Books: stolen and borrowed

[wellinghall]

Ten most stolen from UK shops
1. London A-Zs
2. Ordnance Survey maps
3. Terry Pratchett novels
4. Harry Potter books
5. Lonely Planet travel guides
6. The Lord of the Rings trilogy
7. Martina Cole novels
8. Jacqueline Wilson novels
9. The Oxford English Dictionary
10. The Highway Code
According to independent booksellers

Ten most borrowed from UK libraries
1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (JK Rowling)
2. The House at Riverton (Kate Morton)
3. The Memory Keeper's Daughter (Kim Edwards)
4. Relentless (Simon Kernick)
5. The Other Side of the Bridge (Mary Lawson)
6. The Quickie (James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge)
7. The 6th Target (James Patterson & Maxine Paetro)
8. The Savage Garden (Mark Mills)
9. Cross (James Patterson)
10. Step on a Crack (James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge)
Most borrowed titles from UK libraries (July 2007-June 2008), according to Public Lending Right

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article5670983.ece

Comments

[clarienne.livejournal.com]

I'm somewhat pleased that people steal the Highway Code!

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Well quite!

[segh.livejournal.com]

It would be interesting to see what books turn up most often in charity shops - I seem to have seen about a hundred copies of "The House at Riverton" lately. I remember when Dianamania died down, and they were all full of Andrew Morton.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, I remember the flood of Andrew Mortons.

[davidcook.livejournal.com]

6. The Lord of the Rings trilogy

That's got to make for a big bulge under their coat :)

And as for 9. The Oxford English Dictionary, I can only ask : Shorter, or the full umpteen volume version ?

[tigerfort.livejournal.com]

If each volume counts as a separate theft, then the need for a complete set would explain it being in the top ten easily enough :)

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

I am suitable amused :-)

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

If I read the signs aright, the most-stolen version of the OED is the "Oxford Dictionary of English" at £22.75, and the most-stolen version of LotR is a hardback 50th anniversary edition at £24.50.

[tree_and_leaf]

I now have this odd image of someone trying to sneak away with the entire OED under their jacket....

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

If I read the signs aright, the most-stolen version of the OED is the "Oxford Dictionary of English" at £22.75.