Latest news with #Hachette
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Strange ideas take root in this ambitious story about our climate crisis
FICTION Arborescence Rhett Davis Hachette, $32.99 We're familiar with the idea that planting a tree is a gesture of hope, a way of helping to heal the Earth. But what about taking root and becoming trees ourselves? The characters in Victorian writer Rhett Davis' new novel Arborescence feel both overwhelmed and underwhelmed by life in what is recognisably a version of urban Australia. Their planet has been ravaged by humanity's overconsumption. Their workplaces are being transformed by 'alternative intelligences'. Someone has spray-painted 'THERE IS NO HOPE' on a train station wall. But something extraordinary is happening. In forests and fields, on roads and along waterways, people are turning into trees – by choice. The book's title was our first hint that this was going to happen; arborescence means 'becoming tree-like'. But why is this happening? Is this a cult? Performance art? A protest against modern existence? A resignation to grief and helplessness? Or is this metamorphosis a way of healing, a statement of solidarity with the Earth? Those who read Davis' quirkily dystopian 2022 debut Hovering may be hearing an echo here. In Hovering, as houses were transplanted, roads re-routed and humans altered by online over-stimulation, one character read a book by an author arguing that in a world of chaos and uncertainty, the best response was to be as quiet as plants. In Arborescence, Davis takes this idea and runs with it. Caelyn and Bren are the novel's main characters. They've been in a relationship for four years. They own a cat. They have families and a circle of friends, but there's something robotic about these interactions. What if, Caelyn asks early on, there's no humanity left in humanity? Bren, the novel's first-person narrator, works for a company he knows little about. Even after years of employment he's never actually met another human employee. He's assigned various tasks by 'the Queue' – writing, editing, creating images – but doesn't know why these things must be done or who they're for.
The Age
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
Strange ideas take root in this ambitious story about our climate crisis
FICTION Arborescence Rhett Davis Hachette, $32.99 We're familiar with the idea that planting a tree is a gesture of hope, a way of helping to heal the Earth. But what about taking root and becoming trees ourselves? The characters in Victorian writer Rhett Davis' new novel Arborescence feel both overwhelmed and underwhelmed by life in what is recognisably a version of urban Australia. Their planet has been ravaged by humanity's overconsumption. Their workplaces are being transformed by 'alternative intelligences'. Someone has spray-painted 'THERE IS NO HOPE' on a train station wall. But something extraordinary is happening. In forests and fields, on roads and along waterways, people are turning into trees – by choice. The book's title was our first hint that this was going to happen; arborescence means 'becoming tree-like'. But why is this happening? Is this a cult? Performance art? A protest against modern existence? A resignation to grief and helplessness? Or is this metamorphosis a way of healing, a statement of solidarity with the Earth? Those who read Davis' quirkily dystopian 2022 debut Hovering may be hearing an echo here. In Hovering, as houses were transplanted, roads re-routed and humans altered by online over-stimulation, one character read a book by an author arguing that in a world of chaos and uncertainty, the best response was to be as quiet as plants. In Arborescence, Davis takes this idea and runs with it. Caelyn and Bren are the novel's main characters. They've been in a relationship for four years. They own a cat. They have families and a circle of friends, but there's something robotic about these interactions. What if, Caelyn asks early on, there's no humanity left in humanity? Bren, the novel's first-person narrator, works for a company he knows little about. Even after years of employment he's never actually met another human employee. He's assigned various tasks by 'the Queue' – writing, editing, creating images – but doesn't know why these things must be done or who they're for.
