Books: In the lists

Saturday 09 April 1994 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

More about Zlata's Diary, still sitting pretty at No 1 despite charges - first made in America - that this child's-eye view of war-ravaged Sarajevo might not be entirely, well, authentic. A cool denial from the British publisher, who had taken the trouble to check its translation against the Serbo-Croat original. Serbo-Croat? But of course; Viking has an editor fluent in the language. At a time when some British publishers seem not to employ editors who can read and write even English, this is seriously impressive.

And three cheers for the irredeemably naff Dr Hessayon, who trounces the competition in our gardening bestsellers list. The faultlessly tasteful Anna Pavord sneaks in at No 10, but where are those horticultural aristocrats - Penelope Hobhouse, Beth Chatto, Christopher Lloyd, et al? Discarded under the coffee table, probably. Great Dixter and Kiftsgate are fine for dormant season inspiration, but once spring has sprung and the garden centre tills are ringing, what we really want, it seems, are no-nonsense, step- by-step instructions about how to bed out our crimson begonias.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in