Bookworms in a new avatar
Who says book reading is in the wane? It's alive and kicking though the reading itself may have morphed into a new format. Ritusmita Biswas takes a look at the changed world of book reading Read Full Story

Dickens turns 200, celebrations all over the world
New Delhi, Feb 7 : Had Charles Dickens - the greatest novelist of Victorian period- been alive, he would have celebrated his 200th birth anniversary on Tuesday. Read Full Story

Dickens Inheritance
New Delhi, Feb 6 : Charles Dickens was a prolific writer, who serialised his novels and interspersed it with short stories... A walk through his bibliography. Read Full Story

India celebrates - and debates - relevance of Charles Dickens
By Quaid Najmi and Madhusree Chatterjee, New Delhi, Feb 6 : He gave us Uriah Heep in "David Copperfield", the Artful Dodger in "Oliver Twist", Ebenezer Scrooge in "The Christmas Carol"...characters who live on not just in books but also in the English language itself. Read Full Story

Modern kids' 'short attention span' blamed for inability to read Dickens
London, Feb 6 : Charles Dickens' acclaimed biographer Claire Tomalin has claimed that today's children do not have the required attention span to read the author's classic, but lengthy books. Read Full Story

Superstars, wildlife and religion on bookshelf (Books This Week)
New Delhi, Feb 4 : Unwind this weekend with a pile of meaningful books. Browse with IANS. Read Full Story

Steve Jobs' bio bestseller again
New Delhi, Feb 4 : Late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' biography continues to lead the non-fiction section of the bestseller list while Chetan Bhagat's "Revolution 2020" is back on top of the fiction charts. Read Full Story

Mahasweta Devi slams cancellation of Taslima's book launch
Kolkata, Feb 3 : Magsaysay Award winning author Mahasweta Devi Friday strongly criticised the cancellation of the release of controversial writer Taslima Nasreen's book following objections from fundamentalists. Read Full Story

Book launched on coastal Maharashtrian cuisine
New Delhi, Feb 3: A mouth-watering ensemble of dishes from the coastal villages of Maharashtra, exquisite wines, and a winter evening - it was the perfect ambience for the launch of chef Michael Swamy's new book "The East Indian Kitchen" here Wednesday. Read Full Story

Narayana Murthy's book to be released on Feb 7
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 3 : The Malayalam translation of 'A Better India, A Better World,' by Mr N R Narayana Murthy, Ex-Chairman and Chief Mentor of Infosys, will be released on February 7. Read Full Story

Thriller captures Bihar's wild, feudal days
New Delhi, Feb 3: Bihar is a goldmine of drama. A ruthless 'thakur', a landowner with vendetta in his blood and an unarmed man with a fortune to his name are chasing a rare diamond -- each for different reasons. Read Full Story

'What's your story' contest
New Delhi, Jan 2 : Penguin Books India, the acclaimed trade publishing organization, is celebrating its silver jubilee this year. Read Full Story

National seminar on Indian English Literature from Feb 5
Palanpur, Feb 1 : A two-day national seminar on Indian English Literature will be held at G D Modi College of Arts here from February 5. Read Full Story

Grammar, secret of Shakespeare's appeal
London, Feb 1 : Shakespeare's mastery of English is more evident in his grammar than in his words, which ensured his pre-eminence and set him apart from others, says a study. Read Full Story

After Rushdie now Taslima's book launch creates controversy
Kolkata, Feb 1 : The ongoing Kolkata Book Fair witnessed a controversy on Wednesday as the scheduled book launch of exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen was cancelled by the organizers over protests by a religious group. Read Full Story

Blogger turned author launches his second book
Kolkata, Feb 1 : Popularly known as Greatbongs by virtue of his blog, Arnab Ray launched his second book "The Mine" in Kolkata on Tuesday. Read Full Story

Renowned Urdu poet Mazhar Imam is no more
New Delhi, Jan 30 : Eminent Urdu poet and critic of the sub-continent Mazhar Imam, who enriched Urdu poetry with a new genre of 'Aazad Ghazal', died here today. Read Full Story

