books
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The huge hit A Little Life, a cultural history of the weather, and life as a London cycle courier - readers recommend their favourite books of 2015
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Roberto Saviano is determined to uncover capitalism’s complicity with the narco-lords of South America
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Tolstoy for today A War and Peace for our time
Mark LawsonAndrew Davies’s new TV adaptation of War and Peace may be racy and pacy, but how does it compare to the Hollywood and Soviet movie versions, or the epic 1970s BBC series? -
The books interview: The war reporter turned thriller writer on the Irish Troubles, Calabrian mafia and why he won’t be retiring yet
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The Arab world’s bestselling author is currently being silenced by his country’s authorities, so this translation could hardly be more urgent
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And Then There Were None is the bestselling mystery novel of all time. The new adaptation could also be the TV event of the year
2015 in books
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Fiction, food, biographies, sport... the best books of the year as selected by critics and authors for the Guardian and the Observer
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The huge hit A Little Life, a cultural history of the weather, and life as a London cycle courier - readers recommend their favourite books of 2015
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What was Lolita’s surname? Which wine did Hannibal Lecter really enjoy with his liver and fava beans? Test your literary knowledge with these brainteasers set by writers like Ian Rankin, Sarah Waters and William Boyd
news
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Grade II-listed Victorian house where Scot wrote The Hound of the Baskervilles is to be redeveloped for use as a school
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Owner of Morioka Shoten in Tokyo says the strategy adds up to a dedicated exhibition for each volume it sells
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Spoof handbook – part of series by Joel Morris and Jason Hazeley – proves popular stocking filler for festive period
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Spoof titles with vintage artwork strike a chord with Christmas shoppers, selling more than 600,000 copies in less than two months
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The idea of a black Hermione is fantastic in pushing against the idea that fictional heroes are white by default – but it also points to inconsistencies in the series
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The small, brave heroine of these sweet tales is full of infectious fun, but adult readers can sense the sadness behind the fun, writes Aida Edemariam
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regulars
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Top 10sTop 10sTop 10 kitchens in literatureFor readers bracing themselves for the Christmas roast, literature provides some rich culinary experiences that will leave you happier to be working at your own stove
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Reading groupReading groupAndrea Levy's Jamaica has vivid colours, but many shades of greyThe Long Song provides a sharp picture of the cruelty and injustice of slavery, but it is always nuanced
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PodcastPodcastHarper Lee: a happy return to Maycomb? – books podcastJohn Crace puts the squeeze on Go Set a Watchman, and considers its effect on the author’s reputation
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Book of the dayBook of the dayThe Automobile Club of Egypt by Alaa al-Aswany review – a country on the brink of violent changeThe Arab world’s bestselling author is currently being silenced by his country’s authorities, so this translation could hardly be more urgent
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The life of a ‘dream architect’ whose work transcended the conventions of an era
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At last, a dignified biography of one of the 20th century’s most misunderstood figures
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In contrast to the bleakness of his art, this starry-eyed chronicle shows the painter could be genial, generous and waspishly funny
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History The Hundred Years War, Vol IV: Cursed Kings by Jonathan Sumption
Diarmaid MacCullochThere is no ‘God for Harry’ spin here, but this is a book packed with crazed kings, dastardly betrayals and foul dungeons -
Newly translated into English, Nadar’s writings offer us the opportunity to revisit a bizarre and compelling character who took portraits of most of the Parisian cultural elite
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Memoir Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink by Elvis Costello – vividly captures a bygone age
Ian PenmanThis memoir takes us on a voyage through the vanished world of 1970s Britain, and from the urgency of youth to a comfortable middle age
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In Kay’s intriguing novel, a weak, manipulative protagonist develops a self-induced passion while transcribing phone-tapping tapes
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A pack of feral teenagers raise hell as they pursue their wildest visions of utopia
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Book of the day Death By Water by Kenzaburo Oe – Japan’s Nobel laureate muses on memory
Steven PooleOe’s literary alter ego guides the reader through a dense forest of stories and competing recollections
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With its gothic motifs, this dark portrait of a ‘fairytale’ marriage is full of mystery and suspense
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Brilliantly mixing sci-fi with politics, this gripping comic strip is an institution in Latin America
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Karine Tuil’s promising tale of identity theft is let down by racial and sexual stereotyping
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It’s the fine detail that enthrals in this tale of small lapses that lead to escalating calamity
people
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President Obama and Amazon named Lauren Groff’s word-of-mouth sensation Fates and Furies as their book of the year. As with Gone Girl, it seems readers can’t resist a dark take on modern matrimony
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John Crace puts the squeeze on Go Set a Watchman, and considers its effect on the author’s reputation
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Gangs, gay sex and pandering to the white woman. Man Booker prize winner Marlon James talks to Guardian books editor, Claire Armitstead, and answers audience questions at a Guardian Live event on A Brief History of Seven Killings
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A year ago, the ex-journalist was nervously awaiting the publication of her make-or-break novel, The Girl on the Train. Within weeks it had topped the UK and US charts
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How much attention were you paying this year? Try our bumper boxing day quiz and test your knowledge of 2015 in children’s books. The bell’s ringing… get ready to box!
