Random links: James Frey’s debut novel; Roald Dahl vs. J.K. Rowling

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Bright and shiny: ‘Bright Shiny Morning’ is not only the title of James Frey’s first novel (set in Southern California), which HarperCollins will publish next year. It probably also describes how the fallen memoirist felt waking up on the day after the contract was completed. It’s rumored to be a very lucrative book deal, though no dollar amount has yet come out; undoubtedly the publisher is anticipating that a large segment of the 1.7 million people who bought ‘A Million Little Pieces’ in paperback will give this official work of fiction a try--if only out of curiosity.

Clash of titans: How is this possible? Even though J.K. Rowling has influenced millions upon millions of readers, Roald Dahl is still ahead of her in the ‘favorite children’s author’ category.’ Rowling’s not just behind Dahl: She’s in fourth place! C.S. Lewis was ranked second, and Peter Pan creator J.M. Barrie was third.

The British entertainment channel ITV3 conducted the poll in preparation for Roald Dahl Day, which is observed throughout the United Kingdom today but especially in Cardiff, Wales, where Dahl was born on Sept. 13, 1916. ITV3 reports that its poll surveyed people ‘aged up to 34’ for the survey. No mention of the survey size, though, or what sort of questions were asked. Here are the top 10 results:

1. Roald Dahl
2. C.S. Lewis
3. J.M. Barrie
4. J.K. Rowling
5. Anthony Horowitz
6. Jacqueline Wilson
7. Dr. Seuss
8. Philip Pullman
9. Francesca Simon
10. Enid Blyton

Nick Owchar