Latest news with #PenguinRandomHouse
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Penguin Random House's catalogue for kids, tweens and young adults will appeal to readers young and old(er)
Dive into the magical world of books. From heartwarming tales to thrilling adventures, discover the books that will captivate young readers everywhere. Penguin Random House is proud to work with some of the biggest names in storytelling, from beloved global authors to standout local talent. By bringing together iconic brands, unforgettable books and celebrated voices, we aim to create (and reimagine) heroes for every new generation of readers. The list is packed with everything from proudly South African authors including Refiloe Moahloli and Fanie Viljoen to international bestsellers by authors such as Roald Dahl, Jeff Kinney, Rick Riordan and Katie Kirby. Whether you're looking for the perfect bedtime picture book, inspiring non-fiction or page-turning novels for tweens and teens, you'll find it all in the July–December 2025 catalogue, with books for babies right through to young adults. Get ready to fall in love with the stories they'll never forget.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Karan Johar says will have to move to London with friends if their WhatsApp group chats come out: ‘We may not be able to continue living in our city'
On his controversial chat show Koffee with Karan, host Karan Johar has often referred to his fiercely guarded WhatsApp groups with fellow Bollywood celebrities. One of them being 'GUTS,' where the filmmaker breaks down airport looks and red carpet appearances of his industry colleagues with friends Kareena Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, and Rhea Kapoor among others. During a recent event in London, when an audience member asked Johar to publish a book on those WhatsApp chats, Johar responded cheekily. 'If anyone ever got access to those WhatsApp groups about me and many of my friends in the fraternity, I think we would have to move to London. We may not be able to continue living in our city,' he said. In the interview with Mojo Story, Johar explained further, 'Because let me tell you, they are very candid, honest, and sometimes very b*tchy analysis of our immediate environment and what is going on. We are fashion critics, we are movie critics. We are critics of everything in that group. Everyone has an opinion, and none of us can ever put those opinions out there.' In the same chat, Johar revealed he's part of not only these gossip groups on WhatsApp, but also some serious ones as the single parent of his kids Yash and Roohi. 'It can be very daunting, and also hilarious when you're on two WhatsApp groups with 30 mothers on one and 32 mothers on another. They're in two divisions: A and B,' Johar explained. 'Every morning, I wake up to these 62 amazing women saying 'Ladies!' And I say, 'Hello? I'm also on this WhatsApp group!' But they're so nurturing and helpful. They've really helped me through some tough times because I really don't know. Whenever I go to a parent-teacher meeting, I'm always doing two roles (as a father and a mother) and hearing for both of them. That's the joy of having twins,' he added. Johar became a father to Yash and Roohi in 2017 via surrogacy. Also Read — Karan Johar recalls how troll saying 'you've denied your kids a mother' made him cry: 'I asked my five-year-olds if they're happy' Johar is a published author as Penguin Random House released his memoir An Unsuitable Boy in 2016. It was co-authored by Johar and journalist Poonam Saxena. On the work front, Johar will next direct his first series for Netflix India. His last directorial was the 2023 hit family comedy Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt in lead roles.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Deborah Baker's 'Charlottesville' reveals essence of the new American right
The new American right is a Hydra-headed monster. Mr Trump isn't its cause, but its distilled essence Shreekant Sambrani Listen to This Article Charlottesville: A study of rage and resistance by Deborah Baker Published by Penguin Random House 442 pages ₹1,299 Charlottesville in the Commonwealth of Virginia is a city of about 50,000, evenly divided among white and black residents. It is among the oldest cities in the state, with great historical significance. Monticello, the estate of Thomas Jefferson, one of the founding fathers of the United States and its third President, is just outside the city. Jefferson's successor as President, James Madison, the 'father of the Constitution,' and the author of the Virginia Compromise, which equated electorally five freed slaves to three white persons, was
Mint
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
New on shelves: Four titles that shine a lens on our past, present and future
This picture book, with gorgeous illustrations by Peter Brown, comes in his popular The Wild Robot series, made into a movie featuring Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal and Kit Connor. Roz, the robot, lands up on an island and is forced to learn the ways of the wild to survive. Intended for readers between the ages of 3 and 7, profound life lessons for adults are tucked away in these pages too. 'The Wild Robot on the Island', by Peter Brown, HarperCollins, 48 pages, ₹ 599. In his new book, co-written with Colin Butfield, naturalist David Attenborough takes the readers into the depths of the oceans, the 'earth's last wildness' as the subtitle describes them. From the mysteries of the coral reefs to the unique species that inhabit the waters, this is a magisterial story of an ecosystem hidden from our eyes but critically responsible for supporting life on earth. 'Oceans', by David Attenborough and Colin Butfield, Hachette India, 352 pages, ₹ 1,299. Former US President Bill Clinton is back with another thriller with co writer James Patterson, this one with obvious autobiographical leanings. The First Gentleman—a former President (ahem) now playing second fiddle to his wife, the reigning President—is accused of murder, which sets a pair of journalists on an investigation. 'The First Gentleman', by Bill Clinton and James Patterson, Penguin Random House, 400 pages, ₹ 899.