Russia Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Biden's memoir deal falls millions short of Obama, Clinton
Former US President Joe Biden has sold the rights for his memoir focusing on his time in office for a roughly $10 million advance, the Wall Street Journal has reported. The sum is six times less than what the Obamas received for their memoirs in 2017 and is also $5 million less than what former President Bill Clinton got for his book in 2004. Fox News columnist David Marcus questioned the former president's ability to produce such a book in the first place, pointing to his rumored mental decline and claiming that the text may instead be 'ghostwritten' by his 'inner circle.' No one would allegedly be able to get 'a book's worth of sensible commentary' out of Biden, since he struggles to give a '10-minute interview,' Marcus claimed. The worldwide rights for Biden's book, which has neither a title nor a publication date, have been acquired by a New York-based subsidiary of French publishing giant Hachette, the WSJ said on Thursday. Neither Hachette, nor the Creative Artists Agency, which represented Biden in the deal, commented on the report. Biden himself dismissed all rumors about his mental state by insisting earlier this month that he was 'working like hell' on a '500-page book.' Biden was the oldest US president ever, ending his tenure at 82. He was dogged by rumors about his physical health and mental acuity during his time in office, but maintained he was fine despite on many occasions appearing to struggle to perform his public duties. His successor, Donald Trump, accused Biden's inner circle of 'treason at the highest level' in May, saying that they exploited the former president's cognitive decline to implement policies without his knowledge. Later the same month, Senator Ron Johnson announced an investigation into an alleged cover-up relating to Biden's health. The move was prompted by Biden's revelation that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, sparking rumors that the diagnosis had long been known but that Democrats had deliberately kept the public in the dark.
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Children and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels
Put Your Shoes On by Polly Dunbar, Walker, £12.99Late for a party, Mummy really wants Josh to put his shoes on – but he's too lost in his imagination to hear until she shouts. Featuring a child's inner world vividly evoked by Dunbar's own sons' drawings, this tender, relatable picture book encourages patience and communication. The Tour at School (Because You're the New Kid!) by Katie Clapham, illustrated by Nadia Shireen, Walker, £12.99This irrepressibly bouncy tour of all the school essentials (including toilets, emergency meeting tree and library with possibly more than a million books) humorously distils the scariness of starting school and the thrill of making a new friend. The Summer Puppy by Jackie Morris, illustrated by Cathy Fisher, Otter-Barry, £14.99A beautiful, dreamy picture-book account of a collie puppy's first summer, exploring garden, fields and beach and bonding ever more closely with the child she loves. Farah's Nose by Humera Malik, illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat, Hachette, £7.99Farah hates her 'strong' nose, until she visits a photography exhibition about South Asian heritage – and finds it filled with brilliant immigrant women. A rich, colourful, celebratory picture book for readers of 5+. Captain Danger and the Stupid Shadow by Victor Engbers, translated by David Colmer, Pushkin, £12.99One day, Captain Danger's stupid shadow flies off to Cut-it-Out Island, leaving the brave captain and Django the dog to give chase. A fantastically silly and child-pleasing 6+ adventure, with a flavour of Dav Pilkey. The Poetry World of John Agard, illustrated by Shirley Hottier, Otter-Barry, £12.99Acclaimed poet John Agard selects 80 of his liveliest, funniest and most engaging poems in this enticing illustrated collection for 6+, including No Hickory, No Dickory, No Dock, and Mouth Open, Story Jump Out. The Wood Where Magic Grows by Andy Shepherd, illustrated by Ellie Snowden, Piccadilly, £7.99When Iggy and his new brother Cal move near Wildtop Wood, they hear dark stories of its danger and menace. But they soon find the wood is full of magic – a magic that needs their help … This captivating 7+ story feels like a Faraway Tree for the 21st century. Cruise Ship Kid – Thief at Sea by Emma Swan, illustrated by Katie Saunders, Usborne, £7.99Ten-year-old Silver lives on a cruise ship, and has never had a best friend who wasn't retired. This summer, she's determined to change that. But when two mega-expensive watches go missing, she may have to turn detective too, in this riotous diary-format mystery for 8+, full of jokes, quizzes and geographical trivia. When the Storm Comes by Polly Ho-Yen, Knights Of, £7.99When a terrible storm traps misfits Mali, Fara, Jonesey and Petey in the