What’s Happening? – October 2009

I have some very amusing, shocking and ‘feel good’ news in this episode of ‘what’s happening’ articles. Do enjoy and laugh at the second piece of news I share with you. I sure did. [So did I, just for the title of the award - Ed.]

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• Brown’s the Lost Symbol has broken records in the first week of sales:

Dan Brown’s new and exciting (with high expectations) novel has sold well over 550,000 copies in just the UK alone since it went on sale at one minute past midnight on Tuesday 15th September, making it the fastest-selling adult book of all time. So far it has earned Brown and his publishers, Random House, nearly £4.6m. It has however received mixed reviews to the disappointment of Brown’s fans. A friend of mine actually (who adored Brown’s previous works) has reported her readings so far as ‘confusing’ and ‘lacked to reach expectations’. I have yet to read my copy, (which is being kept away from my university reading at the moment) but I hope it reaches my expectations after the fantastic Angels and Demons.

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• JK Rowling misses out on ‘Presidential Medal of Freedom’ for her Harry Potter books over ‘witchcraft’ allegations:

A memoir by George W Bush’s former speechwriter claims that Bush administration officials objected to giving JK Rowling a Presidential Medal of Freedom on the grounds that her Harry Potter books ‘encouraged witchcraft’. The medal is given to ‘individuals who make an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors’. During the Bush administration, it was awarded to individuals including Tony Blair, Harper Lee, Muhammad Ali, Alan Greenspan, Nelson Mandela, Doris Day and Charlton Heston. But clearly Rowling has opposed the Republican ideals of Mr. Bush, her books obviously create a very bad impression of British youngsters performing ‘witchcraft’. This did make me chuckle.

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• Larsson’s The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest is beaten only by Dan Brown after Super Thursday’s 800 hardbacks hit the shelves:

800 books made shelves in a super mad book rush this month. Brown’s Lost Symbol had clearly won the award for selling the most. However not too far behind, Stieg Larsson continues to dominate shelves and create even more popularity in Britain than before with his fantastic trilogy of crime novels. Larsson (the author of The Girl Who Played with Fire) has grown in so much popularity over the years. I have had go at the first book (titled above) and I found it a gripping, and tremendousy adventurous read. I thoroughly recommend.

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• TS Eliot is given the title of ‘nation’s favourite poet’ by an online poll hosted by the BBC to mark National Poetry Day:

The results of the online poll, released to mark ‘National Poetry Day’, saw Eliot win in a ‘tight final’, according to the BBC, narrowly beating John Donne to the victory spot. In an electric top 10, Rastafarian dub poet Benjamin Zephaniah came in third (the only living poet to make the top 10), while no female poets – not even poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy or Sylvia Plath – made the final line-up, which was rounded out by Wilfred Owen, Philip Larkin, William Blake, William Butler Yeats, John Betjeman, John Keats and Dylan Thomas. I’m not too surprised by Eliot topping the charts, however I was surprised discover John Donne coming in second over a tough battle, not to mention angered that one of my favorites’ (Philip Larkin) didn’t come in the top three. I demand a recount!

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• Writer Edgar Allan Poe gets proper funeral… just 160 years later:

Edgar Allan Poe, dark romantic writer and poet died on October 7th 1849 in hospital, having uttered the final words: ‘Lord, help my poor soul’, after possibly being beaten in a dark alley. Although he was at the time probably the most famous writer in America, his cousin Neilson Poe omitted to tell anyone he had died, and the entire ceremony lasted three minutes. 160 years almost to the day since his sorry passing, Poe will finally be given the send off that he deserved. A life-size recreation of his body will be carried in a horse-drawn carriage from his Baltimore home in Amity Street, to the Westminster Burying Ground. I’m happy to hear that such renowned and admired of poet (of mine) is given a respectful peace of mind.