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Reading books is the new sexy
Reading is the new sexy, books are back, and they're printed, from bookstores. Over the past few years people have... Reading is the new sexy, books are back, and they're printed, from bookstores. Over the past few years people have started shelving devices and reverted to turning pages. Social media's full of it with channels like Book Tok and even Instagram turning the well read into sexy, cultural winners. Reading is no longer just a pastime, it's becoming cultural currency and it's hot. A recent article in The Guardian reported that Gen Z is 'flocking to physical books and libraries,' with print books making up 80% of their purchases. Libraries are suddenly popular again, with a 71% increase in foot traffic from young people. They are checking out Jane Austen and Zadie Smith with the same enthusiasm they reserve for the latest Sabrina Carpenter album. Books are no longer just something to read. Literature seems to have become an accessory to trend. Sylvia de Wet, Publishing Director at Penguin Random House South Africa, said the resurgence is tied to a larger cultural change. 'We're seeing a broader cultural return to tactile, meaningful experiences, and books are at the heart of that shift,' she said. 'In a world saturated with digital media, reading offers something both grounding and enriching. For many South Africans, books have become lifestyle statements and a form of self-expression.' Larger cultural change This isn't just about what's on the page, either. Covers matter a lot in a society obsessed with visual appeal. Readers are posing with their current reads like fashion accessories, and it's not by accident. 'It goes back to the aesthetic of how books look and feel,' said Kelly Ansara, Marketing and Publicity Director at Jonathan Ball Publishers. 'Do you feel cool pulling this book out at a trendy bar with a cocktail or coffee shop? It all goes back to how the book looks. But will you also look cute, smart or professional?' Also Read: Chris Carter's 'Death Watcher': Unputdownable Online magazine Rowdy called it 'a sexy renaissance,' with readers turning to romance, fantasy and even classic literature. The visual language of reading has changed. BookTok is awash with soft pastel spines, annotated page flips, and tear-streaked reaction videos. And it's moving books. Ansara said genre fiction and fantasy are seeing the biggest gains. 'Readers aren't afraid of chunky reads or heavy subjects, but they do want to escape sometimes and read fun romance or easy beach read thrillers,' she said. 'However, we still see the big sales in local political biographies or current affairs books. Non-fiction still is the biggest seller in the South African market.' Non-fiction a mainstay in reading De Wet added that nonfiction remains a mainstay, but fiction is fighting back in all the right ways. 'Escapism remains a powerful driver,' she said. 'Irma Joubert's sweeping historical novels, Jackie Phamotse's emotionally charged dramas, Sven Axelrad's whimsical and wildly original narratives, and Martin Steyn and Leon van Nierop's pulse-racing thrillers all show how deeply readers continue to embrace historical fiction, romance, crime and suspense.' It's not just what readers are reading, it's how they're reading. Social media has fused style and substance. 'Readers are no longer passive receivers of content,' said de Wet. 'They write online book reviews, participate in online book discussions, and actively promote the authors and books they love. It becomes part of their own image and identity.' Authors are also being packaged as cultural figures, not just writers. 'An author is no longer just a name on a cover. They're a voice, a personality and often a cultural influencer,' said de Wet. Bookish Cool is amplified by aesthetics According to Rowdy Magazine, this rise in 'bookish cool' isn't new. It has beginnings in past literary movements but is now amplified by aesthetics. The article also noted an 8.2% jump in global book sales in 2020, a trend that's kept steady. The aesthetic angle is important, but so is identity. 'Books also bring the look and feel of aesthetic, so be it expensive designer books, or buckled paperbacks,' said Ansara. 'People are using books to find identity or sense of self, and to connect with others.' This visibility has translated into sales. At Penguin Random House SA, de Wet said they've 'seen growth in key categories,' with international fiction like Jojo Moyes still going strong, and local favourites like Antjie Krog's Blood's Inner Rhyme and Tom Eaton's An Act of Murder drawing readers across the board. Ansara noted that South African fiction sales follow different rules than international ones, and while trends like dragons and enemies-to-lovers romances dominate BookTok abroad, the local market has its own rhythm. 'We have only just stuck to our publishing values that lean neither left nor right,' she said. For publishers, it means adapting. De Wet said discoverability is now digital-first. 'BookTok, Instagram and other social media have become important pathways into reading communities, particularly for younger audiences. We're leaning into these channels while still nurturing traditional bookselling partnerships,' she said. Now Read: Muse in motion: Louisa Treger redefines the creative spark
