been returned to Durham Cathedral. The books consist of a medieval Bible, which reportedly...

Cheapside store of Books Etc to close.
February 3, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The Cheapside, London store of Books Etc is to close within the next three months, the bookseller has revealed. The site is located within London's Square Mile and was put on the market...

Handwritten bible penned by Queen's scribe.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The first handwritten bible to be produced since the printing press was invented is being produced by Donald Jackson, a calligrapher and Queen Elizabeth's own scribe. The text itself is...

Fourth quarter results announced by Amazon.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Internet retailer Amazon announced on Thursday (2 February) that its earnings for the fourth quarter of 2005, which ended 31 December 2005, dropped by 43% compared to the same period in the...

Film adaptation of Memoirs of a Geisha banned in China.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The movie adaptation of Arthur Golden's novel Memoirs of a Geisha has reportedly been banned in China due to its use of Chinese actors to portray Japanese characters. In the film, which...

Tim Waterstone to attempt to buy back book chain - report.
February 6, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD A deal valued at GBP250m is reportedly being put together by the founder of the Waterstone's book store chain, Tim Waterstone, to buy back the company. According to The Independent, the...

New characters cast for fifth Potter movie.(Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The search to fill the role of Luna Lovegood in the next Harry Potter movie is now over, with 14-year-old Evanna Lynch being selected for the part. Open auditions were held for teenagers...

Author Betty Friedan dies on 85th birthday.(Brief Article)(Obituary)
February 6, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Betty Friedan, author of The Feminine Mystique, died on her 85th birthday on Saturday (4 February) at her place of residence in Washington DC, US, due to congestive heart failure. ...

Free book content to be provided online by HarperCollins.(HarperCollins Publishers Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Publisher HarperCollins has announced the launch of a new advertiser-supported programme that is to provide users with the opportunity to view the full text of selected works online...

Time Warner books division to be acquired by Lagardere.
February 7, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Lagardere, a media group based in Paris, France, has announced that it is to purchase the book publishing division of New York-based Time Warner for USD537.5m. According to Reuters, the...

2006 Commwealth Writers' award goes to Zadie Smith.(award for best first book went to Donna Daley-Clarke)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The 2006 Commonwealth Writers' regional award for best book has been awarded to UK author Zadie Smith for her book On Beauty. Smith was awarded the GBP1,000 prize for the Eurasia region,...

Permira's bid for HMV rejected.(Brief Article)
February 8, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD UK-based retail chain HMV Group has revealed that it has turned down an acquisition bid of GBP762m from private equity firm Permira. The company reportedly feels that Tuesday's (7...

Google's Print Library Project defended by US academic.(Mary Sue Coleman)(Brief Article)
February 8, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Google's Print Library Project has been defended by Mary Sue Coleman, a US academic, at a talk delivered to the Association of American Publishers (AAP). As part of the project, which...

Borders franchise to open in United Arab Emirates.(Borders Group Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 8, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Book retailer Borders Group Inc (NYSE:BGP) has announced that its subsidiary Borders Inc has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Al Maya Group, a corporation headquartered in the...

Increased offered for HMV could be made by Permira - report.(Brief Article)
February 9, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Private equity firm Permira revealed on Wednesday (8 February) that it may increase its GBP762m offer for UK-based retail chain HMV Group. Permira's current offer values HMV's shares at...

Pratchett adaptation to star David Jason.(Terry Pratchett's Hogfather adopted as television program by British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC. Sky One)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Satellite channel Sky One has revealed that David Jason is to make his first appearance for the broadcaster in an adaptation of Terry Pratchett's novel Hogfather, part of the Discworld...

Not guilty plea entered by Turkish publisher.(John Tirman's book Spoils of War: The Human Cost of America's Arms Trade )(Brief Article)
February 9, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The owner of the pro-Kurdish publishing house Aram, Fatih Tas, entered a not guilty plea on Wednesday (8 February) to charges brought against him in Turkey after he published Spoils of War:...

HarperCollins announces results for Q4 2005.
February 10, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD An operating profit of USD77m on sales of USD390m has been announced by HarperCollins, the book publishing division of News Corp, for the three-month period ended 31 December 2005. The...

Views of consumers revealed in BML survey on book discounting.(Book Marketing Limited)(Brief Article)
February 10, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD According to the findings of a new survey conducted by Book Marketing Limited (BML) into consumers' thoughts regarding book discounting and pricing, the Internet has been revealed as...

Fine of NZD9,000 for overdue library book.(on Marie Sushames)(Brief Article)
February 10, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD An overdue fine of NZD9,000 (GBP3,500) has been accumulated on a public library copy of The Punch Library of Humour book, which was borrowed back in 1945. The book was originally issued...

