Top books of the decade

Top of the pops...

Congratulations to JK Rowling for being the best selling writer of the decade. Harry Potter topped the table by miles (or rather millions).  Quite right too. I remember reading Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone for the first time and thinking how special it was. All the ingredients were there – the neglected orphan who finds out he’s actually quite special – the amazing school – the gang of disparate friends and enemies. Witches, wizards and nearly headless ghosts. What’s not to like? Go Harry!

It’s heartening to see how many children’s authors are in the Top 30. Apart from JK Rowling at number 1, Roger Hargreaves and his Mr Men are at 3, Jacqueline Wilson at 4, Terry Pratchett at 6, Daisy Meadows at 11, Enid Blyton at 12, Julia Donaldson at 15 and Francesca Simon at 16. JRR Tolkein, Philip Pullman, Anthony Horowitz, Lemony Snicket and Stephanie Meyer are all up there, too. Meyer’s inclusion is quite an achievement given the relatively short part of the decade her Twilight series has been out.