Market for antiquities still strong in India: Neville Tuli
New Delhi, Jan 30 : The market for antiquities - old miniature art - is emerging as a strong force in the country, Neville Tuli, founder and chairman of the Mumbai-based auction house Osian's has said. Read Full Story

E-books damaging society, says top US novelist
London, Jan 30 : Jonathan Franzen, who is being hailed as one of America's greatest living novelists, has warned that our desire for the instant gratification of e-books is damaging for society. Read Full Story

Sentiments vs freedom: Rushdie issue festers
New Delhi, Jan 29 : Days after Salman Rushdie was not allowed to speak at the Jaipur Literature Festival, the issue continues to touch a raw nerve among Muslim clerics and intellectuals even as liberals excoriate the brazen violation of a writer's freedom of creative expression. Read Full Story

Rahul Gandhi, Alexander and adventure on bookshelf (Books This Week)
New Delhi, Jan 28 : The bookcart this week is full of innocent surprises. Read Full Story

Steve Jobs' bio bestseller again
New Delhi, Jan 28 : Late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' biography continued to lead the non-fiction section of the bestseller list while Amish Tripathi's "The Secret of the Nagas" was back at the top spot in the fiction charts. Read Full Story

Critical art writing has to be accessible: Experts
New Delhi, Jan 27 : Does art writing need to change to suit the fickle intellectual attention span of the audience in an age of multi-cultural and multi-dimensional media? Read Full Story

Vikram Seth condemns Rushdie episode
Kolkata, Jan 26: Celebrated author Vikram Seth on Thursday criticized the recent treatment given to London-based writer Salman Rushdie by not allowing him to either visit the recently concluded Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) or even link with the gathering on the concluding day of the festival on Tuesday. Read Full Story

Vikram Seth attacks government, terms Rushdie affair madness
Kolkata, Jan 26: Novelist Vikram Seth Thursday accused the government of "knuckling under" an "enforced disgrace because of power and politics" and "misusing" religion ahead of assembly polls over author Salman Rushdie being forced to cancel his visit to the Jaipur Literature Festival. Read Full Story

Rushdie show: Chronicle of a gag foretold
By Manish Chand, Jaipur, Jan 25 : It was Tuesday, another sunny winter morning in Jaipur. Sanjoy Roy, an organiser of the Jaipur Literature Festival, came to a terrace of the sprawling Diggi Palace and told the assembled journalists that the video-address by Salman Rushdie would go on as scheduled at 3.45 p.m. Read Full Story

Bigots hissed, but no stopping carnival of letters
By Manish Chand, Jaipur, Jan 25 : The absent Salman Rusdhie may have stolen the headlines, but the five-day Jaipur Literary Festival will be remembered for its many incandescent moments when poetry intersected with polemics, science duelled with spirituality, rationalists cohabited with mystics and the truths of art competed with lies of politics and bigots. Read Full Story

Eight people of Indian origin in Padma list
New Delhi, Jan 25: Ten people of Indian origin and foreigners have been awarded India's prestigious Padma awards announced Wednesday. While seven have got the Padma Bhushan, three are listed for the Padma Shri. Read Full Story

Wisdom indeed for modern times
By M.R. Narayan Swamy, Book: "Amma's Advice: Traditional Wisdom for Modern Times"; Author: Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi; Konark Publishers; Pages 209, Price: Rs.3,500 Read Full Story

Threats stifled free speech: Rushdie
Jaipur, Jan 24 : With his much talked about appearance at the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) via video conferencing getting cancelled over protests, British Indian writer Salman Rushdie on Tuesday rued that threats by Muslim groups 'stifled free speech'. Read Full Story

Rushdie and god: Jaipur Lit Fest ends on sombre note
By Madhusree Chatterjee, New Delhi, Jan 24 : God came to the rescue of the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival Tuesday evening. The spirits were marginally lifting during a lively debate about man and god at the close of the festival after a day of high drama that saw the cancellation of a video address by Salman Rushdie, the writer of "The Satanic Verses". Read Full Story

