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 ]
A new play will pick up the story of Harry Potter where the seventh and final volume of JK Rowling's saga left off, with a plot involving a grown-up Harry and his youngest son, Albus. Continue reading at Stuff
[ Stuff | 2015-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
'Potter' fans now know what the upcoming play will be about and it involves more of the characters from the book series than they may have thought. The show is set to open in London in the summer of 2016. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Oprah Winfrey’s endorsement was once enough to boost books to bestseller lists and send sales soaring of products dubbed her “favorite things.”Now Weight Watchers International Inc. is counting on that influence to propel its waning weight-loss brand past the competition of free diet and fitness... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-10-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
It’s a big week for old favorites, especially among children’s authors: Rick Riordan has the #1 book in the country, Harry Potter is back with a new look, and ‘Twilight'’s Bella and Edward are back with new genders. Plus two books delved into Kennedy Clan history, Patti Smith follows up ‘Just... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
J.K. Rowling’s 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone' knocked Andy Weir’s 'The Martian' from its #1 spot on the iBooks Bestsellers list for the week ended October 11. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
It's been several years since the last book in the 'Potter' series was published, but judging by the fervor of fans, the boy wizard isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
David Walliams has held onto the Official Top 50 number one spot for the second straight week, notching up his best-ever single week of sales. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-10-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
From the multi-coloured sorting hat, to the sinister Snape to the red glow of Ron’s hair, we revel in Jim Kay’s glorious pictures for the new illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone• Win a copy of the new illustrated edition, plus a signed Jim Kay print and a Harry Potter... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-10-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
BBC1 adaptation of comedian’s book Billionaire Boy will star Cold Feet’s John Thomson and The Thick of It’s Rebecca FrontBBC1’s adaptation of David Walliam’s best-selling book Billionaire Boy will star Cold Feet’s John Thomson, The Thick of It’s Rebecca Front and Walliams as a “dirty old” dinner... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-10-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
More popular here than JK Rowling, No 1 children's author Andy Griffiths is in New Zealand meeting fans and signing books to promote his much-loved Treehouse book series. Continue reading at Stuff
[ Stuff | 2015-10-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The Environmental Protection Agency should have listened to Ron Weasley’s dad. In the Harry Potter books and films, Arthur Weasley is a bureaucrat in the British magical world’s chief regulatory agency, the Ministry of Magic, where his job is to protect people from dangerous devices. He is known... Continue reading at Slate
[ Slate | 2015-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
In the 'Potter' books, Hogwarts students always head back to school on Sept. 1. Many fans are celebrating today and 'Potter' fanatics have a new book (by Rowling although not set in the 'Potter' universe), a new theme park, and – a bit farther out – a new movie to look forward to. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-09-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
"Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling often interacts with fans on Twitter to share previously unknown facts about the characters from the wizarding world of her books, but a recent confession about Hagrid has left some people sad. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-09-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The Bear Who Went Boo!, about a cheeky polar bear cub, will be David Walliams’ next picture book, published by HarperCollins later this year. Children’s publisher Ann-Janine Murtagh said the book, which will be released 5th November in time for Christmas, is a “deliciously funny new tale”... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Pan Macmillan’s Bluebird imprint has acquired two more books by Joe Wicks. Wicks, also known as The Body Coach, is an online nutrition and fitness expert who has more than 430,000 followers on Instagram, where he posts pictures of meals from his #Leanin15 plan. He signed a two-book deal with... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
‘NYT’ changes kids’ bestseller lists and more in this week's publishing news briefs. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Bestselling Japanese novelist’s responses to readers’ queries published as a lengthy ebook, with an abridged version available in printHaruki Murakami is riding high in the charts again, after a digital edition of his latest work that stretches to eight volumes has raced up the bestseller... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Big successes in the publishing industry come in threes…or fours, fives, and sixes. Serialisation is a key factor in developing brands and launching star authors such as JK Rowling and George RR Martin. Publishing a series means each successive book accumulates a larger readership (propagated... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-07-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Bloomsbury will this November publish a deluxe edition of the illustrated Harry Potter, with artwork by Jim Kay, priced at £150. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – Deluxe Illustrated Edition will be published alongside the £30 version, also illustrated by Kay. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-07-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Sen. Ted Cruz's memoir "A Time for Truth: Reigniting the Promise of America" has sold 12,000 copies, reports Time magazine, and is ranked at No. 16 on Amazon's list of bestselling books. Readers interested in the Texas Republican's autobiography can find it at most bookstores, but there's one... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-07-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this