More Books Etc stores go up for sale.(Brief Article)
February 13, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Approximately 12 further outlets of Books Etc have reportedly placed on the market, in addition to the offers that have already been accepted for the Covent Garden and Cheapside stores in...

Author of Jaws book dies.(Peter Benchley)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
February 13, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The author of the Jaws novel, Peter Benchley, has died from complications from pulmonary fibrosis at the age of 65. Jaws was published in 1974 and sold over 20 million copies. The book...

Shortlist for Romantic Novel of the Year Award announced.(Recipes for a Perfect Marriage by Kate Kerrigan)(Brief Article)
February 13, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The shortlist for the Romantic Novel of the Year Award has been announced and it includes Irish author Kate Kerrigan. Kerrigan has been nominated for her first novel Recipes for a...

Judging chairman for 2006 Man Booker Prize announced.(Hermione Lee)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The chairman of the judging panel for this year's Man Booker Prize is to be academic and author Hermione Lee. According to The Daily Telegraph, Lee is the first woman to occupy the posts...

Crime novels are most borrowed books from UK libraries - report.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD New charts published by the Public Lending Right show that crime novels were the most borrowed books from UK libraries in 2005. According to The Guardian, romantic novels made up nine out...

UK votes Delia Smith as favourite cooker writer.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD A survey for the television programme Food Uncut has revealed that Delia Smith is Britain's favourite writer of cookery books. Smith took the top spot in the poll with Jamie Oliver coming...

Random House announces launch of new movie adaptations.(in collaboration with Focus Features)(Brief Article)
February 15, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD In a new joint venture between publisher Random House and film company Focus Features, a unit of NBC Universal, two books are set to be adapted for the big screen. According to Reuters,...

Losses from book piracy estimated at USD606m.
February 15, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD According to the International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA) the illegal copying of books overseas may have cost the book industry as much as USD606m in 2005. The IIPA estimates...

Patricia Cornwell makes donation to help Hunley researchers.(sinking of H.L. Hunley submarine being investigated)(Brief Article)
February 15, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Patricia Cornwell, a crime writer, announced on Tuesday (14 February) that she is to donate a minimum of USD500,000 in an effort to assist researchers investigating the reason for the sinking...

Share buyback programme and full-year results announced by Reed Elsevier.
February 16, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Reed Elsevier, an Anglo-Dutch publisher of science journals, legal information and school textbooks, announced on Thursday (16 February) a USD1bn (GBP575.6m) share buyback programme. The...

Brandes purchases further shares in HMV.(Brandes Investment Partners LP )(Brief Article)
February 16, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Brandes Investment Partners LP has revealed that it has purchased another 472,900 shares in UK-based retailer HMV Group Plc. The HMV Group currently owns the chain of HMV music stores and...

Opus Dei calls for changes to be made to Da Vinci Code movie.(Brief Article)
February 16, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The Catholic group Opus Dei is calling for changes to be made to the film adaptation of The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, starring Tom Hanks. According to the BBC, the group wants...

SPA makes submission on Waterstone's/Ottakar's merger.
February 17, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The range of titles offered in Scotland would suffer as a result of a merger between book retailers Waterstone's and Ottakar's, according to a submission to the UK Competition Commission by...

Bids reach USD5m for Greenspan's memoirs.(Alan Greenspan)(Brief Article)
February 17, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Bidding has reportedly reached USD5m for the memoirs of Alan Greenspan, the former Chairman of the US Federal Reserve, who is being represented in negotiations by Washington-based lawyer...

Lost TV series brings Flann O'Brien revival.(Brief Article)
February 20, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The 'Lost' television series has generated a revival in Ireland, the UK and the US for Irish writer Flann O'Brien, whose real name was Brian O'Nolan, 40 years after the death of the author,...

Barnes & Noble decides against HMV bid - report.(Brief Article)
February 20, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Sterling Publishing, a publishing house owned by US-based book store chain Barnes & Noble, has decided not to pursue a bid for HMV Media Group, the owner of the HMV entertainment and...

Scottish bookseller turns crime writer.(Brief Article)
February 20, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD A GBP50,000 contract has been awarded to Allan Guthrie, a bookshop assistant at the West End branch of Waterstone's in Edinburgh, Scotland, by publishing house Polygon to write a crime...

Spanish-language version of sixth Potter title to be released.(Brief Article)
February 21, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Distributor of Spanish-language titles Lectorum, a division of Scholastic, is scheduled to release JK Rowling's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in Spanish in the United States on...

