Books

Autobiographies are one of the most popular genres of books. They give the public unparalleled insight to the lives of sports stars, celebrities and leading politicians. Unlike memoirs, autobiographies generally tend to focus on the broader scope of the author's life instead of specific moments. The works of Anne Frank and Malcolm X have become hugely influential as historic literature for the 20th century but neither occupy the best of all time status, according to Forbes.These are the top 10 autobiographies as ranked by the US publication.10. The Soul of a Butterfly by Muhammad Ali and Hannah Yasmeen Ali (2003)Muhammad Ali’s co-authored The Soul of a Butterfly is a look into the renowned hree-time World Heavyweight Champion's focuses personal and spiritual evolution outside of his box...

The literary fusion of fantasy and romance, aptly called 'Romantasy', has been stealing readers' hearts lately. Soaring in demand and dominating social media platforms like TikTok, where enthusiasts are affectionately termed #BookTok, this genre is having its moment under the spotlight.Romancing the Data, a romance-focused analytics site, sifted through 53 elite lists to single out the crème de la crème of romantasy reads. Securing the crown in the romantasy realm was the beloved A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas. Fans well-acquainted with the genre will hardly be startled by this outcome, knowing all too well the series' towering stature.The team at Romancing the Data wrote: "A captivating fantasy where a huntress enters a faerie realm, facing romance, danger, and a...

Sir David Attenborough has generously donated more than 1,000 copies of his new book about oceans to school libraries to celebrate his 99th birthday today and encourage the next generation of young naturalists. Ocean: Earth’s Last Wilderness, co-written with long-time collaborator Colin Butfield and published today, is the story of our last great, critical wilderness which shapes the land we live on, regulates our climate and helps create the air we breathe."Access to books is one of the most influential elements of childhood,” said Sir David. “When writing Ocean we had in our minds that, whilst it is not a children's book, it should be one a secondary school pupil interested in the natural world might be able to read and enjoy. Having copies in 1,000 school libraries will give a great ...

Helen Fielding, the acclaimed author renowned for her Bridget Jones novels, has certainly made her mark in the literary world. Her iconic series kicked off with Bridget Jones's Diary in 1996, which later took the film industry by storm in 2001. This year saw the return of Bridget to cinemas with the screen adaptation of the 2013 novel, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.Following Bridget as she navigates life as a widow after the passing of her beloved Mark Darcy, the film was released in February. Prior to its premiere, Helen Fielding indulged Elle magazine with insights into her literary preferences for their 'Shelf Life' feature, revealing some seminal books that left a lasting impression on her.Topping her list was Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, a continuous source of inspiration ...

Do you enjoy a romantic novel? They aren't for everyone. For some, they offer escapism but for others – they are the worst. Fans of the genre will know that sometimes the romantic novel can become a bit too unrealistic and turn almost into a parody. Avid readers over on Goodreads have ranked their worst romance novels ever, citing plot holes and a lack of chemistry, but one author's series appears twice on the list.Here are the top 10 romance books that fans on Goodreads wish they never read.10. Thoughtless by S.C StephensIn at number 10 we've got the contemporary romance novel, Thoughtless by S.C Stephens. This book sounds like a quite the cliché, when Kiera and her boyfriend who are happily in love are forced apart, she chooses to look to local rock star named Kellan Kyle for support,...

Ever dreamt of a one-stop destination for all your book-related needs? Your wish has been granted with the arrival of The Bookish Drop, your weekly dose of everything books (though we regret to inform you that specific books and sweet treats are not part of the package).Catherine Shuttleworth , Danielle Kate Wroe, Talya Honebeek and Zoe Delaney will send you the latest book-related news straight to your inbox once a week. What can you expect from The Bookish Drop each week? If you're keen on getting the inside scoop on new releases months before they hit the shelves, exclusive author interviews, or discovering your next favourite indie writer to rave about to your friends, then The Bookish Drop is just the ticket.We're compiling all the book news you need into one easy-to-read newsl...

Fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses were left feeling underwhelmed when the series' 10th anniversary passed without any news of a new book. In anticipation of the anniversary, enthusiasts had speculated that the decade mark would bring an announcement for the next instalment, but their hopes were dashed.Yet, this hasn't dampened the spirits of readers who are now convinced that a new book announcement is imminent, with some predicting it will come at the end of the month. On Reddit, one confident fan posted: "I've never felt so confident in my life that we are getting an announcement on the 21st." Their reasoning? The large ACOTAR book displays cropping up in American bookstores all seem to be set to chapter 21.They also noted that such announcements often fall on Wednesdays, which alig...

Goodreads is the largest book site for readers and recommendations, so when it comes to a ranking, you know it's going to be reliable. But not all books get glowing reviews, in fact, some get quite the opposite. Readers have ranked their least favourite books on the platform, and one author of a certain series has received five spots in the top 10.Here are the top 10 worst books of all time according to ratings on Goodreads.10. The Da Vinci Code (Robert Langdon, #2) by Dan BrownDespite being a bestseller, this book gets the award for 10th worst book by Goodread readers. It is about Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon. While in Paris on business, he receives an urgent late-night phone call: the elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum and the police have found a b...

Ian Fleming is best known for writing 12 James Bond novels and a collection of 007 short stories inspired by his World War 2 military intelligence role.The author would pen one adventure a year from his Goldeneye retreat in Jamaica and lived to see Sean Connery’s Dr No and From Russia with Love.However, he only lived to visit the Goldfinger set before his sudden death in 1964 of a heart attack at just 56, after a lifetime of heavy smoking and drinking.A year prior, Fleming had taken part in the BBC’s Desert Island Discs radio programme, of which only a 9 minute audio fragment still remains.Alongside his music choices, he unsurprisingly said his luxury item would be a typewriter and paper, while also revealing his favourite novel.It turns out that alongside the complete works of Shakespe...

Terry Pratchett wrote over 50 books during his writing career, winning numerous awards, and was made a knight. He was best known for his Discworld series, - a 41-part-long humorous fantasy and science fiction series that parodied social and political issues.He was seen by many as a master of blending humour with fantasy, science fiction and even apocalyptical themes. But, in his 1997 interview with BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs he chose something a bit more grounded as the read of his life.He first described life in the hypothetical island as a potential oasis, away from literary fame: “That's fine by me. No telephone, no mail… I'm a fairly practical kind of person, so I'll probably be grubbing for food and fishing in the lagoon”.“I think for a writer, fame is something that happens...