Jaipur delegates slam Rushdie 'gag'
Jaipur, Jan 24: The intellectuals fraternity at the Jaipur Literature Festival responded with outrage to the new "fatwa" on author Salman Rushdie, who was stopped from addressing the audience via video link Tuesday after some Muslim groups threatened violence. Read Full Story

American novelist Lionel Shriver still loves her Kevin
By Madhusree Chatterjee, New Delhi, Jan 24 : American writer Lionel Shriver, the author of "We Need to Talk About Kevin", is still moved by the novel she wrote in 2003 about a disturbed mother and son, but says its screen adaptation misinterprets the book. Read Full Story

Forget religion, get 21st century morals: Richard Dawkins
By Manish Chand, Jaipur, Jan 24: Salman Rushdie may not be here, but the shadow of god looms large over the Jaipur Literature Festival, with philosopher and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins dismissing god as a "computer virus" and asserting that we are what we are because of genes and evolutionary history. Read Full Story

US scholar keen on Shakespearean theatre in India
By Madhusree Chatterjee, New Delhi, Jan 24 : James Shapiro, the author of "1599: A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare" and "Contested Will: Who Wrote Shakespeare", wants to tour India and the rest of the world to see how the bard has been given life in fresh ways by different cultures. Read Full Story

Rushdie to address lit fest after all
Jaipur, Jan 24 : Controversial author Salman Rushdie is all set to address the Jaipur Literature Festival via videolink Tuesday afternoon, with festival organiser Sanjoy Roy saying the issue had been resolved. Read Full Story

Malayalam writer Sukumar Azhikode dead
Thrissur (Kerala), Jan 24 : Malayalam writer Sukumar Azhikode died at a private hospital here Tuesday morning, family sources said. He was 85. Read Full Story

Rushdie's video conference may be cancelled
Jaipur, Jan 23 : Salman Rushdie's interaction with the audience via video link, scheduled for Tuesday, may be cancelled citing law and order concerns, a source in the police said. Read Full Story

I wanted to give a voice to Salman Rushdie: Hari Kunzru
London, Jan 23 : Hari Kunzru, one of the four authors who read out excerpts of Salman Rushdie's "The Satanic Verses" at the Jaipur Literature Festival and had to leave the city, says he wanted to give a voice to a writer who had been silenced by a death threat. Read Full Story

Rushdie to address Jaipur Literature Festival
Jaipur, Jan 23: British Indian writer Salman Rushdie will address the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) via video conferencing on Tuesday afternoon, media reports said on Monday, after the controversial author was made to cancel his visit following possibly concocted death threats. Read Full Story

Fatwas outrageous, laugh for sanity: Iranian writer
By Manish Chand, Jaipur, Jan 23 : A thousand jokes go around in Iran every day mocking President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the pretensions of the powerful, says Iranian writer Kamin Mohammadi, outraged that Salman Rushdie was forced to cancel his visit to the Jaipur Literature Festival here. Read Full Story

Not enough good scripts to go around: Tom Stoppard
Jaipur, Jan 22 : The art of writing good scripts is facing bleak times with not many of them around, says iconic playwright and screenplay writer Tom Stoppard of "Shakespeare in Love" fame. Read Full Story

Jaipur Lit Fest swamped by humanity on Day 3
By Madhusree Chatterjee, Jaipur, Jan 22 : Nearly 7,000 people waited patiently outside the venue of the Jaipur Literature Festival Sunday morning to get a glimpse of Oprah Winfrey. Read Full Story

Now, a book on Pakistan's child prodigy
Islamabad, Jan 22 : Pakistan will bring out a book on Arfa Karim who in 2004 became the world's youngest Microsoft certified professional at age nine. She died Jan 14. Read Full Story

Sri Lankan novelist wins USD 50,000 prize
Jaipur, Jan 21 : Cricket found its place in the sun at the Jaipur Literature Festival Saturday with young Sri Lankan novelist Shehan Karunatilaka winning the DSC South Asian Prize for Literature for his debut novel "Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew". Read Full Story

