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 ]
J K Rowling has told fans that Harry Potter is “done” after the release of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child playscript last weekend. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-08-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In spite of tepid critical reaction to 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two,' which became available to the public at precisely 12:01 a.m. on July 31, the book seems to have hit its high sales performance expectations. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-08-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Central London was once again full of wizards, Harrys, Hagrids and Hermiones last night (30th July) as Waterstones Piccadilly and Foyles on Charing Cross Road held extravagant parties to celebrate Little, Brown’s publication of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child– surely already the fastest... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A look back at the magical journey through Harry Potter's history leading up to the release of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child". Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Local fans of the "Harry Potter" books and films series are gearing up this weekend for something they've long yearned for — one more journey to the wizarding world."Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," a book edition of a play debuting this weekend at London's West End Palace Theatre, will be... Continue reading at Baltimore Sun
[ Baltimore Sun | 2016-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Katherine Cowdrey on returning to the magic of Harry Potter as an adult with the "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" play. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Reviews for the upcoming 'Potter' stage play are so far very positive. What about the show has so impressed reviewers? Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2016-07-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The verdict is in for "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child", with reviewers hailing the two-part play "a dazzling duel of light and dark" (the Guardian), "a triumph" (the Telegraph), and "a magical experience tailor made for the stage, filled to the brim with fan service" (the Independent). Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Harry Potter fans, booksellers, and librarians are getting ready to party like it's 2007: Scholastic is prepping to release 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two' on July 31. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-07-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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‘Gerald and I looked through the vents and saw a male having intercourse. I noted that Gerald ejaculated at 7.51pm’I know a married man with two children who bought a 21-room motel near Denver many years ago in order to become its resident voyeur. I first became aware of this individual in 1980... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2016-07-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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David Walliams, Malorie Blackman and Axel Scheffler are some of the authors and illustrators appearing at this year’s Bath Children’s Literature Festival. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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JK Rowling's Harry Potter series tops a BBC Local Radio poll of books that adults say children should read. Continue reading at BBC News
[ BBC News | 2016-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Booksellers are hoping that the release of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child later this month will offset the negative impact economic uncertainty has had on footfall following the Brexit vote. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Paula Hawkins took back the number one spot from David Walliams, a book/DVD deal propelled The Revenant close to the summit and vlogger Zoella showed why she just may be the new Richard & Judy. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-06-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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They were supposed to be a secret, but when word leaked that the new "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" in London was using real owls during performances, fans of the saga went wild on social media. Alas, the owls have officially flown the coop before the blockbuster West End production... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Theatre critics have responded enthusiastically to the first part of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which previewed at London’s Palace theatre last night (7th June). Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-06-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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David Walliams has claimed his 14th Official UK Top 50 number one, as The World’s Worst Children (HarperCollins) shunted Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train (Black Swan) off the top spot, selling 64,137 copies for £441,875 through Nielsen BookScan's Total Consumer Market. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Retailers are plotting a range of spellbinding evenings across the UK ahead of the release of JK Rowling’s "eighth Harry Potter book”, the play script for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Little, Brown). Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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It’s been 19 years since the events of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” and boy does it show. The first images of upcoming West End stage play “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” written by English playwright Jack Thorne and based on a story from Thorne and “Potter” scribe J.K. Rowling,... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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