Books

Bestselling author J.K. Rowling's work has captivated millions with the Harry Potter series, creating a world filled with magic, adventure, and timeless themes of friendship, love, and morality.But when it comes to her own favorite books, the British writer has a clear favorite - one that doesn’t involve wizards or any fantastical creatures whatsoever.Rowling has often spoken about her deep love of literature, revealing the books that have shaped her as both a reader and a writer. She has mentioned several classics over the years, but one novel stands above the rest in her opinion: Emma by Jane Austen.Published in 1815, Emma follows the life of Emma Woodhouse, a wealthy young woman who considers herself an expert matchmaker. Confident in her ability to orchestrate love stories, she medd...

A 2000 year old novel, considered a “gossip-y” account of the Roman Emperors’ personal lives, has entered the book's bestseller charts.The Lives of the Caesars, originally written in Latin by Roman historian Suetonius in AD 121, was translated into English by The Rest Is History podcast co-host Tom Holland and published on February 13.Originally titled ‘De vita Caesarum’, the book is a set of twelve biographies of the first emperors of the Roman Empire: Julius Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian, Titus and Domitian.Detailing ancient policy failures, racy scandals, imperial eccentricity and various levels of gossip, the book reached the Sunday Times hardback nonfiction chart this week, and made history as Penguin Classics’ first title t...

Although known for being the master of thrillers himself, the British author doesn’t shy away from getting inspired by the work of other authors.Glimpsing into Child’s literary influences, Dead Good Books updated his list of top 18 novels last autumn.The titles span from from tense psychological thrillers to high-stakes political dramas, reflecting the writer’s knack for spotting edge-of-your-seat stories.Take a look at Lee Child’s ten favourites:You Don’t Know Me - Imran Mahmood In Lee Child’s words: “A daring concept executed to perfection”This story follows an unexpected turn of events during the trial of a young man accused of murder. At first, all the evidence points to his guilt. However, during the trial, he suddenly dismisses his lawyer and recounts the events in his own words, ...

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards on stage at the now notorious Altamont festival (Image: Getty)The Rolling Stones had just begun Under My Thumb and Mick Jagger was only a line or so into the song when music writer Stanley Booth, standing beside guitarist Keith Richards’ amplifier, spotted movement in front of the stage.His eye was drawn to a young man in a lime-green suit, black hat and shirt, carrying a nickel-plated revolver.It was December 6, 1969. Some 300,000 revellers were at the ill-fated Altamont Free Concert on a raceway outside San Francisco. It was only four months after the “peace and love” of the legendary Woodstock festival in upstate New York, but both were in short supply as the likes of Jefferson Airplane and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young performed.Today the event is r...

Outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare, British crime-writing legend Agatha Christie is the best-selling novelist in history.Known throughout the world as the Queen of Crime, Christie wrote some 75 novels, including a whopping 66 detective novels.She also wrote the world's longest-running play, “The Mousetrap", which has been running today in London’s West End since 1952.Christie unsurprisingly found herself adored by legions of fans across the globe thanks to her talent to write suspenseful novels that leave readers guessing until the end and her ability to create memorable characters.In 1972, one fan from Japan wrote to Christie, listing their favourite novels from her catalogue.Agatha Christie wrote a letter in response, listing her own 10 favourite books. But she left one of her ...

Lee Child, the bestselling author behind the iconic Jack Reacher series, isn’t shy about sharing his literary loves. And when it comes to his all-time favourite, one book stands above the rest.In his own words, it’s “the greatest legal thriller ever written.” The novel? None other than Harper Lee’s 1960 masterpiece, To Kill a Mockingbird.Named as his number one choice in Waterstone’s Writer’s Table list of his top 40 books, this classic has clearly left a lasting impression on the Coventry-born writer. But what makes it so special, and why does a man known for his hard-hitting thrillers and gripping crime sagas rank this tale of racial injustice at the top?Set in the sleepy town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the 1930s, To Kill a Mockingbird is told through the innocent eyes of Scout Finch...

John Grisham has revealed his top seven favourite booksThe American novelist is known for his best-selling legal thrillers. He has written 37 consecutive number-one fiction bestsellers and sold 300 million copies worldwide.His novels include The Rainmaker, The Firm, The Partner, The Guardians, The Testaments, and The Client. Ten of his works have been adapted for TV and film.Along with Tom Clancy and J. K. Rowling, Grisham is one of only three anglophone authors to have sold two million copies on the first printing.Here’s a look at the full list of John Grisham’s favourites:7. A Private Cathedral by James Lee Burke“David Robicheaux is one of the most interesting detectives in contemporary fiction. Here, he’s back for the 23rd time and he takes on two Cajun crime families that try unsucc...

James Bond star Pierce Brosnan could've made a brilliant priest as a guest star in Father Ted (Image: Getty / Channel 4)It’s routinely cited in lists of the best comedy shows of all time and still has a huge fan base 30 years on. Father Ted, set on a remote Irish island, helped launch the careers of several comedians as well as guest-starring many famous faces. But there was one that got away – Pierce Brosnan.The James Bond star, who appeared in GoldenEye and The World Is Not Enough, was considered for a part in the Christmas special in 1996, producer Lissa Evans reveals.Brosnan had already made his Bond debut the year before and had been filming in Ireland when the idea came about.Lissa, now 64, who produced series two and three of the hit show, explains: “While we were trying to cast ...

Stephen King's list of favourites includes historical dramas, fiction and fantasy titles (Image: Getty)Although he’s the master of horror and suspense, Stephen King’s love of literature extends far beyond his own genre.In a unique celebration of Goodreads’ 10th anniversary back in 2017, the iconic author ranked his top 10 favourite books, revealing a blend of classics and lesser-known works which helped him get inspiration for his own work.But not without disclaiming how “ridiculous” a list like this would be to build: “On another day, ten different titles might come to mind, like The Exorcist, or All the Pretty Horses in place of Blood Meridian.”“On another day I’d be sure to include Light in August or Scott Smith’s superb A Simple Plan. The Sea, the Sea, by Iris Murdoch. But what the ...

Visitors walk among the graves of Commonwealth troops killed at Gallipoli in Eceabat, Turkey (Image: Getty)The sun glinted on the sea and its heat warmed the back of my neck. I walked, completely alone, up paths and across fields, as the country around me was starting to burst into spring. It was April 2009 and I was on leave before going to Helmand Province in Afghanistan as part of the British Army’s effort to bring security to the country.The peace was broken only by the sound of birds and my own laboured breathing.In 1915, though, the Gallipoli peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean was a deathscape – the scene of some of the most appalling conditions and brutal fighting of the entire First World War. Nearly a century later, I had travelled up the west coast of Turkey to spend a few...