Fatwa changed history of 'The Satanic Verses', says Ben Okri
By Madhusree Chatterjee, Jaipur, Jan 21 : The interpretation of Salman Rushdie's "The Satanic Verses" has changed with the "fatwa", says Man Booker winning Nigerian writer and poet Ben Okri. Read Full Story

On Day 2, literature meets 5,000 people
By Madhusree Chatterjee, Jaipur, Jan 21 : "The Satanic Verses" author Salman Rushdie may have skipped the Jaipur Literature Festival but more than 5,000 weekend revellers - including housewives and students - Saturday hopped from one tent to another to catch snatches of literary nuggets. Read Full Story

Film songs and drama on bookshelf
New Delhi, Jan 21 : Chill with a varied pile of books on history, Gulzar's lyrics and Dalai Lama's philosophy this weekend. Browse on: Read Full Story

Authors stopped from reading the book
Jaipur, Jan 20 : "Satanic Verses", the Controversial book of Indo-British author Salman Rushdie again caused flutters at the opening day of the Jaipur Literature estival(JLF-2012) at the Diggi Palace here today with two writers of Indian origin trying to read the book. Read Full Story

Steve Jobs bio still tops bestsellers
New Delhi, Jan 21: Late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' biography continues to lead the non-fiction section of the bestseller list while Chetan Bhagat's "Revolution 2020" yields the top spot in fiction to Ravinder Singh's "Can Love Happen Twice". Read Full Story

Writers turn "Satanic " to protest Rushdie no-show
Jaipur, Jan 20 : Even in his absence, Salman Rushdie cast his shadow on the Jaipur Literary Festival as two authors- British Indian novelist Hari Kunzu and Amitava Kumar- on the inaugural day on Friday attempted to read out portions of Rushdie's controversial book The Satanic Verses, which is banned in India. Read Full Story

Collage, memory and many voices inspire novelist Michael Ondaatje
Jaipur, Jan 20 : The art of collage, memories and the multiplicity of voices inspire Sri Lanka-born Canadian novelist Michael Ondaatje, the Man Booker prize winning author of "The English Patient" into story-telling. Read Full Story

Rushdie skips Jaipur Literature Festival
Jaipur, Jan 20: Putting an end to all speculations, popular author Salman Rushdie cancelled his trip to Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) that commenced here on Friday. Read Full Story

Rushdie cites threat to life, cancels Jaipur visit
Jaipur, Jan 20: Will he, won't he? The guessing game was over Friday with Salman Rushdie, author of "The Satanic Verses", saying he had called off his visit to the Jaipur Literary Festival after intelligence sources told him that paid assassins from the Mumbai underworld were out to kill him. Read Full Story

Renewed interest in de Beauvoir's 'The Second Sex': New translators
By Madhusree Chatterjee, New Delhi, Jan 19 : More than six decades after celebrated French feminist Simone de Beauvoir wrote "The Second Sex", feminists are sifting through her interpretations of women's emancipation in their quest for solutions to new gender posers. Read Full Story

British award for two Indian novelists
New Delhi, Jan 18: Cultural ties between India and Britain received a new boost with leading London-based literary agency Tibor Jones and the prestigious Foyles Bookstore honouring two emerging south Asian fiction writers, Sri Kumar Sen and Rohit Manchanda, with the maiden Tibor Jones South Asia Prize. Read Full Story

When civilistations clashed over search for syphilis cure
By Madhusree Chatterjee, New Delhi, Jan 17 : The clash of civilisations through the canons of Eastern and Western medicines and historical ties between the Occident and China play out in a powerful narrative in noted Oxford-based writer Kunal Basu's new fiction, "The Yellow Emperor's Cure". Read Full Story

Haryana bureaucrats have new turn-on -- poetry, books!
By Japjeet Duggal, Chandigarh, Jan 17: They may be attending meetings and signing not-so-inviting government files every day, but their work has not stopped a handful of senior bureaucrats in Haryana from penning down poetry and fiction. Read Full Story

