Rich list shows China's book market trends
Updated: 2016-03-23 09:50
By Mei Jia(chinadaily.com.cn)
|
|||||||||
Writer Jiang Nan. [Photo provided to China Daily] |
On Tuesday, the 2016 China Writers Rich List was released by West China Metropolis Daily and Great Star Media, showing fantasy, children's books, chicken-soup-for-the-soul type of books are popular in the country's publishing market.
The list ranks 70 Chinese writers based on their royalty ranging from 32 million yuan ($4.93 million) to as high as 1 million yuan.
Four of top 10 are writers of children's books, while three others are writers of fantasy novels.
Jiang Nan, 38-year-old, known for his Dragon series, takes the crown of "richest Chinese writer in year 2015". He is followed by Leiou Huanxiang (Leon Image), author of bestselling series for younger readers Charlie IX, and king of fairy tales Zheng Yuanjie.
"As time people spend on reading becomes fragmented, I suppose the popularity my works are enjoying simply means there are readers who are keen on quality works and still care about slow and in-depth reading," Jiang said, according to the daily newspaper.
However, the list shows that readers are turning to books that are entertaining or soul soothing, while traditional writers of serious literature are declining or missing from the list.
Acclaimed sci-fi writer Liu Cixin ranks 11 with royalty 10 million yuan in royalty earning in 2015. Yu Hua ranks 35 with 3.6 million yuan. And Mo Yan, China's Nobel laureate, who ranked 13 in 2014, disappeared from the latest list.
"One key point the list tells us is that Chinese readers who buy print books are mostly children and younger people," said Wu Huaiyao, the list's lead researcher.
By linking money to writing, the list has been controversial since it was first released in 2006 and became an annual event.
"We just hope to record the change of reading habits and promote people's awareness," Wu said.
Another list indicating the highest royalty-reaping foreign writers will be released in the following days.
Related:
- NASA's Kepler sees first 'shock breakout' in exploding star
- First case of Zika virus detected in S.Korea
- Syrian mothers: Survival and loss
- Gender barrier falls as Air Force general makes history
- Russia retrieves data from recorder of crashed plane
- Obama arrives in Cuba to begin visit in thawing of ties
- In photos: Brussels rocked by multiple explosions
- Raul Castro and Obama hold talks in Havana
- Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg visits China's Great Wall
- Apple releases smaller iPhones for new consumers
- China's 'sleep testers' search hotels for a good night's rest
- Practice makes perfect: Preparing for Boao forum
- A look of Boao Forum for Asia International Conference Center
- Culture Insider: 5 things you may not know about the Spring Equinox
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Anti-graft campaign targets poverty relief |
Cherry blossom signal arrival of spring |
In pictures: Destroying fake and shoddy products |
China's southernmost city to plant 500,000 trees |
Cavers make rare finds in Guangxi expedition |
Cutting hair for Longtaitou Festival |
Today's Top News
Marriott unlikely to top Anbang offer for Starwood: Observers
Chinese biopharma debuts on Nasdaq
What ends Jeb Bush's White House hopes
Investigation for Nicolas's campaign
Will US-ASEAN meeting be good for region?
Accentuate the positive in Sino-US relations
Dangerous games on peninsula will have no winner
National Art Museum showing 400 puppets in new exhibition
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |