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 ]
Harper Lee’s unexpected companion novel to To Kill a Mockingbird has bookshops readying for huge salesRead the first chapterListen to an extract read by Reese WitherspoonFirst chapter review: A beguiling journey into the pastSix months ago, it was a book the literary world would have laughed off... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Paula Hawkins’s novel has now been top of the UK hardback book chart for 20 weeks, outlasting even Dan Brown’s Lost Symbol• How Paula Hawkins wrote ‘the new Gone Girl’A record set six years ago by Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol was broken this week by Paula Hawkins’s dark thriller The Girl on the... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Personal Creations show how long it takes kids to read classic books, from Clifford the Big Red Dog to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The post How Long It Takes Kids to Read Popular Books appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-06-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author J K Rowling has confirmed that a Harry Potter play, entitled "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child", will open in the West End next year. Rowling broke the news today (26th June) on Twitter, saying the play “will tell a new story, which is the result of a collaboration between writer Jack... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Potter' author J.K. Rowling recently revealed more details about the new play about the boy wizard that's opening in London in 2016. What will the story of the new play be? Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-06-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In Brazil this past April and May, 17.34% of all books sold were coloring books — a genre which has dominated the bestseller lists for months. The post The Coloring Book Phenomenon Takes Over Brazil appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Explainer,' the upcoming book by 'What If?' writer Munroe, is already near the top of bestseller lists despite not being published until November. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-05-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The 'Theory of Everything' actor has reportedly been offered the role of protagonist Newt Scamander. 'Harry Potter' author J.K. Rowling is writing the screenplay for the movie, which is set in the world of 'Potter.' Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-05-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Lee Child and Paula Hawkins have given Transworld two chart-toppers in this week's bestseller lists. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bloomsbury has bought world English rights to a book about racism in the UK by 25-year-old activist and freelance journalist Reni Eddo-Lodge. Commissioning editor Alexa von Hirschberg acquired Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race from Rupert Heath of Rupert Heath Literary... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The book by the 'Water for Elephants' writer has held steady on bestseller lists, though some critics gave the book negative reviews. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As the fictional anniversary of a 'Harry Potter' battle was celebrated, Rowling took to social media to apologize to fans for killing off a beloved character. More may be coming. 'I thought I might apologise for one death per anniversary,' the author wrote. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-05-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As the fictional anniversary of a 'Harry Potter' battle was celebrated, Rowling took to social media to apologize to fans for killing off a beloved character. More may be coming. 'I thought I might apologise for one death per anniversary,' the author wrote. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-05-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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British scientists say their research confirms that emotion-charged passages in 'Harry Potter' books have significant impact on the brains of readers. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-04-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'You will fail,' says 'Harry Potter' author J.K. Rowling, talking about her new book 'Very Good Lives.' 'That's inevitable. It's what you do with it.' Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Surge in popularity of genre attributed to ‘anti-stress’ benefits and nostalgiaThe bestselling title on Amazon in the US right now is not Harper Lee’s hugely anticipated second novel, Go Set a Watchman, or George RR Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series, or even Zoella’s much-mocked but... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-04-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Yes' was released almost six months ago but it's still holding steady on multiple bestseller lists. Poehler starred on the NBC sitcom 'Parks and Recreation' as well as 'Saturday Night Live' and films such as 'Anchorman 2' and 'The Secret World of Arrietty.' Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-04-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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When a fan questioned Rowling's statement that she envisioned 'Harry Potter' character Dumbledore as gay, the author replied that 'gay people just look like ... people.' 'Amazing answer,' the fan replied. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New titles dominated the top spots on bestseller lists across international markets last month. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A busy publication schedule drove change across all the major Bookseller charts last week, with titles from James Patterson, David Walliams, Jeffrey Archer and Helen MacDonald all chalking up number ones in their first week of sale. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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