Maggie O’Farrell tops list of readers’ books awards
The winners of the Books Are My Bag Readers Awards 2020 – the only book awards curated by bookshops and voted on by readers, sponsored by National Book Tokens – were unveiled by food journalist and author Grace Dent.
Readers across the UK and Ireland have crowned Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet as their book of the year, in the award’s unique open vote Readers’ Choice category. Having won this year’s Women Prize for Fiction, Hamnet has captivated thousands of readers with its story of William Shakespeare’s wife, Agnes, and their only son, who inspired one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays.
“The Books Are My Bag Readers Awards are very special awards, ones that consistently yield excellent reading recommendations,” said O’Farrell.
“I am thrilled that Hamnet has been elected for this year’s Readers’ Choice ... what a joy and an honour. Huge thanks to everyone who voted for it.”
Meanwhile, 16 year-old Dara McAnulty won in the Non-Fiction category with Diary of a Yong Naturalist – which also won the 2020 Wainwright Prize For Nature Writing.
“I am delighted to have won the Books Are My Bag Readers Award for Non-Fiction. Firstly, that it was nominated by booksellers made my heart so happy, booksellers are the superheroes of authors,” he said
“Books finding the right home is like an act of trust between bookseller and reader. When the book lands with the reader and they are captivated enough to then give it their vote in an award category, it really is a dream come true. When I wrote my diary, I had no expectations.
“Its reception has surpassed all expectations. I’m grateful to every reader who has championed and supported my book. I feel proud as an autistic teenager, that my words and message have been embraced enough to win this wonderful award.”
Former Readers Awards winner Stuart Turton took home the Fiction award with The Devil and the Dark Wa
ter, described by Val McDermid as “a glorious mash-up of William Golding and Arthur Conan Doyle”.
The Poetry award went to Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright! An Animal Poem for Every Day of the Year, selected by Fiona Waters and illustrated by Britta Teckentrup.
Best-selling authors MG Leonard & Sam Sedgman, and illustrator Elisa Paganelli, won the Children’s Fiction award with The Highland Falcon Thief.
Debut writers Kalynn Bayron and Jean Menzies won in the Young Adult Fiction and Breakthrough Author categories respectively, both with books casting fresh light on traditional tales.
More than half of this year’s winning titles come from independent publishers.
The 2020 Books Are My Bag Readers Awards Win
ners, as chosen by readers ...
Fiction
The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton (Raven Books, Bloomsbury)
Non-Fiction
Diary of a Young Naturalist by Dara McAnulty (Little Toller Books)
Poetry
Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright: An Animal Poem for Every Day of the Year by Britta Teckentrup and Fiona Waters (Nosy Crow)
Young Adult Fiction Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron (Bloomsbury)
Children’s Fiction
The Highland Falcon Thief by MG Leonard & Sam Sedgman, illustrated by Elisa Paganelli (Macmillan Children’s Books)
Breakthrough Author Jean Menzies author of Greek Myths (DK)