Rushdie's visit : Raj govt waits for Centre's word for decision
Jaipur, Jan 15 : The Rajasthan government has conveyed the Centre of its assessment, views and sentiments of various Muslim oufits over the proposed visit of controversial author Salman Rushdie for attending Jaipur Literature Festival here and was waiting for the reply from the latter before deciding on its course of action. Read Full Story

Glamour, Delhi, Afghanistan on book shelf
New Delhi, Jan 14 : The books this weekend are fun and easy to read. Read Full Story

Steve Jobs' biography continues stint on top
Late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' biography continues to lead the non-fiction section of the booklist while Chetan Bhagat's "Revolution 2020" rules the fiction set. Read Full Story

People's for wish for democracy remains: Chinese writer Bi Feiyu
By Madhusree Chatterjee, New Delhi, Jan 14: People's wish for democracy has no end, so days of revolution still exist in China, says writer Bi Feiyu, who won the Man Asian Literary Prize for his book "Three Sisters" in 2010. He also points out that Chinese youth are more keen to make money now, but women get less of a chance. Read Full Story

Anupam Kher promotes his first book
Kolkata Jan 14: Bollywood actor Anupam Kher promoted his self-authored book "The Best Thing About You is You" at Starmark in the South City Mall in Kolkata on Friday. Read Full Story

Kiran Nagarkar launches new novel in Kolkata
Kolkata, Jan 14 : A chill January morning was chosen by Sahatya Akademi award winner author Kiran Nagarkar to launch his latest book titled 'The Extras : The Further Adventure of Ravan and Eddie' here in Kolkata on Friday. Read Full Story

Hissar to Kashmir: A journalist's autobiography
By M.R. Narayan Swamy, Book: "Jailed Without Crime"; Author: M.L. Kak; Publisher: Utpal Publications, Delhi; Pages: 335; Price: Rs.300 Read Full Story

Scaling language wall with Tagore and Thiyam's theatre
By Madhusree Chatterjee, New Delhi, Jan 11 : Language has ceased to be a wall in Indian visual literature. In 1910, when Rabindranath Tagore wrote the "King of the Dark Chamber" and it appeared on stage a year later in Santiniketan on his 50th birthday, little did he know that one day it would jump the regional language divide to render itself in Manipuri - sans subtitles. Read Full Story

Book on consumer rights to be released
Mumbai, Jan 9 : A book dedicated to all consumers to help and know their rights, will be released formally by former Supreme Court Justice M B Shah in a function here tomorrow. Read Full Story

For women, love comes from vulnerability: Namita Gokhale
By Madhusree Chatterjee, New Delhi, Jan 10 : Love and grief, motherhood, redemption and her hometown Nainital...Writer and novelist Namita Gokhale runs her readers through a roller-coaster of emotions in her first ever collection of short stories, "The Habit of Love", peeling the skin off feminine dramas across centuries in a contemporary voice. Read Full Story

Cinema, dieting, Delhi on book shelf
New Delhi, Jan 7 : A compilation of short stories on women, the story of a budding lawyer wrongly diagnosed with cancer, the confessions of a serial dieter, an anthology of filmmaker Satyajit Ray's articles -- the bookshelf this week is an eclectic mix. Read Full Story

Steve Jobs' biography bestseller
Late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' biography topped the non-fiction section while Ravinder Singh's "Can Love Happen Twice" ruled the fiction charts this week. Read Full Story

Weight loss, cinema, Delhi on book shelf
New Delhi, Jan 7 : A compilation of short stories on women, the tale of a budding lawyer wrongly diagnosed with cancer, the confessions of a serial killer, an anthology of filmmaker Satyajit Ray's articles -- the bookshelf this week is an eclectic mix. Read Full Story

Best-selling book reveals how Romans invented text message
London, Jan 6: A fascinating new book, which has topped the bestseller list, delves into the bizarre and wonderful origins of some of the most commonly used words and phrases. Read Full Story

There is no such scale that can assess literature
Kolkata, Jan 6 : The prime concern of a writer should gyrate particularly around his work rather than readership base, said eminent Bengali writer Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay, during a literary event in the city today. Read Full Story

