Big news for 10 authors today – Richard and Judy have announced their summer reads and the 10 lucky writers will find their work turned into bestsellers almost overnight. As usual there’s a good mix of titles and I’m sure everyone will find something to enjoy in the selection. So far I’ve only read one – The Night Circus – but on first glance I think I could happily pick up any book on the list. I’m particularly impressed by how relevant the titles are including one set at the Silver Jubilee and one focusing on financial shenanigans. If the say-so of Richard and Judy wasn’t enough then the clever marketing should draw attention to the titles.
The list is:
The Thread
Jubilee
The Fear Index
The Night Circus
The Secrets Between Us
The Hypnotist
Tideline
The Book of Summers
A Perfectly Good Man
Alice Bliss
Will you be picking up books from the list? Or have you already read some? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
Hmm, interesting list. I’ve only read The Secrets Between Us, which was a Transworld Book Club title last year and really excellent. It’s inspired by Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca and keeps you guessing right the way through.
I’m just about to pick up The Night Circus, and have preorders in for The Thread and Jubilee paperbacks already. It’s good to know Richard and Judy approve of my choices! I wonder why it is that they have so much influence over a book’s popularity – more than book prizes like the Orange or Booker even. Is it because these books are seen as more accessible?
I think accessibility is important, as is availability – these books will be on display right at the front of bookshops now.
But also Richard and Judy are seen by many as friends. They were on our TVs together every day for so long that a relationship developed. While prizes like the Orange or Booker are seen to be the choices of stuffy critics (even if that isn’t the case), the R&J choices are recommendations from friends we know and trust.