Books

This book is so good that the movie was confirmed before the book was even published. Mickey 17 hit the cinemas on March 7 in the UK but many don’t know that it's actually based on the book with a slightly different name - Mickey7 by Edward Ashton.The book was officially published in February 2022 but director Bong Joon-ho had already completed the screenplay for the movie in September 2021 based on an early draft of the novel. Mickey7 is a science fiction novel in which a clone reassesses his purpose and humanity. The story follows the main character, Mickey Barnes who has been cloned to complete dangerous work on space exploration missions.For nine years, he has been deployed for hazardous assignments and subjected to experiments that test the limits of human endurance, his humanity s...

Stephen King is an author who’s written countless critically acclaimed books with fans citing certain ones as their favourite - and he has shared which one he likes the most. Some of King’s most famous novels include The Shining, It, Doctor Sleep, Carrie, Misery and Pet Cemetery.The author was born in 1947, in Portland, Maine, and has become a literary giant known for his mastery of horror, suspense and fantasy. With over 60 novels and 350 million copies sold worldwide, King has left a mark on the world of literature. In 2023, King gave his typewriter a momentary rest to host a Q&A session on Reddit promoting the then-new TV series based on his 2009 sci-fi book, Under the Dome, reports Far Out Magazine.For several hours, King’s fanbase flocked to pose their questions, one of which w...

Agatha Christie with her surfboard (Image: Supplied )Renowned as the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie is rightly famous for selling more than a billion copies of her novels, short story collections and plays, as well as creating beloved sleuths Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. But what is less known is that Christie is also believed to have been the first British woman to stand up on a surfboard.It almost feels improbable that an Englishwoman of her class and background in that day and age should have surfed but, remarkably, it’s true. So was Christie a thrill seeker both on and off the page?She was certainly passionate about the joys to be found in the sea. Growing up in Torquay in South Devon, the sea was always part of her life. In 1922, she and her first husband, Archie, set off on a ...

A collection of sexual fantasies from women around the world, collected and edited by The Crown and X-Files star Gillian Anderson, is among the titles nominated for this year’s prestigious British Book Awards. The London-based actor is shortlisted for Want alongside former PM Boris Johnson, for his political memoirs, and Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy’s autobiography, for non-fiction book of the year, with a second nomination for the year’s best non-fiction audiobook.Some of the year’s biggest and most critically-acclaimed titles by the likes of Stanley Tucci, Pete Wicks, Susie Dent, Richard Osman and Miranda Hart feature in the 14 shortlists for this year’s Nibbies – celebrating their 35th year and supported by the Daily Express. Literary authors Sally Rooney, Colm Tóibín and Percival E...

If you like your films then you definitely know who Morgan Freeman is.The celebrated actor, now 87, has starred in countless favourites over the years - from The Shawshank Redemption to Million Dollar Baby to Oblivion - but, as well as spending a lot of time in front of the camera, he also likes to spend time reading.Freeman is an avid reader, and he has some favourites that have inspired him. The list was recently shared on Pinterest, and it's got a lot of people talking, which is pretty apt considering it's World Book Day.During a previous interview with the New York Post, Freeman was asked which books had a definitive impact on his life, and he listed five.They honestly couldn't be more different, but they all hold a special place in his heart none the less. When it comes to inspira...

Sir Michael Caine, the legendary British actor, has spent more than six decades bulding a legendary career, earning two Oscars and becoming one of the most respected figures in the film industry.Whether it’s his iconic roles in The Italian Job, Alfie, or The Dark Knight trilogy, Caine’s influence on cinema is undeniable. But beyond his acting prowess, Caine is also an avid reader, particularly of thrillers - a passion that has even led him to write his own novels and memoirs.In a 2023 interview with The Times, Caine shared some of his literary favourites, offering insight into the authors who have kept him turning pages over the years. He expressed his love for fast-paced, gripping stories and revealed that he has read nearly every major thriller on the market. “Some of my favourite thr...

Graham Norton has revealed his five of his favourite booksThe Irish comedian and actor is best known for his chat show, The Graham Norton Show, which has been running since 2007 and won Norton five BAFTAs.In 2016, Norton published his debut novel Holding, about a murder in an Irish rural community. It won Popular Fiction Book of the Year in the Bord Gais Energy Irish Book Awards 2016 and was adapted for TV in 2022.He has since written five more books - Keeping, Home Stretch, Forever Home, and Frankie. All have been Sunday Times bestsellers in the UK and IrelandHere are some of Graham’s favourite books, as he told Waterstones in 2018.Now We Shall Be Entirely Free by Andrew MillerThis is a story of justice and revenge when a ravaged soldier returns from the Napoleonic War - a contemporary...

Charles Dickens has published 15 major novels, several novellas, and a large number of short stories (Image: Getty)Few authors have left a mark on literature as much as Charles Dickens. With novels packed with unforgettable characters, social commentary and ever-relevant themes, Dickens transported readers to Victorian England, and remains one of the most beloved authors of all time.Millions across the globe still enjoy his work, which will be celebrated for generations to come. But to determine which of his books are the most popular today, we take a look at their ranking on Goodreads, a literature reviewing website.Here are the twelve most read Charles Dickens novels, as of 2025, ranked.12. Our Mutual Friend30,529 ratings | 4.09 average ratingDickens’s final completed novel is a dark ...

Richard Osman has his own popular book series but the presenter turned author has revealed which books he enjoys reading in his free time.Osman’s favourite book of all time is reportedly Hercule Poirot: The Complete Short Stories by Agatha Christie.The stories are a series of detective works which follow the investigations of Hercule Poirot.Agatha Christie is known for her cult crime novels and she was dubbed the "queen of mystery". Her best known novel is Murder on the Orient Express.Another book Osman named as one of his favourites is Life After Life (2013) by Kate Atkinson.The book is set in 1910 when Ursula Todd is born to an English banker and his wife. She dies before she can draw her first breath.Ursula embarks on an unusual life - as she grows, she also dies, repeatedly, in a va...

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...