school library with their teacher Ms Devine, it's hard for them to find common ground – but as the water rises and the danger increases, they must work together to survive. An assured, gripping thriller for 9+, laced with themes of loneliness, friendship and climate activism. My Soul, a Shining Tree by Jamila Gavin, Farshore, £7.99Based on the true story of Khudadad Khan, this first world war novel for 9+ is told from four perspectives: Belgian farmgirl Lotte, teen German infantry soldier Ernst, gunner Khan, who's fighting for the British Army, and the walnut tree that watches over all three. A superbly poignant and evocative historical novel from a much-loved author. Runaways by EL Norry, Bloomsbury, £7.99In the summer holidays, Jamie and July meet for the first time at Waterloo station – two very different 11-year-olds, whose home lives are both unbearable. But running away together is a dangerous business. Will they ever find safety, calm and love? This fast-paced story of friendship and shared adventure is an unmissable 10+ read. Kickflip by LD Lapinski, illustrated by Logan Hanning, Orion, £12.99Elliot isn't like the other girls in the school netball team, but being welcomed as a boy by the skatepark crew doesn't feel right either. At a sports expo featuring netball and skating, Elliot has the chance to tell their friends about their newly realised non-binary identity – but can they be brave enough to open up? A thoughtful, compassionate 12+ graphic novel about self-discovery, courage and acceptance. Skipshock by Caroline O'Donoghue, Walker, £16.99When her train crosses into a new dimension, Margo finds herself in New Davia, where the day last just six hours and people's lives pass with frightening speed, controlled by those with the power to move between time zones. Teaming up with travelling salesman Moon, Margo fights to find her way home – but she's increasingly tempted to stay with Moon, even as her youth starts to slip away. An original, genre-blending YA novel, full of intricate world building and intoxicating romance. Best of All Worlds by Kenneth Oppel, Guppy, £14.99Xavier didn't want to go to the cabin with his dad and pregnant stepmum. When the family wake from an artificial sleep to find themselves trapped in a dome, cut off completely from the world they knew, he gradually adapts to his new, much smaller life. But three years later, another family appears, and tensions rise as all of them grapple with the same question: is there any possibility of escape? Hugely thought-provoking, frequently frustrating, this speculative YA novel will stay in the mind long after it's finished. Rebel Hearts by Tanya Byrne, Hodder, £9.99Ren Barbosa and Pearl Newman both care deeply about the environment – and despise each other's brand of activism. When both girls find themselves in an idyllic rural commune for the summer, though, their mutual antagonism slowly melts in this passionate, addictive 14+love story about fighting for the future while living meaningfully in the present.
New York Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Joe Biden's Presidential Memoir Sells for $10 Million
Former President Joe Biden is writing a memoir about his time in the White House. The book, which doesn't yet have a title or a publication date, was acquired by Little, Brown & Co., an imprint within Hachette, in an auction, according to industry executives familiar with the deal. News of the book's acquisition for a roughly $10 million advance was first reported in The Wall Street Journal. Biden, 82, who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer in May, has spoken about the book at public events in recent months, and indicated that he feels intense pressure to finish it quickly, as he contends with illness. At a recent event in San Diego, Biden said that he was 'working like hell with a publisher' to research and crash a memoir that will focus on his presidential term. While it's standard practice for former presidents to publish books reflecting on their time in office, Biden's memoir may allow him a chance to reshape the narrative of his presidency and address questions about his mental and physical fitness. Biden, who aspired to be president for most of his decades-long political career, became the oldest person to ever hold the office when he was inaugurated in 2020, and then made the stunning decision to bow out of the 2024 race amid questions about his fitness for office. Since then, questions about whether his inner circle and party ignored his apparent decline have dominated the headlines. One of this year's biggest nonfiction titles, Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson's book 'Original Sin,' chronicles how Biden's closest and most protective aides refused to acknowledge his frailty, and put the Democrats' chances of winning the election at risk. It became a breakout hit, selling close to 100,000 hardcover copies, according to Circana BookScan. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
