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 ]
The audiobook might be less, well, useful than it is entertainingly honest, unfiltered and even bizarre. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2024-01-12 10:00:27 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Amazon-owned online audiobook and podcast service Audible is laying off about 5% of its workforce Continue reading at ABC News
[ ABC News | 2024-01-11 22:47:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this
If you thought Big Tech’s dreadful year of layoffs would be confined to 2023, you’re (sadly) mistaken. Audible laid off around five percent of its employees on Thursday, which Variety reports is “just over 100 staffers.” The cuts in the audiobook division are part of parent company Amazon’s most... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2024-01-11 22:00:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this
With such an incredible range of choices of new audiobooks out in January, you’re sure to find an audiobook perfect for you. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-01-11 11:31:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The 2024 edition of the German Audiobook Prize issues its shortlists in seven categories, covering books, radio plays, and podcasts. The post The German Audiobook Prize Names Its 2024 Shortlists appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-01-10 12:31:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Our exclusive November bestseller lists in China saw boosts from annual 'Double 11' sales and a new interest in traditional Chinese medicine. The post China Bestsellers: ‘Three-Body’ News and November Sales appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-01-08 17:36:42 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Reading her audiobook memoir, “How to Say Babylon,” the poet gives voice to her Jamaican roots, her early ambition and the Rastafari father who would have quashed it. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2024-01-05 13:11:49 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Investors seemed unimpressed but analysts say even talk of a merger reflects moves to consolidate in a tough market Barbie and Tom Cruise’s Top Gun are planning on getting hitched. Warner Bros Discovery, the Hollywood studio that brought us the Batman, Harry Potter and Barbie films, and... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2023-12-21 17:19:19 UTC ]
More news stories like this
A new volume of the Black feminist’s previously unpublished writing is read in audiobook form by a full cast of Black women. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2023-12-15 10:00:20 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Spotify is testing an AI-powered feature that creates playlists from text prompts. TikTok user @robdad_ posted a short clip of it, captioned, “I just randomly discovered Spotify’s ChatGPT?” For the chosen guinea pigs, the feature is available as an option under Your Library after tapping the... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2023-12-14 18:18:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Keong Sim reads the audiobook version of the author’s second posthumous collection, “Songs on Endless Repeat.” Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2023-12-08 13:52:17 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Here are some ways to keep reading when your eyes just don't want to cooperate, even if you don’t have access to audiobook versions. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2023-12-06 11:32:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
You can read countless ebooks, listen to audiobooks, and browse comics with one of these WIRED-tested digital reading subscriptions. Continue reading at Wired
[ Wired | 2023-12-02 14:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Cyber Monday may have come and gone, but quite a few of the deals are still live. We're also seeing new discounts and bundles pop up that weren't previously listed. If you didn't get everything you need during the frenzy of Black Friday sales, you can still save on Amazon Echos, Dyson vacs,... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2023-12-01 16:43:49 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Each month, for your literary listening pleasure, our friends at AudioFile Magazine bring us the cream of the audiobook crop. Now, at 2023 draws to a close, they’ve rounded up the very best audiobooks of the year. Happy listening and happy holidays! * FICTION AudioFile’s 2023 Best Fiction... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2023-12-01 14:03:20 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Perdita Weeks reads the audiobook version of Megan Barnard’s debut novel, reimagining the Israeli queen as a source of mythic, feminist anger. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2023-12-01 10:00:14 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Bookwire's 'WAY' audiobook services are to be available to French-language publishers early in 2024. The post Germany: Bookwire’s Audiobook Service Goes to Brazilian, English, Spanish Markets appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-11-29 04:44:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Amazon Web Services (AWS) just kicked off its Las Vegas-based re:Invent conference with a stream of announcements, most of which involve the year’s most popular technology, AI. These news items, taken as a whole, give us a sneak peek at the company’s long-term goals for... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2023-11-28 20:00:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Cyber Monday is almost over but the deals are not yet gone. There are still a number of great tech deals out there, so if you're a little late to the holiday shopping frenzy that has been the past few days, fear not. You can still save on gadgets from Apple, Sonos,... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2023-11-27 23:00:03 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Today is the last day to get an Audible subscription at a discounted rate for the holidays. A Cyber Monday deal on the audiobook subscription service brings a Premium Plus membership down to just $6 per month for the first four months — that's more than half off the... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2023-11-27 18:30:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this