Readers Digest expands book publishing businesses to four new countries.(Brief Article)
February 21, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The book publishing businesses of The Reader's Digest Association (RDA) are being extended to include the United Arab Emirates, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan and Lithuania, bringing the total number...

Book on London pub walks released by CAMRA.
February 21, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD A new book called CAMRA's London Pub Walks has been released by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) to coincide with National Pubs Week. According to The Publican.com the new book, which...

Borders launches Borders Rewards in the US.(Brief Article)
February 22, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD A new free customer loyalty programme has been announced by book chain Borders and will be implemented in its US stores. The new programme, called Borders Rewards, will include Borders...

Thomas Nelson announces buyout deal.(InterMedia Partners VII LP)(Brief Article)
February 22, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Producer of Christian books and study guides Thomas Nelson Inc announced on Tuesday (21 February) that it has agreed upon a USD472m buyout deal with a group of private investors, led by...

First Kansas store to be opened by Books-A-Million.(Brief Article)
February 22, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The first location in Kansas, US for Books-A-Million Inc (Nasdaq: BAMM) is to be opened at the Legends at Village West in Kansas City. According to the Birmingham Business Journal, the...

Plagiarism accusation made against South African writer.(Brief Article)
February 22, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD South African author Antjie Krog has been accused of taking ideas and concepts from other authors by the head of the English department of the University of Cape Town, Stephen Watson. ...

Bookspan appoints Heather Drucker as publicity director.(appointments)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Heather Drucker has been appointed to the newly created position of publicity director at Bookspan, a partnership between Bertelsmann and Time Warner and the parent company of Doubleday...

Rowling-penned family tree purchased by Daniel Radcliffe.(actors )(Brief Article)
February 23, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Daniel Radcliffe, the actor who plays the character of Harry Potter in the film adaptations of JK Rowling's books, has purchased a family tree drawn by the author. The sale was part of a...

Exclusion zone to be placed between feuding authors at British Book Awards.
February 24, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Grosvenor House, the hotel hosting this year's British Book Awards, has reportedly asked for an "exclusion zone" to be implemented between two of this year's nominated authors. According...

Simon & Schuster announces retirement of Fred Hills.
February 24, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Publishing house Simon & Schuster has announced that editor Fred Hills is scheduled to retire on 14 April after 26 years with the company. For the past five years Hills has served as an...

Cherie Booth co-authors legal book.(Brief Article)
February 24, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Cherie Booth, a barrister and wife of UK Prime Minster Tony Blair, has co-authored a legal textbook entitled The Negligence Liability of Public Authorities. The book, which is 944 pages...

3i to acquire Chorion.(3i Group PLC)(Brief Article)
February 27, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Chorion, the owner of the media rights to titles by authors such as Enid Blyton and Agatha Christie, is to be acquired by 3i, a private equity firm, in a deal valued at GBP111m. Chorion...

New award for translated crime fiction announced.(Duncan Lawrie)(Brief Article)
February 27, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD A new prize for crime fiction in translation is to be backed by private bank Duncan Lawrie, the current sponsor of the Crime Writers' Association awards. According to The Independent,...

Full year sales results announced by Simon & Schuster.(Brief Article)
February 27, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Publishing house Simon & Schuster Inc has announced that its total revenue increased by 2% in 2005 to approximately USD770m. The company reported operating margins of over 10% and for the...

James Frey dropped by publisher - report.(Brief Article)
February 27, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The author of the controversial memoir A Million Little Pieces has reportedly been dropped by his publisher Riverhead Books. The book, which was written by James Frey, met with...

Da Vinci Code legal action begins.(author Dan Brown faces allegations)(Brief Article)
February 28, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD The High Court in London, UK has seen the start of legal action brought by authors of The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, a non-fiction book published in 1982, against The Da Vinci Code author...

Ofex listing sought by publisher Quercus.(Quercus Publishing, stock listing.)(Brief Article)
February 28, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD A listing on Ofex, an independent stock market in the UK, is being sought by Quercus Publishing. Quercus was founded in 2005 by Anthony Cheetham and its two debut titles, Universe and...

Online sales at Barnes & Noble increase by 7%.(Brief Article)
February 28, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Book retailer Barnes & Noble has reported sales on its website BarnesandNoble.com of approximately USD450m for the fiscal year to 28 January 2006. This is in comparison to sales of USD419.8m...

Bid for HMV may be increased by Permira.(HMV Group)(Brief Article)
February 28, 2006... M2 BEST BOOKS-(C)2000-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD An increased bid of GBP2.00 per share may be made by private equity group Permira to the UK-based retail chain HMV Group. The HMV Group currently owns the chain of HMV music stores and...