My agent perpetually knocks his head against that particular brick wall. 'Too British' was the response to The Clothes On Their Backs. Though my work doesn't seem to be too British for France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Holland, Romania, Hungary, Turkey, Brazil, Taiwan, Russia . . .
Aww, if I can order (in the Netherlands) books from both amazon.com and amazon.co.uk, can't US citizens have their books shipped from the United Kingdom?
Oh I know that - I really want Linda to get into the US press and promo tour system! So I can take her to Hi-Tech nails and Off Fifth when she's in Boston.
Anyone who wants one, let me know. My younger daughter is getting married in August in Scotland - we will be spending several weeks in the UK(and yes in London). For those who can wait, I'll pick you up a copy and bring them back in my luggage(I'm feeling excessively ticked off this morning about the lack of publishing in the US).
Thanks for giving us the chance to read Linda Grant’s The Clothes on Their Backs. It was a pleasure to read Linda Grant’s shrewd, vivid account of the Kovacs family remaking itself in London. I’m full of admiration--for the rich characters, powerful sense of place and time, and deep emotional understanding. With that, I fear it will be hard to find an audience here for so British a novel.
Thanks again, though, for letting us see this, and I wish Linda Grant the best of luck.
The other thing I don't understand about that is that there are plenty of stories about war refugees who have found themselves in far more "exotic" places than London by US standards that become popular there.
"Nowhere in Africa", by Stefanie Zweig (no relation to Stefan) comes to mind.
If there should ever be problems finding this or other books by Linda Grant in Canada, you will no doubt be able to find it at or through Nicolas Hoare booksellers, in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal: nicholashoare.com/
Those are lovely bookshops to spend an afternoon browsing...
Linda Grant is a novelist and journalist. She won the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2000 and the Lettre Ulysses Prize for Literary Reportage in 2006. She writes for the Guardian, Telegraph and Vogue. Her latest novel, The Clothes on Their Backs was shortlisted for the 2008 Man Booker Prize. For further information including upcoming literary festivals bookstore readings etc see her website at www.lindagrant.co.uk
The People on the Street (Winner of the Lettre Ulysses Prize for Literary Reportage 2006)
Still Here (Fiction 2002)
When I Lived in Modern Times (Winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction 2000)
Remind Me Who I Am Again (Non-fiction 1998)
The Cast Iron Shore (Fiction 1996)
Sexing the Millenium (Non-Fiction 1993)
This blog believes
'A good handbag makes the outfit.'
'Only the rich can afford cheap shoes'
'The only thing worse than being skint is looking as if you're skint.'
'A new dress is a great help in all circumstances.' (Noel Streatfeild)
'The only true and lasting meaning of the struggle for life lies in the individual, in his modest peculiarities and his right to these peculiarities.' (Vasily Grossman, Life and Fate.)
14 comments:
Next step - world domination! BTW, who can we pester to get this published in the US?
My virtual pencil is sharpened and waiting.
My agent perpetually knocks his head against that particular brick wall. 'Too British' was the response to The Clothes On Their Backs. Though my work doesn't seem to be too British for France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Holland, Romania, Hungary, Turkey, Brazil, Taiwan, Russia . . .
Aww, if I can order (in the Netherlands) books from both amazon.com and amazon.co.uk, can't US citizens have their books shipped from the United Kingdom?
Indeed they can
"Too British"? As a US delegate to this conference, I resent that. What's their hang-up -- the fact that you spell "color" with a "u"? Pinheads.
Oh I know that - I really want Linda to get into the US press and promo tour system! So I can take her to Hi-Tech nails and Off Fifth when she's in Boston.
Too British??? Bollocks.
Those of us in the US can order from amazon.com.uk, you just pay more for shipping.
Anyone who wants one, let me know. My younger daughter is getting married in August in Scotland - we will be spending several weeks in the UK(and yes in London). For those who can wait, I'll pick you up a copy and bring them back in my luggage(I'm feeling excessively ticked off this morning about the lack of publishing in the US).
Heh - to let me know...drop me an email at: htwollin at yahoo dot com.
A major American publisher writes:
Dear ,
Thanks for giving us the chance to read Linda Grant’s The Clothes on Their Backs. It was a pleasure to read Linda Grant’s shrewd, vivid account of the Kovacs family remaking itself in London. I’m full of admiration--for the rich characters, powerful sense of place and time, and deep emotional understanding. With that, I fear it will be hard to find an audience here for so British a novel.
Thanks again, though, for letting us see this, and I wish Linda Grant the best of luck.
Regards,
The other thing I don't understand about that is that there are plenty of stories about war refugees who have found themselves in far more "exotic" places than London by US standards that become popular there.
"Nowhere in Africa", by Stefanie Zweig (no relation to Stefan) comes to mind.
If there should ever be problems finding this or other books by Linda Grant in Canada, you will no doubt be able to find it at or through Nicolas Hoare booksellers, in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal: nicholashoare.com/
Those are lovely bookshops to spend an afternoon browsing...
I got mine through amazon.uk because I was impatient waiting for US release.
Good luck, Linda. I know the book could do very well here. Stupid letter.
I suppose your reps have tried The New York Review of Books?
-- desertwind
(wow! my word verification was sort of naughty.)
Oh, wait!
The Thoughtful Dresser will be a new book? Have you told us about this?
Congrats.
-- desertwind
Hey, congratulations!
xbadaude
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