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'


William Morrow Finds Sleeper Hit in ‘Orphan Train’

Sixty thousand is the number of copies Christina Baker Kline thought her newest book, "Orphan Train," might sell in her “wildest dreams.” For a midlist author on her fifth novel, it was a lofty number. It turns out, it was also way too low. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #lofty number #orphan train #sixty thousand #newest book #wildest dreams #midlist author


Left Coast Crime: Attack of the Calamari

With close to 1,000 attendees this year, the annual Left Coast Crime mystery writers’ convention returned to Monterey, Calif., for the first time in a decade. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Reading newspaper publisher apologises for Hillsborough tragedy insult

The publishers of a weekly newspaper have issued an unreserved apology for "appearing to link football hooliganism with the Hillsborough tragedy".The latest issue of the Reading Chronicle carries a front page story, headlined "The other face of football", which says:"Football hooliganism may be... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #vast majority


Medium's new iPhone app helps you read (but not write) long articles

We can't say we know all that many people who routinely digest articles posted through Medium's social publishing platform. However, the readership is bound to go up now that the service has released an iPhone app. The mobile client is more of a... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #iphone app


New Orleans crime for Exhibit A

Exhibit A's editor Byron Quertermous has signed The City of NO by Matthew Funk, a crime novel... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Germany’s Small Presses: Gourmet Reading for Book Gluttons

Germany's small press scene is thriving, with an eclectic mix of ambitious publishers seeking out new authors, experimenting with formats and finding audiences. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-03-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #small presses #eclectic mix


Trophy Wife Star Albert Tsai Spends His Free Time Reading Harry Potter Books

Specs Who Albert Tsai Age 9 Accomplishments Stars as Bert on ABC’s Trophy Wife (Tuesdays at 9:30/8:30c) Base Los Angeles I’ve read that you take all of your classes online. What’s that like? Yeah, I’m homeschooled. When I’m on set, there’s a studio teacher who helps me with my work. I like it,... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #angry birds #full version #star wars #candy crush #walt disney #saving mr #good movies #harry potter


In The New York Times' New Summary App, A Glimpse At The Future Of Reading

Mobile might be the biggest transition for news organizations since the World Wide Web--and the New York Times is on it.On March 8, the New York Times unveiled a new app called NYT Now that signals a major shift in how publishers package the news. For $8 a month, NYT Now will offer users access... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2014-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #news organizations #limited number #phone interview #newest version


Join PW's Cookbook Webcast

This Friday, March 21, panelists will discuss the surprising places where cookbooks are selling. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #join pw #cookbook webcast


Mondadori Buys Social Reading Platform

Mondadori has acquired social reading service Anobii, which has more than a million users worldwide, with its strongest base in Italy. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Berkley Prime Crime Turns 20

Berkley Prime Crime made its debut 20 years ago, releasing 40 mass market cozy mystery paperbacks in 1994. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Ex-New York Times Writer Develops An App To Get Busy People Reading More

In Dickens's day, serialized novels were all the rage. Rooster aims to revive that trend, making it easier than ever to find good books (and the time to read them).In the age of abbrevs., sitting down to read a novel can feel like gearing up for a marathon, no matter how much you love books. The... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2014-03-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #love books #written word #sheer number


War hero depicted in hit TV miniseries Band of Brothers dies at 90

William 'Wild Bill' Guarnere fought in some of Europe's toughest battlesWilliam "Wild Bill" Guarnere, one of the second world veterans whose exploits were dramatised in the TV miniseries Band of Brothers, has died. He was 90.His son, William Guarnere Jr, confirmed on Sunday that his father died... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-03-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #best-selling memoir


Read Harry Potter books in a few hours? New tech may make it possible

A new technology that is set to make its debut in April could one day make it possible for users to read Harry Potter books in just a few hours.     Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2014-03-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Canongate signs first of Texan crime series

Canongate has signed world rights to Blackbird, the first in a new crime series by Texan author... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #canongate signs #crime series


Children's reading levels 'flatline from Year 6'

There is something “seriously amiss with the way secondary schools encourage young people... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-03-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #reading levels


Guardian digital revenues hit £70m

Publisher of the Guardian and Observer to announce 25% rise in revenues in year to end of March 2014The Guardian is expected to report an increase in digital revenues of more than a quarter to almost £70m in the last year, as the future of its national newspaper titles is secured for the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-03-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #online apps #continuing popularity #majority stake #significant investment


Celebrate Will Eisner Week 2014 and Read A Graphic Novel!

The Will and Ann Eisner Foundation unveiled an international slate of events to mark Will Eisner Week 2014, held March 1-7, to celebrate the life, work and influence of Will Eisner, a pioneering golden age comic book artist and one of the most innovative creators in the history of comics. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #international slate


Peanuts Gang Hits Sourcebooks' Digital Platform

Sourcebooks announced this morning that the Chicago-based publisher is adding the Peanuts gang to its Put Me in the Story digital platform, which allows parents to create personalized versions of children's books as an app or in print format. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital platform #sourcebooks announced #peanuts gang #print format


How Busy People Make Time To Read--And You Can Too

Haven't finished a book since college? Between work, family, and social lives, trying to find time to read can be more effort than relaxing hobby. Here's how to make more time for your favorite page-turners.Reading is one of the most pleasurable activities out there. On a scale of human... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2014-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #find time #reference book