Press
Press Release
01/03/2007
Stephen King Crowned the UK's Favourite Literary 'Guilty Pleasure'
Stephen King Crowned the UK's Favourite Literary 'Guilty Pleasure'
A survey released today by Costa, the UK's fastest- growing coffee chain, has revealed the UK's favourite guilty pleasure authors.
The research, undertaken on behalf of the 2006 Costa Book Awards, looked at the current reading habits of the UK population and finds Stephen King the UK's top literary guilty pleasure.
Great Guilty Reads
The survey reveals 85% of UK readers* freely admit to having a literary guilty pleasure, i.e: an author turned to again and again for a great read in private but who we might not necessarily acknowledge reading in public.
When asked to choose from a list, the top most secretly enjoyed authors were:
1. Stephen King
2. J.K. Rowling
3. John Grisham/ Dan Brown
4. Danielle Steel/ Catherine Cookson
5. Terry Pratchett
31% of those surveyed who admitted to having a guilty pleasure author cited other writers, of whom the following were the top five most mentioned:
1. Patricia Cornwell
2. James Patterson
3. James Herbert
4. Marian Keyes
5. Tom Clancy
"It is commonly acknowledged that many of us want to be seen to be reading a book in public that makes us look good," commented Simon Trewin, literary agent and contributing author to The Encyclopaedia of Guilty Pleasures - 1,001 Things You Hate to Love (John Murray), "but as this survey demonstrates, most of us have an author we regularly turn to for an easy and enjoyable read."
"I would like to urge all those book readers brandishing a Stephen King or Marian Keyes behind closed doors to throw off their inhibitions, come out into the open and celebrate your literary guilty pleasures!"
Hardback Hoarders
The survey also looked into our buying habits and reveals a hoarding trend amongst book buyers.
Almost a third (32%) of people surveyed admitted to regularly buying books from airports and bookshops which are then put away to read at a later date. 24% of men admit to book hoarding compared to 39% of women.
Most hoarding happens in the Midlands and Wales where well over a third (37%) of respondents said they regularly buy books that are then put on a shelf, closely followed by people living in the South (33%) and Londoners (32%).
Regular Readers
Despite our hoarding tendencies, the survey confirms the UK's passion for reading with nearly a third (31%) stating they read books every single day.
People in Scotland read the most 41% of Scottish respondents said they read everyday compared to only 30% of people living in the North and 28% of Londoners.
A further 13% said they read every couple of days, and only 11% stated they rarely read books with just 3% admitting to never reading books at all.
Never Judge a Book by its Cover
In response to the survey findings, Costa has created a variety of downloadable book jackets for readers wishing to conceal a literary guilty pleasure.
Four downloadable book jackets are available for free by going to www.costabookawards.com and clicking on READING.
www.costabookawards.com
For further press information please contact:
Amanda Johnson
Costa Book Awards Press and Publicity
Telephone: 020 7806 5495 (direct line) or 07715 922 180 (mobile)
Email: Amanda.Johnson@whitbread.com
Notes for Editors:
* All survey figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,304 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 13th - 15th November 2006. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+). The Readers figures are based on the 96% of adults surveyed who said they do read books.
About the Costa Book Awards:
* The Costa Book Awards, formerly the Whitbread Book Awards, were established in 1971 to encourage, promote and celebrate the best contemporary British writing.
* The Costa Book Awards recognise the most enjoyable books of the last year by writers based in the UK and Ireland across five categories; First Novel, Novel, Biography, Poetry and Childrens Book.
* The total prize fund for the Costa Book Awards stands at 50,000. The award winners from the five categories - Novel, First Novel, Biography, Poetry and Childrens Book - each receive 5,000.
* The overall Costa Book of the Year is selected from the five category Award winners with the winner receiving a further 25,000. The winner will be announced at the awards ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel, central London on February 7th, 2007.
About Costa:
Founded by Italian brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa in 1971, Costa is the UKs market-leading coffee shop brand. With over 400 stores in the UK and plans to develop a further 300 outlets by 2008, Costa has enjoyed a remarkable period of growth since it opened its first store and is now the UKs fastest -growing coffee business.
As pioneers of caf culture in the UK, Costa inspired the creation of popular and convenient concessions stores in locations such as Waterstones and WH Smiths bookstores, and BAA outlets. A welcome respite for shoppers to relax, unwind and enjoy a revitalising cup of coffee crafted the Italian way.
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