Cosy crime, cookbooks and a surprise hit: what we’ve really read in the pandemic

It was a chance to finally get around to Tolstoy or Proust, but the charts tell a different story. Which books did we actually turn to in the lockdowns? • Let us know in the comments what you were reading Back in spring 2020, when it became clear that coronavirus wasn’t going away, book lovers spied an opportunity for a rare, government-mandated reading holiday. Here, at last, was a chance to have a go at Tolstoy’s War and Peace and Proust’s In Search of Lost Time. Robert Macfarlane reported that he was working his way through the great Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh. Ali Smith urged readers towards Boccaccio’s Decameron. Diana Evans’s thoughts turned “heavenwards” by way of Homer’s Odyssey. I downloaded 27 hours of The Brothers Karamazov audiobook in anticipation.All lovely ideas. With 20 months of hindsight, however, which books did we actually end up turning to? The bestseller lists from the three different lockdowns may not tell you the contents of Britain’s soul, but then again, the numbers do not lie. We read: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. Sophie Hinchliffe’s Mrs Hinch: The Little Book of Lists. Lots of David Walliams, who topped the Lockdown 1 and Lockdown 2 charts with Slime and Code Name Bananas respectively. JK Rowling: the first three Harry Potter books steadily rose up the charts through the pandemic. Joe Wicks. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. A Pinch of Nom, plus spin-offs. Sally Rooney’s Normal People. Reni Eddo-Lodge’s Why I’m No Longer... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2021-12-11 09:00:06 UTC ]
News tagged with: #lost time #diana evans #richard osman #mrs hinch #david walliams #jk rowling #joe wicks #sally rooney #normal people #reni eddo-lodge #longer talking #white people #harry potter #bestseller lists #audiobook

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Cosy crime, cookbooks and a surprise hit: what we’ve really read in the pandemic'


Virago and The Pool launch new crime writer award

Virago deputy publisher Sarah Savitt and The Pool c.e.o. Sam Baker have launched a competition to find a new female crime writer for Virago. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sam baker


NYPL’s 2017 Book Award Finalists Wrote About Gun Deaths, Pandemics, War Zones, Dark Money and Refugees

As the name of the award implies, the New York Public Library's Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism is dedicated to honoring notable works of non-fiction written by journalists. The winner among the just-announced five finalists, to be revealed May 22, will join a group that... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2017-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #war zones #david finkel


Reading to children needs to be 'prioritised', says Egmont

The importance of parents reading to children was discussed at the unveiling of Egmont’s new research, as findings revealed sales of pre-school and picture books had dipped. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #parents reading #picture books


Beyond Reading: Saunders's 'Lincoln in the Bardo' Goes VR

Reading is an engrossing and transportive experience. But what if a book could be made even more immersive? George Saunders and actor and screenwriter Graham Sack may have found one answer: virtual reality. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-02-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #george saunders #virtual reality


Lucy Watson’s first cookbook to Sphere

"Made in Chelsea" star Lucy Watson’s first cookbook, Feed Me Vegan, is to be published by Sphere in September. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-02-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Secondary school children's reading 'not stretched enough'

New research commissioned by school programme provider Renaissance UK claims that secondary school children fail to develop their reading levels as they should. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-02-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #reading levels #research commissioned


GBBO semi-finalist Chetna Makan to publish second cookbook

Chetna Makan, of BBC One’s "Great British Bake Off" fame, is publishing a second cookbook with Mitchell Beazley, part of the Octopus Publishing Group. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #chetna makan


Trapeze to publish parody cookbook Stranger Fillings

Trapeze is publishing Stranger Fillings by The Muffin Brothers, a new spoof cookbook from the creators of Baking Bad, Game of Scones and The Walking Bread. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Hit Makers: How Things Become Popular review – the secret of selling squillions

Derek Thompson unravels the mystery of Fifty Shades’ mega-salesThere are no doubt plenty of people - but probably not as many as read the book - who simply can’t fathom how EL James can have sold more than 125m copies of Fifty Shades of Grey. Derek Thompson is here to help. The reason, it... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-02-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #wide range #star wars #taylor swift #online orders


Faber snaps up YA verse novel about gun crime

Faber Children's will publish a YA verse novel about American gun crime from author Jason Reynolds. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-02-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #faber snaps #faber children


Treasury hits back at 'scaremongering' on business rates

The Treasury has hit back at so-called "scaremongering" reports, reassuring businesses that the vast majority will see no change to their business rate bills in April.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-02-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #business rates


Cookbooks Preview: March 2017

A new way to look at dinner, a master class in the kitchen, and ruminations on food (and more) by the late Jim Harrisoin, are all coming in March. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-02-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #cookbooks preview


Obioma's The Fishermen to hit the stage

Nottingham-based theatre company New Perspectives will be adapting Chigozie Obioma's Man Booker-shortlisted novel The Fishermen (Pushkin) for stage next year.   Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Sourcebooks Signs Author of Wattpad's Most-Read Story of 2016

Sourcebooks has acquired worldwide English rights to 'Chasing Red,' a novel by Canadian author Isabelle Ronin, which was the most-read story on Wattpad last year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


January Religion Bestsellers: Lysa TerKeurst Takes Over; ‘The Shack’ Hits #1

Two study guides by Proverbs 31 Ministries president Lysa TerKeurst—‘Finding I Am’ and ‘Uninvited’—break the top 10 in Religion Nonfiction. Plus, the film adaptation of ‘The Shack’ lifts Wm. Paul Young’s book to #1 in Fiction. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-02-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hits #1 #religion nonfiction #film adaptation #paul young


Kickstarter Hits $100 Million Mark for Publishing Projects

Since its launch in 2009, Kickstarter has raised over $100 million for publishing projects, $21 million of which was raised last year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-02-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing projects #$100 million


Scholastic’s Kids & Family Reading Report: Insights From the US, UK, India and Australia

With new attention to diversity issues, Scholastic's sixth biennial survey adds an Australian edition, and looks extensively on reading aloud at home. The post Scholastic’s Kids & Family Reading Report: Insights From the US, UK, India and Australia appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-02-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post scholastic #australia appeared #diversity issues #reading aloud


Top 10 Trends in Reading and Book Apps for Children

Spain's Elisa Yuste talks us through leading concepts and directions in apps for kids and young adults in the coming year, including more apps for 'Android kids.' The post Top 10 Trends in Reading and Book Apps for Children appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book apps #children appeared #young adults #coming year


JK Rowling hits back over threats to burn Harry Potter books

JK Rowling mocks Twitter users who threaten to burn her books because of her anti-Trump stance. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2017-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Bowled Over: Bowl-based Cookbooks On the Rise

Breakfast bowls, smoothie bowls, even Reuben bowls can be found in a spate of bowl-based cookbooks hitting shelves in the coming months. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #coming months