2015 in books news: tragedies and triumphs

Harper Lee returned, Marlon James took the Booker and Terry Pratchett made his final bow. The year also saw literature drawn into shocking violence in Paris, fierce arguments over diversity … and a colouring-book frenzyThe year opened in tragedy, as two masked gunmen opened fire at an editorial meeting of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, launching a wave of attacks across Paris that left 17 dead. For a while it seemed almost as if the attackers had a particular author in their sights, as Michel Houellebecq published his latest novel, Soumission, that very morning and appeared on the magazine’s front cover. This dark satire, which imagined an Islamic government winning power in France, was so timely that a faked “extract” from the book that seemed to show Houellebecq had predicted the atrocity swiftly went viral. With his publisher’s offices under police protection, the author cancelled his publicity tour and headed for the country leaving his bestselling novel to keep on selling.January came to a close with Helen Macdonald’s Costa award win for her memoir exploring grief, love and nature, H Is for Hawk, while February brought news that 55 years after her debut, To Kill a Mockingbird, the novelist Harper Lee would be publishing a second novel. And not just any novel: though it was written first, Go Set a Watchman picks up the story of her Pulitzer prize-winning classic 20 years later, offering generations of readers the tantalising prospect of finding out what really... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-12-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Russia’s Book Chamber Report: Market Fell 5.37% in 2015

Russian's Book Chamber reports a decline of 5.37 percent in circulation of books and pamphlets in 2015 over 2014, as ebooks' popularity rises. The post Russia’s Book Chamber Report: Market Fell 5.37% in 2015 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-02-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Diamond Book Rides Strong 2015 Comics Market

Describing 2015 as the second best year in its history, Diamond Book Distributors reports consumer interest in graphic novels continues to grow driven by demand for such popular series as Saga, Walking Dead, My Little Pony and the first two volumes of March. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-01-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Hot and Cold Book Categories of 2015

The hottest category in 2015 was art/architecture/photography, which had a 60% increase in unit sales in 2015 over 2014 at outlets that report to Nielsen BookScan. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-01-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hot Books from Pakistan in 2015

A survey of the hot book titles that sold in Pakistan last year, including an Urdu collection of short short stories and numerous thrillers. The post Hot Books from Pakistan in 2015 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-01-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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UK Print Book Sales Pop in 2015, Indie Bookshops Get a Boost

The Bookseller reports a jump in the average price of books in the UK last year, as well as a boost in print book sales — especially at indie bookstores. The post UK Print Book Sales Pop in 2015, Indie Bookshops Get a Boost appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-01-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #indie bookstores #bookseller reports #indie bookshops #boost appeared


Bestselling Books of 2015

Harper Lee, Marie Kondo, and Jeff Kinney topped the print bestseller lists in 2015 for adult fiction, adult nonfiction, and juvenile books, respectively. Here are the 20 bestselling books of the year in each of those categories. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-01-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #juvenile books #adult nonfiction #adult fiction #marie kondo #harper lee #bestselling books


Bestselling books 2015: Fifty Shades still on top

Books by women make up seven of the top 10 most bought this year, while colouring-in is more popular than TV tie-insAfter a 2014 that saw books for kids – led by John Green and David Walliams novels – ruling the annual sales chart, 2015 was the year of the women. Female authors, including Harper... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-12-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ladybird book pastiches become stocking-filler hit of 2015

Spoof titles with vintage artwork strike a chord with Christmas shoppers, selling more than 600,000 copies in less than two monthsNostalgia for the days of learning to read with Peter and Jane appears to have made Ladybird’s series of spoof titles for grownups a must-buy this Christmas, with... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-12-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Independent publishers on the books they enjoyed and envied in 2015

The yearly Guardian’s Hits and Misses feature makes me curious about what my friends and colleagues in the world of smaller presses might say - whether they’d feel envious about the same books, and what kind of regrets and successes they might have had in their year of publishing. I put the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-12-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Winners and losers: publishers pick the 2015 books they loved, missed and envied

Which books did well, which were left on the shelves, and which made editors green with envy?Visit bookshop.theguardian.com to browse all these books or call 0330 333 6846. 20p from every book you buy until Christmas will be donated to our Charity Appeal.The book that made my year: In a year... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Quiz: 2015 in books – how closely were you reading?

Who found the manuscript for Harper Lee’s Go Set a Watchman? Which taunt did Martin Amis level at Jeremy Corbyn? And who hasn’t had an adult colouring book devoted to them (yet)? Test your knowledge of this year’s books here1. Which star’s debut novel was a black comedy about industrial... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Deals: Week of December 21, 2015

Newbery–winner Dan Santat signs a four-book deal; PW’s own Gabe Habash sells his debut novel; Ilyasah Shabazz inks a deal to write a children’s book about her mother, Betty; and more in this week's notable book deals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Heneage to chair 2015 Costa Book Awards

Writer James Heneage, founder of the Ottakar’s chain of bookshops, will chair the final judging panel of the 2015 Costa Book of the Year. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishing Perspectives’ Top Books of 2015: Mark Piesing

Wrapping up the year, Publishing Perspectives contributors share their top books of the 2015. Mark Piesing chooses five nonfiction titles. The post Publishing Perspectives’ Top Books of 2015: Mark Piesing appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Books of the Year 2015: newspaper round-up

In our third annual Best of the Best round-up, The Bookseller takes a broad look at which titles are gathering consistent mentions as highlights of the year in publishing in newspapers' "Best of 2015" lists. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Deals: Week of December 14, 2015

Gizmodo’s former editor signs with Tor, Barry Eisler inks a two-book deal with Thomas & Mercer, and more in this week's notable book deals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishing Perspectives’ Top Books of 2015: Ed Nawotka

As a wrap up to 2015, Publishing Perspectives is running lists of our our favorite books of the year from our contributors, starting with Editor-in-Chief Ed Nawotka. The post Publishing Perspectives’ Top Books of 2015: Ed Nawotka appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-12-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Holiday Sales 2015: Picture Books and Middle Grade Top YA

Although retail sales over the Thanksgiving weekend often receive a lot of attention, the fourth quarter as a whole continues to be vital for independent bookstores. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Religion and Spirituality News From Around the Web: December 9, 2015

An author’s take on how Islam, Christianity, and Judaism have shaped the world; a list of faith-based books to curl up with during the holidays; and a title that explores happiness are generating a buzz in the religion publishing industry today. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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International Hot Book Properties, Week of December 7, 2015

Finnish prize-winner racks up sales, Death takes a roadtrip in Germany, a Nigerian novel comes to France, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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