Yesterday was World Book Day. At least that’s what popped up all over my WordPress Reader. I also happened to see at least one person call it Erotic Book Day. We’ll just assume she was trying to bring attention to herself because that can’t really be a thing. I surely hope not.
Anyway, yesterday was World Book Day. And I have no idea what we were celebrating. Was it someone’s birthday from a few centuries ago? Or maybe the original publication date of one of the most known works in history? I have no clue. But surely there’s some reason March 5th is the date. So in honor of the momentous day, here are ten “facts” about books. They’re from the UK and the list isn’t mine.
1. The Average UK household owns 203 books.
2. The British Library contains about 14 million books and needs roughly six miles of new shelf space every year just to add new items.
3. UK publishers release about 184,000 new or revised books each year.
4. Since 2011, sales of eBooks in the UK have overtaken sales of print books.
5. Jane Austen originally gave the name First Impressions to her book that was later published as Pride and Prejudice.
6. France has won more Nobel Prizes for Literature than any other country.
7. J.R.R Tolkien is said to have typed the whole of the LOTR with only two fingers.
8. In 2014, the town of Tuszyn in Poland banned Winnie-the-Pooh.
9. A 2013 survey reported that 18 percent of people don’t read print books.
10. “There is no friend as a loyal as a book.” -Hemingway
I think I took these from a UK tabloid because it really reminds me of Elite Daily. BUT these don’t seem too outrageous to think they aren’t somewhat true. So eh, just read the list knowing that I have no means to verify the accuracy of any of these statements. Well I could verify a few, but what fun would that be?
Happy Belated World Book Day!
On this day in 2014 I published Stop Choosing Between Writing and Reading.
Interesting stuff. One fact I read yesterday from a different blog (I think it was Interesting Literature, or something like that) was that Isaac Asimov was the only writer to ever publish a book in all 10 categories of the Dewey decimal system. That’s a feat to try and match, huh?
LikeLike
Oooh. I actually don’t know anything about the Dewey decimal system. Only that libraries use it. I think? But it sounds impressive all the same.
LikeLike
Well said!
LikeLike
Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d love it if the two fingers Tolkien used were his pinkies. No wonder he took forever to write!
Perhaps that’s what George R.R. Martin does too?
LikeLike
His pinkies? Haha he’d never get anything done!
No. I think George R. R. Martin just likes playing games and finishing his books when he wants to finish them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those are some spiffy facts! Did you know that Tolkien also wanted to rewrite his books at least one more time before they went to publication, but didn’t get the chance? I don’t know how he could have improved them.
Good for the UK on their reading! I know plenty of American households that have an average of zero books on their shelves. How do people go without books? Gah!
LikeLike
I don’t know anything about him. Except that he gave everyone Hobbits and Gandalf and Dwarves and all that greatness.
I’m pretty sure my house doesn’t even have that many books. 😳
LikeLike
*Gasp!* Shocking!
LikeLike
Which part? No books or Tolkien?
LikeLike
No books!! I know plenty of people who haven’t or won’t read Tolkien. No judgment here, since I know it’s not for everybody.
LikeLike
Oh. Yeah…I’m the only one with any. And I don’t have 200 or whatever the number from.the list was. I’m close.
LikeLike
Well, get cracking! I know you’re picky about which books you buy, but get to it!
It’s funny, I have about 100 books with me while I’m traveling and I keep buying more. But I’m also going through them at lightning speed. This travel thing is good for both my reading and my writing.
And those 100 books? You couldn’t even tell I’d removed any from my massive bookshelf. There are still so many books in every crevice.
LikeLike
You travel with 100 books? Why? Have you read them already? Or…
LikeLike
You know I love to re-read books, but only about 10% of them are old favorites. The rest are all new. Except, they’re not anymore since I’m reading them so fast.
LikeLike
That’s still a lot of books.
LikeLike
I know. I have a problem. That was established long ago.
LikeLike
Don’t let me see you on one of those hoarding shows. Unless you’re getting a six or seven figure payday. 😂
LikeLike
*Crossing my fingers behind my back* I’ll do my best.
LikeLike
Just make sure as many people as possible know about your “problem”.
LikeLike