Results tagged “randomhouse”

Now ranked as Amazon's best-selling product, the Kindle has been a remarkable success in the American marketplace, possibly signalling that e-book readers have reached a tipping point. The devices can download books wirelessly without being tethered to a computer, and text is displayed on a reflective electronic paper screen, which isn't backlit and uses very little power. The Kindle has been available south of the border for two years, and in a press release late yesterday, Amazon announced the rollout of their iconic e-book reader in more than a hundred countries. While consumers in places like Botswana, Sri Lanka, and Mongolia are now able to order the thin white tablet, however, Canadians are—again—left twisting in the breeze.

Last February, when three of the four major publishers in Canada pulled out of Toronto's annual book industry trade show, BookExpo sadly bit the dust. The collective feeling, particularly amongst small press publishers and indie booksellers, was “where do we meet now?” The book industry is in trouble, and even major publishers are scared stiff by spiralling sales and the rise of ebooks. And so, with a need for real discussion, BookCamp was born.

Torontoist is ending the year by naming our Heroes and Villains of 2007––the people, places, and things that we've either fallen head over heels in love with or developed uncontrollable rage towards over the past twelve months. Get your dose, starting Boxing Day and running into the new year, three times a day––sunrise, noon, and sunset.

Monday morning, amidst a first-rate buffet of coffee, chocolate chip cookies, and fresh orange juice at the Four Seasons Hotel, a disheveled group of journalists and bankers gathered to hear the shortlist announced for the 14th annual Scotiabank Giller Prize. Only the second year that the final contenders were culled from an initial longlist of 15 books, this annum the task fell to the jury of staunch decipherers David Bergen, Camilla Gibb and Lorna Goodison. All three affected a slightly bemused expressions when founder Jack Rabinovitch reminded them of the fact in his opening statements, presumably as the memory of tackling so many novels in just under a month physically caught up with them. Cookies and coffee indeed: it’s a miracle they could even read their entries out at the podium.

As back-to-school fast approaches, excitement builds for one thing: the announcing of prestigious book awards. Congratulations go out to Toronto writer Michael Redhill for having his second book Consolation nominated for the Man Booker Prize. Redhill’s book is being hailed as regaining the oomph Canadian historical fiction has been lacking lately. The work, which was chosen as one of Torontoist's favourite books of the last year, is alternately gorgeous and revealing. It weaves together two narratives that center around a recent suicide and a sunken cargo ship, all the while balancing the stories against the evolving landscape of Toronto.

Valentine's Day is less than a week away - are you still stuck for date ideas? Well, Torontoist, along with Theatre Passe Muraille and Random House, are here to help you out. We have five pairs of tickets to give away for the The Sheep and the Whale, the new play at Passe Muraille, for the night of February 14th at 8:00pm.

Fancy yourself an expert on Canadian fiction? Even if you don't, here's a chance to do some sleuthing and win a couple of books, courtesy of Random House. What do you need to do? Just name two of the three short stories written by Neil Smith that have been nominated for the Journey Prize and send your answers in to Torontoist.

Sure, the National Bridal Show might not be starting for another couple of weeks (and Canada's Bridal Show has already ended), but that’s not stopping Random House from holding their own wedding-themed event on Monday evening.

-Paul Martin pulls out the old "But Mo-om, he DOES have a stupid face - you can't get mad at me for telling the truth!" excuse to defend the Liberal attack ads.

Persuant to Friday's discussions of the merits of Eckler and McLaren, and who would win in a blindfolded mud wrestle, TOist would like to enter yesterday's NYTimes style piece by Rebecca Eckler as exhibit A in the case for Eckler. Yes, Leah has both a farm and a perky nose, but Eckler has two men, a little lady, and the skills necessary to expose her shambling affairs to anyone who has the patience to stomach the travesty that is the Sunday Styles Modern Love column. Here at TOist we nearly lost our brunch when we got to the Modern Love page, but the fault lies squarely on our shoulders for having bothered to read past the cheerful enlightenment of 'A Night Out With Keren Ann.'

Despite a mild fear of further linguistic excesses, TOist will aim to check out the event, which will also feature Steven Hayward reading from . The event takes place at 6:30pm at 142 John Street, and if you're one of the first twenty-five to arrive you'll receive a New Face of Fiction gift. A new face perhaps?