Ecstasies of Pop and Rock: Pete Townshend and the Faber music list

Richard T. Kelly examines the influence of The Who’s guitarist and songwriter on Faber and Faber’s broad-ranging music list, takes a look at contemporary music writing, and Rob Young’s new study of English music over the last 200 years through a pagan veil.

The Booklist: Land of the free, home of the brave

From romantic yet seedy roadside motels to the hisotry of Wall Street, from the Great Depression to post-war Hollywood, Bookhugger’s publishers present a selection of their best American fiction and non-fiction.

July non-fiction round-up

This month, Bookhugger’s publishers have a wide-ranging selection of non-fiction titles – from classical, pop and jazz music to exploration in hot and cold extremes, from a must-read history of philosophy to observations on the soul-sapping world of work, and countries in economic and environmental crisis.

The Booker Prize longlist is announced

The initial thirteen contenders for the 2010 Man Booker Prize for Fiction have been announced today, with several titles from Bookhugger publishers making the prestigious list.

July crime round-up

Modern day Hollywood and Los Angeles, the desolation of Greenland in 1067, an England torn apart by conflict in 1326, London in 1903 and the gulags of Russia. This month’s releases takes the willing reader on sinister travels through time and place.

July reading groups round-up

Looking for a new title for your bookgroup or reading circle? Look no further – here are two very different titles that have reading group resources available right here on Bookhugger.

Reader reactions to The Crimson Petal and the White

Michel Faber explores the reactions of readers to his famous novel set in 1870s London.

July contemporary fiction round-up

Hmmm, the weather’s unpredictable to say the least this July – unlike the consistently high quality titles that Bookhugger’s publishers have for you this month…

A smart, accessible history of philosophy to inspire readers young and old

Download an extract from Luc Ferry’s refreshing take on the history of philosophy and its tumultuous relationship with religion.

The July Competition [closed]

It’s competition time again, and a chance to win a great selection of titles from the Bookhugger publishers.

It’s a Bad Day in Blackrock

Lives are shattered when three private school-educated, rugby-playing young men attack another young man outside a Dublin nightclub.

Watch author Kevin Power introduce his novel and discuss his writing process.

Jo Shapcott reads ‘I Go Inside the Tree’

Poet Jo Shapcott reads ‘I Go Inside the Tree’, one of a sequence of poems inspired by trees in her new collection, Of Mutability

Explore The Lost City of Z!

David Grann discusses his ventures into the hazardous wild world of the Amazon to retrace the footsteps of the great Colonel Fawcett and his followers, in a bracing attempt to solve one of the greatest mysteries.

Independent Bookseller of the Month: The Book Case, Hebden Bridge

Every month we feature a different bookshop – we ask them to tell us what makes them special and what they like most about what they do. This month it’s the turn of The Book Case, in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.

Ten copies of The Nobodies Album to be won [closed]

We have ten copies of Carolyn Parkhurst’s latest novel to give to the same number of lucky Bookhuggers.

Does a story really ever end?

Carolyn Parkhurst on the central concept behind her latest novel The Nobodies Album, published last week.

Hello Dubai

Boom town, modern marvel, commercial hub, where middle-east meets wealthy west, playground for tourists, crawling with ex-pats, built by Indians, owned by Arabs, Dubai has risen from next to nothing to an awful lot in little more than thirty years.

Read an extract from Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian

‘There’ says Alice Hayward to Reverend Stephen Drew, when she come up out of the water after her baptism. Just a few short hours later, Alice is dead, shot by her abusive husband who turned the gun on himself soon after…

Margaret Drabble: The Book That…

Margaret Drabble is one of England’s leading contemporary writers. Find out about the books that have made a lasting impression on her reading life.

Jo Shapcott on her new collection Of Mutability

The award-winning author of Electroplating the Baby, Phrase Book and My Life Asleep, which were gathered together in a selected poems, Her Book, discusses her new collection.

Ten songs to tie into my life, by Mark Radcliffe

DJ Mark Radcliffe, whose book Thank You For the Days is out now in paperback, picks ten tracks to tie in to his life story – read about them here on Bookhugger and the watch the playlist on YouTube.

Rob Chapman on Syd Barrett

Syd Barrett is one of the great unknowns of twentieth century music. The early creative force behind Pink Floyd, he spent most of the second half of his life outside of public view, away from fans, press and ex-band members. In Syd Barrett: A Very Irregular Head, author Rob Chapman attempts to dispel the myths surrounding Syd. Here he shares his experiences researching the life of a notoriously private artist.