Books

A period drama novel has been voted as the "very best historical fiction book" and fans have hailed it "life-changing". Outlander is a series of historical fantasy novels written by American author Diana Gabaldon. Gabaldon began the first volume of the series, Outlander, in the late 1980s, and it was then published in 1991. Since then, she has published nine out of a planned 10 volumes. Book reviewer site, She's Becoming Bookish, listed Outlander at the top of its ranking of "The Very Best Historical Fiction Books". She's Becoming Bookish stated: "If you love fantasy romance, Outlander should be at the top of your TBR—immediately. This is one of my all-time favourite series, and for good reason. "It tells the sweeping tale of Jamie Fraser, an 18th-century Scottish Highlander, and Claire...

Arthur Conan Doyle is the author of the iconic Sherlock Holmes stories, which have become a cultural fixture in literature. They first appeared in print in 1887 with Conan Doyle’s novel A Study in Scarlet. Many will have read or considered picking up the London detective’s complete case files. However, with a canon of 56 short stories in total, it can be tricky to know where to start. Here, we have compiled recommendations from the author himself, who listed his five favourites in The Strand Magazine in 1927, where the character’s popularity first blew up. This is Conan Doyle's top five Sherlock Holmes stories.5. A Scandal in BohemiaThe book's synopsis reads: "Holmes is hired by the King of Bohemia to recover blackmail evidence, held by the woman whom the king once promised to marry, bu...

The Book of Disquiet by Fernando PessoaPullman's first choice is The Book of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa. The book's synopsis reads: "Fernando Pessoa was many writers in one. He attributed his prolific writings to a wide range of alternate selves, each of which had a distinct biography, ideology, and horoscope. When he died in 1935, Pessoa left behind a trunk filled with unfinished and unpublished writings, among which were the remarkable pages that make up his posthumous masterpiece, The Book of Disquiet, an astonishing work that, in George Steiner's words, "gives to Lisbon the haunting spell of Joyce's Dublin or Kafka's Prague." Published for the first time some fifty years after his death, this unique collection of short, aphoristic paragraphs comprises the "autobiography" of Bernard...

Four decades since Tom Clancy’s ground-breaking debut espionage thriller The Hunt For Red October was dominating bestseller lists around the world, the spy story is enjoying a renaissance thanks to a new generation of writers.Forget John le Carré, Robert Ludlum and Ian Fleming, brilliant though they are, the world of fictional espionage is in the middle of a major shake-up. Suddenly, espionage is back in the bestseller lists again thanks to the likes of Mick Herron, David McCloskey, Tony Kent and I. S. Berry among others.Perhaps it’s something to do with the dire state of global politics, the invasion of Ukraine, and the rise of Russia and China as aggressors? After all, the last big spy writing boom came during the Cold War. Or maybe we just want escapism and nothing beats a good thril...

Autumn is when most of us are spending more time indoors, and it is the perfect time to put down your phone and get lost in one of the best murder mysteries ever written. The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie was first published in 1930, but even almost 100 years later it is a fun read thanks to its main character Miss Maple.Miss Maple is an elderly lady who is best described as the nosiest person in her village, and even through she is a gleeful gossip she has a brilliant mind which can spot even the smallest of details. This mystery begins with the murder of a wealthy judge who is found shot inside a vicar’s study room at the local church, and it is quickly revealed everyone in the village has a reason to want him dead. What is fantastic about this book is that no one in the v...

I asked authors to name 1 book everyone should read before they die (Image: Getty)Reading is one of the most productive and enjoyable ways you can pass the time. It has so many benefits, from expanding your knowledge to lowering stress levels and strengthening your brain's function. With this in mind, I asked authors to name the one book they think everyone should read before they die. There was a wide-ranging mix which included fiction and non-fiction. For more book recommendations, reviews and news, you can also click here to subscribe to our free weekly newsletter, The Bookish Drop, on Substack. Read more: ‘Greatest gangster series of all time’ is ‘better than The Godfather’ Read more: Can a neighbour paint my fence on their side - 7 experts have the same verdict 1. How to Win Fri...

When it comes to books, we all have our favourite genres. You could be making your way through all of the greatest murder mysteries on the shelf, or perhaps you enjoy escaping to never-heard-of fantasyscapes? For me, it's all about romance, and there is one book that will always be on the highest of pedestals and hard to beat.One Day by David Nicholls has been my favourite book for as long as I can remember. Released in 2009, it tells the story of two Emma and Dexter, two young students who come from opposing backgrounds and end up spending their graduation night together, knowing they will go their separate ways the next day, July 15 1988. We are then taken on a decade-long journey that revisits the same date (St. Swithens Day) every year, giving an insight to each of their lives and h...

These timeless classics continue to inspire and captivate readers around the world (Image: Getty)With so many classic books out there, knowing where to start can be overwhelming. From sweeping historical sagas and timeless romances to powerful psychological dramas, the literary canon is vast and not every "must-read" speaks to everyone. However, there are some books that despite being written decades or even centuries ago, continue to strike a chord today among millions of readers across the globe. They explore universal themes like love, loss, justice, identity or power, or complex characters that remain just as relevant now as when they were first published, drawing in generation after generation of readers. To help narrow things down, Sarah McKenna, Digital Content Manager at Penguin...

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Autumn is the perfect time to get lost in a book (Image: Getty)Autumn is almost here, and it won't be too long before the nights start drawing in. While these dark and chilly evenings can be difficult to adjust to after summer, it's the perfect time to embrace the cosiness - and what better way to do this than with a good book? Getting stuck into a story can make those autumn evenings a lot more joyful, with so many amazing books to choose from. We're a team of big readers here at The Express, so we have shared our favourite autumnal reads if you're in search of inspiration. From fresh starts to eerie happenings, they are the perfect way to embrace the change in seasons. Re...

Dan Brown has sold more than 250 million books yet can't get a break from the critics (Image: NurPhoto via Getty)Dan Brown has a simple rule of thumb when it comes to reviews. “Don’t read your press,” he tells me. “If you read your good press, you’re going to get lazy and conceited – if you read the bad stuff, you’ll get insecure and depressed.” The guidance came from a hugely successful woman writer, shared after some “particularly vicious reviews”, who concluded: “Neither one is helpful, so just put on the blinders, write the book you would want to read, and get on with your life.”How’s that going, I wonder? The bestselling US author has the grace to look a little sheepish as he smiles: “It’s been great advice, but I haven’t quite been able to not read my bad reviews or my good review...