Sanskrit book on Indira Gandhi released
New Delhi, Jan 2: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit released Sanskrit books on the life of former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi here Monday. Read Full Story

Divorce, India, partition on bookshelf
New Delhi, Dec 31 : The book case this weekend is lighthearted and peppy - matching the mood as a new year begins. Read Full Story

Steve Jobs' biography bestseller
New Delhi, Dec 31 : Late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' biography topped the non-fiction section while Chetan Bhagat's "Revolution 2020" ruled the fiction charts this week. Read Full Story

Poetry, Tibet, business on bookshelf
New Delhi, Dec 24 : The bookcase this week is a finely-nuanced spread of poetry, narrative, drama and business. Read Full Story

Vinod Mehta, Chetan Bhagat's books rule again
New Delhi, Dec 24 : Journalist Vinod Mehta's "Lucknow Boy" and Chetan Bhagat's "Revolution 2020" continue their stint on the top of the non-fiction and fiction sections of the bestseller list respectively this week. Read Full Story

Comic book on movies comes to India with 'Don: The Origin'
New Delhi, Dec 20 : A graphic novel "Don: The Origin" narrating the genesis and story of "Don" and "Don 2" starring Shah Rukh Khan, is expected to draw new segments of younger audiences to reading -- at a time when cinema is pushing books to the edge. Read Full Story

Collection of Rahman Khan's speeches in English, Urdu released
New Delhi, Dec 19 : Two books in English and Urdu, articulating the thoughts of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K Rehman Khan on host of issues like parliamentary traditions was released by Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari today. Read Full Story

Oommen Chandy releases book on Mullaperiyar dam
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 19 : Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy released a book 'Mullaperiyar - Why The Demand For A New Dam,' here today. Read Full Story

Literary works dominate Golden Globe nomination list
By Arpana,New Delhi, Dec 19 : Indian filmmakers may stay away from literature, but it seems the international film fraternity simply loves to sift through books, novels, short stories and plays for inspiration. A case in point is the nomination list for the 69th Golden Globe Awards where six movies vying for "best film" are inspired by literary works. Read Full Story

Mills and Boon's 'desi' romance - with Indian faces
By Madhusree Chatterjee, New Delhi, Dec 18 : The world's oldest series of romantic fiction, Harlequin Mills and Boon, has broken the cultural barrier to publish its first "made-in-India-with-Indian faces" book after inducting its first writer from the country last year. Read Full Story

Underworld, Tagore and charity on book shelf
New Delhi, Dec 17: The book cart this weekend is a reflection of the diversity of new Indian writing. Browse with IANS. Read Full Story

Spotlight turns on Indian language writing
New Delhi, Dec 17 : The quest for a brand Indian literature and a new national link language sparked a thoughtful discourse at the inaugural session of 'Samanvay - the IHC Indian Languages' Festival' - a three-day extravaganza of contemporary Indian language writing in the capital. Read Full Story

Vinod Mehta, Chetan Bhagat top bestseller list
New Delhi, Dec 17 : Noted editor Vinod Mehta's "Lucknow Boy" tops the non-fiction section this week and Chetan Bhagat's "Revolution 2020" dominates the fiction category on the bestseller list. Read Full Story

Govt introduces Press and Registration of Books Bill
New Delhi, Dec 16 : The Government today introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha to amend and consolidate the laws relating to press and registration of books and publications, which would make entry of foreign magazines into the country "hassle free". Read Full Story

English translation of Tagore's "Shesher Kavita " released
New Delhi, Dec 15: The "Last Poem," English translation of Rabindranath Tagore's novel, "Shesher Kavita" was launched by Ms. Sharmila Tagore, Mr. Sunit Tandon, Dr. Kapila Vatsayan and Prof Dilip Basu, who translated the work, here on Tuesday. Read Full Story

Flames that would flicker more - you wish
By Mohita Nagpal , Book: "Flickering Flames"; Author: Rajnish Sharma; Publisher: HAR-Anand; Pages: 194; Price: Rs.395 Read Full Story