Big books
Wednesday 22 July 2009
n2k looks at some of the biggest selling books old and new, and what inspired the authors to write them!
Harry Potter
Need we say more? Ever since J.K Rowling introduced us to Harry, Ron, Hermione and Hogwarts, the publishing world hasn’t been the same - and it seems everyone is caught in the Harry Potter spell.
However, did you know that the first book, The Philosopher’s Stone, wasn’t an immediate success? In fact, many publishers rejected the first story because at 90,000 words, they thought it was too long. Once the book was published though, it didn’t take long before it got the recognition it deserved.
Though Rowling had been continuously writing from the age of six, it wasn't until she was 25 and on a packed train to London that she came up with the idea of Harry and co. The rest is history!
The last book, Deathly Hallows, smashed all records held by the previous books, selling 2.7 million copies in the UK within one day. It made Rowling one of the most successful female writers of all time.
Twilight
Everyone’s a softy for a star-crossed love story. Twilight follows the story of Bella Swan and her relationship with Edward Cullen, a vampire. He’s not just any vampire though - he and his whole family are the good guys.
Stephenie Meyer came up with the story after dreaming about two people in a meadow. After some thought, those two people became Bella and Edward. She even included a meadow scene in the book, and it became a pivotal part of the story where Edward tells Bella his true nature.
The third book ‘Eclipse’ may have knocked Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows off the top spot but many critics and some professional writers have criticised Stephenie for her lack of depth and rushed nature of writing.
Despite this, the success of Twilight is growing and the book is now going to be made into a graphic novel. Look out for it soon. In the meantime, want to win a Twilight goody bag?
Lord of the Rings
The series of books are sequels to J.R.R Tolkien's original book, The Hobbit. The story is based around one ring which gives the person wearing it control over anyone living in Middle-earth. This power comes with its consequences though and anyone near it feels a sudden greedy need to have it in their hands.
Like many authors, Tolkien took his past experiences and included it his book. For instance, have you ever wondered how he came up with the language Quenya? He based it around the Finnish language which he learnt during his time at Oxford University.
Before his death in 1973, Tolkien had been greatly praised for his writing style. The Lord of the Rings books were more than a fantasy novel, but a story that showed real character development and allowed the readers to identify with the choices they made.
The Famous Five
One of Enid Blyton’s most popular books were The Famous Five series which told the adventures of Julian, Dick, Anne, Timmy the dog and Georgina, who Enid based on herself. Their adventures ranged from treasures hunts to solving mysteries and ghost stories and finding culprits.
Enid wrote over 600 novels, poems, plays and short stories throughout her life, many of which received positive reviews. However, during the ‘50s and ‘60s her books were banned in some areas and were criticised for the vocabulary she used. The ban didn’t last very long, and in fact it helped her get more publicity.
Some of Enid's books are now thought to be old fashioned. Decide for yourself - the characters have been brought back in The Famous Five’s Survival Guide which helps others go on their own adventures.
