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 ]

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This Week's Bestsellers: January 16, 2023

Holly Black has the #6 book in the country with the YA high fantasy 'The Stolen Heir.' Plus adult romance author Talia Hibbert makes the move to YA with 'Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute,' and January book club picks hit the bestseller lists. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-01-13 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Trying to Read More in 2023? These Things Can Help.

From audiobook subscriptions to bullet journals to reading lights, here are some things that can help you meet your 2023 reading goals.- Clare Barnett Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-01-09 11:34:00 UTC ]
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Nope, I do not like these AI audiobook narrators one bit.

Because AI is apparently just like us, it seems to have romanticized the creative fields. So instead of, say, figuring out how to help me dispute denied insurance claims, it’s more interested in writing children’s books, getting into poetry, and now… narrating audiobooks. Yesterday, The Verge... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-01-06 17:02:28 UTC ]
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Apple's new audiobook narration service uses AI voices

When you browse Apple Books for your next audiobook, you might come across a few titles with a note that says they were "Narrated by Apple Books." That's because the tech giant has released a catalogue of titles that make use of its new AI-powered digital narration service. The company said the... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-01-05 13:10:59 UTC ]
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Why AI audiobook narrators could win over some authors and readers, despite the vocal bumps

Apple and Google’s AI turn in a booming market may sound less than human and raise the ire of voiceover actors, but it has cost benefits For the first few seconds, the narrator of Kristen Ethridge’s new romance audiobook, Shelter from the Storm, sounds like a human being. The voice is light and... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-01-05 06:41:18 UTC ]
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The best sci-fi movies, books and shows to consume over the holidays

If you need a break from the hustle and cheer of the holidays, there’s nothing better than the ultimate escapist genre: sci-fi. This year has been a good one for those who like their entertainment off-planet or otherwise removed from our reality. We finally got a Predator sequel that isn’t... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-12-26 14:15:37 UTC ]
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Apple's AirPods Pro fall to $200, plus the rest of the week's best tech deals

While it's a bit late for most tech gifts to ship in time for Christmas, there are still many deals going on for those looking to buy something nice for themselves. Apple's AirPods Pro, for one, are down to an all-time low of $200, while Sony's WF-1000XM4 earbuds are still at a low of $178.... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-12-23 17:30:24 UTC ]
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How a Great Audiobook Narrator Finds Her Voices

Robin Miles was looking for stage and screen roles when she began reading books for the blind. She’s become one of the country’s most celebrated narrators. Continue reading at New Yorker

[ New Yorker | 2022-12-16 16:45:13 UTC ]
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‘Marvel's Spider-Man 2’ arrives on PS5 next fall

Sony announced the release window today for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, the sequel to 2018's Marvel's Spider-Man and 2020's Spider-Man: Miles Morales. The PlayStation 5 exclusive will launch in the fall of 2023.Insomniac Games’ sequel continues the stories of Peter Parker and Miles Morales as they... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-12-15 18:51:23 UTC ]
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The best digital gifts to send your friends and family

Chances are good you know someone who has subscription fatigue from the many digital services that have become essential in our lives. Or maybe you have a loved one getting a new game console or some other exciting new hardware. In either case, we’ve pulled together a number of digital gifts and... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-12-14 14:18:30 UTC ]
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'Hogwarts Legacy' delayed for Nintendo Switch, PS4 and Xbox One

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today delayedHogwarts Legacy yet again, but the most demanding versions of the game are spared. Instead, the postponement pushes the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions back to April 4th, 2023, with the Nintendo Switch variant arriving on July... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-12-13 18:54:21 UTC ]
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China Bestsellers: History, Awards, Humor

Awards and screen adaptations drive fiction, while humorous history stokes nonfiction, on China's October bestseller lists from OpenBook. The post China Bestsellers: History, Awards, Humor appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-12-13 17:47:51 UTC ]
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Have we fallen out of love with celebrity memoirs?

The year’s autobiography big-hitters haven’t sold as well as expected, with buyers disenchanted by pricing and lack of feelgood topicsFrom actors and musicians to athletes and presenters, there are no shortage of celebrity memoirs on bookshop shelves. This year has seen new books published by a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-12-09 10:52:17 UTC ]
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What Running Has Taught Me About Writing (and Vice Versa)

I’m a daily runner. When I run varies, depending on the day’s contours, but I always lace up and head out. Earbuds in, audiobook on, running app ready to track my slow miles along semi-rural roads. Often, I don’t want to go. No matter how much I practice, I find running difficult. When I was […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-12-08 09:53:23 UTC ]
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The Best Audiobook Thrillers to Listen to This Winter

Listen for the twists, turns, and secrets in ten of the best audiobook thrillers to listen to this holiday season! Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-12-06 11:34:00 UTC ]
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BookBeat in France: ‘Updated’ Audiobook Subscriptions

BookBeat is ditching an all-you-can-listen-to audiobook subscription in a major market and offering time-based options in six other countries. The post BookBeat in France: ‘Updated’ Audiobook Subscriptions appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-12-05 13:55:15 UTC ]
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Talking to Lake Bell About the 2022 Best Nonfiction and Culture Audiobooks

Every Monday through Friday, AudioFile’s editors recommend the best in audiobook listening. We keep our daily episodes short and sweet, with audiobook clips to give you a sample of our featured listens. Actor, author, and film director Lake Bell joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to learn more about... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-12-05 09:53:28 UTC ]
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Bookwire Has an Audiobook Deal With France’s Banijay

Based in Frankfurt, Bookwire's expansion into the French market includes audiobook production and distribution work with Banijay. The post Bookwire Has an Audiobook Deal With France’s Banijay appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-11-30 03:03:33 UTC ]
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Bookwire in France: A ‘New’ Audiobook Market

Bookwire's half-day 'All About Audio' conference highlighted trends in the fast-growing but still-young popularity of audiobooks in France. (Sponsored) The post Bookwire in France: A ‘New’ Audiobook Market appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-11-23 18:44:09 UTC ]
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China Bestsellers in September: ‘Humor and Wisdom’

Writerly craft, online serialization, television appearances, and studies of loneliness propelled titles onto the September bestseller lists in China. The post China Bestsellers in September: ‘Humor and Wisdom’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-11-16 09:12:19 UTC ]
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