Dubai: This year’s offerings by bookstores across the country didn’t disappoint UAE bibliophiles on the hunt for their next great read.
Among new bestselling hardcover and paperback books piled high at literary outlets, big winners this year capitalised on latest trends, said bookstores on Monday.
New book releases influenced by celebrities and current affairs were noted as the most popular books of 2015 among Dubai bookworms.
One of the top bestselling books across two of Dubai’s popular book stores Borders, and Kinokuniya is Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, said book retailers in interviews with Gulf News.
Readers share love of 2015 page-turners
“Debut novel The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins was a sleeper hit. It was published this January but it was a bestseller throughout the year. It has exceeded our expectations as we didn’t expect it to sell for such a long time,” said Motoaki Tanaka, Manager at Kinokuniya’s Merchandising Department.
Zoe Sugg’s Girl Online Tour, the sequel to Girl Online was also listed as the bestselling book in 2015 by Magrudy’s book store in Dubai.
Other titles flying off the shelves this year include popular picks such as The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, and The Secret by Rhonda Byrne.
Art therapy
Crayons aren’t just for kids any longer.
Along with novels, 2015 signalled the beginning of a new trend by introducing adult colouring books.
“This year has been all about colouring books, with four of them among our top 20 bestsellers. The Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Colouring Book is currently our best seller,” said Tanaka.
In addition to art therapy books, a new Manga book has also made the top 20 book list at Kinokunyia.
“For a couple of years the Attack on Titan was the big thing in manga, but now Tokyo Ghoul and One Punch Man is the new trend,” said Tanaka.
The classics
Carrying over 20,000 books from a variety of categories ranging from adult books to children’s fiction and non-fiction books, Borders witnessed an increase in classic novel sales in 2015.
Many bibliophiles have returned to some of the all-time classics such as Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, Sherlock Holmes and Princess by Jean Sasson, said Madhvi Vachani, who works with Border’s marketing department.
“The trend this year for many people has mostly been either classics or the hot new releases related to celebrities or current affairs,” said Vachani.
One example is the book Eat nourish glow by Amelia freer, which was posted on singer Sam Smith’s Instagram page. Another is The 22 day Revolution by Marco Borges, which was posted on Beyonce’s social media page, said Vachani.
Books on current affairs taking place in 2015 included Leading by Sir Alex Ferguson, Diana by Sarah Bradford, Long Walk To Freedom by Nelson Mandela, I am Malala by Malala, and Becoming Steve Jobs by Brent Schlender.
Meanwhile, self-help books such as 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, and Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki were also popular reads this year.
Several children’s books have made it to this year’s top 10 bestsellers. Dubai book stores listed Peppa Pig books, and Old School-Diary of a Wimpy Kid among their most popular purchases.
Best in UAE this year
Source: Assorted book sellers in UAE as compiled Gulf News
International best-sellers
Fiction
Non-fiction
Source: New York Times