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Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much loved Stick Man has been turned into an animated film to be shown on Christmas day. Discover the story through stills from the TV film and original illustrations
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From A Christmas Carol to The Snowman, Matt Haig picks the books that will put even the most bah-humbuggiest Scrooge into a festive mood
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Mary, Joseph and Jesus were frightened refugees on the run from Herod, who relied on the kindness of strangers. Anne Booth talks us through her new timely and timeless version of the story which she wrote to raise money for children fleeing war today
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There’s something about a little robin red breast that makes us feel so festive – and here’s Suzanne Barton with a sweet lesson on how to draw one
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What’s a Christmas Eve tree? According to The Christmas Eve Tree by Delia Huddy and illustrated by Emily Sutton, it may be a little lopsided, even a bit ugly, but with love, it’s the best tree in the world. Emily Sutton shows you how to draw your own Christmas Eve tree
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Find out how John Hegley's orange parrot, Peter, saves the day at Christmas!
A selection of our favourite literary content from around the world
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The Little Library CaféThe Little Library CaféFood in books: crystallised ginger from The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding by Agatha ChristieAgatha Christie’s novels are a Christmas staple for Kate Young, inspiring a recipe to warm the heart and hearth through the festive season
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Translation Tuesdays by AsymptoteTranslation Tuesdays by AsymptoteTranslation Tuesday: Hedgehogs by Amanda MichalopoulouA troubled couple see hedgehogs as a metaphor for their sexual problems, in this short story by Greek writer Amanda Michalopoulou, the latest in our translated fiction series
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pictures, video & audio
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From the folk tales of ETA Hoffman and Alexandre Dumas to Tchaikovsky’s ballet and beyond, translater Sarah Ardizzone traces the evolution of one of our best-loved Christmas stories
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Pottermore have revealed exciting brand new covers for the ebook versions of Harry Potter, now available – what do you think of them, and how do they compare to Jonny Duddle’s new jacket designs?
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Kanye West and Susan Sontag, Darth Vader and Hilary Mantel: after years of running a popular Tumblr mixing literature and pop culture, Maris Kreizman’s new book presents a carefully and provocatively selected mash of pop cultrature. Here are some extracts, with her commentary
you may have missed
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The Man Booker prize winner is happy to discuss his identity as a gay Jamaican, but doesn’t see why it should limit the scope of his writing
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The novelist and poet on snobbery towards genre fiction, bringing Hercule Poirot back from the dead and how Mother Goose got her hooked on rhyme
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A Christmas poem The Wren-Boys
Carol Ann DuffyA new Christmas poem by Carol Ann Duffy -
Which books did well, which were left on the shelves, and which made them green with envy?
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JK Rowling explains refusal to join cultural boycott of Israel
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Topics
- Fiction
- Children and teenagers
- Children's books: 8-12 years
- Children's books: 7 and under
- Best books of 2015
- Best books
- Teen books
- Best books of the year
- 2015 in review
- Poetry
- Biography
- Publishing
- History
- Autobiography and memoir
- Picture books
- Crime fiction
- Christmas
- Awards and prizes
- Science and nature
- Illustration
Rudyard Kipling An unexpected revival for the ‘bard of empire’