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'

Retirement Community Residents Write Surprise WWII Hit

A last-minute addition to the University Press of New England list has become the fastest-selling book in the Hanover, N.H., university press consortium’s 42-year history and its first book to hit Amazon’s top 10. World War II Remembered isn’t even published by one of its regular distribution... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-03-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fastest-selling book #self-published book #university press

De Los | Reads: 9 books to read during the holidays by Latinx authors

If you want inspiration for the new year, the nonfiction section has a self-care title that promises a meditative reading and a graphic novel about the Latinx leaders who changed the history of the U.S. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-12-13 18:42:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #latinx authors #graphic novel

Otto Penzler Announces New True Crime Imprint Crime Ink

The latest imprint under Penzler Publishers aims to publish four to six true crime books books in its first year beginning in winter 2024. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-08-03 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |

‘Didn’t read it, will not read it’: Harry and Meghan of little interest to Montecito neighbours

The world’s fastest-selling memoir is merely an episode in a soap opera in the Sussexes’ adopted Californian hometownOn the day Prince Harry’s controversial, headline-grabbing memoir Spare officially became the fastest-selling non-fiction book in history, the bookstore in his adoptive hometown... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-01-21 14:25:09 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #soap opera #santa barbara #bookstore #non-fiction book #memoir

New Right to Read Bill Expands School Library Access, Students’ Rights to Read

The Right to Read Act was introduced in Congress October 6. Here's what it is and how it could impact libraries and book bans nationwide. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-10-10 14:39:31 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #read act #libraries

2 great thrillers to read now -- and 2 for your summer reading list

Get ready for summer with domestic suspense novels by Lisa Scottoline, Sally Hepworth, Katie Gutierrez and Amanda Jayatissa Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-05-14 12:00:14 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #lisa scottoline #sally hepworth

Reading Short Stories is Helping Me Fall in Love With Reading Again

Inspired by another Rioter's bookish rituals, I'm trying my own. I wake up earlier than usual to enjoy a slow morning reading short stories. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-11-18 11:36:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #short stories

The Reading Agency reveals 2022 Quick Reads covers

The Reading Agency has unveiled the covers for its 2022 Quick Reads titles, written by the likes of Paula Hawkins, Graham Norton and Alex Wheatle. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-09 07:14:30 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #reading agency #paula hawkins #graham norton #alex wheatle

Why read what everyone else is reading? A guide to this season’s hidden gems.

Our critic’s picks include a new edition of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and a biography of Whistler. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-12-02 14:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hidden gems

Sam Adams | 'I just wanted to write and I’ve done so whenever I’ve had the opportunity'

For more than half a century, Sam Adams’ eclectic output has made him a stalwart of Wales’ literary scene. He discusses his latest novel Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-16 01:59:07 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary scene

My 6 Favorite Cookbook Authors and Their One Must-Have Cookbook

Check out tried-and-true recipes crafted by these skilled chefs, and keep these must-have cookbooks at the ready in your kitchen library. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-05-21 10:38:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #cookbook

Read Harder: Read A Horror Book Published By An Indie Press

You will scare yourself silly with these chilling horror books published by an indie press. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-01-10 11:33:18 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #read harder #indie press #book published

Read Harder: Read a YA Nonfiction Book

Read Harder Challenge participants, and anyone looking for broader reading horizons, we've got your recommendations for the YA nonfiction book task. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-12-04 11:32:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #read harder #nonfiction book

Up Your Reading Game With These Book Reading Accessories

You can make your reading experience *even better* with these great book reading accessories. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-11-15 11:38:51 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #great book #book reading

Where do you read books? I read at the mall.

Books are about people. Reading while you’re around them is a useful reminder of that. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-09-20 12:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #read books

National Poetry Day reading lists to feature YA reads

YA-themed books will feature on this year's suggested reading lists to celebrate National Poetry Day on 3rd October. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-08-22 22:42:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #3rd october

Summer Reading Challenge kicks off as one in three parents say reading slips in holidays

One in three parents say regular reading with their children slips in the summer holidays, according to a Reading Agency survey ahead of this year's Summer Reading Challenge. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-12 00:23:25 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #summer holidays

If you read one Mark Zuckerberg takedown today, read this one

Facebook cofounder Chris Hughes has harsh words about Facebook and its founder. Thursday morning, the New York Times published an op-ed by Facebook cofounder Chris Hughes that pulled no punches. Hughes’s message was right there in the headline: “It’s time to break up Facebook.”Read Full Story Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2019-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harsh words #thursday morning

Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival: ‘Making Reading a Lifelong Habit’

Devised as a highly participatory hub of more than 2,500 events, the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival opens in the coming UNESCO World Book Capital. The post Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival: ‘Making Reading a Lifelong Habit’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sharjah children #reading festival #making reading

Scholastic’s New ‘Kids & Family Reading’ Report: Reading Aloud Is Up

Scholastic's biennial Kids & Family Reading Report finds American families are reading books aloud to their children more often. The post Scholastic’s New ‘Kids & Family Reading’ Report: Reading Aloud Is Up appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post scholastic #reading aloud