Skip to content

Jul 16

Whoop, we got a review in The Irish Times

A great review in The Irish Times for A Little Circle Of Kindred Minds: Joyce In Paris by Conor Fennell, our first print title. It was written by Luca Crispi:

A Little Circle of Kindred Minds: Joyce in Paris is a commendable introduction to the cultural scene and, most importantly, to the now virtually mythical stories that have been told about these modernist artists. Although not always exact as literary history, the stories are told with a contagious passion.

A Dubliner and former editor with RTÉ, Fennell has an enthusiasm for Joyce and other Irish writers in Paris that is apparent on every page. The anecdotal sketches are a pleasure to see recounted again and should encourage readers to pursue the memoirs and biographies that form the foundation of Fennell’s book. One could quibble with some of the facts, as well as with the generalisations and summary statements, but that would be to miss the point of the book, which is a broad exploration of some of the characters that helped make Paris “the centre of English-language Modernism”.

via Defining Dublin in the City of Light – The Irish Times – Sat, Jul 16, 2011.

Jul 1

Bricks & Mortar Blues | Borders Says Najafi Bids $215.1 Million for Stores and Debt – Businessweek

When you add the payment and the liability assumption, Borders actually fetched an OFFER of just under $440 million and that’s not for the whole group. The store closure program combined with the stores Najafi does not wish to acquire means that there’s a bunch of stores not included in the purchase. I wonder where this will end price-wise, is anyone likely to trump that bid?

Borders Group Inc., the bankrupt bookstore chain, said a Najafi Cos. unit bid $215.1 million for its stores and would assume $220 million of liabilities to kick off an auction to test for higher bids.

The agreement is subject to bankruptcy-court approval, Borders said in a statement. Any stores that aren’t included in the sale to Najafi’s Direct Brands unit will be acquired by Hilco Merchant Resources LLC and Gordon Brothers Group LLC and closed, the statement said.

via Borders Says Najafi Bids $215.1 Million for Stores and Debt – Businessweek.

Image Credit:
AttributionNo Derivative WorksSome rights reserved by kzamani

Jun 30

Bricks & Mortar Blues | Profit up at Waterstones despite sales dip | The Bookseller

It’s not all bad news for the retail trade, or maybe the cost management efforts have finally started to hit home in some places:

Waterstone’s increased profit by £6.7m last year as like-for-like sales fell by 3.8%, according to financial results released today.
The HMV Group announced in its financial report that in the 52 weeks to 30th April 2011, Waterstone’s profit grew from £2.8m to £9.5m. During that time however, total sales for the high street bookseller dropped by £14.4m to £499.2m and like-for-like sales fell by 3.8%. In the same time period, sales at the HMV Group as a whole dropped from £2.02bn to £1.87bn and like-for-like sales plummeted by 11%. After tax and the disposal costs, HMV Group made a loss of £121.7m, an improvement on the £152.8m loss last year.
Profit up at Waterstones despite sales dip | The Bookseller.

Jun 14

2 Comments

A Launch Gallery

The author, Conor Fennell, signs a book for one of the guests
Author & Publisher
Professer Declan Kiberd with the author, Conor Fennell and the publisher, Eoin Purcell
The crowd gathers
PreviousNext

The launch of A Little Circle Of Kindred Minds: Joyce In Paris took place on 13 June in the Irish Writers’ Centre on Parnell Square. It was a blast. We sold out of the book, the weather was smashing and the guests seemed to enjoy themselves.

Both the invited guest, Professor Declan Kiberd, and the author, Conor Fennell, gave excellent talks that inspired laughter and contemplation in equal measure.

All told, it was about the most perfect launch for Green Lamp Editions I could have hoped for. Thanks to everyone who has helped me get to this point, it has been a really excellent journey.
Eoin

May 26

Bricks & Mortar Blues | Whitcoulls, Borders sold to Norman family

With another chain headed for life in the arms of a wealthy suitor, you have to wonder if perhaps private (and dynastic) ownership is a good thing for bookshops.

I’ve been thinking about that for some time, thinking especially about the horrible pain that will have to be administered to bookstores and their workers if chains are to survive.

I’m not sure I know the answer yet:

The Norman family, owners of the Farmers department stores and a raft of Australasian jewellery stores, bought the 57 Whitcoulls and five Borders shops from administrator Ferrier Hodgson for a confidential sum.

David Norman told BusinessDay the company would almost certainly honour all existing vouchers and gift cards at full face value once the deal is complete.

He also confirmed that customers would not have to spend a similar amount to redeem their vouchers, which caused an enormous customer backlash shortly after the Whitcoulls, Borders and Bennetts bookstores were put into voluntary administration by their previous owners REDgroup Retail.

via Whitcoulls, Borders sold to Norman family | Stuff.co.nz.

← Older Entries