Waterstones Week In Books Quiz, 19th December 2014

Birthdays, bears and BBC adaptations feature in this week’s books quiz. Test your knowledge of the book news here…

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Waterstones Week In Books Quiz, 19th December 2014

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Question 1

Perfect timing for those with hangovers, Radio 4 announced that it was broadcasting a ten hour adaptation of which epic novel for New Year's Day?
A
War and Peace
B
The Goldfinch
C
Don Quixote
D
Girl Online
Question 1 Explanation: The adapatation stars John Hurt, Simon Russell Beale and Lesley Manville and will run between 9am and 9.30pm. Fear not though, there will be breaks for news and The Archers.
Question 2

One bookshop in Washington had a rather unexpected customer when President Obama paid a visit. Obama bought seventeen books from Politics and Prose including which surprising title?
A
How to Make Friends and Influence People
B
Dreams from my Father
C
The Audacity of Hope
D
A Barnyard Collection: Click, Clack, Moo and More
Question 2 Explanation: President Obama was joined on his shopping trip by daughters Malia and Sasha as he took part in the “Small Business Saturday” initiative. Thankfully, his credit card wasn't declined.
Question 3

On Tuesday Christie’s hosted an auction in aid of PEN American Center’s First Editions/Second Thoughts benefit where authors donated annotated copies of their books. Which author donated a copy of their novel with over four hundred pages of hand-written notes?
A
EL James
B
Don DeLillo
C
Donna Tartt
D
Stephen King
Question 3 Explanation: DeLillo donated an annotated copy of his 1997 novel Underworld with other four hundred pages of anecdotes, playful commentary, and his recollections of writing the book. He described the experience as a “somewhat grudging experience” that turned into “several days of pure pleasure.”
Question 4

There was sad news this week with the passing of PD James at the age of 94. James named DCI Adam Dalgliesh, appearing in fourteen of her books, in honour of which figure in her life?
A
Her father
B
Her English teacher
C
Her PE teacher
D
Her milkman
Question 4 Explanation: Dalgliesh was named in honor of the James' English teacher whilst at Cambridge High School. It was only years later that she learnt that by chance that Miss Dalgliesh's father had in fact been called Adam.
Question 5

Further sad news this week as author Kent Haruf died at the age of 71. Haruf wrote a number of novels and his short stories appeared in numerous literary magazines. But all of Haruf’s novels take place in which fictional town?
A
Castle Rock
B
Holt
C
Amber
D
Hogsmeade
Question 5 Explanation: All of Haruf's novels take place in Holt, based on Yuma, Colorado, where he lived in the early 1980s.
Question 6

While we’ve seen plenty of book to film adaptations of late, which Margaret Atwood novel is making the leap to the American stage?
A
The Handmaid’s Tale
B
MaddAddam
C
The Blind Assassin
D
Ory and Crake
Question 6 Explanation: While the book has been adapted into a play in the UK, this is the first time The Handmaid’s Tale has appeared on stage in the US.
Question 7

A less familiar face now (unless you're a heavy YouTube user). It was a big week for one particular debut novelist as YouTube 'sensation' Zoe Sugg eclipsed superstar names such J K Rowling, Dan Brown and E L James to clock up the biggest first week sale for a début since records began. So how many copies did she sell in her first week? Clue: it’s a big number...
A
10,001
B
50,569
C
66,666
D
78,109
Question 7 Explanation: Sugg, known as Zoella on her fashion and beauty vlog, sold a whopping 78,109 copies of her YA novel Girl Online easily topping the UK Official Top 50 chart. Only 97 other weekly number ones have exceeded Girl Online's total since records began in 1998. Now where's the novel of our YouTube channel?
Question 8

Time for some prize winners now and Monday saw the announcement of this year's Waterstones Book of the Year. It was a fantastic shortlist but Jessie Burton's The Miniaturist took the prize. So who was last year's winner?
A
Levels of Life
B
Life after Life
C
Back to Life
D
Stoner
Question 8 Explanation: John Williams' Stoner passes the baton to Jessie Burton's The Miniaturist as our book of the year. And if you gaze back up the page, you'll see the gorgeous cover for our exclusive edition. Round of applause all round.
Question 9

Another prize this week was the Green Carnation Prize. Awarded to the best in fiction and memoir by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender writers worldwide, who took the aforementioned prize this year?
A
Niven Govinden
B
Kerry Hudson
C
Laurien Penny
D
Anneliese Mackintosh
Question 9 Explanation: Anneliese Mackintosh’s Any Other Mouth joins previous winners such as Andrew Solomon, Patrick Gale and Catherine Hall.
Question 10

And finally, a new book prize launched this week as Kingston Writing School awarded its first Hilary Mantel Prize for short stories. Hilary Mantel was even on hand to cast her eye over the shortlist but of the five stories shortlisted, what did four of the stories all contain?
A
A suicide
B
A love letter
C
A historical figure
D
A dog
Question 10 Explanation: Despite the potentially downbeat themes, Hilary Mantel went on to pick three finalists for the new prize and the overall winner will be announced today.
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Worst. Person. Ever.
Bring Up The Bodies...
Not bad!
Middle Earth
Destined to Fly